Can all of the fanboys pull up chair to the dinner table and eat their crow? The game is launching less than 3 months after Japanese version. So much for "MS causing FFXIII to be delayed in the West." Here all the release dates going back to FFVII to prove my point.

FFVII: 1/31/97 (JPN), 9/7/97 (NA), 11/17/97 (PAL)

FFVIII: 2/11/99 (JPN), 9/9/99 (NA), 10/27/99 (PAL)

FFIX: 7/7/00 (JPN), 11/14/00 (NA), 2/16/01 (PAL)

FFX: 7/19/01 (JPN), 12/20/01 (NA), 5/29/02 (PAL)

FFX-2: 3/13/03 (JPN), 11/18/03 (NA), 2/20/04 (PAL)

FFXII: 3/16/06 (JPN), 10/31/06 (NA), 2/23/07 (PAL)

FFXIII: 12/17/09 (JPN), 3/9/10 (NA), 3/9/10 (PAL)

If they didn't have to work on the 360 version simultaneously with the Japanese FF XIII, they could have finished the Japanese version much more quickly and then devoted 100% of their attention to localizing the English FF XIII. So it probably would have been slightly faster. What happened with MS intervention was they worked on both Japanese and English at the same time, so they couldn't give full attention and effort to one.

I blame Microsoft for speeding up the localization process. Fucking moneyhatters!

okay.....well atleast they're making an effort on getting this game to the NA/EU as soon as possible...about a 4 month wait, compared to the usual 6-8+ months, still waiting for WKC

It's interesting how it took FFXII nearly one year to arrive to Europe, and now it will only take FFXIII three months. Gotta thank Eidos for that.

Less than three month wait actually. NA fans get the game about 3 months sooner than average, Euro fans get the game about 7 months sooner than average.

It didn't delay the game because they lied again. XD

Also, it could have been here a little quicker if it wasn't multiplat.

EDIT:... sometimes I think the game would have taken longer if it was exclusive, actually... 

Whatever your preference of console, there are three points to consider and be outraged by here:

1. All true Final Fantasy fans are accustomed to waiting >4 months from the game's Japanese release. It's not only a beloved tradition; it gives the game time a chance to age, like a fine wine. This haste is totally unbecoming and seems like a premature ejaculation on Square-Enix's part.

2. The localization is clearly a rush job, so we can only expect the translation to be almost or completely incoherent and all of the English voiceovers to sound like they were done by Bobcat Goldthwait.

3. Microsoft is poop.

Sweet my 360 was made by feces!

The english dub sounds good so far and the localization is fine from what I have seen the the tTGS 2009 trailer