When I just bought a PS3 to play FFXIII and other games, few weeks later, this news came out.
Source: http://scrawlfx.com/2010/09/final-fantasy-xiii-360-detailed-for-japan
I say it is a wise move for Square Enix to release FFXIII for Xbox 360 in Asia at last, although it took a long time to do that. Since it has many additional features, this may or may not justify the long release.
On the other hand, a number of Japan PS3 Users are enraged that FFXIII is now not exclusive in Japan. Yoichi Wada, Square Enix CEO, has received numerous death threats in his Twitter account.
I understand that Square Enix has already promised earlier that FFXIII is a PS3 exclusive in Japan, but the Japan people should know that the rest of XBox 360 users in Asia are unable to play that game and it is region lock, unlike PS3.
Also, Square Enix previously said that there will be DLC available for the game, but now it is scrapped.
Source: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=263609
Pretty unfair for us FF fans. They should have said there will be no DLC from the start, not giving us false hopes until today.
Although FFXIII XBox 360 for Asia has many additional contents, I hope that this will be available for PS3 version in the future as well.
After Dengeki confirmed Final Fantasy XIII for a Japanese release on Xbox 360, Microsoft held a pre-TGS conference where the overseas port became official.
Dubbed Final Fantasy XIII Ultimate Hits International, the Xbox 360 version will launch in Japan on December 16, for 4,980 yen. It’s very cheap, explaining the Ultimate Hits in the title. Ultimate Hits is Square Enix’s budget line of games, meaning that Final Fantasy XIII will launch on Xbox 360 as an immediate budget title.
Like the North American version, Final Fantasy XIII for Xbox 360 in Japan will ship on three discs. It’ll include both Japanese and English voice-tracks and subtitle selections between Japanese, English, and other European languages. Rather than include the Japanese theme song, it’ll use Leona Lewis’ “My Hands” like the North American version does.
The only major new feature this version will have is an “Easy Mode”, allowing battles to end faster and drop rates to increase for players who just aren’t that good at the game.
Finally, the Xbox 360 version comes with a booklet called “Corridor of Memory”. It’ll include a collection of art from the game, a look at scenes that were cut from the final game, and an additional story that tells what happened to Lightning and company after the game’s end.
Final Fantasy XIII [Square Enix]
Source: http://scrawlfx.com/2010/09/final-fantasy-xiii-360-detailed-for-japan
I say it is a wise move for Square Enix to release FFXIII for Xbox 360 in Asia at last, although it took a long time to do that. Since it has many additional features, this may or may not justify the long release.
On the other hand, a number of Japan PS3 Users are enraged that FFXIII is now not exclusive in Japan. Yoichi Wada, Square Enix CEO, has received numerous death threats in his Twitter account.
Square Enix’s decision to release Final Fantasy XIII on the Xbox 360 in Japan, after repeatedly promising it would be a PS3 exclusive, has driven fans into a frenzy, with some becoming so angry as to begin delivering death threats to Square Enix CEO Yoichi Wada on his own Twitter account.
After the news of the port’s release became widely reported and confirmed as more than a mere rumour, irate fans descended upon Yoichi Wada’s Twitter account:
Is it true? After saying so many times it would never be released on the Xbox in Japan, if you really do release it nobody will trust your word again.
Say something!
You’re going to betray us after saying it would never come out? I’m cancelling my pre-orders.
You liar!
Lying to customers is how you do business, eh? I’ll never buy a Square Enix title again.
With all the illegal lies and misdirection about FF13 you made, I reported you to the ministry of consumer affairs. And you promised DLC and quietly abandoned it – you’re detestable.
Charlatan!
Stop your pompous waffling and resign! Haven’t you made enough money yet? Next time put a guy who actually loves games in charge.
What’s up with game developers? Practically everything they say is a lie…
Well done, Scrooge.
Hey Wada! What the hell is this about FF13 on the 360 in Japan? You kept advertising the game in all the mags as a domestic PS3 exclusive! If you go through with this nobody’ll trust you again… Honestly I hate you so much I’d like to kill you. Quit soon. This is your last chance.
You’d better be prepared to run, or you’ll be killed! At the very least you ought to be prepared for a few rocks thrown your way!
Whilst such threats can be dismissed as the standard ravings of Square Enix’s increasingly desperate fanbase, Japanese police will make arrests for less, and they certainly demonstrate yet another looming PR disaster.
Wada himself was conspicuously silent in the face on of the onslaught.
I understand that Square Enix has already promised earlier that FFXIII is a PS3 exclusive in Japan, but the Japan people should know that the rest of XBox 360 users in Asia are unable to play that game and it is region lock, unlike PS3.
Also, Square Enix previously said that there will be DLC available for the game, but now it is scrapped.
Final Fantasy XIII director Motomu Toriyama has admitted that DLC for the game was in the works - but has been scrapped by Square Enix.
Before the Japanese release of the game Toriyama told players to "hold on to their saves from the end of the game" as there would be a few surprises for them later on.
However, in an interview with Japanese magazine Famitsu, Toriyama apologised for teasing FF13 fans with more content and then failing to deliver.
"We were planning to make some DLC, but that plan wound up not happening,"
"I'm sorry!" said Toriyama.
He went on to announce an International Edition of the game for Japan, it will feature English voices, subtitles in a number of European languages and the theme "My Hands" by Leona Lewis.
Dengeki magazine has said the Xbox 360 version of Final Fantasy XIII will finally see a release in Japan later this year.
Source: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=263609
Pretty unfair for us FF fans. They should have said there will be no DLC from the start, not giving us false hopes until today.
Although FFXIII XBox 360 for Asia has many additional contents, I hope that this will be available for PS3 version in the future as well.