Multi-Platform Thoughts

There's been a lot of stink lately from the Sony fanboys about Square-Enix "defecting" to Microsoft. So, I thought I'd post my thoughts on the matter. I'm coming right out and saying it - at its most basic level, I have no problems with multi-platform releases. I don't have a problem at all with Final Fantasy games being released on both the PS3 and the 360, or any other platforms in the future. I think its good for the game franchise and its good for the gamers, especially since the 360 has and is getting more JRPGs than the PS3 this generation.

For example, someone goes out and decides to buy a 360 over a PS3 just because of the sheer quantity of JRPGs for Microsoft's system. Yet, if FFXIII remained exclusive to the PS3, they'd be losing out on possibly the biggest one of them all. But now, because its going multi-platform in Western territories, that gamer can now be happy that he purchased a 360. (To be honest, if I knew then what I knew now, I would have bought a 360 over a PS3, as well.) So, again, its better for gamers overall that games go multi-platform.

Now, when you get down to the specifics of multi-platform releases, some things that developers do don't sit too well with me. I really dislike unique content per platform. Since its fresh on everyone's mind, Soul Caliber IV is a prime example of this. The 360 version gets the kick-ass Yoda, while the PS3 version gets the lackluster Darth Vadar. According to the developers, there's no plans to release the characters for the platforms they didn't appear on, and, even if they did, it would probably cost the gamers hard-earned cash to download them. I dislike this practice, because it holds the high possibility of favoritism by the developers and makes the gamers losers when their favorite character is on the disc of the game on the platform they don't own.

Secondly, I am absolutely against a game release being pushed back or drummed down because its going multi-platform. There was just news over the weekend that the North American PS3 version of FFXIII may be delayed due to the 360 version's development plans. That is a load of stinky crap. If you're going multi-platform, at least have the courtesy to release versions as you get them done, not delay them until you get everything done. The PS3 version will be already finished, they will just have to localize it for North America. The 360 version, on the other hand, will have to be ported and localized (not necessarily in that order). At this rate, because of the 360 version, we won't see FFXIII on this side of the pond until 2010 or later.

So, that's my view on multi-platform titles. I don't think a game going multi-platform is a bad sign, but I dislike many of the multi-platform practices that developers tend to employ on these titles.