- Traversing "Distant Worlds"
 North River Road is a path I regard with fondness, for is was inside the Rosemont Theater, located on this bustling boulevard, that I first met with what had up until recently been the definitive experience in my video-game-themed concert outings: the world premiere of "PLAY! A Video Game Symphony" on May 27, 2006. For me, it was a true spectacle unlike any before it, featuring an assortment of wonderful musical pieces from blockbuster video game titles performed by a full orchestra and choir, led by Grammy-Award-winning music director Arnie Roth. Memories of Akira Yamaoka's electric guitar screeching the sounds of Silent Hill, Koji Kondo's New Super Mario Bros. piano solo, and Angela Aki performing "Kiss Me Good-Bye" and "Eyes On Me" still, to this day, glisten freshly in my mind with deep affection. Indeed, it was a show to reckon with. Nearly two years later, on March 1, 2008, I was fortunate enough to return to this street and adjacent performance hall for the North American debut of "Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY." Full Article
- Wada talks global markets
 In a recent interview, Yoichi Wada shared his insights on the current health and future of his company within the various regional markets in which it operates. The president of Square Enix also assessed the successes of Final Fantasy XI, the acquisition of Taito, and the present status of the Japanese games market as a whole. Read more
- Three new titles to North American portables next spring
 Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates will be published March 11 with local-only multiplayer play (official site); More than three years after its original announcement, Crisis Core - Final Fantasy VII will finally be released in North America on March 25 with voice talent to be announced soon (official site); And finally, The World Ends With You (formerly It's a Wonderful World) has a more ambiguous and less solidified date of Spring.
- Star Ocean 4 becomes trilogy, drags PS3 and XBox 360 into nonsense
 A recent tri-Ace announcement has unveiled that Star Ocean 4, which we've seen very little of lately, will be partitioned into three titles - Star Ocean 4: First Departure, Star Ocean 4: Second Evolution and Star Ocean 4: Till the End of Time. While the naming might seem familiar, let us also reflect on the first departure of such an idea: the sales disaster that was Monolith Soft's Xenosaga series. If the second evolution of this style of gaming venture fails to echo Xenosaga director Tetsuya Takahashi's ambitious sentiments, then everything might turn out alright. An additional announcement stated that the titles will be available for both the Playstation 3 and the XBox 360. Thusly does exclusivity fall away, 'till the end of time.
EDIT: Well, it turns out this entire mess was one big hoax, and you can call it an early April Fools' joke if you like. The intermediary which translated this source to bring us this news shall remain nameless, suffice to say that they are bad, bad people.
- A mélange of release dates for Europe
 Square Enix announced several titles for European release next year, including Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors (Spring), Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings (February 15), and The World Ends With You (A.K.A. It's a Wonderful World) (Spring). Press releases follow
- Square Enix lineup for Jump Festa '08 announced
 Titles to be featured at this year's Jump Festa, the annual manga party in Tokyo, have been revealed. Full title list
- Odin Sphere in Europe!
 Did Square Enix develop Odin Sphere? No way! Then, surely, they were responsible for the game's localization? No, that doesn't sound quite right either. What the deal here? Square is bringing Odin Sphere to Europe, but how? They haven't had any previous involvement with the game. Well, at the bottom of this sinister plot is a partnership: Square's companionship with fellow publisher Atlus has enabled them to release this non-Square title in PAL regions. European Action RPG fanatics are sure to be pleased by this news, as Odin Sphere was lauded in North America as one of the most beautiful RPG jewels of this year. Square Enix president John Yamamoto notes that this development marks "an exciting new period for the company", perhaps insinuating that the best is yet to come.
- Japanese gamers are Dragon Quest fanboys
 Just a friendly reminder, in the unlikely event that any of us forgot about this fact. The recent sales of Dragon Quest IV's DS incarnation has affirmed the country's addiction to this lovechild of an RPG series conceived by the holy threesome of Yuji Horii, Akira Toriyama, and Koichi Sugiyama. The game not only sold 360,000 copies on day one, but limited availability has driven demands skyward. After about a week, Dragon Quest IV boasts the number one ranking on the Japanese sales charts with over half a million copies sold. Now that's popularity.
- For those who missed the Dear Friends tour
Monday saw the announcement of the newest Final Fantasy concert tour, "Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY." The tour is in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the release of the original Final Fantasy title. Full Article
- Small king to wield architectural powers in Wii title
 New details regarding Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Small King and the Promised Country have arisen in the pages of Weekly Famitsu's latest issue. The game, which takes place after the events of its GameCube forefather, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, will call for players to assume the role of a young clavat king named of Leo, who must rebuild his kingdom using "The Architect," a special power bestowed upon him by the crystals. Full Article
- Famitsu opens The Sealed Grimoire, judges book by contents
 The most recent issue of Japanese Famitsu featured a review of everyone's most favorite strategy-RPG, Ivalice Alliance member, and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance sequel: Final Fantasy Tactics: The Sealed Grimoire. The score? Well... ...click on to find out!
- Small people can be title characters too
 A couple days ago at the Nintendo Fall Conference, it was revealed that Square Enix would develop a Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles spin-off exclusive for the Wii. The catch is that this game, titled Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Small King and the Promised Country, will be a Wii-Ware title making it downloadable only. It also appears to have much more of a strategy element to it, ala Sim City. Players will have to build and govern their own land. FFCC: The Small King and the Promised Country is due out in March 2008 for Japan and there has yet to been an American release announced.
- New trademark instigates reckless guessing
 On September 27, Square Enix registered the trademark "Lord of Vermillion" with the Japanese patent office. New IP? Another spin-off? Your guess is as good as mine, but I have a feeling that my hopes for a red color simulator are about to be dashed. Nor can I hope to take on the role of my hero, Lt. Surge. Raichu, I choose you!
- Final Fantasy XIII exclusivity confusion, Dragon Quest IX certainty
 Hirokazu Hamamura, overlord of Famitsu, spoke this week to a convocation of Tokyo journalists regarding his thoughts on token items such as Final Fantasy XIII, Dragon Quest IX, and a bright future for the Nintendo Wii. Bathe in the optimism
- Sakaguchi sheds light on Shigematsu's role in Lost Odyssey
 While demonstrating Lost Odyssey at a recent press conference, producer Hironobu Sakaguchi revealed he had been working closely alongside the game's scenario writer, award-winning Japanese author Kiyoshi Shigematsu, to produce a set of 34 non-interactive short story sequences, collectively known as the "1000 Year Dream," expressly for the title. The in-game segments, during which Kaim recalls events from the forgotten annals of his thousand-year journey, will be presented in the form of text upon backdrops, with music and sound effects providing dramatic effect. Link
- Additional goodness in Star Ocean: First Departure
 The PSP title Star Ocean: First Departure --a remake of the classic Enix title Star Ocean-- will feature an all new playable character. While not much is known about the character named simply Enis, it has been released that she is from a group known as the Feather Folk and looks strikingly like an angel. In addition to the character, Square Enix and Sony have confirmed that the title will also be released as a bundle with the PSP system.
- Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings headed to Europe
 The highly popular DS sequel to Final Fantasy XII, Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings has been confirmed for a release in Europe. As with most European releases, Revenant Wings isn't expected until after the American release. The given date -- early 2008 -- is for "all PAL territories." Pocket Gamer UK
- Front Mission 2089: Border of Madness trailer revealed
 A Nintendo DS port of the original title released for the mobile platform in Japan, Front Mission 2089: Border of Madness is a storyline prequel to the original Front Mission, which takes place in 2090. Teaser trailer
- Attack of the voice-powered Final Fantasy IV trailer
 A trailer for the upcoming Nintendo DS remake of Final Fantasy IV surfaced on FileFront yesterday, stirring warm curiosity and mild enthusiasm from fans around the 'Net. Full Article
- Infinite Undiscovery becomes a little less undiscovered
 With as little known about the Xbox 360 title Infinite Undiscovery as is possible, Famitsu was kind enough to offer up some details on the tri-Ace RPG. Full Article
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14 Mar 2008 by 
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