Lightning Returns and A Realm Reborn both coming out in the same quarter... bonuses?

Hi guys,

I was just considering how Final Fantasy 13: Lightning Returns and Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn are so close together in regards to their release dates... I think most Final Fantasy fans of the console games will purchase 13: Lightning Returns, however those who do not play MMORPGs may not be interested in A Realm Reborn and vice versa; MMORPG players playing WoW, Rift and Guild Wars 2 may not be interested in Final Fantasy 13.

However, as both games are coming out on the PS3 and so shortly together; I think this is a golden opportunity to boost Square Enix's position and to further establish the Final Fantasy series.

This could be done through demos or perhaps cross game bonuses; when someone purchases one of the games, perhaps give them a code for redeeming a bonus in the other game, giving customers an incentive to pick up both games and providing free advertising for both games.

A few ideas:

* Demo disk for the other game included within each boxed copy of the PS3 version.
This could be done by having limited content available in Lightning Returns such as the Final Fantasy 10 Zanarkand demo. The A Realm Reborn demo could be the full game but with a level cap / area restrictions or a game time restriction.
* Preview manual for each game, just a few screenshots and a appetite wetter.
* An in game vanity item for each game; for example a chibi Lightning pet / minion for A Realm Reborn, for Lightning returns, the vanity item could be a FF 14 themed costume for Lightning or perhaps a Grand Company / Meteor themed Armour set for the chocobos.
* A demo disk featuring some music from each or as an extra within the playable demo of the game? A lot of people who play Final Fantasy love your music, use it to your advantage.

I'm sure there are a lot of cool things that could be done here and could encourage people to buy both games; I am very excited about both games and will be buying both regardless, but I think these would be nice touches to improve and expand our playerbase.

I think we can expect a Final Fantasy XIV in-game item to be included into the Lightning Returns : Final Fantasy XIII box. Just like the Asuran Gloves item code was included within the Final Fantasy XIII box. Other than that, i would only expect commercial flyers of Lightning Returns : Final Fantasy XIII within the Final Fantasy XIV box.

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Originally Posted by Nushidorei

Hi guys,

I was just considering how Final Fantasy 13: Lightning Returns and Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn are so close together in regards to their release dates... I think most Final Fantasy fans of the console games will purchase 13: Lightning Returns, however those who do not play MMORPGs may not be interested in A Realm Reborn and vice versa; MMORPG players playing WoW, Rift and Guild Wars 2 may not be interested in Final Fantasy 13.

However, as both games are coming out on the PS3 and so shortly together; I think this is a golden opportunity to boost Square Enix's position and to further establish the Final Fantasy series.

This could be done through demos or perhaps cross game bonuses; when someone purchases one of the games, perhaps give them a code for redeeming a bonus in the other game, giving customers an incentive to pick up both games and providing free advertising for both games.

A few ideas:

* Demo disk for the other game included within each boxed copy of the PS3 version.
This could be done by having limited content available in Lightning Returns such as the Final Fantasy 10 Zanarkand demo. The A Realm Reborn demo could be the full game but with a level cap / area restrictions or a game time restriction.
* Preview manual for each game, just a few screenshots and a appetite wetter.
* An in game vanity item for each game; for example a chibi Lightning pet / minion for A Realm Reborn, for Lightning returns, the vanity item could be a FF 14 themed costume for Lightning or perhaps a Grand Company / Meteor themed Armour set for the chocobos.
* A demo disk featuring some music from each or as an extra within the playable demo of the game? A lot of people who play Final Fantasy love your music, use it to your advantage.

I'm sure there are a lot of cool things that could be done here and could encourage people to buy both games; I am very excited about both games and will be buying both regardless, but I think these would be nice touches to improve and expand our playerbase.

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There was something on a Japanese website about the orginal announced FFXIII Lightening Returns Bonuses. if your japanese is good google it.

I think it's not ideal that both are coming out. We know game sales have been decreasing due to costs and competition and I think this will hurt FFXIII sales and take attention away from the relaunch of ARR. I think if they could get FFXIII out at least one month earlier, it would a kid the problems and maybe even give ARR a boost particularly if FFXIII is good.

No doom and gloom, just not ideal IMO.

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Originally Posted by Gidonoidon_Sur

I think it's not ideal that both are coming out. We know game sales have been decreasing due to costs and competition and I think this will hurt FFXIII sales and take attention away from the relaunch of ARR. I think if they could get FFXIII out at least one month earlier, it would a kid the problems and maybe even give ARR a boost particularly if FFXIII is good.

No doom and gloom, just not ideal IMO.

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No.

Launching games of the same franchise but different genres near each other is beneficial, as they earn visibility from each other's audience and the company can do cross-advertising, as they are indeed doing. It's marketing 101.

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Originally Posted by Abriael

No.

Launching games of the same franchise but different genres near each other is beneficial, as they earn visibility from each other's audience and the company can do cross-advertising, as they are indeed doing. It's marketing 101.

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Well I am an outlier then. I will not buy a $59.99 console game and another subscription based came in the same month (CE I might) especially from the same series IP. I need a break on my wallet and break from the world of FF.

It's a good point for those who are stuck for money, they will likely make a decision of one or the other. However, since both release dates have been made public, they are unlikely to split these releases up to accommodate for such; instead they should focus on maximizing the amount of people who buy both games.

Those that are stuck for money are at the margin of the target of this game anyway. It's a pay to play game.

By the way "the world of FF" is a fallacy. Final Fantasy doesn't have only one world, and Final Fantasy XIII's world has nothing to do with Eorzea. They have literally just a series of names in common.

The large advantages bought by cross-marketing way outweighs the minimal disadvantage of potentially losing a few customers that won't buy the two games because they're part of the same franchise.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gidonoidon_Sur

Well I am an outlier then. I will not buy a $59.99 console game and another subscription based came in the same month (CE I might) especially from the same series IP. I need a break on my wallet and break from the world of FF.

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I kind of have to agree with you. As much as I love Final Fantasy (a LOT), launching both at the same time would only be beneficial if

A. Whomever was buying one happened to have enough spare money to buy the other at the same time

B. There was some kind of deal where you could buy the both of them as some sort of package deal that would make it cheaper than buying both separate

C. You got some kind of bonuses for buying both, such as in-game items (Like Lightning's sword in ARR or a Dalamund summon in LR).

And even in the case of C, you could always buy both games later and get those bonuses later. Unless, of course, there was a time limit for claiming these bonuses which prompted you to buy both as soon as possible(see: immediately), which would be dumb. lol I dunno, I just don't see anything beneficial about buying both Final Fantasies at the same time. But then again, that's just me.

Also, I couldn't see myself doing it even if I had the cash (and even if I cared at all about LR). With age, I've learned to budget. It's a hard habit to break, even for a gamer. lol

A free trial for FFXIV if you buy Lightning Returns would be good idea.

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Originally Posted by Darlan_Ashwood

A free trial for FFXIV if you buy Lightning Returns would be good idea.

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I'm inclined to agree with this. Including a free download of the digital version on PS3 with a week long trial would introduce a lot of people to the game who had either written it off due to bad experiences with FF MMOs in the past, or MMOs in general. Not to mention introducing a lot of new players to the genre and expanding their player base. After the trial ends they would have to purchase the game and go on from there.

not sure if so many people will buy Lightning Returns to be honest, apart from fans

Sounds like they are delaying FFXIII. My guess is they agree with my theory that releasing two numbered titles at once is a bad idea.

Hmm...

28/08/13: FFXIV: ARR
??/11/13: ???
14/02/14: FFXIII-3

I would expect that the big news for E3 will be the release of FFXV (as per the Agni's Philosophy demo) on PS4 at release in time for Christmas 2013, though perhaps it might just be Versus XIII on PS3 - definitely a big title for Christmas though.

SE please give me a Lightning mount when I preorder Lightning Returns - Final Fantasy XIII. Nothing would persuade me to buy the game more.

I'm going to regret saying that when they actually hamfist defined FF characters into Eorzea.

Her sword and shield as bonuses would be neat.

Ooh, I have an idea, make an DLC available to those who own FFXIV: Lightning Returns for free. And in this content a fight to defeat the goddess and maybe like a couple of her allies.
Make the DLC cost like 5 dollars or something cheap for everybody else and then bam, defeating this challenge has a chance of rewarding you a lightning themed weapon for each class. Or something. I now find I am not good at this whole idea thing...

It may lessen japanese sales (though I sincerely doubt it, their crazier about SE games than we are!) but regardless, XIII-LR doesnt come to Eu or NA until Feb of next year, which wont affect NA or EU buyer opinions one way or another from getting it opposed to ARR.

Btw..if you haven't yet seen it. http://eu.square-enix.com/en/blog/li...latest-trailer

Only, they won't come out in the same quarter at all so...

I guess everyone is talking about the JP release. The SE-NA site shows the release date as 2/11/14 or 5.5 months after ARR.

If you got FFIV: The Complete Collection it came with an alternate costume for Cecil in Dissidia. I wouldn't be at all surprised if they gave Lightning some sort of XIV-themed item, given her outfits are supposed to be changable.

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Originally Posted by Rizon

I guess everyone is talking about the JP release. The SE-NA site shows the release date as 2/11/14 or 5.5 months after ARR.

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*wipes brow* whew! I have time to save money for it then.

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Originally Posted by Mjollnir

Hmm...

28/08/13: FFXIV: ARR
??/11/13: ???
14/02/14: FFXIII-3

I would expect that the big news for E3 will be the release of FFXV (as per the Agni's Philosophy demo) on PS4 at release in time for Christmas 2013, though perhaps it might just be Versus XIII on PS3 - definitely a big title for Christmas though.

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I don't think there's any way a new main series title would have been kept quiet for this long, let alone being ready for launch six months after being announced.