- E3: Final Fantasy XI confirmed for Xbox
 WTF? Yes. Microsoft has managed to convince Square Enix into allowing FFXI onto its dying platform. It's currently unknown how exactly Square Enix and Microsoft intend to combine Xbox Live and PlayOnline to make cross-platform gameplay in Final Fantasy XI possible, but there must have been some big deal struck for either of the two to buckle with their priorities. What's more, the situation begs an answer to the question of whether FFXI on Xbox is even that much of a beneficial move, considering the game is over three years old now and probably won't be seeing another expansion pack in its lifetime. Oh, and reports are indicating that the Xbox360 will give the game a graphical boost of some kind, whatever that means. Forbes
- E3: World of Mana teaser; multiple new Mana games confirmed (Seiken Densetu DS + World of Mana?)
 "From ages past to ages yet to come, the tale of the Mana tree and the Sword of Mana grows with each telling. New installments in the World of Mana series exploring the history of this fantastic world are on the horizon. Stories yet untold await in the World of Mana." Jeux France photo
- E3: Final Fantasy XII delayed until 2006?
 A photo taken by French gaming website JeuxFrance shows the release date overview Square Enix showed at its press conference, which quite obviously displays Final Fantasy XII as a 2006 "fiscal year" release (now - March 31 2006). This puts the game into 3 years of development time. Bah.
- E3: Advent Children will release simultaneously in US and Japan; Square Enix to pursue networked games
 A new trailer for Advent Children has been made available (warning: spoilers) which shows just how much crazy action is in this title, which is due out on September 13 in the US and September 14 in Japan on DVD. The trailer is underpinned by a new piece of music: a rock version of One Winged Angel, which sounds similar to the guitar work prevalent in the Black Mages albums recently produced by Uematsu. Additionally, Wada has come forth to state that his desire is for the company to pursue networked gaming, which further underlines the importance of PlayOnline and obviously the suggestions of last week that there may be more to reveal between Square Enix and Nintendo. IGN: Advent Children Trailer
- E3: World of Mana is a next-gen title
Little of interest was mentioned at Square Enix's press conference (presumably because the major unveilings will be handled by the console manufacturers themselves later today and tomorrow), but it was confirmed that World of Mana is in fact scheduled for release on an unknown next-gen console (which is probably Revolution). More news as it happens.
- E3: Pirates of the Caribbean's Jack Sparrow in Kingdom Hearts II
 Square Enix's E3 press conference has revealed one of the probably many surprises in store for us with Kingdom Hearts II, namely that Pirates of the Caribbean hero Jack Sparrow (played by Johnny Depp in the movie, though whether he stars as a voice actor in the game is unknown) will be a character in the game. Rachel is overjoyed. You should be too. IGN PS2
- Official Final Fantasy VII Advent Children release date confirmed
 Advent Children is to be released September 14th on DVD, as was already known earlier, but here are relevant excerpts from the official press release just in case you care. Full Article
- Square Enix wants to offer strong support for Nintendo Revolution
 An interview with Gamewatch has Square Enix president Youichi Wada nodding and smiling when asked about the company's plans for next-gen Nintendo Revolution, which will be unveiled in some form or another next week at E3. IGN's translation of the interview notes the fact that Wada seems impressed that Revolution neither adheres to the traditional console model, nor the handheld one, whatever that means -- and that Nintendo's online plans (which apparently involve free wi-fi, as we already knew, combined with some kind of Friendster-esque matchup network) appease him. Summed up, this means Square Enix likes Nintendo again and we can probably expect to see much improved support for Nintendo platforms in future -- be it in the form of PlayOnline, new games, or whatever. IGN interview summary
- Code Age movie to be shown at E3; site updated
 The official Code Age website has been updated with a new E3 trailer (select movie, then the one on the right) which showcases several scenes from the three upcoming expositions of the franchise (Archives, Brawls, and Commanders). There isn't much to see with Archives other than what seem like anime cuts, whereas Brawls seems to be a fairly generic low-framerate beat'em-up for mobile phones. Commanders looks great and seems to combine crazy Radiata Stories Tri-Ace battles with Zone of the Enders-esque animation/chaos. Let's hope it actually turns out good. Code Age
- Dirge of Cerberus is a "gun action rpg"
 It has been revealed that Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII will surprisingly be a "gun action RPG". Cait Sith and "the mysterious girl from the trailers" play a significant role, and Vincent remains a badass. I'm sure no one saw that one coming.
- First Final Fantasy XII media of 2005 surfaces
 What??? What is happening this week?! I can't take all the pressure! See the stupendous new screen that took one year of development time to churn out
- Final Fantasy music to iTunes
 Unless you hadn't already heard (or seen it coming), Square Enix has made Final Fantasy music available on the Apple iTunes service, to the unforgiving dismay of no one. The company generously continues its fortuitous videogame aural assault into your living room/iPod/PSP/whatever with "music from FINAL FANTASY I through XI, Music from Dear Friends, and two Black Mages albums".. Well gee, good thing we made the album db in advance, eh? GI.biz PR
- Dark things stir in Squenix corporate HQ; additionally, Advent Children has a release date! Holy chocomog stew, Batman!
 Apparently, Square Enix has updated its Advent Children community website with a release date and price for Final Fantasy VII Advent Children. The title will ship on September 14 in two versions, of which the standard one will come at 4800 yen. The "Special" version currently has no price, but may refer to an expanded UMD release on PSP. Additionally, expect new screens in next week's Weekly Jump magazine, of which we'll obviously have scans faster than a speeding bullet (how's that for two superhero references in one article!). Shinra
- E3 2005: Squenix vaunts Polymorphism in full swing; still can't provide Final Fantasy XII release date; Kingdom Hearts II voice actors confirmed
 "Square Enix, Inc. to Unveil Massive Lineup at The Electronic Entertainment Expo," states the press release furiously. But the list is unimpressive: there's nothing new save for the odd mobile phone title, and the release dates we're so fanboyishly begging for fail to appear as well. Nevertheless, here's the full list
- World of Mana unveiling set for E3?
Gamefront makes note of a recent new US patent by Square Enix in the form of World of Mana, which is presumably either the new Mana game we reported on last year, or perhaps Seiken Densetsu DS, which was confirmed earlier this year. Either way, as E3 is only weeks away, it's safe to assume we'll find out which one it is soon enough.
- Disgruntled Chinese geeks suspect in Final Fantasy XI server woes
 While the official Square Enix statement refrains from finger-pointing, some suggest that the attacks are conceived by Chinese hackers, disgruntled about distorted Japanese textbooks. 1UP
- Famitsu mystery title is Grandia III
 The mystery title previously reported to be announced in the pages of an upcoming Famitsu magazine has been revealed to be Grandia III, the next entry in the GameArts RPG series that started on the Saturn. The title is in development for the PS2, while Square Enix plans to release more details late next month. As an added bonus to this riveting news item, here is some Grandia watersport hentai. IGN
- Famitsu actually announces announcement
 As mysterious name patents will no longer suffice, Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu has provided that the announcement of a major Square Enix RPG title will be made in their publication. So now, while we all wait for the secret bound in the future pages of Famitsu to unveil itself in the coming week, we wonder: "how long until pre-announcement parties," and "will those parties serve cocktails?" With the current state of events, Final Fantasy XIII wouldn't be a surprising choice, nor can one disavow the potential rear of ugly polymorphism's head. At this point, however, only one thing is for certain: there is no certainty. Ladies and gentlemen, place your bets. Famitsu
- Final Fantasy concert coming to E3
 According to Nobuo Uematsu's official website, this year?s Electronic Entertainment Expo will herald an addendum to the current Dear Friends concert tour, brilliantly entitled, "More Friends - Music from Final Fantasy". The World Festival Symphony Orchestra will perform moving Final Fantasy tracks while award-winning conductor Arnie Roth works his magic and Uematsu's own "Black Mages" join the fun. The concert will take place at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles on May 16, preceding both E3 and the supposed display of Final Fantasy XII, the latter of which is probably just another six-month stall. Tantalizing. Uematsu's Music
- Drakengard 2 main theme announced
 According to Square Enix, J-Pop artist Mika Nakashima will be performing the new theme song to their upcoming action RPG Drakengard 2. The song, entitled "Hitori", was composed by Ryouki Matsumoto, who is also the game's acting sound producer. Though coming as no surprise in the wake of other such endeavors, this circumstance is unique in that "Hitori" has actually been made available on Nakashima's third album since the ninth of March, bringing into emphasis the marketing aspect of a such maneuver. But whether or not the candidate deserves the propaganda remains to be seen with the June 16th Japanese release of Drakengard 2. Famitsu
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16 May 2005 by 
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