XIII

[OB1]

From VE3D:

September 10, 2003 - Ubi Soft has today issued a press release detailed the multiplayer modes to be found in the Playstation II, Xbox, GameCube and PC versions of XIII, a cel-shaded action shooter based around an obscure French comic. Here's a nice hand-typed summary:

Playstation II

Four players online, two players offline
Deathmatch
Team deathmatch
Capture the flag
The Hunt - Chase a target, and shoot it for points
Power Up (PS2 Exclusive) - Deathmatch with wacky power-ups to kill people with. Best player gets the worst power up and vice versa.


Xbox

Eight players online, four players via splitscreen offline
Deathmatch
Team deathmatch
Capture the flag
The Hunt
Sabotage (Xbox Exclusive) - One team defends key areas, another team attempts to sabotage them


GameCube

Four players via splitscreen
Deathmatch
Team deathmatch
Capture the flag
The Hunt


PC

Eight players online
Deathmatch
Team deathmatch
Capture the flag
The Hunt
Map Editor (PC Exclusive)


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In my mind, the Xbox exclusive mode sounds the best, and is typically what's popular online. Whether the PC will get all the other exclusive modes is unknown as of yet, but one thing's for sure - the GameCube got screwed once again.

-- Andrew Burnes

Lovely. I've played the demo and it's a lot of fun, so it's sad to see that yet again the Gamecube version of a big third-party release gets the shaft. And of course, the GC version is the only one without online play. Good to see Nintendo trying to stay competitive!

I'll be getting the PC version for the level editor, of course.

[A Black Falcon]

How nice of them.

What I don't understand... PSX and PC online networks are fully run by the company. If those platforms have it then the GC could have it very easily. So why not? Are they so lazy they don't want to spend the minimal effort needed to hook the GC versions into their already-there online network? EA too...

[OB1]

It's not as simple as that. Sony and MS are aggressively trying to get developers to include online modes in their games, while Nintendo is doing absolutely nothing about it. Nintendo has made their stance on online gaming very clear, so third-parties do not think it is worth the extra effort to include online modes for their Gamecube titles.

The situation with EA is slightly different. The PS2 is the only console that will get online play with EA's sports lineup, and that is because Sony paid EA a whole lotta' cash to gain online exclusivity. If you're a multiconsole owner which version of Madden 2004 would you get? The online version, of course. Sports games sell terribly on the GC and this certainly isn't helping manners. I don't even think Sega's sports games are going to be online on the 'cube!

[A Black Falcon]

But I'd think linking Cube into their already-built network wouldn't be that expensive or anything! And if they're already putting it in other versions, and have no exclusivity thing... why not? Just because Nintendo hates online play? I mean... if they didn't have a network I'd understand, but they do!

[OB1]

I'm sure it would cost extra to support GC online play.

[A Black Falcon]

I wouldn't think it'd be THAT expensive!

[OB1]

Well obviously enough for them not to include it with the game.

[A Black Falcon]

Because game companies want to save all the money they can... :(

[OB1]

And since not that many cube owners have a network adapter it's not worth it to them.

[Great Rumbler]

How nice. All the versions have exclusive features except for the GC version. Hmm...I wonder which version will sell better. [/extreme sarcasm]

[A Black Falcon]

Yeah, it'll be close...

Oh, and OB1... unfortunately, that is probably their thinking. :(

[OB1]

Well Nintendo sure isn't giving them any motivation to change their minds.