Square Enix Crushes Final Fantasy XIII Pachinko Rumors

In Japan, lots of video games get turned into pachinko or pachislot machines. No biggie! SNK, Sega and Konami have all spun off selected titles into pachinko parlors across the country. So when a rumor popped up that Square Enix was doing the same for Final Fantasy XIII, it did seem possible that, yes, Japan would be getting a FFXIII pachinko machine. No way! says Square Enix. In an official statement, the company says:

That is completely false information. Regarding FF, our company works very hard every day so that everyone can enjoy it as a game. There is currently no development being made [to bring FF to pachinko/pachi-slot machines].

Good, because Square Enix needs to focus on FFXIII and not other stuff.

『FFXIII』がパチンコ、パチスロに？” [Famitsu]

Square Enix's grandiose plans for a Final Fantasy XIII three-way appear to be a bit stalled. The action oriented spin-off known as Final Fantasy Versus XIII may be coming even later than expected, which should come as a surprise to absolutely no one. According to an interview with Versus XIII director Tetsuya Nomura in the newest issue of Famitsu, he explains that development is the side story is currently "on hold," with development staff of that game now tasked with getting FFXIII out the door.

Given that it's been over two years since Square Enix first showed off its FFXIII offerings and we're still getting trailers devoid of gameplay, we certainly don't expect to see Final Fantasy XIII until well into 2009. We'll pencil in Versus for 2013 or so.

Let's give it up for ten-year console life cycles!

Nomura: Square Enix blow-out at TGS, Versus XIII on hold [Forever Fantasy]

On August 2nd and August 3rd, Square Enix is holding a "private party" with the utterly ridiculous name DKΣ3713 that will be limited to only 2,400 attendees, picked by raffle through the Japanese Square Enix Members website.. It will showcase Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts games. And just like we thought, Final Fantasy XIII will not be playable. Hit the jump for the full rundown of what will be there and what form it will be in. Bring on the disappointments!

Final Fantasy XIII Producer Is Not Enemies With FF Versus XIII Director, 'Kay?

Yoshinori Kitase, director of Final Fantasy VII and Chrono Trigger, and fellow colleague Tetsuya Nomura, character designer for FFVII, are rumored to be bitter rivals. Word has it that since the two are unable to work together, each of them are making separate FFXIII games with Kitase producing Final Fantasy XIII and Nomura directing Final Fantasy Versus XIII. Not so! says Kitase. He tells LEVEL magazine:

Has Square Enix Cancelled Final Fantasy Agito XIII?

Square Enix bossman Yoichi Wada presided over the company's shareholder conference late last week. Dragon Quest IX still doesn't have a release date, but saying that he really wants to release it and thought the game would be ready for sale this year. Wada added, "But I said the same thing last year." Square Enix thinks it's possible that Dragon Quest IX could sell up to ten million copies. (No wonder Wada wants to release the game.)

Also, due to internal loses on development, the company went back and reconsidered in development titles. A mobile game has been shitcanned, apparently. "Concerning the title that connects to the home console," Wada said, "development has been ceased as it is unsuitable at the current time." Wada's remark has lead to some to wonder whether that cancelled mobile game is Final Fantasy Agito XIII as it was supposed to connect to upcoming home console game Final Fantasy XIII.

Square Enix Results [Game Watch Impress via 2channel Thanks, muu and Nirolak!]

Even Final Fantasy Probably Can't Save Xbox In Japan

Okay! Make-believe time. Let's say that Microsoft had a lot of money to burn. No wait, start over. Let's say that Microsoft was able to convince Square Enix to give it Final Fantasy as an exclusive. Like, Final Fantasy XIII is only on the Xbox 360 and wouldn't be on the PS3. Would large numbers of Japanese consumers break down and buy an Xbox 360? According to Microsoft's Shane Kim:

I know we're talking about Final Fantasy here, but you really have to question, is it really enough to overcome people's reservations about Xbox 360 in Japan? I don't know. But I know that it would have to be a heck of a lot of money and it would be very risky to do that.

In short, no. Kim does make a good point, saying that success in the Western market is forcing companies to be more open about developing for the Xbox 360. Nice to have that in your back pocket when you're so fucked on their home turf.

Shane Kim Interview [Kikizo] [Pic]

Japanese Tech Is Not Behind Western Tech

Until the PS3 was launched, regarding the 360 and PS3, it is true. I agree that maybe Japanese game technology is behind because there were no previous experiences, or a base in that PC market in Japan back then. Since then, things have changed. Now, I think it has come to a point when the PC architecture and technologies have advanced...

Final Fantasy XIII Scans from Famitsu PS3

One of the best jokes we've heard at the Kotaku offices in a long time was the one in which Final Fantasy game director Motomu Toriyama had "promised" the thirteenth chapter of the series in 2008. Hilarious! Square Enix, on the other hand, wasn't exactly filled with laughter when mistranslations of a recent Famitsu article made their way online. It issued a statement today on chatter that this year would see the release of the ambitious PlayStation 3 RPG, writing that reports on Final Fantasy XIII's ship date were "erroneous and should be disregarded."

As far as a playable FFXIII demo? We're not holding our collective breath on that one either, as the team was hoping for something playable last summer according to reports from Dengeki.

ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING FINAL FANTASY XIII RELEASE DATE [Square Enix]

You elected one of your own to strike you down and ban like crazy. But, who were the other four finalists?

Haven't seen new images for a while. Take these as proof that Square Enix (most likely all of Square Enix) is hard at work on both Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy versus XIII. The new issue of Japanese manga Shonen Weekly Jump has images of both. Of course the release date is still "unannounced," and we're not expecting the games to drop before late 2009 — if we're lucky. Hit the jump for a shot of vsXIII.

Clip: Final Fantasy XIII Extended Trailer

Square-Enix Still Keeping Final Fantasy XIII Behind Closed Doors

Final Fantasy XIII is a long way off. We're placing bets on a 2009 release in Japan.Those of us attending Tokyo Game Show this year won't see much of it, that is, unless we wait in painfully long lines to watch the game's trailers. Square-Enix announced today via its official TGS 2007 web site that it would be showing trailers for Dragon Quest IX, Last Remnant, Final Fantasy XI, Dissidia: Final Fantasy and Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy XIII in two theaters. For fans of the Squenix brand of software, seeing the last two will require marathon style queues. They're only being shown in the company's Closed Mega Theater. So bring your copies of Crisis Core, kids. You're going to need something to keep you quietly occupied in line for a couple hours.

Square-Enix Tokyo Game Show Theaters [Square-Enix]

Final Fantasy XIII: No Playable Demo til 2008

FF 13 Still Creeping Along