- New trademark Last Remnant baffles me and I want to know what it is
 Square Enix has trademarked, apparently, the new IP Last Remnant in preparation of its undoubted unveiling at the upcoming Square Enix Party. But that stuff's irrelevant. What's relevant is whether Last Remnant is going to be the subtitle for Star Ocean 4 (to be announced at the party), Final Fantasy VII-2 (for which everyone except myself has a hard-on), Final Fantasy XII-2 (which I demand be made just so the story from FFXII gets done right), or something different? What do you guys think?
- Tanaka: "We were making Final Fantasy III for PS2 until Nintendo convinced us otherwise"
 In an interview with Hiromichi Tanaka today on CVG, the producer reveals that Final Fantasy III (DS) was originally a PS2 project, but Nintendo convinced Square Enix to move it to DS instead. Other interesting tidbits: a Final Fantasy VII remake on DS is "a matter of timing", and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers (Wii) will take advantage of motion detection for spellcasting. C&VG
- Sakaguchi: Final Fantasy XII sucks, Blue Dragon an extension of Chrono Trigger
 Next month's EGM has an interview with Hironobu Sakaguchi, currently at Mistwalker, in which he's asked what he thinks of Final Fantasy XII. His answer? "I just played the beginning. You really can't expect much from the game when Yasumi Matsuno, a crucial member of the team, leaves in the middle of development." Also: "When creating Blue Dragon, Dragon Quest wasn't on my mind. I was actually thinking about Chrono Trigger and Blue Dragon is an extension of that game.". More at the link! Neogaf
- Localization Tactics: A Conversation with Alexander O. Smith
 Alexander O. Smith is a localization specialist who translates Japanese media through his independent company, Kajiya Productions. His projects for Square include Vagrant Story, Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy XII. We touched base with Alex to learn more about his career in the game industry, and his most recent projects adapting Square Enix games for the English-language market. Square Haven Interview
- ローカライズ戦略: Alexander O. Smithとのインタビュー
 自営の独立した会社Kajiya Productionsにて日本語のメディアを翻訳するローカライズのスペシャリストとして活躍するAlexander O. Smith。ゲーム翻訳以外においては、鳥山明の『Dr.スランプ』や小野不由美の『十二国記 月の影 影の海』、栗本薫の『グイン・サーガ』、天野喜孝の美術書を含む漫画の翻訳も手掛けている。彼の手掛けたスクエアーのタイトル、『ベイグラントストーリー』、『ファイナルファンタジーX』、『ファイナルファンタジーXII』を含め、ゲーム業界でのキャリアや英語圏に向けてローカライズされた最近のプロジェクトについてAlex氏にお話を伺う機会を得た。 Full Article
- The Pioneers: Hitoshi Sakimoto
 Hitoshi Sakimoto is currently one of the most prolific music composers in the game industry. He began his career working with Quest on the Ogre Battle series, and later joined many of the same core collaborators for Square games Final Fantasy Tactics and Vagrant Story. From Medieval strategy RPG's to sci-fi sidescrollers, the composer maintains a complex yet recognizable style across his diverse and influential titles. The Pioneers
- Final Fantasy Anniversary Edition headed stateside
 Square Enix is already at work on the English-language adaptations of Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy II Anniversary Edition for the Sony Playstation Portable. Screenshots released today reveal the 20th anniversary iterations of the 8-bit classics will pay homage to the game's heritage by including the full Japanese text version. The titles will sell for $29.99 apiece, and hit retail shelves on June 26 and July 24. English screens
- Toriyama: Fabula Nova Crystallis cannot be stopped
 The director of Final Fantasy XIII, Motomu Toriyama, has revealed in an interview with Playstation Magazine that the Fabula Nova Crystallis series is "not simply exclusive to the PS3 and mobile phones." The statement gives credence to the possibility that a multi-platform MMO based on the thirteenth iteration of the Square series might be underway. The game director claims, "[T]here are many characters and legends that are branching off from the main story and universe. It's a huge project." Details
- Square Enix Receives New North American CEO
 As a part of its restructuring of the management chain, Square Enix has announced that European head John Yamamoto will be assuming the North American role from our very dear friend, sometimes polymorhpic madman, Yoichi Wada. Yamamoto, who was responsible for increasing the Square Enix PAL presence, will be retaining his current duties as European head, while former North American President Daishiro Okada will become chairman of the branch. Is this new hope for a revitalized North American Square Enix? The real question is: unlike Wada, does Yamamoto know how to smile? Next Generation
- Famitsu rates Revenant Wings
 With Square Enix's line-up of Nintendo DS strategy titles appearing on shelves in Japan, Famitsu is appraising the game developer's efforts to carve out a niche on the country's most popular console. The verdict: a decisive 32. The direct sequel to Final Fantasy XII, titled Revenant Wings, has scored a respectable 32/40. So have the latest handheld Seiken Densetsu title, Heroes of Mana, and Hanjuku Heroes DS. It's 32's all around for Square Enix. More scores
- Square commissions Final Fantasy XI comic
 Square-Enix has hired Scott Ramsoomair of VGCats to create a monthly FFXI comic. The comic, Adventure Log, will follow the adventures of a young Mithra from Windurst. Expect pee jokes and other hilarity in the months to come! Adventure Log
- Sacre Bleu! First batch of Final Fantasy Tactics A2 scans
 The first scans of the mysterious Ivalice Alliance title The Sealed Grimoire have been published in Japanese gaming magazines Shonen Jump and Famitsu. The visual style of the strategy RPG appears to be in the vain of DS titles Revenant Wings and Heroes of Mana. The protagonists of the new Ivalice adventure are Adele and Luso. Scans
- Square's behind the scenes video of Final Fantasy XII
 The bonus disc of Final Fantasy XII collector's edition came replete with some candid interviews from the game's designers. Though Ivalice mastermind Yasumi Matsuno is nowhere to be found, other contributors to the epic RPG featured on-screen include scenario writer Daisuke Watanabe and translators Alexander O. Smith and Joseph Reeder, art directors Hideo Minaba and Isamu Kamikokuryou, along with CG director Eiji Fujii. Character designer Akihiko Yoshida also tells how he set out to design visuals that had never been seen before by blending medieval armor with mountain biking gear. Video interviews
- Hitoshi Sakimoto and Motoi Sakuraba announce merger
 Square Enix game composers Hitoshi Sakimoto and Motoi Sakuraba have announced that effective today they will be consolidating their artistic assets and merging into a single unified organism called Motoshi Sakriboto. Details
- Another angle on Crisis Core
 The Members Only section of the Square Enix official website has offered visitors another look at the involved storyline of the Final Fantasy VII prequel for the PSP. Preliminary information on Crisis Core's dramatis personae suggests this just might be the best thing to happen to the Sony handheld since... ever? Now with English subtitles. Crisis Core Trailer
- Canyon Crows touch down in Japan
 The Nintendo DS strategy title Front Mission 1st is out in Japan. The game features an involved plotline, customizable mechs, strategic gameplay, Yoshitaka Amano character designs, and music by Yoko Shimomura, Noriko Matsueda, and Hidenori Iwasaki. Naturally, there are no plans for an English-language release. Preview
- The Pioneers: Ted Woolsey
 Ted Woolsey was the primary translator and US producer of Squaresoft's role-playing games during the Super Nintendo era. He joined Square in 1991, and took the localization of console games to a new level. His translations, influenced by his studies in Japanese literature, raised the standards for storytelling in interactive entertainment. The Pioneers
- Final Fantasy Tactics goes multiplayer
 Square is celebrating the ten-year anniversary of Final Fantasy Tactics by releasing a considerably expanded edition of the game on the Sony PSP. The Lion War will include a mutliplayer function for use with the PSP's wireless feature, allowing both versus and cooperative modes. The portable remake is set for a May 10 release in Japan. Multiplayer details
- Square Enix unveils "Project Game Brain"
 This year's Game Developers Conference began with a keynote speech by Square Enix chief strategist Ichiro Otobe, entitled "Serious Games Squared." Focusing on the development of serious games, or interactive media designed for instructional and training purposes, Otobe stated that in the near future players could expect such titles to be published under the auspices of SG Lab, a joint venture between Square Enix and the manga publishing company Gakken. Programmer Tadashi Tsushima then demonstrated a prototype of Square's "Project GB," a serious game which will instruct Nintendo DS players in developing basic videogame programming skills. GDC 2007
- MMO-OST: Final Fantasy XI gets soundtrack box
 Available for import at the price of $99, the newly announced Final Fantasy XI Soundtrack Premium Box Set will include seven discs and a piano score sheet. The limited edition item marks the fifth anniversary of the massively multiplayer online role-playing game in Japan, available for the PC, Playstation 2, and XBox 360 console. The CD collection composed and arranged by Naoshi Mizuta, Kumi Tanioka, and Nobuo Uematsu goes on sale in Japan on March 28th for 10,476 yen. Details and order info
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04 May 2007 by 
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