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All the (Final) Fantasy One Could Want in One Day

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the pick-and-choose dept.

Daetrin writes "The Magic Box is reporting that Square Enix will be releasing both Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles and Final Fantasy X-2 in America on the same day. Perhaps they figure any Americans who can afford both a PS2 and a GameCube should also be able to afford putting down the cash for both games at the same time? Usually competing against yourself isn't the best business plan." Square Insider also confirms this. I'm a huge Final Fantasy nut, and I have both a GameCube and a PS2, but I'm sure I don't have the time to play both games simultaneously, and I bet there's a lot of people who fall into this same category.

31 comments

  1. Could be wich to fund in the futur by Speedy8 · · Score: 1

    It could be that the two teams are in competition with each other for future funding and development time and this is there way of finding out wich one to proceed with and wich platform to pour their money into.

    1. Re:Could be wich to fund in the futur by devnull17 · · Score: 2

      Not likely. Development teams don't determine things like this. Marketing departments do, and most companies I know of have only one of those. Thank god for that. (:

  2. The date, in case you were wondering... by devnull17 · · Score: 5, Informative

    ...is November 3.

  3. good thing i picked up zelda. by OpMindFck · · Score: 1

    cuz now i have the gamecube and can get my final fantasy freak on in both arenas.

    mmmm. forbidden donut

    --
    Sipping on Jolt and Dew. Laid back. With my mind of my cubicle and my cubicle on my mind.
  4. Perhaps... by DarkBlack · · Score: 1

    Perhaps they are not competing with themselves. I, for one, will not buy a PS2, but will likely buy Crystal Chronicles for my Gamecube. I know many average families will not have more than one game console. For the families that have either the PS2 or a Gamecube, you will have a Final Fantasy game to play on that date.

    1. Re:Perhaps... by xxxj03yxxx · · Score: 0, Troll

      If I had a ps2 to go along with my GCN, I would also NOT be buying Final Fantasy X-2. Final Fantasy X was a horrible game...probably the worst in the Final Fantasy series (if you don't count Mystic Quest). The story was piss-poor, the game was too easy...in fact, the entire game seemed to be graphics driven instead of story-line driven. Notice how Final Fantasy VI and Final Fantasy VII, the two *best* FF games, are more about in-depth story then graphics. Anyway, I will probably be getting Crystal Chronicles. It looks interesting, and isn't the sequel to a shitty game.

  5. Tactics for GBA!!!! by heldlikesound · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Anyone else more excited about FF Tactics being released for the GBA?

    --


    Cloud City Digital: DVD Production at its cheapest/finest
    1. Re:Tactics for GBA!!!! by starlabs · · Score: 1

      One thing I was disappointed about FFT for GBA (after seeing it at E3) was the inability to rotate the map! I sorely miss that in FFT for PS1...

      Having said that I'm hope I'm wrong, as I only spent oh, 3 minutes looking at it at E3. Just too many games there (sensory overload, anyone?)

      But I'll buy it anyway, just because it's FFT. Release date is 9/8/03 btw.

    2. Re:Tactics for GBA!!!! by ichimunki · · Score: 1

      By a long shot. :)

      --
      I do not have a signature
  6. Crystal Chronicles for me by egomaniac · · Score: 3, Informative

    I have both a PS2 and a GameCube, and for me there is no contest. Crystal Chronicles is realtime, multiplayer, and the art style is absolutely fantastic. The whole dynamic of virtually requiring constant verbal communication between players should be a refreshing change of pace from most multiplayer titles.

    If you have a significant other who plays games, a GameCube, and two GBAs, you owe it to yourself to pick this game up when it comes out.

    --
    ZFS: because love is never having to say fsck
    1. Re:Crystal Chronicles for me by Bagels · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Though I agree about Crystal Chronicles being the best for me, seeing as I am a Nintendo fanboy, I can't see the same going for the majority of gamers out there. Not many people have a GameCube, let alone a GameCube, two GBAs, and the requisite GBA-to-Cube link cables. Even the most hard-core FF fan may have trouble justifying over $300 in hardware to play the game properly. Meanwhile, FFX-2 will likely sell far better, because it's a) for the PS2, which has a far larger installed userbase and b) it's a sequel to an already very popular game - on the one hand, it's more of the same, but on the other hand that is apparently what most FF fans want.

      --
      --- Bwah?
    2. Re:Crystal Chronicles for me by Babbster · · Score: 1

      That's great for people who play multiplayer...maybe. I'm worried, though, about how good a game will be whose original purpose is to fulfill the Nintendo requirement of developing at least one Gamecube game in order to get permission to develop games for the GBA. Let's face it, Square is not above releasing bad games (or even bad movies) in order to cash in.

    3. Re:Crystal Chronicles for me by zeus_tfc · · Score: 1

      - on the one hand, it's more of the same, but on the other hand that is apparently what most FF fans want.

      To be fair, from what I've hear X-2 is not really more of the same:

      Impressions from yukihime.com (read March 25)

      J. Parish's duality review from before Toasty Frog went defunct. Again.

      --
      "...At the end of the day"..."when everyone goes home, you're stuck with yourself." RIP Layne Staley
    4. Re:Crystal Chronicles for me by CashCarSTAR · · Score: 1

      From what I've heard they've made the GBA link optional now. You can do everything through transparent menus on the main screen.

  7. Nintendo Publishing Crystal Chronicles by Babbster · · Score: 2, Interesting

    It may not be relevant to the story, but actually the release date of Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles was determined by Nintendo of America as they are handling the publishing/distribution of that game - along with Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and Sword of Mana for the GBA - in North America.

  8. Argh! by moc.tfosorcimgllib · · Score: 4, Funny

    Must...buy...second...tv...become...ambidexterous. ..talk...like...shatner

    head...exploding...joy...

  9. boohoo by cheezus · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I'm a huge Final Fantasy nut, and I have both a GameCube and a PS2, but I'm sure I don't have the time to play both games simultaneously, and I bet there's a lot of people who fall into this same category.
    Buy one, play it. Then buy the other; it will probably drop in price after a while anyway.

    sheesh.

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    /bin/fortune | slashdotsig.sh
    1. Re:boohoo by Daetrin · · Score: 1
      Buy one, play it. Then buy the other; it will probably drop in price after a while anyway.

      That's the smart thing for the consumer to do. However you'll note that the end result is less money for Square Enix (it's still weird seeing/hearing that)

      Ideally they want as many people as possible to buy the game in the first few weeks, before the price starts to drop. However they're now providing really good incentive to those with both systems to wait on one of the two purchases and get it for cheaper later.

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      This Space Intentionally Left Blank
    2. Re:boohoo by Doc316 · · Score: 1

      Yes I do agree. I would fall into this category as well due to the fact I love the whole FF series. And even though the game comes out on Nov 3, 2003 I would buy FFX2 first then wait for awhile then buy my little sister the game cube and get the other one for free. But all in all I must say I can't wait for it but there is no way no way can I play both games simultaneously If I really had the time I still would feel the same way I could only give one my full attention.

      --
      For all of those that had witness let me give you one of my favorite sayings "Ph34r My M4d Skillz"
  10. Bad link by phorm · · Score: 2, Informative

    The first link to Square Insider should be non-hyphenated. The article link was correct, however.

  11. Hmm by DumbWhiteGuy777 · · Score: 1

    Crystal Chronicle sounds pretty cool, but I've always questioned whether or not X-2 was going to be any good, and I think I'm not alone. Maybe CC will hafta make up for X-2 dragging sales, if everyone is as hesitant to buy it as I am. Or maybe vice versa, who knows?

  12. The clear message here by bic2k · · Score: 1

    Sorry for bringing reality with me... but perhaps you can buy one game first... then if you happen to own both consoles by the other game later. Why on earth would you be compeled to buy both at the same time when you know you can possible play both at the same time. Square knows your gonna buy it eventually, so they don't really give a fly monkeys poop if you buy one of them before the other. They do hope that your dumb enough to buy both at the same time at the full price. Perhaps buying one at the full price at release and then waiting the month or so for it to go down in price wouldn't hurt your wallet, or your free time.

    --
    --- its to bad about the monkey, I kinda liked them
  13. Aaaaarrrggghhhh! by gamgee5273 · · Score: 1
    I own both a PS2 and a GC! I want both games! And 11/3 is a couple weeks after my wife's birthday and a few weeks before our anniversary!

    Damn it.

    Better start saving the vending machine change now...

  14. Why buy both at the same time? by Washizu · · Score: 1

    If you want to buy both, why would you have to do it at the same time? This way, you could choose which one you wanted first. Better to have the choice than not to have it at all.

    --
    OddManIn: A Game of guns and game theory.
    1. Re:Why buy both at the same time? by DavidLeblond · · Score: 1

      Three letters: ADD. :)

  15. Hrmph. by jayoyayo · · Score: 1

    Actually, Square Insider did not confirm it, after a quick double take I noticed that they list the release date of both games as Nov 8th. Then they state that FF:CC may be pushed up to Nov 3rd, which is the date The Magicbox states they both will come out. Hrmph.

    --
    WANT INFO ON A COUNTRY?
  16. How is this competition? by Man+In+Black · · Score: 2, Insightful

    They're for two different systems, I fail to see any huge competition problem. Sure, there are a relatively small amount of people with both, but so what? They're two very different games for two different systems.

    And as people have already pointed out, you don't have to buy both at once. Just because you like a game doesn't mean you have to buy it the nanosecond it becomes available, sheesh.

    --
    -"One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man." -EH
    1. Re:How is this competition? by Daetrin · · Score: 1
      A: Why do you assume that the set of people who want to play FFCC has an insignifcant overlap with the set of people who want to play FFX-2? They are different kinds of games for different kinds of systems, but a lot of people liked both FF and SoM, and a lot of people have both consoles.

      B: I agree, there's no reason i have to buy the game as soon as it comes out, but you're completly missing the point.

      I am much less likely to want to buy both games the instant they come out if they come out on the same day than if they come out at different times. If i had the chance to buy one right away and play it and maybe finish it, then i'd be far more likely to buy the second right away when it came out.

      The point being made is NOT that it's bad for the consumer, but that it's a bad buisness decision for Square Enix. The less people who buy both games shortly after they come out, the less money they make since the price will start dropping.

      If Square Enix were to announce that they would be giving away both games for free i would simialrly wonder what the hell they were thinking, but that would not stop me from realizing the large advantage to be gained as a consumer and taking advantage of the situation.

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      This Space Intentionally Left Blank
  17. Not as bad as you might think.... by Ian_Bailey · · Score: 1

    http://cube.ign.com/articles/423/423736p1.html

    The multiplayer component requires 1 GameCube, and 1 GameBoy for multiplayer play. The cable may even be packaged with the game like it was in Japan.

  18. I try not to think of it this way... by LeoDV · · Score: 1

    I thought that launching two of their most awaited games on the same day was a cool idea. It's not about competing with each other or business plan. :P If you don't feel like playing both at the same time, then don't.

  19. Meanwhile, in London... by Zhenya · · Score: 1

    I don't know if this applies to England as well, that X-2 and Crystal Chronicles come out on the same day, just much later.
    Yeah, later. American gamers may think they're disadvantaged, missing out on soundtracks, much later release dates than Japan, and other Japanese RPGs that look great...only the publishers don't think it'll be popular enough to make money. But European gamers have to put up with all these things, plus an even smaller choice of games from overseas, a wait of weeks or even months longer than America, and extortionately high prices to boot. I'd much rather wait until one drops in cost, and I'd much rather like the choice of game myself. I'm not going to pay a hundred quid for two games!
    We're sorta lucky in England because we have game developers of our own, like Team Soho, the developers behind the Getaway (don't know if that's gone anywhere else yet- I suppose not, only Londoners can really appreciate the detail put into London), the developers who made Tomb Raider, Spyro, Crash Bandicoot and so on. (Excuse the examples- I'm broke so have not been able to buy any magazines) The thing is, I much prefer Japanese games like Final Fantasy, so I have to SUFFER.
    And I don't know why, but there seems to be a larger percentage of the American population who are Nerds into FF than Britain- indeed, the same goes for the General Nerd percentage. Therefore, the only Final Fantasy merchandise I have ever seen in London is an imported model of Cerberus from FFVIII, in a tatty box, with Kanji writing, on the top shelf in a mobile phone shop in Soho. And it was £35. Which is quite a lot to someone, like me, with no regular income. (=a lot of serious gamers, {and teenagers.} Apart from game testers. Those lucky bastards.)

    --
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