Square Enix: No cross-platform MMOs for Wii

Final Fantasy XI director Hiromichi Tanaka says that Square Enix isn’t looking at the Nintendo Wii as a platform for porting the popular game. In a report by Gamespot, it was revealed that technical as well as business issues are the main roadblocks.

Tanaka explained:

It will be pretty difficult if you were to cross-platform for a couple reasons […] One is that Nintendo’s currently not allowing different cross-platform titles, and as you know, the resolution differences make it harder for us to make cross-platform games. Currently we’re not looking at Nintendo Wii as a platform.

In theory, the Nintendo Wii is a viable machine for cross-platforming. If a hard drive accessory is offered, efforts in development can compensate for the other technical issues. In practice, however, Nintendo’s limited online support for its video games and its policies toward cross-platform titles makes the idea far-fetched.

In effect, fans looking to swing online blades with the Wiimote won’t be getting their hearts’ desires for quite a bit. Don’t worry, there’s online racing in Mario Kart Wii as an alternative anyway.

Final Fantasy XI director Hiromichi Tanaka says that Square Enix isn’t looking at the Nintendo Wii as a platform for porting the popular game. In a report by Gamespot, it was revealed that technical as well as business issues are the main roadblocks.

Tanaka explained:

It will be pretty difficult if you were to cross-platform for a couple reasons […] One is that Nintendo’s currently not allowing different cross-platform titles, and as you know, the resolution differences make it harder for us to make cross-platform games. Currently we’re not looking at Nintendo Wii as a platform.

In theory, the Nintendo Wii is a viable machine for cross-platforming. If a hard drive accessory is offered, efforts in development can compensate for the other technical issues. In practice, however, Nintendo’s limited online support for its video games and its policies toward cross-platform titles makes the idea far-fetched.

In effect, fans looking to swing online blades with the Wiimote won’t be getting their hearts’ desires for quite a bit. Don’t worry, there’s online racing in Mario Kart Wii as an alternative anyway.