The end is nigh

Other Games
1

Final Fantasy XIII is coming to Xbox 360.

e3.gamespot.com/story.html?sid=6193730

“This morning at its press briefing at the E3 Media & Business Summit, Microsoft stunned many in the audience by announcing Final Fantasy XIII is now in development for the Xbox 360. Not only is the game coming to the console, it will arrive on the same day and date as the PlayStation 3 edition of the game, which no timed exclusivity of any kind. When exactly that is remains a mystery, however, as the graphics-intensive role-playing game still has no firm release date.”

2

Cannot… stop… laughing.

3

It doesn’t stop there.

That’s one of the many new features coming with the next dashboard update. That’s such a huge deal for me, because the DVD drive not only makes the 360 sound like you have an aircraft carrier with F-16s taking off the flight deck in your living room, but it’s not fast enough to stream data in games like Mass Effect without loading messages or texture pop-in. Hard drive installation really makes my 360 Elite purchase worth it.

That and… if FFXIII is multi-disc, this would eliminate that issue.

majornelson.com/archive/2008/07/ … -more.aspx

4

Yeppers, I’d say there’s no catching up for Sony now… not that I give a rat’s ass about the news itself personally, but what it represents: even if Europe solidifies as another Sony stronghold, and 360 never goes anywhere in Japan, the balance of power seems fairly well assured, even Squenix can’t choose to ignore the North American numbers it seems?

MS and Sony will both stay hungry for a while, now let’s just hope Nintendo doesn’t squeeze them both out!

5

I’d argue that Nintendo isn’t really competing for the same target audience.

6

^And I’d agree… but with that kind of scary mind-share in place already… you never know what the next few years may hold?

7

I may be bitter but they deserve this for what they did to the Saturn and Dreamcast! RAAH, VENGEANCE IN THE FORM OF A FAILED CONSOLE!

8

Actually, it’s more of a case of Sony living by the sword so ultimately dying by it.

So yeah, fuck Sony.

Games have just become too expensive to make to limit to a single console when the market is split (and I will agree with Parn that the Wii isn’t really competing for the same market as the PS3/360).

I should still give FF12 a shot one of these days. I could barely stomach the emo-fest that was FF10 so maybe it would just be another waste of my time.

9

The bitterness in this thread is not unjustified.

It’s difficult not to take pleasure in announcements like this when they come along, especially for those who stuck by Sega during the Playstation’s dominance.

I was disgusted to see the original PS both outclass the Saturn* and *outlive the Dreamcast, since everyone and their nan were waiting for the Playstation’s second coming.

Sony reportedly paid for exclusivity deals during the 32bit era, which meant that high profile games such as Tomb Raider 2 never came to the Saturn, which made me upset. Core’s excuse was that the Saturn couldn’t handle the game, but titles like PDS, Sonic R and Burning Rangers showed otherwise.

You couldn’t fault Sony for their aggressive business practice, but it nearly killed Sega.

Yes, it’s satisfying to see the tables turn and Sony lose yet another major exclusive. It seems likely that MGS4 will eventually come to 360 (Konami can’t ignore an almost 20 million userbase), leaving the PS3 with nothing to justify its existence other than as a high priced blu-ray player.

UK Resistance has summed up this news announcement nicely:

ukresistance.co.uk/2008/07/p … final.html

10

Sony still have Japan (if we ignore the Wii having the world), pretending they’ll roll over and die tommorow is silly… They’re here to stay for quite a while longer… Also, wouldn’t that be a “low priced” blu-ray player? As for games, they still have popular 1st and 2nd party titles like Microsoft does and those won’t be going away either… Third parties seem to support the consoles about on the same level with exclusives and multi platforms alike to me. FF helped Sony win over Sega but I think it’s lost its touch since and won’t be as major help to Microsoft. Of course I’m a bit out of this console war loop so I could be off.

Also, commenters on that site seem to think they’re some sort of highly intelligent, highly objective true hardcore gamers who were wronged in the past, and yet they quickly degrade to Sonyboy-esque tantrums… Meh.

11

Lol @ everyone that thinks this news means Sony’s doomed!

12

UK Resistance is the most ultimate bad ass site in the history of existance.

And yes, Sony is D00M3D.

13

[quote=“Geoffrey Duke”]

I should still give FF12 a shot one of these days. I could barely stomach the emo-fest that was FF10 so maybe it would just be another waste of my time.[/quote]

I think you should. 12 definitely is a nice change compared to 10. I am actually about to give 8 a shot myself. For now, 6 will still continue to be my favorite of the bunch.

14

[quote=“Atolm”]

[quote=“Geoffrey Duke”]

I should still give FF12 a shot one of these days. I could barely stomach the emo-fest that was FF10 so maybe it would just be another waste of my time.[/quote]

I think you should. 12 definitely is a nice change compared to 10. I am actually about to give 8 a shot myself. For now, 6 will still continue to be my favorite of the bunch.[/quote]

I will try it eventually mate. Before this world ends at least!

15

The PS3 retails for ?300 in the UK.

The cheapest blu-ray player on Amazon is ?199.

If someone bought a PS3 solely for it’s blu-ray capabilities, they would be paying 50% more than the cheapest alternative. That’s why I called it “high priced”. The PS3 is no longer the cheapest blu-ray player on the market.

However, I acknowledge that the PS3 would be a worthwhile investment for those wanting both a blu-ray player and games console all in one, and for the first party titles that you touched upon, Alex.

I don’t think anyone is suggesting that Sony is doomed. They’ve just lost a major exclusive, a franchise that was synonymous with the Playstation brand. The market has grown too big to be manipulated by Sony’s wallet, the days of buying developer loyalty via exclusivity deals are over. The winner in all of this is of course the gamer, as their choice of games are not restricted to one platform.

[quote=“Al3xand3r”]
Also, commenters on that site seem to think they’re some sort of highly intelligent, highly objective true hardcore gamers who were wronged in the past, and yet they quickly degrade to Sonyboy-esque tantrums… Meh.[/quote]

Hehe Alex, it’s a pro-Sega site, don’t take what they say seriously, it’s all meant in jest if only to have a pop at Sony. It’s great when enraged Sony fanboys leave comments in the comments section and are ripped into by the site’s regular readers. They miss the whole point of UKR, which is what makes it so funny to read :slight_smile:

[quote=“Shadow”]UK Resistance is the most ultimate bad ass site in the history of existance.

And yes, Sony is D00M3D.[/quote]

Shadow!! I didn’t know you read UKR :smiley:

Do you ever post any comments? :slight_smile:

Yes, Sony is D00M3D!!1 :stuck_out_tongue:

16

I post sometimes, under my “Urban Reflex” moniker. I posted on the recent Animal Crossing Wii article.

17

I think SEGA Japan needs to wake up from its time warp, if the likes of Square are looking to the 360 market and seeing the cold hard facts that the PS3 users base in Japan isn’t bigger enough to cover the costs of big money productions , then SEGA Japan really need to make more its big money productions (like Yakuza III, Valkyire multi platfporm).

To get the biggest possible sales and alround press coverage

18

I’ve said it before, but ironically enough almost all the Sony exclusives I’ve ever cared about were first party. Somehow I don’t anticipate the PS3 to have near as many quirky niche-y slices of awesome on that front as PS2 (or PS1 I suppose) got though, and that’s a library segment MS paled in by comparison, other than the handful of From and Sega games, at least while Sega still let a few of those type of games that used to be first party prestige titles go out. But even first party Sony seems a lot more focused on trying to compete directly with the 360 library now, more’s the pity.

On the subject of PS2’s prestige games… I just finished Shadow of the Colossus finally! Other than beating the first one (Mr. cuddly cat face) when I first seriously started up yesterday, but right before I went to sleep… I ended up pretty well marathoning it over the last 20 or so hours. And yeah, it’s the first PS2 game I bought after getting the PS3 so it’s been the top of my list all along, but damn, it is a masterpiece. I like it quite a bit better than ICO.

19

I am not interested until someone makes a new Gamera 2000 game,

kthx.

;p

20

[quote=“Heretic Agnostic”]I’ve said it before, but ironically enough almost all the Sony exclusives I’ve ever cared about were first party. Somehow I don’t anticipate the PS3 to have near as many quirky niche-y slices of awesome on that front as PS2 (or PS1 I suppose) got though, and that’s a library segment MS paled in by comparison, other than the handful of From and Sega games, at least while Sega still let a few of those type of games that used to be first party prestige titles go out. But even first party Sony seems a lot more focused on trying to compete directly with the 360 library now, more’s the pity.

On the subject of PS2’s prestige games… I just finished Shadow of the Colossus finally! Other than beating the first one (Mr. cuddly cat face) when I first seriously started up yesterday, but right before I went to sleep… I ended up pretty well marathoning it over the last 20 or so hours. And yeah, it’s the first PS2 game I bought after getting the PS3 so it’s been the top of my list all along, but damn, it is a masterpiece. I like it quite a bit better than ICO.[/quote]

I still prefer Ico, but Shadow of the Colossus is quite the masterpiece. Not much to do but so much to see. And that’s the way I like it. My favorite colossus is number 13, I think it was. Giant flying paddle serpent with gas bags.