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Square Enix details upcoming membership rewards
If you're in North America and you've been dutifully collecting Square Enix games, you may have some free stuff headed your way. The end of the current reward period for the Square Enix Members club is coming up on March 31, at which point Square Enix will ship out rewards depending on your "tier" rank -- a status awarded based on the number of games you've registered through the program. For the mere seconds of work we just spent registering a single game, we hit "bronze" status and earned a postcard set featuring Final Fantasy XIII, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days and Star Ocean The Last Hope International artwork. Silver members will get a desktop calendar with artwork from Final Fantasy XIV, Front Mission Evolved and other games; Gold members get a music compilation on CD; and Ultimate members will get an 8GB iPod Touch and a free Square Enix game to play on it!
This is what Final Fantasy XIII looks like on Xbox 360
At least see the high-res version before you start arguing. Multiplatform games are rarely as scrutinized as this. However, Final Fantasy XIII's fall from PS3 exclusivity has certainly sparked countless fanboy battles that rage online and, unfortunately, in our own comments section. Square Enix has recently released new images of the Xbox 360 version in action, and there are some noticeable differences, particularly when one looks at the Nomura-styled hairdos. We've donned the game a rather obscure nickname -- "The Reverse Ghostbusters" -- due to the visible disparity between the two versions. Regardless, it seems like a more-than-competent port -- a fact that the most vocal of you will likely ignore in the comments below. %Gallery-85971%%Gallery-85352%
Two Xbox 360 FF13 bundles for Europe, faceplate pre-order bonus for all
Clearly not content with just one measly Final Fantasy XIII Xbox 360 mega bundle, it looks like Europe will be receiving a second bundle as well. Europe will be receiving the same Final Fantasy XIII Special Edition bundle that was revealed at X10, which includes the game, a 250GB hard drive, two wireless controllers and downloadable Avatar goodies. Speaking of Avatar items, the release actually reveals what they are: a Rosch outfit, a Nabaat outfit and a Chocobo pet (the same one you might already have, we're assuming). The release didn't specify a price, though Amazon UK lists it for £249.99 ($391). In addition to that bundle, however, the region will also be receiving the Final Fantasy XIII Elite bundle, which includes the game, a single wireless controller and the standard 120GB hard drive. Again, no price was revealed, though Amazon France has it listed for €249.99 ($340). Finally, the press release reveals just how you can get your hands on one of the limited edition, promotional FFXIII faceplates. The faceplates will be offered as a bonus for anyone who pre-orders the 250GB Special Edition console. Major Nelson also revealed on Xbox Live that the faceplate will be a pre-order bonus for the North American Special Edition console as well. So, if you really want that faceplate, you'd better be ready to plop down 400 bones for it.
Final Fantasy XIII launch day sales exceed 1 million in Japan
In the roughly 24 hours since Square Enix dropped Final Fantasy XIII into retailers across Japan, over 1 million consumers have snagged the game for their PlayStation 3s. The Japanese publisher says that the number doesn't include the Lightning Edition PS3 hardware bundles, which would presumably add another handful of copies to the grand total. With another few months to go until North American gamers can hungrily grab up the sequel, we'll have to focus our time on jewelry contests instead. [Via Kotaku]%Gallery-41346%
Final Fantasy XIII sweepstakes offers up merch, still no English demo
There's nothing quite like being placated by material things -- it's what gets us by in this cold, Capitalist world. Knowing that us North Americans are heart-hurtin' over the lack of a localized Final Fantasy XIII demo, Square Enix recently announced plans to give us merchandise based on the upcoming game though a sweepstakes, as teased by Square's Sonia Im on her Twitter account recently. Starting December 23, the contest website will open for entries and 13 "lucky winners" will get their hands on the FFXIII-inspired merchandise seen in the gallery below. More specifically, four people will get their necks adorned with one of the four pendants while nine others will get an "accessory" (keychain or card holder). Sure, you might want to play the game instead, but isn't getting stuff nice? %Gallery-80563%
Final Fantasy XIII, reimagined by Yoshitaka Amano
Long before Tetsuya Nomura drew the spiky haired silhouette of Final Fantasy VII's Cloud Strife, one man defined the artistic style of Square's esteemed RPG franchise: Yoshitaka Amano. While Amano is still actively involved in the franchise (by creating the backdrops for all the Final Fantasy logos, specifically), some hardcore fans miss seeing his unique sensibilities applied towards the series' character designs. The latest Famitsu (via Siliconera) shows Amano's interpretation of the cast of Final Fantasy XIII. While hardcore fans can argue over which character designer is superior, we wonder: would Amano's art look right when rendered in 3D? %Gallery-41346%
Japan summons one more Final Fantasy XIII trailer
Square Enix has released yet another Japanese language trailer for Final Fantasy XIII, likely the last one before the game hits retail stores across the Pacific. This five minute video features a lot of recycled footage from earlier trailers, but attentive fans will notice the reveal of new characters (villains, perhaps?). The highlights of this lengthy preview are the franchise's trademark over-the-top summons -- made even more spectacular and grandiose for this generation's first numbered entry in the Final Fantasy series. Of course, Square Enix fans would have it no other way. [Thanks, Brandon S.!] %Gallery-41346%
New Final Fantasy XIII screenshots reintroduce Oerba
Click to summon bigger pictures. We're still dumbfounded by the fact that -- after years of endless CG teases and countdowns -- Final Fantasy XIII is actually coming out. While still pegged with a vague "Spring 2010" release, Square Enix has made good on its promise of a hastened localization. Already, the HUD sports English text, and the characters have been dubbed in English.The latest batch of screenshots released by Square Enix focus on Oerba Yun Fang, a character introduced at Tokyo Game Show as a traitor working for the government. She may start out as a villain, but it seems one way or another, she's bound to join your party: these screens show her (and her summon) in actual gameplay screens, proving there will be some interactivity between the hours of cutscenes FF13 is bound to have.%Gallery-76398%
TGS 2009: New Final Fantasy XIII trailer is heavy on story, light on English
Square Enix has finally released its TGS 2009 trailer for the hotly anticipated Final Fantasy XIII. In it, players can watch nearly seven full minutes of the game's story. Sadly, the entire trailer is in Square Enix's native tongue -- unsurprising since the trailer comes straight from the TGS 2009 show floor. Know what's going on? Sound off in the comments.
Final Fantasy XIII might get DLC, no story expansions
We know -- it's tiresome hearing about "DLC" when we're still waiting on "regular ol' C" -- still, our interest was piqued by the mention of possible downloadable content for Final Fantasy XIII in a recent RPG Site interview with Squeenix's Motomu Toriyama and Yoshinori Kitase. According to Kitase, the developer is "exploring the option of downloadable content, perhaps adding new areas, items or enemies." He went on to add that any DLC wouldn't expand the game's story -- that'll be completely contained within the core game. Our hope is, as ever, that any potential expansion for the game will finally add that Final Fantasy kart racer mode we've been waiting on ever since -- wait, they already did one of those? Get out of town! [Via VG247]
English Final Fantasy XIII demo will be brand new, downloadable (if it happens)
Click to embiggen. Right now, there's only one way to get an early hands-on with Final Fantasy XIII: own the Japanese Blu-ray release of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete. Heck, you can't even go to a gaming convention to get a proper hands-on!Square Enix is undecided about releasing a playable demo of Final Fantasy XIII in the States, but if it does, it won't be available on disc form. Square Enix's Yoshinori Kitase commented, "we are thinking of providing it in a downloadable format," reiterating earlier sentiments. However, don't expect to play a localized version of the PS3 demo. Instead, "if we were to provide the demo overseas, it would be a completely new version." The game has progressed quite a bit since the release of the Japanese demo, meaning Square Enix would be more inclined to show something new ... if they decide on actually making one in the first place.%Gallery-70579%
Final Fantasy XIII team 'aiming' for three-DVD release
Click to embiggen. Square Enix's decision to simultaneously launch Final Fantasy XIII on both PS3 and Xbox 360 certainly caused a lot of fan fervor. With each DVD holding far less data than a Blu-ray disc, PlayStation fanboys soon came up with mock-ups of the 360 version of the game, some with as many as 40 discs! Xbox 360 users won't have to worry, though, as reality is shaping up quite differently.Speaking at GamesCom, Square Enix's Yoshinori Kitase commented: "This isn't the final count yet, but we're aiming for about three discs." The team is working to compress as much as possible, while still keeping the quality high. Interestingly enough, at three discs, Final Fantasy XIII won't take the crown for the 360 game with the highest disc count. Instead, Microsoft's exclusive Lost Odyssey manages to stay on top with its four.Releasing a multi-disc Final Fantasy game isn't new for Square Enix. In fact, the company launched Final Fantasy VII on three discs back in the PS1 era. In spite of the burden of having to change discs, we heard that game turned out pretty alright.%Gallery-70579%
Special Edition Advent Children PlayStation 3 unboxed in all its matte glory
There's a lot to love about the special edition 160GB Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete Cloud Black PlayStation 3 bundle that was unleashed this week in Japan -- a fancy Strife Wolf emblem, a copy of Advent Children Complete on Blu-ray, and a Final Fantasy XIII demo you can't play anywhere else -- but perhaps our favorite part is the console's matte finish. For us, a smudge-resistant PS3 is well worth the 49,980 yen (US $505) price of admission. 1UP has the unboxing, hit up the read link for more pics.[Via Joystiq]
So you want to see Final Fantasy XIII in action?
The Final Fantasy XIII demo has now been captured -- in full -- and placed on YouTube. Grab a controller and pretend you're playing the game! The videos highlight Square Enix's amazing CG, some real-time gameplay and a few terrific tunes. Obviously there are some spoilers, but for those who simply cannot wait until 2010, this is a very comprehensive first look at the game.Check out the videos after the break.%Gallery-12752%[Thanks, Jack!]
FFXIII demo, special edition 160GB PS3 coming April 16 to Japan
The Final Fantasy XIII demo is hitting Japan on April 16 packaged with the Blu-ray Final Fantasy flick, Advent Children Complete. According to Famitsu, Sony will commemorate the release with a new 160GB PlayStation 3 bundle for ¥49,980 (US$550) that includes the movie, demo and specially marked console seen above.Already got a PS3? ACC is also coming sans hardware for ¥5,900 (US$65) with the demo and ¥4,900 (US$54) without ... but let's be honest, is there really a market for people who want the movie but don't want to play and / or eBay the FFXIII trial? Square Enix recently said that there are no plans to release the demo overseas, so if you've been pining for a taste of the long-awaited RPG, we suggest you brush up on your Japanese.[Via PS3 Fanboy]
Reuters: Final Fantasy XIII coming to Japan 2009, overseas after April 2010
Square Enix President Yoichi Wada (via Guardian) has told Reuters this week that the long-awaited Final Fantasy XIII will be hitting Japan in 2009, and overseas (on both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360) in the fiscal year beginning April 2010. Of course, that's still a pretty vague answer and we expect there's plenty of time for both release windows to be pushed back ad infinitum. After all, this whole situation feels like déjà vu ... from 2007. Wada also addressed economic concerns, stating that operating profits for this fiscal year were likely going to fall 21 billion yen (US $236 million) compared to last year, or 2.4 percent. We wouldn't worry too much about the company, though, since the money-printing Dragon Quest IX is invading Japanese retail in March.Note: It's worth mentioning that we can't seem to find this article -- sent out via RSS -- anywhere on Reuters' own page and have only seen one other source (Forexyard). Did it slip out too early? We've contacted Reuters to confirm the validity of the interview. Update: It's legit.[Thanks, Emperium]
Final Fantasy XIII won't hit global market until at least April 2010
The long wait for Final Fantasy XIII continues. Although the hotly anticipated RPG from Square Enix will be released in Japan this year, the rest of the world will have to wait until Square Enix's business year after next, president Yoichi Wada stated today. That means the global release of the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of Final Fantasy XIII won't happen until at least April 2010.This news should come as largely unsurprising to Final Fantasy fans that have become accustomed to delays and long waits for new games. Thankfully, PS3 owners have a ton of other games to look forward to in 2009.[Thanks, Emperium!]
Direct-feed Final Fantasy XIII screens look predictably more gorgeous
Click to embiggen. No more magazine scans, folks. Square Enix has finally opened the official Final Fantasy XIII website and has unleashed thirty direct-feed images of the game. After years of waiting, it finally appears that the game is getting closer to (shock!) actually being done? There aren't too many real-time shots to be seen in this collection, but the few that can be seen look remarkably close to the CG renders we've been seeing for so long. With Square Enix finally revving up this game's PR, it won't be too long until we see (bigger shock!) actual gameplay footage.%Gallery-41346%
Final Fantasy XIII's 'blond-haired bandana guy' named
Stop the presses! The latest issue of Famitsu (you know, the one that totally hated on LittleBigPlanet) has revealed the name of "blond-haired bandana dude" from Final Fantasy XIII. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Snow Villiers. We know you'll be able to sleep more soundly now. Snow will be joining described "female Cloud Strife" protagonist Lightning in taking the world by storm. Bad weather puns aside, we can't decide who'd be more proud of the nomenclature, Mega Man or Captain Planet.The magazine (via IGN) also delved a bit into Versus XIII but lacked any gameplay details. Instead, we're given hints about each of the two main characters' personalities, Noctis Lucis Caelum and Stella Nox Fleuret (latin words literally translated as "Night Light Sky" and "Star Darkness Sword," respectively). These two have the ability to "see light," which we guess is either some incomplete translation, a metaphor for something spiritual or a hint that Square Enix is taking a cue from the story Blindness.
Final Fantasy Agito XIII to use Crisis Core's ATB system, will support Infrastructure
The revelation that Agito, the former Final Fantasy XIII cell phone game, was coming to the PSP was a nice revelation for many. Apparently, the developers were tired of waiting for cell phone tech to advance to the level they wanted for Agito. While details are far and few between, the latest issue of Famitsu PS3 (via FinalFantasyXIII.net) says that Agito will use an advanced version of Crisis Core's ATB system. Fans of the PSP-exclusive prequel should be familiar with the real-time battle system. However, unlike Crisis Core, players can look forward to controlling more than one character.Another bonus is the addition of Infrastructure online play to Agito, a rarity for more Japanese-developed titles. Games with community aspects, such as Monster Hunter Portable and Phantasy Star Portable have opted to use Ad-Hoc multiplayer only. Although that hasn't hindered the popularity of either of these games, players across the Pacific understand that Infrastructure makes online play much more accessible. We approve.[Thanks, Monkey!]
