Square-Enix: It’s easier to program for Xbox 360 than PS3

If the words of Hiroshi Takai are any indication, the Xbox 360 has an excellent chance to usurp the Playstation’s crown as the premiere console of the role-playing genre.

Takai, who developed The Last Remnant, recently told interview with ComputerAndVideoGames that programming games for Microsoft’s Xbox 360 console has proven “easier” than accomplishing the same task for the Playstation 3.

In the interview he made it clear that he enjoyed flexing his programming chops with the 360 in addition to becoming familiar with Unreal Engine 3. He also mentioned that he hoped future projects would be possible on Microsoft’s system and help increase the console’s relevance to Japanese gamers.

For Nintendo supporters, this admission is surprisingly ironic, as they are keenly aware of Square spurning the Nintendo 64 because developers felt they could achieve more with Sony’s original Playstation. At that time, they believed that the N64’s cartridge-based method of delivering games paled in comparison to Sony’s CD-based presentation potential.

In this case, Square-Enix is saying in so many words that the 360’s streamlined method of delivery is far less taxing than the complex architecture that is inherent to Sony’s Playstation 3. One could easily interpret this as saying that Sony is thus receiving a taste of its own elite-system medicine.

Interestingly, while Takai may have enjoyed working on Last Remnant for the 360, his satisfaction has not been reciprocated thus far, as the game has been greeted with mixed reviews.

Obviously, there is still more work to be done to unlock the 360’s potential, as well as that of Sony’s Playstation 3.

Read [Kotaku] Via [CVG]