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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 -
Hello March, Here Are Final Fantasy XIII Screens
The latest screens from role-playing-game Final Fantasy XIII show bandanna-wearing beach blonde Snow Villiers and his resistance group Team Nora. Besides Snow, the Team Nora fraction is made up of orange haired Gadot, googles-wearing Maqui, and black-haired Lebreau 『ファイナルファンタジーXIII』”ノラ”とは？ [Famitsu]
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 3, 2009 -
The ESRB Rates Wii Final Fantasy IV Sequel
The Japanese cellphone sequel to Final Fantasy IV looks to be heading to North America, as the ESRB rates Final Fantasy IV: The After Years for the Nintendo Wii. Once again the Entertainment Software Review Board ruins the surprise for everyone, as an entry appears for Final Fantasy IV: The After Years. Released in episodic…
By Mike Fahey Published February 27, 2009 -
Dragon Quest IX Delay Was At The Last Minute
Earlier this month, Japanese game maker Square Enix announced that eagerly anticipated role-playing-game Dragon Quest IX would be delayed. The delay was a blow to Square Enix stock prices, and it was made right down to the wire before it’s previous March release. Square Enix executive Yoichi Wada explained, “The decision to delay Dragon Quest…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 26, 2009 -
“Final Fantasy XIII Development Going Favorably For 2009 Launch”
The Japanese version of upcoming Blu-ray movie Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete is bundled with a demo for Final Fantasy XIII. Those wondering about the demo’s length and the game’s release, read on. The latest issue of Famitsu reveals more information about the demo. According to an interview with FFXIII director and writer Motomu…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 25, 2009 -
Square Enix Settles Lawsuit With Sword Pirates
Cast your minds back to early 2008, and you’ll remember Square Enix taking a few manufacturers of replica swords to court. Those entrepreneurial blacksmiths were, you see, unlawfully ripping off Square Enix’s designs. Which made Square Enix, not exactly renowned for their sense of good humour about such things, mad. At the time, Square’s general…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 24, 2009 -
Square Enix Continues To Slowly Devour Eidos
Square Enix has scooped up another large chunk of Eidos Interactive stock as shareholder support continues to build for the proposed buyout of the Tomb Raider publisher. Square Enix publicly revealed their offer to Eidos earlier this month, and since then stockholders have been tripping over themselves to show their support for the deal. Warner…
By Mike Fahey Published February 24, 2009 -
Square Enix Invades Steam
Adding to their ever-expanding list of publishers, Valve today announced a deal with Square Enix to bring their PC games to download service Steam. Beginning April 9, The Last Remnant will be available for purchase via Steam. After the action role-playing game hits the service Square will continue to add to its roster of games…
By Brian Crecente Published February 24, 2009 -
Star Ocean 4 Makes Strong Japanese Sales Debut (For Xbox 360 Game)
Square Enix role-playing-game Star Ocean 4: The Last Hope has given Japanese companies another glimmer of hope for the Xbox 360. While the Xbox 360 has been successful abroad, the console traditionally has had difficulty cracking the Japanese market. Recently, Microsoft has made in-roads with consumers in The Land of the Rising Sun thanks to…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 24, 2009