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Square-Enix's creatively-named Virtual World
The acerbic lads at Kotaku bring the snark once again with their announcement of an announcement over Square-Enix's upcoming virtual world called Virtual World ... virtual world. There, I couldn't resist.The post's comparison to Second Life, however, is slightly off-the-mark, as SL doesn't run on ad revenues, while Sony's Home certainly will. Similarly, Virtual World will feature ads for Square-Enix games, and given that Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon will be a Wii title, there could be other Wii titles on display as well. Besides the ability to have tea with a Chocobo, will there be any reason for people to want to enter Virtual World? And besides, everybody knows Chocobos like Gysahl Greens anyway -- I mean, duh.
Akela Talamasca12.07.2007
Dragon Quest V coming out (again) in spring 2008
Square Enix has announced a release window for the next in their series of rapid-fire Dragon Quest remakes. Dragon Quest V: Bride of Heaven is scheduled for a spring 2008 release in Japan. This is one that we should be really hoping for, because it has actually never been released outside Japan. Unlike Dragon Quest IV, which just hasn't been released outside Japan in a long time. But with the Enix side in charge of Square Enix, and with Dragon Quest IV selling like it is in Japan, expect to see the money spent for localization of all three remakes. Dragon Quest V features the ability to catch and tame monsters. Much like Torneko's quest in Dragon Quest IV spun off into its own game (and then the Mystery Dungeon series in general), this mechanic was the genesis of the Dragon Quest Monsters games. Japan loves their Dragon Quest.
JC Fletcher12.06.2007
'It's a Wonderful World' redubbed, slated for European release
Released on the Nintendo DS back in July, "Subarashiki Kono Sekai" saw the team behind Kingdom Hearts take a break from all that adorable fantasy nonsense to explore an entirely different... well, no. Setting the game in Shibuya, Tokyo ("the coolest district in Tokyo," it says here) pretty much guarantees a heavy presence of adorable fantasy nonsense. It's a good thing some of us are partial to that sort of thing, or Square Enix wouldn't have bothered to localize the game (otherwise known as "It's a Wondeful World") for the PAL market. Set for release in Spring 2008, the newly redubbed "The World Ends With You" starts in a rather sinister fashion, reminiscent of other popular Japanese import, The Ring. It seems the lead chap, Neku, encounters a phone message ominously informing him that after seven days have passed, he'll cease to exist. Don't be too concerned, as he'll get out of the predicament thanks to "the coolest fashions, friends and fighting skills" Tokyo has to offer. And hey, if those friends and fighting skills don't work out, at least the guy will be fashionably late. Geddit? We've asked Square Enix whether or not a US release is on the cards, though it's easy enough to import and play DS games from Europe should the answer be "no, and for the last time, stop sending us those chain letters." Update: Square Enix has no announcements regarding a US release.
Ludwig Kietzmann12.05.2007
Square Enix prez sees goals clearly, PS3 fuzzy
As Square Enix president Yoichi Wada spoke with CNET Japan, we borrowed Engadget Japan's Ittousai and listened in. While Wada defined the Square Enix vision as a 5-year plan to be a Top 3 worldwide publisher (currently ranked 11th by Game Developer), he's still having trouble seeing where Sony is going with PlayStation 3. "Is it a game console for gamers or a high-performance consumer electronics machine?" Wada wondered. "I really want [Sony] to make a clear decision."As for Square Enix's own business plan, Wada doesn't want loyalists to think the company will water down its franchises to appeal to a broader market, though recent releases would suggest otherwise. When questioned about Square Enix's reliance on Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest (including a recycling campaign and string of simplified spin-offs), Wada countered with numbers, claiming that the two franchises accounted for less than half of the company's revenues. His defense suggested that fans' demands for new installments were the reason Square Enix dedicates 60% of development resources to existing IPs. Want something new? Quit with the death threats and love notes.
James Ransom-Wiley12.05.2007
Square Enix thinks Sony needs to define their console
Yoichi Wada is the CEO of Square Enix, making him a very important spokesperson for the company -- especially their well-established Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest franchises (the latter formerly under Enix's care). Wada took some time to speak with CNet Japan about the latest generation of consoles. Besides saying that the PS3 is a media hub and a gaming console, he noted that only the Xbox 360 has appropriately touted itself as a gaming machine. The Wii, he says, well, "people aren't buying the Wii as a game machine, but as a toy." His comment about the PS3 was meant to say the system hasn't clearly defined what it is and that it should, soon.He also goes on to say that Square Enix isn't just a DQ and FF company -- Wada says they make so many of those games because "... people keep asking for new installments." It's not entirely relevant to the PS3, but Square Enix is making a lot of fresh IPs in the coming year aside from the next entries in their beloved franchises. With his attitude, though, he seems hesitant to put them on the PS3. Hopefully people will understand that the PS3 is a gaming console, but has the capacity to be so much more. It's not confusing; it's just hard to believe it can do so much.[via Kotaku]
Nick Doerr12.05.2007
FFIV looking as sumptuous as ever in new trailer
We already knew that Square Enix's remake of Final Fantasy IV was going to require a whopping 1 gigabit cartridge, and this latest trailer from the company's official site neatly sums up why. Look at it for heaven's sake! FMV, full 3D models, voice acting, and all playing out to Megumi Ida's entrancing vocals. As long as our favourite line is preserved in the localized English version, Square Enix may as well take our wallets from us now.[Thanks, creamsugar!]
Chris Greenhough12.05.2007
Revenant Wings flying to PAL regions in February
Two weeks after the game launched stateside, Square Enix has announced that Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings will be hitting PAL territories on February 15th.Despite the odd difficulty spike and occasionally patchy visuals, the game left a favorable impression on us when we reviewed it last week. Not for the first time, we'd strongly advise importing to those outside the U.S. and Japan.[Via press release]
Chris Greenhough12.05.2007
Jump Festa has Square Enix fans covered
Square Enix has announced their lineup for this month's Jump Festa, and though it's not extensive, there's enough variety to please even the pickiest of SE devotees. Final Fantasy IV, which releases right before the two-day event, will be playable, but what's really exciting is that we've been promised videos of both Front Mission 2089 and Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days. With the dribs and drabs we've seen so far from the very intriguing upcoming DS Kingdom Hearts title, that footage promises to be popular.Of course, now that we're building it up in our minds, it will be precisely four seconds longer than the last footage we saw, and we'll still know very little about the game.
Alisha Karabinus12.03.2007Dragon Quest IV footage not making the wait any easier
While Japan goes absolutely nuts for Dragon Quest IV, these videos landed on the 'net over the weekend, giving us our longest look yet at some of the meaty gameplay currently being enjoyed by over 600,000 Japanese gamers.Truth be told, we're still not totally sold on the slightly jarring combination of 2D heroes and 3D environments, especially as the cheaper-than-ever Final Fantasy III and forthcoming Final Fantasy IV are both depicted in full 3D. On the other hand, we'll happily concede the environments do look rather spiffy. We reeeally need that western release date though, Square Enix.Embark on a quest past the break for the second trailer.
Chris Greenhough12.03.2007
Star Ocean remake: we want more cutscenes
As is typical of modern Square Enix games, we're most excited for Star Ocean's cutscenes. The graphical "revamp" done for the first Star Ocean is akin to Final Fantasy Anniversary Edition ... it feels kind of lazy. Regardless, Square Enix always makes stellar cutscenes, and as evidenced by these new screenshots, the legacy continues. This is the last big release on PSP for the year, and we're certain that the introduction of yet another limited edition PSP-2000 system into the Japanese marketplace will incite a bit of post-holiday sales fervor in the country.[Via PSPHyper]
Andrew Yoon12.03.2007
New trailers for Square Enix titles at Jump Festa
The annual Jump Festa is right around the corner and Square Enix has done us a favor by revealing their lineup of games to be shown and/or played at the event. While a lot of the titles are for Nintendo systems, there are a few titles of PSP fame that will get their time in the sun. A new Final Fantasy Dissidia trailer is getting shown behind closed doors, along with a Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep trailer. The remake of the first and second Star Ocean titles, subtitled First Departure, will get a public video but will not be playable. Since the first two are behind closed doors, we actually don't know if the trailers will be entirely new, or just some recycled secret stuff we're still not allowed to see. Either way, we'll keep you up to date on these videos just in case a leak is sprung in the dam of information Square Enix has built.
Nick Doerr12.03.2007
New Final Fantasy XIII trailers at Jump Festa
Square Enix has unveiled its lineup for their annual Jump Festa event and among the sea of trailers and playable games is yet another lovely video of Final Fantasy XIII -- not just the game, but advertised is the entire Fabula Nova Crystallis series. We don't know if this "new" trailer is going to be a remixed version of what was shown behind closed doors at the Tokyo Game Show or not, because this one is also going to be shown behind closed doors. If it's all new footage, that'd be grand, but we just won't know. Hopefully someday Square Enix will allow the general public to see how their titles are progressing, but until then, we'll just keep you up to date on potential videos that may or may not get leaked.
Nick Doerr12.03.2007
FFIII: Not ridiculously expensive for once
If you made a point of not picking up Final Fantasy 3 DS after seeing its redonkulous $40 tag when it first hit stores a year ago, you'll be happy to hear that the 3D remake's price has been slashed in half with an Onion Sword! Already, Amazon and GameStop/EB are selling Final Fantasy 3 for $19.99. Even if you already have the game, it's so cheap now, you won't mind buying it again (provided that you aren't still broke from buying it the first time)!
Eric Caoili11.30.2007
Square Enix's next MMO may not be Final Fantasy related
In a recent discussion with Gamasutra at the Final Fantasy XI Fanfest, the developers behind FFXI confirmed that they are still working on a new MMO, but revealed that it might not be a part of the Final Fantasy series -- and then again, it might be. Producer of FFXI and Square Enix vice president Hiromichi Tanaka said that the new game could either be part of the FF series, a sequel to an existing FF game, or something entirely new.The Gamasutra interview also includes comments from the dev team about World of Warcraft and how they feel it has impacted their game. Their answer? Not much. They note that FFXI was at its peak in subscribers close to WoW's launch, and there was no notable drop in numbers after the soon-to-be industry giant was released.
William Dobson11.28.2007
DS Fanboy Review: Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings
It's easy to assume that the folks at Square Enix aren't doing anything new these days -- after all, usually when we discuss SE games, we're talking about remakes, or one of the many handheld strategy games they've put out this year. Don't let the repetition fool you, though; even when they're treading familiar ground, Square Enix is working to innovate with all of their games.With Final Fantasy XII, Square Enix took a step outside the box. While the system for improving your characters in the long-running RPG series often differs, from materia to the sphere grid, the basic gameplay has long been at least similar. In the latest installment, however, Square Enix lifted influences from the MMORPG Final Fantasy XI and did away with series staples, like the battle screen, and the result was a Final Fantasy like none before it. Revenant Wings, as a sequel, changes things up as well -- and the result is a fusion of RPG and RTS that, while odd at first, feels completely natural even before the short tutorial is finished.
Alisha Karabinus11.28.2007
Make your own FFXI dungeons, Fan Fest recap
Writing for Gamastura, freelance writer Emily Balistrieri has a lengthy run-down on the biggest party of the year for Final Fantasy XI fans: Fan Fest. She offers up two features for the price of one. The first is an interview with some folks from the development team, including Hiromichi Tanaka, and Global Online Producer Sage Sundi. The second is a breakdown of the events of the Fest itself, from the introductory speech to the obligatory game music concert. Another very popular event returning from last year was held Friday at 3:00 PM: The Tarutaru Marathon. Registered players were each assigned one tiny, adorable, level one Tarutaru character to send hurtling through a perilous dungeon. Monsters there could smite these wimpy Tarutaru into dust with just one hit, so stealth -- well, more so just running like hell -- played a big part in advancing the furthest. No one actually managed to cure the goal Galka character before the 20 minutes was over, but the closest three were awarded pretty sweet tech prizes. In fact, the top prize for many of the contests was a new PC.One additional element not covered in her writeup, but touched on in an update to the official site: the prospect of player-created dungeons! This idea is so out there that the language on the site sounds especially cautious:The development team hinted at the possibility of a function that would allow players to design their own dungeons. These adventurer-created dungeons could then be attempted by and traded between friends. However,this idea is still in the early planning stages, and there is a chance it may not come to fruition.If this was of interest, don't forget to check out our own Jason Dobson's gallery of photos from the event, and his own chat with the dev team.
Michael Zenke11.27.2007
Dragon Quest board game out in Japan, looks like good times
Fans of the Dragon Quest franchise who enjoy a good game of Battleship every now and then might also enjoy this Japanese board game called Dragon Quest Dungeon R.There are three different modes of play, but all incorporate the same Battleship-esque structure. The goal is to reach your opponent's Dragon Lord while blindly navigating about his or her gridded dungeon. Your opponent will place walls in different places to try to hinder your progress, and you can choose whether or not to play with chests, cards, and combat.Of course, this is one of those "only in Japan" things (those Japanese folks just love their Dragon Quest), so if you fancied getting the game you'd have to import the 5800 yen ($53 USD!) item from somewhere. You would probably also need to have a good understanding of Japanese to read the rules and cards. Or, you could always just wait for the video game based on this board game that was based on a video game to come out. And yes, that's just crazy talk. Check after the break to see if you've sunk my Dragon Lord. Oh, and there's more board game pictures, too.
Candace Savino11.26.2007
Ubisoft to bring Square Enix games down under [update]
Ubisoft loves Australia, it seems, as they've worked out a deal with RPG powerhouse Square Enix to bring some of their games to the region. Ubisoft will be bringing two titles to the country in Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates. Gamers down under can look forward to getting these titles in early 2008.Any Aussies here glad they won't have to import these games?Update: According to JeuxFrance, Ubisoft is going to be bringing the games to not only Australia, but also to Europe. So, good news is now made even better.
David Hinkle11.26.2007Megumi Ida lays down some vocals for Final Fantasy IV
Back when we heard Japanese singer Megumi Ida was selected to provide her musical talents to Final Fantasy IV, we didn't get that long of a listen to the new jam. Now, thanks to JeuxFrance, we've got a longer version of that trailer, providing us with a good listen. The trailer also sprinkles some cutscenes from the game in, for good measure.
David Hinkle11.26.2007
Dragon Quest IV rocks sales, magazines at debut
Dragon Quest IV for the DS hit stores yesterday in Japan, and since that nation seems to still exist, apparently there was a large enough supply to at least stave off Armageddon. Per Jeux-France, gamers in Japan snapped up a rumored 360,000 copies in the first day, so we can only assume that there is a whole lot of questing going on today. But what's a release without a few last minute pages in Famitsu? The magazine laid out a sweet new spread to welcome the title, and you can see it for yourself after the break.
Alisha Karabinus11.23.2007