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PSN Fall Sale kicks off tomorrow; DeathSpank, Peace Walker and more half price
If you've still got a few bills or coins tucked betwixt the cushions of your couch that have managed to go unspent in this deal-heavy season, you might want to hold them tight until tomorrow, when Sony kicks off the PSN Fall Sale. The week-long promotion will cut the prices of select downloadable PS3, PSP and Mini titles in half, bringing games like DeathSpank, Joe Danger, Dissidia: Final Fantasy and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker into the magical realm of affordability. Check out the full list of offers, which will go live in conjunction with tomorrow's PlayStation Store update, just past the jump.
Amazon discounts Crystal Bearers, other Square Enix oddities
At a $20 price point, we'd have no problem recommending Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers to any Wii owner looking for a totally unique new experience. Luckily, Amazon has dropped Square Enix's telekinetic adventure to just that price as part of its Deal of the Day. In addition, Amazon is selling another starkly non-traditional Final Fantasy game, the PSP's Dissidia: Final Fantasy, at a special one-day price of $14.99. It's normally $20 in stores and on PSN -- which means that you should probably buy it along with something else to qualify for free shipping, or you're not really saving anything. Also, Nier for PS3 is on sale.
CESA: 5.2 million illegal downloads of Dissidia: Final Fantasy in Japan
Siliconera has some more insight on those Consumer Entertainment Software Association piracy figures, and while the "money lost" totals are still a little inflated (it's very hard to agree with the sentiment that all pirated software would otherwise have been purchased legitimately at full price if not for piracy), the actual downloads are pretty surprising. Dissidia: Final Fantasy is the big winner (loser?), with over 5.2 million illegal downloads onto Japanese PSPs. Phantasy Star Portable 2 and Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce were also heavily pirated, with 4.6 and 2 million illegal copies downloaded, respectively. Fortunately, outside of a few major titles, downloads drop off pretty sharply -- by the end of the top 20 in sales, they're at a few thousand or 10 thousand downloads each, rather than millions. Piracy is definitely still an issue (and a growing one -- the first Phantasy Star Portable only saw just over half a million illegal downloads a few years ago), but in Japan it appears confined to a small group of extremely popular titles.
GameStop's 'GameDays' sale includes cheap Assassin's Creed 2 and more
GameStop's annual GameDays promotion has started up once again, bringing a pretty good selection of discounted games. Perhaps the best deal in the whole lineup is Assassin's Creed 2, available on both Xbox 360 and PS3 for $29.99. Other exciting deals on those systems include Fallout 3 for $20, Bayonetta for $40 (PS3/360) and Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection for just $15 (PS3/360). Handheld gamers can pick up COP: The Recruit, Dissidia Final Fantasy, or Phantasy Star Portable for $20, and top off the purchase with a $10 copy of Worms 2. Of course, these are just a few of the discounts -- go browse for yourself. [Via CheapCollegeGamers]
Best of the Rest: Andrew's Picks of 2009
Flower This year had a number of terrific downloadable games (this list is a testament to that), however no game -- retail or digital -- connected with me like Flower. Jenova Chen's flOw was an interesting experiment, but Flower is an actual game. In fact, Flower is one of the few experiences I can think of that show the true potential of games as a unique storytelling medium. No other non-interactive art form will ever be able to replicate what thatgamecompany has managed to create.
Best of the Rest: Griffin's Picks of 2009
DJ Hero What started out as tepid fascination in DJ Hero quickly turned into a deep, passionate love. I initially thought it was just another rhythm game knock-off with an obtuse peripheral and a too-high price point. However, as my turntabling improved, my fondness for the game multiplied. Based on the game's lackluster sales, I'm guessing most people shared my outright hesitance -- but once you invest a bit of time and patience into DJ Hero, I guarantee you'll get hooked. (And that soundtrack! Oh, man, that soundtrack.)
Swag Saturday: Final Fantasy spinoff pack (PSP)
If you're like us, you're ready for The Future of Digital Entertainment™ and want to get rid of all that silly, antiquated physical media still laying around the house. We're using some for coasters (something's gotta hold our Zima!), some for Halloween treats later this month, and some for Swag Saturday giveaways. We're hoping that you're not like us and are instead hungrily searching for your chance to win a copy of both Dissidia Final Fantasy and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (on UMD, of course). Leave a comment below letting us what you're going to do with your physical media when the future is upon us and there's no turning back. We'll choose one winner at random after the comments are closed 24 hours from now. See you in the future! Leave a comment letting us what you're going to do with your physical media when the future is upon us and there's no turning back. You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec, presumably based on the longstanding feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys) Limit 1 entry per person per day This entry period ends at 7:01PM ET on Sunday, October 11 At that time, we'll randomly select one winner to receive Dissidia Final Fantasy ($40 ARV) and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII ($20 ARV) For a list of complete rules, click here %Gallery-12134%%Gallery-18738%
Upload your Dissidia smackdowns to Square's site
Was your recent aerial quarrel with Ultimecia in Dissidia: Final Fantasy particularly thrilling? Are you doing the world a disservice by hording the replay footage for yourself? Don't let this burden hang on your shoulders for a second longer -- Square Enix's official Dissidia site now supports Battle Replay uploading. It seems like a fairly simple process, and there appears to be a small community springing up around these videos -- but are you guys really interested in watching other people play so soon after the game came out?
Review: Dissidia: Final Fantasy (PSP)
Dissidia: Final Fantasy is just okay. While the time I spent with the game's combat was certainly fun, if repetitive at times, a truly awful story and seemingly arbitrary customization options weigh down an otherwise decent fighting game. After 10 hours and a handful of characters, I was left wondering exactly who the game was intended for -- the FF fan in me loathed the story and the fighting game fan in me wanted deeper, more varied combat. %Gallery-12134%
Japan getting international version of Dissidia, coincides with PSP Go launch
Square Enix is planning on tapping into a time-tested recipe for success in the Japanese games market -- if a game you release is overwhelmingly successful, then ... release it again! This time around, the title receiving the revamp treatment is the soon-to-be-released-in-America RPG brawler, Dissidia: Final Fantasy -- or, as it will be called when it gets relaunched in Japan this November, Dissidia: Final Fantasy Universal Tuning. (That's fancy Squeenix-speak for "International Version.")Japanese tech blog AndriaSang learned the titular Tuning will add features to the game that have been added in the European and North American versions of the game -- features such as English voice overs and an arcade-style time attack mode. It shares the same November 1 release date as the PSP Go -- and in a clever sale-boosting move, will be released both as a UMD (for ¥5,040) and a PSN download (for ¥4,000). Sweet! You can save up that extra ¥1,040 for the release of Dissidia: Final Fantasy Universal Tuning Deluxe Remix Turbo Fighter!
Square Enix and Eidos announce joint lineup for Gamescom 2009
Though it's been quite some time since Square Enix and Eidos shacked up, the first time the two share booth space will be at the upcoming European trade show, Gamescom 2009. Aside from bringing the first publicly playable Supreme Commander 2, some highlights include Dissidia Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days and ... Nier. Alright, maybe not Nier. The event announcement says that both Final Fantasy XIII (as a franchise unto itself, not just the eponymous iteration) and Final Fantasy XIV will be at the show, though it doesn't detail if hands-on time with either will be available, or how much new info to expect, unfortunately. Finally, Batman: Arkham Asylum and Mini Ninjas will be descending from Eidos' camp. Gamescom 2009 kicks off on August 19 - 23 in Cologne, Germany. (Also, Pony Friends 2 ... finally!)
Amazon offering $5 off Dissidia deal
Even if you've already pre-ordered your copy elsewhere, Amazon is offering a deal on Dissidia: Final Fantasy that's worth checking out (unless you're after the PSP-3000 bundle, that is). By placing the game in your virtual shopping cart and entering the coupon code SAVE5DIS at checkout, the online retailer will knock $5 off its asking price of $36.99. Since the game sells for more than $25, you won't pay shipping or sales tax and will save the dough brick and mortars ask for pre-orders. So, if you ever see one of us on the street in need of cab fare, remember who did you a solid with this one, 'kay?Update: We posted this deal earlier in the week, however the code wasn't active yet. We're glad to report the coupon code should be active now.
Dissidia demo expected July 23
Have you seen the latest episode of Pulse, the fortnightly PSN content highlight video? If so, you will have noticed that a demo for Square Enix's next PSP release, Dissidia: Final Fantasy, will be available to download on July 23. That's the expected release date, at least, but don't be surprised if it slips back down the slippery slope leading to the PSN servers. It wouldn't be the first time. For many of us this will be the first time to see how the game actually works, as screenshots and videos have shown nothing more than a lot of mindless mid-air hacking and slashing. For a game which apparently lasts for over 40 hours, there's got to be a little more to it than that. [Via VG247]
Dissidia to release in Europe on September 4
Dissidia will be making its way to European shores -- that's the UK and across all PAL territories -- on September 4. That's only a week or so after the American launch, but in return, European Final Fantasy fans will get access to the limited edition version of the game. The western release will also feature new content that wasn't available in the Japanese version, including an Arcade Mode, more balanced gameplay and other fun stuff.
Square Enix announces Front Mission Evolved, NIER
Square Enix's E3 lineup features two surprises, in addition to the expected Final Fantasy stuff: Front Mission Evolved and NIER. While we may have suspected that some kind of Front Mission game was coming, we wouldn't have guessed that it would be a third-person shooter instead of a strategy game, nor that it would be developed by a Western company (Silent Hill: Homecoming's Double Helix Games, specifically). The E3 lineup press release highlights SE's efforts to become a more "global" company, and it hardly gets more "global" than handing one of its existing IPs over to a Western developer to be made into a PS3/Xbox/PC shooter. NIER is a new PS3/360 action game developed by Bullet Witch/Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles maker cavia. Players control NIER, who fights in a "crumbling world" to find a cure for his daughter, who is infected with the "Black Scrawl virus." The announcement also provided a firm release date for DISSIDIA Final Fantasy and its PSP bundle: August 25. The first episode of the WiiWare Final Fantasy IV: The After Years was also dated -- for this Monday! See the whole announced lineup in our gallery. %Gallery-64503%
Dissidia US release has reversible dark & light cover art
See the full picture. Now, who would have thought you could print on both sides of paper? Apparently, Square Enix discovered it could do just that with its North American Final Fantasy: Dissidia box art. Taking advantage of the whole good versus evil theme, future owners of the title can choose whether they want to sport the villainous force of Chaos on the outside, or flip out the baddies for a cover featuring the heroic champions of Cosmos.With this, and the recently announced Final Fantasy PSP bundle, it appears Square Enix is really looking to push Dissidia forward. Look out for it in August.
Dissidia US announcement trailer heavy on CG, still cool
The first official US debut trailer for Dissidia: Final Fantasy has made its way onto GameTrailers (you can watch it past the break) and, like most Square Enix trailers, is full of great music and lots of words. Oh, and CG. Square Enix loves the CG. But, we will admit that even though there's no gameplay footage, there is a certain warm, fuzzy feeling we get seeing Final Fantasy's good guys square off against the series' evil doers. Dissidia: Final Fantasy will release in the US this summer.
Final Fantasy fighter 'Dissidia' tops Japanese charts
Proving that if you slap "Final Fantasy" on anything it'll sell, PSP-exclusive Dissidia took the top sales spot in Japan for the week ending Dec. 21. The "Smash Bros. of Final Fantasy characters" sold an impressive 489,126 copies in its debut week, topping the first-week sales of Final Fantasy Crisis Core by 3,000 units, according to PSPHyper. Dissidia also translated into hardware sales for the PSP, summoning the masses to purchase 145,957 units -- a 104% increase from the prior week. Check out the top 10 selling games in Japan for the week ending Dec. 21 after the break. [Via PSP Fanboy]
Dissidia is #1 in Japan, sells nearly half a million copies
Surprising no one, Dissidia was numero uno on last week's Media Create Japanese sales charts, selling an astonishing 489,126 copies. Did it have the best debut week ever for a PSP title in Japan? Of course not, not even close -- that honor belongs to Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G, which managed to push 820,000 copies out the door in its first week, according to PSPHyper. However, it did beat out another Final Fantasy spinoff, Crisis Core, by 3,000 units.On the hardware side, it was also a healthy week for the PSP: our beloved portable saw 145,957 units in sales, though it was still bested by the DS, which sold 204,144 units. Now the real question is, does Square Enix's fan-service brawler have the momentum it takes to be top dog again next week? Sales numbers and ranking for the top 10 Japanese games of the week are after the jump:
Dissidia Final Fantasy coming to NA mid-2009
Square Enix announced today that Dissidia Final Fantasy, which released this week in Japan, will make its way to North America in "mid-year 2009." For those who need a refresher on what this Final Fantasy is all about: it's the PSP-exclusive fighter that has established Final Fantasy characters battling it out like they're in Super Smash Androgyny Brawl. The title received a 36/40 from Famitsu and the story mode allegedly takes 40 hours -- this is a fighter, right? Gallery: Final Fantasy Dissidia
