Square to squeeze FFXIII onto 360 with little compromise
by Randy Nelson 
{ Jul 17th 2008 at 5:00PM }
Kitase is also looking to the arcane arts of graphics programming "to ensure that the quality [of in-game visuals] remains the same between the two versions," as well. We suggest he trademark the name "Squeaze" for whatever method the team eventually settles on for cramming a Blu-ray based game onto (a number of) DVDs. Such a catchy name will certainly make the tech more marketable to other developers bringing their PS3 exclusives to 360.
[Via X3F]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Dave @ Jul 17th 2008 5:04PM
This still stings. A lot.
Jonah Falcon @ Jul 17th 2008 6:01PM
Why? PS3 isn't losing it.
Dave @ Jul 17th 2008 5:10PM
I'll admit that it's just my inner PS3 fanboy pride. It's like if Gears of War II went multi-platform. FF has been a Sony brand since FFVII.
Duke @ Jul 17th 2008 5:10PM
Because they lost a flagship RPG exclusive. Them losing it is not necessary for it to burn people.
4MyFriends @ Jul 17th 2008 5:11PM
Now Sony fans know how betrayed Nintendo fans felt.
GoldenS1104 @ Jul 17th 2008 5:13PM
I agree with Jonah. Now everybody gets to play it. The only people I can see being upset with reason are the people who bought a PS3 soley to play FFXIII. But I can't imagine too many people legitamately did that, especially since the game isn't out yet. It seems like it would be a waste to pay over $400 just to play one game.
To feel that you have been betrayed is a little bit silly as is all brand loyalty. I think Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony proved at their press conferences this year that being loyal to any brand is never a safe bet. You're better off just going with the flow and seeing which company's games you prefer at a given time.
Hyams @ Jul 17th 2008 5:22PM
4MyFriends, you say that like it isn't coming to the PS3 anymore.
WE haven't been betrayed - we're still getting the game. Sony has been 'bertrayed', yes, but not the PS3 owners. We're not losing out on anything.
arrrgh @ Jul 17th 2008 5:35PM
it's cool i'm sure they'll pass the betrayal on to the end user just like they did with the rootkit
Jonah Falcon @ Jul 17th 2008 6:04PM
Will this sting?
http://www.gamestooge.com/2008/07/17/e3-metal-gear-solid-4-on-360-inevitable/
FireStiq @ Jul 17th 2008 6:13PM
I think FFXII went Multi-platform was because MGS4 wasn't a big hit as was predicted and with millions spent to develop it, Square didn't see the worth on releasing it on one platform. go multi-plat like Capcom did with DMC4 and make googobs of money.
my 2 cents, I could be wrong though.
Vcize @ Jul 17th 2008 6:18PM
Golden, some games are worth $400. Knowing how much fun I've gotten out of a game like Gears I would gladly pay $400 for it if I were forced to (the disc itself, not even the whole console that comes with it) and it would still be a tremendous bargain.
For me, MGS4 and FF13 were worth $400. Now one is gone. InFamous and God of War 3 (on top of MGS4) still make it worth it though.
Hyams @ Jul 17th 2008 6:25PM
FireStiq: MGS4 has already sold between 2 and 3 million copies (depending on who you ask). Sounds like it was indeed a big hit to me. =)
BananaBoat @ Jul 17th 2008 6:56PM
This should sting PS3 owners in the sense that Japanese companies are realizing they'll make more money if they dual-release, and thus they are mostly abandoning Sony, especially since Sony so stubbornly refuses to give money hats in exchange for exclusivity (a thing that Microsoft has no problems doing).
In other words, except for niche anime games, train simulators, and what have you, there won't be very many PS3 exclusives in the future besides first party games. Money hats kinda have that effect on developers.... makes them want to dual release. (Or in the case of things like GTA downloadable content, exclusively release)
bigsofty @ Jul 17th 2008 8:36PM
Great more 99.9999% pre-rendered cutscene CGI crap... oh lets not forget the antiquated RPG gameplay too... the PS3 can keep it... bordom!
klitorisaurus @ Jul 18th 2008 1:16AM
If this game fits one one DVD then I'm most definitely NOT buying it.
The_Doctor @ Jul 18th 2008 2:51AM
I agree completely and whole-heartedly with GoldenS1104. I love my PS3 buy I'm definitely buying an 360 for Fable 2 and a bunch of other games that seem cool on the xbox. I for one am happy for xbox owners who get to play this game. I don't know what the big deal is...
4MyFriends @ Jul 17th 2008 5:04PM
That's nice. As long as it isn't over 4 discs I won't mind, it didn't harm my enjoyment of Lost Odyssey one bit.
Volomon @ Jul 17th 2008 6:55PM
As long as they don't have to lower the PS3 versions quality in order to maintain a more equal format for the two versions, I don't mind at all.
Co @ Jul 17th 2008 7:58PM
No I'm sorry. You just cannot talk about the 360 and not compromising in the same sentence.
You compromise WHENEVER the 360 is involved. Let's run down the list.
You compromise:
-social life
-integrity
-sanity
-all around joyfulness
-the chance to enjoy any other soda other than Mountain Dew
-variety
-GETTING LAID
hahahahaahahahah!!!
Gun Barrier (Gamer Tag) @ Jul 17th 2008 8:01PM
as long as they don't lower the quality on the 360 version to match the ps3 version.
Benny @ Jul 17th 2008 9:28PM
Funnily enough Co, I'm a 360 owner and seem to have greater "all round joyfulness" than you do.
Someone who has so much time to bitch and whine about a bunch of plastic and solder surely can't be content.
tc @ Jul 17th 2008 5:04PM
squeezing sharp squares is seriously sore
Jake11 @ Jul 17th 2008 5:04PM
I don't think anyone will really care if it's on 2 dvds.
Jake11 @ Jul 17th 2008 5:05PM
I don't think anyone will really care if it's on 2 dvds
Jake11 @ Jul 17th 2008 5:06PM
mother trucker
Hashbrown Hunter @ Jul 17th 2008 5:07PM
Well...it just might be more than 2. Who knows at this point.
Ordeith @ Jul 17th 2008 5:07PM
I found humor in your comment duplication.
unrelated @ Jul 17th 2008 5:08PM
Ha, your comment is like the storage capabilities of the 360's DVD... get it, two comments... two DVD's...nevemind.
Hyams @ Jul 17th 2008 5:10PM
Two isn't bad, nor is three or four. Anything over that is probably pushing things a bit.
kevin @ Jul 17th 2008 5:34PM
I'd rather use 2 dvds then waste space and time by installing something on the hdd. Although I won't be buying the game so it doesn't affect me.
dark_inchworm @ Jul 17th 2008 8:23PM
Two isn't bad, nor is three or four. Anything over that and people will likely start falling out of bed.
Wait, wrong thread, sorry people.
Jonah Falcon @ Jul 17th 2008 5:06PM
Pssst. Fall update. Installation of games onto hard drive. Problem solved.
Hashbrown Hunter @ Jul 17th 2008 5:08PM
There goes all of your hard drive space. You know, the one you spent a gajillion dollars on? Yeah...THAT one.
Hyams @ Jul 17th 2008 5:13PM
Cramming 25 to 50 gigabites onto your hard drive doesn't sound like a good idea to me. Especially if you only have a 20 gigabite hard drive, like most 360 owners.
But seriously, how many hours would it take to install?
arrrgh @ Jul 17th 2008 5:37PM
NOTE:
360 dash update is for OPTIONAL GAME INSTALLS in order to reduce wear on the discs, not to institute mandatory installs
Hyams @ Jul 17th 2008 5:40PM
No one is claiming otherwise, dude. =)
The fact that it's optional doesn't change the fact that that's a hell of a lot of data to dump onto your hard drive.
time @ Jul 17th 2008 6:16PM
If it's more than one disc, I'm gonna install all of them except disc one. I wonder if we're still gonna have to switch discs if we do that...
Rowdehaj @ Jul 18th 2008 7:39AM
YES YOU WILL seeing as you need the disc to be in the drive to play an 'installed' game.
Hashbrown Hunter @ Jul 17th 2008 5:07PM
So how many discs do you think this one will have? My guess?
13! ROFL
xFenixKnightx @ Jul 17th 2008 5:08PM
no
Scotto @ Jul 17th 2008 5:10PM
Ruh-roh! Judging by your two insightful posts in this thread, I'd say we've got a member of the SDF on hand here.
- Scott
ChuckJ @ Jul 17th 2008 5:28PM
It depends on how much useless crap they put into it. If they shove the game full of 'extra' crap just to help Sony justify the Bluray player, then that is nonsense.
I am all for a format with more space. But, there is no reason games today need to take up more than a 3 DVDs max. Nearly all games will fit on 1. It's the FF type games that are filled with so many damn CGI clips and what not that would take up a lot a lot of space.
Aaron @ Jul 17th 2008 6:39PM
ChuckJ says:
"But, there is no reason games today need to take up more than a 3 DVDs max. Nearly all games will fit on 1. It's the FF type games that are filled with so many damn CGI clips and what not that would take up a lot a lot of space."
But, there is no reason games today need to take up more than one cartridge. Nearly all games will fit on 1. FF type games that are filled with so many damn CGI clips and what not that would take up a lot a lot of space.
That Playstation and it's fancy schmancy CD-ROMs. Doesn't Sony understand that cartridges are enough!!!
Volomon @ Jul 17th 2008 6:59PM
@ChuckJ Ya thats exactly why I bought a PS3 with bluray so when games are multiplatform they remove all the extra CGI content and all the extras just so they can fit it on your format (DVD).
Hashbrown Hunter @ Jul 18th 2008 1:27AM
Wow. Light-hearted joke. Not an attack to 360. Sheesh, no wonder people put "/sarcasm" tags on their comments. People on Joystiq take everything seriously.
Hashbrown Hunter @ Jul 18th 2008 1:35AM
@ Scotto:
I only attack things that the Big 3 do stupidly. For example, the launch and first year of PS3 were disastrous, I lashed out at them for removing BC, and I hate them for not doing anything interesting with Home.
Nintendo...well that press conference was punishment enough.
Microsoft does some things stupid also. Take for example Avatars, new Dashboard, RRoD handling, paying for Games for Windows Live when it should be free, etc.
While I do prefer Sony, I don't own a PS3 and I don't own any other next-gen systems. I have my PC, PSP, PS2, and I'm happy. I'm also give credit where credits due. Microsoft's idea with Achievements was absolutely brilliant and Sony basically ripped them off. So there.
wired2thewall @ Jul 18th 2008 12:28PM
Yup everyone steals everything from each other. The greatest compliment than can be given.
Sony, Steam and Blizzard stole achievements from MS
Sony stole PSN idea from MS' XBL
Sony stole Micro-transactions from MS
Sony stole themes from MS
Sony stole sixaxis from Nintendo - wiimote
MS stole "Vision cam" from Sony
MS stole microphone singing game from Sony
MS stole avatars from Nintendo
MS stole HDD install from Sony (not the best thing)
MS stole dashboard update from PSN (keep it fresh)!
MS stole controller from Sony who stole it from Nintendo
Geez I hope I got that all right or I'm going to be flamed - the point is that all the companies have copied from each other. If they can tweak and improve on something - then that's good. Face it, no company is a supreme innovator anymore (well aside from Google ;)
Accept the fact that the company that you root for and makes you feel safe and secure in your purchase has, at some point, stole and implemented an idea and may have even tried to pass it off as it's own invention.
Superstar90 @ Jul 17th 2008 5:07PM
I don't mind how much discs this game will be, I just want to see battle footage. That is always my deciding factor for any RPG. I hate slow menu-based stuff, but not all turn-based game are like that.
Hyams @ Jul 17th 2008 5:08PM
Lost Odyssey was on 4 DVD's with pseudo-mediocre graphics, few CGI videos, and less voice acting that I'd have liked (less than FFX, about the same ammount as FFXII).
Here's hoping Square Enix manage to squeeze Final Fantasy into 4 or 5 DVD's without any loss in quality.
Benny @ Jul 17th 2008 5:50PM
I imagine the Lost Odyssey devs weren't too thorough with their compression though. The cost of putting the game onto 4 discs is probably little compared to the cost of the effort needed to squeeze it onto 2.
Square probably knows that any more than 4 discs is going to put people off, so will most likely work to make it fit that. Hell, if Microsoft fund it, they might even try to get it onto 3 discs, or even 2.