[Scarlett.]

-

[Tom4784]

I fear I might die of old age before Versus is released.

[Scarlett.]

I have a feeling this is going to be announced for the PS4

[Tom4784]

It's heavilly rumoured to be, I've heard two variations of it. One is that they'll drop the 'XIII' part and launch it as a spinoff that isn't connected to any of the games and the other is that it's gonna be rebranded as FFXV.

I could see either one happening tbh.

[Scarlett.]

They should just call it XV, it'd sell better that way.

[Scarlett.]

Youtube video

[LemonJam]

Looks so awesome

[SharkAttack]

Don't know about anyone else, but PS4 is pulling some pretty damned fine weight with their current presentations. I don't think the Xbox One will be able to touch something like this, or Kingdom Hearts III, replete with access to *so* many new worlds that Disney has purchased over the past few years. It's a forgone conclusion that this console will be a Christmas present for my kids that I will never let them touch.

Edit: Any one here going to E3 this year?

[Scarlett.]

It's been confirmed that its definately a Sony exclusive too, which I am glad about.

This looks like the FF fans have been waiting for, a darker story.

[Tom4784]

It looks worth the wait. It's going to be a true return to form.

[Scarlett.]

Noctis seems very different from Tidus, Vaan, Lightning and Serah, from what we've seen he seems kinda normal (as in, not super moody, but not super happy).

[Scarlett.]

It's just been confirmed for the Xbox One.

[Scarlett.]

Youtube video

I really like this combat

[Tom4784]

It looks very interesting, I just hope they don't forget the RPG elements and just make it into a Hack and Slash.

[Scarlett.]

Yeah, I'm hoping spells and stuff will still play a major part too.

[Scarlett.]

I hope there is still areas outside the city like there was when this was Versus

[Scarlett.]

I did a comparison of XV and Versus combat


Though XV's doesn't show off the fluidity of it.

This has me excited

[Scarlett.]

Some small observations made by Neogaf




The health bars, the blue bar is speculated to be "Linkform"



Basic attack


Magic


Other attacks


Noctis using warp to "blink" across a room


This is apparently link form, which is basically all of Noctis' swords attacking at once



Here's an example of what the map will look like


and Noctis talking Dead Space style to Gladious

[Scarlett.]

Official website launched
http://archive.na.square-enix.com/FFXV/

[Mystic Mock]

This game looks really good, I'll definitely be giving this a go.

[Scarlett.]

Tetsuya Nomura enjoys modern settings – if you couldn’t tell from the latest Final Fantasy XV trailers. This “fantasy based on reality” will enjoy many real world settings retuned for Noctis to explore.

But is the game perhaps too modern? NBC News had a chance to sit down with the director and quiz him on the various aesthetics of this “new” mainline entry to the series.

“I don’t like the extreme cases of tech or magic,” says Nomura. “If I choose, I choose a modern setting — but that’s not a good setting for a game. So if you look at FFXV it starts in a very modern world similar to Shinjuku (in downtown Tokyo), but when the story starts, you go to the medieval world — but the weapons they are using are high tech-weapons; that kind of combo is what I like.”

As with every Final Fantasy title, there’s really no lean toward extreme high or low fantasy – there’s always been this sort of mixture. For some titles, there’s been a lean to one side or the other – such as the sci-fi style of FFXIII or the medieval style of FFXI and XIV – but for Nomura, when he plays games he says he “can’t be emotionally involved if the game starts in an imaginary fantasy world” so he wants to start out in a modern world and then branch out to fantasy elements from there.

When it comes down to character design, things can get complicated according to Nomura. During the design process, he tends to like to make suggestions when creating the outlines for certain characters – like if a character should carry a long weapon sheathed on their back or what have you. Nomura actually used to design weapons as far back as Final Fantasy X – having suggested both Cloud’s buster sword and Squall’s gunblade previously. Before that, he worked on monster design such as the behemoth – originally designed for FFVII – is now redesigned for FFXV.

But where does Nomura’s inspiration come from? Is it modern fashion or personal insight?

“It’s not like I’m always thinking about character design,” says Nomura. “When I receive orders, I start imagining things. The image of that character, the “silhouette,” comes into my mind, and from that I start thinking of details. In the past I would probably flip through the pages of fashion magazines, now I look through the web pages of my favorite brands.”

Of course, perhaps the most iconic part of Nomura’s designs is the hair styles – something that has become easier to replicate in the game world due to ever increasing technology. Nomura notes that the real world doesn’t really cater too well to extreme hairstyles and as a result, he feels that game characters should shoulder designs that are often unique. He believes it’s just one way to show off a certain character’s personality.

“Sometimes I wish we had the easiness Western FPS [games] have, to make everyone bald. We’re a company that’s known for unique hairstyles, but in a way we’re running out of ideas.”

Read more at NBC News

[Scarlett.]

It looks like we may play as other characters, as it looks like we're playing as Prompto here


Cactaur!


Also a Versus/XV comparison



Full size

Note: The XV version is probably an ingame cutscene rather than Versus' CG cutscene.

[Scarlett.]

It looks like we may play as other characters, as it looks like we're playing as Prompto here


Cactaur!


Also a Versus/XV comparison



Full size

Note: The XV version is probably an ingame cutscene rather than Versus' CG cutscene.

Just noticed this


Mechs reconfirmed!

[Scarlett.]

Nomura has stated that now that the game is out there, we're gonna be hearing a lot more about it, the next big blowout will be at Tokyo Game Show.

[Scarlett.]

Final Fantasy Versus XIII was re-revealed as Final Fantasy XV just over a week ago, and the fallout from the brand-new series number is just beginning to settle. Originally, the game was intended to be on PlayStation 3 alone, but now slated for next-generation consoles, the game will be coming to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The team cites “several reasons” for the generational leap in this week’s Famitsu. Director Tetsuya Nomura was available, as well as Visual Field Director Takeshi Nozue and co-director Hajime Tabata (Final Fantasy Type-0, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII).

During his on-air E3 Square Enix Presents interview, director Tetsuya Nomura commented that the game was being developed in a PC environment, and that platforms that best support DirectX 11 will be likely candidates for the game’s appearance. While this may rule out a WiiU debut, it has led some PC fans to wonder if Square Enix will throw a bone their way.

Yoshihisa Hashimoto, Square Enix’s Chief Technology Officer, has lead the charge into the next-generation for the company with the Luminous Engine that will host games such as Final Fantasy XV. A PC version is currently undecided, but “collaborations” with Luminous Studio are planned for the future. The game, as per the team, will require a top of the line (expensive) machine to run. It’s because of this point that they want to see what the “demand” will be from the PC audience (which is your cue to let them know that you want it).

Previously, Final Fantasy games were developed on a “lead console” and ported to other systems such as Final Fantasy XIII. Final Fantasy XI was originally designed to fit within the capabilities of the PlayStation 2 and its hard disk drive, though support outside Japan was dropped when the console’s production eventually ceased. Such is the case with a Final Fantasy XV Xbox One version.

While Sony has touted PlayStation Vita will support Cross-Platform Play with PlayStation 4, Square Enix is considering the handheld for use with Final Fantasy XV. In addition to Vita, tablets and smartphones are on the table for various features.

Combat in Final Fantasy XV is taking a turn for more action as the above gameplay video illustrates. The team has taken a directional shift away from turn-based or time-based (ATB) combat for an entirely new direction. The team commented that one feature being added to the game is the ability to climb onto monsters in battle. A concept similar to this could be seen in the Final Fantasy Versus XIII 2011 trailer when Noctis was able to use combat vehicles (tanks, magitek). Noctis uses a behemoth’s horns to launch himself in the air in the newest gameplay trailer above.

You’ll also be able to switch between the three characters in your party at any time. Noctis, Gladiolus, and Prompto have been featured in footage thusfar, but we have yet to see the return of Ignis in combat or the newly-revealed Cor.

Final Fantasy executive producer Shinji Hashimoto hopes that traditional Final Fantasy fans won’t be disappointed and will embrace the shift away from Active Time Battle (a 22-year old convention) and Square Enix is looking forward to hearing feedback about the action-oriented combat. He also assures us that we will be hearing more about the game soon, and that the “dishonest” days of withholding information about games in development for months is at an end.

To sum up:


- Hajime Tabata (Type-0) is co-directing
- You can still switch player control between party members in battle.
- Hashimoto says the "dishonest" days of not having information for "months at a time" are behind them. Expect frequent and regular updates.
- They are considering releasing it on PC, and want people to show demand.
- They want to use Vita and other devices (tablets, etc.).


An interesting summary of everything known about XV (including cities) on NeoGaf
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=596036