Virtua Fighter 5 FS release date for PSN & XBL announced! ...WITH DLC!

[Tizoc]

http://amcvt.sega.jp/vf5fs/

No insider information, just the official site that has this to say on customisations:

"※自分がそのキャラクターのアイテムデータを持っていないと、オンライン対戦で相手のカスタマイズを見ることはできません。"

Or in English:

"If you don't own a specific character item data, you will not be able to see the customisation during online play."

Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaame. I don't like the customizations I've seen that in some matches that much, but how's a fellow gonna show off his wacky customizations when some players don't have all the Customization options?

[Eddie]

It's pretty stupid to not at the very least release a compatibility pack. I'm gonna buy this game and probably skip the DLC. But not being able to see it when you go against someone online is pretty silly.

[Running Wild]

Apparently Sega is in talks to release a compatibility pack, so don't give up hopes yet.

[hybridial]

It's pretty stupid to not at the very least release a compatibility pack. I'm gonna buy this game and probably skip the DLC. But not being able to see it when you go against someone online is pretty silly.

I already explained why this isn't a simple matter because this game is an online game and because the DLC packs will probably triple the size of the download.

Compatibility packs might be possible if they are optional downloads but it's essentially Microsoft's rules that are forcing this, not Sega.

[Tizoc]

I already explained why this isn't a simple matter because this game is an online game and because the DLC packs will probably triple the size of the download.

Compatibility packs might be possible if they are optional downloads but it's essentially Microsoft's rules that are forcing this, not Sega.

So what if the size is tripled? There are games on the PS3 that are more than 4 GB in size.
Now yes you could argue that is a problem for the 360 but...correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the biggest allowed size of a digital download game on 360 4GB? How big in size would the customization options be if they're gonna exceed 2 GB?

[hybridial]

The size limit is 2GB, which I imagine the basic version of VF5 can just about make with a bit of compression.

The thing is, with videogames, graphics data like textures and so on are the bulk of the filesize. So the custom packs will be quite big. I imagine at least 2GB in size themselves and quite possibly more.

It's true Sony are a lot more generous with their rules on this but I imagine Sega are practicing parity here in order not to look like they're favouring one system.

[Eddie]

I already explained why this isn't a simple matter because this game is an online game and because the DLC packs will probably triple the size of the download.

Compatibility packs might be possible if they are optional downloads but it's essentially Microsoft's rules that are forcing this, not Sega.

Which is exactly what I meant when I said it won't be a smart move to not release a compatibility pack. As in they're optional free downloads which is what we have on PSN right now.

[Ash Kaiser]

So what if the size is tripled? There are games on the PS3 that are more than 4 GB in size.
Now yes you could argue that is a problem for the 360 but...correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the biggest allowed size of a digital download game on 360 4GB? How big in size would the customization options be if they're gonna exceed 2 GB?

There are different limits for XBLA and Games on Demand. XBLA has lower limits, hence why the customisation DLC exists.

Also, no offense, but by complaining that the items aren't included as part of the game, you are in effect doing the opposite of the people who hate on companies for on-disc DLC, and as such you're making a situation where the developer can not please everyone. Besides, there are more important things than the items that you should be more concerned about. Like the netplay for instance, considering that will be the only way that most people will get competition (to start with at least).

Fortunately for us, one of the key figures in the US VF scene, L_A (who has the game already and was playing Haunts last night), said that the netcode was better than vanilla's, and that was playing an opponent 400 miles away and while Haunts was streaming. That's rather promising to me.

[Eddie]

It's not the prospect of having DLC, but more like the prospect of Day 1 DLC which also leans into the whole disc locked DLC shenanigans, which also resulted mostly on guess what, Day 1 DLC.

[hybridial]

I did spend a bit of time playing VF5 online on the 360 and the online code was easilly the best I experienced. It's the only game I was able to play anybody out of Europe with no lag. I hope FS on the PS3 will be able to match that experience.

[Eddie]

I hope so too. I'm looking forward to playing a few matches with you guys.

[OrochiLeonaUK]

I did spend a bit of time playing VF5 online on the 360 and the online code was easilly the best I experienced.

This. I even found a ton of US opponents that I could connect to from here that were pretty much lag-free.
Japan. Not so much

Not long to go now.