Wow, I am not sure if I can better summarize my reaction to Square announcing yesterday that Final Fantasy XIII would be released on PS3 as well as 360 sometime next year.
For those who know me, they know that I am a Manticore to the bone. I hate not having access to great titles because I lack a console and as such I normally grab every and anything that plays games that will attach to my TV every gaming generation.
I like many bought a PS3 not under the promise of "what was" but rather "what was coming". While games like Resistance were certainly interesting they were not my motivation for the purchase. PS2 last generation was my RPG console.
To this day I still have half a dozen wonderful RPG's sitting unplayed in my wait pile for the PS2. Say what you will about Sony but last generation's RPG library may go down as among the best since SNES.
Although this generation, I am confused.
· Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
· Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
· Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
Above is a list in order of the PS2's best selling games, and the one thing you will notice about every game on that list is that it falls into at least one the following category:
1) It was exclusive to the PS2
2) It was released first on the PS2
3) It sold the most copies on PS2
While number 1, 2 and 4 were released on Xbox and PC, PS2 got at least a six month head start on the GTA's and in the case of 1 and 3 over a year.
Now we find the latest installment of Grand Theft Auto not just being released for the 360 on the same day that the PS3 gets its version, but we see the 360 version selling more copies then the PS3 version.
Now Sony has found itself losing the franchise that secure spot 7 & 8 on its best selling software list last generation, as well as pretty well losing a fairly exclusive console relationship with the publisher that provided them game 9 & 10 on that same list.
Which pretty well leaves:
Metal Gear Solid
Gran Turismo
As the last two franchises on the list in the top ten, and needless to say they are both pretty heavy hitters.
The problem is, Metal Gear Solid 4 is out. It was wonderful, it was magical, it made some of us learn to love again. But it's over.
Which leaves GT5 as the last real heavy hitter from last generation left to make an impact this time around.
Now I know what you are thinking, "Sony can create another franchise that will replace what was lost that will reside exclusively on the PS3"
Have a look at that list,
A good hard look.
Notice the one thing nine of the ten games have in common?
Aside from Kingdom Hearts, not one of those games is the first game, or a "Part One". They are all follow ups that have been built on a strong foundation of loyal gamers who came aboard early and followed the series.
It's hard to make the first of any exclusive series a mega hit, (Unless you are Microsoft)
Yesterday was the biggest blow I have seen to a console since Final Fantasy VII was naked exclusive to PSone.
Let's hope Sony has something big coming.