Is it exclusive to 360 though? Katamari is going to PS3 and Wii as well, but it seems extremely odd that Ace Combat would go 360 exclusive....

Ohhhhh dear, my roommate is not going to be happy about this.

While more games = good news...this one I know at least 3 of my friends that will jump up and down over this news :)

Just when you think the PS3 can't lose anymore, bam!
I don't think this is a particularly hurtful loss but the point is the same. This feels just like the N64 days when everyone was moving to the original PS. Easy come. Easy go I guess.

Ace Combat is huge. It's probably the most popular and successful console flight game. It doesn't hurt that the games are extremely cinematic and have great presentation, either. I remember that scene in AC5, still...

You'd never think a freaking flight game could bring that achey feeling to the back of your eyes unless you've played AC.

All this news is great! Maybe I won't have to shell out for the PS3 after all.

Is it just me, or are all these announcements coming awfully close to the PAL launch of the PS3? Methinks the scent of sabotage hangs in the air.

I dont think there needs to be sabotage for the PAL launch of the PS3 since Sony is doing a bang up job on their own.

Neat news though, im all for more achievement points.

You guys should read the 2chan thread on Ace Combat 06 coming to the 360. It's all "360? Japan? Uh, no." "WHY NAMCO BRING JAPPO MADE GAME TO NON JAPPO CONSOLE?" and "Katamari free sixy is no good, no japon buy 360 consoru." instead of actual discussion of the game itself.

@Elixir:

Well they got a point. 360 has sold like shit in Japan, and the games are selling like crap as well, its sad when your best selling game hasn't even sold 200k in months of release. The Japanese just aren't interested in the 360.

And Ace Combat was a big series that sold quite well in Japan, so what the hell is Namco thinking?

Makes me wonder, are these really going to be exclusive? Karamari was reported on other sites as getting released on PS3 and Wii as well though, but Ace Combat exclusive?

Ashcraft, I know its "late" for you, and you usually give up the reigns to the day crew right about now, but any chance of a quick translation, or anyone like Witzbold (i think ur in japan) wanna take a stab, just wanna know what it says...

yay! i really enjoy the ace combat-series, but i don't €600 enjoy it. my 360 purchase feels better & better for each day.

@Kyle81: To counter your arguement, look at the games you mentioned, they sold much better outside of japan (especially Ace Combat series if I recall)... it would make way more sense to throw them on a system that is doing good in europe and north america. PLUS, I still stand by the fact that japan no longer holds the major importance it once used to... even jp companies (capcom, namco) are latching onto the 360.

@Kyle81: "The Japanese just aren't interested in the 360."

Exactly! It's about game titles not hardware. And the XBox was like shit to them because Sony had all the exclusives interesting to the Japanese players. But since this changes, the public view of the XBox will change for good over there. Ofc they'll always love the Sony and Ninty consoles more because they are used to producing the best console. It's been a long time a western console has had similiar market share worldwide.

For me I just like that I don't have to buy another console to be able to play the games I like. It's not like the current consoles (wii left outside) aren't comparable and compatible from a development view. It's not good for the customers that consoles have exclusives.

Looks like I'll be spending a lot more time with my xbox 360

This is good news. I think the MGS4 on the 360 announcement can't be too far away.

In fact the whole "console war" hate flame bonanza is because of customers that bought the wrong hardware and are envy of a game on another platform. Everybody envies anyone because of a exclusive game. Kind of lollerskates roflcopter...

P.S.: I once bought a gamecube and my envy toward the Ps2 and XBox was unbelivable ;D

I only own a PS3, so as long as the games are on the PS3 I don't really care if every other system has the game. I don't expect many third parties to only support one consoles these days, but they also haven't really been coming out with the most innovative games either. Sony still has better first party games and I'll still be able to play all the big third party titles. At any rate, the whole landscape of third party support could quickly change as the user base for the Wii and PS3 grow.

The days of having to own every console is pretty much over. I'd rather have just a PS3 and maybe a Wii then to have to fork out more money for hardware to play a couple games.

Now the question is whether or not this takes place in the AC3/4/5/0 world or if they're doing something new again. I would love to see Usea vs. Osea vs. Yuktobania.

JUST BRING US NETPLAY/LIVE ALREADY!

Sony is losing it..PS3 is dying..I never imagined the day would come when I say this but it clearly is..Katamari and Ace Combat series are of my favourite games along with Tekken and Metal Gear Solid series..if MGS4 and Tekken 6 are released on the 360 I'll buy one and forget about getting a PS3..I mean its a cheaper console.

@shimpu:

But no matter whats been released, the Japanese just keep saying no to the 360. Seriously no game had more hype and possibility of selling the 360 than Blue Dragon, NOTHING..... and it failed to push 360.... Lost Planet, Dead Rising, Dead or Alive series. Idolmaster.... nope, still did nothing for 360 sales. Ace Combat is not going to influence sales either.

Really it seems that Japanese developers are abandoning Japan for the western markets, and you know why? More than likely, Nintendo. Right now unless your game is on a Nintendo system in Japan, your not going to be a massive hit now.

Thasnk God, I have been missing a good flying game since Ace Combat 4 came out for PS2. Over G Fighters taunts me so.......

if i can give up Final Fantasy XIII completely, i won't need PLAYSTATION 3...

but i can't...

but DMC 4 and AC 6 should get me by with my 360 till price drops rock bottom a year later on PLAYSTATION 3...

I was never a fan of the Ace Combat series. I won't even give it a try now; anything that releases parallel to the 360 is not going to be a purchase for me. All these games will be passed up (I won't purchase it) or I'll go no further than the demo or rental.

Companies like Namco, Capcom, Konami etc. better hope that the other 112,000,000 PS2 owners don't start feeling the same way I do. Even if half of us do; that's going to be a major dent!

BOYCOTT!!!!!!!

@Scazza: Dude I gotta buy the mag, the text is a little small for me to really try to read anything cept for a few words from that pic. D:

well Ace Combat 6 is a PORT of ps2 game balkan wars.
so not big deal. =)

@Kyle81: The japanese aren't interested in the 360 because of obvious reasons. But when you release something FOR japan, then they're interested.

Hello Idolm@ster. Oh also, Ace Combat sells more in america, because it's more directed towards outer japan. The same goes for Metal Gear Solid.

---

But hey, kawaii wai wai happy kawazari desu games on 360, and suddenly they're interested. So yeah, Katamari and Ace Combat on the 360 balance out. This is good news though, because it means I won't have to buy a PS3.

I live in a PAL region, so my reasons for not buying a PS3 are 100% justified. Don't bitch.

@Kyle81: I think the Japanese developers focusing on the western market is focusing on the rest of the world really.

Japan's population isn't growing, the birth rates are low and people get older and older. So for the big labels to grow and get market share, they have to focus on the rest of the world market. Currently that's the US and Europe but could soon be developing markets like Russia, India etc.

... but for sure not the Japanese market

@davethe1: anything that releases parallel to the 360 is not going to be a purchase for me....BOYCOTT!!!!!!!

My sarcasm meter is usually pretty good, and I just had it calibrated last week, but I'm going to ask you if you're being sarcastic. Are you honestly advocating that people "retaliate" against companies that go multiplatform?

@CrazzyMan - any proof of that? Or are you maybe a PS3 loyalist whose pwecious console excwusives are being taken by big mean console man?

Microsoft goal is to divide the market. "Divide and Conquer" by ending exclusivity. What they are doing is no different than what they did to flood the Home PC market and business markets with their Windows Operating system. They had to pay hefty fines to the US Government for orchestrating a monopoly with windows explorer being a tie in to their operating system! Is anyone going to open the books and see what exactly they are doing to convince the capcoms, namco's and konamis from jumping ship? Are they throwing money at them? If this is the case then Capcom, Namco and Konami would be Sell-outs!

I never thought that I'd see the day where a generation/culture would support Big Brother tactics and greet Sell-Outs with open arms!

Do we all remember when the videogame boat sank in the 80's; are you hardcore gamers schooled about what happened in the 80's?

History is going to repeat itself! Thank Big Brother Microsoft and companies like Namco who lack new innovative software titles; instead we have to see 6 versions of two franchises (Ace Combat and Tekken)

Let's hope Nintendo and Sony save us from a plummet (like what happened with atari in the 80's) with expanding on the Mii's and Playstation Home and Little Big Planet.

@davethe1:

Put down the crack.

There is no "Divide and Conquer". MS wants to get as many games as they can on their console. Period. If it's multiplatform, fine. If it's exclusive, even better.

Was Rockstar a "Sell-Out" when they signed a multi-year exclusive deal (yes! for MONEY) with Sony? The only books that you need to open are the sales figures for the two consoles. It is unethical/immoral for Capcom to want to turn a profit?

You sound like a disappointed Sony fan who is crying "foul" to make himself feel better.

You have no flipping idea what you're talking about.

@ Nekojin:

I thought I was the only one that loved the story in AC5!

God damn that was a good game...

Ace Combat on the 360, as well as Devil May Cry? So there's still only one game I'd like on the PS3, and so many on the 360...
I'm happy with my purchasing decision.

Heh.

Im a very happy Wii owner, but its time to start saving money to get a Xbox360.

Its was already alluring to have Devil May Cry 4 on it, but now the next Ace Combat? Im sold...

...but patient, ill wait for price cuts, Xbox360 redesigns and maybe see who wins out the BluRay vs HD-DVD war.

v ^_^

@davethe1: Its all about the money my friend, plain and simple.

@Warren DeMontague:

Nah man; this stinks of a monopoly! Nintendo and Sony didn't acquire 3, 4 or 5 - 10 3rd parties that were once exclusive to each other at once. Something is definitley going on behind the scenes besides big money. What do all these companies have in common and how are they now tied to Microsoft? Money is one, I'm sure if someone digs they'll find other things.

There should be a law that prohibits the ammount of aquisitions a company can secure as well as profit sharing (put uniform caps in place for all companies) and there should be a time limit. (one year) This way companies like Sega (who had 10,000,000 dreamcasts in the market) won't go down in flames!

Sony and Nintendo should start looking into fair trade practices and see how they apply to the Billion Dollar Videogame market.

The Ace Combat series is one of my absolute favorites. I orginally thought the next AC game would be the one to get me to buy a PS3, now it's looking more like that game will have to be God of War 3.

Now MS.. how about a fancy wireless force-feedback flight stick?

davethe1, you make zero sense. Companies are not out to 'get you'. All they want is your money, and they will do anything to get it. There's no conspiracy here, just MS trying to get their system all the good games it can. And I'm happy with that.

@davethe1: "Money is one, I'm sure if someone digs they'll find other things."

Absolutely. Most likely brain control units implanted at the last GDC through Microsoft operatives...

@Nekojin:

It's not about companies out to get anyone; IT'S MICROSOFTS tactics. Are they doing all this legally? LOL; Time will tell.

Dudes have some fun. Most of the posts in here were; kewl, 360 rocks or "Oh No; it's over for Sony"
I like to put a crazy spin on things and stand up TO THE MAN! FIGHT THE POWER!

Long live Apple's OSX and any efforts to dethrone Microsoft!

Boycott the 3rd parties who are SELLING OUT!

Stop all this before Microsoft causes the first VideoGame Crash of the New Millenium!

Am I joking? Or am I serious?

he he he

i just lost my last big reason to not buy a 360. i never thought ace combat would jump ship. WOW

@davethe1:

"Boycott the 3rd parties who are SELLING OUT!"

Boycott anyone who doesn't follow Sony's business model of LOSING MONEY.....

Dumbest thing I have ever read. This is a business decision, which is a smart one. Your just worried that the PS3 will lose sales because of this, and it probably will. Capcom and Namco are not Sony. You have to face the fact that no console will be able to have exclusive games as a selling point, except for the Wii due to its controls. The PS3 will have to win on its own merits.

@CrazzyMan: Wait, did you read that in the preview up there? If so, you just saved the day.

@davethe1: Am I joking? Or am I serious?

Or an idiot.

You reference the crash of the 80s and suggest that Microsoft getting a bunch of the big franchises on their console is going to make it happen again. Which suggests to me you have absolutely zero idea of what actually caused the crash in the 80's, and zero idea why it couldn't happen again in this day and age.

@Karlott:

Am I and idiot? I'll requote

"History is going to repeat itself! Thank Big Brother Microsoft and companies like Namco who lack new innovative software titles; instead we have to see 6 versions of two franchises (Ace Combat and Tekken)"

OMG; Geeks are conforming! Where are the Wozniaks when you need them! (raising nintendo power glove in the air) Microsoft is monopolizing the videogame market! All power to the PEOPLE; not the monopolizers and sell-outs!

online battle royale?! they have my attention! don't care much about the ranking system, but damn i'd love to see a full page of this, and be able to actually read it...

If Sony's new hyped products live up to their hype they will still do well in the end. I keep hearing people talk about how Sony Home and Little Big Planet are big selling points for them, especially since they settled with Immersion. Maybe Sony is willing to part company with the old to bring in the new. Give MS the sloppy seconds, so to speak.