Square Enix cut a game's worth of content from Final Fantasy XIII

Yes. I wouldn't be surprised to hear someone from SquareEnix admit this soon, either. Considering the Rockstar devs said much the same.

haha i was kind of thinking the same thing... hell i sure hope not

being a ps360 gamer ill hate to b*tch slap my 360.... well its does deserve it once in a while though

Doubtful. A lot of games get large chunks cut out because of things like playtests. When asked how long GoW 3 would be they couldn't say for sure because they know if parts don't playtest well they'll cut them out entirely. The "limitations of the 360" pretty much boils down to DVD space, and there's nothing stopping them from making it a 4-dvd game. I also doubt they would have invested in porting the game to the 360 if it meant throwing away months or years worth of the content that they'd already developed.

Square said that the costs involved prevented them from making a 4DVD game.

Seriously? It would be just as easy to pack another disc in the case if space was a factor which I don't think it was.

Remember, DLC is what developers are looking into to keep the money flowing when they can keep a game alive. My prediction is that all the stuff that was cut out, will be edited back in by way of DLC packs for 1600 MS Points or 19.99 from your local Playstation Store and Xbox Live within 6 months of the release.

It seems like the perfect setup for it am I right?

@ Wocyob Should we blame the 360 or Microsoft? I'm gonna go with Microsoft.

@Bradwart

So a small company like Mistwalker can afford to make a 4-dvd game and large Square doesn't? I doubt it.

Microsoft published that game. They ate a lot of overhead in an attempt to push the 360 on Japanese gamers.

@Debikul

You think Mistwalker and SE share the same situation? I wouldn't hesitate to guess that Mistwalker was let of the hook for having so many discs. You do something exclusively for Microsoft's console, a JRPG no less (when there were very few on the console and I'm sure they were planning on stealing Sony's JRPG fanbase a bit with Lost Odyssey), you'll reap some benefits. One of those benefits was the fee (discounted or not even there) for the amount of discs used. It's a common thing for MS to give slack to their first party and exclusive 3rd party game developers.

Your logic makes little sense to a company trying to make a profit. They aren't going to throw money away if they don't need to.

So you are saying that if Square asked for some help with the 4th dvd that Microsoft would say no considering how important it is to Microsoft to finally get the FF series on the 360 (excluding 11)?

I'm sure Microsoft would have been more than happy to hook them up considering how much they stand to make off the game. Wouldn't you think the same? If they were willing to take a hit for Mistwalker you would think they would take a hit for Square.

You're dealing with a Japanese company. There'd be some serious pride issues in asking for help with the publishing costs, and Microsoft would demand exclusive DLC, which I doubt anyone is willing to do. Remember the Square developer who said "If FFXIII Versus goes to 360, I quit!"?

@Shadowbender

If you're going to blame anyone blame Square. They decided to develop for the 360 knowing full well the storage limitations and the royalties-per-disc issues. If space is really what caused a games worth of cuts, they could have easily kept it a PS3 exclusive in order to make the game they wanted to. Most of the FF fanbase is on the PS3 as it is, and it seems to me like one of the rarer games that's going to sell a lot better on the PS3 than it will on the 360.

Having worked on a pretty big title for the 360 (it was also multiplatform) they were refusing to ignore a pretty small and in my opinion insignificant TCR violation that some of their own exclusives didn't pass. I honestly can't understand why they didn't let it go and neither could the programmers, so I can see with confidence it is entirely possible they didn't allow it.

To be honest, I think SE approached MS about FFXIII being on the console and not the other way around. And if thats the case, then its also possible that they would have less leverage on things like this.

I bet this happens quite often with FF, just that we don't here of it, and they usually don't cut quite so much.

Like the whole 'scandle' that they cut Aeris's resurrection from FFVII?

I assume that the game was too long as is.

Nah, I'm sure they cut out a ton of content so they can sell it as DLC just to piss off all of the Joystiq readers.

Nah but seriously... They probably just had a ton of content and wanted to cut everything that could be considered filler. They wanted to cut everything that just didn't make the cut. bahah.

The differences between SO4 on the PS3 and 360 should be enough evidence. Not the added content, but being able to go from planet to planet freely with no disc changing.

It pretty clear now that the reason FFXIII is so linear is that it was tooled to be on multiple discs.

Seriously, you guys are fucking hilarious.

Do you realize how much stuff gets cut from video games? A lot. Chances are that these sections faired poorly in playtests, as people probably complained about grinding or things dragging on too long here. I wish like hell one of you would just get a job in the software industry so you could finally understand how the whole process works instead wanting to get some use out of all those jump to conclusions mattes you purchased.

I guess all those deleted scenes in blu-ray movies are just because 50gb discs are too small, right?

@Godmars

I was afraid of this when this game went multi-platform.
But sadly it came true...

They likely cut it for the same reasons scenes are cut from movies. They slowed the pacing, deviated too far from the point, or didn't fit correctly. QA testing is also an issue, forget "focus" or "play" tests. Titles this massive require tens of thousands of test hours. If something in these areas was seriously flawed, crashed, or suffered from any number of issues and it wasn't essential to the story it is conceivable that it would be removed.

The number of discs doesn't play into the submission process, only if the transition from one to another failed or crashed for some reason. The title is tested as a single submission regardless of the number of discs, and DLC packs and patches are submitted separately.

As others have stated, it is likely a play to get some easy DLC money, and time to perfect some of those areas that were cut from the disc.

If anyone has a link to the information regarding the assumption that the number of discs is a major issue, please provide it in a reply because I would love to read it.

@Mafiacrooks.

The 360 limitations probably had nothing to do with the cuts. I'm guessing most of the cuts were made before the decision to go multi-platform. This is a game that has been in development for years so there was bound to be loads that didn't make it.

The PS3 version would be no different had it remained an exclusive.

Okay, no more "cut from movies because it can't fit on a disc BS". Movies have cut scenes and deleted scenes to reduce screen time. A quick google search for "scenes cut reduce run time" will show you a couple wikipedia entries for movies explaining why some of the scenes were cut in those movies (one of the should be fight club). A good example would probably be the Lord of the Rings series, considering there were huge chunks taken out, but when you bought the DVDs they added all the scenes back into the movie, and they were all polished like every other scene.

Also, remember this article? http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/carmack-rage-to-look-worse-on-360-if-limited-to-two-dvds/
Joystiq themselves reference the fee for multiple discs. If thats not enough proof for you I'm sure you can find a direct quote from id or information about the fee elsewhere.

And some of us DO have jobs in the industry, and we know its very unlikely an *entire games worth* of content will be cut because it didn't click with the rest of the game. Remember this game was in development for a very long time, and on the PS3 far before the 360. There have been articles about SE using a dual layer blu-ray disc for the game. So, 50GB on PS3 (well, actually less because of sony security software and other stuff, I don't know the exact value but probably a GB or 2), and ~25GB for 3 dual layer discs (minus about 1 to 1.5 GB per disc for the same reason as Sony).

It's not like developers start going crazy and developing a whole ton of shit without considering how much storage they'll need. It's a waste of development costs having to develop and then cut all this stuff, but they are banking on making up for it with 360 software sales.

It's entirely possible this stuff will be used for DLC, and not be a complete waste. But to say it has nothing to do with storage is naive.

It's a turn-based/real time strategy RPG....but it's still the same ol'. I've heard that this was the weakest so far :( It has a really shiney coat, a really dead inside. :?

No FF isn't any good anymore, hasn't bee since X nearly 10 years ago. Yes it's still turn based. People will tell you it's not, that it uses active time battle systems and shit but that's just another name for turn based, since you can't attack until your gauge fills (and usually by then, you've been hit at least once)

As far as I know there's no FPS parts. It still for the most part, like most jrpgs, uses mechanics and gameplay that's over 10-15 years old. You're probably better off with Borderlands or other western rpgs if you want modern gameplay in your RPG.

Been almost a year since I last played it, but didn't FF12 completely change the battle mechanic and make it non-turn based? Sure it was still turns in a sense (I mean with things like haste/slow, it implies that turns are at least a background mechanic), but it was a lot more free than others in the series.

Then again, most people hated FF12 for having the gambit system that basically battled for you. With the right setup you could just let it play a battle for you.

And tmac, the series has changed. A lot in some areas, not so much in others. It's just a series that tries to keep the core experience similar while vastly changing in a select few areas. The battle system has changed the most since it started on the PS2. The level up/skill tree/sphere grid/etc section also changes pretty regularly. The core gameplay however usually stays the same (as do most of the enemy types, summons/aeons, etc.)

Yes because shooting guns is such a great evolution.

/sarcasm

Not everyone likes traditional RPGs and its understandable. But, at the same time not everyone likes shooters with rpg elements tacked on. Anyway my best friend played and beat the game (our tastes are very similar in games) and he said it's the best FF in some ways (at least number 2 on his list and he's played all of them) with his favorite still being FF6. He put about 45 hours into the game and said that it'd take another 50 hours to get all the characters and weapons maxed and to do all the hunting side quests. I asked if the linearity detracted from the experience (biggest complaint online) and he said for him it didn't. I asked him to give a score out of 100 and he said it'd be a 95 but if it had a world map and airship it'd been a 100. According to him its the most beautiful game he's ever seen ... he said imagine MGS4 without any graphical flaws to the 100th degree. When he finishes the hunting quests he's offered to let me borrow it but I'm not sure if I want to because I can't read Japanese like him.

I don't see the need to hate on the game. If you don't like it thats fine but rambling like a petulant child because it doesn't have guns to shoot is shallow. If you like action games then play something in the vein of Uncharted, Gears of War or Mass Effect. If you want an RPG experience play White Knight, Final Fantasy or Star Ocean. Plenty of each to placate whatever type of play style you have.

FF12's combat didn't change anything. It ties into what I said above, you have a gauge and you cannot attack until the gauge fills. Meanwhile, as you wait for it to fill yes you can run around, but you cannot dodge enemy attacks on your own will and power.

It's a false sense of control. You really have no more control in that game than in any other FF ever.

"If you want an RPG experience play random generic jrpg"

That's my problem with you Johnny. If an RPG has actual good combat it's not an rpg to you, it's a "shooter with RPG elements tacked on". You are so much like the jrpg genre you like so much, old and archaic. Your refusal to evolve or at the very least understand evolution is what's leading your genre to a fast death.

The new era of RPGs, the ones leading the charge this gen, have evolved to have good combat. They're showing that you can have an RPG with skill based combat instead of random die rolls or invisible number crunching, and keep the epic story with it.

Like in real life, continue to refuse to evolve and die out with your jrpg genre.

Not everything has to evolve in a FPS though in all fairness. I'll agree that Fallout 3 was great though, but RPGs don't need to merge into FPS. A mix of the two once in a while is fun, but if everyone then did that it'd become jaded as well. If anything I'd consider Puzzle Quest to be more evolutionary than a FPS/RPG combo.

"As far as I know there's no FPS parts."

I literally facepalmed.

Any game with RPG elements is an RPG, except for Strategy games. If you find turn-based combat boring, that's fine, but it doesn't preclude all JRPGs, some of whom have shed that mantle

I'm not so inclined to take a 95/100 from someone who gives 5 points for trivial throwbacks like a world map and airships. That's fine that he likes them and all, but I'm pretty tired of hearing about them like they're some great addition to gameplay or anything other than pure nostalgia. A game can have them if they want, but can't you get over the fact that some games have moved on already? Shadow run was great, but I would've given it a better score if it had a Varia suit and Dracula.

I like the way that I ask a pertinent question regarding this series, and its get voted out... are you all mental?

I mean, some replies are even voted down, I assume from the RPG fanboys who thought the question was abysmal.

Maybe it was, but I wanted it answered, plain and simple.

So, all you RPG loving whores out there, do yourself a favour, get off the keyboard, stop looking at the monitor and let some sunshine hit your face, you never know, your square eyes might actually turn back oval, and a smile might crack your face.

Ohh... not too mention, you might actually get laid once in a while, instead of jizzing over yourself at the sight of another pre-rendered cut-scene.

:/

yawn

Square eyes? Is that a SquareEnix pun?

And have you SEEN the cutscenes?

You were downvoted because you asked if FINAL FANTASY, the ultimate JRPG (except for Chrono Trigger/Cross), had FPS sections.

Dear Mr. tmacairjordan87:

It has come to my attention that you do not like JRPGs. This is fine, as different people have different tastes in games. I know that your most anticipated game of the year is Mass Effect 2, while I'm not particularly excited for it, despite (and partly because of) having played the original Mass Effect. That said, I am not going to troll Mass Effect 2 articles talking about how the game will be shit. Quite the contrary: whatever opinion I have the game, I will not be sharing it, as I have no intention of purchasing it.

You have made it clear from your comments that you have no intention of purchasing FFXIII. This is fine. As someone who has played and love many (although by no means all) of the games in the Final Fantasy series, I am very excited for the newest installment. In fact, I downloaded FFVII off of PSN a few weeks ago to replay it in anticipation of the new game. FFXIII is, in fact, my most anticipated game of the year, despite the new Zelda and Metroid games coming out that my Nintendo fanboy heart yearns so strongly for.

I understand that you and I disagree on which games look the most promising this year. However, my purchases and your purchases do not have to be related, nor do I feel any obligation, moral or otherwise, to "correct" your choices to be more in line with my own. Similarly, I feel no need to antagonize others who disagree with my choices. I will simply allow them to choose the games that they like, even if they hold no particular interest for me.

Signed,
Quiggy

P.S. Stop trolling you fuck.

@Bradwart The Echidna

Yes, I have seen the cutscenes, they are pretty amazing, but just because its has great animation, does not make it a great game.

I dont like RPG games, especially turn-based combat system one's, but I would enjoy this game, with its epic history, and epic stories, if it combined various elements of the gaming genres.

I hope your understand. Please... don't jizz on me ;)

Simple. If you don't like turn-based RPGs and you want true real-time, do yourself a favor and buy Tales of Symphonia. Greatest RPG of all time IMO.

Someone got pwned... xD

The day they include FPS elements in Final Fantasy is the day I walk away from the franchise completely.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 sounds likely.

Nah, Not FFXIII-2, that was only for FFX. If this is truly as FF7-centric as they always make it out to be...

FF XiII: Seeds of Cerberus

As long as the next one isn't all about girl power and dress up we'll probably be alright.

^ thumbs up

and here is to hoping it isn't about boy drama, pondering through 3 hours of cutscenes and broken english about who he is, what he is doing, what he should do, why he is who he is, and why he is doing what he is doing.....like the garbage which was in some previous releases of FF. (Maybe the FF games aren't so utterly disgusting dialogue wise in the original Japanese release....who knows)

It worked for Fallout 3 because it's a western RPG and it's very wide open. Jrpgs are too linear to have story DLC put in effectively.

I think they've discussed DLC for this game.