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Suggestive Star Ocean 4 Screenshots
Star Ocean producer Yoshinori Yamagishi really wants to make erotic games. Square Enix has already nixed that idea, but that doesn’t seem to have stopped Yamagishi from spicing up Star Ocean. Below is a batch of Star Ocean: The Last Hope screenshots. Granted, they are taken out of context, and the game has been given…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 20, 2009 -
Read About Newish Japanese Final Fantasy XIII Scans In English
A spate of newish screenshots from upcoming Square Enix RPG Final Fantasy XIII appear in a recent copy of Japanese publication V-Jump. These screenshots appeared in last month’s FFXIII trailer, which can be viewed here. A playable demo of the game will be packaged with the Japanese release of Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 18, 2009 -
Dragon Quest IX Delay Impacts Japanese Game Publishing
It wasn’t only Square Enix‘s stock prices that took a hit when Dragon Quest IX was delayed from March 28 to July 11. Game magazine Famitsu also took a hit. The day following the announcement, Famitsu released an emergency discount promotion for advertising in their magazines. Most likely, Square Enix was planning a slew of…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 17, 2009 -
Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete Getting English Version
An English language trailer of upcoming Blu-ray movie Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete has popped up online. The English language version of FFVIIACC is dated for an April 16 “Limited Worldwide” release. The English version features a new theme song: a reworking of techno tune “Leave” by German artist Fruehbel. Watch the trailer in…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 17, 2009 -
Time Warner Supports Square Enix Eidos Bid
The Square Enix takeover bid for UK publisher Eidos Interactive solidified even further today, as 20% Eidos shareholder Time Warner throws its support behind the Japanese company’s offer. Once thought to be a front runner to buy out the company themselves, Time Warner is now backing Square Enix‘s recently revealed bid to buy out Tomb…
By Mike Fahey Published February 16, 2009 -
What Games Were Selling April – December 2008?
Square Enix has released sales data for the period beginning April 1, 2008 and ending on December 31, 2008. Let’s see how the new titles and remakes stacked up. Keep in mind that these are not all life-to-date totals, but merely totals for the given period. Life-to-date titles for many of the games released before…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 16, 2009 -
Square Enix: “Dragon Quest IX Delay May Affect Final Fantasy XIII”
Dragon Quest IX is going to be delayed — blame fatal bugs for that! Is DQIX‘s postponement is going to affect another big Square Enix game Final Fantasy XIII? Square Enix president Yoichi Wada explained, “The next term’s schedule has been fixed yet. Presently, I cannot say what kind of effect we will experience from…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 12, 2009 -
Eidos Stock Explodes In Wake Of Square Enix Bid
Shares of Eidos on the London Stock Exchange skyrocketed today, more than doubling following the announcement of a generous buyout bid by Japanese RPG giant Square Enix. Closing at only 14 pence yesterday, shares of Eidos stock on the London Stock Exchange are currently trading at 31.75 pence, or .25 pence below the 32 pence…
By Mike Fahey Published February 12, 2009 -
Square Enix Trying To Buy Tomb Raider
Square Enix have just announced that an agreement has been reached with the board of Eidos, by which Square will purchase the creaky old British publisher for £84 million (USD$120 million). That price represents, according to Square, a premium of 129% over Eidos’ current market value. Meaning that, yes, in other words, they’re paying more…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 12, 2009 -
Square Enix Slashes Financial Forecast
Square Enix has finally released its financials, including a revised forecasts for this financial year — ending March 31, 2009. Sales and income are expected to be down. According to Square Enix, the company’s new net sales forecast is 16.9 percent lower than previously thought. Net income is expected to be down 62.5 percent. What’s…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 12, 2009 -
Dragon Quest IX Delayed
It’s official. Square Enix has announced that upcoming DS title Dragon Quest IX has been pushed back. The game was slated for a March 28 release in Japan. The game is now scheduled to hit retailers on July 11. According to Square Enix, the delay is a result of bugs or “flaws,” it seems, still…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 12, 2009 -
Square Enix Replies To Financials Delay Questions
Last week, we broke word that Square Enix had shifted announcing its financials from February 6th to February 12th due to an accounting delay. Stocks tumbled, and there was concern about game delays. We contacted Square Enix, asking them why the 2009 third quarter financial announcement has been delayed, and if it was because either…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 9, 2009 -
Star Ocean 4 Differences For Japan And The West
Star Ocean: The Last Hope will be released on February 19th. The following week, a slightly different version will be released in North America. There will be two types of character portraits in the battle scenes — one for each region. One is getting anime faces, and the other is getting CG models. Likewise, the…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 9, 2009 -
Square-Enix Brings Toys, Not Games, To NYCC
While the rest of the other video game publishers at the NYCC brought video games for fans to check out, Square-Enix brought lots and lots of toys. No playable demos. No trailers. Just toys. At least these were new toys. On display were action figures and statues from Final Fantasy VII, Crisis Core, Star Ocean,…
By Jim Reilly Published February 8, 2009 -
The Star Ocean… Escalator
When you think of ways to promote Star Ocean 4, escalators probably don’t jump to mind. For shame, because escalators are great. Even better than escalators? Wallpaper and LCD monitors looping Star Ocean 4. This escalator-LCD-screen-game advertising must be a first — we don’t recall seeing anything like this. This is fantastic. In case you…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 6, 2009 -
Dragon Quest IX Brings Internet Shopping
Upcoming DS title Dragon Quest IX has Wi-Fi. A new Weekly Jump scan shows it’ll be used for in-game internet shopping and extra quests. Your internet shopping guide is Roxanne, and she’ll show you merchandise that is updated daily. There are rare items, discount items and even special holiday items available to buy. Square Enix…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 6, 2009 -
Dragon Quest IX Delay Concerns Arise
Square Enix has announced it’ll delay its third-quarter earnings by a week to February 12th due to a delay in “accounting work.” Some fear its less an accounting delay and more a game delay. Square Enix was supposed to announce its Third Quarter results today, February 6th. The company’s revised calendar now shows the results…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 6, 2009 -
What Dragon Quest Female Character Does Akihabara Want To…Ahem?
A recent street survey polled Akihabara folks about which female Dragon Quest character they wanted to get very close with. It doesn’t get more scientific than this. Here are the results: 10. Queen of Isis (Dragon Quest 3) 9. Gerda, AKA “Red” in English (DQ8) 8. Female Warrior (Dragon Quest 3) 7. Flora (Dragon Quest…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 5, 2009 -
New Star Ocean 4 Screens, New Star Ocean 4 Character
Xbox 360 title Star Ocean 4 is only a few days away from release. Perfect timing for some new Star Ocean 4 and a new character — the bird lady! And she wears glasses. Sarah Jeland (literally, “Sara Jerando” in Japanese katakana — not sure about the English romanization) hails from the in-game planet of…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 4, 2009 -
Rocket Slimes Made Of Snow
A few days London was blanketed in snow. It was the worst snowfall in 18 years. So Kotaku reader Anneka did what any good Kotaku reader would do: She made Rocket Slimes. And four hours later, the illustrator-by-trade had a stack of Slimes. Look at them! They’re terrific. Snow Slimes [The Creative Brainwaves of Anneka…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 4, 2009