Multiplatform games are rarely as scrutinized as this. However, Final Fantasy XIII's fall from PS3 exclusivity has certainly sparked countless fanboy battles that rage online and, unfortunately, in our own comments section.
Square Enix has recently released new images of the Xbox 360 version in action, and there are some noticeable differences, particularly when one looks at the Nomura-styled hairdos. We've donned the game a rather obscure nickname -- "The Reverse Ghostbusters" -- due to the visible disparity between the two versions. Regardless, it seems like a more-than-competent port -- a fact that the most vocal of you will likely ignore in the comments below.
Reader Comments (273)
Posted: Feb 18th 2010 8:02PM (Unverified) said
yo Joystiq, your gallery's stretching the images something crazy
Sort it out brotha!
Reply
Sort it out brotha!
Posted: Feb 18th 2010 8:28PM TheSaiyan said
This is happening for me as well. I saw them on another site though.
It sucks for the xbros that the graphics look worse than on the PS3.
Before you start shouting troll, dont get me wrong.
I wanted it to stay exclusive just as much as any other guy but come on square enix, at least try to make them equal. This is only gonna start more wars.
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It sucks for the xbros that the graphics look worse than on the PS3.
Before you start shouting troll, dont get me wrong.
I wanted it to stay exclusive just as much as any other guy but come on square enix, at least try to make them equal. This is only gonna start more wars.
Posted: Feb 18th 2010 8:53PM DerickDBrown said
Why did you want it to stay exclusive? Do you own Sony stock?
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Posted: Feb 18th 2010 9:31PM TheSaiyan said
No, that isnt the reason. Exclusives kinda give your console bragging rights. I love me a good debate on which is better etc. But at the end of the day we are all bros, who should get same treatment regardless of console.
Sounds contradictory I know but it makes sense to me. (sometimes)
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Sounds contradictory I know but it makes sense to me. (sometimes)
Posted: Feb 18th 2010 10:35PM TraceurRyuk Prepping for LBP2 said
"Do you own Sony stock?"
Ugh, I hate when people say that. Exclusives are one of the reasons you buy a console, therefor they extremely important to gamers.
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Ugh, I hate when people say that. Exclusives are one of the reasons you buy a console, therefor they extremely important to gamers.
Posted: Feb 19th 2010 12:15AM Spike Spiegel Humble Bounty Hun said
I honestly believe few games should be exclusives. Let everyone in on the fun. It's not like you have to purchase both versions.
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Posted: Feb 19th 2010 12:41AM (Unverified) said
Let's remember people
Most games stay exclusive because the technology available to developers
If xbox360 can't run a physics engine, obviously that game is staying exclusive
But if it runs a game with dumbed down graphics, that is a sacrifice they have to make and hope it balanced out with sales.
This has almost nothing to do with bragging rights or sony stock
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Most games stay exclusive because the technology available to developers
If xbox360 can't run a physics engine, obviously that game is staying exclusive
But if it runs a game with dumbed down graphics, that is a sacrifice they have to make and hope it balanced out with sales.
This has almost nothing to do with bragging rights or sony stock
Posted: Feb 19th 2010 6:35AM (Unverified) said
Well these blogs arent just gonna pimp themselves!
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Posted: Feb 19th 2010 8:44PM VampireHunterZ said
Meh, SE really screwed MSFT on this one. This has no reflection on the hardware. And I still can't believe that people think it's because of Bluray. Bluray is a storage medium, it doesn't make graphics better.
Oh well, back to pimpin alien chicks in Mass Effect 2.
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Oh well, back to pimpin alien chicks in Mass Effect 2.
Posted: Feb 18th 2010 8:31PM coolbho3000 said
@Big N00B: Well, for one, Square Enix's PR claimed that there was no material difference between the two consoles. What we have on the 360 version is about a 1/3 loss in resolution.
If the PS3 version is significantly graphically superior (judging by these screens it is), then people will be more compelled to buy PS3s instead of 360s in order to play Final Fantasy XIII.
Let me rephrase that: both companies are in a worse situation now than if FFXIII looked more similar across the two platforms.
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If the PS3 version is significantly graphically superior (judging by these screens it is), then people will be more compelled to buy PS3s instead of 360s in order to play Final Fantasy XIII.
Let me rephrase that: both companies are in a worse situation now than if FFXIII looked more similar across the two platforms.
Posted: Feb 18th 2010 8:39PM incendious said
On the bright side, there's the NBA All-Star game commercial. Win-win.
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Posted: Feb 18th 2010 8:40PM liquidsoap89 said
People didn't honestly believe him when he said there would be no differences between the 2 versions did they?
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Posted: Feb 18th 2010 9:15PM Foetoid said
It surprises me the 360 version looks this much worse when its packing a graphics chip twice as powerful.
I know i'll be downvoted, but its the truth, do some research if you want. Games are far more GPU-oriented and since the 360 has a significant GPU advantage, it just surprised me it looks this much worse. Still going to be an amazing game.
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I know i'll be downvoted, but its the truth, do some research if you want. Games are far more GPU-oriented and since the 360 has a significant GPU advantage, it just surprised me it looks this much worse. Still going to be an amazing game.
Posted: Feb 18th 2010 11:50PM CaramelZappa said
Yes, they can FIT higher res textures, but that doesn't mean they can use them. The texture budget is still limited to the ram, which is 512mb on both systems. It's actually less on the PS3 because the system OS uses up more ram than the 360 OS. It's not a huge difference in the end though.
And it's widely known that the 360 has the GPU advantage and the PS3 has the CPU advantage.
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And it's widely known that the 360 has the GPU advantage and the PS3 has the CPU advantage.
Posted: Feb 19th 2010 12:22AM BananaBoat said
In motion, both games are likely to look exactly the same, negating any discussion of texture size even if one console was capable of higher textures than the other.
Seriously people, buy the game on whatever console you want, and be happy about it. I for one am a lot more concerned about the framerate on the 360 version than the graphics being ever so slightly different. Framerate AND graphical inferiority are the usual suspects of a badly done 360 to PS3 port, and I'd imagine the same is likely to be true the other way around (though we won't know until the game is actually out).
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Seriously people, buy the game on whatever console you want, and be happy about it. I for one am a lot more concerned about the framerate on the 360 version than the graphics being ever so slightly different. Framerate AND graphical inferiority are the usual suspects of a badly done 360 to PS3 port, and I'd imagine the same is likely to be true the other way around (though we won't know until the game is actually out).
Posted: Feb 19th 2010 12:21PM Wonderflex said
@Foetoid
I think the issue isn't that the 360 couldn't handle it, but rather that the game was made from the ground up to to take advantage of the PS3 hardware. I'm not a programer, but I can only imagine that if your focus is slanted to using the vastly different hardwar of the PS3 then you code will need a lot of changes to provide the same level of detail on the xbox.
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I think the issue isn't that the 360 couldn't handle it, but rather that the game was made from the ground up to to take advantage of the PS3 hardware. I'm not a programer, but I can only imagine that if your focus is slanted to using the vastly different hardwar of the PS3 then you code will need a lot of changes to provide the same level of detail on the xbox.
Posted: Feb 18th 2010 8:04PM (Unverified) said
Disregard that, troll housemates are trolls.
Also, nice to see that 360 owners didn't get shafted by the multiplatform factor of XIII
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Also, nice to see that 360 owners didn't get shafted by the multiplatform factor of XIII
Posted: Feb 18th 2010 8:09PM (Unverified) said
I dont know whether that is a real comment or just a terrible attempt at humour, either way, poor judgement man, -1
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Posted: Feb 18th 2010 8:28PM Kid Icarus said
PS3 version does look a bit better but who cares really.
its these multiplatform games that bring all the system fanboys together for the same gaming experience, thats a good thing.
WHY SO MUCH HATE???
WE ARE THE WORLD....
Reply
its these multiplatform games that bring all the system fanboys together for the same gaming experience, thats a good thing.
WHY SO MUCH HATE???
WE ARE THE WORLD....
Posted: Feb 18th 2010 8:51PM I AM IRONHIDE said
...and the space he invades he gets by on you?
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Posted: Feb 18th 2010 9:05PM EngadgetSoFunny said
I looked at a couple photos and couldn't really notice the difference. The xbox 360 version looked a tiny bit ...darker? in spots.
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Posted: Feb 18th 2010 8:05PM MyAbsolution said
I have watched footage of it being played at X'10 and it looks fantastic running.
I'll be getting this on 360.
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I'll be getting this on 360.
Posted: Feb 18th 2010 8:20PM Mazrael said
I'm getting mine on 360 too.. got my pre-order down already.
One thing i felt from the start though, is that MS should have backed HD-DVD, even if it didn't win.. true there's not many games that need it, but with big games like this would be a benefit, and give pirates a kick in the nuts.. hopefully with the neXt-Box, eh.. oh and I don't mind swapping discs, I get a sense of achievement from it...
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One thing i felt from the start though, is that MS should have backed HD-DVD, even if it didn't win.. true there's not many games that need it, but with big games like this would be a benefit, and give pirates a kick in the nuts.. hopefully with the neXt-Box, eh.. oh and I don't mind swapping discs, I get a sense of achievement from it...
Posted: Feb 18th 2010 8:33PM Kid Icarus said
@ Mazrael
"I don't mind swapping discs, I get a sense of achievement from it..."
Not sure if this was intended to be funny but it gave me a chuckle
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"I don't mind swapping discs, I get a sense of achievement from it..."
Not sure if this was intended to be funny but it gave me a chuckle
Posted: Feb 18th 2010 8:35PM MyAbsolution said
Im not surprised im getting downvoted.
And no, i own PS3 and 360.
Im getting it on the 360 because I love achievements, im addicted. Second, I love to chat while I play anything. The 360s party system allows me to chat with my friends while we play the same game or different games. I'm a chat addict. 90% of my time on Xbox Live, im chatting in party with my friends. I need that.
Yes I realise the Ps3 is the "better" version in this case of graphics. But those two reasons are valid.
And for some reason I dont know why these screens look worse than gameplay footage from X'10... w/e
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And no, i own PS3 and 360.
Im getting it on the 360 because I love achievements, im addicted. Second, I love to chat while I play anything. The 360s party system allows me to chat with my friends while we play the same game or different games. I'm a chat addict. 90% of my time on Xbox Live, im chatting in party with my friends. I need that.
Yes I realise the Ps3 is the "better" version in this case of graphics. But those two reasons are valid.
And for some reason I dont know why these screens look worse than gameplay footage from X'10... w/e
Posted: Feb 18th 2010 8:35PM Hyams said
It's true though. Getting onto the next disc in Final Fantasy VIII (my first FF) was awesome. Gave me a real sense of achievement.
I'd still have it on one disc, partly for the convenience and partly to prevent scratching, though. (My copy of FFVIII was rendered useless by a scratch on disc 1. Sadness.)
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I'd still have it on one disc, partly for the convenience and partly to prevent scratching, though. (My copy of FFVIII was rendered useless by a scratch on disc 1. Sadness.)
Posted: Feb 18th 2010 8:39PM WonderWeazel said
Honestly, Its not like he said it sucks on the PS3. He just said it runs great on the 360. Whats the issue?
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Posted: Feb 18th 2010 8:36PM Saint43 said
The "Sony Fanboys" aren't downvoting you because they're Sony fanboys. They're downvoting you because you're so obviously trying to troll those downvotes.
Here's a hint, don't insinuate yourself as a troll by declaring you'll get downvoted by a specific group. Of course Sony Fanboys will downvote you now that you've made it a point to let them know you intend to be downvoted.
Fanboyism. Just drop it.
Reply
Here's a hint, don't insinuate yourself as a troll by declaring you'll get downvoted by a specific group. Of course Sony Fanboys will downvote you now that you've made it a point to let them know you intend to be downvoted.
Fanboyism. Just drop it.
Posted: Feb 18th 2010 8:39PM Hyams said
Oh, so you're an achievement whore.
I've never understood people wanting to endure the worse version of a game when it comes to achievements. If you can get a better version (either on PC or PS3), then do it.
A better experience > increasing an arbitrary and meaningless number. In my opinion, anyway.
Reply
I've never understood people wanting to endure the worse version of a game when it comes to achievements. If you can get a better version (either on PC or PS3), then do it.
A better experience > increasing an arbitrary and meaningless number. In my opinion, anyway.
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