Square Enix is in hot water today after Britain's Advertising Standards Authority caught it being sneaky with its Final Fantasy XIII marketing. Square Enix used the PS3 version of Final Fantasy XIII in commercials for the Xbox 360 version to make the graphics look "sharper" than they were.

This is bad news for Square Enix, having been embarrassed in a case of marketing mischief, but this is certainly good news for the Sony side of the console wars, with the ASA officially ruling that the PS3 version looks noticeably superior. Certainly superior enough to be used as proof as an official ruling against Square Enix. 

"The PS3 image in video sequences appeared sharper and colours were more vivid than those of the Xbox 360," states the ASA.

Square Enix argues that the footage was from cutscenes and not gameplay, which makes it alright, but the rulers of Britain's advertising arena disagrees. The commercial can never again be shown in its "current" form in the UK, which is basically like closing the door after the horse is bolted, but there you go. 

Square used 'sharper' PS3 footage for 360 FFXIII ad [CVG]

Legacy Comments (will be imported soon)

NeoGreenLantern

Maybe next time they should show scenes from a good game.

RenegadePanda

How is this any different from McDonalds using a professionally assembled, edible-looking Big Mac photo to advertise their food, as opposed to what a Big Mac actually winds up looking like?

Cla

They could've easily avoided this if they weren't so stupid as to make a commercial that advertised only the 360 version in the first place.

Seriously, you made the game for both systems. You're trying to sell it on both systems. Why would you advertise only one version of the game?

Mr Andy Dixon

@Themightylebeau2009

"I don't give two tugs of a dead dog's cock" is my new favorite saying :)

Halidar

Trebz

SCANDAL!

I can understand that Square Enix wanted the commercials to look their best and decided to use the oh-so-slightly superior version, but this will probably end up fueling fires that should have been left un-fueled.

In other news, Kirby's Epic Yarn's boxart is the most adorable boxart in the history of boxart and I want it now.

qlum

who cares about which version looks a little bit less ugly if you really care about the graphics buy a good gaming pc

SayWord

@syphonicsniper I disagree with u saying 360 has better games. Has good games yes but not so much in variety. Ps3 ezxclusives range from racing games to platforming. There is something for everyone. Bet hey if you linit yourself to only shooters by which your name suggest your nissing out on greats ps3 only ones lile uncharted, socom and killzone. But w.e :)

Budogenkai

Nintendo sittin back in the corner releasin' it's other M acting like a smug bastard.

Sony and Microsoft are gonna eat each other while Nintendo is sittin back waggling its arms screaming "HEY LOOK AT ME, I CAN PLAY GAMES TOO"

OwningXylophone

For anyone who cares, here is the ad in question.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soPA1UIpClQ

Nowhere during the ad does it say that it is game footage or which version it's meant to be from. The argument seems to revolve around the fact it advertises the Xbox version exclusively at the end.

NoMore

Alright Epic Yarn has awesome box art! Thanks Dtoid! Wait... thats not what this is about?

Amaru

HA

KingSigy

Burn!

weezcake

I lol'd, even if I have an xbox. :)

Stinky

I would say that even if the footage were aired in context of the PS3, they should still get a kick up the arse for implying gameplay.

Andrew Martinez

big deal. who cares.

cobacel

Who gives a cookie ? Did it show the game ? Yes it did ! That's all that mattered .

Ray Tarded

Meh... doesn't surprise me one bit. Everyone, with the exception of clueless fanboys, has been accustomed to Sony's lies and deceit for a good many years now.

Hecatonchira

Not surprising; they do stuff like this with plenty of multiplat games.

Steven Ellenberger

Okay guys to settle this the reason they're making such a huge deal of it is because they were using footage from the ps3 version to advertise the 360 version to make more sales than they should have that's what the big deal is...it's a minor one but it's still false advertising which is ridiculously illegal