GAMESREVIEWS
Rising (10+)
Notable (20+)
Popular (30+)
Promoted (Front Paged!)
People you followTaggedGeneral - Opinion/EditorialCommunity ReviewsOff-topicCommunity PodcastersBloggers Wanted ResponseLetters to Dtoids EditorsGet InvolvedGeneral BadassnessJoin a Live Stream EventListen to CommunitoidJoin a Playdate EventCompete in a Contest
E3 08: Square Enix Press Conference on Final Fantasy XIII
We heard earlier that this was a limited engagement, but they weren't kidding. They only let about 70 people into this small room at the Los Angeles Convention Center this afternoon. The Final Fantasy "Crystal Theme" has been looping in the background for about 15 minutes now while Japanese guests find their seats. 12:47 - I'm in the back. Figures. I see Kotaku's Bascraft in row four, and Japanator's own Zerochan directly behind me. I think a journalist behind me has stumbled onto a porn ad on the internet. His computer is talking and everyone is looking at him. 12:51 - Oooh, they're turning up the music. It seems that this event revolves around Final Fantasy XIII. As you've heard, the title is coming to the Xbox 360. This is a Q&A session more than anything. Here we go. 12:52 - Venture Beat asked about their hardware choice. Square Enix's Shinji Hashimoto says that the popularity of the Xbox 360 led to the decision. 12:54 - Will FF 13 fit on a DVD? Will it be the same as the PS3 game? Yoshinori Kitase answers that "it may be different." There you have it, folks! 12:57 - Gamasutra asks about the game's status as far as development goes. Kitase says that they're using Crystal Tools to develop using PCs. They've picked up the pace. We should expect to see new footage in the "near future." 12:58 - Are more Final Fantasy games coming to the Xbox 360? Or is this a single venture? Hashimoto ponders. He says that he has no ideas for the future, as they have their hands full now. 12:59 - Brian Ashcraft asks about how many discs will Final Fantasy XIII be. They give no answer. "Not decided yet." 1:00 - Heidi Kemps asks when these will ship. Will PS3 and 360 ship at the same time? They say that they are just ready to star Xbox 360 development now. It will release in Japan first. Then, PS3 development/translation will begin, and Xbox 360 version should start about the same time. As for the US, the PS3 and 360 will release at the same time. Europe will also get a matched date, though it may not be the same time as the US date. Hit the jump for more from the Square Enix Press Conference. Kitase adds that they will try to get the Europe and US release dates as close as possible. 1:04- Shane from 1UP asks about Japan and the Xbox 360 version. He says that he hears that it is not coming to Japan. Hashimoto confirms that is is not coming out in Japan for the Xbox 360. As for Infinite Undiscovery, it is a 360 exclusive. Last Remnant will also be at first, but will probably be a PS3 title later. 1:07- Rob. Workman from GameDaily is asking about exclusive content for the different versions of FF 13. They have no intention to make different versions for the different platforms. 1:09 - A Japanese press member asks about the reasoning for the lack of an Xbox 360 Japanese release. Hashimoto says that he likes the spread of the Xbox 360 in Europe and the US, and they have not changed their mind on a Japanese version. 1:10 - Another asks about other Asian markets. As you can guess, nothing has been finalized. 1:11 - Play Magazine asks about the lack of motion sensing in the Xbox 360 controller. Is it safe to assume that neither version will use motion sensing? "For now, we have no plans for that," says Kitase. 1:12 - RPGamer asks about Final Fantasy XIII on Windows PCs. The hosts are stumped, and the audience laughs. "For now, it's undecided." 1:14 - Play Magazine asks about the dev tools for FF13, and wether they plan to continue to use it. They say that they will use that for Versus and the next MMORPG. This leads him to ask about the use of Unreal Engine 3 for Last Remnant. Hashimoto says that Last Remnant has been in development for a long time, even before Final Fantasy XIII. UE3 seemed more appropriate for the title. 1:17 - Another journo asks about any western game references the can cite. He asks specifically about Mass Effect. SQ EX says that they are "aware of Mass Effect, but not influenced by it." 1:19 - Jesus Christ. If the guy next to me sighs one ore time.... Someone asks when the decision to create this Xbox 360 version of FF13 was made. He also asks if it had anything to do with the multiplatform-friendly Crystal Tools. Hashimoto says that it was a natural evolution from the multiplatform Final Fantasy XI release. As for the timing, it wasn't very long ago that they made a decision. They just recently started working with Microsoft on details and development tools. 1:23 - Another Japanese journalist asks about Crystal Tools and how it relates to the workload for localization. Kitase answers that it's hard to explain in detail. He says that they make the game to be PC-ready, and then translate to the hardware to the Xbox 360. So, it's PS3 first, and then the Xbox 360 process. 1:25 - Another asks about projected sales, PS3 vs Xbox 360. Hashimoto wants to actually ask the US press about that. They will start marketing soon, but for now, they have no guess. 1:27 - For the record, dude as sighed 3 more times.... Will Final Fantasy XIII have MMO elements? Is this a new trend from Sqare Enix? Hashimoto folds his arms and ponders. There is much deliberation going on between the two guests. Kitase says that there is no intention to make one game like the other. They intend to make a new, unique game every time. 1:30 - Someone asks about a Wii version. The room laughs. Sigh guy even laughs. He asks this because they mention that Crystal Tools can scale to even the Wii. Kitase says that he has no idea what Mr. Iwata will say tomorrow, so there's no knowing now. 1:31 - Someone asks about possible Xbox Live features. Square Enix says that this has "yet to be decided." 1:34 - Sigh Guy asks a question! He's from Eurogamer. I like Eurogamer! Just not sighing. He asks about the difference between FFXI and FFXIII. Kitase says that the entire atmosphere and direction is totally different for Final Fantasy XIII, and that extends to visuals and everything else. 1:37 - "What is your favorite Final Fantasy game? And why?" It had to come sometime! Hashimoto says Final Fantasy VII, as he was really involved with the title. He cites visuals as a major reason. Kitase cops out and copies Hashimoto. 1:39 - Someone asks if FFXIII was influenced from the fighting sequences in Advent Children? Kitase says that there is no direct influence, but says there was some stimulation. He cites the speed in particular. 1:42 - Finally, FFXIII uses Active Time Battle, but no specifics can be given. 1:44 - I kid you not, Sigh Guy sighs once more as they conclude the session.
Tags:#E3#Square Enix Did you know? You can now get daily or weekly email notifications when humans reply to your comments.
Legacy Comments (will be imported soon)6:00 PM on 05.17.2013 E3 will be 'all about the games' for MicrosoftIn an appearance on the Major Nelson podcast, IEB chief of staff Aaron Greenberg hinted at what's in store for the Xbox reveal event happening on May 21 at 10:00am Pacific. "We're really going to tell one story across two eve...
10:03 AM on 05.17.2013 Nintendo to release demos for select E3 games at Best BuyIt appears as if Nintendo will be "bringing E3 to the public" in the words of Nintendo America President Reggie Fils-Aime. Nintendo will be bringing playable builds of their newly announced Wii U games to select Best Buy loca...
3:00 PM on 05.14.2013 Tune in to Konami's pre-E3 show for Metal Gear Solid 5Konami has plans for another pre-E3 show in June. This year, the stream will happen on June 6 at 10:00am Pacific through GameSpot.com as well as the GameSpot Xbox Live app. What hijinks will ensue? Who knows. The company was,...
5:45 PM on 05.07.2013 Expect new games from EA Sports, BioWare, and DICE at E3During an investor call today, EA Labels president Frank Gibeau briefly discussed the company's plans for E3 2013. As expected, June is going to be a big month for the new home consoles. "Regarding next generation consoles, w...
8:22 PM on 05.06.2013 Miyamoto & Reggie hosting E3 showcase at Nintendo boothNintendo won't be hosting a traditional E3 press conference as in years past. Instead the company intends to host smaller events focused on the software lineup for the US market. This we knew, but we were left to wonder what ...
1:00 AM on 05.03.2013 PlayStation E3 press conference set for June 10Sony has announced that they'll be holding their annual E3 press conference on June 10, 2013 at 6PM PT. Sony hasn't said anything beyond the date, but you can expect the conference to be livestreamed, as well as covered live ...
3:15 PM on 05.01.2013 Microsoft's E3 press conference will be streamed liveYesterday we heard that Microsoft had booked the Galen Center in Los Angeles again for a pre-E3 event, set for June 10. Now, thanks to the invite they just sent along, we can confirm that the Microsoft E3 press conference wil...
1:30 PM on 04.30.2013 Ready? Microsoft locks down L.A. venue for June 10thWhile Microsoft always hosts an E3 press conference, whatever they're gearing up for on June 10th should be a pretty big deal. This event follows the May 21st Xbox reveal event that we're gearing up to head out to in a couple...
2:15 PM on 04.26.2013 2K Games won't have a booth at this year's E3In today's mildly interesting, good-to-know-in-advance news, 2K Games has revealed it will not be at E3 2013 with a proper booth and everything that entails. Instead, the publisher will utilize its Twitch.tv and YouTube ...
1:15 PM on 04.24.2013 Ubisoft invites members to a VIP trip to E3 2013Want to go to E3? You should. It's amazing. I've been doing it for about a decade and it never gets old. I'm so excited about this next event that I can't sit still. It's harder than ever to get in if you're not a member of t...
| E3
Konami has plans for another pre-E3 show in June. This year, the stream will happen on June 6 at 10:00am Pacific through GameSpot.com as well as the GameSpot Xbox Live app. What hijinks will ensue? Who knows. The company was,...more
During an investor call today, EA Labels president Frank Gibeau briefly discussed the company's plans for E3 2013. As expected, June is going to be a big month for the new home consoles. "Regarding next generation consoles, w...more
Nintendo won't be hosting a traditional E3 press conference as in years past. Instead the company intends to host smaller events focused on the software lineup for the US market. This we knew, but we were left to wonder what ...more View all E3 |


surf dtoid with 