- Square Enix seniors diss Sony at meeting; blame them for Star Ocean 3 middleware solution; forge alliance with Game Arts
 At this weekend's shareholder's conference, Square Enix revealed that the "poor" sales of Star Ocean: Till the End of Time, which amounted to around 480k copies in Japan, was due to Sony's use of a "middleware" engine, which resulted in the reported bugs that caused the game to crash and meant Squenix had to replace copies. This excuse was accompanied by several announcements, the most important of which appears to be that the company is investing in Game Arts (responsible for titles like Lunar) and plan to co-develop a title sometime in the future. Square Enix also plans to show Dragon Quest VIII shortly. Gamefront
- IGN rouses stupid fans with inane rumor
 PS2IGN seems to be out to make a mess out of every Square fansite on the net with its supposed mention of "Final Fantasy VII-2" as a possible PSP title. We haven't even seen the handheld itself, though. "Professional" gaming site
- New Limited Edition Gamecube to accompany Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles
 The upcoming Japanese August release of Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles will be accompanied by the release of a new Gamecube - the Crystal White - and pak that comes with the a Gameboy Player, Memory Card, joypad, and the game. Only 150 versions of the Crystal White will be made, and only as a prize for V-Jump magazine readers in a lottery, making the unit quite the collector's item. Also, Japanese box art for the game is available on the relevant game page. Gamefront
- Atari to be inexorable harbinger of Unlimited SaGa to PAL territories
 "Atari will publish Square Enix's Unlimited SaGa in Europe, according to the games database of the company's French division. The current date for its arrival in PAL territories is September 19." Gamers.com
- GameSpy rips hole in Unlimited: SaGa; kicks when down; tells all its friends; kicks some more
 GameSpy's unsubmissive review of Unlimited: SaGa reveals that the game, which garners an apparently fitting 28 out of 100 and the title "worst RPG in years", might not be everything (or anything) the fans have been looking forward to. Even the amazing soundtrack by Masashi Hamauzu doesn't seem to be able to save it. Oh well. GameSpy
- Final Fantasy & Uematsu to be honored at Games Convention
 The Games Convention, running between 21 and 24 August in Leipzig, Germany, will be featuring a rather spectacular opening involving the Czech National Symphony Orchestra; the plan is to interpret famous videogame soundtracks, including Final Fantasy. Special honorary guests include Uematsu, but also Shenmue composer Yuzo Koshiro and Factor 5's sound director Chris H?lsbeck. Andy Brick, composer for such Disney flicks as Lilo and Stitch 2 and The Little Mermaid 2, will be conducting the orchestra, whose performance will be the first of its kind in Europe. MCV Online.de
- Uematsu confirmed for Final Fantasy XII
 In a recent update of his online diary, Nobuo Uematsu mentioned some details concerning his upcoming significance in Final Fantasy XII's soundtrack. While not being the sole composer involved, he does say he wants to "try something new" and talks about his love for a variety of Japanese music. Didn't we see that in Final Fantasy X already?
- ATI giving away Final Fantasy XI beta test kits
 ATI Technologies Inc. will be making available FINAL FANTASY? XI beta test kits to the first 1000 eligible applications for this promotion. ATI currently anticipates shipping the FINAL FANTASY? XI beta test kits in July 2003. You must be 18 years of age or older to particpate.
To register to participate in this beta test program, email finalfantasybeta@ati.com with the following information: First Name, Last Name, E-Mail Address, Age, Address, City, State \ Province, Country, Zip \ Postal Code, Number of hours spent per week playing PC games. ATI promotion
- Official Final Fantasy XI site opens
 On the heels of its notification of the beta testers for Final Fantasy XI, Square Enix U.S.A. recently opened its Final Fantasy XI site with general information and screenshots on the MMORPG.
- Final Fantasy X-2, Crystal Chronicles this November
 According to The Magic Box, Square Enix will publish Final Fantasy X-2 on November 3 in North America, coinciding with the release of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, which will be published by Nintendo.
- Crystal Chronicles delayed in Japan
Square Enix has delayed the Japanese release of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles to August 8 instead of its original release three weeks prior. Gamers.com
- IGN gets grubby hands on Crystal Chronicles trailer
Upcoming Gamecube release Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles sports one of the most interesting gameplay premises the series has seen so far, as well as graphics that easily outdo any of Squenix's recent PS2 endeavours - the water sports full refraction/reflection and the character animation looks on par with Wind Waker's. Take a look! IGN media viewer
- Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles soundtrack
Alongside new details of Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles' gameplay, involving info regarding the Crystal Bucket (tm), Squenix also decided to mention that the title's 2-disc soundtrack for the game will go on sale in Japan on 30 July for $27. The composer may have been announced as the same ones that did FFXI, but I forgot.
- Square Enix says Final Fantasy XII by March '04, Dragon Quest VIII "in a few years maybe"
Square Enix has reported that, despite having announced no details of the title, Final Fantasy XII will be released by March 2004 in Japan. Dragon Quest VIII is reported to have "no release within the current fiscal year." Gamespot
- New release dates for upcoming Squenix titles
Square Enix (yes, this article starts with the company name again) has released a list of upcoming release dates for games in the US and Europe. Expect to see Final Fantasy X-2 in Fall in the US, winter in Europe; Unlimited Saga in June US, "Summer" Europe; and Star Ocean: Till the End of Time and Drakengard in early 2004 for both locales.
- Square staff meets for soberingly boring FFXI interview
 "Today, some of the key team members on Square's staff -- including localization director Richard Honeywood, American producer Yasu Kurosawa, and top Japanese producer Hiromichi Tanaka, the producer of Chrono Cross -- took the time to answer a few questions regarding what American Final Fantasy fans can look forward to upon the arrival of this most unusual of Final Fantasies." Gamers.com Interview
- Sony: "Final Fantasy XI, PS2 hard drive in 2004"
 SCEA president, Kaz Hirai, told the E3 press today that Final Fantasy XI will be released in North America in early 2004. What's more, the game will be published by SCEA rather than Square Enix and the PS2 Hard Drive will be released in time for XI's arrival. Both the PS2 and PC versions will include the Rise of the Zilart expansion pack. Games Are Fun
- Game to balance out Squenix's library after FFX-2 website launches
 Square Enix has launched the website for All-Star Pro Wrestling 3, in which you can take on the role of several cute, overweight and flabby male monstrosities and tackle each other to a pulp. If that's your thing. Official website
- Squenix to make MEGATON announcement
According to Famitsu, Square Enix will be holding a press conference in Japan on May 29 where they will be making some important announcements concerning.. something.
- Update: Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles gameplay info and more revealed at Squenix teleconference
At the GamerFeed teleconference held with Nintendo and Square Enix, Akitoshi Kawazu revealed details of the upcoming Gamecube title, Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, including gameplay, music, and multiplayer info. Details inside
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24 June 2003 by 
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