Final Fantasy XIV delay on PS3 chalked up to 'memory'

by Griffin McElroy on Aug 25th 2010 6:00PM

While discussing the fate of Square Enix's upcoming crystal-centric MMO Final Fantasy XIV with VG247, producer Hiromichi Tanaka revealed the reason for the game's late arrival on the PS3: "The main reason was the memory," Tanaka explained via his translator. He added, "They are adjusting the memory size and customizing it; it took longer then we were expecting. But we're really working hard to bring it out as soon as possible."

When asked if the size restriction in question was due to the Blu-ray or the HDD, Tanaka simply repeated the word "memory." While he's likely referring to the RAM issues that continue to plague MMO developers on the console, we can't help but wonder -- what if it doesn't have anything to do with the PS3's actual hardware? What if the game got delayed on the PS3 because Square Enix just ... forgot about it? Someone get them some extra-strength ginkgo, stat!

Source: VG247

Tags: delay, delays, final-fantasy-xiv, Hiromichi-Tanaka, mmorpg, playstation, ps3, square-enix

Reader Comments (49)

it's because they're releasing it at the same time as the xbox version :D

@TypeF

for example ffxiii

@TypeF

Yea...um, no. The 360 isn't an open console and Microsoft isn't approving of this going there,so I don't see that happening.

@TypeF

Wow, is your arm sore from reaching that far?

And I don't mean a Halo Reach!.... or do I?...

@TypeF

If I remember correctly I think I read an article saying that square really wanted the game on the 360, but Microsoft wasn't going to compromise on something. can't really remember what it was, it was a couple of months ago,

@TypeF

XBL's restrictions.

"Memory"
In PS3 the memory is divided into two pools of 256MB each - one for GPU one for CPU.
Minus of course portions taken by (firmware) OS 32MB of video memory and (in newest firmwares) less than that in main memory (to sum of about 50MB).

If you have to use more than 220MB of textures at once - and in MMO you can't so easily cap that as in more closed games - then on PS3 you need to develop and use engine that support streaming textures from main RAM to Video RAM.

If the game would be designed only for PS3 from the start it might not be a such big problem - but the game also runs on PC and probably will also on X360 (that has 512MB of unified memory+10MB EDRAM - 32MB for OS) that aren't such restrained - and if Squareenix started from those....

You can "optimise" PS3 version by drasticaly reducing quality of textures (see Bayonetta, Ghostbusters etc.) or writing dedicated engine for PS3...

@TypeF
Sony should have just made the PS3 with an expansion port like the Nintendo 64.

"we can't help but wonder -- what if it doesn't have anything to do with the PS3's actual hardware? What if the game got delayed on the PS3 because Square Enix just ... forgot about it? "

Why do you think that?

@ZayCube

It's a "memory" joke...

As in, actual human memory.

@ZayCube
Well... what if Tanaka and the rest of the FF14 developing crew, were all just robots...? Those zany Japanese would certainly try something close to that, and for all we know he's repeating "memory" as the issue because their internal hard-drive lacks the space necessarily to work on both games at once.

@Noksukow

Maybe you should, um... read some more because there is nothing in the game that does that.

Don't skim, READ.

(And I know what you're talking about, but you're not describing it correctly.)

Square Enix is still waiting on Microsoft's bribe.

Make it 3gigs on the PS3 and 360 and you have no problem. Half a gig on systems will only kill playing MMOs on consoles.

@Follisimo This gen of consoles should have been 1GB of ram minimum.. 5 years later it still baffles me about the lack of RAM.. hell, give me panel I can take off like on a laptop & upgrade it myself..

@Mazrael think about how much RAM the average PC had 5 years ago. On the other hand, it would be interesting to see what would have happened if the Xbox came out with 128MB as originally intended (I recall reading that Epic convinced them to double the RAM for Gears to work); a console refresh may have come out quicker, for sure.

@Muu
That was 256MB and HDD in standard or 512MB and Arcade(Core) witch no HDD and PRO.

What would happend?
PS3 also would have also 256MB - Sony had to boost it to 512MB to be compettitive with X360.
But it would be cheaper on premiere - I think ~50$ at least.
The Rambus and DDDR3 4 years ago were fairly cosly.

It's a shame, because I'd so buy this if it came to 360. Oh well, that's Microsoft for you.

But the larger concern here: Is that Chocobo wearing boots?

@Pure Black World Tendency Yes, yes it is, and quite fashionably too might I add. =D

@Pure Black World Tendency

Yes.

Yes, it is.

(You know it's not a Final Fantasy game if everyone is not wearing some kind of boot.)

Chocoboots!

It's everywhere:

http://kotaku.com/5621786/final-fantasy-xivs-play+limiting-fatigue-system-explained

Tbh, I wouldn't buy an MMO that restricts my leveling up. Really not worth the money you pay per month.

Bah! I can't get into the PS3 beta cause I didn't write down my stupid code for registering FF13. >=(

@DrunkRaba

I believe you are able to view the code again on the main site, just click around...

Its probably under the FF13 page somewhere...

@DevilSei Aha I finally found it, thank you! I did have to go find the game on the site and then was able to find my code!

Alas, they stopped taking applicants on the 16th of this month :( Oh well maybe next time!

@DrunkRaba

Damn, really? I had no clue they were even taking applicants for the PS3 beta yet, never got an email, and never saw any announcements...

@DevilSei Yeah I got an email at the end of July telling me to register for it with my code. I had already turned down an invite for the PC version since I will be playing on the PS3.

Well, that means my dad won't be hogging up the PS3 with his stats and things yet...

oh, wait, I was planning to play this too.

CRAP.

@Tre be happy! you have an awesome dad :)

@Jacksy Yeah, I guess. If he's willing to pay for my character in exchange for me taking out the garbage I'm all for it :)

My dad used to play old Zork, Kings Quest, Space Quest, Gabriel Knight games etc but he lost the interest with the demise of the adventure games genre in the early nineties. Anyhow, geeky dads are the best, so buy him a beer! :)

I guess this makes perfect sense, the consoles have far less "memory" (RAM I would also assume) than a half-decent PC to play with, they'd have to do something to account for it

@Noksukow

Technically, Nok is right. You have to switch classes just to avoid that limit, and there's a "dormancy" thing in place that is shared among it all.

If I want to play a pugilist and punch the crap out of things, let me, I have zero interest in crafting or casting heal over and over. If I want to make stuff, and only that, let me swing my hammer on gold and mithril, not towards some enemies skull.

that memory problem could be said for the ps3 version of everything, i think even exclusives have been delayed due to that opstacle

@ViciousBastard

Really? Do you have a link, resource or evidence of this? Or are you just a troll with nothing else better to do than make up sh*t and post it on a blog?

@That Burning Sensation
woa woa, i would hardly call that trolling, i did not curse or anything...unlike you, i see the troll here and its not me

@ViciousBastard You Vicious BASTARD!

@Ballistic H

Wow, that's actually pretty rough.

What is with FF games that brings out the fanboys from underneath their slimmy, hate ridden, rocks they call a life? Really, was the last FF not a big enough disappointment for either console owners? It must be really hard to root for or against a game that has yet to be released.

You trolls do realize that Squarenix doesn't exactly have the best track record in producting technically astounding games? The last game looked nice, but what was it other than a linear rollar coaster of stat grinding, and that was their best work as of recent.

@That Burning Sensation

Aren't astounding graphics the only thing Square/Square Enix has been known for in the past 13 years?

Maybe you weren't tall enough to hop on that "rollar coaster" in 1997, though. Also, you seem to misunderstand the term "grind," when used in an RPG context. Every enemy in FFXIII is predetermined. There is no opportunity offered to fight continuously simply for the purpose of leveling up or, as its more commonly known, "grinding."

Also, kettle, you're soooo soooo very black.

The game isn't even out yet and there are already PS3 limitations. Warm up the Sundi soundboard!

Maybe they were developing it for the PC first and are having trouble porting it down to the PS3?

@RKN FFXIII was developed on PC too, with the PS3 in mind.. I guess XIV (which shouldn't be numbered) is PC first.. with PS3 wrote in the corner circled in pen, and "Xbox 360?" scrawed in pencil on the back..

@Noksukow

I think it was on an episode of the Blizzcast... I can't remember, for certain...

Anywho, to the point, Blizzard ran in to this kind of problem of perception with their XP limiting system, too. Originally, you would play for a while and earn full experience, but eventually your character would "tire" and only earn half experience.

The system more or less works exactly the same, now, only its delivered in a more appetizing manner. The "half" experience you used to be penalized with is now considered "normal," while not playing will earn you "rested experience," which is worth double.

That said, FFXIV's system seems a lot more convoluted. I always understand when MMOs do something to "convince" their players to take a break, but you don't want them to give up on playing all together...

What was I going to post? Oh well. I'll think of it later.

Thats BS at its finest....

I just pre-ordered my PC copy 15 minutes ago... oh now the wait.....

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Final Fantasy 14

Final Fantasy XIV delay on PS3 chalked up to 'memory'

Reader Comments (49)

Posted: Aug 25th 2010 6:02PM TypeF said

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Posted: Aug 25th 2010 6:07PM Grey said

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