SEGA announces VF5 for the Xbox 360 (End of Summer 2007)

[TrollingKiddyFaggot]

SEGA ANNOUNCES VIRTUA FIGHTER 5 FOR XBOX 360

Premiere Fighting Game Franchise Makes First Appearance on Microsoft’s Next Generation Videogame Console

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN (December 21, 2006) – SEGA of America, Inc. and SEGA Europe Ltd. today announced that the highly anticipated arcade fighting game, Virtua Fighter™ 5, will make its way onto the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system. Virtua Fighter™ 5 is scheduled for release on Xbox 360™ in North America and in Europe during late summer 2007. The game will also be available for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system on February 20th, 2007 in North America and will be available in Europe simultaneously with the system’s launch in March 2007.

“Those people lucky enough to have already played Virtua Fighter™ 5 will know that it’s laid the foundations to become the clear benchmark for fighting games on all next generation consoles”, said Matt Woodley, Creative Director, SEGA Publishing Europe Ltd. “Bringing Virtua Fighter™ 5 to the Xbox 360™ offers us a platform with power to handle the astonishing visuals, the complex and varied fighting styles of all the customisable characters and will undoubtedly put Virtua Fighter™ 5 into the hands of a gaming audience craving for a highly polished and credible fighting game.”

Virtua Fighter™ 5 features beautifully detailed stages from around the world where players face off in fast-moving martial arts battles against one of 17 characters. Two lively new characters join the elite group of fighters, adding two new unique fighting styles for players to try and master. With more skill and strategy than ever before, players are also given the opportunity to learn and employ the new “Offensive Move” technique to take down their opponents from different angles, adding a new dimension to the game and something for both new and old fans to master. Virtua Fighter™ 5 also includes the ability to customise characters by selecting from four base costumes and a wide range of unlockable accessories and earnable items. As players win more tournaments they will not only earn costumes and accessories, but also prizes and in-game money that will allow them to buy items from the in-game shop.

“The Virtua Fighter™ series from SEGA has one of the most prestigious histories in video games,” said Jeff Bell, corporate vice president of global marketing for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “It’s a franchise that has grown an army of loyal fans both in arcades and on consoles worldwide, and is consistently rated extremely high by the media. Fighting game fans have been hungry for Virtua Fighter™ 5 and we can now proudly deliver this game with SEGA to Xbox 360 gamers around the world.”

Developed by the highly renowned Tokyo based development team, AM R&D Development No.2, Virtua Fighter™ 5 for the Xbox 360™ will be available across Europe and North America during late summer 2007.

[Potato]

That sounds awesome. I don't really like fighting games but I think every kid has played the heck out of this series.

[UID=growler]

poor PS3 loosing all its exclusives.

Good news for 360 owners.

[Mr. Greg]

Sweet, always loved the VF series.

[TrollingKiddyFaggot]

This is one title that I was not expecting to go multiplatform. Sega seemed pretty adament about keeping it exclusive and a lot of people are surprised, but it makes sense from a financial perspective.

[TwinTurboJosh]

It also makes sense they aren't even going to attempt to release it in Japan on the 360.

[TrollingKiddyFaggot]

Originally Posted by TwinTurboJosh

It also makes sense they aren't even going to attempt to release it in Japan on the 360.

Perhaps I missed a sentence, but where did it say there would be no Japanese version? The confirmation of launch date for the two big territories doesn't mean there won't be a release for Japan; it simply means that those are the priority releases.

Blue Dragon has proven that decent sales can be had there, even on the 360.

[UID=growler]

Originally Posted by K600

Blue Dragon has proven that decent sales can be had there, even on the 360.

ok, but what if Blue Dragon was also on PS3? would it have sold as well on 360? I doubt it, VF5 will have been on PS3 for some time before the 360 version even if it did come out in Japan.

[ChaosPhoenix]

Originally Posted by K600

Perhaps I missed a sentence, but where did it say there would be no Japanese version? The confirmation of launch date for the two big territories doesn't mean there won't be a release for Japan; it simply means that those are the priority releases.

Blue Dragon has proven that decent sales can be had there, even on the 360.

I'm not trying to bust on the X360's parade or anything, and while 84K copies of Blue Dragon being sold is a good thing - especially for the Jap X360 market, I would hardly call Blue Dragon sales "decent" at this point. We have to see how well it does in the US market. It definitely didn't push as many X360's as MS was hoping.

I mean, Federation Vs. ZAFT II came out on the same week and destroyed Blue Dragon in terms of sales.

http://eg.nttpub.co.jp/rank/20061204.html

[TwinTurboJosh]

Originally Posted by K600

Perhaps I missed a sentence, but where did it say there would be no Japanese version? The confirmation of launch date for the two big territories doesn't mean there won't be a release for Japan; it simply means that those are the priority releases.

True

Originally Posted by K600

Blue Dragon has proven that decent sales can be had there, even on the 360.

Probably not the best example though. The 2nd week sales results for Blue Dragon came out today and it didn't even make it into the top 30. I don't think that is going to encourage many developers unless there are other incentives.

[teh scud]

you know for blue dragon, they boosted sales by having a bundle for 360core, game, faceplate, and more blue dragon goodies for about $250.

nobody's going to buy it for 360 when it's available for ps3. i cannot imagine the number of people with a 360 but not ps3 to be significant, at all (after all, most the people who have it bought it for blue dragon... and ps3 will have way more jRPGs so those fans will definitely have a ps3).

[TwinTurboJosh]

Originally Posted by UID=30151

ok, but what if Blue Dragon was also on PS3? would it have sold as well on 360? I doubt it, VF5 will have been on PS3 for some time before the 360 version even if it did come out in Japan.

We'll have to see what the sales for Enchant Arms for PS3 are when it is released and see if it easily surpasses 360 sales.

[TrollingKiddyFaggot]

Originally Posted by UID=30151

ok, but what if Blue Dragon was also on PS3? would it have sold as well on 360? I doubt it, VF5 will have been on PS3 for some time before the 360 version even if it did come out in Japan.

That's a hypothetical that doesn't even matter. That's like me asking what would have happened if Final Fantasy VII had been made for the N64 instead of the PS.

The fact of the matter is that Playstation 3 hardware sales have been poor and their software sales have been abysmal. Their software hasn't even breached the top 30 in Japan. It doesn't matter if a PS3 version of Virtua Fighter 5 sits on shelves for six months; as of now, Xbox 360 software is moving better.

Originally Posted by ChaosPhoenix

I'm not trying to bust on the X360's parade or anything, and while 84K copies of Blue Dragon being sold is a good thing - especially for the Jap X360 market, I would hardly call Blue Dragon sales "decent" at this point. We have to see how well it does in the US market. It definitely didn't push as many X360's as MS was hoping.

...you do realize that those responsible for the game weren't expecting more than 200K units to be sold in Japan, right?

[UID=growler]

Originally Posted by TwinTurboJosh

We'll have to see what the sales for Enchant Arms for PS3 are when it is released and see if it easily surpasses 360 sales.

true, although the best way to see which system is more popular would be a simultaneous release.

[TrollingKiddyFaggot]

Originally Posted by teh scud

you know for blue dragon, they boosted sales by having a bundle for 360core, game, faceplate, and more blue dragon goodies for about $250.

nobody's going to buy it for 360 when it's available for ps3. i cannot imagine the number of people with a 360 but not ps3 to be significant, at all (after all, most the people who have it bought it for blue dragon... and ps3 will have way more jRPGs so those fans will definitely have a ps3).

You're thinking very small; the Xbox 360 is moving at a crawl in Japan yet software is doing infinitely better on that platform. Virtua Fighter 5 can move in the United States/Europe for the 360, especially at that time of the year (Which is typically devoid of good releases).

Aside from potential, you're missing the point. This is a game that has been confirmed to be a Playstation 3 exclusive time and time again. To pretend that this isn't at least partially related to the image surrounding the Playstation 3 at this time would be a bit silly.