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Did Final Fantasy Artist Draw 2ch Bear Character?
There were four 2ch Japanese-style ASCII art characters that folks voted on. The most popular selection was drawn by Final Fantasy and Vampire Hunter D artist Yoshitaka Amano. The winning character? ASCII art character Yaruo. Below is Amano’s take on Yaruo. An exhibition of Amano’s art is being held in Tokyo’s Omotesando Hills until August…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 26, 2009 -
Final Fantasy Artist Doing ASCII Art
Famous for his elegant Final Fantasy and Vampire Hunter D, artist Yoshitaka Amano will be drawing Japanese-style ASCII art. Folks will vote on which one of the four 2ch characters they want the famed illustrator to do his own interpretation of. The drawing will be shown live on Nico Nico Douga tomorrow from 8:00 to…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 25, 2009 -
Will Final Fantasy XIII Be Playable At Tokyo Game Show?
A playable demo for upcoming role-playing-game Final Fantasy XIII has already been released in Japan. Bundled with Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete, it came out earlier this spring. And with the Japanese PS3 version being something like 90 percent finished, you’d think that the game would be in playable form at this year’s Tokyo…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 24, 2009 -
Final Fantasy Versus XIII Dev Time “Comparatively Faster” Than FFXIII
Sick of looking at these same Final Fantasy Versus XIII screen shots? Yeah. Me too. Well, the good news is that development on Final Fantasy XIII is doing wonders for that other Fabula Nova Crystallis entry, according to the developer. Square Enix’s Yoshinori Kitase told us at Gamescom this week that development time on Final…
By Michael McWhertor Published August 24, 2009 -
Final Fantasy XIII’s Paradigm Shift, Gestalt Mode & More
We’re just a few months away from Final Fantasy XIII’s release—in Japan anyway—giving Square Enix good reason to reveal more about the role-playing game’s battle system. We got a look at FF XIII’s goods this week at Gamescom. Final Fantasy XIII producer Yoshinori Kitase and director Motomu Toriyama walked us through a brief demo of…
By Michael McWhertor Published August 24, 2009 -
Asking Dragon Quest Creator A Rude Question For Laughs
Yuji Horii has a spectacular comb-over. Something not lost on comedy program G-Tech when it had the Dragon Quest creator on to discuss DQIX. You ready for the what the Japanese internet is called an “unbelievable” question? G-Tech asked Horii, “Do you know what the bald-headed dance is?” To which the game designer replied, “I…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 24, 2009 -
Front Mission Evolved Impressions Of Wanzer Draggin’
Square Enix is spinning off its Front Mission franchise, best known for its turn-based tactical strategy RPG play, into something more dynamic. Front Mission Evolved is its first venture into third-person shooting, not unlike Armored Core and Chromehounds. We sat in on a hands-off demonstration of Front Mission Evolved at Gamescom this week, one guided…
By Michael McWhertor Published August 23, 2009 -
What’s Holding Up Final Fantasy XIV For Xbox 360?
Final Fantasy XIV has only been officially announced for the PlayStation 3 and PC, but don’t rule out an Xbox 360 version. Square Enix isn’t. After all, Final Fantasy XI found its way to the Xbox. Hiromuchi Tanaka, producer on FF XIV says that the roadblock in bringing the massively multiplayer game to Xbox Live…
By Michael McWhertor Published August 21, 2009 -
Wait, Square Enix Are Sending Cheques To People?
This is…different. Square Enix have issued a statement claiming that “certain unknown parties” based in Canada have been sending counterfeit cheques to random homes across the United States. Cheques that say “Square Enix” on them. It’s not a new practice, we know; this kind of scam has been running for decades. But using Square Enix’s…
By Luke Plunkett Published August 20, 2009 -
Nier Shows Square Enix’s Foul Mouthed Side
Square Enix showed the latest build of its action adventure game Nier at Gamescom and never have I heard saltier talk. At least from Square Enix, who generally doesn’t drop the F-bomb in its games. But Nier is occasionally vulgar. Technically, it’s not the eponymous Nier himself who’s offending our delicate sensibilities, nor is it…
By Michael McWhertor Published August 20, 2009 -
Final Fantasy XIV Clip Smorgasbord
Square Enix is bringing MMO Final Fantasy XIV to the PC and the PS3 in 2010. At Gamescom, the company showed off footage of the title. Besides tech demos, there are clips of the game in action on the show floor. Check ’em out. Video Games | Final Fantasy XIV Online | GC 09: Character…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 20, 2009 -
Want To Know This Lady’s Name? [Update]
Remember that long-haired lady? The one in recent Final Fantasy XIII trailers with eye-catching glasses? She has a name, you know. Her name is Jill Nabato, and she’s not only a Lieutenant Colonel, but a “cruel-hearted” baddie. But, hey, nice glasses! Update: The official English spelling has been released: Jihl Nabaat. Another Final Fantasy XIII…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 20, 2009 -
Let’s Look At Final Fantasy XIII Summon’s Horsey Mode
Summon character Odin has been appearing in Final Fantasy games since FFIII. The summon returns for FFXIII, and he can only be summoned by character Lighting. Here is a first look at Odin in his “Gestalt Mode” in which he transforms into a horse for Lighting to ride. Gitty-up!
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 20, 2009 -
Name Reveal for Final Fantasy XIII Character
In the E3 2009 Final Fantasy XIII trailer, there is a dude with silver hair. We didn’t know his name and called him “The Dude With Silver Hair.” But he has a name, and it’s not that. The fellow’s name is Yaag Rosch. He is a lieutenant colonel and, yes, has silver hair. He’s a…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 18, 2009 -
“SEGA Is More Open To New RPGs Than Square Enix”
Japanese game maker tri-Ace is famous for its Square Enix published games. Titles like the Star Ocean series and the Valkyrie Profile games have cemented tri-Ace’s reputation. But tri-Ace’s upcoming role-playing-game End of Eternity (Resonance of Fate in the West) is being published by SEGA, not Square Enix. Explains tri-Ace developer and EoE director Takayuki…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 11, 2009 -
Square Enix Honcho Talks About The Dragon Quest IX Haters
Remember, game developers have feelings, too. When Dragon Quest IX went on sale, Amazon Japan users went bonkers, slamming the game. When asked how the game’s creators felt about that, Square Enix boss Yoichi Wada offered this, “Because it’s the internet, well, that’s the internet for ya. We were telling the game creators ‘Don’t worry…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 7, 2009 -
Final Fantasy XIII Release Date Announcement Coming
Regarding the release date of Final Fantasy XIII, Square Enix honcho Yoichi Wada has an announcement of an announcement to make: “We’ll be making an announcement in a few weeks.” A few weeks would put this announcement either close to the Tokyo Game Show or at the Tokyo Game Show. Previously, Square Enix gave the…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 7, 2009 -
That Square Enix Countdown Was Counting Down To This…
Lord of Vermillion II. This arcade title is the sequel to Square Enix’s popular card-based arcade game Lord of Vermillion. Characters from Final Fantasy IV, Romancing SaGA II and even Magic The Gathering will be making appearances in the game. According to the website, the game will be out in Japanese game centers this autumn.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 7, 2009 -
Final Fantasy XIV Screenshots And Character Art, Get ‘Em Here
Lots of new Final Fantasy XIV media today! In addition to some sumptuous concept art and new information on the game’s website, Square also released some screenshots and some clean, non-mag-scan versions of the character art.
By Luke Plunkett Published August 7, 2009 -
These Are The City-States of Final Fantasy XIV
The website for upcoming MMO Final Fantasy XIV has gone live with detailed descriptions about the game’s character races and images of regions. The in-game regions are Ul’dah, Gridania and Limsa Lominsa. There is detailed info about fishing and shipbuilding area Limsa Lominsa. Info about the other two regions is forthcoming. The PS3 and PC…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 7, 2009