Phunnybonz
06-03-2004, 10:20 PM
<a href="http://www.onlyonxbox.net/news.php?id=396" target="_blank"><B><U>Source</U></B></A>
Microsoft Japan Gives US Gamers Some Bad News
Posted on 06/03/2004 at 5:42:46 PM
By Bryan Lazarony
First off, the biggest piece of news today from Microsoft Japan is that they have canceled Level 5's production on True Fantasy Live Online. This comes as both shocking and extremely disappointing. But according to Microsoft representatives in Japan - the game was just not progressing and currently, it was looking like a 2005-2006 release at the very least for North America, let alone a 2004-2005 release in Japan.
A Microsoft rep. from Japan had to say: "The difficult decision to cancel True Fantasy Live Online was based on a number of careful considerations, including the game's progression to date and the remaining development time needed to complete such an ambitious project. The MMORPG genre, across all platforms, has become an incredibly crowded and competitive marketplace. In response, Microsoft Game Studios has decided to streamline its portfolio, making fewer bets in this genre. At Microsoft Game Studios, we continually evaluate our portfolio strategy and investments to ensure we are achieving our most important objectives of creating successful, platform-driving titles in a timely manner. We truly appreciate all the support True Fantasy Live Online has received from its fans and the games community."
Its a tragedy that this game could not come out on the Xbox due to the amount of demand for an MMORPG game on the Xbox [since the PS2's MMO library is growing every year]. But this game may have not even made it on the Xbox as it was, so really, you never would have even seen this game until the next gen of consoles.
In other Microsoft Japan news, it looks like the highly anticipated Japanese game, Phantom Dust, will not make a debut here in the states. Whenever the game comes out in Japan - it will stay in Japan. Now this, we just don't understand the reasoning - according to latest surveys, there are more Phantom Dust fans here than there are there [almost double the amount here]. But Microsoft is really starting to breakdown on their Japanese lineup and more focused and determined on their North American lineup since that is where their majority of their fanbase is located.
Microsoft Japan Gives US Gamers Some Bad News
Posted on 06/03/2004 at 5:42:46 PM
By Bryan Lazarony
First off, the biggest piece of news today from Microsoft Japan is that they have canceled Level 5's production on True Fantasy Live Online. This comes as both shocking and extremely disappointing. But according to Microsoft representatives in Japan - the game was just not progressing and currently, it was looking like a 2005-2006 release at the very least for North America, let alone a 2004-2005 release in Japan.
A Microsoft rep. from Japan had to say: "The difficult decision to cancel True Fantasy Live Online was based on a number of careful considerations, including the game's progression to date and the remaining development time needed to complete such an ambitious project. The MMORPG genre, across all platforms, has become an incredibly crowded and competitive marketplace. In response, Microsoft Game Studios has decided to streamline its portfolio, making fewer bets in this genre. At Microsoft Game Studios, we continually evaluate our portfolio strategy and investments to ensure we are achieving our most important objectives of creating successful, platform-driving titles in a timely manner. We truly appreciate all the support True Fantasy Live Online has received from its fans and the games community."
Its a tragedy that this game could not come out on the Xbox due to the amount of demand for an MMORPG game on the Xbox [since the PS2's MMO library is growing every year]. But this game may have not even made it on the Xbox as it was, so really, you never would have even seen this game until the next gen of consoles.
In other Microsoft Japan news, it looks like the highly anticipated Japanese game, Phantom Dust, will not make a debut here in the states. Whenever the game comes out in Japan - it will stay in Japan. Now this, we just don't understand the reasoning - according to latest surveys, there are more Phantom Dust fans here than there are there [almost double the amount here]. But Microsoft is really starting to breakdown on their Japanese lineup and more focused and determined on their North American lineup since that is where their majority of their fanbase is located.