Sony's Reeves talking up FFXIII exclusivity in Japan
by Randy Nelson 
{ Aug 26th 2008 at 9:00PM }
When we spoke with SCEA president Jack Tretton during E3 about Final Fantasy XIII going multiplatform in the US, he was quite frank about the impact the game's PS3 exclusivity in Japan would (or wouldn't) have for the company. "Seeing as there isn't that big of a [PS3] installed base in Japan, I don't know how big of a coup that is for us," he admitted.
Across the Atlantic, Sony Europe boss David Reeves seemingly gets his Japanese PS3 sales figures broken down by individual components. Speaking with VG247 during last week's Leipzig Games Convention, Reeves said, "I think that just as we got a massive blip up with GTA IV – which was not exclusive – we'll get exactly the same blip up with Final Fantasy," adding that, "I know [FFXIII] will look great on PS3 and – it's up to Microsoft to clarify this – it's still exclusive in Japan."
While we're still betting on higher sales of the PS3 version over the 360 release domestically, it really seems as if Reeves is living in the mid- to late-1990s, when Japan was still SCEI's most important territory. Times have changed, Sir.
[Update: Corrected a Sony exec mix-up. They're all the same to us, you know.]
Across the Atlantic, Sony Europe boss David Reeves seemingly gets his Japanese PS3 sales figures broken down by individual components. Speaking with VG247 during last week's Leipzig Games Convention, Reeves said, "I think that just as we got a massive blip up with GTA IV – which was not exclusive – we'll get exactly the same blip up with Final Fantasy," adding that, "I know [FFXIII] will look great on PS3 and – it's up to Microsoft to clarify this – it's still exclusive in Japan."
While we're still betting on higher sales of the PS3 version over the 360 release domestically, it really seems as if Reeves is living in the mid- to late-1990s, when Japan was still SCEI's most important territory. Times have changed, Sir.
[Update: Corrected a Sony exec mix-up. They're all the same to us, you know.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
juju187 @ Aug 26th 2008 9:05PM
to much talk not enuff action...
TMGE_rock @ Aug 26th 2008 9:47PM
+ to much FFXIII not enuff Versus! ^^
SoulBlade @ Aug 26th 2008 9:06PM
Can't really blame him given the (brief) success the 360 saw with Vesperia.
Ninegauger @ Aug 26th 2008 9:09PM
I don't know... if JRPG fans want to play any before FFXIII they'll probably already have a 360... so I'd still guess a slight advantage for the 360 (in numbers if not attach rate). This is assuming, of course, that the 360 version isn't obviously inferior (meaning something more substantial than having to change discs).
Vidikron (FU) @ Aug 26th 2008 10:26PM
@ice~
Both MS and Sony have capable in-house game studios. There would never be a point where it would only be Nintendo with exclusives.
Vidikron (FU) @ Aug 26th 2008 10:28PM
Sorry, meant to reply below.
Cerberus @ Aug 26th 2008 9:15PM
Unfortunatley it appears Sony is still living in the dark ages about where Sony is in the NPD. Do they not understand that they are globally last? Exclusivity DOES matter for Sony. Take MGS4 for example where people bought a PS3 for it. People were planning to do the same thing with FFXIII but now there is no point with it also coming on Xbox 360. Sony needs to desperatley take hold of any exclusives it can get and not let it go. It was a terrible choice to drop the ball on FFXIII and Sony can't afford to lose exclusivity in Japan.
Vidikron (FU) @ Aug 26th 2008 10:27PM
Did you even bother to read the article?
ice~ @ Aug 26th 2008 9:12PM
Head my warning, exclusivity to consumes is going to be a big big issue later this gen, or next gen for that matter :( and that's bad for us gamers
Microswirl (MKWii:1676- 4270-3674) @ Aug 26th 2008 9:16PM
How so? Are you saying consumers DO want exclusivity or they DON'T want it? Either way...
(intializing flame shield)
Cerberus @ Aug 26th 2008 9:23PM
@microswirl: I think what hes saying is that although consumers don't want exclusivity, since people buy consoles based on exclusivity that throughout the rest of this generation and next generation its going to play a big part in sales for Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony's consoles.
ice~ @ Aug 26th 2008 9:41PM
my main point is that now games are pretty expensive to develop, and the developers get their money from the big MS or Sony in exchange for exclusivity, but now, most companies see it more profitable to go multi platform, unless your Halo and have microsoft spewing millions out the ass for you....I think eventually, Nintendo will be the company with the only exclusives, but I'm just a 17 year old gamer so my opinion isn't really credible =P
Vidikron (FU) @ Aug 26th 2008 10:28PM
@ice~
Both MS and Sony have capable in-house game studios. There would never be a point where it would only be Nintendo with exclusives.
Microswirl (MKWii:1676- 4270-3674) @ Aug 27th 2008 12:51AM
My take on this is that consumers (not third parties or console makers) actually *DON'T* want exclusives. It's kinda like if you could only watch certain movies on certain brands of DVD-players. Personally I wanted to play Gears of War *AND* Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. It would have been nice to save $400 and still be able to do that, but that's just not possible because of console exclusivity. Now why some gamers on both sides are in favor of exclusives is beyond me... I think it's a real pissing competition.
Foetoid @ Aug 27th 2008 5:48AM
Easy solution. Buy a Wii, get the best exclusives. I mean, if you look at the current library (including VC/WiiWare) you've got a good 50+ A+ games to own with about 20 being actual Wii games.
xGeneral DEATHx @ Aug 27th 2008 10:38AM
"Head" your warning??
syrik zero @ Aug 26th 2008 9:14PM
Haven't you played FFVII?! Reeves is an under cover machine! Don't listen to or believe him!
Ayrkain @ Aug 26th 2008 11:38PM
This Reeves in particular took potshots at SCEA when they announced price-cuts last year. Why couldn't they have kept Phil Harrison and dumped this guy?
the_insider @ Aug 27th 2008 12:47AM
I think it was Phil Harrison who dumped Sony and not the other way around... ;)
CesarSalad @ Aug 26th 2008 9:19PM
that picture is pure comedy, just look at his face ROFL!
Immortal Technique PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Aug 26th 2008 10:17PM
thats Howard stringer btw not Reeves
Foetoid @ Aug 27th 2008 5:54AM
He's sporting a "Just-hopped-off-a-cock" look on his face.
Albanian_Killa @ Aug 26th 2008 9:22PM
You can't really blame him for being excited. Sony knew they were going to lose Final Fantasy exclusivity due to a poor start to this generation, but strengthening their Japanese install base with this exclusivity, and actually having the PS3 be the first system for the title to release at the same time is good news for Sony in order to attract more sales.
Kspraydad @ Aug 26th 2008 9:27PM
The CEO of SONY is Stringer right? And that is his picture right?
I thought the story was about Reeves though...he is the CEO of SCEE not SONY.
I'm confused.
Immortal Technique PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Aug 26th 2008 10:19PM
actually you are not confused at all. you have it all correct. that is stringer not reeves. stringer is the ceo of sony.
Boo @ Aug 26th 2008 9:28PM
Across the Atlantic? Wouldn't the correct term be 'Across the Pacific'?
Slayer @ Aug 26th 2008 9:34PM
Doesn't matter to me at all. As long as I get the play the game, I'm good.
Killjebus @ Aug 26th 2008 9:37PM
We shall see if Mr. Stringer is right when the demo releases this fall. I wonder, does the FF series still hold the same grip in Japan that it has had for over a decade on Playstation?
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Aug 26th 2008 9:59PM
I always figured that Japan cared more about Dragonquest than they do about Final fantasy. I mean doesn't Final Fantasy sell much more in the states and europe anyways?
Immortal Technique PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Aug 26th 2008 10:20PM
jeebus
do you want to play some hot shots tonight? I am thinking of grabbing kratos. I havent played since we use to a few months back
Killjebus @ Aug 26th 2008 11:01PM
Hey, number5...I just got home. my wife is watching her CSI on tivo...should be over in under an hour. after the show is over, i will look 4 u online.
OMGOMG @ Aug 26th 2008 9:57PM
Wow, Alex Trebek has gained some weight.
Antonio @ Aug 26th 2008 10:19PM
That guy is the personification of the 'business person who never touched a game but feels qualified to talk about the biz.' I long for the day those people no longer exist
Poisoned Al @ Aug 26th 2008 10:28PM
If I worked for Sony or Microsoft, and didn't hate JRPGs, this would be really interesting.
OmegaVader @ Aug 26th 2008 10:45PM
Too bad they need the exclusivity where they *don't* have the market share already.
gutron @ Aug 26th 2008 11:03PM
In other news:
Joystiq still making whiney, trivial, futile swipes at Sony.
Poisoned Al @ Aug 27th 2008 8:35AM
In other news: A whiny fanboy tries to deal with buyers remorse and fails.
Bob @ Aug 26th 2008 11:05PM
Don't they have enough FF games. I didn't think the last one was that good.
jimmygotsmack @ Aug 26th 2008 11:08PM
If I ever had to tell bad news to a close friend, say, like, your parents died, you an unknown sickness with no chance of recovering. Your house blew up. I would gladly hire Sony to tell them. Nothing bad ever seem to effect them.
lordwindowlicker @ Aug 26th 2008 11:14PM
This is actually pretty important, if you are a whiney.. exclusive counting, douchebag. For the rest of us gamers, it doesn't matter.. because we already have one of the systems it will appear on in America.
Oh, and remember children.. an idiot is still an idiot. It doesn't matter which side of the fence he is sitting on.
jrm @ Aug 26th 2008 11:25PM
>>"Seeing as there isn't that big of a [PS3] installed base in Japan, I don't know how big of a coup that is for us," he admitted.
I'm pretty sure he's saying that the 360 doesnt have a big install base, and that it's not a big coup for it to be on the PS3 because it'd already vast outsell the version for the system that nobody owns. God joystiq, use common sense when reporting.
Purple Haze @ Aug 26th 2008 11:51PM
He's right though, Final Fantasy games tend to sell around half of their sales in Japan alone, so being an exclusive in Japan is still a pretty big deal.
Dwag @ Aug 27th 2008 12:46AM
Sad thing is I'm starting to believe FFXIII will be released in JP on the 360.
@Vidkron(FU)
MS' in house is weak compared to the likes of stuff like Sony and Nintendo.
Negativecool @ Aug 27th 2008 12:58AM
Brilliant pic.
Caption:
Ewrruurrr!!...
Metal_Gear @ Aug 27th 2008 5:12AM
The Playstation has the full Final Fantasy 13 experience globally, just like in a few months Microsoft will be shouting about the 360 is the only place to get the full Grand Theft Auto 4 experience.
j.howlett @ Aug 27th 2008 5:55AM
he can talk up exclusivity in japan. microsoft talks up their lead in north america while ignoring wii dominance, and they try to get games the playstation has
Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Aug 27th 2008 6:11AM
Couple of games do not create market. Neither couple exclusives.
If they really care about growing their market, they should start printing more cheaper games. That worked for all consoles.
But as long as development on PS3 and Xbox360 remains as expensive as it is, whatever they do to dethrone Wii is futile. Looking thru consoles stats, it was always coming up as a rule: most popular console has always lots of shovelware and about 10% of gems. "Roses in the dung pile" saying coming up constantly in my mind. Abundance of shovelware, if nothing else, means that console is easily accessible to developers and the developers are open to experiment. Failed game on Wii means much less than failed game on PS3 or Xbox360.
And by ditching PS2 compatibility, PS3 now has to rely on PS3 titles exclusively. And they are scarce, especially in RPG department. Looking in the Jap game market, it is filled with cheap one-day games often made as a thing for fans. I can't imaging such games (nor do they exist) on PS3/PSP/Xbox. DS and PS2 is filled with them. Wii is starting to get such titles now too. In the end that would mean that fewer developers are working on PS3 games - more developers are working on Wii games => more chances to good Wii games.
j.howlett @ Aug 27th 2008 6:43AM
i'm having trouble connecting that essay to what i typed
colinbell @ Aug 27th 2008 6:45AM
Well, I wouldnt blame him for being excited - Sony still has MGS4 exclusive and FF13 exclusive in Japan, the one place where it will sell a million consoles., while they have snatched Bioshock from the 360, with Mass Effect soon to follow.
Duke 2 @ Aug 27th 2008 9:57AM
why is it all the FFXIII character shots look incredibly sleep deprived and / or wasted?
is this some kind of demographic market research takeaway that perfectly race-blended mouth-breather looking characters have the most appeal to the average potential buyer of the game?