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“Final Fantasy XIII Uses Nearly 100 Percent of PS3 Power”
Final Fantasy XIII is a multi-platform title. In the West, it’s being released on the PLAYSTATION 3 and Xbox 360. In Japan, it’s not. The game has only been announced for the PS3 in Japan. Last year, the Final Fantasy XIII demo was finished. “The game’s development is currently going well,” said FFXIII producer Yoshinori…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 31, 2009 -
Let’s Look At Final Fantasy XIII Battle Screens
While we’ve seen plenty of cutscenes, Square Enix has released a new batch of screens from upcoming role-playing-game Final Fantasy XIII. There’s in-game battle screens to boot! The game’s battle system allows players to control one character at a time and lets players release combos by stacking up three commands. The commands include standard RPG…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 30, 2009 -
Square Enix Eidos Takeover Is Go
Tomb Raider publisher Eidos will officially become part of Square Enix in May, as shareholders cast an overwhelming majority of votes in favor of the propsed takeover. Eidos held their shareholders meeting yesterday, during which a vote was held to determine if the Square Enix takeover bid would be approved, with 85% percent of the…
By Mike Fahey Published March 27, 2009 -
My Chemical Romance Writes Final Fantasy VII ACC Song
Legendary Japanese rocker Kyosuke Himuro, member of seminal band Boøwy, has joined forces with emo vocalist Gerard Way from the group My Chemical Romance for the Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete. Square Enix’s Tetsuya Nomura is a big Boøwy fan. Back in 2005, Himuro’s tune “Calling” from his 1989 album Neo Fascio found its…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 27, 2009 -
The Cut Scene: Inside The Video Game Weapon Replica Business
Down the street from a Kroger shopping center and a Wal-Mart in Marietta, Georgia lies an arsenal. The Empire Swords shop looks unassuming enough from the outside, but once you step through the doors… Swords, axes, staves, and daggers line the walls. Racks filled with cruel-looking implements of destruction stand before giant sets of armor.…
By Mike Fahey Published March 26, 2009 -
Square Enix Has Future Plans For Final Fantasy VII Series
As Blu-ray movie Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete readies for release, Square Enix’s Tetsuya Nomura talks about the film and the franchise. As has been previous announced, Square Enix has gone through and amped up Advent Children for this HD release. Fan favorite FFVII has been revisited multiple times with the Compilation of Final…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 26, 2009 -
The Last Remnant On PC Has A Shaky Launch
Pardon the French, but there’s no other way to describe the PC launch of Square Enix’s The Last Remnant. It’s a mess. The game was released in Europe yesterday. So thousands of Europeans bought it, took it home, went to play it and…could not. See, the game is authenticated and activated via Valve’s Steam service.…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 20, 2009 -
Square Enix Snags Gamebryo Engine For Something
Square Enix continues to give other company’s game engines a chance, licensing Emergent Technology’s Gamebryo for an unannounced project. Square has licensed the Gamebryo engine, which has powered games like Fallout 3, Dark Age of Camelot, and Playboy: The Mansion, for use in a game that shall remain secret until they deem us worthy. Why…
By Mike Fahey Published March 17, 2009 -
Dragon Quest IX Pre-Order Start (Again)
Eagerly-awaited, twice-delayed DS title Dragon Quest IX is finally going on sale July 11, 2008 in Japan. Those hoping to secure the game can pre-order. Starting today, Japanese retailer TSUTAYA is opening up pre-orders for the game. Other Japanese retailers also are starting to take pre-orders. The game is slated for late 2009 in North…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 17, 2009 -
Final Fantasy XI Getting Three More Expansion Scenarios
Just in time for MMO Final Fantasy XI‘s security token comes three expansion scenarios. The first, A Crystalline Prophecy – Ode of Life Blessing, will be able this month. Plot-wise, Square Enix explains, “One day, a giant crystal appeared in the skies above Jeuno, triggering a series of unexplained happenings across the land. Now, adventurers…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 16, 2009 -
Protect Your Gil With The Final Fantasy XI Security Token
The newly-announced Square Enix Security Token will keep dirty hacker hands off your hard-earned gil via the magic of the constantly-changing login password. Much like the Blizzard Authenticator released for World of Warcraft last year, the Square Enix Security Token is an actual physical device that, when linked to your Final Fantasy Online account, generates…
By Mike Fahey Published March 11, 2009 -
Star Ocean Producer On Erotic Games And Multi-Platform
Yoshinori Yamagishi, Square Enix’s Star Ocean series producer, really wanted to make erotic games. We brought word of this back in January. When asked about this, Yamagishi can explain: This is actually a quotation from a conversation I had when I was still talking with Enix before the company merged with top management people. I…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 11, 2009 -
Elderly Actress Wants More Dragon Quest Before Death
We’ve been waiting for Dragon Quest IX for a long time. For most of us, we can wait a little longer for the game to come out, but not Japanese actress Keiko Awaji. For her, it’s a matter of life or death. Japanese film actress Keiko Awaji, now in her 70s, wants to play new…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 11, 2009 -
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete Special Screening For 800 People
Want to see feature film Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete before it goes on sale on April 16 in Japan? Japanese game maker Square Enix is offering the chance to silver members of its online site Square Enix Members who have reserved the Blu-ray movie or the movie’s special PS3 bundle at the Square…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 9, 2009 -
Square Enix Still Workin’ On That New MMO
Square Enix have a big MMO. It’s called Final Fantasy XI. But FFXI is getting a little long in the tooth, so it’s no surprise to hear Square Enix are still working on a successor. Talk of the company’s post-FFXI MMO has been around for years now, but during an address to investors last month,…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 7, 2009 -
Square Enix Execs Take Self-Imposed Pay Cut
Financial forecasts slashed, stocks plunging. Times are hard for Japanese role-playing-game maker Square Enix. While some other execs might pass the buck and make cuts everywhere except for their own salaries, Square Enix’s Yoichi Wada is not some other exec. In a recently released briefing from last month, Wada explained, “In recognition of the latest…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 6, 2009 -
“Video Game Storytelling Can Surpass Books Or Film”
Star Ocean 4 producer and frustrated erotic game developer Yoshinori Yamagishi really has faith in the power of video games to tell a story. Sure, there are challenges, but Yamagishi thinks game storytelling can eventually superseded other mediums. “As opposed to films, books and TV, as a medium it is more of a challenge to…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 6, 2009 -
A DSi Fit For Mickey Mouse And Square Enix
Game maker Square Enix has announced a Japanese release date for its upcoming action role-playing DS titleKINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days: May 30. KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days is the latest entry in the Disney-meets-Square-Enix series of RPGs. A special KINGDOM HEARTS DSi (pictured) will also go on sale when 358/2 launches.
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 5, 2009 -
Eidos Pencils In Square Enix Takeover For May
UK publisher Eidos has issue a timeline to its shareholders, indicating that if all goes as planned, Square Enix will take full ownership on May 6th. Eidos management has been in favor of the Square Enix buyout since the Japanese developer and publisher first made it public early last month. This timeline is just another…
By Mike Fahey Published March 4, 2009 -
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete Packaged With New Anime
Square Enix has released more information about upcoming Blu-ray movie release Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete. The movie was originally released in 2005 in Japan and is set two years after the Final Fantasy VII game. The story follows hero Cloud Strife as he tries to pin-point the cause of a mysterious, lethal plague.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 3, 2009