If there was a TV show called "When PAL release disasters collide" the main story would certainly feature Nintendo and Square trying to launch Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles for GameCube into Europe.
Here we have Nintendo, plagued by localisation issues and berated for an unforgivable string of delays by fans and retail alike, and SquareSoft, now Square Enix, the developer of the Final Fantasy series that seems to view European releases as something of a joke, working together to release a videogame. It was never going to be smooth. In fact, the entire thing was doomed as soon as it was announced.
Rubbish!
So today we learn that Crystal Chronicles has slipped in the US. Leaving its pre-Christmas November slot, the game is now penned in for February 9th.
Given that the text-heavy code will need four languages adding, as well as optimisation for PAL and SECAM TV sets, we simply cannot see this game hitting Europe in the next12 months.
It's also worth underlining again that Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles was cynically advertised before Christmas 2002 as "coming soon." Surely gamers would have a good case for returning their GameCubes or seeking damages from Nintendo for promising something it never intended to deliver from the outset.
We'll let you know when the European release date is announced.
Here we have Nintendo, plagued by localisation issues and berated for an unforgivable string of delays by fans and retail alike, and SquareSoft, now Square Enix, the developer of the Final Fantasy series that seems to view European releases as something of a joke, working together to release a videogame. It was never going to be smooth. In fact, the entire thing was doomed as soon as it was announced.
Rubbish!
So today we learn that Crystal Chronicles has slipped in the US. Leaving its pre-Christmas November slot, the game is now penned in for February 9th.
Given that the text-heavy code will need four languages adding, as well as optimisation for PAL and SECAM TV sets, we simply cannot see this game hitting Europe in the next12 months.
It's also worth underlining again that Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles was cynically advertised before Christmas 2002 as "coming soon." Surely gamers would have a good case for returning their GameCubes or seeking damages from Nintendo for promising something it never intended to deliver from the outset.
We'll let you know when the European release date is announced.
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