Hironobu Sakaguchi had the mad dream of Final Fantasy, and he's now bossman at Mistwalker Corporation. Their latest project is super secret and it's finishing up now. That's according to Sakaguchi-san's Mistwalker blog. Previously the developer has released Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey, with the Cry On game cancelled last Christmas.
A search for a script reader by the Liz Paulson Casting ad agency in Los Angeles has shown Square Enix's plans to reveal the US release date for Final Fantasy XIII in an ad. It will offer an "exclusive never before seen look" of Square's latest before 'panning back' to unveil the US retail date, currently just spring 2010. It releases in Japan on December 17th.
All that levelling up through experience won't do for Final Fantasy XIII, so they've introduced the Crystalium System, with Crystal Points. After each battle you get CP which can be spent on 'growing' roles with new skills and abilities, like unlocking more powerful Fire.
Publisher Square Enix decided to tease fans with an anagram puzzle, and planned to give out the answer today if unsolved by gamers. The mighty collective brain cell power of Final Fantasy fans cracked it though, and found "Announcement Nov Thirteenth" the prize?
Yoichi Wada of Square Enix has revealed the Japanese master of Final Fantasy XIII is complete, with the western version nearly there. Wada-san notes the last stages have gone "very smoothly this time." It also took a "tremendous amount of time" to develop this gen.
Famitsu magazine has been digging deep into Final Fantasy XIII, and they've come up for air along with how this Crystarium thingy works. Basically after each battle players are given Crystal Points, which can be spent across charts defining a character's "role" as you go.
It's finally happened, Square have slapped a western date on the upcoming Final Fantasy XIII, which hits Japan this December on PS3. They spilled the beans via a "special announcement" on the main site, and that 'My Hands' from Leona Lewis is the official FFXIII theme.
Rejoice PS3 gamers because your console hard drive won't face an impending Normandy beach landing of Final Fantasy XIII data after all. Not only that but saves are real tiny. This has all been gleamed from the back of box art, which also reveals cut-scenes are in 1080p.
Want to play some Final Fantasy XIII? Then prepare to submit "60 hours or so" your first time through, and that's for videogamers in the know. FFXIII director Motomu Toriyama revealed the number during a mag interview, and that's just "main story". Stock those snacks higher.
The image gallery for Final Fantasy XIII has been updated with 22 new screenshots. Final Fantasy XIII marks the dawning of a new era for the celebrated series, bringing the series to multiple hi-definition consoles simultaneously for the first time in its history.
Bad news for Xbox 360 gamers, though not terrible at least, because the limits of dual-layer DVD means audio and video compression. A dual-layer Blu-ray however can accommodate around 50GB, so full Final Fantasy XIII glory is to be had. Hopefully fans can't/won't notice.
Square Enix has launched the beta test sign-up process for its second Final Fantasy MMO, Final Fantasy XIV. Those interested in testing out the PC version can now head to the official website and sign-up for the beta phases. The firm also said that a PS3 beta will take place at a later time, for those that are interested in testing out the console version.
Yoichi Wada is president of Square Enix, and he's supremely confident Final Fantasy XIV will be giving Blizzard's goliath MMO a challenger. WoW is "a tough competitor" admits the boss, but there's "never been" a studio with a "continuously successful" number 1 and 2 MMO.
Square Enix has released a statement on Final Fantasy XIII's first official day of sale in Japan, revealing that it's cleared the 1 million mark. Copies of the latest Final Fantasy were also bundled with PS3s, the 'Lightning Edition', but weren't included in the sales tally. Not bad, eh?
The opening week for Final Fantasy XIII in Japan saw a gargantuan 1.5 million sales, smashing records in the face with no remorse. The second week though fell from the stratosphere, managing to scrape by in comparison with just 200k sales. This is the Final Fantasy norm.
Square Enix boss Yoichi Wada has revealed they're open to a Final Fantasy game being made outside Japan, but still overseen by them. Wada-san cites Batman: Arkham Asylum as proof the West can make games for the Japanese market; "it caters very much" to them.
Yoichi Wada is president of Square Enix and he may just have spelled 'end of the world' for Final Fantasy fans. They might stop making them. At least they wouldn't exist as they do now, is what he's going with. Wada-san says the FF team could create something "completely different".
The western release of Final Fantasy XIII is no longer a fairytale because developer Square Enix has announced they've finished it, at long last. Director Motomu Toriyama says one thing they focused on was facial animations, they're "completely synchronised" with English dialogue.
According to art director Isamu Kamikokuryou from Final Fantasy XIII all that cut stuff from the game could likely make a whole new game! What did gamers lose out on? A full zone around Lighting's home, a secret Nora resistance base and an amusement park Nautiuls with a zoo.
A two and a half minute clip, allegedly of GRIN's Final Fantasy: Fortress, has spilled on to the Internets. The Swedish developer is no more. Just in case you forgot that. The host of the clip says the title is "still supported" by Square Enix, and continues work at an "undisclosed studio".