Takeuchi: 360-exclusive Lost Planet due in January

Capcom producer Jun Takeuchi clears up confusion surrounding status of its arctic-planet survival game, now due early next year.

As part of its support for the Xbox 360, Capcom has committed two titles that would be exclusive to the platform. One was Dead Rising, the zombie horror survival game that went on sale earlier this month to sparkling reviews and solid sales.

The other Capcom 360 exclusive was Lost Planet: Extreme Condition, an ambitious sci-fi shooter set on a frozen planet overrun by arachnidlike aliens. A demo for the game was released this summer and generated positive buzz for the game thanks to its slick graphics and intense gameplay.

However, Xbox 360 loyalists were troubled last week to hear that Lost Planet might not be exclusive to Microsoft's console after all. A series of reports from the Leipzig Games Convention had the game also coming to the PlayStation 3--effectively robbing the 360 of a homegrown title that could boost its flagging sales in Japan.

Today, though, Capcom set the record straight. Contrary to rumors, Lost Planet will only be released for the 360. It will also follow the lead of the Japanese publisher's most successful game of 2005, Resident Evil 4, and bypass the preceding year's holiday rush by going on sale in January 2007.

To learn more, GameSpot spoke with producer Jun Takeuchi--a veteran developer of the Street Fighter, Resident Evil, and Onimusha series--about Capcom's plans for Lost Planet.

GameSpot: To be clear, will Lost Planet be exclusive to the Xbox 360, or is it being ported to other platforms?

Jun Takeuchi: Lost Planet is an exclusive Xbox 360 title. Typically, when the development team sets out to create a game, we focus development of the title on a single platform, and for Lost Planet, that platform is the Xbox 360. We have no plans at this time of porting to or developing for another console, as this would potentially dilute the final product.

When we create a new game, the intent is to create a great product that our fans will enjoy, as well as maximize sales and profits to invest back into development and the company. As part of this, we evaluate (in the light of the resources we have) what the right platforms, technology, market, content, and partners are for each title, and in some cases, a platform company may be an ideal partner in developing a game. Our decisions are always focused around building our business. Which platforms to develop for are constantly evaluated to maximize the company's investment.

GS: How concerned are you when you look at the 360's installed base in Japan? How do you think Microsoft can better promote and sell its console into the Japanese marketplace?

JT: I think that the real concern is not the size of the Xbox 360 user base, but rather the close-minded tendencies of Japanese developers. Especially in recent years, many publishers are focusing their game development efforts more on the Japanese market with fewer and fewer publishers creating global development strategies.

Even with Japanese games released abroad, many publishers do not take those territories into consideration, even if the game has a very Japanese feel to it (we ourselves have been guilty of this until recently). This is often perceived as the developer just trying to reduce the amount of effort spent on development and forcing a game onto an unsuspecting market.

So, within this current industry atmosphere, we are looking at the global market and making decisions about what games to make based on the tastes of the consumers and gamers across the globe. Of course, we wish there was a larger installed user base domestically in Japan, as do all Japanese developers and publishers. But the success of Dead Rising in America is proof that a Japanese developer/publisher can succeed globally with an Xbox 360 title.

I truly hope that Microsoft encourages Japanese developers to not only expand in Japan, but to help them reemerge as leaders in the global game market. I think that if they can succeed at that, then that will ultimately lead to growing the user base in Japan, as well.

GS: How far along is Lost Planet's development? Will it still make its scheduled ship date?

JT: Lost Planet will ship globally this winter. Although we have not made any official announcements, I'm happy to confirm it will ship this coming January.

GS: The demo was released several months ago on Xbox Live. How has the response been?

JT: We are pleased with the response the demo has received. More than 550,000 Lost Planet demos have been downloaded, and as I've been reading the forums, the reactions have been overwhelmingly positive.

GS: Can we expect other Xbox 360 games from Capcom, such as Dead Rising, to remain exclusive to the platform, or could they ever be ported to the PS3?

JT: As I previously mentioned, as we are creating new titles, we evaluate all the platforms that are currently available and match the content to the platform. For games such as Lost Planet and Dead Rising, the Xbox 360 was the target platform. Since they have been created specifically to take advantage of the system's capabilities, we have no plans at this time to port or develop these titles for any other console.

158 Comments

  • Marill

    Posted Sep 19, 2006 10:15 pm PT

    CAPCOM said the same thing for Resident Evil 4 being exclusive for the GameCube, with one person saying he will cut his head off if the game is not exclusive for GameCube. But look at RE4 is on the PS2.

    With this in mind, Lost Planet could very well be ported over to PS3 if it is in-line with CAPCOM's investment strategies. Moreover, Takeuchi-san did not deny that Lost Planet would be ported in future. He just said that there are no such plans right now, doesn't mean that it couldn't be porterd in future.

  • Britesparc

    Posted Sep 13, 2006 8:02 am PT

    It's nice to see some platform-exclusive titles for a change. I hope the Dead Rising and Lost Planet franchises remain Xbox-exclusive, it gives the market a bit of diversity, without all the games looking the same across all platforms.

  • HernanSotoGarza

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 12:48 pm PT

    Pues ojala Microsoft se ponga las pilas y no deje que se pierda la exclusividad de estos juegos. ahora que el PS3 esta a la baja.

    Saludos dede Monterrey NL Mexico

  • GrahamKracker7

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 4:27 am PT

    [This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

  • Sato2099

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 3:30 am PT

    I think it will be just like with Resident Evil 4. For some time only for gamecube but finally came to PS2, but i could be wrong.

  • Ponsardin

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 2:08 am PT

    Interesting game, without a doubt.

  • capthunt

    Posted Sep 5, 2006 7:51 am PT

    pfff consoles

  • sasuke55

    Posted Sep 5, 2006 7:00 am PT

    I think this will be Exclusive but we might see a Lost Planet sequel go Multiplatform.

  • phSychO_AtDawn

    Posted Sep 3, 2006 10:26 pm PT

    I hope it's exclusive thought I doubt it.

  • akacheeco1

    Posted Sep 3, 2006 3:48 pm PT

    i think all games should be multi-format, it means i only have to buy 1 system and know that the game will come out on it

  • awarriorofgamin

    Posted Sep 3, 2006 11:22 am PT

    well the game looks good nd y not send it to another system for more ppl to enjoy no harm in that most of the time exclusive games rnt all that good w/ the exceptions of halo nd mgs series

  • NVVinh

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 10:53 pm PT

    "a platform company may be an ideal partner in developing a game" That pretty much tells you that MS paid to make it exclusive. I doubt you'll see any ports for this title. Just as you won't see ports for Devil May Cry 4. I'm quite positive Sony paid a boat load tro keep that exclusive as well. Only time will tell.

  • Xa31nov1s

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 10:49 pm PT

    I cannot wait for this game! I played the demo numerous times and it's definitely something Im looking forward to. =)

  • mrzero1982pt2

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 4:33 pm PT

    dudes, we all know microsoft will try to buy capcom somehow and capcom will laugh and ptobably ditch all developlment for its system. heck we all know what will happen, they will try to make tons of new street fighter games which will blow like tara reid and resident evil games. they will try to make capcom pump out games almost annually and they will become huge flops.

  • Benny_is_here

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 4:11 am PT

    Wow. 2006 went fast!

  • chikahiro94

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 2:32 am PT

    @tiesto_joe
    The PS2 is going to outsell EVERYTHING for a while to come. It is the best value for your gaming dollar right now, period. It's extremely affordable, has tons of good games in every genre and at every price range, its a solid, proven system, and you can find games and systems (new and used) pretty much everywhere, including yard sales, rental places, and most of your friends. I have little to no doubt in my mind that the PS2 will outsell the 360, PS3 and Wii this holiday season (partly due to limited PS3 and Wii availability, but mainly because it is still a superior value compared to everything else). It's going to be a while before anything really outsells the PS2 (the Wii might be first, but only due to pricing and non-gamer appeal - the 360 and the PS3 need to drop in price significantly before they can see PS2-like mass market sales figures).

    As for the 360 being outsold by the PSP - got numbers? Just curious. Anyhow - early sales were kept low by shortages, retail sales aren't the greatest during summer (slow period for gaming), and now people are holding back since the holiday season, the PS3 and Wii system launches are right around the corner (would you buy a system right now if you thought the price might drop around Christmas?). I believe the 360 is on-track with Microsoft's goals, so it's not doing *that* badly (well, except in Japan of course). Don't forget the PSP is in a different market (still getting beaten by its real competitor), and is $200 less than the 360 you'd actually want to have (core system... yech).

    But, I will agree, I would not be surprised to see a port of LP and DR on the PS3 (unless Microsoft makes Capcom a very nice deal not to). If they did make it to the PS3, I wouldn't expect to hear about it for a while - it might affect sales of the 360 version.

  • tiesto_joe

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 11:43 pm PT

    "I doubt the PS3 will get this game, and if it does, there will be little to none exclusive content and people that own both consoles will most likely already bought this game if they were interested"

    lol you mean like when RE4 got ported to PS2 and sold even more in japan than it did on the gamecube?

  • tiesto_joe

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 11:42 pm PT

    lol this really reminds me of when mikami said RE4 would be exclusive to gamecube or else he would cut his own head off lololololol

    i expect a PS3 port in a year or so......given how badly 360 is bombing in japan and euro and the anemic sales in US (where PS2 and even PSP beat it in monthly sales).

  • gothicdragon216

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 11:11 pm PT

    "When Capcom says a game is exclusive, it either is, or it's simply time exclusive. "

    like I said, by the time it is released (if it ever is) on another console, most people will have already gotten the game. Just like people with High End PCs back when F.E.A.R. launched, or got the game recently will most likely not get it for 360 when it ships. They've played it on PC, they've beat the game (or got stuck and quit) and there's nothing the 360 version will do that the PC won't (in fact, a PC expansion is coming out soon after the 360 launch of FEAR)

    I doubt the PS3 will get this game, and if it does, there will be little to none exclusive content and people that own both consoles will most likely already bought this game if they were interested.

  • elythemonkey

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 8:48 pm PT

    Microsoft & Capcom= LOVE

  • UmonDaisuke

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 6:21 pm PT

    "Look at Dead Rising. it's sold more than a half million units, and that's in the first week."

    No, that's in the first three weeks roughly, and it's a shipped figure, not sell-through. Onimusha 1 enjoyed the same success given its timing in the PS2's life cycle, but the sequels didn't do as well in the US at least. The point? When Capcom says a game is exclusive, it either is, or it's simply time exclusive. In the case of Lost Planet, I don't see it getting ported since it's a more western type game that doesn't really appeal to JPN audiences.

    Still is funny seeing Takeuchi talking "global effort". The main games that actually elevated his position from an animator/artist were Onimusha and Onimusha 3. The first "global" game that was Shadow of Rome, failed to perform well worldwide.

  • Devilwillcry

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 5:51 pm PT

    good news for 360 fanboys. like he said: "Typically, when the development team sets out to create a game, we focus development of the title on a single platform"

    So DMC4 on 360 is just as unlikely. DMC and RE are all I care about from capcom. so I could care less about lost planet. 360 fans have fun with lost planet and I will be playing DMC4 as a PS3 exclusive. We are all happy here

  • SecretWasianMan

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 3:13 pm PT

    Keep dreaming Sony fanboys I mean if the games come out for the PS3 more power to Capcom and Sony. But don't read TOO much into it and let your deluded minds formulate false hopes

  • rokkuman09

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 2:53 pm PT

    Cool I really want to get this game the demo was great

  • gothicdragon216

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 12:49 pm PT

    "Riiiiiiiight.... Just like RE4 was going to be absolutely positively a gamecube exclusive. The Capcom dude still hasen't cut off his own head yet like he said he would if RE4 showed up on any other console.

    This game is 100% coming to the PS3, most likely with extras that make the people who bought it on the 360 feel stupid."


    yea right. Look at Dead Rising. it's sold more than a half million units, and that's in the first week. say there are 3 million people interested in this game. I bet that by the end of this year (when the PS3 ships) that most of those people will have either lost interest or bought the game. So if/when it go ported, the number of people interested would be much smaller. It wouldn't sell nearly as much as the 360 version. The only time ports sell more than the original is when it's an upgraded port (with whole new look/extras) and even then it's hard to do. So after this is finished for 360 and capcom decides to make it for PS3, it'd take a while to get it made for the ps3, and once again most people who would want it will have it.

    Same goes for any PS2 games that were ported to xbox months apart. They just didnt do as well.

  • Some_One_Plays

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 12:29 pm PT

    I think in the future they will port some games to the PS3 (PlayStation 3) since Sony's plans are to make a console to last at least 10 yrs. So I'm not worrying and it still hasn't come out so they don't really know what they can really do with the system yet.

  • DevilHunterX

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 12:17 pm PT

    I love these Japan VS America fights. Carry on.

  • martoon96

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 11:27 am PT

    suck on it ps3 fanboys

  • faizali86

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 11:07 am PT

    bad news for sony

  • SergeStorms

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 10:51 am PT

    So 360 gets it in January. That is what is important. More great games for the system. If they do port it over, with which I have no problem, it will be much later. It is just more great content for an affordable system.

  • UmonDaisuke

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 10:35 am PT

    "Devil May Cry 4 Info In 7 Days? > [NEXT X360 GAME?]"

    That's it. It won't be actual info about the game, which like the Xbox360 games in question, has been announced as a PS3 exclusive.

    Of course, like some have mentioned, an exclusive is only exclusive with Capcom until further notice. Any of the console exclusives have a chance of getting ported, despite current claims.

  • ziutek2

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 10:15 am PT

    Devil May Cry 4 Info In 7 Days? > [NEXT X360 GAME?] According to the official DMC4 website, there may be some news about the game in roughly 7 days. If you head on over, you will see that there is now a countdown timer on the website, and is it set to 7 days. Stay tuned! http://www.capcom.co.jp/devil4/

  • RykuXr

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 9:33 am PT

    Who cares if they're exclusive for 360 or not? That doesn't mean we don't get these great games and they'll get more sales. I'm glad to hear what this guy had to say, it made a lot of sense and I think they're doing a good job.

  • Lord_Regnier

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 9:18 am PT

    these games should stay with the 360. I cant wait for Lost Planet it looks amazing. I hope the success of Dead Rising means more Japanese developers will make games for the 360.

  • Andrew0824

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 9:16 am PT

    Who cares if it comes out for the ps3 or not? Don't be so fanboyish. The only reason I would be concerned is if it was being developed for both simultaneously which might lessen the amount of work done on the 360 version, but if it's ported to the ps3 sometime in the future, so what?

  • Coby7

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 9:01 am PT

    Within the next-gen gaming realm, I think it's safe to take the term "exclusive" with a grain of salt anytime it's coming from cross-platform developers. Obviously, you're not going to see certain IPs like Master Chief or Mario crossing over, but never say never...

  • babycabra

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 8:59 am PT

    This better not come out for PS3. All i've been hearing is this game is being proted and that game is being ported. the last thing i wanna see right now is sony fanboys gloating because they have the games they were mocking months back

  • Lepuke

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 8:56 am PT

    Wouldnt surprise me to see it on PS3 eventually, but Im not going to wait til' December 07' or longer to play a killer game I could be playing in January.

    As for RE4 yeah it came to PS2 with a few mostly filler extra's but the graphics are still better on the Cube.

  • Mechakucha

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 8:38 am PT

    Riiiiiiiight.... Just like RE4 was going to be absolutely positively a gamecube exclusive. The Capcom dude still hasen't cut off his own head yet like he said he would if RE4 showed up on any other console.

    This game is 100% coming to the PS3, most likely with extras that make the people who bought it on the 360 feel stupid.

  • orionamra

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 7:58 am PT

    Sony always give you food by making games for them and now you Capcom betray them. If RE series remains exclusive to 360 fuker console I don't will buy next Capcom's games

  • ziutek2

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 7:51 am PT

    PS3 is weak console - soon there will be anouncment about DMC and RE for X360.

    PS3 will only sell some units in Japan - 3 times less than Wii.
    For USA and Europe there will be 100.000 only.
    PS3 wont get enough units because they didn't make any to this day.

    And they have problems with Cell and diodes for BR.

    Good thing RSX - graphics processor of PS3 got downgraded! Now Sony fanboys will get even more crapy graphic on their cons.. oh SORRY movie player!
    http://gamersreports.com/news/3647/
    http://uk.theinquirer.net/?article=33995

  • Paul_TheGreat

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 7:50 am PT

    It will end up on PS3 anyways.

  • Dolacide

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 7:36 am PT

    I can't wait for this game, I play the demo all the time.

  • makemeweak

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 7:36 am PT

    "JT: I think that the real concern is not the size of the Xbox 360 user base, but rather the close-minded tendencies of Japanese developers."

    As he has very astutely pointed out - video games are a global market.

  • spidaman

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 7:28 am PT

    Very Interesting. The way Dead Rising has been selling has opened new doors for the 360. More Japan developers can jump on the wagon and give their support now. I love Capcom!!

  • NoShenanigans

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 7:24 am PT

    Lost Planet demo was fun, the game looks incredible, an easy AA game, perhaps even AAA.

  • MASTERCHIEFUSMA

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 7:08 am PT

    Smart man, Xbox 360 FTW

  • mr_squibble

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 7:01 am PT

    I found this to be a very interesting and informative interview and article. Thanks, Gamespot! I'm looking forward to Lost Planet much more than the over-hyped Gears of War. Releasing Lost Planet in winter is a nice touch and it should help fill the void of early 2007 games after the 2006 mad holiday rush. Bravo!

  • spidey008

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 6:54 am PT

    Capcom has always made outstanding games. I'm glad to see they are still alive in this tough market.

  • skitzocyko

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 6:54 am PT

    Hail the 360!!!

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