No FFXIII In Japan on Xbox 360

[bapenguin]

After the bombshell of E3 was dropped with Final Fantasy XIII announced for the Xbox 360 in North America in Europe, and the excitement settled down, people wondered. Does that mean the game isn't coming to Japan on Microsoft's platform? According to Kotaku (http://kotaku.com/5042300/abolutely-no-final-fantasy-xbox-360-for-japan) it's simply not going to happen. An issue of Dengeki PlayStation that goes on sale August 29th in Japan, Final Fantasy XIII director and writer Motomu Toriyama and FFXIII Versus director Tetsuya Nomura talk about the possibility of Japan getting a Final Fantasy XIII Xbox 360 version.

...Toriyama's comment about whether or not Final Fantasy XIII will be released in Japan on the Xbox 360 platform:

There will absolutely not be an Xbox 360 version of Final Fantasy XIII for Japan.


And there you have it.

[menage]

Well, since we're not in Japan, I don't care:D

I'm still buying it for the PS3, if there's not a huge difference in quality. Not because it belongs on PS3 and that crap. But because I want to spread my games out over multiple machine in case one breaks.

[Exodus]

This is bad for the Japanese people. It's sort of weird at the same time. For the first time Japanese people who only have a 360 will have to import the NA version and learn to read english to play it. Kind of like we had to do for a lot of japanese games that were only released over there. This is a Japanese native game I would like to express, this isn't the first time for an english game as such but Square/Enix is a Japan comes first company.

Everything has now come full circle!

[Zero]

I've always been curious about this decision. If the allegations of money being exchanged for the port are true, you'd think that Microsoft would've handed Square enough to just throw out a version for the Japanese market, if only to pick up a few more sold copies. Seems kinda weird too me.

[Yeti2005]

I've always been curious about this decision. If the allegations of money being exchanged for the port are true, you'd think that Microsoft would've handed Square enough to just throw out a version for the Japanese market, if only to pick up a few more sold copies. Seems kinda weird too me.

I'm sure money or promises were exchanged between Sony and Square to make this happen. Honestly there's not enough 360s in Japan to for it to be worth it to MS to reverse this decision. MS needs to focus on Europe anyway instead of Japan.

[Spigot]

I thought it was common knowledge that the 360 version was never coming to Japan.

And I doubt there are a lot of 360-only Japanese people. The reverse was usually true.

They'll still get to play the game on their precious PS3, which more of the population owns anyway... right?

[jpublic]

My real question is about FF13Versus - is that going to the 360 in NA, or will it be PS3 only?

[Wraith]

I thought it was common knowledge that the 360 version was never coming to Japan.Yeah, I thought this fact was made known at E3 after the big MS event (during which the 360 version was announced).

I suppose it's either a.) at the bequest of Sony, so that they don't lose face in the Japanese market (I assume Japanese gamers couldn't care less what happens to their favorite franchises outside of Japan), or b.) simply a cost saving measure, as a 360 version isn't going to move a lot of units when sold alongside a PS3 version in the first place.

[Wraith]

make that "behest". ("bequest" is not the right word.)

[Deadend]

This is disappointing for the 10 people in japan who are interested in FFXIII, own a 360 AND don't own a PS3.

[Gorvi]

I'm 99% sure we knew this at E3.

[Sandman]

Only reason it's coming to the 360 is because of the fanboys in the US that have been asking about it so they don't have to buy a PS3.

[Wraith]

Only reason it's coming to the 360 is because of the fanboys in the US that have been asking about it so they don't have to buy a PS3.I always though it was was more about SE wanting to make more money on the game. Yeah, console fanboys are part of the equation, sure, but I think reaching the 360 market is bigger than just the diehards who wouldn't touch Sony's big black box.

[bapenguin]

I'm 99% sure we knew this at E3.

There were some rumors a few weeks back at an MS Press event where it was said that it was coming to Japan at some point.

[jpublic]

I always though it was was more about SE wanting to make more money on the game. Yeah, console fanboys are part of the equation, sure, but I think reaching the 360 market is bigger than just the diehards who wouldn't touch Sony's big black box.

Agreed. While FF13 would be a PS3 system seller, the high price point of the PS3 (even now) and the dearth of other compelling options for the system would mitigate those sales heavily.

SE spends so much on each FF game that they can't afford for each installment to not be huge. Hitting a massive market like the NA 360 install base will be essential, especially as the 360 is turning into the RPG machine of this generation.

[Rash]

Well, it's not like there are enough X360 owners in Japan who are interested in FFXIII to warrant putting the game on the platform anyway.

[LongStepMantis]

This is bad for the Japanese people. It's sort of weird at the same time. For the first time Japanese people who only have a 360 will have to import the NA version and learn to read english to play it. Kind of like we had to do for a lot of japanese games that were only released over there. This is a Japanese native game I would like to express, this isn't the first time for an english game as such but Square/Enix is a Japan comes first company.

Everything has now come full circle!

The majority of Japanese can also speak English, so I doubt it will give them too much trouble. My buddy got hired a few years ago by the Japanese govt. to move to Japan and teach English to middle-schoolers.
They pay his rent, utilities, groceries, the works. He gets to keep 100% of what he makes for himself. Lucky bastard.

And to top it off, a week before he moved he told me all about this Japanese chick he was e-dating over the net. The day before, she told him she had a girlfriend and wanted all of them to live together. :eek:

I repeat...LUCKY BASTARD.

[mkelehan]

FF13 won't be on the 360 in Japan. FF13 International will. You know it's happening.

[Froggy]

So, why not?

Gold stars for answers without "my console is better" in them.

[violentp]

So, why not?

Gold stars for answers without "my console is better" in them.

I'm assuming that the reason 13 is coming to the 360 is for profit. With the small 360 user base in Japan, maybe the profit wouldn't validate the porting costs? It's the only reason I can conjure.

[Wraith]

So, why not?

Gold stars for answers without "my console is better" in them.I gave my guesses a few posts up (Sony wants to save face in the Japanese market and/or the demand isn't really high enough to make a JP 360 version worthwhile for SE).

[mkelehan]

I'm assuming that the reason 13 is coming to the 360 is for profit. With the small 360 user base in Japan, maybe the profit wouldn't validate the porting costs? It's the only reason I can conjure.

But they're already porting it. I think it's just a question of timing. The PS3 version will be done and released in Japan while they're working on the port and translation for us.

[violentp]

But they're already porting it. I think it's just a question of timing. The PS3 version will be done and released in Japan while they're working on the port and translation for us.

It does seem odd considering they would have a Japanese translation already done but don't people complain that the porting process from PS3>360 is a bitch? Maybe it's time constraints. Maybe they would have to re-enter all the Japanese dialogue into the 360 version. Honestly, I don't know. It seems odd that they won't and the only reason I can come up with that they wouldn't is the limited user-base. And that leads to limited profits. Something tells me though that if the 360 were as popular in Japan as it is here then it would certainly be ported.

[Disgustipated]

I bet the Japanese version on 360 might sell a few 360's. But who knows...

[violentp]

I bet the Japanese version on 360 might sell a few 360's. But who knows...

Nowhere enough to make a distinguishable dent is my guess.

[Wraith]

Nowhere enough to make a distinguishable dent is my guess.Especially if it's coming out after the PS3 version's been on sale for a few months.

[violentp]

Especially if it's coming out after the PS3 version's been on sale for a few months.

Agreed. Coming out simultaneously with the PS3 version would not be worth all the marketing and development costs. Coming out after the PS3 release? Suicide.

[pomeroy]

My real question is about FF13Versus - is that going to the 360 in NA, or will it be PS3 only?

So far, I think it's still PS3 only.

[Phanto]

And then the people & Microsoft ask themselves why the 360 is not "selling well" in Japan..

[Xerxes]

What's the Japanese PS3 to 360 ratio? I wonder after people beat ToV will they be taking their systems back.

[Grumsh]

So, why not?

Gold stars for answers without "my console is better" in them.

The decision was made prior to Microsoft seeing that a good JRPG (Tales cough cough) can move, and sell out their entire allotment of systems in Japan.

Since this phenomenon was not witnessed yet they assumed that the amount of money they would have to send Squares way would supremely overwhelm the amount of profit they could recoup from the transaction.

Which I would tend to believe seeing as Tales success is due to it being only on the 360 for now.

Ill take those gold stars now ! =)

[KamaItachi]

The majority of Japanese can also speak English, so I doubt it will give them too much trouble.



Too... much.. wrong .. in one..... sentence...

http://www.hazenworld.com/explodehead.gif

[TeeCakes]

I wonder if FFXIII being PS3-only in Japan has anything to do with the exclusivity of Infinite Undiscovery...

</wildguess>

[jpublic]

So far, I think it's still PS3 only.

Which will make me pick up a PS3, and if I'm going to get one, I might as well get the less-discs version of FF13.

[jeffbax]

I think its just mostly to do with the fact that Square doesn't want to delay the PS3 version in Japan. The 360 port begins when the english port for PS3 begins, and delaying it in Japan for PS3 where the 360 userbase is pretty much nothing wouldn't make financial sense for them... and releasing it on 360 so long after the PS3 version wouldn't make any business sense either.

[LongStepMantis]

Too... much.. wrong .. in one..... sentence...

http://www.hazenworld.com/explodehead.gif

Well shit, is that not the case?

I've heard on many occasions that Japanese schools have taught English alongside their normal curriculum for some time now. So that was my understanding of it. I shouldn't have stated it in such a matter-of-fact manner, but I was lead to believe that was true.

I stand corrected.

You ass. ;)
I keed!

[Xerxes]

Which will make me pick up a PS3, and if I'm going to get one, I might as well get the less-discs version of FF13.

It's the same amount of hours installing it on the PS3 right? :rolleyes:

[KamaItachi]

Well shit, is that not the case?

I've heard on many occasions that Japanese schools have taught English alongside their normal curriculum for some time now. So that was my understanding of it. I shouldn't have stated it in such a matter-of-fact manner, but I was lead to believe that was true.

I stand corrected.

You ass. ;)
I keed!

How dare you sir, upon seeing that you had in fact replied I immediately began to devise a passive aggressive retort in which I might throw about my authority on the subject like the obvious and infallible expert that I am. Then you had to go and be reasonable like some sort of logical individual.

What ever happened to the good old days when mud would be slung and names called? I expect, nay, demand that my opinion be called into question and my experience doubted.

I put it to those here present, that you are the ass here, sir, not I.


... not I...

[LongStepMantis]

How dare you sir, upon seeing that you had in fact replied I immediately began to devise a passive aggressive retort in which I might throw about my authority on the subject like the obvious and infallible expert that I am. Then you had to go and be reasonable like some sort of logical individual.

What ever happened to the good old days when mud would be slung and names called? I expect, nay, demand that my opinion be called into question and my experience doubted.

I put it to those here present, that you are the ass here, sir, not I.


... not I...

Sorry, I forgot this was the internets.

So...despite the fact I personally know very little about Japanese education and language, I formally declare you to be a horse-faced jackanape and I shall promptly box your ears for making such a bold claim.

Clearly I am the expert here because I say I am, also your mother told me you were of questionable character!

Yeah, I went old-timey with it...eat that! :D

Seriously though, what estimate would you make of the Japanese population that can speak and/or write in English? I obviously assumed that it was very high.

[KamaItachi]

Sorry, I forgot this was the internets.

So...despite the fact I personally know very little about Japanese education and language, I formally declare you to be a horse-faced jackanape and I shall promptly box your ears for making such a bold claim.

Clearly I am the expert here because I say I am, also your mother told me you were of questionable character!

Yeah, I went old-timey with it...eat that! :D

Seriously though, what estimate would you make of the Japanese population that can speak and/or write in English? I obviously assumed that it was very high.

I'm trying to think of a way to make this sound as little like a xenophobic, conspiracy nut theory as possible, but the end result, in relation to your question is "to a functional level, not very many".

In my opinion, there are very few people who would actually benefit from the level of English being very high in Japan. Teaching English is an institution, it's a commodity. There are a huge number of English language schools, publications, audio and visual companies and until very very recently one of the big three English language schools Nova (which just went bankrupt and closed something like 70% of their schools) was as widely spread as convenience stores.

With a company like that, a large number of their profits was run on selling their own books and literature. They had absolutely no reason to actually teach anything to anybody, just give them enough of a grounding that they would feel like they were making progress and buy another Nova Usagi. They had managed to sell a language which very few people would actually use or even know why the hell they were studying it.

As for education, which you are right, is taught at schools and is a compulsory subject, is dealt with more like a maths or science subject, rather than a language. The curriculum focuses on rote memorization, technical grammar knowledge and is remedial in the extreme. Students don't officially learn the past tense until the second year of studies and learn conversation as canned greetings. I worked in one class where the students could not greet me when I entered the room, because the only part of a greeting someone that they would use was "I'm fine, thank you, and you?". I would hazard a guess that the full 3 years of study at Junior high would be equivalent of 1 year of a European or American second language study.

It is never really meant to be used as a functional language, rather another topic for high school/university entrance exams. Schools are not officially (and in a number of schools actively discouraged) to provide oral/speaking tests, and they aren't part of the official standardized testing.

Changing it to be closer to the European/American model would require massive changes to the administration, marking and testing of teachers, textbooks etc, which the education board has absolutely no interest in doing. Probably most of all because actual knowledge of the subject would make some 70% of English teachers in Japan completely useless. maybe they just don't know where they're going wrong, or why they constantly rate among the lowest of global testing in languages, but they're throwing money at the wrong places.

I left Japan about a year before English Language became mandatory at an elementary level. The reasoning was that language is much easier to absorb at a young age. The problem is that all they will be doing is instilling the same problems into 7-10 year olds that they do in 12 year olds.

/ramble.

[LongStepMantis]

*Informative ramble*

Thanks!

So in essence, English is really more for show in Japanese culture? That would explain why so many people, including myself, hear about the English education in Japan and assume that many people there would be fluent in it.

I'd still be wrong, and misinformed, but at least I understand why I've heard the same misconceptions from others as well.

The more you know... ;)

[Talon-]

Square doesn't want to completely burn bridges with Sony. Not to mention they technically never lied about it being PS3 exclusive because all the "PS3 ONLY" trailers were only shown in Japan.

Also, all 25 360 owners in Japan will find a way to survive. Oh, wait, Tales of Vesperia sold more 360s you say? Okay, so all 35 360 owners. ;)

[Variable Gear]

I thought it was common knowledge that the 360 version was never coming to Japan.
Yeah, it's common knowledge and it's been known for weeks. Nothing to see here.

[Xerxes]

Square doesn't want to completely burn bridges with Sony. Not to mention they technically never lied about it being PS3 exclusive because all the "PS3 ONLY" trailers were only shown in Japan.

Also, all 25 360 owners in Japan will find a way to survive. Oh, wait, Tales of Vesperia sold more 360s you say? Okay, so all 35 360 owners. ;)

Mister funny man, I think it's quiet a few 360s out in Japan to justify making it for that system but <shrug>. I got nothing. I wonder if so many people went out and got the Tales box with intentions on getting FF on it.

[Variable Gear]

Mister funny man, I think it's quiet a few 360s out in Japan to justify making it for that system but <shrug>. I got nothing. I wonder if so many people went out and got the Tales box with intentions on getting FF on it.
Tales is huge in Japan. No matter what system it's on, the Tales series will do well. Many Tales fans didn't own 360s, so they bought 360s to play Tales of Vesperia. FFXIII had no impact, because it's not being released for the 360 in Japan. Tales fans are pretty hardcore, so they'll find other games to enjoy on the system.

[Xerxes]

Tales is huge in Japan. No matter what system it's on, the Tales series will do well. Many Tales fans didn't own 360s, so they bought 360s to play Tales of Vesperia. FFXIII had no impact, because it's not being released for the 360 in Japan. Tales fans are pretty hardcore, so they'll find other games to enjoy on the system.

But really? That hardcore? I just found out about the series. Ok, with Symphonia actually. :o

[TeeCakes]

ramble.

An easier way to explain the prominence of English-speakers in Japan is to have people watch this anime:

cqlROvI6LmM

Great effin' anime, bee tee dubya.