THE BORE

General => Video Game Bored => Topic started by: Himu on April 06, 2009, 10:34:21 PM

Title: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 06, 2009, 10:34:21 PM
Who pre-ordered? I did.  8)
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Mr. Gundam on April 06, 2009, 10:42:02 PM
I said I wasn't going to get this.

I've been thinking about ordering a copy all day...
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: cool breeze on April 06, 2009, 10:47:24 PM
when is it out? i pre-ordered, but I don't remember the date it's released.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 06, 2009, 10:51:26 PM
april 17
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 06, 2009, 10:53:35 PM
hey swaggaz, where'd you order from? I ordered from ncsx. Know when they charge and ship?
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: cool breeze on April 06, 2009, 10:55:47 PM
I have no clue.  If I was smart months ago, I would have ordered from NCSX, but it might have been play-asia.  NCSX is usually the fastest and I get games within 3 days of their release in Japan (I'm in PA)

I should really follow this stuff better.  I actually wish I didn't know when it was coming out so I can come up and randomly find it in the mail.

ordered from NCSX :rock
me from 3 months ago who was smart enough to order from NCSX, but dumb enough to spend $70 on a crappy movie and demo  :-\
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Bebpo on April 06, 2009, 11:23:24 PM
Aren't you like a week early?

/hugs pre-order
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 06, 2009, 11:41:19 PM
:rock swaggaz
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Purple Filth on April 07, 2009, 03:32:43 AM
FF8 for ps3?  :lol

(http://www.andriasang.com/blogs/anoop/2009/04/06/ffxiii_demo_signs/2132378735.jpg)

i guess it's just a weird play on the words (and no roman numerals)
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Enl on April 07, 2009, 03:35:49 AM
FF8 for ps3?  :lol

i guess it's just a weird play on the words

And at that moment Himumu splooged a thousand splooges on his s-video powered PS3. His piano black system was a solid crusty white the next day.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: HyperZoneWasAwesome on April 07, 2009, 03:51:29 AM
pre-order, for a demo?

How much is Squeenix charging for this?  And how big are their cojones if its anything more then free.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Purple Filth on April 07, 2009, 03:56:31 AM
pre-order, for a demo?

How much is Squeenix charging for this?  And how big are their cojones if its anything more then free.

about 70 bucks or so and you get a free movie  :lol

(actually the demo is included with purchase of the movie but who seriously gives a fuck about advent children anymore)
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Smooth Groove on April 07, 2009, 06:54:34 AM
So is this just an Asian deal so far?  I'll be willing to plunk down money for FF13 to get the demo. 

FF13 seems to be a return to FF7,FF10 game design and that's fine with me.  There aren't many J-RPGS that I like but FF13 looks like it could become one of them.   
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Ninja on April 07, 2009, 08:50:01 AM
Pre-ordered with the fastest shipping I could get. Can't wait and I don't even know if I can watch the movie. Although since it's advent children, not being being able to see could be a plus.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: pilonv1 on April 07, 2009, 09:57:45 AM
What are the chances of this demo being decent?
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: pilonv1 on April 07, 2009, 10:45:12 AM
:hyper cant wait
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: dammitmattt on April 07, 2009, 10:50:10 AM
Save yourself $70 and watch the high-res videos that will show up immediately on YouTube, Gametrailers, etc.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: GilloD on April 07, 2009, 11:08:34 AM
Wait, you guys pre-ordered a demo?

SMH

Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 07, 2009, 11:18:17 AM
remember it only uses 50% of the PS3's power   :borys
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Bebpo on April 07, 2009, 11:22:21 AM
Wait, you guys pre-ordered a demo?

SMH



Directors cut of the FF7 movie in zomg HD with 30 mins of new footage + 30 min all new 2d anime OAV + 2 hour FFXIII demo for $60 = good deal if you like the FF7 movie, like FF7 anime, and like FFXIII.  :D
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 07, 2009, 11:23:24 AM
FF8 for ps3?  :lol

i guess it's just a weird play on the words

And at that moment Himumu splooged a thousand splooges on his s-video powered PS3. His piano black system was a solid crusty white the next day.

 :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 07, 2009, 11:25:18 AM
We should all chip in and get himumu a PS3 compatible monitor or something.

:lol You're such a sweet heart  :-*
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Don Flamenco on April 07, 2009, 11:27:17 AM
I bought it, but I'm not as interested in playing the demo as I am in it going for high prices on ebay. :lol   I'll definitely give it a few runs.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 07, 2009, 11:28:27 AM
probably they were vague on Roman numberals and figured if the big thing on sale is FF7, and it includes a demo of some future FF, it would make sense for it to be 7+1=8
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Diunx on April 07, 2009, 01:03:01 PM
I'll watch the HD videos, I wont spend $70 just so I can press X.

RPG demos :yuck
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: GilloD on April 07, 2009, 01:18:20 PM
Wait, you guys pre-ordered a demo?

SMH



Directors cut of the FF7 movie in zomg HD with 30 mins of new footage + 30 min all new 2d anime OAV + 2 hour FFXIII demo for $60 = good deal if you like the FF7 movie, like FF7 anime, and like FFXIII.  :D

SMH SMH SMH
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 07, 2009, 01:54:24 PM
Wait, you guys pre-ordered a demo?

SMH



Directors cut of the FF7 movie in zomg HD with 30 mins of new footage + 30 min all new 2d anime OAV + 2 hour FFXIII demo for $60 = good deal if you like the FF7 movie, like FF7 anime, and like FFXIII.  :D

Leper this homo. FF7 movie is just unwatchable trash, you gotta be a raging japafag to even sit through all of it.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Bebpo on April 07, 2009, 01:57:51 PM
I'm a graphics whore and the movie has nice graphics and music :D

I also like Nomura art so that helps :D
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 07, 2009, 02:02:10 PM
I like AC too, story included

I dunno about this version tho, seems like the additions are mainly more exposition scenes to beat you over the head with stuff that was more tastefully implied in the original
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: tiesto on April 07, 2009, 02:10:03 PM
I'll watch the HD videos, I wont spend $70 just so I can press X.

RPG demos :yuck

DQ8 had an awesome demo, but most RPG demos have been awful.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Bebpo on April 07, 2009, 02:24:00 PM
I'll watch the HD videos, I wont spend $70 just so I can press X.

RPG demos :yuck

DQ8 had an awesome demo, but most RPG demos have been awful.

FF demos are usually good because they just give you the action-packed game intro.  Rpg demos have been bad this gen because they drop you in the middle of some event.

Given that they are basically selling the demo here, I think Kitase will make sure it kicks ass.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 07, 2009, 04:26:35 PM
FF demos are the best rpg demos because FF demos are always in action packed part of the story.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: cool breeze on April 07, 2009, 04:53:00 PM
I actually played the FFX demo last week when going through my old stack of demo disks (it's ridiculous how many demo disks I have from my OPM subscription).  It was a pretty awesome demo.

btw, that Britney Spears DDR game is hilarious.  They should do a Wii version.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Jansen on April 08, 2009, 01:12:46 PM
this demo is going to be final fantasys last chance to impress me

if it sucks i'm done anticipating future installments
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 08, 2009, 04:27:54 PM
http://ps3.ign.com/articles/970/970920p1.html

holy fuck this game sounds amazing
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: demi on April 08, 2009, 04:36:41 PM
Do you think this game will be better than GTA4, Himuro?
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 08, 2009, 04:39:09 PM
Hopefully.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Bebpo on April 08, 2009, 07:29:08 PM
Is it even possible for an FF game to be worse?

If I had to choose between GTA4 and SO4 I might even take SO4.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: demi on April 08, 2009, 07:33:12 PM
Is it even possible for an FF game to be worse?

Yes
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Third on April 08, 2009, 08:07:25 PM
I liked FFVII AC and I'll be getting the Blu-Ray release too.

Not bothering with the demo. Can't wait for the impressions, though.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Smooth Groove on April 08, 2009, 08:08:44 PM
Any previews of the 360 version?

So far, all of the PS3 to 360 ports have been well done but I have a feeling that FFXIII will be the first exception. 
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: ManaByte on April 08, 2009, 08:14:56 PM
http://ps3.ign.com/articles/970/970920p1.html

holy fuck this game sounds amazing

Quote
Toriyama also revealed something particularly surprising about the battle system. At the end of each battle, your character's HP will be totally recovered!
   :yuck :yuck :yuck :yuck :yuck
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Third on April 08, 2009, 08:16:23 PM
Who cares about the X360 version?

Everyone with a Ps3 and X360 should get the Ps3 version.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: demi on April 08, 2009, 08:17:23 PM
lol
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 08, 2009, 08:17:33 PM
Who cares about the X360 version?

Everyone with a Ps3 and X360 should get the Ps3 version.

Why
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Third on April 08, 2009, 08:18:22 PM
Because the Ps3 seems to be the leading platform and 1 disc>>>> multiple discs

Easy choice for me.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 08, 2009, 08:20:21 PM
Because the Ps3 seems to be the leading platform and 1 disc>>>> multiple discs

Easy choice for me.

But if both versions for some reason, end up looking and performing on par with each other, who gives a shit about what version you pick?

And >>>>> lol, it's a linear game, who gives a crap about multiple disks.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Smooth Groove on April 08, 2009, 08:22:34 PM
Because the Ps3 seems to be the leading platform and 1 disc>>>> multiple discs

Easy choice for me.

Not if it means installing every time a new chapter is started, like in MGS4.  I would rather just swap a disc and play right away. 
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Third on April 08, 2009, 08:24:53 PM
I do.

When I can get the same game on 1 disc instead of multiple ones, why should I go for the multiple disc version?

And I thought FFXIII's loading is going to be seamless, so no MGS4 scenario.

I guess FFversusXIII will make clear if the X360 is holding FFXIII development back.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 08, 2009, 08:26:22 PM
Holding FFXIII development back?

 :lol
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Third on April 08, 2009, 08:28:31 PM
Overworld is confirmed in Versus. FFXIII not.

I dunno. But we'll see what happens with both games.

X360 jrpg's have been pretty shitty so far anyway. I hope SE can do something special with FFXIII and FFVersusXIII
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 08, 2009, 08:30:47 PM
PS3 JRPGs have been so much better.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Third on April 08, 2009, 08:34:05 PM
Yeah, Valkyra Chronicles proves your point.

Let's be honest. All X360 jrpg's have been pretty generic so far. If they were to be Ps2 games, no one would care - that's because the Ps2 has better jrpg's out there.

Only Lost Odyssey and Vesperia were ok to good. But even those jrpg's are worse than the average Ps2 jrpg.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 08, 2009, 08:36:49 PM
Really, Valkyra Chronicles? A game that nobody gave a shit about, took no decent advantage of the hardware, and is possibly, the only even decent PS3 rpg exclusive, is your argument for PS3 having been a better JRPG platform?

You must be drunk or something.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Third on April 08, 2009, 08:39:47 PM
Really, Valkyra Chronicles? A game that nobody gave a shit about

It's not like the X360 jrpg's sold any better.

Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 08, 2009, 08:46:47 PM
Really? I don't know, last i heard, 360 jrpgs actually charted so hey.

And aren't you confusing the PS2 with the PS1? PS2 wasn't exactly a brilliant JRPG machine either.

And it doesn't even matter, i was just saying, your argument is crap. PS3 has been an even worse JRPG machine than the 360, and FF is gonna be just another FF because that's what Square Enix does these days, they make the most expensive looking JRPGs out there, and it's gonna be "good" not because it's on the PS3, or 360, but because 60 million dollars worth of investment will at least give you a great looking game, with lot's of cut scenes.

When FFXIII sucks, some nutsos will be blaming the 360, but truth is, they are only now seeing the truth, because FFX and FFXII sucked, and when Versus comes out it will suck because Nomura sucks, and people will be super hyped about because it's a PS3 exclusive, then it will start fading with time, and people will realize one thing, Square Enix sucks these days, and FFs are nothing more than over budget crap.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Third on April 08, 2009, 08:52:40 PM
This whole "X360 holding back development" is pretty logical. And it doesn't have much to do with the hardware.

FFXIII is the first main FF game that is getting a multiplatform release on day 1.

The previous FF games were so good becaue Square-Enix was focusing on one platform. Giving all the attention to one version.

Fans are just afraid that FFXIII will be getting less attention (Ps3 version in this case) thanks to the multiplatform approach.
 
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: treythemovie on April 08, 2009, 08:53:00 PM
Really, Valkyra Chronicles? A game that nobody gave a shit about

It's not like the X360 jrpg's sold any better.



Except they did. Basically all them outsold VC. In fact, even Folklore and Persona 4 outdid VC by a good amount.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: OptimoPeach on April 08, 2009, 08:56:04 PM
:rofl @ anyone who pays $70 for a demo.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Third on April 08, 2009, 08:56:14 PM
Really? I don't know, last i heard, 360 jrpgs actually charted so hey.

And aren't you confusing the PS2 with the PS1? PS2 wasn't exactly a brilliant JRPG machine either.

And it doesn't even matter, i was just saying, your argument is crap. PS3 has been an even worse JRPG machine than the 360, and FF is gonna be just another FF because that's what Square Enix does these days, they make the most expensive looking JRPGs out there, and it's gonna be "good" not because it's on the PS3, or 360, but because 60 million dollars worth of investment will at least give you a great looking game, with lot's of cut scenes.

When FFXIII sucks, some nutsos will be blaming the 360, but truth is, they are only now seeing the truth, because FFX and FFXII sucked, and when Versus comes out it will suck because Nomura sucks, and people will be super hyped about because it's a PS3 exclusive, then it will start fading with time, and people will realize one thing, Square Enix sucks these days, and FFs are nothing more than over budget crap.

All X360 jrpg's bombed in NA. And Japanese sales have been underwhelming.

Ps1 has better jrpg's than the Ps2 (imo), but you must not underestimate the Ps2 when it comes to jrpg's.

FFX and FFXII are both amazing jrpg's who set the bar very high. And that's what a main FF usually does - setting the bar high. Especially in production values, but all the main FF games have been stellar so far.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: MCD on April 08, 2009, 09:02:11 PM
FFXII are both amazing jrpg's who set the bar very high.

amazing jrpg's who set the bar very high

set the bar very high

FFXII
(http://i42.tinypic.com/ok1k7m.jpg)
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Third on April 08, 2009, 09:04:09 PM
Except they did. Basically all them outsold VC. In fact, even Folklore and Persona 4 outdid VC by a good amount.

Ehh, I thought only Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey outsold VC...
Folklore definitely hasn't outsold VC lol.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Third on April 08, 2009, 09:08:20 PM
(http://i42.tinypic.com/ok1k7m.jpg)

FFXII has a lot of haters. But who cares.
Not everyone likes good quality wine either.

FFXII is amazing.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: treythemovie on April 08, 2009, 09:20:50 PM
Except they did. Basically all them outsold VC. In fact, even Folklore and Persona 4 outdid VC by a good amount.

Ehh, I thought only Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey outsold VC...
Folklore definitely hasn't outsold VC lol.
http://platformers.net/2009/02/npd-january-2009-life-to-date-numbers/
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Third on April 08, 2009, 09:25:29 PM
The world is flat and only America exists.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: treythemovie on April 08, 2009, 09:29:20 PM
The world is flat and only America exists.
I doubt the rest of western sales are that different from NPD's.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 08, 2009, 10:19:29 PM
ban Third for bringing console politics into a GAME thread  :maf
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Third on April 08, 2009, 10:39:25 PM
Seriously, how could I? My Final Fantasy defense can bring the worst out of me. :'(
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: AdmiralViscen on April 08, 2009, 10:50:31 PM
Is this really a 360vsps3 topic now?



:btw didn't LO do like 200k in the US in its first month?
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: tiesto on April 08, 2009, 11:56:37 PM
PS1's RPG library was much better than PS2's but there were a host of good ones on PS2 as well... Shadow Hearts 1 and 2, DQ8, the SMT games, Dragon Quarter, Tales of the Abyss, VP2. The FF games on the PS2 all sucked.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Purple Filth on April 09, 2009, 02:06:47 AM
What the fuck happened to this thread?
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: duckman2000 on April 09, 2009, 02:38:44 AM
I have toyed with the idea of crafting a video game news or just plain article site. I mean, I do print and web shit for a living anyway, so it'd be a breeze. Then a few minutes later I realize that I'm in all seriousness thinking about putting professional hours into something related to video games, which forces me to pace around and quietly scream to myself. Then I calm down, and post something on a video game message board. I'm so glad I have some pictures from my travels and a kid around to prove that I am, in fact, more than this.  :'(
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: maxy on April 09, 2009, 03:01:42 AM
Well,if reality is anything to go by,PS3 version has 1% chance to be superior,but hey dreams are free.

Maybe in 4D reality...

In the end it doesn't matter, if FFXIII is going to suck its going to suck regardless of platform.


Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: pilonv1 on April 09, 2009, 03:16:09 AM
Quote
What the fuck happened to this thread?

NERDSDAQS STOCK EXCHANGE

Square Enix Sector activity

   FFXIII (PS3) Close : 10911 +153  8.6% (52 wk high : 99400, 52 wk low : 645)

   heavy buy in from Nerdlings on expectations of demo. More analysis suggesting superior version. Installs not a concern as no energy needs to be expended. (Gaming Equipment/Goods) Couch and Sandwich also saw sharp rises (up 5% and 10% (limit) respectively).

   FFXIII (X360) Close : 810 -550 -10% (52 wk high : 2040, 52 wk low : 0)

   implications of poor port and potential dangerous levels of physical activity required to swap disks caused panic sell, some negative effect on PS3 stock due to possibly reduction in quality due to port.


(i really should do something like this as some sort of shitty joke site like VGCharts)





i would subscribe to this
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: pilonv1 on April 09, 2009, 05:00:58 AM
i have the same thoughts as duckman. but im too lazy to even make a blog about my gaming opinions
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 09, 2009, 11:01:52 AM
What the fuck Third. Why did you have to do this? I"m getting FFXIII on the ps3 as well because every other FF I have except III is on a playstation console but you don't to go and ruin my thread with this shit.

Anyways, look at this beautiful thing.

(http://i3.ttsite.net/u/Mon_0904/Day_2/643474_1461135_93592d8de5163da.jpg)
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 09, 2009, 11:04:32 AM
http://ps3.ign.com/articles/970/970920p1.html

holy fuck this game sounds amazing

Quote
Toriyama also revealed something particularly surprising about the battle system. At the end of each battle, your character's HP will be totally recovered!
   :yuck :yuck :yuck :yuck :yuck

Are you stupid? That is awesome. If the exchange is tougher battles but you refill hp every battle, and every single battle COUNTS then that's badass. Are you dumb?
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: cool breeze on April 09, 2009, 11:17:59 AM
Recovering health after every battle is great.  Less having to rely on a healer after every battle or two, then finding a way to restore mp means more time playing the game. The battle system is sounding like it's going to be awesome.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: MCD on April 09, 2009, 11:56:04 AM
OH LAWD

IS DAT SUM ENCHANTED ARMS
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 09, 2009, 12:03:57 PM
Recovering health after every battle is great.  Less having to rely on a healer after every battle or two, then finding a way to restore mp means more time playing the game. The battle system is sounding like it's going to be awesome.

FF13 has no mp :)

Swaggaz, I'm trying to change my shipping at ncsx.com and I'm having a no go. Help? :(

E-mailed them and got a response. :)
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 09, 2009, 12:10:35 PM
Am I the only one who thinks the dialogue in the trailer makes no sense? :lol

[youtube=560,345]G-SCZKYFKh4[/youtube]
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: cool breeze on April 09, 2009, 12:11:39 PM
Recovering health after every battle is great.  Less having to rely on a healer after every battle or two, then finding a way to restore mp means more time playing the game. The battle system is sounding like it's going to be awesome.

FF13 has no mp :)

Swaggaz, I'm trying to change my shipping at ncsx.com and I'm having a no go. Help? :(

E-mailed them and got a response. :)


no mp? how do they manage magic, specials, summons, etc.?

exactly how much info came out recently? since the new issue of Edge came out, I haven't really kept up since I'm playing the demo so soon.  Only a week or two now :omg
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 09, 2009, 12:23:40 PM
Quite a bit of info came out recently.

They haven't said how they'll manage summons but in the latest ign preview they said that Toriyama was quoted in the recent Famitsu regarding summons. Dude says that TP will have something to do with that.

As for magic, specific magic have specific costs. Like, in order to cast firaga you have to have three stocks. So you'll have to wait for your stocks to charge up to three.

from 1up:

Quote
The battles in Final Fantasy XIII are basically realtime; you can see enemies on the game map and fall into battle when you come into contact with them. Your party has a time gauge that fills up over...time, and once it reaches a certain level, you can execute commands. This is sort of like the "Active Time Battle" system we saw up until Final Fantasy IX, but unlike before, commands can be executed even if the time gauge isn't completely full.

You see, the gauge is divided into sections; when each one fills up, you are able to execute one command, such as "Fight" or using an item. When the gauge is full, you can input several commands in one go and watch as your party executes them all at once, with the results depending on the sequence of your orders.

Every command, meanwhile, has an associated cost. For example, while "Fight" only consumes one time unit, trickier magic could cost three or more units, draining your time gauge rapidly. While unconfirmed, it seems likely that more time units will be added to the gauge as you levels up, and that'll be important -- given that there's no visible MP display on the battle screen, there's a decent probability that magic works completely off the time gauge and there's no MP concept here at all.

Whatever, we'll see in a week won't we?  8)
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: dark1x on April 09, 2009, 02:19:29 PM
Recovering health after every battle is great.  Less having to rely on a healer after every battle or two, then finding a way to restore mp means more time playing the game. The battle system is sounding like it's going to be awesome.
They did this in Wild Arms V, actually.  Heck, when you died, the game would even allow you to retry the battle right there which completely removed the need to rely on saves in dungeons.  I thought it was a great system as each battle became more of a challenge and you could go full out as a result.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 09, 2009, 02:19:58 PM
Quote
Am I the only one who thinks the dialogue in the trailer makes no sense? laugh

Toriyama mentioned they intentionally made it so you have no idea wtf is going on at the beginning.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 09, 2009, 02:30:26 PM
Hahaha

he did? Where?
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: MCD on April 09, 2009, 04:46:40 PM
OH LAWD

IS DAT SUM ENCHANTED ARMS

NEVER MENTION THAT GAME NEVER NEVER NEVER
easy 1000 achievements.

will mention again.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: demi on April 09, 2009, 04:49:04 PM
Enchanted Arms > Star Ocean 4
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: MCD on April 09, 2009, 04:50:17 PM
Enchanted Arms > Star Ocean 4
signed.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Smooth Groove on April 09, 2009, 05:02:34 PM
I have toyed with the idea of crafting a video game news or just plain article site. I mean, I do print and web shit for a living anyway, so it'd be a breeze. Then a few minutes later I realize that I'm in all seriousness thinking about putting professional hours into something related to video games, which forces me to pace around and quietly scream to myself. Then I calm down, and post something on a video game message board. I'm so glad I have some pictures from my travels and a kid around to prove that I am, in fact, more than this.  :'(

It might not be a complete waste of time.  Many people who run gaming sites get free gaming stuff or passes to major gaming sites. 

If your site got really popular, you could even make some money off of it through ads.   
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: duckman2000 on April 09, 2009, 05:05:16 PM
Yeah, but have you ever seen Tal? I'm monstrously ugly enough as it is, I don't need the extra padding and skin problems that apparently come naturally once you operate a gaming web site. But I've definitely entertained the idea.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Smooth Groove on April 09, 2009, 05:09:11 PM
Yeah, but have you ever seen Tal? I'm monstrously ugly enough as it is, I don't need the extra padding and skin problems that apparently come naturally once you operate a gaming web site. But I've definitely entertained the idea.

No, what's Tal?

Btw, Demi operates one or more gaming site, and he's skinny and good looking (supposedly). 
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: duckman2000 on April 09, 2009, 05:10:53 PM
Yeah, but have you ever seen Tal? I'm monstrously ugly enough as it is, I don't need the extra padding and skin problems that apparently come naturally once you operate a gaming web site. But I've definitely entertained the idea.

No, what's Tal?

Btw, Demi operates one or more gaming site, and he's skinny and good looking (supposedly). 

Maybe, but demi is deranged. Another quality I absolutely do not need more of.

(http://faqsmedia.ign.com/faqs/image/article/926/926432/tal_fo3_001.jpg)
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Smooth Groove on April 09, 2009, 05:17:08 PM
Also, Demi is handicapped.  A sedentary lifestyle doesn't affect him since he's accustomed to life in a wheelchair. 
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Positive Touch on April 09, 2009, 07:30:41 PM
oh god what the fuck is that thing
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Herr Mafflard on April 12, 2009, 08:19:29 AM
Scans from Edge. I expect a random sexual favour from himuro for this.


(http://img103.imagevenue.com/loc592/th_38603_ff13scans_0001_122_592lo.jpg) (http://img103.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=38603_ff13scans_0001_122_592lo.jpg)(http://img241.imagevenue.com/loc473/th_38608_ff13scans_0002_122_473lo.jpg) (http://img241.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=38608_ff13scans_0002_122_473lo.jpg)(http://img201.imagevenue.com/loc389/th_38610_ff2_0001_122_389lo.jpg) (http://img201.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=38610_ff2_0001_122_389lo.jpg)(http://img161.imagevenue.com/loc593/th_38618_ff2_0002_122_593lo.jpg) (http://img161.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=38618_ff2_0002_122_593lo.jpg)
(http://img103.imagevenue.com/loc223/th_38625_ff2_0003_122_223lo.jpg) (http://img103.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=38625_ff2_0003_122_223lo.jpg)(http://img183.imagevenue.com/loc143/th_38627_ff2_0004_122_143lo.jpg) (http://img183.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=38627_ff2_0004_122_143lo.jpg)(http://img229.imagevenue.com/loc455/th_38634_ff2_0005_122_455lo.jpg) (http://img229.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=38634_ff2_0005_122_455lo.jpg)
(http://img135.imagevenue.com/loc249/th_38637_ff2_0006_122_249lo.jpg) (http://img135.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=38637_ff2_0006_122_249lo.jpg)
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 14, 2009, 02:18:08 PM
infected, what you want baby?


(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3328/3441212349_2da797bbe9_o.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3399/3442026272_8019b32a85_o.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3624/3441213405_2fcb4c6a03_b.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3603/3441279497_777ddaebc5_o.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3597/3441213551_bc1585b020_o.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3574/3442026066_f762fbbee2_o.jpg)
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Third on April 14, 2009, 05:22:07 PM
maybe it's a tattoo
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Don Flamenco on April 14, 2009, 09:19:14 PM
I definitely would not play this.  Just look at those sharp elbows...
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: demi on April 14, 2009, 11:24:29 PM
tried to watch a stream, stuttered horribly. someone upload HD youtube vids
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Powerslave on April 14, 2009, 11:27:03 PM
A sane person wouldn't buy this game. It's the number 13 man... Who knows what kind of curses this game holds deep within...
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: BlueTsunami on April 14, 2009, 11:27:56 PM
Holy shit is Powerslave :bow
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: archie4208 on April 14, 2009, 11:30:58 PM
http://www.justin.tv/esegk

^^^ Stream of the demo.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: BlueTsunami on April 14, 2009, 11:32:31 PM
The Cinematic camera with the UI still on screen is pretty fucking awesome
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: cool breeze on April 15, 2009, 12:57:39 AM
The transition into battle, then the actual flow of the battle look amazing.  Looks much better than I expected tbh.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Vizzys on April 15, 2009, 01:43:24 AM
watched a  bit of a "live" feed

battles look great and the cutscenes are pretty amazing
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: ch1nchilla on April 15, 2009, 01:45:21 AM
I want an HD stream so I can actually judge how this looks.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Mr. Gundam on April 15, 2009, 01:52:32 AM
Holy crap fuck me in the face that is awesome.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 15, 2009, 01:54:20 AM
boss music is  :o
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Mr. Gundam on April 15, 2009, 01:58:36 AM
Fucking awesome game is fucking awesome.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Don Flamenco on April 15, 2009, 02:10:00 AM
damn, this looks slick.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Jansen on April 15, 2009, 02:43:39 AM
ima laugh my ass off if the game isn't hd
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: TVC15 on April 15, 2009, 02:51:44 AM
Looks like ATB except you can move around.  Trash game is trash.  Hold on to your SO4 copies.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Bebpo on April 15, 2009, 03:00:48 AM
Can't believe anyone doubted the main FF team.  Like SMT4, the fact that this will be a fuck awesome rpg is a no brainer.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Jansen on April 15, 2009, 03:05:12 AM
stream doesn't work for me. it never stops loading :(
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 15, 2009, 03:05:31 AM
if someone gave me 5.5 years and $80M I could probably make a great looking game too

Quote
ok, in actuality I would probably just spend the time/money on math books
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Darunia on April 15, 2009, 05:47:26 AM
very disappointing footage, hype gone
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 15, 2009, 07:05:01 AM
not clicking any links

not clicking any links
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Sho Nuff on April 15, 2009, 07:38:50 AM
Click himumu click
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: dark1x on April 15, 2009, 08:54:34 AM
Quote
Can't believe anyone doubted the main FF team.  Like SMT4, the fact that this will be a fuck awesome rpg is a no brainer.

i'm sure i'll get slated for this but, hey fugg it ...

i'm sure it will be (awesome, the final game) , but nothing in this demo so far looks to differentiate this from, say, LO.
I loved Lost Odyssey, but I'm not sure I get that comparison.  The visuals look completely different, the combat is completely different, and the cutscenes are more impressive.  It doesn't seem anything like Lost Odyssey.

It has its issues, but as I suspected, it's the best looking RPG we've seen this gen (which isn't exactly a difficult thing to do).  I don't think it has anything to do with the PS3 either (I think the results probably would have been even better if 360 had been the lead).

Unrelated note - The music is really good.  I'm glad to see that Hamauzu was finally given the chance to score a big game.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: cool breeze on April 15, 2009, 09:20:06 AM
Quote
Can't believe anyone doubted the main FF team.  Like SMT4, the fact that this will be a fuck awesome rpg is a no brainer.

i'm sure i'll get slated for this but, hey fugg it ...

i'm sure it will be (awesome, the final game) , but nothing in this demo so far looks to differentiate this from, say, LO.




The tiny bit of the video I saw actually reminded me less of what the old FFXIII trailers promised and more about what the old Lost Odyssey trailers did, at least for how the flow of battle was visually.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Kestastrophe on April 15, 2009, 09:47:43 AM
why does the black guy have a bird in his afro?
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: maxy on April 15, 2009, 10:04:58 AM
Leave Chocobro alone :maf

He is already my favorite FFXIII character,he should be in charge not that stupid skinny chick :yuck
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 15, 2009, 10:16:50 AM
Zazh is amazing.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 15, 2009, 10:30:06 AM
.............
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Powerslave on April 15, 2009, 10:43:16 AM
So when is Square gonna change their art direction again? It's been the same since FFX. FFVII, VIII and IX all had different styles. Hail the Playstation.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 15, 2009, 10:53:37 AM
These guys have really inconsistent character design, and the black dude design is just offensive.

These little midgets better start acting like they don't live inside their own mangafag reality.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 15, 2009, 10:56:07 AM
Quote
i'm sure i'll get slated for this but, hey fugg it ...

i'm sure it will be (awesome, the final game) , but nothing in this demo so far looks to differentiate this from, say, LO.

yeah, a demo of this kind of RPG is fairly useless for showing anything but flash, you don't have time to get into the meat of the gameplay or story so it's impossible to draw conclusions one way or another. 
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 15, 2009, 12:21:16 PM
Quote
(at best, if anything the LO demo was absolute garbage but it STILL managed to be as good as this over a year ago "on weaker hardware :/")

LO also had like 15 second load times for battles, this has 3 second load times
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: dark1x on April 15, 2009, 12:33:17 PM
Quote
It has its issues, but as I suspected, it's the best looking RPG we've seen this gen (which isn't exactly a difficult thing to do).

yeah, i'm not sure i agree. As i said before, the frame rate is worse than any other RPG we've seen to date, it looks pretty janky, and about on par with what LO did (at best, if anything the LO demo was absolute garbage but it STILL managed to be as good as this over a year ago "on weaker hardware :/")

And it's not only reduced to an ON RAILS RPG demo... they ACTUALLY FUCKING PUT IT ON RAILS. Jesus titty fucking christ.
Again, i'm sure the final game will be awesome but anyone applauding this or putting it on a pedestal or , for fuck sake, downtalking any other RPG to date needs a good hard kick in the minge.

oh and p.s. i'm glad to see sfags the world over finally came to their senses and realised the original was a CG mock up ("though they have 4 months, and i think it might end up looking like the CG"). Please form an orderly queue to apologise, no need to be shy, i am all forgiving though i may mock you.
Having viewed direct feed videos of it, it seems pretty stable and solid to me.  It's significantly smoother than Blue Dragon (which, while amazing looking, was embarrassingly choppy and full of screen tear) and smoother than Lost Odyssey.  I still think those are the best looking RPGs yet released this gen and FFXIII looks and runs better than either of them.  You should really drop the "weaker hardware" BS, we all know the 360 is a more capable machine.  I don't know why you continue to harp on this YEARS after the launch of PS3.  It's really not relevant at this point.

I never thought it would look as good as the CG, but I think they've done a fantastic job capturing those visuals.  The level of detail seems really high, the textures and shaders are great, and the animation is very smooth.  The only thing I really wish they had managed to include was per-object motion blur (similar to what we've seen in MT-Framework games, Killzone 2, and Crysis).  I think that would really have enhanced the experience.

As for the content of the demo itself, well, it seems very fitting for a demo to me.  The best RPG demos typically present a linear portion of the game.  What exactly did you expect them to include in this?  An open world to explore?  I don't understand the criticism.

I simply think some people are being unreasonable here.  There is no way they could have released anything that would not have resulted in negative comments from certain people.  In this particular instance (where we are talking about a JRPG), I do recall an argument between Bebpo and Dcharlie when Blue Dragon was first released.  Correctly so, Bebpo noted the poor framerate that is ever present in that game during battle.  It's abysmal as hell and the one blemish on an otherwise outstanding looking game.  On the other hand, I swear I remember DCharlie saying Bebpo was full of shit while claiming that the framerate was, in fact, smooth.  Well, the game was released around the world eventually, and everyone got to play it.  It wasn't a problem with Bebpo's 360, the game just runs like ass.  If someone can defend a framerate THAT low while slamming something like FFXIII (which is much smoother) then, well, there's something suspect about that opinion.

Quote
LO also had like 15 second load times for battles, this has 3 second load times
Well, there's more to it than that.  LO not only had lengthy load times before and after each and every random battle, but it also had extremely lengthy load times between cutscenes and field exploration.  The FFXIII demo has one 14 second load screen before transitioning into realtime.  From there, it moves between cutscenes, battle, and field movement without any loading.  It's extremely fast.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 15, 2009, 12:41:56 PM
It's the 360's fault.

Fucking xbox
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 15, 2009, 02:12:53 PM
the people complaining about the on rails demo need to play more square demos and shut up
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on April 15, 2009, 02:30:32 PM
dcharlie, I regret to inform you this game does not look like LO, a game which sucks and looks like ass

FFXIII, at least, looks good
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: maxy on April 15, 2009, 02:31:36 PM
I agree with DC here,framerate is bit wonky,probably between 20-30 fps,in the middle...

As for the LO comparison,as far as i remember LO looked really great in combat,not seeing much difference here,as for field,hq hd videos needed...

Leaving teh graphicz aside,the most unimportant thing in rpg for me,i don't think that this demo is anything different from others,sure it has great production values,but in the end it still has

Bunch of (in)visible barriers,no you can't go there,look there is a circle on the ground you can now jump,annoying "stomp stomp stomp" walking,running sound.

There is also one thing that i noticed the friendly AI is not following you as close as it can,it just waits until you cross some invisible barrier and then quickly goes to predetermined spot.

But in the end i liked the combat,the way it goes from field to combat,so i am satisfied with the demo.

As for the bigger less linear areas,full game will have it,no doubt.

Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Bebpo on April 15, 2009, 02:40:40 PM
Quote
the people complaining about the on rails demo need to play more square demos and shut up

so let me ask you himu, and we can all agree...

are the on rails demo a fair indication of the game? (i'm agreeing they aren't)
do they tend to be good or bad?
and did your demo turn up?


FF games are on-rails.  FFXII is the most open FF and it's still pretty linear.  This will be nothing like FFXII and back to linear "on-rails" FF like FFX.  Which is fine because some of us enjoy linear jrpg experiences with great production values and good battle systems.

Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 15, 2009, 02:45:27 PM
FF games can be linear but they're hardly "on rails". Bad use of words there Bebpo.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Jansen on April 15, 2009, 02:46:45 PM
the demo and full game could be shit on a disc and final fantasy tards will still eat that shit up and beg for square-enix to shit in their mouths again and again


Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Rman on April 15, 2009, 02:56:15 PM
I don't know.  I've kinda lost all hype for this game.  I think FF has lost me.

spoiler (click to show/hide)
But I'll probably still buy it  :-\
[close]
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: dark1x on April 15, 2009, 03:23:51 PM
Quote
wait a god damn fucking minute again, this has nothing to do with WEAKER HARDWARE which i haven't mentioned a SINGLE FUCKING TIME in regards to this game. The game is running rolling in a few places and the frame rate is pretty bad CONSTANTLY, the direct video feeds (if you can't see the poor frame rate) simply means your mainly self given frame rate whore title should be somewhat questioned.

I seriously can't see how you can't see the janky frame rate. It's baffling.
It's not perfect, I suppose, but it's hardly bad.  Again, it's smoother than Lost Odyssey, Blue Dragon, Infinite Undiscovery, and Star Ocean 4 (on the field map).  There's odd little drops when attacks hit, but it seems pretty minor and the framerate stays steady for the most part.

That said, I am only basing this off of videos.  Sprsk posted some video on gamevideos.com.  Are you saying that the framerate in those videos does not represent the game in person?

An example:

http://gamevideos.1up.com/video/id/24385

I suppose my main point isn't so much about the framerate in this game as much as the fact that you pretty much excused and defended against the lower framerates in games like Blue Dragon while are taking jabs at XIII every chance you get.

Also, you did mention the "weaker hardware" thing when you first brought up Lost Odyssey.

Quote
Leaving teh graphicz aside,the most unimportant thing in rpg for me,i don't think that this demo is anything different from others,sure it has great production values,but in the end it still has

Bunch of (in)visible barriers,no you can't go there,look there is a circle on the ground you can now jump,annoying "stomp stomp stomp" walking,running sound.
I understand what you are saying here, but in the past few years, I've begun to appreciate linear games.  Too many companies started to take the open world route and I'm starting to find it incredibly boring due to the fact that you end up without any focus on scenario design.  When you go into an open world game you never really get that hand crafted feel of a linear game.  As RPGs start to open they begin to resemble MMORPGs, which I dislike.  I'm just tired of aimless open world games. 

I think Far Cry 2 and Crysis serve as great examples of what works and what doesn't in open world game design.  Crysis is a very linear game, but there is plenty of freedom WITHIN its linearity.  This type of design is my favorite and applies to many of my favorite games.  Far Cry 2, however, took a different approach and presented a much larger world and ended up failing to deliver any seriously compelling scenarios.  Freedom within linearity is the goal I think more games should strive for.

That said, I'll always prefer a completely linear, on-rails kind of game to a wide open "go anywhere" experience.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: demi on April 15, 2009, 04:11:08 PM
No point in arguing, everyone here will buy it
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 15, 2009, 05:15:21 PM
haha, the first part of the Versus trailer is edited so dumb
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 15, 2009, 05:22:54 PM
the new versus trailer sux

agito trailer owns

Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 15, 2009, 05:28:40 PM
Lightning and Snow seem more mature than most FF or RPG characters lately.  I personally don't mind playing dumb teenagers, but maybe some of the people who complain about that will be a bit happier with this
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: MCD on April 15, 2009, 05:32:16 PM
> Lightning
> Snow

> Mature

not with those distinguished mentally-challenged names.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 15, 2009, 05:34:38 PM
okayyyyy
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: tiesto on April 15, 2009, 05:36:33 PM
I think Far Cry 2 and Crysis serve as great examples of what works and what doesn't in open world game design.  Crysis is a very linear game, but there is plenty of freedom WITHIN its linearity.  This type of design is my favorite and applies to many of my favorite games.  Far Cry 2, however, took a different approach and presented a much larger world and ended up failing to deliver any seriously compelling scenarios.  Freedom within linearity is the goal I think more games should strive for.

That said, I'll always prefer a completely linear, on-rails kind of game to a wide open "go anywhere" experience.

I've never played Far Cry 2 or Crisis but I totally agree with you... I'll always prefer a more on-rails, tightly scripted game, "go anywhere" experiences tend to fall short for me, since either they run out of interesting scenario setups, or become much too easy to break. MGS series, Half Life 2, are some good examples for what you are looking for, I think "freedom within linearity"
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Third on April 15, 2009, 05:37:26 PM
Already looks better than any released jrpg.

And it's early build, too.

SE setting the bar very high again.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: MCD on April 15, 2009, 05:38:32 PM
okayyyyy
are you RAGING right now? i bet you are.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 15, 2009, 05:39:53 PM
i'm raging because i can't get the Windows shell metadata API to do what i want, actually
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: MCD on April 15, 2009, 05:42:00 PM
oh.

i raged because firefox 3 for some reason disabled whole keyboard buttons while trying to quote your post.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 15, 2009, 06:05:43 PM
> Lightning
> Snow

> Mature

not with those distinguished mentally-challenged names.

They're code names
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 15, 2009, 06:06:23 PM
that's only Lightning IIRC.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: demi on April 15, 2009, 06:57:51 PM
The battle music is so awesome. Consider me on the hype train. All aboard the X360 express choo choo
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 15, 2009, 07:05:30 PM
I actually don't like the regular battle music that much, though my opinion might change if I got to hear a decent audio quality version (in which I can actually hear all the parts distinctly).  The transition between the starting serious/heroic section and the hopping violin section seems too sudden and forced, though there does seem to be a violin part in the first section that might help smooth things over if I could hear it clearly.

Boss music is ! though
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 16, 2009, 12:08:41 AM
I wish more games had this kind of budget.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 16, 2009, 10:46:37 AM
http://www.gamersyde.com/news_7707_en.html
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: dark1x on April 16, 2009, 11:21:21 AM
http://www.gamersyde.com/news_7707_en.html
The image quality actually looks really good.  I'm surprised.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 16, 2009, 11:56:50 AM
http://www.andriasang.com/e/blogs/anoop/2009/04/16/ffxiii_demo_translation/

translation
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Third on April 16, 2009, 12:36:11 PM
So, the demo seems to be almost 6gb in size.  :lol
Almost one hour gameplay, though.

I wonder how many discs the X360 version will have.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 16, 2009, 12:50:41 PM
So, the demo seems to be almost 6gb in size.  :lol
Almost one hour gameplay, though.

I wonder how many discs the X360 version will have.

 :lol

10 min demos normally occupy over 1 GB these days, so holy shite, if you want more than 1 hour of game in your 360 you gotta spin that shit triple style, muahahahaha

 :lol
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Jansen on April 16, 2009, 12:51:42 PM
i've downloaded shitloads of demos 1-2 gigs in size that have 15 mins of gameplay

you simply shouldn't assume anything from demo size. well not unless you're a moron like the tards that truly believe no one as s-e is currently working on the 360 port :lol

ncsx better ship to me today!
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 16, 2009, 12:53:02 PM
The FF collector in me is going to get both versions
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Jansen on April 16, 2009, 12:55:43 PM
i might get both

if there is a CE i'll get that for ps3 and the regular edition for 360. if there isn't a CE (lol) i'll just get it for 360
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Jansen on April 16, 2009, 12:59:59 PM
oh someone on b3d is claiming the cgi cutscenes are 1080p and the game is using 4xAA (it also upscales to 1080i/p!)

would be pretty sweet if true
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: maxy on April 16, 2009, 01:07:35 PM
Probably 0.5GB of game data,the rest are 1080p movies.

Also that dude at b3d is not a certified pixel counter :lol,so we will have to wait a little more...
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Third on April 16, 2009, 01:12:25 PM
I hope the PAL and NA regions get the game at the same time.

Otherwise I'll have to buy two versions, just like with FFXII.  :-\
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 16, 2009, 01:22:24 PM
I'll get a CE for ps3 and regular edition for 360 sometime down the line
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 16, 2009, 01:45:15 PM
Some of the in game cut scenes are really sub par, would some pretty mediocre animation. After the likes of MGs4 and Res5, it's hard to swallow such a huge game like FFXIII not having on par animations and overall quality in the in game cinemas.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: dark1x on April 16, 2009, 01:54:23 PM
Some of the in game cut scenes are really sub par, would some pretty mediocre animation. After the likes of MGs4 and Res5, it's hard to swallow such a huge game like FFXIII not having on par animations and overall quality in the in game cinemas.
You can't expect perfection in a massive RPG no matter how huge your budget is.  We saw this last generation with FFX and The Bouncer.  The Bouncer set the bar for cutscene quality on PS2 (prior to MGS2) with some incredibly well animated, detailed, 60 fps realtime cutscenes.  FFX, despite having a much larger budget, was nowhere near as impressive in regards to its cinematics.

I still don't see anything particularly wrong with the cinema scenes.  They seem well animated to me while offering plenty of fine details.  For an RPG, it's about as good as it gets at the moment.

Quote
Also that dude at b3d is not a certified pixel counter ,so we will have to wait a little more...
Still, I think it's pretty obvious (from those direct feed shots above) that they are at least using 2x AA (though it does look like 4xAA to me).  The image quality is much better than I had expected.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 16, 2009, 01:58:36 PM
Why would they use 2x or 4x FSAA, but not offer the option of rendering at a higher (1080p) resolution?  Isn't FSAA just rendering at a higher resolution internally and downscaling?

Bouncer was also developed by Dream Factory which was a technically elite studio at the time, though they fell apart after (or during) its development ...
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: dark1x on April 16, 2009, 02:03:03 PM
Why would they use 2x or 4x FSAA, but not offer the option of rendering at a higher (1080p) resolution?  Isn't FSAA just rendering at a higher resolution internally and downscaling?
Not quite.

Still, anti-aliasing can actually be superior to a higher resolution in many cases.  1280x720 with 4x AA looks much cleaner than 1920x1080 with no AA, if you ask me.  This becomes pretty clear when you start messing with PC games.  1080p does add some detail and clarity, but edges are jagged without anti-aliasing even when the pixels are much smaller.  Now, 4x AA at 1080p is fantastic looking.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 16, 2009, 02:06:06 PM
Isn't that just similar to how old console games can look better on old analog TVs than on clearer displays, though?  In general, I'd rather see more detail than have my eyes fooled into not noticing that detail's not there.  It's why I always preferred the look of PS1 games to N64 games.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 16, 2009, 02:08:09 PM
GTAIV is a 30 / 40 hour game, and has great in game cut scenes.

This game also has some really shitty character design here and there, and what's up with the characters having more japanese features than ever, but not looking japanese? Do the japanese have a problem with how they look?

The pacing in these 40 min, if it's the initial 40 min of the game, is horrible. Not feeling the game at all from this demo.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 16, 2009, 02:20:19 PM
What's wrong with the pacing?  It just looks similar to FF7 to me in that sense.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 16, 2009, 02:23:42 PM
What's wrong with the pacing?  It just looks similar to FF7 to me in that sense.

They are trying to open up the game with a big action set piece, but then you spend too much time just walking in this straight line through a bridge, fighting the same duo of characters over and over.

It needs to be much more intense, like tak tak tak bam, holy shit, and when it's over you're like "whoa, that was an amazing opening", this on the other end is like "zzZZZZZzzzzzZZZZzzzz"
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 16, 2009, 02:24:48 PM
Yeah, FF7 opened exactly the same way, and I don't remember anyone ever complaining about the pacing at the beginning being slow. 
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 16, 2009, 02:27:15 PM
Final Fantasy 7 is like 10 years old or some shit. Who cares, shit evolved.

Never liked that game anyway.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 16, 2009, 02:29:31 PM
The beginning is really intended just to get you used to the basic battle system, with some flashy action in the cutscenes to hype you up.  Personally, I prefer RPGs to start in a low-key way like Chrono Trigger, letting you explore towns and fields a bit before they pull out the big setpieces, but a lot of people seem to like the FF7-style artificially hyped-up opening.

I don't like FF7 either, but its opening was and is popular.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 16, 2009, 03:04:41 PM
FF7's opening is amazing. It starts off with a bang and it succeeds where about every other rpg, western or japanese, fails. Whoever doesn't like FF7's opening is an idiot, I'm afraid.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 16, 2009, 03:08:01 PM
Quote
FF7's opening is amazing. It starts off with a bang

Yes, which is what I don't like about it.  I like my long-form entertainment to start off more low-key and build up gradually, instead of having to hype themselves.  The worst is when games open with a commercial for themselves (e.g. Parasite Eve and Chrono Cross demo movies).  I bought the game already, you don't need to keep trying to sell me on it.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: dark1x on April 16, 2009, 03:11:43 PM
GTAIV is a 30 / 40 hour game, and has great in game cut scenes.

This game also has some really shitty character design here and there, and what's up with the characters having more japanese features than ever, but not looking japanese? Do the japanese have a problem with how they look?

The pacing in these 40 min, if it's the initial 40 min of the game, is horrible. Not feeling the game at all from this demo.
Err, I think the cutscenes in the FFXIII demo look SIGNIFICANTLY better than what GTA IV offers.  I'm sure FFXIII will have many more cinemas as well (it is a story driven RPG, afterall).  You are taking issue with something completely different, which I can understand.  The actual quality of the cutscenes, however, does not seem to be a problem.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 16, 2009, 03:13:13 PM
what i can't stand about rpg openings is that they're usually drawn out and stuff

Put me right in the middle of the action, I say.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Third on April 16, 2009, 03:21:04 PM
It's better than Persona's 4 opening, that's for sure.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 16, 2009, 03:24:25 PM
GTAIV is a 30 / 40 hour game, and has great in game cut scenes.

This game also has some really shitty character design here and there, and what's up with the characters having more japanese features than ever, but not looking japanese? Do the japanese have a problem with how they look?

The pacing in these 40 min, if it's the initial 40 min of the game, is horrible. Not feeling the game at all from this demo.
Err, I think the cutscenes in the FFXIII demo look SIGNIFICANTLY better than what GTA IV offers.

Absolutely not. The graphics are better, but i'm talking about the animations, there are instances in FFXIII cutscenes where it looks like a toy is being moved around, for example when Lightning makes a jump, just horrible. And they are blandly directed.

Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Third on April 16, 2009, 03:25:35 PM
I agree.

But it's work in process. I dunno if SE is going to change much, though...
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 16, 2009, 03:31:42 PM
Well i think they still have a lot of time, and at least working on the camera work and editing wouldn't require that much, after all, it is being rendered in real time, so it's not like they have to go back and do it all again.

I definitely think they should work on that, i just think that there could be a much bigger sense of movement and action, and they have the stuff, it just isn't being presented in the best way.

And i do like action packed openings too Himuro, i don't think they are always the best way to open a game, but in this case it is, however, i believe they should give you less filler, and let it play out as this memorable opening, it's a 40 hour game, players will get used to the combat later on, no need to worry about the 1st 40 min.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: dark1x on April 16, 2009, 03:35:54 PM
GTAIV is a 30 / 40 hour game, and has great in game cut scenes.

This game also has some really shitty character design here and there, and what's up with the characters having more japanese features than ever, but not looking japanese? Do the japanese have a problem with how they look?

The pacing in these 40 min, if it's the initial 40 min of the game, is horrible. Not feeling the game at all from this demo.
Err, I think the cutscenes in the FFXIII demo look SIGNIFICANTLY better than what GTA IV offers.

Absolutely not. The graphics are better, but i'm talking about the animations, there are instances in FFXIII cutscenes where it looks like a toy is being moved around, for example when Lightning makes a jump, just horrible. And they are blandly directed.

That specific jump you're talking about actually does look odd.  I've always thought that since the first trailer showing realtime footage emerged.  The majority of the scenes, however, look much nicer than GTAIV, I thought (and I am talking about animation).

I suppose there's no point in arguing over this, though, as it's obviously a matter of opinion.  I think FFXIII could still use some visual work, but I do think it looks really nice as is.

Quote
And i do like action packed openings too Himuro, i don't think they are always the best way to open a game, but in this case it is, however, i believe they should give you less filler, and let it play out as this memorable opening, it's a 40 hour game, players will get used to the combat later on, no need to worry about the 1st 40 min.
Do we even know if this is actually confirmed to be the opening?  I mean, the FF8 demo could also have been an opening sequence, but wasn't.  It seems like a neatly packaged demo that was created as a stand alone released than something from a work in progress.  Judging by their slow progress on the games creation, that wouldn't surprise me.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 16, 2009, 03:39:08 PM
I believe it was confirmed by the Producer that these were the first 40 min of the game (1st hour).

Just like the whole thing about combat being 30% or whatever, and graphics etc
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 16, 2009, 03:41:55 PM
Yeah, it's confirmed to be the opening.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Jansen on April 16, 2009, 04:25:21 PM
got my tracking number  :smug
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 16, 2009, 04:29:04 PM
Guess I'm gonna have to wait a few weeks to play the demo because ncsx will only ship to the billing address.

My billing address is in Houston, and I made my shipping address in Florida. I guess I could contact my bank.


Quote
Before we finalize the order, we would appreciate it if you could email us the billing address and please note that we are unable to ship orders to addresses other than the billing address, unless the shipping address is on record with your credit card company.

lol whatever
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Third on April 16, 2009, 04:31:36 PM
that sucks, himuro

Just watched the whole gamersyde footage. And I want the demo too.
It seems that the movie you get with the demo plays on PAL Ps3's too. So I might get it anyway. :'(
But I won't import. I'm trying to buy it from someone.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: dark1x on April 16, 2009, 04:55:22 PM
Quote
Just watched the whole gamersyde footage
I downloaded and watched the second part (which is almost 12 minutes long) in HD and it shows lots of gameplay.  I'd like to know WHERE people were seeing really bad framerates.  It seems to be running at a rock solid 30 fps without really any hitching or anything like that.  It's very very smooth.  I did notice some oddities when certain attacks connected, but it seems more like an intentional thing as the camera pans are smooth during these bits (suggesting that the framerate is not actually dropping).
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Bebpo on April 16, 2009, 04:56:08 PM
I got mine in the mail today.  Man, the packaging SUCKS.  It's like cd-case size wtf.  I thought it was coming in a slick looking black blu-ray case?  I guess that's just for the standard non-FFXIII version?  Wtf, why does the more expensive one have shittier packaging.  boooo.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 16, 2009, 05:00:14 PM
Well, the director actually mentioned framedrops in an interview (and said they'll be fixed in the final release)
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 16, 2009, 06:41:12 PM
got a reply from ncsx

Quote
Hello Garrett, thanks for the information and explanation and we will ship to your FL address.

YEEEEE HAWWWWWWWWW
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Mr. Gundam on April 16, 2009, 06:43:38 PM
I still haven't ordered this... I might wait to see if Pink Godzilla gets it in and just buy it from them before the Mariners game on Saturday.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 16, 2009, 06:47:02 PM
Quote
├──PS3_DISC.SFB 1536 bytes
├──PS3_GAME
│   ├──ICON0.PNG 52818
│   ├──PARAM.SFO 1040
│   ├──PS3LOGO.DAT 5120
│   └──USRDIR
│       ├──EBOOT.BIN 16639200
│       └──white_data
│           ├──movie
│           │   ├──z000_ps3.wmp 2554624016
│           │   └──z016_ps3.wmp 2191333392
│           ├──sys
│           │   ├──filelist.ps3.bin 44463
│           │   ├──filelist_scr.ps3.bin 4461
│           │   ├──white_img.ps3.bin 179036160
│           │   └──white_scr.ps3.sdat 2134336
│           └──zone
│               ├──white_z000_img.ps3.bin 55037952
│               ├──white_z016_img.ps3.bin 201062400
│               └──white_z106_img.ps3.bin 10240
└──PS3_UPDATE
  └──PS3UPDAT.PUP 268435456


Lol

Apparently it's like 500 MB without the intro and the trailers
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Mr. Gundam on April 16, 2009, 06:48:50 PM
That's nice.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: dark1x on April 16, 2009, 06:50:41 PM

Lol

Apparently it's like 500 MB without the intro and the trailers
I would be rather concerned if it WAS significantly more as that would suggest sloppy coding.  I mean, there's not exactly a lot of assets used in the demo.  
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: demi on April 16, 2009, 06:53:26 PM
That's nice.

XBL demo released at E3... distant feels silly for paying $70 for a demo
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Mr. Gundam on April 16, 2009, 07:01:16 PM
I haven't bought the demo yet. More than likely I'll end up not getting it because $70 on a demo IS silly.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Diunx on April 16, 2009, 07:09:10 PM
What's wrong with the pacing?  It just looks similar to FF7 to me in that sense.

They are trying to open up the game with a big action set piece, but then you spend too much time just walking in this straight line through a bridge, fighting the same duo of characters over and over.

It needs to be much more intense, like tak tak tak bam, holy shit, and when it's over you're like "whoa, that was an amazing opening", this on the other end is like "zzZZZZZzzzzzZZZZzzzz"

Welcome to the world of RPGs demos.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Mr. Gundam on April 16, 2009, 07:21:28 PM
But the movie is easily worth $70! That's assuming what Ive been told is true. Ive heard Cloud is a sexii bishe.

I don't know if Advent Children is worth 70 cents.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 16, 2009, 07:28:24 PM
I like Advent Children and I am a well-known man of good taste, whose favorite piece of music is Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire ffs, so don't listen to these posers.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 16, 2009, 07:32:09 PM
Advent Children is horrible dude.

You don't have to feel bad about it, just file it under "Guilty Pleasure", but don't try to say it's not crap, because it is.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 16, 2009, 07:44:11 PM
Quote
You don't have to feel bad about it, just file it under "Guilty Pleasure", but don't try to say it's not crap, because it is.

Whatevs.  I didn't watch it until a couple years after it came out and then only out of morbid curiosity; I expected to hate it, because it got ragged on, I don't much care for FF7 and I don't like the so-called action movie genre.  But I was pleasantly surprised.

the "guilty pleasure" thing is a cop-out anyway.  Either I like something or I don't. 
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: MCD on April 16, 2009, 07:46:00 PM
i hated how cloud is all emo again, like disc 2 never happened.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 16, 2009, 07:47:08 PM
Well I thought of it more like a remake of FF7's main story thrust, presented in a different format, than a sequel.  It works better that way I think.  It's plausible though, it's pretty common for people who've recovered from depression etc. to still have relapses, even if dramatically it's a bit odd.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: MCD on April 16, 2009, 07:55:59 PM
i don't know, he was pretty badass after he recovered from that coma.

stealing submarines? FUCK YEAR
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 16, 2009, 07:56:52 PM
bipolar disorder
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 16, 2009, 08:00:36 PM
cloud at the end of ff7 is a man's man.

In AC he is a wimp again. It is dumb.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 16, 2009, 08:03:26 PM
Quote
cloud at the end of ff7 is a man's man.

see last post, manic != manly though they look similar
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 16, 2009, 08:07:12 PM
Naw. A man accepts the truth and continues on and presses forward. Cloud overcame all obstacles. He became a man, after being a pussy most of the game or trying to be Zack.

Cloud in FF7AC, however, acts like he never went through any sense of character development in the original game.

And what's this about the "so-called" action genre?  How is it "so-called?" If it's full of action it's an action movie wtf.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 16, 2009, 08:11:30 PM
I don't generally see movies given that label, is all.  Anyway, nothing interesting happens on disc 2-3 after the Reunion except for the sequence in Cloud's head, so clearly on an empirical basis vulvic/imitative Cloud > masculine Cloud.  Nomura obviously realized this, hence the masculine Cloud was spurned for AC a la New Coke.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: cool breeze on April 16, 2009, 08:16:56 PM
Advent Children is shitty as a whole, but I'm fine with having those action scenes on blu-ray.  Would have still bought it if it was without the demo...when it got released in the states and on sale.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: dark1x on April 16, 2009, 08:27:32 PM
Honestly, with the quality of the Gamersyde videos and the limited nature of the demo, I can't see why anyone would even bother with the demo.  :P  I mean, you can experience everything it has to offer in nicely encoded HD videos already.  RPG gameplay is generally at its worst during the early stages of the game anyways.

That said, I finally watched the first part of the demo in HD and now I see where some framerate complaints came from.  It does drop frames (especially during some of the cutscenes).  Still, the drops are pretty minor next to a lot of other RPGs this gen.  It's MUCH MUCH MUCH smoother than Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, Infinite Undiscovery, Star Ocean 4 outside of battle, Folklore and Last Remnant.  It's just minor hitches here and there without any texture popping or other oddities.  Seems pretty polished overall, really.

It's a shame the game itself is so far off.  RPGs this gen have been almost entirely disappointing (outside of Lost Odyssey, which I loved).  They all have so many weird blemishes and issues.  I suppose the only RPGs that have been polished are those that stay pretty conservative on the visual side (Tales of Vesperia, Valkryia Chronicles, and Eternal Sonata all come to mind).  FFXIII is one that has a chance at being pretty solid at release AND visually impressive. I hope they can pull it off.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: pilonv1 on April 16, 2009, 09:50:50 PM
Apparently it's like 500 MB without the intro and the trailers

bububububububu the 360 version will require 10 discs
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: MCD on April 16, 2009, 10:04:00 PM
360 is the lead sku.

any disagreement is pure fanboyism.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: demi on April 16, 2009, 11:23:51 PM
XIII will be the same length and difficulty as X

Not that I'm complaining
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: dark1x on April 16, 2009, 11:29:51 PM
Quote
Again, i shouldn't be so uppity with you, but i simply can't fathom how anyone can look at the videos and not see the issue.
The animation issues I can see, though.  The framerate is a solid 30 fps for the most part.  This can easily be seen with lots of camera panning (which remains smooth).  I watched the whole thing in HD on my plasma, and it looked very smooth throughout.  There is something odd about the animation, though.  I'm not sure what the deal is.  I mean, it looks decent enough, but certain major motions seem to be missing frames or something.  It definitely does not run at sub-30 fps, though.

It wouldn't be the first time a Square game had some sort of strange animation issue.  Remember that odd shaking/jittering effect in FFX?  That was awful (though that game had terrible animation throughout most of its scenes anyways).

I still an RPG based on Capcom's MT Framework engine would look fantastic.  They should license it out.  Also, I wish Namco would tap into some of the animators that worked on that Naruto PS3 game as that had absolutely unreal animation (something a game like Tales of Vesperia needed desperately).
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 16, 2009, 11:53:46 PM
XIII will be the same length and difficulty as X

Not that I'm complaining

Do you think it will be one path like in FFX?
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: pilonv1 on April 17, 2009, 01:03:10 AM
Quote
bububububububu the 360 version will require 10 discs

if the PS3 version is 5.9 gig when you throw in the cutscenes, then either this is going to be a very short RPG or those renders will be used very lightly and everything will be done in engine....

or someone has some compressin' to do (X360 natch, PS3 version would too at that sort of file size (which seems insane, unless i'm totally missing something and there was some huge massive hidden trailer beyond what we know about?))



I'm sure it will be on 3-4 discs. But some people think that the power of Blu Ray means 30gb+ of GAME assets.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 17, 2009, 01:28:24 AM
this isn't quite kosher but since himu is sort continuing our discussion here elsewhere I'll quote him:

Quote
And here we have Cloud in FFVIIAC. Some brooding jerk who, for some reason, after saving the world and conquering his fears, has accumulated the MANLY TEARS virus. This clearly wasn't the same Cloud and the people who wrote the story for AC clearly hadn't played FFVII in quite some time, I think.

lol, they didn't forget what happened in FF7, they were the leads in its creation after all.  it was a conscious decision, Nomura talks about it in the Reunion Files book:

Quote from: Tetsuya Nomura
At the end of Final Fantasy VII, Cloud was more of a positive, upbeat character than he had been at the beginning, but I didn't think that "upbeat" image of him is what stuck in the minds of the fans.  We decided to go with a more familiar image of him that was consistent with the fans' view of him.  The script was written to explain why he's returned to that sort of solemn mentality.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Don Flamenco on April 17, 2009, 02:31:16 AM
Is he bangin' Tifa or what?  That's all we need to know.  can he even bang?  Just looking at him would suggest it's just flat and rounded off down there, like a mannequin.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 17, 2009, 03:01:40 AM
the 10th Ann. Ultimania interview has a bit on that

Quote
Kitase: Kato [Masato Kato] also did the event on the airship, the night before the final battle.

Nojima: Oh, the scene with the risqué line of dialogue? It was Kato who wrote that as well, not me.

- The line “Words aren’t the only way to tell someone how you feel,” right? That was quite a mature conversation for a FF game.

Kitase: But I remember having to get another version that was too intense toned down.

Nojima: The original idea was more extreme. The plan was to have Cloud walk out of the Chocobo stable on board the Highwind, followed by Tifa leaving while checking around, but Kitase turned it down. But even with the line in question, maybe at that time none of us thought it would be something so important (laughs).

I like how this is "too extreme" but Don Corneo and the Honeybee Inn aren't  :spin
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 17, 2009, 03:10:56 AM
Better than pandering to Himuro's odd submarine theft fetish
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Bebpo on April 17, 2009, 04:30:57 AM
Ok, after playing the demo through I gotta say this is the most impressive game I've ever seen in my life.  Nothing on this generation of consoles or even PC compares.  The character/enemy modeling in this game blows the hell out of anything else away.  The real-time cutscenes are better than any real-time cutscenes I've seen and almost have a CG quality to them.  The transitions between field and cutscenes are so good that it's like you're always playing a cutscene.  The background environment is INCREDIBLE.  I mean you know it's not technically rendering all those millions of things going on and it's just good artistry, but that's why good artistry ROCKS.  It really looks like you are in the most detailed environment ever with a million things going on in the distance.  The image quality is perfect and the animations are great.  Presentation-wise, this is just the best thing ever but coming from the king of presentation that is the FF series, it's not really a surprise.  I'm pretty surprised that they pulled this all off on the hardware that is the PS3, this is the kind of thing I would have expected from a target render trailer.

Now in terms of actual gameplay...it's ok.  The battle system has potential to be as good as FFX-2 IF AND ONLY IF the game includes an option to control the other party members.  If they pull another FFXII or worse (at least you could manually order members in FFXII), I'm worried the battles will be too shallow.  But man, if you have access to your whole party and better yet if you can sloooow down the battle speed to be more strategic, then the battles will be all about setting up the timing of attacks so you all break the enemy together and then launch into cooperative group combo-ing.  It could be like FFX-2 but with aerial raves.  The FF team isn't stupid so I'm sure they have to be letting you control the other members in the full game.  Also you need to be able to avoid enemies in the full game.  There's no point in seeing all the enemies but not being able to actually run past them without an encounter.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: demi on April 17, 2009, 05:28:35 AM
Maybe the programmers should travel the world to get a better outlook on life
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: MCD on April 17, 2009, 05:38:08 AM
> japan

> real life

you can only pick one.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 17, 2009, 07:54:24 AM
FFXIII looks like the only jrpg this gen that actually looks next gen.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: dark1x on April 17, 2009, 08:56:58 AM
FFXIII looks like the only jrpg this gen that actually looks next gen.
I'd say Blue Dragon is right there with it.  The framerate was horrible, but the visuals were really impressive.  It seems like it was held back by its budget more than anything else (repetitive dungeon environments and other short cuts were pretty common).  It was a lovely game.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 17, 2009, 09:02:32 AM
I'm not talking about just the models. I'm talking about the whole package.

Blue Dragon had good visuals, but the game did nothing to separate itself from the pack. ps2 could run it if the visuals were downgraded enough. But in FFXIII you have scripted scenes that add to the atmosphere heavily, a semi-real time/turn based battle system on steroids, seamless battle transitions, almost no load times so far in the demo and the visuals STILL look better than every other jrpg this gen.

The battle system is the only jrpg battle system that looks next gen.
The visuals outside of battle is the only jrpg that screams next gen.

All the other jrpgs I've played this gen, even the ones I enjoy like BD, LO, and ToV are still over glorified ps2 games. Not FFXIII.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 17, 2009, 09:13:41 AM
FFXIII music :rock

[youtube=560,345]_T4FYJZsw90[/youtube]

[youtube=560,345]fuusY0-jR1E[/youtube]

[youtube=560,345]Br09lyH5A_c[/youtube]

[youtube=560,345]SJMUvjgNK6U[/youtube]

:rock
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Bebpo on April 17, 2009, 09:45:56 AM
Quote
Ok, after playing the demo through I gotta say this is the most impressive game I've ever seen in my life.  Nothing on this generation of consoles or even PC compares.  The character/enemy modeling in this game blows the hell out of anything else away.  The real-time cutscenes are better than any real-time cutscenes I've seen and almost have a CG quality to them.  The transitions between field and cutscenes are so good that it's like you're always playing a cutscene.  The background environment is INCREDIBLE.  I mean you know it's not technically rendering all those millions of things going on and it's just good artistry, but that's why good artistry ROCKS.  It really looks like you are in the most detailed environment ever with a million things going on in the distance.  The image quality is perfect and the animations are great.  Presentation-wise, this is just the best thing ever but coming from the king of presentation that is the FF series, it's not really a surprise.  I'm pretty surprised that they pulled this all off on the hardware that is the PS3, this is the kind of thing I would have expected from a target render trailer.

okay, one of us is on drugs. ;)

spoiler (click to show/hide)
please send :( / ;)
[close]

I don't expect everyone to see it that way, but honestly it looked 10x better than what I was expecting (I didn't watch the demo videos) before I played it.  To me the game is pretty much perfect right now in that there's nothing I'd want more from a visual/audio/presentation perspective.  If they give me a 50 hour+ game with every location and cutscene looking as good as this demo and they've basically made a game beyond the quality of anything released so far this gen on consoles and it'll have been worth the 4 year wait IMO.  To me this is the equivalent of FFX back in 2001, which blew away everything else and set a new standard for the cinematic rpg.  Or the FF7 demo which did the same.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 17, 2009, 10:04:51 AM
I don't expect everyone to see it that way, but honestly it looked 10x better than what I was expecting (I didn't watch the demo videos) before I played it.  To me the game is pretty much perfect right now in that there's nothing I'd want more from a visual/audio/presentation perspective.  If they give me a 50 hour+ game with every location and cutscene looking as good as this demo and they've basically made a game beyond the quality of anything released so far this gen on consoles and it'll have been worth the 4 year wait IMO.  To me this is the equivalent of FFX back in 2001, which blew away everything else and set a new standard for the cinematic rpg.  Or the FF7 demo which did the same.

Yes.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 17, 2009, 12:00:15 PM
Quote
Clearly in the mind of programmers prostitution is more normal then a relationship.

Programmers aren't usually involved in story/design decisions though, we're talking about the planners here
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: cool breeze on April 17, 2009, 01:29:25 PM
Best looking console game.  The battles look stunning, like, I'm stunned by how good this game looks.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: dark1x on April 17, 2009, 01:52:09 PM
Best looking console game.  The battles look stunning, like, I'm stunned by how good this game looks.
The back and forth of opinions on this game is insane.  :P

To some, it's the best looking console game at the moment while others seem to feel that it looks like garbage.  Bebpo is probably in a good position to judge, though, as I know he also own a Kuro plasma.  ;)
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 17, 2009, 02:00:44 PM
Quote
According to IGN's recent preview, they stated that the final build will allow you to switch between other players (then again so did FFXII, so I don't know what's the complaint here) and it'll also allow you to choose how other characters act AND assist you in you battle (latter being to achieve those Advent Children crazy action sequences smoothly between characters).

I'm actually not sure this is true.  I think all the developers have said on this is that there will be some system that plays the role of Gambits in controlling the AI, but will be different from the Gambit system, and more oriented towards changing strategies on the fly in response to changing battle conditions rather than setting everything up in advance.  I don't think they've specifically said you can (or can't) control other characters directly, though it's somehow become an internet fact that they have.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: cool breeze on April 17, 2009, 02:03:57 PM
Who says it looks like garbage? I can't imagine anyone who has played it saying that.  I don't agree that it looks as good as everything, PC included, but as far as console games go it's probably the best.

The most shocking part for me is that aliasing is almost non-existent, which is even more shocking consider most japanese devs (sans Capcom) don't seem to care about fixing aliasing problems in their games.  It helps really show off how amazing the character modeling is.

The battle system would be amazing when/if you're able to control others.  It's almost Grandia-like if you remove the importance of position on the field.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Ninja on April 17, 2009, 02:06:08 PM
I played through the demo earlier. The game is beautiful, while other games outdo FFXIII's character models in terms of technical detail, when you consider the scale of the world and the visual design, XIII is easily one of the best looking console games so far and it blows away any other current-gen RPGs. The CG scenes are, as you would expect from Square-Enix, phenomenal.

The combat system is also very promising. It's very fast and the animations are great. There's a lot of scope for developing strategies and combining attacks and when the final game comes out and we get to grips with the fully implemented systems, I'm sure it'll be great, especially when you can have some more influence over the other characters, whether it's direct or indirect.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 17, 2009, 02:20:01 PM
Ok, after playing the demo through I gotta say this is the most impressive game I've ever seen in my life.  Nothing on this generation of consoles or even PC compares.  The character/enemy modeling in this game blows the hell out of anything else away.  The real-time cutscenes are better than any real-time cutscenes I've seen and almost have a CG quality to them.  The transitions between field and cutscenes are so good that it's like you're always playing a cutscene.  The background environment is INCREDIBLE.  I mean you know it's not technically rendering all those millions of things going on and it's just good artistry, but that's why good artistry ROCKS.  It really looks like you are in the most detailed environment ever with a million things going on in the distance.  The image quality is perfect and the animations are great.  Presentation-wise, this is just the best thing ever but coming from the king of presentation that is the FF series, it's not really a surprise.  I'm pretty surprised that they pulled this all off on the hardware that is the PS3, this is the kind of thing I would have expected from a target render trailer.

lolololol

Man you must be nuts, or visually impaired
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Bebpo on April 17, 2009, 02:23:10 PM
Best looking console game.  The battles look stunning, like, I'm stunned by how good this game looks.
The back and forth of opinions on this game is insane.  :P

To some, it's the best looking console game at the moment while others seem to feel that it looks like garbage.  Bebpo is probably in a good position to judge, though, as I know he also own a Kuro plasma.  ;)

Actually, I'm not running this on the kuro plasma.  I should try that later on.  My opinions are based on it with my 34" XBR960.  But yeah, I'll give it a run on my parents 60" kuro tonight and see how it looks :)
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: dark1x on April 17, 2009, 02:37:41 PM
Quote
Who says it looks like garbage?
Well, WrikaWrek and dcharlie are clearly very unimpressed with it.

For instance...
lolololol

Man you must be nuts, or visually impaired

Quote
Actually, I'm not running this on the kuro plasma.  I should try that later on.  My opinions are based on it with my 34" XBR960.  But yeah, I'll give it a run on my parents 60" kuro tonight and see how it looks
Ha ha, well, that's the second best option as the XBR960 also kicks ass.  It's nice having two of the displays consumer displays ever made in the same home, huh?
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: maxy on April 17, 2009, 02:41:17 PM
Well Edge said that it is the best looking PS3 game,so Bebpo is not alone...

It is visible from the videos,screenshots that IQ is really really good...

It doesn't surprise me,Square has amazing CG team and you can bet that they looked into CG pipeline to see what can be done real-time.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 17, 2009, 02:45:37 PM
This is easily the most impressive game I've seen this gen personally.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Jansen on April 17, 2009, 03:04:24 PM
cinematic jrpg :yuck

lately all i do is roll my eyes and groan at every story driven jrpg that i play these days. i like the gameplay in most jrpgs but the stories, cutscenes, characterization, in them generally suck massive amounts of ass and i end up not caring one damn bit about my party. when someone dies (someone in your partys always dies in jrpgs these days) i usually just laugh cuz the developers did a poor job of getting me emotionally attached to them

i felt this way about ffxii and i really can't see myself giving a flying fuck about the gaggle of misfits in ffxiii. but we'll see
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 17, 2009, 03:10:38 PM
Well, WrikaWrek and dcharlie are clearly very unimpressed with it.


Looks great, but i'm not impressed in the least. It has some animation problems, but it's clearly amongst the best looking games in the industry, however, it's just one more of many other great looking games, not too long ago i was playing REs5, KZ2, Gears 2, etc, and i must say FFXIII is just one more in that kind of list.

And Bebpo says it's more impressive than anything, even pc stuff, and that is just nutsy, hype mode, fanboy blowout.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAyLL3UQ6F8

On some italian PC, running at i don't know what settings. And that's just the 1st 3 minutes of the game....

Compare the black dude in Crysis to the Black dude in FFXIII....

There's nothing impressive about FFXIII, in these 40 minutes at least.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 17, 2009, 03:20:01 PM
There's nothing impressive about FFXIII, in these 40 minutes at least.

lamo
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: dark1x on April 17, 2009, 03:30:36 PM
Quote
On some italian PC, running at i don't know what settings. And that's just the 1st 3 minutes of the game....
If you read the comments, you'll see that he actually pre-rendered those Crysis cinematics in order to display them smoothly for video purposes.  ;)

Still, I can easily run Crysis at DX10 Very High mode and I know exactly what it looks like.  No, FFXIII doesn't really compare, but name dropping Crysis in every discussion about visuals is starting to get old (even though it really is the best of the best).
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 17, 2009, 03:34:44 PM
crysis looks boring
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: demi on April 17, 2009, 03:36:21 PM
Crysis is DOG SHIT why do people keep bringing it up like it is relevant in any gaming discussion

Granted the jury is still out for XIII but that battle music is squeeee
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 17, 2009, 03:39:00 PM
There's nothing impressive about FFXIII, in these 40 minutes at least.

lamo

What's impressive? The art? Half of it is shit.

crysis looks boring

Maybe for a japafag.

Crysis is DOG SHIT

Dude you like 50 cent.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: cool breeze on April 17, 2009, 03:39:41 PM
I wonder if there will be another wrikaflop about the graphics when the game comes out.

Quote
On some italian PC, running at i don't know what settings. And that's just the 1st 3 minutes of the game....
If you read the comments, you'll see that he actually pre-rendered those Crysis cinematics in order to display them smoothly for video purposes.  ;)

Still, I can easily run Crysis at DX10 Very High mode and I know exactly what it looks like.  No, FFXIII doesn't really compare, but name dropping Crysis in every discussion about visuals is starting to get old (even though it really is the best of the best).

I know what you mean.  With hope RAGE is out this year and there can be a new peak.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: demi on April 17, 2009, 03:41:58 PM

Crysis is DOG SHIT

Dude you like 50 cent.


Which looks and plays better than Crysis. Maybe Crysis reminds you of your girlfriend's assfarts. Always with the mental disorders with you people
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: dark1x on April 17, 2009, 03:42:35 PM
I wonder if there will be another wrikaflop about the graphics when the game comes out.

I know what you mean.  With hope RAGE is out this year and there can be a new peak.
I somehow doubt Rage will even top it as it is being designed to deliver similar visuals across PC and consoles at a high framerate.  Crysis aims for ridiculous levels of detail on a large scale.  Even the fastest machines in the world are unable to run Crysis at a solid 60 fps in DX10 mode at 1080p.  The game was just way ahead of its time.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 17, 2009, 03:45:04 PM
I wonder if there will be another wrikaflop about the graphics when the game comes out.

?


Crysis is DOG SHIT

Dude you like 50 cent.


Which looks and plays better than Crysis.

 :dur

I wonder if there will be another wrikaflop about the graphics when the game comes out.

I know what you mean.  With hope RAGE is out this year and there can be a new peak.
I somehow doubt Rage will even top it as it is being designed to deliver similar visuals across PC and consoles at a high framerate.  Crysis aims for ridiculous levels of detail on a large scale.  Even the fastest machines in the world are unable to run Crysis at a solid 60 fps in DX10 mode at 1080p.  The game was just way ahead of its time.

The stuff i've seen from Rage looks amazing, only loses to Crysis on character models imo.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 17, 2009, 03:47:32 PM
Quote

And Bebpo says it's more impressive than anything, even pc stuff, and that is just nutsy, hype mode, fanboy blowout.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAyLL3UQ6F8

On some italian PC, running at i don't know what settings. And that's just the 1st 3 minutes of the game....

bebpo explained that he didn't mean it was technically more impressive, but in terms of the overall effect.  e.g. the background in that Crysis video may be very detailed and well-rendered, but it's still just a room with a bunch of boxes.  the background in the FF13 demo looks like a vast panorama with a million things going on, and though, as bebpo said, that's mostly just trickery in technical terms, the overall effect is still more impressive than anything else, to him at least.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 17, 2009, 03:49:06 PM
Quote

And Bebpo says it's more impressive than anything, even pc stuff, and that is just nutsy, hype mode, fanboy blowout.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAyLL3UQ6F8

On some italian PC, running at i don't know what settings. And that's just the 1st 3 minutes of the game....

bebpo explained that he didn't mean it was technically more impressive, but in terms of the overall effect.  e.g. the background in that Crysis video may be very detailed and well-rendered, but it's still just a room with a bunch of boxes.  the background in the FF13 demo looks like a vast panorama with a million things going on, and though, as bebpo said, that's mostly just trickery in technical terms, the overall effect is still more impressive than anything else, to him at least.

this.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 17, 2009, 03:50:03 PM
There's nothing impressive about FFXIII, in these 40 minutes at least.

lamo

What's impressive? The art? Half of it is shit.

crysis looks boring

Maybe for a japafag.


It's boring. Why would anyone want to play a game that looks like real life?
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 17, 2009, 03:51:21 PM
I can pull out a video where they have the island as a background if that's the problem ::)

Come on, Killzone 2, Gears 2 also pull that "whoa in the distance" stuff, it's just because it's FF, and it has that anime thing going on for it, and japafags go nuts for it.

There's nothing impressive about FFXIII, in these 40 minutes at least.

lamo

What's impressive? The art? Half of it is shit.

crysis looks boring

Maybe for a japafag.


It's boring. Why would anyone want to play a game that looks like real life?

Why would anyone want to see a movie that looks like real life?

Not to mention, you aren't taking into account the sci fi aspects of it, but whatever, it's the japafag argument.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: cool breeze on April 17, 2009, 03:52:52 PM
I wonder if there will be another wrikaflop about the graphics when the game comes out.

?

Down on Gears 2, then it comes out and you're all up on it.  Then you're all praising KZ2 for looking amazing, down on it when it comes out.  Just saying that stay open to the possibility that there might be another flop in opinion.

I somehow doubt Rage will even top it as it is being designed to deliver similar visuals across PC and consoles at a high framerate.  Crysis aims for ridiculous levels of detail on a large scale.  Even the fastest machines in the world are unable to run Crysis at a solid 60 fps in DX10 mode at 1080p.  The game was just way ahead of its time.

Just because it's designed so that the console and PC versions are similar doesn't mean that it isn't impressive.  Far Cry 2 on PC looks so much better than the console versions and is one of the best looking games out.  Have faith in Carmack.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: demi on April 17, 2009, 03:56:35 PM
There's nothing impressive about FFXIII, in these 40 minutes at least.

lamo

What's impressive? The art? Half of it is shit.

crysis looks boring

Maybe for a japafag.


It's boring. Why would anyone want to play a game that looks like real life?

what
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 17, 2009, 03:59:52 PM
(http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/j/m/jmv5000/images/forum/hentai3.jpg) > (http://images.paraorkut.com/img/pics/images/a/adriana_lima-6623.jpg)

Brought to you by

(http://i39.tinypic.com/2008dmu.jpg)
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 17, 2009, 04:03:55 PM
Adriana Lima
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 17, 2009, 04:05:43 PM
As demi said, Crysis is dog shit
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 17, 2009, 04:08:38 PM
i'm not entirely sure what point wrika is trying to make, but fashion/glamour photography does not look like real life, sorry.  in fact it's more like FF13 than real life
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 17, 2009, 04:15:46 PM
i'm not entirely sure what point wrika is trying to make, but fashion/glamour photography does not look like real life, sorry.  in fact it's more like FF13 than real life

 :lol
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 17, 2009, 04:16:41 PM
Because the battle music rox
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 17, 2009, 04:22:50 PM
 ::)  the Nomura style since FF8 has been inspired by fashion magazines and shit, not typical anime style.  I don't personally like having all the characters look like fashion models, I prefer a more realistic approach like Silent Hill or whatever.  but it's lame that you're so keen on fitting things into whatever the currently popular stereotypes are, in this case EAST VS. WEST, ANIMU VS. REALISM that you don't bother to pay attention to what the things actually are.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 17, 2009, 04:28:21 PM
You are talking about clothing, i'm talking about characters  ::)

As far as i know this:

(http://videogames.techfresh.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/crysis-wallpaper-alien-blast-1.jpg)

Isn't exactly, standard, street fashion either...

So there, we are talking about say:

(http://ps3media.ign.com/ps3/image/article/754/754310/final-fantasy-xiii-20070110040743058-000.jpg)

Vs

(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e181/more_ncis_now/My%20blog/AdrianaLima.jpg)


And that ain't no "glamour" photography.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 17, 2009, 04:34:52 PM
the Adriana Lima pic you posted is a weird shot so I'm just going to ignore it, but the Lightning pic is stylized in a similar way to fashion photography i.e. exaggeratedly smooth skin, exaggerated facial features (approximated with makeup in the latter case), texture simplified so facial features stand out, etc.  there's nothing about it that's particularly reminiscent of stereotypical anime style except I guess for the pink hair, which is more of a general fantasy thing than an anime thing.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 17, 2009, 04:47:18 PM
You mean to say to me that, the shape of the face, the crazy hair, etc, isn't reminiscent of modern manga like

(http://indexdown.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/bleach36.jpg)

?

Plus the texturing, and the crazy personalities and extravagant look that you want to attach to fantasy, when it has been pretty much standard fare from the japanese side, where they combine Eastern Features with Western features, and create this idealized hybrid.

And you just took a big tangent, i mean, Himuro comes out saying something that looks like real life is boring, clearly talking about how he prefers something that doesn't look real, and criticizes Crysis for it, and you come along and say that Adriana Lima in that shot looks like something closer to FFXIII than real life, which is completely absurd, and hilarious.

Because if he was talking about fashion, then it wouldn't make sense, because Crysis delivers something that you can't find, it's sci fi, so clearly he was talking about how close to real life the faces looked.

So now i don't even know what you are trying to argue, what? That Lightning looks like something out of a Victoria Secret photo shoot? Maybe in terms of design, but in terms of design i could make a lot of visual styles look like they are based in those, it doesn't mean however that i would mistaken them for the real thing.

FFXIII clearly has a distinct Japanese look to it, which is easily recognizable due to the extravagant art style of the characters, and you wouldn't mistaken them for anything else.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 17, 2009, 04:55:30 PM
Quote
And you just took a big tangent, i mean, Himuro comes out saying something that looks like real life is boring, clearly talking about how he prefers something that doesn't look real, and criticizes Crysis for it, and you come along and say that Adriana Lima in that shot looks like something closer to FFXIII than real life, which is completely absurd, and hilarious.

Because if he was talking about fashion, then it wouldn't make sense, because Crysis delivers something that you can't find, it's sci fi, so clearly he was talking about how close to real life the faces looked.

Yeah, my point was that your post didn't make sense, so you started the not-making-sense-ness.

The face shapes in that manga pic you posted are just common idealized/exaggerated faces with pronounced cheekbones, etc., not really a manga-specific thing.  What is manga-specific are the big eyes and stuff, which Lightning doesn't have except to the degree that unusually large eyes in real people are generally considered attractive (so they too are often exaggerated or highlighted with makeup, lighting etc.)
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 17, 2009, 05:01:14 PM
The big eyes and stuff, right.

Anyway, nobody with a brain would mistaken Ligthning with a real women, which is the point of the debate, unfortunately you missed the point.

And it was clear, that the image comparison i did was "not real" vs "real", but you went on about how glamour and whatever isn't real, completely missing the point, as if you would mistaken Adriana Lima in the photo, for a drawn character.

So i made perfect sense, you just didn't get it.

(http://imgs.sfgate.com/blogs/images/sfgate/dailydish/2009/04/10/People_Kanye_West_NYET814345x266.JPG)
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 17, 2009, 05:05:18 PM
Obviously, if you start with a real woman and try to use makeup and lighting and editing and stuff to make her look more idealized, it'll still look more real than if you made an idealized woman from scratch to begin with.  That's not the point.  There's a continuum here, and on that continuum Lightning is closer to fashion pics than to animu.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: dark1x on April 17, 2009, 05:07:25 PM
Quote
Just because it's designed so that the console and PC versions are similar doesn't mean that it isn't impressive.  Far Cry 2 on PC looks so much better than the console versions and is one of the best looking games out.  Have faith in Carmack.
Having directly compared the two, I can safely say that the PC improvements are almost entirely the result of improved image quality and less aggressive level of detail on models and shadows.  The PC version really isn't all that much more impressive than the console versions.  It certainly doesn't blow them away (which was surprising to me).
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 17, 2009, 05:25:05 PM
There's a continuum here, and on that continuum Lightning is closer to fashion pics than to animu.

(http://www.final-fantasy-xiii.org/screenshots/lightning.jpg)
(http://www.foroswebgratis.com/imagenes_foros/1/4/9/2/3/608410sakura%20shippuden.jpg)
(http://yummycelebrities.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/gisele-bundchen-01.jpg)
(http://hollywoodismyhood.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/tom-brady-and-gisele1.jpg)

Maybe you are semi right.

I can tell you one thing, the glamor one is closer to real life than FFXIII, unlike you said, which was absurd, and i can tell you that Lightning is distinctively a typical Japanese designed character, with the hair and the face, and doesn't look real.

Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 17, 2009, 05:29:02 PM
Yeah, I goofed there, but what I meant is more similar in spirit, not in actuality.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 17, 2009, 06:58:56 PM
Pretty much every FF game has split the fanbase (I remember the FF2us vs. 3us wars on Usenet back in '94, and much hate directed at FF7 when it came out) and I'm sure 13 will be no exception.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 17, 2009, 07:01:25 PM
For the Japanese market though, the gen is in some ways just starting, and I think SE was smart to focus on handhelds in the intervening period.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 17, 2009, 07:06:44 PM
I'd say FF8 when it came out was at least as divisive as FF12, actually.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 17, 2009, 07:29:39 PM
I personally think FF8 was just as big a change at the time.  Or at least if it were, say, 6 to 8, and there were no 7 in between it would be as big as 10 to 12, and remember we had 11 in between.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: TVC15 on April 17, 2009, 07:32:16 PM
What was the last FF game you actually played, recursively?
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 17, 2009, 07:34:58 PM
9, or 4DS

I have read walkthroughs for 10 and 12 though, and I spend a lot of time on FF11 forums reading about people's strategies and balance complaints.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: TVC15 on April 17, 2009, 07:40:39 PM
9, or 4DS

I have read walkthroughs for 10 and 12 though, and I spend a lot of time on FF11 forums reading about people's strategies and balance complaints.

I'll give you my extra PS2 for drugs.  And FFX and XII. 

Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 17, 2009, 07:42:41 PM
I don't have a TV, and in XII's case at least I would rather hold out for the Zodiac Job System version.  But thanks.  I actually buy a lot of PS2 games, by the way, just never got around to buying the PS2 itself.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: TVC15 on April 17, 2009, 07:48:04 PM
I don't have a TV, and in XII's case at least I would rather hold out for the Zodiac Job System version.  But thanks.  I actually buy a lot of PS2 games, by the way, just never got around to buying the PS2 itself.

Zodiac Job System version?
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Bebpo on April 17, 2009, 07:48:20 PM
To some, it's the best looking console game at the moment while others seem to feel that it looks like garbage.  Bebpo is probably in a good position to judge, though, as I know he also own a Kuro plasma.  ;)

I went through the demo again on the kuro and it still looks great.  The image quality is perfect.  Not a jaggy in sight and unlike some games that blur the IQ to get smoothness, the game is very sharp and not blurry at all.  It's has the sharpness that you usually expect for a game full of jaggies, just...without the jaggies :)  

Playing it again you notice the occasional frame drop here and there, but it's still very smooth and much better than the framerate of any other jrpg this gen.  You also notice the characters are all a little polygon starved around the bodies, but it's not a big deal since the modeling is just fantastic especially for the faces.  The facial expressions are the best I've seen in a game and they really convey a lot of character even with the volume off and no voice.  I thought I was going to dislike Snow from the early pictures, but his facial animations make him really likable and friendly.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 17, 2009, 07:50:57 PM
Quote
Zodiac Job System version?

AKA the International version, was released in Japan about a year after the original.  It changes the License Board system so that instead of having one in common for everyone, you can pick a job for each character at the beginning of the game and each job has its own dedicated LB layout.  Based on the impressions I've read, I think I'd prefer that version, and if I'm going to spend 50+ hours on an RPG it may as well be the best available edition.  I didn't buy DQ5 DS for the same reason (holding out for maybe importing PS2 ver. someday).
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: WrikaWrek on April 17, 2009, 07:56:45 PM
Final Fantasy 8 was awesome.

I was really young, it was like, the second or 3rd game i bothered playing, 1st JRPG, and it all came around in a perfect storm. No JRPG since has been as enjoyable to me.

I really liked the world of FF8, i still love the SEED concept, how Squall went from being this "student" to full blown Merc, how it's all this sort of schools, and there's a graduation party, and there's the test, and then the gunblades were awesome, etc

Heh, i wish there was a sequel, unfortunately for me, Final Fantasy 7 is the installment that went huge, and has all this crazy ass following. Man fuck that universe.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 17, 2009, 07:59:24 PM
By the way, there were at least 4-5 different versions of the character building/license board system at various stages of development:

(1) Gain skill through use system, similar (at least in concept) to SaGa series, etc.  Mentioned by Matsuno in early 2004.

(2) Original, more complex license board system.

(3) Job system.  This was the plan at some point, though unclear when.

(4) Greatly simplified license board system, found in the original game as shipped.  Apparently changed to this late in development after testers found the original LB too complicated.

(5) Zodiac Job System.  The director has said this is NOT the same as the job system that was once planned.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 17, 2009, 08:10:56 PM
license board sucks. Did Itou come up with that? because he's like, a genius.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 17, 2009, 08:32:28 PM
Yeah, it and the final gambit system (earlier versions had more generic AI options a la DQ4+, rather than the finer-grained customizable condition->action rule system) were his ideas.  He's said they oversimplified the license board in retrospect, though.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 17, 2009, 08:38:59 PM
Damn.

But it appears that Itou fixed most of the problems with the license board in FF12i. Too bad we'll never get it.

I'd actually really like it if they put FF12i on the wii. Then S-E USA would have an excuse to release it and the ps2 version overseas.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Jansen on April 18, 2009, 02:49:57 AM
(http://i41.tinypic.com/24b0os9.jpg)

fucking hair looks like it's interlaced. i hope they fix that shit cuz it looks terrible and is a huge blemish on the games visuals
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: MCD on April 18, 2009, 08:35:51 AM
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=15506491&postcount=200

Quote from: bloke
Magna Carta II battle screens look good, apparently entering battles will be seamless, there'll be both turn-based and action elements in battle and you can change characters realtime. Also game is 80% done, so I'm guessing late summer for japanese release.

FFXIII owned by Korean developers.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: dark1x on April 18, 2009, 12:03:32 PM
(http://i41.tinypic.com/24b0os9.jpg)

fucking hair looks like it's interlaced. i hope they fix that shit cuz it looks terrible and is a huge blemish on the games visuals
And?  That's a very common technique for dealing with lots of thin, transparent edges.

Take a look (PC version of Half-Life 2 Episode 2)...

(http://i43.tinypic.com/2zfoadu.jpg)
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 18, 2009, 02:08:03 PM
fuck me sideways, this battle theme owns

http://files.filefront.com/FFXIII+battle+theme+loopenmp3/;13611602;/fileinfo.html
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Don Flamenco on April 19, 2009, 01:31:13 AM
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=15506491&postcount=200

Quote from: bloke
Magna Carta II battle screens look good, apparently entering battles will be seamless, there'll be both turn-based and action elements in battle and you can change characters realtime. Also game is 80% done, so I'm guessing late summer for japanese release.

FFXIII owned by Korean developers.


yeah, it's a little early to say whether Magna Carta 2 won't be a complete steaming pile of shit like the first one.   Seriously, that might be the worst JRPG I've ever played (about 4 hours...not the whole thing.)



re: the fashion and beauty of FFXIII.  I don't mind so much that it's there.  It's that the characters are supposed to be these ragtag underdogs, but they look completely bourgeois and manicured.  people bitch about immersion in RPGs while most of them feature characters who look completely unfit for the part.  Imagine Die Hard with some svelte tuxedo-wearing slickster instead of a bloody and bruised Bruce Willis...
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 19, 2009, 01:47:52 AM
magna carta is korean
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Don Flamenco on April 19, 2009, 01:51:12 AM
magna carta is korean

'cause everyone would know what the hell I meant if I wrote "KRPG," right?  :lol 

It's basically a bad knock off of shadow hearts.  there's nothing to distinguish it from other jrpgs.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 19, 2009, 02:03:18 AM
Quote
re: the fashion and beauty of FFXIII.  I don't mind so much that it's there.  It's that the characters are supposed to be these ragtag underdogs, but they look completely bourgeois and manicured.  people bitch about immersion in RPGs while most of them feature characters who look completely unfit for the part.  Imagine Die Hard with some svelte tuxedo-wearing slickster instead of a bloody and bruised Bruce Willis...

well in the demo Lightning is presented as an untouchable badass, not really an underdog.  but I agree in general.  I actually think Nomura is really skilled and talented at what he does, but for the most part it's too blatantly commercial for me. though it always amuses me to see how worked-up people get over having to see male characters occasionally aesthetically objectified a bit along with the girls.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 19, 2009, 04:23:57 AM
some answers to questions that may or may not have been asked anywhere ever

Q: Did Nomura have major input in the stories of FF7, 8, or 10?
A: 7/8 yes (e.g. the whole Garden/SeeD/Witch setup was his idea), 10 no

Q: Was Nojima involved with KH1, KH2, or Dirge of Cerberus?
A: KH1 only somewhat (he joined to help out towards the end of development.  they initially hired Keiko Nobumoto (Cowboy Bebop, etc.) to be in charge of scenario, but in practice Jun Akiyama appears to have ended up doing most of the writing (and directing)), KH2 yes, Dirge no (scenario writer was Hiroki Chiba).  the basic plots of KH1/2 (and Versus) are Nomura's
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 19, 2009, 04:43:14 AM
the other thing is that story etc. in SE games is actually usually pretty collaborative, everyone on the team contributes ideas.  this interview -> http://www.evilbore.com/forum/index.php?action=post;topic=29557.360;num_replies=360 <- has some insight into the development of FF7's story and events, for example

Quote
In the original scenario, Zack didn’t exist

- Mr. Kitase, which scene do you find most striking even now?

Kitase: Like Nomura, I’d have to say the climax in the mental realm. The scene where the mysteries regarding Sephiroth and Cloud all become clear. I didn’t know until we were in the latter stages of development that Cloud’s memories were Zack’s. First of all, when I originally checked the scenario, the character of Zack didn’t exist. Zack was a character who came up as Nojima was building up the mysteries. So until that part was complete I was left wondering just how he was planning to solve this, and all the while making the event scenes, still in the dark about the truth.

Nojima: But with Zack, I didn’t simply bring him in just because it was needed for solving the mysteries. When I joined the development team, the concept of Aerith seeing her first love again in Cloud was already there, so I brought him in to link that with solving the mysteries.

Nomura: About the concept of her seeing her first love again in Cloud, at first we were thinking of making that man Sephiroth. When I got the request for the illustration of Zack we were already near the end of development, so when you look at it now it’s not even coloured, and I can’t really deny that it feels like quite a sudden request.

- Had you thought about the truth of the mysteries regarding Cloud and Zack from the very beginning?

Nojima: No, I thought of it as I went on with my work. So at the beginning there wasn’t much foreshadowing. The foreshadowing scenes, I asked the staff in charge of the event scenes to add after development reached a point where an outcome for the mysteries came into sight.

Kitase: In those days it was easy to go back and change things around later on. Lately, with the workload involved in making the graphics, it’s hard to ask people to change something once it’s been finished.

Nojima: Well, even back then, there were some people you could easily ask to change an event later on, and people who were difficult to ask, so the locations of the foreshadowing might be biased. I only went to the people who were easy to ask, and the foreshadowing is focused at the scenes they were in charge of (laughs).
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Jansen on April 19, 2009, 09:02:41 AM
(http://i41.tinypic.com/24b0os9.jpg)

fucking hair looks like it's interlaced. i hope they fix that shit cuz it looks terrible and is a huge blemish on the games visuals
and?

and it looks like shit you dumbfuck
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Olivia Wilde Homo on April 19, 2009, 09:56:52 AM
I'll check this game out.  Won't be a day one purchase.

(http://...)

fucking hair looks like it's interlaced. i hope they fix that shit cuz it looks terrible and is a huge blemish on the games visuals
and?

and it looks like shit you dumbfuck

Take it easy.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Jansen on April 19, 2009, 10:43:22 AM
was that too mean?

here how bout this "i think it looks like shit and i hope they fix it."

ahh now that's better :P
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Bebpo on April 20, 2009, 01:36:33 AM
Speaking of interlaced hair, I just watched the Advent Children DC and while the transfer is pretty good in 1080p (the new DC scenes looking the sharpest and most detailed), the hair looks jaggy as hell.  Very similar to that effect up there, so maybe they did the hair the same way?  Tifa's is the most problematic.

In terms of the film, I think the DC additions were great.  Even though 30 mins was added into the film, the film never felt too long except for the parts it did in the original (mainly the huge action/action/action segment starting in the town square until the seph battle).  The film's strongest points was always its dialogue since Nojima writes character dialogue really well and so 30 mins of mostly character scenes are a very welcome addition that make you care more about the cast and makes them more likable. 

Watching the new Denzel OAV is essential before watching the DC.  It introduces Denzel's story and really makes you want to know about what happened to him after he met Cloud.  Making Denzel into a fully developed character really helps AC's directors cut and adds an extra layer to the AC story that feels good at the conclusion.

Overall I think the movie has a great first hour now, and the 2nd hour is good but bogged in action pacing and doesn't really get great until the last 20 mins again.  If Nomura was a better action director, the whole film could be excellent, but he's not and the action scenes outside the Sephiroth battle are kind of ho-hum and just a lot of slashing/punching without much effect (and the music is mixed too low for most of them).  Still, with the DC I really enjoyed the film now (I already liked the original).  It's definitely LEAGUES better than Spirits Within and it's better than a lot of US CG films like Dreamworks stuff.

For a first attempt at trying to actually make a "film", I think it's a very solid effort by Nomura/Nojima.  I'd love to see them make another CG movie using what they've learned, but considering the time and effort it took to make AC I dunno if Square/Nomura will do it again.

Also I gotta say that Crisis Core made AC better.  CC made EVERYTHING FFVII related better.  I was not an FFVII fan until CC.  I mean I thought FFVII was a good game but I didn't care about the world or characters much so all the FFVII spinoffs were whatever.  But Zach was such a great character and by the end of CC I was interested in FFVII's world and Cloud and Aerith because of him.  So his new scenes in Advent Children were great.  Because of Zach, you cared about Cloud.  Which is probably the best they could ever hope to do with a retcon.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: cool breeze on April 20, 2009, 10:17:34 AM
The story in Crisis Core did make Cloud seem like more of a bitch.  Zack was still alright for the most part when he wasn't on about Angeal, but then Angeal was on about Genesis and Genesis was on about Sephiroth and it was all just stupid.  I thought Crisis Core was a weak game.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 20, 2009, 10:40:53 AM
Quote
Also I gotta say that Crisis Core made AC better.  CC made EVERYTHING FFVII related better.  I was not an FFVII fan until CC.

What in the fuck.

Genesis made me almost hate Crisis Core. How did CC make anything in FFVII better? We already know what happens; Cloud's a little bitch as ALWAYS and Zack dies.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: MCD on April 20, 2009, 10:50:57 AM
i never cared about zack.

dead characters should stay dead.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Don Flamenco on April 20, 2009, 02:51:56 PM
FUCKING SPOILERS goddammnit

but his girlfriend lives though, right?
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Jansen on April 21, 2009, 07:32:15 PM
got it

time to find out if final fantasy is still worth giving a fuck about
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Jansen on April 21, 2009, 07:36:30 PM
did i somehow travel back in time or did they seriously put this shit in fucking jewel cases?
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Bebpo on April 21, 2009, 07:39:12 PM
did i somehow travel back in time or did they seriously put this shit in fucking jewel cases?

Told you the packaging sucks.

They want you to double dip and buy the standard edition in the cool black blu-ray case.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Jansen on April 21, 2009, 08:37:07 PM
are you unable to control more than one person or even give your allies commands?

demo was kinda meh.

decent graphics and awesome music but the gameplay was kinda boring
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Jansen on April 21, 2009, 08:53:37 PM
i was seriously expecting more on the graphical side of things

don't get me wrong, it looks good, just nowhere near as good as i was expecting b/c of all the folks jizzing in their pants when they give impressions
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Third on April 21, 2009, 08:58:41 PM
i was seriously expecting more on the graphical side of things

don't get me wrong, it looks good, just nowhere near as good as i was expecting b/c of all the folks jizzing in their pants when they give impressions

You probably have a 14" tv

(http://i41.tinypic.com/a1sftk.jpg)
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Jansen on April 21, 2009, 09:09:20 PM
it looks like snow is wearing a frilly blouse under his jacket.

god will someone kill nomura already
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Bebpo on April 21, 2009, 09:11:18 PM
Quote
maybe they did the hair the same way?

nope, seems a lot of people over at the av forums are saying it's a 480p source upscaled. so not quite the same.

square fucking enix. smh.


Yeah, it looked upscaled with the new scenes being true 1080p.  Seems really stupid since all Square had to do was re-render it in 1080p, but Japan loves their pointless 480p upscaled blu-rays!
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Himu on April 21, 2009, 09:12:39 PM
Alright. I got my copy today. I just dusted off FFVII: Advent Children Complete. I'll start with that that. Sorry if these impressions are badly worded and stuff, as I'm pretty tired for some reason right now.

FF7:ACCC - Overall, I think this is a much better film than the original cut. The new scenes to the movie make the plot feel more cohesive. In the original cut, I liked the idea of Geostigma and Denzel but it was hard caring.

For one thing, Denzel's role felt minimal at best despite being a major character in the film. ACC remedies this by not only giving him a back story, but by also making his relationship with Cloud and the gang seem stronger. By the end of the version, I actually cared about the kid. This is helped by the fact that the effects of Geostigma are shown as pretty damn harsh in ACC, where as in the original cut characters inflicted with the disease merely had black marks on their infected areas.

Another issue with the original cut I had was that, while I felt the action was pretty good, the amount of action ruined the story pacing. Every other scene you would have a fight, with almost no dialgoue. In ACC -- in the first half at least -- fights are well paced between interesting character bits of character development and story development.

Finally, my biggest problem with FFVII AC was the treatment of Cloud. Near the end of FFVII, Cloud is born again hard. He sees things from a completely different light and is that much stronger after conquering his fears and past. In AC he's once again brooding and I didn't feel it fit the character. There were some new things, like the flashback with Zack, that helped flesh this matter out. While it didn't completely make me feel alright with what they did to Cloud in AC, I think he's a lot more bearable in the Complete version.

ACC doesn't only make the movie feel more cohesive, but it also draws parallels to other FFVII related media like Crisis Core. It makes the project feel less ham fisted, more complete. At the end of the day, I think all of these changes help form a much better movie that should have been the original cut to begin with. If you even barely liked Advent Children you should check it out. It's not Kingdom of Heaven Directors Cut (the directors cut to end all DC's) but it's a vast improvement.

Final Fantasy XIII - When you first get to command Lightning against the robo scorpion, the game feels quite hands off. It takes a whilte to charge a full ATB bar, you can't control the other party member...It feels weird at first, to me at least, but eventually I got used to it.

There's definitely a learning curve. I found my attacks getting interrupted by enemies constantly. Then I realized that if I waited for them to attack, and then unleash my string of attacks I did much better. This was especially true with the first enemy in the game, the giant robot that smashes the train Zazh and Lightning are riding in.

You will barely do any damage at all to that boss due to its hard shell. The one opportunity to do major damage is when it opens its shell, exposing its weak point. The flipside to this is that when it does open its shell, it's preparing for a huge multi-hit attack on the party. You must hit its weakpoint before it unleashes the attack since once it does hit, you lose your command stock completely due to the damage. You have to start all over and by that time, its shell will already be closed.

Timing is key in these battles, and I like the direction.

It definitely feels like FFX-2 on steroids, but it's far more slow than that game. Probably in part that the AI takes care of the extra party members in the demo.

I even had a game over in the demo. In the fight against the Behemoth he nailed Snow for 700 hp damage when the Behemoth used a launcher and my guys couldn't heal him in time. The fight definitely managed to keep me on my toes and I can't really imagine some of the fights in the full game do the fact you won't have magic at this point.

Like I said, there's definitely a learning curve. By the end of the demo though, I was doing crazy combos and getting ranked 5 Stars. It's extremely fun.

I'm impressed, highly. Especially with the graphics. I think this is the new high standard for Japanese rpgs if this demo is any indication. There's a difference between the fmv and in game graphics, but even that's not that large of a gap anymore.

While it's true the entire demo takes place on one long linear train track, the attention to detail makes up for this. There's a million things to see in the demo; multiple scripted events occur. Whether they're planes flying overhead shooting at the party, explosions that throw Zazh into a panic, your enemies arriving at a specific battle spot a la Chrono Trigger, or even seeing a boss you will fight later on in the demo take out a bunch of people on a bridge below while you sit there completely helpless.

The atmosphere is insane and usually these events are shown from a specific camera angle where the player has no input in camera control. None of these take you out of the action, and it feels straight out of a game made in the west to me. Japanese tend to keep things like this self contained within cutscenes, especially if it's an rpg.

This is definitely Square. They did the same things during the psx era. Remember how say, in FFVIII, where an fmv would pop up and you could move Squall? It makes me feel like that, except there's no fmv doing these events at all. It was impressive then and it's equally as impressive now.

Finally, I'd like to talk about the story. I'm really feeling the cast. Lightning and Snow are both mature characters, and their personalities are immediately likable to me. It's nice to have a mature main character in the series again, which has been a long time coming. Zazh is comic relief, for sure, but to me he feels like a normal guy thrown into a crazy situation. It's obvious he's green.

After playing the demo, I get the feeling this game is going to have quite a bit of death in it. The ending to the demo was pretty touching, I thought. I hope team Nora are dead after that fall.

I can't wait for the full game. At the beginning of the game's development I was skeptical but, I'm after playing the demo I'm glad they're making something actually resembles a Final Fantasy. It's been 7 years (almost 8) since FFX, and I'm hungry.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Jansen on April 21, 2009, 09:30:13 PM
lol i laughed when all those people died.

best part of the demo by far

Yeah, it looked upscaled with the new scenes being true 1080p.  Seems really stupid since all Square had to do was re-render it in 1080p, but Japan loves their pointless 480p upscaled blu-rays!

advent children is 480p? :|

i guess i don't care that much since i'll probably never watch it but that is pretty lame
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Purple Filth on April 22, 2009, 12:17:54 AM
are you unable to control more than one person or even give your allies commands?

demo was kinda meh.

decent graphics and awesome music but the gameplay was kinda boring

you suppsoedly can control other characters but only in the actual game. It was not used in the demo.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Jansen on April 22, 2009, 11:57:05 AM
oh well. i had playing the demo again last night and using the launch command. air juggles = awesome
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: dark1x on April 22, 2009, 02:25:20 PM
Quote
Yeah, it looked upscaled with the new scenes being true 1080p.  Seems really stupid since all Square had to do was re-render it in 1080p, but Japan loves their pointless 480p upscaled blu-rays!
OK, that's just ridiculous.  Any chance I ever had of purchasing this Blu-ray release (which was slim to begin with) has been reduced to nothing.  I will not support upscaled bullshit.  CGI films should be the most impressive releases on Blu-ray (Wall-e demonstrates this nicely), so going with a low resolution source just blows my mind.

Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: Don Flamenco on April 22, 2009, 02:41:59 PM
but if they give you the definitive version now, then you won't buy Advent Children Complete Zero Turbo edition with extra zippers later on. 

Title: Re: Final Fantasy XIII demo thread
Post by: MCD on April 22, 2009, 05:56:07 PM
will just download it, no problem.