Tekken's PlayStation Exclusivity Ends After 13 Years

[Umon Daisuke]

Tekken isnt a terribly large game in the first place, it'll be fine on a DVD. I could figure out what system the arcade version runs on, but it won't be that large so.

PS3 hardware, it even has the XMB during the initial bootup. This is pretty much a KO (no pun intended) as far as losing a stable exclusive. The series ran on PS hardware from its debut in 94 to this day, and even Ken Kutaragi personally served as a technical adviser during the PS1 days.

The series is known for CGI endings and extras (hitting peak with T5 as they included the arcade versions of T1-3). The game used the HDD extensively (the original code) so it's proving to be a challenge according to Harada:

Harada admits there will be challenges in taking Tekken 6 to the 360, given that the original arcade version was built on a PS3-based architecture. "When we tried to move it to the 360, it would be a lie to say I wasn't concerned. It is quite difficult. For example, on the PS3 you have the Blu-ray Disc as well as the hard disk, which lends itself to a lot of options for the game. We don't necessarily have this for the 360, where it has a DVD and it may not have a hard disk by default. So there are various things that we have to overcome when porting this to the 360, but I'm sure we can do it," he said.

So the same old complaints we've heard from developers about the 360 basically. One version of the trailer didn't even have the 360 logo, so it's a recent decision (given that MS announced it doesn't leave much guesswork)

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6198775.html?tag=latestheadlines;title;2

The only bad, and quite irritating part of this is the delay. T6 will be a year old in Dec. and gets an upgrade in Japanese arcade. It'll be nearly 2 years old when it hits home consoles, and quite frankly, as big of a fan I am, I'm starting to lose interest. T5's console release was merely 3 months after the arcade release, and even T5 DR saw a PSP release months after the arcade one.

EDIT: Let's face it, fighters are about as niche as they come nowadays. Multiplatforming is a viable solution in addition to having arcade revenues. T3 was and still is Namco's best selling title, and 2nd best selling fighter overall (or could be first, don't know how much SSB sold.. T3 sold 6 million up to 2000). Those days are behind us, and gaming has changed to a point that I'm bored with it after 23 years. The PS3 is a BD player, and the 360 is collecting dust.

AJ, count Gaiden as a real RE game alongside GS2 etc then :p TA was a mere watered down T3 that the original team didn't work on.

[Umon Daisuke]

You think? I'd really love to see all of the 1080p FMVs, including endings for all 43 characters, fit onto a DVD9. I fear lower birates will be used for the Xbox 360 version.

The arcade version is 720p native with no AA, so I don't think that will change. Intro CG aside, this will likely mean realtime endings much like TTT (though longer). Audio wise, I think this rules out a remixed OST on disc. DLC galore.

However it ends, the versions will be identical content wise. Hopefully they won't resort to adding guest characters.

[Jubei Mishima]

The arcade version is 720p native with no AA, so I don't think that will change. Intro CG aside, this will likely mean realtime endings much like TTT (though longer). Audio wise, I think this rules out a remixed OST on disc. DLC galore.

However it ends, the versions will be identical content wise. Hopefully they won't resort to adding guest characters.

You're correct about the 720p FMVs in the Arcade version since it's the Octave (<fancy word<) engine running the Namco's PlayStation 3-based System 357 but what I meant was that because Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection supported 1080p on the PlayStation 3 that it's logical Tekken 6 will too and hoperfully with it - 1080p FMV goodness. I can kind of see the 1080p potential on Xbox 360, but we'll just have to wait and see. By the way I'll be buying both versions, who's with me?

[Umon Daisuke]

The Octave engine is a mere physics engine with Namco's own proprietary one. It primarily handles water and light physics. There is a demo of it on Youtube. And whether the game is 720p or not, the 360 does upscale to 1080p anyway.

I've breathed the series, more than RE, since 1995, but I'm not sure if I'll be interested by fall of 09. Playing the arcade version requires a 40 minute drive where I live, so I'm essentially out. If I bought one, it'll be the PS3 version though because I have a stick already.

[ThWorldGreatest]

I hate 360. I just do. Everybody's now selling out to Micro-shit.

can you blame them? most of the ports on PS3 are shit because devs have money coming out of their asses and they use the old excuse "it's hard to develop games for PS3" Sony have been helping devs lately to perfect ports , recent multi plat games are a perfect example of how well sony have been helping devs around (a la SH:HomeComing) yet M$ is still stuffing money in dev's throats to spent more time perfecting the 360's ports, im extremly disappointed in how screwed up this current-gen is, companies like Square-Enix are stabbing the only company that made one of the greatest consoles ever and made them what they are today, im not even sure which console i would buy next gen.

[HouseofHerrera]

When they say it's "Hard" they mean to say that Microsoft offers them more money to keep both ports equal.

50gig bd can hold more game. It's corp BS and politics if you ask me.

[ThWorldGreatest]

When they say it's "Hard" they mean to say that Microsoft offers them more money to keep both ports equal.

50gig bd can hold more game. It's corp BS and politics if you ask me.

which is the reason why my heart drops to my stomach everytime i hear that PS3 lost another exclusive.

[The Dude]

OH WOW, PS3 lost another exclusive...who gives a flying fuck?
Being an owner of both consoles, I really couldn't care less about disk space etc, and I skipped the previous page as I suspected they'd be anti Xbox rants.

So I propose this.

Xbox 360 version = HDD Installation = Problem solved with HDD space.
Fanboys from both sides, Pull your tampons out and stop complaining now tekken's a multi platform port, I wouldn't really consider Tekken 6 a killer app to begin with, and alone it wouldn't have really made a dent on the console war anyway.
I consider Tekken 6 as multi platform as a win win, for namco, especially with the economy as it is right now, it seems reasonable they'd consolidate and develop for both platforms, especially considering Xbox is selling relatively well worldwide thanks to lower prices.

[Darkmoon]

I've always wondered why people got upset over loosing exclusive deals...surely unless one company pays another there's no real point to exclusives as they can make more money by having both sets of fan bases. And if they choose to make one game version superior or not, well, who cares? So long as the game is good?

Of course, I don't especially care about graphics and such. I'm more of a content guy.

On a side note folks, play nice or I'll shoot through your head with eye lazers.

[Stu]

which is the reason why my heart drops to my stomach everytime i hear that PS3 lost another exclusive.

hahaha

The Horror Is Alive, i come for the Resi, i stay for the drama!

[Carnivol]

I've always wondered why people got upset over loosing exclusive deals...

Maybe I just stick around the wrong communities or something, but what I find the most interesting is the whole bitching part, is that the actual upset bitching in situations like these is a one way deal.

On a side note folks, play nice or I'll shoot through your head with eye lazers.

I'm at that point too. It's pretty hilarious to see the SDF land in my backyard just to bitch. We might actually have to deploy our little guard dog again to keep the streets clean...
I mean, we haven't really fed our pet crab in a long time.


Anyway, space is one of the least important concerns in the game industry. You gotta be doing something seriously wonky to actually justify the usage of every single byte on a dual-layer DVD. Sure, space might complicate certain things for some, but if space is their biggest challenge in the development of a title...

I like to just think that we're not in the 90s anymore where every Compact Disc based game needed redbook audio and FMVs to fill its disc space. Besides, I hope they do realtime cutscenes for the endings if they can. It's much more flexible and interesting from a technical standpoint if done right. (+It should be much cheaper too. If they haven't got their heads stuck up their arse.)

[Mr. Spencer]

I imagine this order came direct from Howard Stringer.

[Carnivol]

I imagine this order came direct from Howard Stringer.

That's Sir Howard Stringer to you, Mr.!

[Mr. Spencer]

Oh of course, SIR Howard Stringer.

I had forgotten the fact that he had been promoted after his dismissal of Ken Kutaragi and his victory in the Dreamcast War. The Sony Defence Force never forgets that day.

[Umon Daisuke]

Anyway, space is one of the least important concerns in the game industry. You gotta be doing something seriously wonky to actually justify the usage of every single byte on a dual-layer DVD. Sure, space might complicate certain things for some, but if space is their biggest challenge in the development of a title...

Harada is not the first or the last person in the industry to complain. You may remember R* raising the issue too, among others (same with HDD); last prolific one being Carmack. They dealt with it, but the issue exists and try lecturing these people that they're doing something wrong. That's something you'd hear from the Xbox camp.

Harada & co. had to deal with a CD limitation around the PS2 launch, and they ended up cutting out the arcade OST and endings were realtime. Sure realtime is cheaper, but Namco (before the merger) co-developed the CG's and they were some of the best in the industry.

So let's not mix developer issues with fanboy rants Especially that both sides are just as bad. Imagine rants at TZ when T5 didn't go multiplatform, and new accounts were created just to say how the PS2 sucks, and how the Xbox and GC can do the game justice.