https://archive.org/details/Official_Xbox_Magazine-Ziff_Davis_Proof_2001/page/n5/mode/2up?view=theaterA proof of concept for Official Xbox Magazine has an example article written in Latin (a section of Horatian Odes to be exact) about Final Fantasy X coming to the Xbox.The real question is, was this just wishful thinking and a way to pad out this proof-of-concept, or were there actually talks to get FFX on the Xbox? One could say it's simply an example to show how the magazine would be edited, but curiously, this proof-of-concept also details a game called "Metal Gear Solid 2X" being reviewed, also in Latin poetry (and hilariously listed as being developed by id Software and published by Activision).As we all know, a timed exclusive version of Metal Gear Solid 2 did release for the Xbox under the name Substance, so that begs the question:Was Microsoft actually in talks with Square to bring Final Fantasy X to the Xbox? Is there any other evidence to suggest this was something they were trying to make happen?As we all know, Xbox made a huge effort in trying to get Japanese devs on their machine in the early days, and the Xbox did receive a lot of exclusive Japanese games and many ports. This prototype OXM issue also ends with a preview for their next issue, titled "Big in Japan", once again listing they will be reviewing Final Fantasy X.
I'll post some more excerpts.
More "Metal Gear Solid 2X"
"Big In Japan" as the mythical next issue, with a review for Final Fantasy X on Xbox.
>>11498067Back then, the Final Fantasy games were king-makers. It was what propelled the SNES/SFC over its competition and subsequently the same thing happened with the Playstation as the series also dictated where the lion's share of support would go. I'm sure Microsoft knew of the importance as they first-had observed with their collaboration with Sega, knowing that was ultimately a big failure point to not secure the system selling title. Especially after Square Millennium announced Final fantasy 9, 10, and 11 all at once, it would only make sense to get in on the action. They did get 11, so that was a huge uplift to the brand and the magazines are ready to help with the marketing since that's where the bulk of budgets in videogaming go.
>>11498104Very true, which is why I'm wondering how far this got if it got anywhere at all. Sony very much wanted mainline Final Fantasy games on their platform alone and certainly must have made generous offers to Square to keep it that way.Final Fantasy "X" and "X"box are also a match made in heaven, it would have been excellent for marketing and even more reason to snipe this franchise from Sony.There very well could be builds of Final Fantasy X for Xbox sitting somewhere in the Square-Enix archives."Metal Gear Solid 2X" eventually did release, and if I recall correctly, nobody had any idea MGS2 was coming to Xbox until well after the Xbox launched, so it stands to reason that some effort was going into a version of FFX for Xbox.
Hey OP, fellow Xbox autist here. Here's a mention of "Metal Gear Solid X" from the pre-launch issue 0 of OXM.
>>11498335Interesting. I wonder if they really didn't know what the project was going to be or if they were purposely obscuring the fact it was going to be mostly a port. It seems Microsoft had an MGS game on lockdown pretty early on.I wish there was more info on whether or not FFX was planning on being released, or how far they got along, or if this segment in the magazine was just to fill space or antagonize Sony.
>>11498067Those aren't even screenshots from FFX. It's clearly just a mockup guessing at big titles that might one day get an Xbox port. The fact they happened to hit with MGS2 is just a case of throwing enough shit at the wall. Plus it's an easier one to assume, as MGS was already multiplatform by that point. There was no special "MGS2X" - just a port of a re-release that also came to Windows, exactly the same as the first game. Doesn't take a genius or some secret insider information to nail that one.
>>11498341The only thing I know is that there were genuine talks in regards to getting FFXI on Xbox, but they fell through and likely soured the relationship with Square/Enix so hard that they never released a single game on the system.Pic rel, Issue 4 March 2002.
>>11498350>The fact they happened to hit with MGS2 is just a case of throwing enough shit at the wall.Microsoft was indeed in talks with Japanese devs and publishers long before the Xbox hit shelves though. I think it's safe to assume that even when this proof-of-concept was made, there was some kind of deal with Konami going on. Further evidence of this fact was posted by this anon here in the pre-launch issue 0. Most other games mentioned in the proof-of-concept issue were PC games that could have easily received Xbox ports. It's very odd that FFX was chosen for the mock-up. Every single game mentioned in the mock-up are PC games other than MGS2 and FFX.>>11498335I think it's entirely possible and even likely FFX was chosen simply for the mock-up... but the other game they make a big deal of in this mock-up did indeed come to the Xbox under a special name (which ended up being timed exclusivity). I have a feeling they were trying to make a deal with Square that didn't end up coming together. My gut says they were trying to entice Square to publish this game on their console and if they did we will probably never know if it got further than talks.
>>11498363It's worth noting that Konami did provide Xbox an exclusive launch title with Airforce Delta Storm, as well as getting an enhanced port of Silent Hill 2 close to launch.
>>11498363You're welcome to believe any schizo headcanon you like of course, but nobody has ever even hinted at FFX at any time being something that was in line for an Xbox port during the past 25 years. And we know a LOT about the moves Microsoft was making back then. Even the failed deals, like when they met with Shinji Mikami to try and convince him to choose Xbox for Resident Evil 4, only to botch their presentation so badly that he simply walked out.In fact, looking at when that pitch issue in the OP was put together, a Metal Gear Solid title had already been announced for the Xbox at that point, along with broader support from Konami. An entire year before the system came out in fact. So it's not even comparable to the FFX mockup (using screenshots from FFIX). Honestly, a mere port of the year-old MGS2 was the least exciting outcome.https://www.gamespot.com/articles/konami-confirms-mgs-x-for-xbox/1100-2630903/
>>11498364>Airforce Delta StormInteresting. I owned an Xbox since Christmas 2001 and did not even know this existed.The Silent Hill 2 port wasn't perfect and is in a lot of ways inferior but it did flex with some graphics features, like having the superior flash light effects.Xbox was absolutely wanting to snipe Japanese games from Sony but only had some success doing so.Xbox had plenty of (great) Japanese games on their system and got a ton of Japanese support, but this mention of FFX intrigues me the most.
>>11498371In October 2000, Nikkei reported Square was working on a Final Fantasy game for Xbox. What Final Fantasy game, we don't know, but it could very well have been a port of FFX because I doubt Square had the resources to be working on an entirely separate big budget Final Fantasy. You can read it with your own eyes in this anon's post:>>11498357This claim is denied days later by Square for reasons we aren't privy to, but the little information we do have suggests that Microsoft wanted a Square RPG on their console.By October 2001, Sony purchases a 19 percent share in Square and by that point there is no way they are letting a mainline FF game onto any other console other than PlayStation. This isn't "headcanon" and it very well could have been chosen for the mock-up out of a hat, but I am speculating based on the little information we have.
>>11498392I imagine the lack of FFXI is what prompted Microsoft to employ Level 5 to develop True Fantasy Live Online as the premiere Xbox MMORPG; which they would also fumble in typical Microsoft fashion.
>>11498412>which they would also fumble in typical Microsoft fashionlelI remember this being previewed but haven't though about it in actual decades, wow. They were beyond stupid for cancelling this considering that massively multiplayer anime style games are still extremely popular and make a lot of money. This definitely would have made a lot of weebs and Sony loyalists at least buy an Xbox. Could have got in on the ground floor but demolished the building instead. Typical Microsoft.They probably thought the "Halo console" as they became was not going to have the base it needed for something like this.
>>11498445The cited reason for its cancellation is that Level 5 was struggling to get proximity voice chat working in the game and Microsoft demanded it as a feature. I don't even think World of Warcraft had that built in and players would use third party clients. The game was pretty much complete otherwise. I'm really hoping we get a leaked build someday.
>>11498483Graphically this would have been the nicest looking MMO for the time, it seemingly looks a generation better than WoW.If it was completed or close to completion than there is a good chance it will be leaked.I can see why Microsoft would demand proximity voice chat but wow, that's a tall order for 2002/3. Should have just released an update disc ala Halo 2 map pack if they were worried about it, could have tacked on some other bonuses to it as well.
There might have been tentative talks, just like how Microsoft tried to lobby Mikami into making RE4 an Xbox exclusive.However I don't think any of it progressed further than an in person meeting or phone call. And they likely would have never moved over. The Japanese domestic market was still a big deal and PS2 was almost guaranteed dominance in that generation. It'd be suicide to switch to some American box that was going to fail in their domestic market regardless.The only Japanese dev they 'got' to convert/move over to Xbox was Team Ninja with DOA and Ninja Gaiden, but they were kinda small fry compared to Capcom and Square.
>>11498519>It'd be suicide to switch to some American box that was going to fail in their domestic market regardlessHaha yeah
>>11498104A Japanese guy gave The Cat in the Hat on Xbox a 9/10. He thought it was a point away from perfection.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aYTJoL144I
>>11498519I mean, don't forget Sega. Sega gave Xbox some of it's biggest hits.I don't think they wanted FFX to be an Xbox exclusive, I think they wanted a port of it.>>11498539Dino Crisis 3 sucked, but Breakdown was fucking amazing.
>>11498132>even more reason to snipe this franchise from Sony.That's probably why it didn't get it. Well that and shitty firsty-gen XBox sales. Acting like a covetous third-worlder who can only envy what other consoles have is pretty petty, and made them lose focus of what they could be getting. And I am glad. With multiplat releases from FF13 on out, FF transforms into a single-player action game with only shreds of what FF used to be in it.
>>11498601The original Xbox succeeding as well as it did with what it had (second place in a fight against NINTENDO and Sony) is why 360 dominated 7th gen though. They made the right moves to position the Xbox brand as the future of gaming. Original Xbox never had an answer for FFX, but then neither did Sony have an answer for Halo.Eventually, the 360 got Japanese turn based gems like Lost Odyssey (ex FFX devs) and Blue Dragon while Final Fantasy took a turn for the worse as it went multiplat.The Xbox did end up receiving a critically acclaimed and best selling RPG in KOTOR though, so perhaps they did have an answer.
>>11498357I’m so glad SE never supported the niggerlicious Xbox.
