http://blog.wired.com/games/2008/07/final-fantasy-1.html

"Though that would seemingly indicate a delayed release for the newly-announced port, Kitase emphasized Square Enix’s efforts to release the different versions nearly simultaneously."

Nearly simultaneously obviously doesnt mean simultaneous. Plus, it never made sense to me that SE would just sit on a finished PS3 localization while waiting on the 360, unless 360 really paid them a crapload.

So assuming true, how long of a delay between versions would have significant impact in selling PS3s? I'd say at least a month, I think most people really wouldn't care waiting a bit more, though of course some people would be swayed.

I am pretty certain M$ have paid enough for a simultaneous release in the US

Out in Japan first, out in the rest of the world on both platforms simultaneously.

BOTH versions are ports of a PC build. With that in mind, if they really wanted too they could probably have the Xbox 360 version ready before the PS3 version was ever completed.

I don't care about the Console War between PS3 and 360...

but

from the atricle...
"More pragmatically, he also mentioned that the change in the title's PlayStation 3 exclusivity was necessary due to “market situation for the Xbox 360 in the U.S. and Europe.”

Square Enix claims the game is still far too early in development to reveal (or even speculate at) a release date, though the company did reveal their current work schedule: First, the company will finish the Japanese PlayStation 3 version, which will then be localized for North America and Europe.

Once that’s completed, work will begin on the Xbox 360 version. "

This is just not what they said.

They don't state where this is from but the quoted part sound like it was from the same E3 conference where they said that:

Finish PS3 Japanese Version, then start localization and porting simultaneously.

If the PS3 version is going to be totally finished before even starting the 360 Port, that is the only logical explanation

If I were a fan of timed exclusivity for the PS3....I wouldn't get my hopes up.

That's my opinion. I'll refrain from commenting further because we just don't have enough information yet.

I think at this point it is just a "wait and see" situation

Speculating over these articles and the whole "he said this, but he said that" isn't going to solve anything. The game is 18 - 24 months away from NA/EU release anyway, so no point in worrying about it right now.

Seems like you are reading the article wrong.

The "Different versions" he appears to be talking about is the US and Europeon versions.

Either that or this is a horribly written article.

Or both.  Me i'm hesitant to believe this stuff because what is actualy said is often misquoted or misheard... and then it gets spammed across like 40 gaming blogs and people take it as Gospel.

Problem is... videogame journalists are just people who like videogames... not neccesiarily people who are really good journalists and can understand some of the nuances of conversation. (reading/listening comprehension.)

SE news/rumors = a joyride that ends with mourning.

You guys are probably right, right now the game's so far off none of this really matters. And even as we get closer, as long as whoever wants to play it can play it, it doesnt really matter much.

But still, it's fun to speculate just a little bit.