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No Final Fantasy Versus XIII At Tokyo Game Show
According Square Enix game designer Tetsuya Nomura, Final Fantasy XIII will be playable. His title, Final Fantasy Versus, won’t be anywhere to be seen, however. Unlike last year, Square Enix will not be screening trailers for upcoming titles like Final Fantasy Versus XIII and instead will be focusing on playable demos for titles due out…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 31, 2009 -
A Look at Final Fantasy XIII’s Combat System and Strategy
The English localization is almost done. But the Japanese build of Final Fantasy XIII, shown off at Gamescom, gives you a good idea of what to expect in the gameplay when the title releases next year for Xbox 360 an PS3. FFXIII’s developer notes the game’s combat mechanism employs something they call the “paradigm shift”…
By Owen Good Published August 29, 2009 -
Guess Who’s Publishing Modern Warfare 2 In Japan?
Square Enix, that’s who. Known best for Final Fantasy, the Japanese game company is once again attempting to expand its portfolio by bringing eagerly awaited first-person-shooter Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 to Japan. The company has yet to make an official announcement, but there’s a teaser site with a large “2” that fades in…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 28, 2009 -
ESRB Details Unannounced Raystorm, Thexder Revivals
While neither game has been officially announced to the best of our knowledge, both Raystorm HD and Thexder NEO have recently been fully described by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board. So you can expect their respective North American announcements soon. Both Thexder NEO and Raystorm HD appear to be remakes of the 8-bit and 32-bit…
By Michael McWhertor Published August 28, 2009 -
Dragon Quest IX Sells Less Than 100,000 (Oh Noes!)
According to the Japanese sales figures released last week, DS title Dragon Quest IX sold 127,000. According to the ones released this week, it did not. The game moved 79,000 copies — making it the first time it fell under 100,000. The game has already sold 3.7 million copies, so who cares, right? 3.7 million…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 28, 2009 -
New FFXIII Screens Show Different Angle of Glasses Lady
That’s Lieutenant Colonel Jihl Nabaat, Final Fantasy XIII‘s icy queen commander of the Holy Army. Famitsu has new screens of her, silver-haired Yaag Rosch, FFXIII heroine and her summon Odin in horsey Gestalt form. Final Fantasy XIII is headed for the PS3 in Japan this winter.
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 28, 2009 -
Square Enix Doesn’t See PS3 Price Cut Impact This Year
……but the company sees a big impact next year. When does Final Fantasy XIII come out again? Oh right, this winter. According to Square Enix honcho Yoichi Wada, the cheaper US$299 PS3 will spur game sales, but not enough for the company to revise this year’s financial forecast. “In terms of the impact (the PS3…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 26, 2009 -
Square Enix Answer Final Fantasy VII Remake Question
Square Enix has remade numerous games in its back catalogue. One title that it hasn’t remade just yet is Final Fantasy VII. At the Gamescom convention in Germany, website VG247 asked Square Enix producers Yoshi Kitase and Motomu Toriyama about the possibility of a FFVII remake. The translator replied: There’s not official project that’s up…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 26, 2009 -
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