S-E's White Engine goes multiplatform

[galson]

Those keeping tabs on the development of Final Fantasy XIII, particularly the use of Square Enix's White Engine should pay attention: Square Enix's in-house new graphics engine has been renamed to a more Final Fantasy-ish name - that being: Crystal Tools. Square Enix research and development division executive Taku Murata made that announcement in the recent GDC 2008.

Crystal Tools, which was originally developed to be a PlayStation 3-only engine, has now gone multiplatform to accommodate PC and Xbox 360 games. Also, some of Crystal Tools' functions can be used on a Wii console, but Murata declined to comment on how Crystal Tools can be used for Wii titles.

Murata gave the GDC 2008 audience a glimpse of Crystal Tools, namely some screenshots of the character model viewer and cut-scene editor. He ended the presentation by showing a Final Fantasy XII trailer.

Source: Square Enix's White Engine renamed, goes multiplatform including Wii - Xbox 360 News - QJ.NET

[Phil]

hmmm.....it seems like square enix is covering their bases. i thought that they had liscensed the unreal engine for the spinoffs....well i guess se have changed their minds

[Memulator91k]

It was originally planned for the PS2 so why not the Wii

[Phil]

it would be cool to see ff come home to nintendo after all these years-Gba, DS and crystal chrobicals dont count and never will

[Memulator91k]

why wouldn't it count and BTW I think SE band with Nintendo is getting stronger and stronger Remember DQIX is a DS exclusive

[Phil]

I mean the return of the numbered series to Nintendo. The DS is fine, but there havent been a numbered final fantasy on nintendo since 1994 in america

[SCHUMI-4-EVA]

What about the FF3 remake...and all the GBA remakes?

[Memulator91k]

He means which isn't a remake

Ontopic: I hope the New FF CC game will use the engine I am almost 100% sure it does that's why we haven't heard anything about it, even their names have equality:P

[Thanakil]

Originally Posted by Memulator91k

He means which isn't a remake

Ontopic: I hope the New FF CC game will use the engine I am almost 100% sure it does that's why we haven't heard anything about it, even their names have equality:P

Well, the said that the engine wasn't really working fully for the Wii now.

"Square Enix isn't really touting it as a Wii engine because it's not fully compatible "yet."

So making the CC game on it would means waiting quite a while to make the game while they make the engine work.

[galson]

Everyone seems to be focused on engine's Wii compatibility, what about X360 and PC? :>

[SCHUMI-4-EVA]

Whilst it's awesome it does not mean we will definately get a PC FF13...I think Sony will still swing it so that we dont get another PC FF

[Exodus]

I can't see the main FF series heading to Nintendo (or at least the Wii) since its graphic capabilities aren't as strong as the other two, and the main series has always been about the best graphics. But who knows...

However, this may just be another way for S-E to make themselves some money by licensing the engine out - doesn't necessarily mean they'll be making games with it for the x360 and PC.

[Cheesus]

I doubt any FF will be ported to the Xbox or PC... at first.

They'll probably be ported after a year or so.

[Thanakil]

Originally Posted by Exodus

I can't see the main FF series heading to Nintendo (or at least the Wii) since its graphic capabilities aren't as strong as the other two, and the main series has always been about the best graphics. But who knows...

However, this may just be another way for S-E to make themselves some money by licensing the engine out - doesn't necessarily mean they'll be making games with it for the x360 and PC.

They may make a main FF game as a spin-off, just like they did with the "versus" of FFXIII.

So maybe next time (FFXIIII?) they'll make one-two games on the PS3 + one on the Wii based on the same universe.

Or they'll just use the engine for DQ.

[Phil]

you mean FFXIV

anyway, I wonder what fighting style ff13 uses. FF 12s didn't do it for me.

I mean if you going to have no random battles, the least you can do is get rid of the ATB meter while in a fight

[Exodus]

Originally Posted by Thanakil

They may make a main FF game as a spin-off, just like they did with the "versus" of FFXIII.

So maybe next time (FFXIIII?) they'll make one-two games on the PS3 + one on the Wii based on the same universe.

Or they'll just use the engine for DQ.

I still don't seem them using lesser capability consoles. But we'll see. I can tell you now that I'm not sad about missing FF Crystal Chronicles,

[Phil]

I'm not either. too many developers see the wii as a kiddie console.
and nintendo in general as family biased. ff could change that again.

remember that ff2 (IV) and ff3 (VI) had far more mature stories then comparable games at the time.

But on the other hand, please DO NOT give us a friggen FF Olympics or something like that where you test your stregnth or race chocobos, etc.

that would be a waste and downright retarded.

[SCHUMI-4-EVA]

Actually Chocobo races sound like fun...

[Exodus]

Stupid chocobos...

Originally Posted by tomegathericon

remember that ff2 (IV) and ff3 (VI) had far more mature stories then comparable games at the time.

Back then, Nintendo wasn't seen as a kiddy console. Other than the blood censorship in Mortal Kombat, it was treated the same as the Genesis.

[Phil]

@Schumi: In a broader context I mean. If they can give us fun mini games, then why not give us a full RPG to go along with it?

@Exodus: That may be true but now the situation is reversed. Ever since pokemon swept the world nintendo seems content on dishing out kidde fare (Not that pokemon was horribly addicting).

Granted, Pokemon made Nintendo billions of dollars, but it would be nice if they could use some of that money to help develop more mature RPGs. I like Sony, but as a whole, I still think Nintendo rules all other when it comes to RPG,s. Alot of that claim comes from square teaming up with nintendo back in the day.

FF7 carried some of the momentum that ff6 and ff4 made.....but sad to say the series as a whole have been growing stale of late, ever since the move to ps2 and beyond.

It seems like the innovation is going stale, more of the "loud bangs and flashes, signifiying nothing" then coherent storytelling and top notch gaming

I hate to say it, but FF6's dialouge was better then ff12's (Balthier excepted).
thats unaceptable. maybe my tastes are a little outdated, but whatever