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Why Is Square Enix Raising Cash?
Square Enix, the company behind Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, announced a ¥35 billion ($386 million) zero-coupon convertible bond. As Hiroshi Kamide at KBC Securities Japan points out, “convertible” means that these bonds can be changed to shares at some point before they mature. While Square Enix has around ¥80 billion in on hand cash,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 19, 2010 -
This Week In XBLA: Death By Cube And Vandal Hearts
Square Enix‘s blood-filled box shooter Death by Cube is joined by the prequel to Konami’s 1996 tactical role-playing game Vandal Hearts to form this week’s new additions to the Xbox Live Arcade. Robots shooting cubes filled with blood – this is the perfect way to describe Square Enix’s new twin-stick shooter, Death by Cube, which…
By Mike Fahey Published January 18, 2010 -
This Is How You Promote Final Fantasy XIII Figures
With real people dressed up in costume, that’s how! As Square Enix launches a set of Play Arts figures, and Akihabara’s Kotobukiya retail shop has a special event in store. Or rather, outside store. Over the weekend, a troupe of Final Fantasy XIII were available to pose for photos. There was even a time table…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 18, 2010 -
Rumor: Leaked ‘Tech Demo” Footage of Final Fantasy: Fortress
This is a two-minute, 30-second video said to be of a tech demonstration of “Fortress,” the Final Fantasy project GRIN was said to have been working on when the Swedish studio closed. Click to view Few details accompany the video, whose visuals and action-oriented gameplay are very Western-oriented, to say the least. The video’s action…
By Owen Good Published January 17, 2010 -
Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days: Eyes-On With The Best Worst Camera Ever
Kane & Lynch’s raw and grimy aesthetic extends to something rarely expected in IO Interactive’s sequel—the camera. In a game full of unlikable and unattractive characters, Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days’ damaged goods visuals fit right in. After sitting in on a hands-off demonstration of two of Kane & Lynch 2’s levels at Square…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 15, 2010 -
Choose Your Own Just Cause 2 Adventure
This choose your own adventure style trailer for Just Cause 2 showcases the different ways to tackle a mission in Eidos’ upcoming action-adventure. Clicking the video at the designated time will take you on a magical journey to YouTube, but don’t worry, we’ll be here waiting for you when you get back. That is, unless…
By Mike Fahey Published January 15, 2010 -
Arkham Asylum Gets its GOTY (Edition)
The British Board of Film Classification has listed a Game of the Year edition for Batman: Arkham Asylum, offering no details beyond the fact it’s a separate version under a different name. The game was approved with no cuts made, but that doesn’t really mean much as, of course, the original version passed review by…
By Owen Good Published January 14, 2010 -
Report: Xbox 360 Final Fantasy XIII “Runs As Smooth” As PS3 FFXIII
The biggest bombshell of the 2008 E3 gaming expo was the announcement that then PS3 exclusive Final Fantasy XIII would be released on the Xbox 360. Final Fantasy XIII, which was released only on the PS3 last December in Japan, will be released as a multi-platform title this spring in the West. While many games…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 14, 2010 -
“Overseas” Version of Final Fantasy XIII Finished
Final Fantasy XIII has been released on the PS3 in Japan, but the multi-platform version won’t be out in the West until March. Square Enix has, however, announced that development on this “overseas version” is now complete. In an online letter to European gamers, FFXIII game director Motomu Toriyam writes, “FINAL FANTASY XIII overseas version…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 14, 2010 -
New Final Fantasy Trailer Includes Lovely Music, English Voice Acting
Click to view Caught in the translation bubble that gave Final Fantasy XIII to Japan last month, but won’t deliver it to the rest of us until March, we’re all left to watch trailers of the game set to pop music. In this one we get to watch the new International trailer which is set…
By Brian Crecente Published January 13, 2010 -
Interview: There Is Enough Discarded Final Fantasy XIII To Make Another Game
Square Enix spent years working on Final Fantasy XIII. The game was shown in prototype form at the E3 gaming expo in 2006, but was not finally released in Japan until December 2009. According to the game’s art director, Isamu Kamikokuryou, a substantial amount of these locations that were already running on actual development hardware…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 13, 2010 -
Dragon Quest IX Goes Budget Price In Japan
Released in Japan on July 11, 2009, DS role playing game Dragon Quest IX went on to sell 4 million copies in its native Japan. The game is out this year in the West, but before that… Square Enix will be releasing the game this March in Japan at a budget price. On March 4,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 12, 2010 -
Want To Play Final Fantasy XIII? Get On The Bus
Literally. If you live in the San Francisco area, get on the giant Final Fantasy XIII bus that will be touring later this week, and you’ll be able to get your hands on Square Enix‘s upcoming role-playing game. From January 13-16, the bus will be driving around the bay area, giving players a chance to…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 12, 2010 -
Square Enix to Open Dragon Quest-Themed Bar
Dragon Quest fans will recognize the name Luida’s Bar from the role-playing game; it’ll also be the name of an establishment Square Enix is opening in Tokyo later this month, coinciding with Dragon Quest VI‘s release on the DS. The bar opens to the public Jan. 28 in Roppongi, Tokyo, but before that, it’ll be…
By Owen Good Published January 9, 2010 -
Square Enix Says Japanese Retail “Prejudiced” Against Western Games
As far as business execs at large Japanese companies go, Yoichi Wada seems rather forward thinking. He’s been tackling discrimination in video games head on. “Even now, there have been people in Japan using the label youge- (Western games) with a terribly discriminatory meaning,” Wada said in an interview Japanese TV from last December in…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 7, 2010 -
Reviews
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers Review: The Big Book Of FF Activities
The Crystal Chronicles continue on the Wii with Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers, the action-packed third installment of Nintendo’s personal Final Fantasy series. A thousand years after the original Crystal Chronicles the world has changed. The four races are three, with the now dominant plant-like Lilties having defeated the Yuke tribe of machine…
By Mike Fahey Published January 6, 2010 -
2009’s Top Five Selling Games in Japan
Last year is so…last year. This being January, it is time to look back at some numbers Famitsu publisher Enterbrain has crunched. The data, just released today, was collected between December 29, 2008 and December 27, 2009. 5. Final Fantasy XIII Launch: December 17, 2009 Estimated Sales Tally: 1,698,256 copies 4. Tomodachi Collection Launch: June…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 5, 2010 -
This Final Fantasy XIII Bug Jumps For Joy
Since first being shown at the 2006 E3 gaming expo in Los Angeles, gamers have been eagerly looking forward to Final Fantasy XIII. They have not been looking forward to the in-game bugs. Add this interminable jumping bug to the list of bugs that, like the LSD bug, apparently slipped past Square Enix quality control.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 5, 2010 -
This Is One Crazy Final Fantasy XIII Bug
At 50 to 60 hours long, Final Fantasy XIII is an enormous game. But with as long as Square Enix worked on the title and with all the money spent, that still hasn’t stopped a few bugs from slipping through. While there aren’t many bugs and the bugs that have been reported seem to be…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 4, 2010 -
A New Year’s Message From Square Enix’s President
To kick off 2010, Square Enix boss Yoichi Wada has issued a public statement outlining the publishers corporate goals as they head into the new year. And that goal is? “Taking Root”. Which doesn’t really explain it too well, so let’s allow his Imperial Hotness to elaborate. “In the near future, the rate of convergence…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 4, 2010