-
Please Send This To The Square Enix Boss
We get email. We get lots and lots of email. Here, have a peek into our mail bag. Lucky you. No, lucky us. Know: The brackets and capitalized words have been added by us. The email was original sent in Japanese and English where noted. from SOME DUDE to kotaku subject [in English] Please send…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 8, 2009 -
Square Enix Has “No Plans” For English FFXIII Blu-ray Demo
Just because the Final Fantasy XIII Blu-ray demo powered Japanese PS3 sales, don’t expect the same for the West. Heck, don’t expect a Blu-ray demo for the time being. When Final Fantasy XIII producer Yoshinori Kitase was asked by website VideoGamer.com whether there will be a Blu-ray FFXIII demo, the producer replied, “The type of…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 6, 2009 -
So, How Long Until Final Fantasy XIII Is Out In Europe?
As we’ve pointed out with numbers, few Japanese publishers are as tardy with their European releases as Square Enix. So how’s the Final Fantasy XIII localisation coming along, then? In a statement that’s not exactly encouraging for European fans, Square Enix’s Yoshinori Kitase has told Videogamer: Obviously we would like to release [in Europe] as…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 5, 2009 -
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life As A Dark Lord Trailer Is Not Dark
Square Enix‘s Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life As A Dark Lord is coming to WiiWare, the sequel to Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life As A King. It’s surprisingly pink. While My Life As A Dark Lord may imply that players will delve into the dark heart of the Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles universe,…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 1, 2009 -
Update On Final Fantasy XIII And Final Fantasy Versus XIII
In a recent Famitsu article on Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete, Square Enix designer Tetsuya Nomura talks FFVII: ACC. We know about that, tell us about those unreleased Final Fantasy games! Nomura told Famitsu that the voice recording for FFXIII is in its final stages. Versus-wise, Nomura says that the game’s costume designer has…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 1, 2009 -
Square Enix Teases Unannounced “NEW GAME”
Sirens. Breaking glass. Gun shots. Square Enix has launched a new website for a “NEW GAME”. It features a cityscape, a cacophony of sound and a quote from John Kennedy. The Kennedy quote reads: “The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 30, 2009 -
Eidos President For Life
In the wake of British game company Eidos being acquired by Japan’s Square Enix, Order of the British Empire honoree Ian Livingstone has been awarded a new title. Livingstone will oversee the Tomb Raider and Hitman franchises as “Life President of Eidos”. Says Livingstone, “I’m delighted with new role of life president as it gives…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 29, 2009 -
Square Enix Boss: Japanese Industry Is “Old People Doing Same Old Job”
Continuing his interview with British trade site GI.biz, Square Enix boss Yoichi “Imperial Hot” Wada has chipped in with his two cents on what’s wrong with the Japanese development scene. “From the developer side, the Japanese games industry became so successful that we didn’t recruit new people” he says. “So today, if you look at…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 28, 2009 -
Wear Final Fantasy XIII Around Your Scrawny Neck
Square Enix doesn’t only make games for you to play, but things for you to buy. From figurines to jewelry, Final Fantasy XIII is no exception. This June, Square Enix is putting out a Japan-only pendant like FFXIII heroine Lightening wears. Pricing is still unannounced, but as website Final Fantasy-XIII.net points out, Square Enix’s jewelry…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 28, 2009 -
Square Enix Lets Eidos Be Eidos
Following the successful completion of its £84 million acquisition last week, Square Enix has announced that UK publisher Eidos shall remain UK publisher Eidos. Eidos has spent nearly two decades developing their brand identity, and that brand identity will remain intact. The company will continue on as an independent organization and wholly-owned subsidiary of Square…
By Mike Fahey Published April 27, 2009 -
Square Enix Admit They Take Too Damn Long To Make Games
In an admission that will no doubt mean…something to frustrated Final Fantasy fans the world over, Square Enix boss Yoichi “Imperial Hot” Wada has confessed that the company takes too long to make a game. Speaking with GI.biz about their recent buyout of British firm Eidos (publishers of Tomb Raider), Wada said “…we at Square…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 27, 2009 -
Tomb Raider Lifetime Sales Show Off Lara Croft’s Biggest Hits
Lara Croft’s many adventures have seen numerous highs and lows—from a sales standpoint, that is. After debuting strong with 1996’s Tomb Raider, the series has had some hits and misses. What was Lara’s biggest miss? According to recently released lifetime sales figures from Eidos’ new owner Square Enix, it appears to be Tomb Raider Anniversary,…
By Michael McWhertor Published April 23, 2009 -
How Square Enix’s Eidos Take Over Changes The Landscape
Square Enix is officially taking over UK publisher Eidos. Not only will Square Enix acquire Eidos properties like Tomb Raider and Hitman. Oh no, Square Enix will get much more. Land! Compare these pre-Eidos acquisition and post-Eidos acquisition maps. The Square Enix sphere of influence now spreads to more countries, more territories. It’s like looking…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 23, 2009 -
Anyone For Lifetime Final Fantasy Sales Figures?
As part of a corporate strategy meeting, Square Enix yesterday revealed the lifetime, worldwide sales figures for three of their biggest franchises. And no, they don’t mean The World Ends With You. The three biggest (at least in terms of units sold) are Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest and Kingdom Hearts, and when you combine every…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 23, 2009 -
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete Gave PS3 A Sales Bump
On April 16, Blu-ray flick Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete went on sale. Included was something many Japanese gamers had been waiting for: the Final Fantasy XIII demo. If early data is correct, the movie provided a boast to PS3 sales in The Land of the Rising Sun. The week before FFVII: ACC was…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 22, 2009 -
Tomorrow, Eidos Is Square Enix’s
Square Enix inches closer to its take over of Tomb Raider publisher Eidos, and the takeover is expected to go into effect tomorrow morning. In February, both Square Enix and Eidos came to an agreement for the takeover, and the following month, Eidos shareholders overwhemingly approved of the action. Eidos issued this statement earlier today:…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 22, 2009 -
Square Enix And V Jump Magazine Partner Up For “Next-Gen Game”
Japanese game maker Square Enix and manga mag V Jump are teaming up for a “next-generation blockbuster.” In a preview page for the next month’s issue, a short blurb reads: “Square Enix [and V Jump] begin ‘Project V’, which will create a next-generation blockbuster! Perhaps your ideas will become reality?!”. This title could possibly feature…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 22, 2009 -
There Must Be A LOT Of People Pirating Advent Children
If you’re thinking of pirating a copy of Final Fantasy Advent Children, we may as well let you know that Square Enix have been “monitoring illegal upload and public communication” of the movie. In a press release issued today by the company, Square say that since Advent Children Complete was released on Blu-Ray earlier this…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 21, 2009 -
See, Square Enix Makes Things Besides RPGs
With successful role-playing-game franchises like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, it’s easy to forget that Square Enix actually makes games in other genres. Take these upcoming games, for example. There’s 0 Day Attack on Earth and Project CUBE. Both are shooters, both are from Square Enix and both are for Xbox LIVE Arcade.
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 21, 2009 -
Comparing Final Fantasy XIII Demo On HD TV And Analog TV
Not all televisions are built the same. For kicks, Japanese site Intermezzo compared the Final Fantasy XIII Blu-ray PS3 demo on two televisions (one HD, one analog). Let’s have a look. One of the televisions was a US$200 model 14-inch Sony WEGA from the year 2000. It was connected to the PS3 with composite cables.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 20, 2009