Okay, so this is SE's plan:

1. Finish the Japanese version of the game (PS3 only) and release.
2. Translate and localise the PS3 game for the Western audience.
3. Begin conversion to the 360.

Now, this creates a few problems.  Firstly, we know how long it takes to translate and localise a game from a Japanese original...like 5-6 months,  so this is added to the development time for the game.  Then we have the conversion to the 360, which will take....well you have a guess?

Also, this means that potentially the 360 version could be a bad port of the PS3 game or it means that the original PS3 game is compromised to make sure it's in line with the 360 version to be made afterwards.

All in all, this game could be years away from appearing in the West.  I can see PS3 owners worldwide getting the Jap version, just to play it.

yes it is a time release, yet they are holding the game so the time is the same. Ha, first time for everything.

So yes to your question they are gonna hold on to the PS3 version to release same time in states and eruope as 360 version.

This is what annoys me, the 360 version will probably delay the launch of XIII elsewhere in the world. However, thanks to the PS3's lack of region locking, I can import the US version before they take even longer to get it to EU

IF either Sony starts selling a shitload of consoles, forks out a crap load of money to cover a US/EU launch, or both, we may see it earlier on the PS3(since it will technically be done as soon as Japan releases for the PS3)

So I don't think weve seen the end of this. By the time this is released the PS3 may very well have passed the 360 WW by a large margin, and the next Xbox might be released. I can't see this being set in stone at all, but if you are SE, you see the huge advantage in NA that the 360 has and gotta wonder why not release on the 360.

This was really inevitable. Hopefully they bring SO4 over to the PS3 as a make up play, but now more than ever Sony needs to drop the price of the PS3 and get the install base up in the west. $299 or bust, because Microsoft will pay for these games and its hard to make an argument against porting games at this point.

MGS4 is next unless something is done soon(like today).

If Final Fantasy isn't a timed exclusive for PS3 then we're looking at a 2010 early 2011 release.

That's the worst thing about this.

man, this game can even come to pc.

1up

Square

For the last time, they are day and date in the US and Europe. Suggestions other wise are getting old.

And just to be perfectly clear on that link you posted 1up did there homework on what it all meant.



As Square Enix later clarified, the game is being finished for the PS3 first for Japan, then work will begin on porting it to the Xbox 360 for a simultaneous release in the U.S. and Europe (it will release simultaneously on the PS3 and Xbox 360 in those territories, though the game may not release in both territories at the same time).

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3168704

The PS3 and 360 versions will be released at the same time outside of Japan -- although, due to language and other conditions, the game may not be released simultaneously across territories."

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3168724

Day and date in the US and Europe, no timed exclusive.

This was clear from the get go in Yoichi Wada's presentation, and its appeared on the official MS press statements.

All the confusion is because of:

1. bad translations

2. people suddenly thinking they are game developers and coming up with development cycles of their own

3. using 360 as a scapegoat when if you played all the FFs, you know that the West always gets it late

4. this is how SE has always worked traditionally for releases. they are trying to improve it for infinite undiscovery, star ocean and last remnant for worldwide releases. they couldnt do it for ff13 simply because it was already in production on PS3 before they made this decision. go and get the 360 jrpgs if you want to enjoy SEs new push for worldwide releases.

Yes, we know that FFXIII will release at the same time for both PS3 and 360 in NA and EU, but the issue here is how it is panning out.

SE need to finish the game for the PS3 first....the Japanese version....then this will be released....looks like it will be some time next year....then SE need to translate and localise the Jap PS3 version for the West and at the same time, port the game to the 360.  Translatation normally take 5-6 months anyway and porting IMHO will take a bit longer for the 360...so we could be talking a 12 month wait after the Jap version is released before it appears on Western shores...by that time, Microsoft could be releasing their new console.