Kingdom Hearts 3 platform undecided

[AndrewTS 0]

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3154029

 

Kingdom Hearts: Not Necessarily on PS3

Square Enix doesn't want to support simply one platform.

by Patrick Klepek, 09/26/2006

 

Last night, Square Enix riled gamers up with a bizarre quote from a Wall Street Journal article on the looming competition between Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii this fall. As the publication examined each of the platform's expected strengths, they turned a focus to the RPG powerhouse, who didn't exactly respond with the resounding exclusivity support we saw last generation.

"We don't want PlayStation 3 to be the overwhelming loser, so we want to support them," says Michihiro Sasaki, senior VP of Square Enix. "But we don't want them to be the overwhelming winner either, so we can't support them too much."

Er, what? Most came away from this quote convinced Square Enix was readying massive support for Wii, which, while possible, probably isn't the underlying message here. Rather, Square Enix likely realizes PS3 doesn't have ensured dominance this generation, and rather than pool all their support behind Sony right from the start, they're going to let the market play itself out for a while -- case in point, Square Enix so heavily supporting Nintendo DS over PSP.

 

Earlier in the story, however, the journalists make mention of where various Square Enix franchises are landing, specifically noting the high-end Final Fantasy sequels will find themselves on PlayStation 3, but more importantly, they have yet to decide who will receive the next Kingdom Hearts.

 

We can't imagine Xbox 360 being on the publisher's radar, so Wii appears the only logical option, unless they take the route expected from Kingdom Hearts at the start: multiplatform.

 

At this point, it's simply too early to know what Square Enix's plans are. 1UP's fired off a request for follow-up comment on the Kingdom Hearts mention, and we'll update if we hear more.

[naiwf 0]

Muy interesante. Most of the games I have for the PS2 are from Square, so if they go elsewhere with their games, or multiplatform them, there's even less of an incentive for me to get a PS3 in the distant future.

[bobobrazil1984 0]

If an honest to god final fantasy game (ie the main FF13, or 14, 15, etc) instead came out on a different platform, that might be enough to push me to it. even 360.

[AndrewTS 0]

Well, personally I think the Square to Sony defection is far more symbolic than a definite reason. Yet, this isn't just Square. It's Square-Enix. A platform that has Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest on it is going to be nigh-unstoppable in Japan.

 

Final Fantasy XIII--and XIII vs. is a lock for PS3 *at least*. I could 360 *maybe* getting a port of the international versions. However, MS would have to sit down and coerce Squeenix into a sweet deal to risk that.

 

With PS3 definitely getting FF...it would make sense for another *major* franchise to go to Wii. And yes--currently there's only FF Crystal Chronicles and Dragon Quest Swords--both spinoffs.

[Ginger Snaps 0]

I'm going to be pissed if I have to buy a Wii for KH3.

[Angles Broken Fricken Neck 0]

the thought of a wii remote enabled KHs game is amazing.

[AndrewTS 0]

It does seem possible. KH isn't a series that requires incredibly complex character models, where we can zoom in and count every single pore, drop of sweat and hair.

 

Although a multi-console release with console-specific worlds would be awesome. Although I fear how many zippers Nomura could put on Mario's outfit.

[Special K 0]

I shudder to think of realistic, Advent Children-like models for Mario or Mickey.

[ChrisMWaters 0]

It does seem possible. KH isn't a series that requires incredibly complex character models, where we can zoom in and count every single pore, drop of sweat and hair.

 

Although a multi-console release with console-specific worlds would be awesome. Although I fear how many zippers Nomura could put on Mario's outfit.

They'd find ways to put zippers on his hat.

[Scroby 0]

Kingdom Hearts 3 going multi-platform would be awesome for me, espically since I'm not planning on getting a PS3. I would love to play and finish the first two kingdom hearts but I don't own a PS2 and I don't want to buy one right now just for those two games even though those are great games. I still want the PS2 to go down lower in price before I buy a system for just a couple of games.

 

One thing I think Square Enix might also be considering that even though there are a lot of Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, and other of their games fans. They might be thinking no one is going to go out and pay 500 or 600 for a system to just play one of their games. Don't get me wrong, there are those who would, but I don't think thats a majority of their fans. Finally taking their games multi-platform would be really smart on their part.

[EricMM 0]

Also:

 

It is (and was) one thing to buy a PS2 to play a few games. Even if you JUST play Squeenix games, FFX, KH, Dragon Quest, etc. A 199 or 150 PS2 is FAAAAAAAAAAAAR different than a 399 or 599 or whatever PS3.

 

Don't discount the $400 dollar difference here.

[Eclipse 0]

Sony is totally not doing something right this generation when their biggest supporters are going elsewhere with their business and not being exclusive to them as they were in the PS2 era.

[Special K 0]

Well, they're blowing it with Blu-Ray.

 

I mean, have you seen the shots of Gears of War or Halo 3? Those aren't my types of games, but you don't need better graphics than that. So they must be spending their time and money on Blu-Ray, eviscerating their one cash cow (Playstation) It's absolutely stupid.

 

I mean shit, in the upcoming format wars, the US is going to drive the market. And I don't even think that many people are ready to switch formats for at least another 5 years. Sony has never launched a format successfully, and they're fucking BLOWING it.

[ZGangsta 0]

I mean shit, in the upcoming format wars, the US is going to drive the market. And I don't even think that many people are ready to switch formats for at least another 5 years. Sony has never launched a format successfully, and they're fucking BLOWING it.

That's just it, Sony is blowing the upcoming generation gaming platform on a media format that won't be ready for adoption until the NEXT generation. And that's only if High Definition (blue laser) DVD doesn't get leapfrogged by holographic storage completely.

[Karc 0]

Third-party publishers make FAR more money going multiplatform than exclusive. Of course Square wants their games to be everywhere. The only reasons they won't when the exclusive company buys the license outright for an insane amount of money, or the publisher knows that the game won't make a profit on a console. Most of the time, a game can be ported with relative ease, even with a different controller (Wii) or a different software (PS3).