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Taito Arcade Hikes Prices 20 Percent [Update]
Arcade games since the birth of Japanese arcades have been 1 play for ¥100 yen*. Starting this week, that has changed. Sure, players could enjoy older games for ¥50 and some new, deluxe titles charged ¥200 and up. But generally speaking, 1 play was and has been ¥100. Game center Taito Station in Shibuya is…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 3, 2009 -
Japanese People Swarm Star Ocean 4 Kiosks, Kiosks Show New Faceplate
This past Sunday from noon to 5pm, eight Xbox 360 demo kiosks playing Star Ocean 4: The Last Hope were rolled out at the Akihabara Yodobashi Camera. Before the event began, numbered tickets were passed out to those lining up, and only 100 posters were handed out. Players experienced a 15 minute demo session. According…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 2, 2009 -
The Chances Of A DISSIDIA Sequel…
Want a DISSIDIA sequel? Square Enix game designer Tetsuya Nomura says there are “no plans” currently. But, hey, plans can change. According to game site 1Up, Nomura states at the end of a 704-page DISSIDIA strategy guide: “There are no current plans for a sequel. To be honest, I wanted to do one up until…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 2, 2009 -
Reviews
Star Ocean: Second Evolution Review: Calm Seas Ahead
Square Enix continues its seemingly unrelenting stream of RPG remakes with the release of Star Ocean: Second Evolution for the PSP, an update to the classic PlayStation title Star Ocean: The Second Story. Second Evolution picks up the Star Ocean story 20 years after the first game, following the adventures of Claude C. Kenni, the…
By Mike Fahey Published January 29, 2009 -
Does This Pop Singer Look Like A Final Fantasy XIII Character?
Morning Musume singer Mari Yaguchi did an interview with Famitsu. She learned something very exciting — about herself, of course. In a recent blog update, Yaguchi writes that she discovered during the Famitsu interview that there have been comments that she totally looks like a character in Final Fantasy XIII. (We’re thinking more pigtailed Oerba…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 29, 2009 -
The Guns, Beauty and Cities Of Final Fantasy XIII
Here are a collection of still shots from the newly released Final Fantasy XIII trailer, giving you a closer look at some of the characters and enemies featured in the video. You’d easily miss some of the more gorgeous moments in the action-packed trailer, so we’re capturing still shots faster than you can say pause…
By Mike Fahey Published January 28, 2009 -
Sqaure Enix’s Magic Youthful Character Formula
Square Enix has a formula and has it down pat. That’s not to say all Square Enix RPGs are the same — they’re not. However, they do share similarities in character design. Here’s why. Yusuke Naora, who worked on The Last Remnant, explains, “The format of the RPG lends itself well to having a teenage…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 28, 2009 -
Square Enix Junk Mail Pisses Off Man, Man Files Lawsuit, Man Wins
An individual in Japan with no connection to Square Enix or Final Fantasy XI (he’s never played it supposedly!) was being heavily spammed with FFXI re-registration emails. This individual got annoyed and took legal action. It’s believed that his email address was being used by item dealers to create Japanese PlayOnline accounts to access FFXI.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 27, 2009 -
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time Travels To Wii, DS In March
Square Enix has put a firm date on Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time. The game, dual-shipping on the Wii and Nintendo DS for euphoric connectivity, will land at retail on March 24th. Both the Wii and DS versions of Echoes of Time will set you back a budget-priced and outrageous $39.99 USD, respectively.…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 26, 2009 -
Tecmo Koei Merger Creates Koei Tecmo Holdings
It’s official. Tecmo and Koei announced today that the two companies have merged, giving birth through stock transfer to a joint holding company called Koei Tecmo Holdings as of April 1. Last fall, Tecmo rejected Square Enix’s offer of a friendly takeover. Instead, Tecmo commenced merger talks with Koei, stating that both “companies have excellent…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 26, 2009 -
Hundreds Of Players Banned In Final Fantasy XI
From the folks who brought you the 18 hour boss fight, comes this: mass bannings! Square Enix has nixed a large number of players from online game Final Fantasy XI. According to Square Enix, the company “discovered an issue that allowed players to create multiple items for certain treasures and rewards in areas such as…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 23, 2009 -
Crystal Defenders Leaps From iPhone To Consoles
Square Enix pioneers the art of the iPhone to console game port, announcing that their Final Fantasy Tactics-themed defense game Crystal Defenders is coming to WiiWare, xbox Live Arcade, and the Playstation Network. The entertaining yet rather simplistic iPhone game Crystal Defenders will first make the leap to WiiWare as Crystal Defenders R1 on January…
By Mike Fahey Published January 22, 2009 -
Final Fantasy XIII Site Bringing Trailer
Now, whether it’s a new trailer we don’t know. According to website Final Fantasy-XII.net, the clues to what the site can be found by decompiling the game site‘s flash. Forum member byoushinn discovered two files called “ff13-trailer-sd.flv” and “ff13-trailer-hd.flv” in the official FFXIII site’s flash. So two trailers, we assume, one HD. The countdown site…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 22, 2009 -
It’s The The Final Fantasy XIII Countdown
Square Enix revisits that most annoying of video game news teases, the countdown clock, promising a “new vision” of Final Fantasy XIII soon to be revealed to the world. We’ve been annoyed by countdown clocks since the first early human crawled out of the goo and said, “Hold on a sec”, but when it’s Square…
By Mike Fahey Published January 21, 2009 -
Three New Final Fantasy XIII Screens (So, So Sazhy)
Last week, new Final Fantasy XIII scans appeared in Japanese magazine V-Jump. And this week? Those same scans appear in the upcoming Famitsu. But, Famitsu being Famitsu, there are a few new scans — three, actually. They’re of Sazh Katzroy and his magnificent hairdo. 2chan
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 21, 2009 -
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children PS3 Now Yours For The Importing
Want to get your hands on the Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete branded PlayStation 3? That fancy decoration is going to cost you if you plan on importing. So… how much? Importer National Console Support is first out of the gate on pre-orders for the “limited” edition version, offering the complete package — one…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 20, 2009 -
What The Final Fantasy XIII Demo Will Let Players Do
The 1/23 issue of Famitsu rings in 2009 with interviews with 21 developers who are slated to shake things up this year. The meatiest stuff comes from Yoshinori Ono about the FFXIII demo. Final Fantasy XIII producer Yoshinori Kitase hopes to ramp up FFXIII production and that the PS3 gains more ground. The PS3, Kitase…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 20, 2009 -
Final Fantasy Legend II Site Launches
Square Enix has launched a SaGa 2 (aka Final Fantasy Legend II) site. It’s bare bones. The story, character info and trailer aren’t yet online — but the website does have a 20th Anniversary trailer and a staff credits list. The team has worked on past SaGa titles. The site is playing the game’s theme…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 19, 2009