Why don't companies just say what system they're making a game for

[Overbite]

The 2 big games I'm looking forward to, Tales of Vesperia and Star Ocean 4, both have something in common other than being RPGs.

They do not have an announced release console yet.

How can this be? Do the developers not know what they're making it for? When they make a game is there's some little switch they put in that lets them toggle between PS3 and 360?

I want to get a new console but I have no idea what one to get. If I buy a 360 and these end up on the PS3 only I will be sad, but if I get a PS3 and they end up on 360 only I will also be sad. They should just go "we're makin it for da ds" or someting so I know.

Or hell, just make them for both systems.

If star ocean 4 is a ps3 exclusive and tales of vesperia is a 360 exclusive im gonna flip a pancake.

[xfrumx]

no love/hope for the Wii!!!?

[Overbite]

these games aren't coming out on wii, from screenshots and stuff it couldn't handle it.

besides, wii's dont exist in stores so i couldn't buy one if i wanted to (and i do)

[ProgrammingAce]

If a game has a lot of interest behind it, console manufacturers pay lots of "advertising" to developers who sign an agreement to make a game exclusive.

Sometimes developers are holding out on locking down a platform hoping for a big payoff. Other times, the game isn't far enough into development to say which system it's going to come out for.

ProTip: some of the games where you see awesome screenshots don't have a single line of code written.

Other times, devs use engines that work on multiple platforms. They don't have to lock down a system until much later in the process. If there's a lot of interest in the title, it's worth paying extra programmers to port it to the other console (See Orange Box for details)

[Overbite]

that may be so for Star Ocean 4, but Tales of Vesperia already has cutscenes and battles and a whole trailer made but no announced console :( The only hint was the words "xbox 360" on the web page code and that the music composer had it listed as xbox 360 on his page until it was edited out.

[Aussie2B]

I would guess that it's a matter of whether they're going to go multi-platform or not. They're in a tough position because the 360 AND the PS3 are both not doing that great in Japan.

Personally, I haven't begun to care about Star Ocean 4 yet. I'm much more interested in the Star Ocean remake on PSP and the upcoming Star Ocean 2 port (with enhancements). Plus the SO4 characters look really stupid, but that's no different from Star Ocean 3, where the characters and story largely blew but the gameplay more than makes up for it.

Oh, and the pictures of Star Ocean 4 don't remotely look like anything in-game. Granted, I wouldn't expect to see the game on Wii, but I'd be more inclined to rule that out by other reasons and not any screens.

The only reason I want to see a system nailed down is because I feel like I'm gonna blow a gasket every time I go to the Star Ocean 4 GameFAQs forum and see a million stupid topics of people theorizing what system it'll be on and arguing between everyone because one person wants it on system A and another on system B and another person hates both and so on and so on until I want to totally flip out.

[Overbite]

I want to see a system nailed down so I can go out and buy it. I wanna get a BC compatable PS3 before they are all gone

[G-Boobie]

I'd say get a PS3, since you already have access to a 360(judging by the fact that you have a gamer card displayed in you signature).

[Daria]

Get a 360 and play Eternal Sonata until either game comes out. It's very Tales-y. In all honesty it sounds like Vesperia is coming out for the system, just for whatever reason Namco's keeping all hush about it.

[Cav]

"Why don't companies just say what system they're making a game for"

When my friend worked PR at LucasArts I asked him this exact question. He told me the main reason was for marketing purposes. For example, if they announce "Star Wars: Stormtrooper Locker Room Saber Fighting" they can make one grand announcement with consoles never mentioned. Months down the line they can then announce the consoles/handhelds, etc... They are able to get more mileage out of the announcement the closer it gets to the release. This may not be the only reason in every case, but it is one explanation.

[G-Boobie]

Either way, Vesperia has been outed in the newest issue of EGM, apparently. It's a 360 game for sure, but they don't know if it's coming to the PS3 or not.

[Oobgarm]

If star ocean 4 is a ps3 exclusive and tales of vesperia is a 360 exclusive im gonna flip a pancake.


Either way, Vesperia has been outed in the newest issue of EGM, apparently. It's a 360 game for sure, but they don't know if it's coming to the PS3 or not.

So we may be halfway to the pancake flipping.

/me admires building suspense

[Overbite]

Guess I'll pick up a 360 and hope for the best with Star Ocean 4!