The British Advertising Standards Authority has ruled that Square Enix released misleading ads for Final Fantasy XIII by using footage from the PS3 version in an ad for the Xbox 360 version. This came after a user complained about the images being sharper than the Xbox 360 version produced.
“We tested the two games, on screens with an identical set up, and ran them alongside one another, said a spokesperson for the ASA. “We noted that there was a discernible difference in the picture quality of the two – the PS3 image in video sequences appeared sharper and colours were more vivid than those of the Xbox 360.
“We considered that, because the ad promoted the game on the Xbox 360 platform, it should have featured footage derived from that console, the statement continued. “Because it did not, and because we considered that the use of PS3 footage in the ad exaggerated the quality of the footage available on the Xbox 360, albeit marginally, we concluded the ad was misleading.”
For its part, Square Enix said that FMV had been used instead of in-game footage, but they did admit it was from the PS3 version. They noted that there were differences between the two versions, especially because of the compression necessary to get the game on 3 DVDs for the Xbox 360 compared to the single Blu-ray disc on PS3.
Square Enix also claimed ‘no substantive difference’ between the two versions and claimed they did not believe any average viewer, or indeed avid gamer, would perceive any difference in the output unless reviewing the materially forensically.
Source: Telegraph
