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Kweh! Or, fresh new Chocobo screens
Oh, that little scamp of a Chocobo -- what will he get into next? If these screens are any indication, it looks like he's getting into a giant beanstalk. Considering the upcoming Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales is peppered with references from children's stories, that's probably exactly what it is ... but really, how many times do we need to see the beanstalk here? It's all over this latest batch of screens!Check after the jump for selected screens -- only one beanstalk included.
Chocobo Tales breaks out this April
This year's contender for Most Precious Game finally has a release date stateside: Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales is slated to hit shelves April 3. Since we are suckers for everything Final Fantasy-related, it's a sure bet that we've already got the date circles in our calendars ... and if you saw all these trailers, you probably want to borrow our marker.
'Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales' fluttering to North America
Square Enix keeps the Final Fantasy franchise spinning along, announcing Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales for North America, the ninth game dedicated to the "chocolate ball" birds. Part adventure, part RPG, part card battle, part minigame, and part 'microgame,' Chocobo Tales packs a lotta genre into a tiny DS cart -- and keeps it just as cuddly as last year's Final Fantasy III makeover. Awww...Chocobo Tales is scheduled for release on April 3; retailing for $29.99.
Peep these sweet Final Fantasy III figurines
For all of you that got a real kick out of the game, these figurines here might be right up your alley. With a total of seven available (with three of them pictured, natch), we imagine many a cubicle area or home desk could be spruced up (or even defended from ne'er-do-wells) by these awesome figurines. Play-Asia supposedly sells them, but they're currently sold out with no signs of replenished stock coming. Anyone want to get their hands on these?
Shiva makes Revenant Wings a family affair
Jeux France is reporting a juicy rumor about espers in FFXII: Revenant Wings. Not only is Shiva rumored to be included, but the super hot (cold?) ice goddess is bringing along a few members of her family. Apparently, there will be others, like a male version (Shiva's husband), and a young female child Shiva. We're not sure what role these might play, but it definitely makes for an interesting rumor. Jeux France expects confirmation (or negation) soon.If this is true, we just hope that Little Shiva finds a few more scraps of clothing, or it may change the game just a little, and we'll be facing another one of these situations.
Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales site updates
The American website for Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales (previously known as Chocobo and the Magic Picture Book) has launched, providing us with a better explanation of the game's story, as well as characters. The entire site itself lacks full accessibility at the moment, however Square Enix have been kind enough to grant us some wallpapers and other goodies to tide us over.See also: Chocobo and the magic launch event
FFXII themed DS Lite revealed for Japan
In conjunction with the April 26 release of Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings for DS, Square Enix and Nintendo are set to release a special edition of the DS Lite with the FFXII:RW logo and a few main characters emblazoned on the front. Square Enix did a similar promotion for the DS release of Final Fantasy III. Though the extra cost to paint an industrial-strength sticker is probably minimal, it's not like Nintendo needs any help selling the consoles in Japan. A release outside of Japan is very unlikely for the limited edition console, so those desperate for a unit will have to import. However, we have a better suggestion: wait for someone to post a high-resolution image and then make your own sticker to put on that DS Lite (or DS Phat) you're already using.
Square Enix confirms new MMO for Xbox 360 & Vista, maybe PS3
Speaking to Pro-G, Square Enix producer Hiromichi Tanaka confirmed that he was working on a new MMORPG bound for Xbox 360 and Windows Vista, adding "PS3 is a possibility." Ten months ago, Tanaka was saying just the opposite about the oft-hinted at MMO -- probably a sequel to Final Fantasy XI; possibly not. In April 2006, Tanaka confirmed the project for PlayStation 3, but made no mention of an Xbox 360 version. Now it would appear that development has shifted away from PS3 and onto Xbox 360.Since Square Enix has already promised several versions of Final Fantasy XIII for PS3, it's in the company's interest, as a publisher concerned with multi-platform presence, to bring its next MMO to Xbox 360 first; a PS3 version could always come later. The project could also provide an opportunity to make use of Square Enix's recently acquired Unreal Engine 3 license.
New Square-Enix MMO bound for 360, not PS3? [update 1]
Update: After doing a little digging, we've uncovered the source of this story. Tanaka's comments come from an interview with Pro-G, so it looks like the upcoming 360 MMORPG from Square-Enix is the real deal, folks.Say it with us now: "whaaaaa?" Coming from our friends at Xboxygen (they're like, totally French), is a dandy of a rumor: Square-Enix is currently developing an MMORPG for the Xbox 360 and Windows Vista. Perhaps the most interesting part of the rumor, the game may not make it to the PS3 at all. Hiromichi Tanaka, director and executive producer of Final Fantasy III for the DS, reportedly made this announcement in a recent interview: "We're working on a next generation MMORPG for the Xbox 360 and Vista but a version for the PS3 is possible."Assuming this is true, we can only guess as to what the MMO will be. Considering that Final Fantasy XI is already available for the 360, it's not too much of a stretch to assume it might get a sequel. Still, the important thing is that Microsoft may be getting more Square-Enix love in the near future. Could a legitimate Final Fantasy be in the works as well? We can dream, can't we?
Kingdom Hearts series ships 10 million
Kingdom Hearts recently joined an elite group of franchises, its three games now accounting for more than 10 million units shipped worldwide. Still dwarfed by a pair of Nintendo franchises, Kingdom Hearts is nonetheless quickly establishing itself as one of the most successful series of all time.Consider that it's older sibling Final Fantasy -- ranked third among the all-time best-selling franchises -- has managed to move 68 million units; a tall stack indeed, but one that's built on 12 core games dating back to 1987, plus countless spin-offs, remakes, and compilations. To date, Kingdom Hearts (technically considered a FF spin-off) is built on a mere 3 titles; none of which have gone multi-platform (GBA's Chain of Memories will be released for PS2 in an upcoming re-release compilation called Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix +). Kingdom Hearts debuted in September 2002.Appropriately, Square Enix will soon unveil multiple Kingdom Hearts sequels, affirming that this action-RPG is one of the most sought after series in the business. So which platforms will be blessed this time around? Is the primary series' successor safe in Sony's hands?
FFVI Advance trailer
Because it's important to have a trailer for one of the most beloved games of all time. We need that advertising. It's okay, though, because we're all about watching Final Fantasy videos. We don't even need a flimsy excuse. Check it out after the jump.
Final Fantasy remakes get a release date
Square Enix has announced a release date for their upcoming Final Fantasy remake will be hitting Japan on April 19th for 3,800 yen. While Final Fantasy II wasn't given an exact date, Square Enix did say that we can expect a Japanese release around May, so not long to wait in any case. No release dates for either Final Fantasy were given for outside of Japan yet, but it's only a matter of time. Both games are part of Final Fantasy's 20th anniversary celebration. The games will feature improved graphics and gameplay like the Game Boy Advance and Playstation remakes. You can read all our Final Fantasy coverage in the meantime to help the wait go by. [Via IGN]
Square Enix: friend codes kept FFXI from being on the Wii
We've all had, and still have, problems with friend codes. Nintendo's system of a string of convoluted numbers that differ from game to game on the DS has been the focal point of many a fanboy's rage. When we first heard the Wii was to have console-specific codes, we thought Nintendo was starting to understand our frustration. Then we were told that Pokemon Battle Revolution would have its own code, shattering dreams of easy-to-use online functionality.What does this have to do with Square Enix? The company's Senior Vice President Hiromichi Tanaka feels our pain and, during an interview with Cubed3, states that such a system held the company back from bringing an online game (such as Final Fantasy XI) to the Wii. Tanaka exclaims that his company is currently in talks "resolving this point of contention."Does this mean that we could see FFXI on the Wii? Sure, anything is possible, however it isn't likely. Even with the increased support Nintendo is receiving from the company once again, we doubt it'll be enough to make them change their ways. Here's to hoping Square Enix manages to talk some sense into Nintendo.[Via Joystiq]
Square Enix blames Wii friend codes for lack of FFXI [update 1]
Friend codes. Nintendo's self-imposed restriction on online gaming has been a burden to many who want to play with their friends without having to share a different 12-digit friend code for every game. When the Wii was revealed to have a console-specific friend code, we thought Nintendo had somewhat listened to the community's grumblings. When Pokemon Battle Revolution, the first online Wii title, launched in Japan with friend codes, we realized the folly of our optimism.Square Enix's Senior Vice President Hiromichi Tanaka empathizes, highlighting the friend code system as the primary reason they haven't brought an online game like Final Fantasy XI onto the console. In an interview with Cubed's Adam Riley, Tanaka reveals that the RPG powerhouse is now in negotiations with Nintendo about "resolving this point of contention." A publisher of Square Enix's magnitude does not necessarily guarantee Nintendo will listen, but perhaps Nintendo will ease off or at least allow exceptions for some titles.Then again, Final Fantasy XI on the Wii would surely be profitable even if gamers were required to enter over 300,000 12-digit codes to fully experience the world. That's how much, we suspect, Wii owners our clamoring for Nintendo to join the rest its brethren in this generation.[Update 1: As White Rose Duelist and others have pointed out, Pokemon Battle Revolution's extra friend code might be an exception and not a rule, and Elebits is a cited example where one can exchange in-game pictures with Wii friends. However, as we do not have any other details from impending online games, and Nintendo has not readily clarified, we're just not sure.]
Rumor: Next-gen N-Gage garners interest
Remember the N-Gage? Some of you may even have one in a dusty drawer, yearning for some love. Handheld website Pocket Gamers claims that Nokia held a two-day "top-secret workshop" in Santa Monica so that publishers and developers could have a look-see at the next-generation version of N-Gage.The list of companies present include Square Enix, Capcom, Sega and Sony Online Entertainment, among others. However, how Pocket Gamers managed to obtain "top secret" information makes this very suspect, not to mention SOE's presence, who would likely only show up as reconnaissance for Sony's own handheld, the PSP. The article further claims that another two-day workshop is being planned in Madrid to show the new N-Gage to European companies and that Nokia will publicly unveil the new handheld at this year's Game Developer's Conference.Noting that Nokia had an E3 2006 booth showing off some N-Gage titles, despite abysmal sales, it is plausible that the phone company is working on N-Gage 2.0 and is looking to garner some third-party interest; however, we don't want N-Gage fanboys (population: 3 or 4, maybe) to look at this story as definitive lore. We'll see if anything new comes our way leading up to GDC.[Via Eurogamer]
Dragon Quest Monsters passes the million mark
SquareEnix today confirmed that one million copies of Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker have been sold in Japan since the game's release on December 28. This feat makes Dragon Quest Monsters only the second third-party DS title to achieve more than one million sales in Japan, following on from Bandai's success last year with Tamagotchi no Puchi Puchi. DQM had been sold out in many stores across Japan this past week, with shortages so severe that Joker plummeted from second place in the Japanese sales chart to 42nd place. Stocks were replenished yesterday, however, and the demand for Dragon Quest Monsters (which is merely a tasty appetizer to enjoy before Dragon Quest IX is served) has immediately pushed SquareEnix' game beyond the milestone of a million sales.
Square Enix licenses Unreal Engine 3
With more money and time being spent on creating detailed art assets for modern games, it's no longer surprising to see even Japanese developers licensing engines and toolsets from the likes of Epic Games. Square Enix have announced that they have entered into an agreement with the Unreal Engine 3 and Gears of War developer, gaining a complete middleware platform for use in their upcoming games. General manager of R&D at Square Enix, Taku Murata, explains that the deal will speed up the creation process and allow developers to spend less time working on the nitty-gritty of technology. "The complexity of next-generation game systems featuring HD graphics and multi-core parallel processing poses a number of technological challenges to our game development. However, we can expedite our game development process significantly while allowing extra time and resources to be spent on game design and mechanics by establishing an effective technology platform."Hopefully, Square Enix's Unreal 3 projects will fare better than Namco's aborted Xbox 360 attempt, Frame City Killer.
FFXII: Revenant Wings action shots
While we've seen some gameplay screens before from FFXII: Revenant Wings, some of these are at least bigger, if not better. High quality shots seem to be hard to come by, but Japanese print magazines have been the biggest resource thus far on this game. Once you accept a little graininess, however, these look pretty great. Check 'em out after the jump!
Final Fantasy XIII details... deep, intimate details
Goodness gracious! There has been quite an influx of Final Fantasy XIII news lately. Well, most of the news comes in the way of magazine scans. Sometimes there's a Versus XIII scan thrown in there with the others. But sometimes we're graced with the news of a playable demo due out possibly after this year's E3 and/or Tokyo Game Show. This time, however, we learn details from the people making the game themselves: Square Enix. SIXAXIS controls, people's shoe sizes, Lightning's favorite food (or not...) and so on. We'll make a list of neat bits o' news. Director Motome Toriyama admitted that the opening scene of FFXIII is "probably the most [intense] in the Final Fantasy series so far." Toriyama promised surprises galore for us, this being the 20th anniversary of the series. One such surprise is to get Final Fantasy XIII into our hands as soon as possible (does that portend the final game will be released before the end of the year, or just the demo?). Tetsuya Nomura revealed details about the blonde-haired guy that looks a bit like Seifer. The character is huge, literally. He can run whilst carrying two people and his shoe size is approximately 33 centimeters. In Versus XIII, your character can instantly warp to wherever he's thrown his sword. Handy and deadly. Also in Versus, you won't play the whole game alone. You'll get party members and will have fighting akin to Kingdom Hearts, but will probably be somewhere between KH and Final Fantasy XII. Versus XIII is lagging behind the main FF, so we'll only get a new kickass trailer for it in the near future. Because we'd like to keep the story details as much of a surprise as possible (I've learned that reading up on every little bit tends to ruin the immersion into the world game developers create), we won't mention those, but if you're curious, you can most certainly read up on it over at IGN. Exciting.
Us to 1UP: where's our PSP stuff?
The newest episode of The 1UP Show was supposed to have the "really awesome" PSP game that was mentioned in the last 1UP Yours podcast. So ... what happened? It appears that the Ziff Davis people are constantly taunting us, as the latest 1UP Yours podcast talks about more good PSP news. Shane elaborates more on EGM Rumor Mill's rumor about Square Enix's support on PSP: "This isn't the end of Square Enix's bizarre love affair with the PSP. There's more s**t coming. The 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy is not over and you'll be really surprised by some of the stuff you'll see later this year (emphasis added) ... You're not going to see a remake of Final Fantasy VII on PSP, but you will see some exciting, unexpected Final Fantasy games on PSP."To ease your fears, we're not getting Chocobo Adventure or Chocobo Racing. Shane explains: "There's specifically one PSP game that nobody could ever guess ever that will blow everybody away." Also, there's going to be a ton of ports heading our way as well: "There are some other remakes and ports that aren't Final Fantasy from Square Enix on PSP and DS."So ... what's your guess? The guess that nobody could ever guess? Mine is a new version of Ehrgeiz (oh yeah, I went there!).
