Soul Calibur III non-exclusive?

by Ross Miller { Jul 28th 2005 at 6:18PM }

UPDATE: As of 10:13 or so, GameStop has taken down the link. So the mysterious, I suppose will linger on a bit longer until an official announcement is made. Thanks, CapAmerica for the tip.

A few very observant readers have noted that GameStop is now accepting pre-orders for Soul Calibur III on the Xbox (which, it claims, will be playable on Xbox Live). No release date is set (though the PlayStation 2 version is still scheduled for October 25th), and there is no confirmation from Namco on whether or not this is true or just wishful thinking on GameStop's part. I'd bet it's true, since the game sold pretty well on all three consoles (no word on a GameCube port just yet) and Namco is a company, so naturally it's going to want a profit. Sony might get an exclusive on the game for a few months, but never fear - sooner or later it's bound to hit at least one other console.

[Thanks, master x 24 and Efren Abrego]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Danny Boy @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

THANK GOD! I hope this is true, I love Soul Calibur.

Nathaniel @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Didn't the Gamecube version of Soul Calibur 2 sell more?

Pseudo @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

AW SHUCKS, I was looking forward to longer loading times and crappier visuals....c'mon, Sony....bust out that checkbook and talk MONEY!!!!

Danny Boy @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Probably, playing as Link was cool.

Im sure a lot of people bought the game just because Link was in it.

Ross Miller @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

I don't have the most recent numbers, but I did find this link from quite a bit ago; it shows the figures for the first 6 months of the game's release. GameCube does have the lead, but Sony isn't that far behind: http://cube.ign.com/articles/475/475106p1.html

Imp @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

The link theory is applicable, but so is the theory that people love the Gamecube controller.

CcntMnky @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

General feeling about the three versions (no necessarily EVERYONE's opinions):

1) Gamecube and X-Box has equivalent graphics, slightly better framerates than PS2.

2) X-Box's Spawn was too strong, played cheap. PS2's Heihachi wasn't strong enough. Link was well balanced with the game, but took some practice to get good at.

3) X-Box and PS2's controllers had the best layout (Gamecube doesn't have the standard 4-button orientation).

For the record, I have the Gamecube version with a custom-built arcade controller. Yay for best of all worlds!

Ryuukuro @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

They have a rumor of an X-Box version but nothing for GameCube?

We need this. We DESERVE this. Screw Link. I wanna make my own fighters. And the new guy is BLACK!!! We always need more non-thug black characters in games.

Oh, please, God. Please, please, please...

CapAmerica @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

WOHOO!!!!!

Come on We all know that if a Xbox version is coming so is a GameCube version. The GameCube version fo Soul Calibur II out sold the Xbox and PS2 versions.

I have a really good feeling that a Cube version is out there. With Sonic MegaCollection and Super MonkeyBall GameStop didn't post the fact that it was coming to the PS2 untill it was announced, yet they broke the news of the Xbox versions a couple months before Sega said anything. I have a feeling the Cube version is going to be the same way.

The second the GameCube version pops up on GameStops site I'm so reserving it!

dan @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

I can't imagine why they wouldn't do a Cube version.

I wonder if they'll have unique characters again, that was a great gimmick.

PS2 definitely got shafted, though. I always thought the PS2 character should have been Tony Vercetti.

Cale @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

What about us PSP owning folk Namco? Surely the system is capable of a portable version of Soul Calibur.

Mr. Pointy @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Can't wait for a Cube version. I'll be practicing on my friend's PS2 copy until then.

CapAmerica @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

GameStop took the link off at 10:13am EST.

Ryuukuro @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Sigh.

Here's a suggestion for Joystiq writers. Get your journalist hats on and find out what Sony did to make Namco PS2 exclusive. There is no way Namco would do something that seems so stupid unless they're going to get a lot of money out of it. My hope is gone so I need a reason for this travesty.

Ross Miller @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Wait, we get hats? Are they baseball caps or those cool gatsby hats? Man, I wish I had known that, hats are cool. In all seriousness, though, Namco won't say why, and I assure you, the day they return our e-mails with a reply that actually says something newsworthy (i.e. not "no comment" or any of that), we will post it. It'd be a monumental occasion.

But yeah, I think no doubt money was involved here.

Yellow Texan @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

14.

http://ps2.ign.com/articles/599/599333p1.html

The only want to focus on one system in this sequel. It helps that the PS2 is the top selling video game system worldwide despite the Gamecube version sold the most. Honestly most likely the reason why the Gamecube version sold the most is because the cool bonus character compare to the other two. The Playstation 2 version of the game was a close second in sales. If you put those reasons: 1.) More households own a PS2 worldwide, 2.) The PS2 version was a close second in sales, 3.) Because of the "tight schedule."

The next version will probably be multiple platform if the fanboys are worrying about the Soulcalibur series will be a "Sony-exclusive" (or for only a couple months ala GTA).

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/608/608407p1.html