So, if this happens, why wasn't just released at the same time?  Is it reasonable to conclude that Sony paid for timed exclusivity in Japan?

Well that, or the english version wasn't ready yet because they still had to localize the game for the west. Also, the 360 version could have not been done all the way before japanese release.

Or everything you and I said, or some combination

But personally I'd guess that SE would have got something from sony. Or maybe that was part of the deal for sony partially funding crystal tools. I'm not sure.

Nah, FFXIII was the meltdown. Now that FFXIII has sold well enough on 360 in the west it's pretty well expected that vsXIII will make a 360 appearance.

Sony will lose some PS3 sales from this, but SE will make a lot more game sales.

Well, a port definitly makes sense, because it probably won't cost SE anything. Regarding sales..., I don't think that there are much people in japan who have a 360 but don't have a PS3, so I expect it to reach 100k-150k LTD maximum.

Any meltdowns in Japan yet? :D

Sounds like a cheap way to make a bit of money. Why not?

Why would there be meltdowns in Japan this time?

ToV meldowns happened because people felt they were tricked into buying console for inferior version of game, i doubt if people who bough ps3 for FFXIII would have any reason to be disapointed with ps3 version of FFXIII because x360 get's version without even japanise VA and they have no reason to be disapointed with ps3 itself with the games it's getting in Japan this year.

the slim launched that week, also old versions had price cut.

Dude as you can see from the :D at the end, it means it was a joke. Of course I know there won't be meltdowns or 2ch getting shut down from the rage of PS3 Japanese gamers.

Maybe they'll melt down because the ps3 owners wanted English VA's! aha!

but they'll most likely get it anyways eventually if FFXIII international comes out like all the previous entries have had. :P