Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[A brief history of Final Fantasy 7 through achievements]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/27/a-brief-history-of-final-fantasy-7-through-achievements/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/27/a-brief-history-of-final-fantasy-7-through-achievements/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/27/a-brief-history-of-final-fantasy-7-through-achievements/#commentsThis is a column by Kat Bailey dedicated to the analysis of the once beloved Japanese RPG sub-genre. Tune in every Wednesday for thoughts on white-haired villains, giant robots, Infinity+1 swords, and everything else the wonderful world of JRPGs has to offer.
First things first about my history with Final Fantasy 7: I was spoiled on the death of Aeris before it even came out. Before I even really knew what Final Fantasy 7 was, honestly. My friend, who had been obsessively following its development on the fledgling internet, described the scene in all its gory detail for me. I'm still kind of mad at him for that, even if at the time I didn't really care. Of course, as I eventually discovered, I was hardly alone in being spoiled on the event that helped signal the beginning of gaming's modern era.

The death of Aeris is but the greatest example of the lore that has been built up around Final Fantasy VII over the years. There are countless others that have circulated around the proverbial playground over the years: the fact that it's possible to go on a date with Barret, for example. Or all the persistent rumors that Aeris can be resurrected without a hack. This stuff is legend at this point - the result of outsized popularity and a somewhat ambiguous story.

When word hit last week that Square Enix may be reviving the PC version of Final Fantasy VII with a smattering of extras, my first thought was how fertile the ground is for achievements.

Continue reading A brief history of Final Fantasy 7 through achievements

JoystiqA brief history of Final Fantasy 7 through achievements originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Jun 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Final-Fantasy-7Final-Fantasy-VIIOpinionpcSquare-EnixWed, 27 Jun 2012 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Long-awaited Final Fantasy VII costumes dated for LittleBigPlanet 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/04/final-fantasy-vii-costumes-dated-for-littlebigplane/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/04/final-fantasy-vii-costumes-dated-for-littlebigplane/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/04/final-fantasy-vii-costumes-dated-for-littlebigplane/#comments A LittleBigPlanet Sackboy skin patterned after Final Fantasy VII's Sephiroth was first revealed at Tokyo Game Show in 2008. Three years and one LittleBigPlanet sequel (plus two spinoffs) later, a newly redesigned version of Sackiroth is finally on the way to LittleBigPlanet 2, and he's bringing some "friends."

The PlayStation Blog revealed that a LittleBigPlanet 2 Final Fantasy VII costume pack will be released on July 13, containing Sackboy garments based on Sephiroth, Cloud, Tifa, and Aeris, who of course is doomed to lose her stuffing at the adorable hands of the vicious Sephiroth Sackboy. If you buy the $5.99 / €5.99 / £4.79 bundle, you'll get a bonus Vincent Valentine costume, allowing you to complete that long-in-progress LBP remake of Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. Separately, each costume will run $1.99 each (though Vincent is only available in the bundle).

Other Sackboy raiment due for release soon includes Infamous 2, Toy Story, and Killzone 3 packs.

JoystiqLong-awaited Final Fantasy VII costumes dated for LittleBigPlanet 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Jul 2011 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>costumesdlceuropefinal-fantasy-7final-fantasy-viiLittleBigPlanet-2media-moleculeplaystationps3sephirothsquare-enixMon, 04 Jul 2011 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Square Enix CEO: We're 'going to explore the possibility' of Final Fantasy VII remake]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/22/square-enix-ceo-were-going-to-explore-the-possibility-of-ffv/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/22/square-enix-ceo-were-going-to-explore-the-possibility-of-ffv/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/22/square-enix-ceo-were-going-to-explore-the-possibility-of-ffv/#comments So far, Square Enix has said that a Final Fantasy VII remake would be "unrealistic," "tough to do in HD" and "not happening." But hold out hope, die-hards, because during an interview at FFXIII's launch party, Square Enix CEO Yoichi Wada finally admitted that the company is "going to explore the possibility" of revisiting the classic RPG. He didn't completely reverse the long-held position, as he says Square Enix has to decide "whether or not we're going to do it, if we're going to do it, and the platform," but he did finally admit that there have been a lot of fan requests to see the game in a new form, so he's giving it some solid thought.

Of course, the huge success of the game's re-release on PSN probably didn't hurt either. If Square's convinced a remake will sell (and people will play through Gaia yet again, possibly even on yet another platform), we'll probably see it somewhere sooner or later.

JoystiqSquare Enix CEO: We're 'going to explore the possibility' of Final Fantasy VII remake originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FFVIIfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-viifinal-fantasy-vii-remakere-releaseremakesquare-enixyoichi-wadaMon, 22 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kitase: Final Fantasy VII remake 'unrealistic,' would take too long to develop]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/20/kitase-final-fantasy-vii-remake-unrealistic-would-take-too-l/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/20/kitase-final-fantasy-vii-remake-unrealistic-would-take-too-l/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/20/kitase-final-fantasy-vii-remake-unrealistic-would-take-too-l/#comments Final Fantasy XIII producer Yoshinori Kitase recently gave what appears to be the final word on the possibility of a FFVII remake during an interview with TechDigest. "If we were to recreate Final Fantasy VII with the same level of graphical detail as you see in Final Fantasy XIII, we'd imagine that that would take as much as three or four times longer than the three and a half years it has taken to put this Final Fantasy together," Kitase explained, "so it's looking pretty unrealistic!"

Ultimately, the chances of a remade FFVII getting developed are slim, but not non-existent. "If it were possible that we had all the right facilities and the right environment to be able to make and prepare a Final Fantasy VII remake within a year, we'd very much like a go at it," Kitase said. So, there you have it. If you want to see Cloud Strife in HD, all you have to do is recruit and bankroll a gargantuan Square Enix development team. Piece of cake!

JoystiqKitase: Final Fantasy VII remake 'unrealistic,' would take too long to develop originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-viifinal-fantasy-xiiiremakerpgsquare-enixSat, 20 Feb 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[What if Final Fantasy VII came out 10 years earlier (and had questionable artwork)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/18/what-if-final-fantasy-vii-came-out-10-years-earlier-and-had-que/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/18/what-if-final-fantasy-vii-came-out-10-years-earlier-and-had-que/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/18/what-if-final-fantasy-vii-came-out-10-years-earlier-and-had-que/#comments One of gaming's favorite pastimes: "What if" scenarios involving Final Fantasy VII. What if they actually made a next-gen version that looked like Advent Children? What if Square hadn't defected to the PlayStation? What if Aeris didn't have to die and instead was real and we were in love and got married?

Of course, only slightly less popular is the "What if Final Fantasy VII came out ten years earlier and was 8-bit" scenario. We're pretty sure someone already did the actual work of porting the game over to the Famicom (thanks, Shenzhen Nanjing Technology Co, Ltd!) but in case you missed that, take a gander at Martin Barreby's non-interactive reimagining after the break. Sure, some of the art looks like it's cut from a fanfic and the gameplay actually looks worse than 1987's Final Fantasy 1, but it's "just a small project with not that much effort put into it" says Barreby, so lay off.

Next: What if Cloud's sword and hair were subject to the same laws of gravity that we are?

Continue reading What if Final Fantasy VII came out 10 years earlier (and had questionable artwork)

JoystiqWhat if Final Fantasy VII came out 10 years earlier (and had questionable artwork) originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FFVIIFinal-Fantasy-VIIretroThu, 18 Feb 2010 09:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Cloud Strife hacked (and slashed) into Smash Bros. Brawl]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/09/cloud-strife-hacked-and-slashed-into-smash-bros-brawl/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/09/cloud-strife-hacked-and-slashed-into-smash-bros-brawl/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/09/cloud-strife-hacked-and-slashed-into-smash-bros-brawl/#comments Up until today, our biggest problem with Super Smash Bros. Brawl has been that it doesn't have enough introspective, spiky-haired RPG protagonists. That's all changed, thanks to a group of modders known as DasDonkey Team and Kitty Corp: Meow Mix. Final Fantasy VII protagonist Cloud Strife -- along with his trusty Buster sword -- has been faithfully recreated in surprising detail here in Nintendo's franchise fight-em-up with custom animations and attacks. We won't pretend to understand the motivation behind the implementation (with these mods, we so seldom do), but hey, we're not complaining. The more, the merrier!

Head past the break to check out some video of Cloud in action.

[Via GameVideos]

Continue reading Cloud Strife hacked (and slashed) into Smash Bros. Brawl

JoystiqCloud Strife hacked (and slashed) into Smash Bros. Brawl originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cloudcloud-strifefinal-fantasy-viihackhacksmodSuper-Smash-Brossuper-smash-bros-brawlTue, 09 Feb 2010 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XIII producers: Traditional RPG towns are tough to do in HD]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/05/final-fantasy-xiii-producers-traditional-rpg-towns-are-tough-to/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/05/final-fantasy-xiii-producers-traditional-rpg-towns-are-tough-to/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/05/final-fantasy-xiii-producers-traditional-rpg-towns-are-tough-to/#comments Lots of fans think it would be great to see the classic Final Fantasy VII remade in full HD glory on a platform like the PS3, but Final Fantasy XIII producers Yoshinori Kitase and Motomu Toriyama say it would be really tough to do. In a recent interview with Ultimania, they say that the limit isn't the HD technology, it's the amount of artisanship. "Considering the amount of work to make graphics that deserve HD, it is hard to make towns in the conventional style," said Toriyama. FFVII's graphics were beautiful at the time, but when you consider that we all played them on a 4:3 TV SD screen rather than the 1080p HD behemoths we're all playing games on today, you realize that it's a lot more work for artists to put in to make the game look as epic as Final Fantasy should. That's one reason why FFXIII doesn't have conventional RPG towns.

Kitase agrees, saying that "it is very hard to make games on PlayStation 3 in the same style the games in that era had. Making graphics will take enormous time." So score one for standard definition and the limits of the old pre-HD consoles. Note that neither producer says it's impossible, just a lot of work. So maybe some enterprising young developer will come along and make a solid, HD JRPG in the old-school fashion.

JoystiqFinal Fantasy XIII producers: Traditional RPG towns are tough to do in HD originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artisanshipfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-viifinal-fantasy-xiiihdjrpgmotomu-toriyamastandardtownsyoshinori-kitaseFri, 05 Feb 2010 23:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Vinyl Fantasy 7 is the freshest thing you'll hear today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/31/vinyl-fantasy-7-is-the-freshest-thing-youll-hear-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/31/vinyl-fantasy-7-is-the-freshest-thing-youll-hear-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/31/vinyl-fantasy-7-is-the-freshest-thing-youll-hear-today/#comments We love Nobuo Uematsu's work on the musical accompaniment for the Final Fantasy franchise, but we often find ourselves wishing those games' scores were infused with a touch of Jay-Z. Maybe a light smattering of Outkast. The faintest hint of Ghostface Killah.

The mixologists from Team Teamwork (creators of the similarly-spliced Ocarina of Rhyme album) have once again worked their magic on a classic video game soundtrack. This time around, it's the score from Final Fantasy VII, which has been mashed together with tracks from over a dozen hip-hop artists, as well as Tom Waits, which is just weird. You can pay whatever you want to download the cleverly-titled Vinyl Fantasy 7 -- though we're betting you'll probably settle on zero dollars.

[Thanks, Mike!]

JoystiqVinyl Fantasy 7 is the freshest thing you'll hear today originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-viihip-hopmash-upmixmusicsquare-enixteam-teamworkvinyl-fantasy-7Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Nomura: FFVII remake not happening 'for the time being']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/24/nomura-ffvii-remake-not-happening-for-the-time-being/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/24/nomura-ffvii-remake-not-happening-for-the-time-being/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/24/nomura-ffvii-remake-not-happening-for-the-time-being/#comments Look, Cloud Strife fans, we feel your pain. We do! Honestly. We're just not exactly shocked to see Square Enix's Tetsuya Nomura stating that the possibility of a Final Fantasy VII remake being created as a no go, at least "for the time being." In a recent issue of Famitsu (translated via Andriasang) -- the Cloud Strife-themed part of a multiweek look at game characters -- the character's creator admitted that he is quite aware "fans are looking forward to an oft-rumored remake of FFVII." Unfortunately, he also noted "I don't believe this will happen for the time being."

In a seemingly futile effort to assuage the damage done by that statement, he added, "It's possible that he will appear in other titles as a guest character." You mean like Dissidia: Final Fantasy, Mr. Nomura? Yeah, we're just as worried as you are, folks.

JoystiqNomura: FFVII remake not happening 'for the time being' originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 24 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cloud-strifeffviifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-viisquare-enixtetsuya-nomuraSun, 24 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSP Go owners make Final Fantasy VII the top PSN seller for October]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/06/psp-go-owners-make-final-fantasy-vii-the-top-psn-seller-for-octo/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/06/psp-go-owners-make-final-fantasy-vii-the-top-psn-seller-for-octo/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/06/psp-go-owners-make-final-fantasy-vii-the-top-psn-seller-for-octo/#comments
Three PSP titles appear on the PSN bestsellers list for October. It makes sense, considering the launch of the all-digital PSP Go. Surprisingly, the much-anticipated Gran Turismo PSP didn't top the charts. Instead, PSone classic Final Fantasy VII took the lead once again, undoubtedly boosted by nostalgic RPG players wanting to relive Cloud Strife's cross-dressing adventure on the Go. Here's the full list:

1. Final Fantasy VII (PS3/PSP)
2. Zombie Apocalypse (PS3)
3. TMNT: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled (PS3)
4. .deTuned (PS3)
5. UNO (PS3)
6. Gran Turismo (PSP)
7. Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 (PS3)
8. Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest For Booty (PS3)
9. Critter Crunch (PS3)
10. God of War: Chains of Olympus (PSP)

Konami's Zombie Apocalypse stood as the top new entry, while interactive art experience .deTuned managed to snag a few purchases from Trophy hunters looking for some of the easiest achievements ever created. Critter Crunch's low sales numbers managed to snag it a 9th position -- which either means sales picked up after the free demo, or October was not a very good month for PSN sales at all.

JoystiqPSP Go owners make Final Fantasy VII the top PSN seller for October originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>final-fantasy-viipsnpsn-monthlysalesFri, 06 Nov 2009 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Swag Saturday: Final Fantasy spinoff pack (PSP)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/10/swag-saturday-final-fantasy-spinoff-pack-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/10/swag-saturday-final-fantasy-spinoff-pack-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/10/swag-saturday-final-fantasy-spinoff-pack-psp/#comments If you're like us, you're ready for The Future of Digital Entertainment[TM] and want to get rid of all that silly, antiquated physical media still laying around the house. We're using some for coasters (something's gotta hold our Zima!), some for Halloween treats later this month, and some for Swag Saturday giveaways.

We're hoping that you're not like us and are instead hungrily searching for your chance to win a copy of both Dissidia Final Fantasy and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (on UMD, of course). Leave a comment below letting us what you're going to do with your physical media when the future is upon us and there's no turning back. We'll choose one winner at random after the comments are closed 24 hours from now. See you in the future!
  • Leave a comment letting us what you're going to do with your physical media when the future is upon us and there's no turning back.
  • You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec, presumably based on the longstanding feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys)
  • Limit 1 entry per person per day
  • This entry period ends at 7:01PM ET on Sunday, October 11
  • At that time, we'll randomly select one winner to receive Dissidia Final Fantasy ($40 ARV) and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII ($20 ARV)
  • For a list of complete rules, click here

Gallery: Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core - March 08

JoystiqSwag Saturday: Final Fantasy spinoff pack (PSP) originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Crisis-CoreCrisis-Core-Final-Fantasy-7Crisis-Core-Final-Fantasy-VIIDissidiaDissidia-Final-FantasyFightingfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-viigiveawayjoyswagpsp-goRPGsquare-enixswag-saturdaySat, 10 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy, Street Fighter and Castlevania top the PSone sales charts]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/02/final-fantasy-street-fighter-and-castlevania-top-the-psone-sale/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/02/final-fantasy-street-fighter-and-castlevania-top-the-psone-sale/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/02/final-fantasy-street-fighter-and-castlevania-top-the-psone-sale/#comments
Sony is printing money with its slowly expanding library of PSone classics on the PlayStation Store. Playable on both PSP and PS3, these downloadable titles have been an easy way to prey upon gamer nostalgia. Unsurprisingly, the most iconic games of the PS1 era take the top of the PSone downloads chart in the month of June:
  1. Final Fantasy VII
  2. Street Fighter Alpha
  3. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
  4. Crash Bandicoot
  5. Twisted Metal 2
  6. Spyro the Dragon
  7. Crash Bandicoot: WARPED
  8. Crash Bandicoot 2
  9. Wild Arms
  10. Tekken 2
It shouldn't be too surprising to see multiple Crash Bandicoot games take positions in the top 10. He was, after all, PlayStation's official mascot back in the day. Let's remember him with some classic PS1 ads after the break.

Continue reading Final Fantasy, Street Fighter and Castlevania top the PSone sales charts

JoystiqFinal Fantasy, Street Fighter and Castlevania top the PSone sales charts originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>final-fantasy-viips1psnpsonesalesThu, 02 Jul 2009 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[PSN release of Final Fantasy VII downloaded over 100,000 times]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/23/psn-re-release-of-final-fantasy-vii-downloaded-over-100-000-time/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/23/psn-re-release-of-final-fantasy-vii-downloaded-over-100-000-time/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/23/psn-re-release-of-final-fantasy-vii-downloaded-over-100-000-time/#comments
No wonder Square Enix loves to make spin-offs of Final Fantasy VII -- you people can't stop buying it! The PSN re-release of Final Fantasy VII has been downloaded over 100,000 times in two weeks, making it the fastest-selling PS1 download on the PSN so far (and likely, for all time). If a simple digital re-release can garner these kinds of sales figures, imagine what a proper remake could do.

While touting the "power and interoperability built into the PlayStation brand," Sony also officially announced additional PS1 games for release later this summer: Wild Arms 2, Mobile Light Force and Spec Ops: Stealth Patrol. It's unlikely any of these games will even come close to what Final Fantasy VII was able to achieve.

Bonus! Original PS3 Final Fantasy VII "tech demo" after the break.
Super Bonus! Random and miscellaneous PSN stats after the break as well.

Continue reading PSN release of Final Fantasy VII downloaded over 100,000 times

JoystiqPSN release of Final Fantasy VII downloaded over 100,000 times originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-viimobile-light-forcepsnspec-opswild-arms-2Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy VII available to download in Europe today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/04/final-fantasy-vii-available-to-download-in-europe-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/04/final-fantasy-vii-available-to-download-in-europe-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/04/final-fantasy-vii-available-to-download-in-europe-today/#comments Fear not Europeans, Square Enix and Sony haven't let you down. Eurogamer reports that Final Fantasy VII will be available on the European store later today, just two days after its release in America. There's no indication of a price, or of why SCEE didn't take advantage of their fancy new blog to let us know that it was coming, but we won't hold that against them. You'll be able to introduce your PS3 and PSP to a classic RPG of yesteryear, today. They won't know what hit them.

This bodes well for future high-profile PS1 title releases to take place simultaneously in Europe and the US. We didn't expect this to happen at all, but we hope SCEE keeps it up.

JoystiqFinal Fantasy VII available to download in Europe today originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>europefinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-viisquare-enixThu, 04 Jun 2009 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy VII hitting PSN today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/02/final-fantasy-vii-hitting-psn-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/02/final-fantasy-vii-hitting-psn-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/02/final-fantasy-vii-hitting-psn-today/#comments The PlayStation One classic, Final Fantasy VII, will be available on PSN today, so keep your eyes glued to the PlayStation Store. In addition to this, Sony promises that there will be over 50 more PlayStation One classics coming to PSN in the remainder of the year.

[Update: FFVII is now available on the PlayStation Store for $9.99. The download is 1.32GB. Thanks to everyone that sent this in!]

JoystiqFinal Fantasy VII hitting PSN today originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2009final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-viipsnsquare-enixTue, 02 Jun 2009 15:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Your dreams come true: ESRB rates FFVII for PS3/PSP]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/31/your-dreams-come-true-esrb-rates-ffvii-for-ps3-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/31/your-dreams-come-true-esrb-rates-ffvii-for-ps3-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/31/your-dreams-come-true-esrb-rates-ffvii-for-ps3-psp/#comments
To be honest, we never expected it to happen. We're so used to Japan getting awesome PS1 titles that never come to the US or Europe, we just assumed Final Fantasy VII would be one of them. The ESRB says otherwise, however, as it has rated the game for both the PSP and PS3, meaning that we could see it release at any time. Wouldn't that make make a great E3 week treat?

Whether this will be released in Europe is at the whim of Square Enix, though there is no listing for the game on the European ESRB equivilent, PEGI. Like Resident Evil: Director's Cut, this may be exclusive to America.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

JoystiqYour dreams come true: ESRB rates FFVII for PS3/PSP originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 31 May 2009 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>esrbfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-viips1square-enixSun, 31 May 2009 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Review: Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/review-final-fantasy-advent-children-complete/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/review-final-fantasy-advent-children-complete/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/review-final-fantasy-advent-children-complete/#comments
Advent Children in its original form is far from a great film. However, it did serve its function as the most expensive fan-service created to date. Continuing the story of Final Fantasy VII, Advent Children treated fans to a gorgeous, albeit nonsensical, film filled with over-the-top action sequences. The upcoming Blu-ray release of Advent Children Complete goes a long way into bettering the film, however fans may be upset that a large majority of the new footage is dedicated towards characters not from the original PS1 RPG.

For the uninitiated, Advent Children was an impossible-to-follow film that relied too much on the legacy of the Final Fantasy VII anthology. Advent Children Complete, surprisingly, pads the film to make it a far more accessible film than the original. Geostigma, the mysterious disease that plagues the citizens of this world, is humanized by newly added scenes surrounding Denzel, a child whose role becomes fleshed out in this director's cut. Through the eyes of Denzel, we can better understand the chilling effects of the disease, and the desperation of those that are infected with a seemingly incurable and lethal disease. The film's villains, Kadaj and company, stood out as two-dimensional leather-wearing freaks. The Complete cut makes their intentions, plans and outfits all the more obvious.

Continue reading Review: Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete

JoystiqReview: Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 May 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advent-childrenadvent-children-completeblu-rayfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-viiFri, 29 May 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[FF7's Cloud spotted in BSG spin-off, Caprica]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/25/ff7s-cloud-spotted-in-bsg-spin-off-caprica/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/25/ff7s-cloud-spotted-in-bsg-spin-off-caprica/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/25/ff7s-cloud-spotted-in-bsg-spin-off-caprica/#comments
Battlestar Galactica and gaming culture seem to go together like carrots, celery and onion (what, mirepoix too fancy for ya?). And so it's with little shock that we bring you the screen you see above from the upcoming Battlestar Galactica spin-off series, Caprica, captured by a gracious Joystiq reader. Is that ... Cloud? Cloud Strife? It is! Well, sorta, kinda.

Though the show isn't set to air until the beginning of next year on the Sci-Fi Syfy Channel, the two-hour pilot premiered via DVD and non-analog download this past week. Clearly the show's writers and/or set designers ... err ... someone on the set, decided to show their love for the critically acclaimed game and drop an Easter egg into the pilot in the form of Final Fantasy VII's protagonist. And while the image is a cartoony representation of the sharp-haired young gentleman, we'd be hard-pressed to not recognize that stance anywhere.

[Thanks, Thomas P.!]

JoystiqFF7's Cloud spotted in BSG spin-off, Caprica originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 25 Apr 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlestar-galacticacapricacloud-strifeeaster-eggfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-viisci-fisquare-enixSat, 25 Apr 2009 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Advent Children Complete sells over 100k copies in Japan]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/20/advent-children-complete-sells-over-100k-copies-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/20/advent-children-complete-sells-over-100k-copies-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/20/advent-children-complete-sells-over-100k-copies-in-japan/#comments
Looks like bundling the Final Fantasy XIII demo with Advent Children Complete did the trick. Square Enix's Blu-ray exclusive extended edition of the Final Fantasy VII movie sold 100,000 copies in its first day of sales in Japan. According to Kotaku, this ranks the disc above any Blu-ray anime released in 2008. The top selling disc was Macross F, which managed to sell around 35,000 copies. Advent Children Complete easily topped that.

If Sony Pictures is looking to recreate the sales success here in America, they better figure out a way to localize that demo. We're certain the upcoming US release of Advent Children Complete will look a lot more attractive if it had an English language demo of FFXIII -- wouldn't you agree?

[Via Anime News]

JoystiqAdvent Children Complete sells over 100k copies in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advent-childrenadvent-children-completeblu-rayfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-viisalesMon, 20 Apr 2009 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Advent Children Complete 'Cloud Black' PS3 unboxed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/16/advent-children-complete-cloud-black-ps3-unboxed/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/16/advent-children-complete-cloud-black-ps3-unboxed/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/16/advent-children-complete-cloud-black-ps3-unboxed/#comments
Do you have an extra 49,980 yen ($505) to spare? Well, someone at 1UP does, as they've picked up the new Advent Children-themed, limited edition PS3 bundle from Japan. The package includes a 160GB PS3 system in a matte black color -- it's supposedly "fingerprint resistant." In addition to the hardware, which is emblazoned with Cloud's wolf emblem, the bundle includes the Advent Children Complete Blu-ray disc and (you guessed it) the special Final Fantasy XIII demo.

Visit 1UP to see more pics.

JoystiqAdvent Children Complete 'Cloud Black' PS3 unboxed originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advent-childrenadvent-children-completebundlefinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-7final-fantasy-viifinal-fantasy-xiiimatteThu, 16 Apr 2009 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Advent Children Complete gets June 2nd US release]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/13/advent-children-complete-gets-june-2nd-us-release/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/13/advent-children-complete-gets-june-2nd-us-release/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/13/advent-children-complete-gets-june-2nd-us-release/#comments
Click to embiggen.
Cloud and Sephiroth are ready to duke it out again -- this time in a Blu-ray exclusive extended version of Advent Children. The US release will be ready on June 2nd, and will feature full 1080p video and Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio in English, Japanese and French. Unlike the Japanese release, the US release will include a plethora of subtitle options: English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Arabic and Dutch.

In addition, the previously rumored extra features turned out to be real:
  • "Legacy of Final Fantasy VII" Featurette
  • "Reminiscence of Final Fantasy VII" Original Story Digest
  • "Reminiscence of Final Fantasy VII Compilation" Story Digest
  • On the Way to a Smile - Episode: Denzel Animated Film
  • Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete Trailers
  • Exclusive Sneak Peek at Final Fantasy XIII
We're hoping the "exclusive sneak peek" will be playable, as it is in Japan -- but we're not holding our breath.

JoystiqAdvent Children Complete gets June 2nd US release originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advent-childrenadvent-children-completeblu-rayfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-viiMon, 13 Apr 2009 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photos from the Advent Children Complete launch party]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/10/photos-from-the-advent-children-complete-launch-party/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/10/photos-from-the-advent-children-complete-launch-party/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/10/photos-from-the-advent-children-complete-launch-party/#comments Advent Children Complete hits Japanese retailers next Thursday, April 16 and Square Enix is getting ready for it. The company recently held a launch party and early screening for the reworked and completed film. Celebrating in style, SE's party hosted many items fans could only dream of owning -- like a 1/1000 scale Midgar replica (pictured) or a life-sized Buster Sword (after the break). Three Advent Children Complete sets were also on display, and there were Final Fantasy XIII kiosks too -- most likely as a reminder of the demo that comes packed together with ACC.

It seemed like a night to remember. We wished we were there. We'll just have to settle for the next best thing: photos. Luckily, UFFS has more of those, so head over there to see it all.

Continue reading Photos from the Advent Children Complete launch party

JoystiqPhotos from the Advent Children Complete launch party originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advent-childrenadvent-children-completeblu-rayfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-viisquare-enixFri, 10 Apr 2009 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy VII now available on the PlayStation Store]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/10/final-fantasy-vii-now-available-on-the-playstation-store/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/10/final-fantasy-vii-now-available-on-the-playstation-store/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/10/final-fantasy-vii-now-available-on-the-playstation-store/#comments
... in Japan. The PSone RPG classic is now a downloadable PS3/PSP game, just in time for the Advent Children Complete Blu-ray release. This digital re-release can be purchased for 1500 yen. The multi-disc game has been converted into a massive 1715MB download, so make sure your hard drive/Memory Stick has enough room before downloading.

We'd love to assure you that FFVII will find its way stateside, but we'd be lying. Square Enix has already re-released a number of PS1 classics in Japan, and none have found their way to the US/EU PlayStation Store.

JoystiqFinal Fantasy VII now available on the PlayStation Store originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Apr 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-7final-fantasy-viips1psnFri, 10 Apr 2009 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Maggie Wang strikes again: More custom Sackboys]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/30/maggie-wang-strikes-again-more-custom-sackboys/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/30/maggie-wang-strikes-again-more-custom-sackboys/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/30/maggie-wang-strikes-again-more-custom-sackboys/#comments
It's been another busy month for Maggie Wang, expert craftswoman and friend to Sackboys. Last month we fell in love with her Prince of Persia Sackboy, but now Maggie has outdone herself. The image above shows her latest creation, a Sackboy in the image of Reno the Turk from Final Fantasy VII, complete with removable goggles. Adorable.

Other creations this month include Ulala from Space Channel 5, the Fruit Brute cereal mascot and Michael J Fox' Teen Wolf character. Check out Maggie's website for more pics. We can't wait to see what she makes next.

[Via Tomopop; Thanks Daniel!]

JoystiqMaggie Wang strikes again: More custom Sackboys originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>final-fantasy-viilbplittle-big-planetlittlebigplanetmaggie-wangspace-channel-5Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Advent Children may be done, but Final Fantasy VII isn't]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/25/advent-children-may-be-done-but-final-fantasy-vii-isnt/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/25/advent-children-may-be-done-but-final-fantasy-vii-isnt/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/25/advent-children-may-be-done-but-final-fantasy-vii-isnt/#comments
The upcoming Blu-ray release of Advent Children Complete represents the end of the Advent Children saga. No more director's cuts, or extended director's cuts, super-special ultimate final director's cuts. This is it -- at least, according to Square Enix producer Tetsuya Nomura.

While Advent Children may be done, the "Compilation of Final Fantasy VII" is far from over. Looks like a feature-length film, PS2 shooter and PSP prequel RPG haven't milked the original PS1 RPG enough. IGN reports that Nomura already has ideas for "the next product in the compilation." Final Fantasy VII remake, perhaps? Or more exciting: a Final Fantasy VII dating sim for the DS. You know you want to win Cloud's cold, broken, emo heart!

There may be more FF7 in the works, but fans will have to wait quite a bit to see what's next. With multiple Kingdom Hearts games and two Final Fantasy XIII titles in the works, Nomura has plenty to focus his efforts on.

JoystiqAdvent Children may be done, but Final Fantasy VII isn't originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 22:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advent-childrenadvent-children-completecompilation-of-final-fantasyfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-viinomuratetsuya-nomuraWed, 25 Mar 2009 22:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Advent Children Complete gets US release in June]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/24/rumor-advent-children-complete-gets-us-release-in-june/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/24/rumor-advent-children-complete-gets-us-release-in-june/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/24/rumor-advent-children-complete-gets-us-release-in-june/#comments Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete will be out in Japan later next month, and a North American release could be following closely. According to Blu-ray.com, the completed HD version of the film, with 30 minutes added to the running time, will be out June 7 and will contain dual English/Japanese audio (like the original release). It is said to feature six extra content features, including the new short, animated film called "On the way to a Smile - Episode: Denzel" and an exclusive Final Fantasy XIII sneak peek.

Upon contacting Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, a company representative told us that Sony Pictures could not confirm the details yet and had not "properly announced details." Blu-ray.com's report could be leaked info that's come out a bit too early, but if it proves to be true, we're sure that everyone is wondering exactly what that FFXIII "sneak peek" entails. Is it the demo or just a trailer? The latter seems most likely.

Continue reading Rumor: Advent Children Complete gets US release in June

JoystiqRumor: Advent Children Complete gets US release in June originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advent-childrenadvent-children-completeblu-rayfilmfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-viirumorsony-picturessquare-enixTue, 24 Mar 2009 20:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony begins advertising Advent Children Complete in Japan]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/18/sony-begins-advertising-advent-children-complete-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/18/sony-begins-advertising-advent-children-complete-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/18/sony-begins-advertising-advent-children-complete-in-japan/#commentsSony has been gaining a lot of momentum in Japan, thanks to a number of high profile releases on the system: Resident Evil 5, Yakuza 3 and Street Fighter IV. However, no single brand will probably shift the Japanese market more than Final Fantasy. The upcoming director's mix of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children is a Blu-ray exclusive, and Sony is more than happy to present the upcoming movie as, essentially, a PS3 exclusive.

Included with the film is a demo of the upcoming Final Fantasy XIII, the first numbered Final Fantasy game since 2006. The title is exclusive to PS3 in Japan, and you can be sure that SCEI will take out a number of ads highlighting that fact.

JoystiqSony begins advertising Advent Children Complete in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advent-childrenadvent-children-completecommercialfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-viifinal-fantasy-xiiijapanWed, 18 Mar 2009 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Advent Children Complete trailer is completely gorgeous]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/29/advent-children-complete-trailer-is-completely-gorgeous/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/29/advent-children-complete-trailer-is-completely-gorgeous/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/29/advent-children-complete-trailer-is-completely-gorgeous/#comments
Like many of Square Enix' offerings, Advent Children Complete has been a long time coming. We first heard about it at Tokyo Game Show in 2007, where we found out that Complete would be more than just a quick re-render of the original in HD. 25 minutes of extra footage are included and the movie has been dirtied up a bit as clothes and vehicles get muddied and worn throughout the film.

Now we look forward to its Japanese release on April 16 -- a year and a half after it was first announced. If you're finding it difficult to wait until then, there's a trailer above that you really must check out. It looks glorious -- as ever -- and we're very much looking forward to seeing it in all its 1080p splendor. The bundled Final Fantasy XIII demo had nothing to do with our decision to import the Japanese version. Honest ...

JoystiqAdvent Children Complete trailer is completely gorgeous originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advent-childrenadvent-children-completefinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-viifinal-fantasy-xiiisquare-enixThu, 29 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[FFXIII demo, special edition 160GB PS3 coming April 16 to Japan]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/ffxiii-demo-special-edition-160gb-ps3-coming-april-16-to-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/ffxiii-demo-special-edition-160gb-ps3-coming-april-16-to-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/ffxiii-demo-special-edition-160gb-ps3-coming-april-16-to-japan/#commentsFiled under: ,

The Final Fantasy XIII demo is hitting Japan on April 16 packaged with the Blu-ray Final Fantasy flick, Advent Children Complete. According to Famitsu, Sony will commemorate the release with a new 160GB PlayStation 3 bundle for ¥49,980 (US$550) that includes the movie, demo and specially marked console seen above.

Already got a PS3? ACC is also coming sans hardware for ¥5,900 (US$65) with the demo and ¥4,900 (US$54) without ... but let's be honest, is there really a market for people who want the movie but don't want to play and / or eBay the FFXIII trial? Square Enix recently said that there are no plans to release the demo overseas, so if you've been pining for a taste of the long-awaited RPG, we suggest you brush up on your Japanese.

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

JoystiqFFXIII demo, special edition 160GB PS3 coming April 16 to Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advent-childrenff7ff7-advent-childrenfinal-fantasy-13final-fantasy-7final-fantasy-viifinal-fantasy-xiiiPS3sonyMon, 19 Jan 2009 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[You got Metal Gear and Final Fantasy in my LittleBigPlanet]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/09/you-got-metal-gear-and-final-fantasy-in-my-littlebigplanet/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/09/you-got-metal-gear-and-final-fantasy-in-my-littlebigplanet/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/09/you-got-metal-gear-and-final-fantasy-in-my-littlebigplanet/#commentsFiled under:

Sony has announced that two new LittleBigPlanet costumes will be made available for download in the future. Metal Gear Solid's Old Snake and Final Fantasy VII's Sephiroth have been stripped and their clothes donated to the LittleBigPlanet thrift store. Unfortunately, there's no word on when they will be made available, or whether they'll be paid-for content. There's also no definite answer to whether they'll be available outside of Japan but, considering both games have large fanbases in the US and Europe, we'd be surprised if they didn't. Check out Sephiroth's Tokyo Game Show unveiling above and Old Snake's after the break.

Aren't they cute?

Continue reading You got Metal Gear and Final Fantasy in my LittleBigPlanet

JoystiqYou got Metal Gear and Final Fantasy in my LittleBigPlanet originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Oct 2008 02:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlcfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-viilittlebigplanetmetal-gear-solidmetal-gear-solid-4TGS08tgs2008Thu, 09 Oct 2008 02:55:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS 08: You got Metal Gear and Final Fantasy in my LittleBigPlanet]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/09/you-got-metal-gear-and-final-fantasy-in-my-littlebigplanet/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/09/you-got-metal-gear-and-final-fantasy-in-my-littlebigplanet/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/09/you-got-metal-gear-and-final-fantasy-in-my-littlebigplanet/#commentsFiled under: ,

Sony has announced that two new LittleBigPlanet costumes will be made available for download in the future. Metal Gear Solid's Old Snake and Final Fantasy VII's Sephiroth have been stripped and their clothes donated to the LittleBigPlanet thrift store.

Unfortunately, there's no word on when they will be made available, or whether they'll be paid-for content. There's also no definite answer to whether they'll be available outside of Japan but, considering both games have large fanbases in the US and Europe, we'd be surprised if they didn't. Check out Sephiroth's Tokyo Game Show unveiling above and Old Snake's after the break.

Aren't they cute?

Gallery: LittleBigPlanet TGS 08

Continue reading TGS 08: You got Metal Gear and Final Fantasy in my LittleBigPlanet

JoystiqTGS 08: You got Metal Gear and Final Fantasy in my LittleBigPlanet originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Oct 2008 01:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlcfinal-fantasy-viilittlebigplanetmetal-gear-solid-4Metal-Gear-Solid-4-Guns-of-the-Patriotsps3SonyTGStgs-08tgs08tgs2008Thu, 09 Oct 2008 01:45:00 EST<![CDATA[The Joystiq Weekend: July 25 - 27, 2008]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/27/the-joystiq-weekend-july-25-27-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/27/the-joystiq-weekend-july-25-27-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/27/the-joystiq-weekend-july-25-27-2008/#commentsFiled under: ,

The cast of LEGO Final Fantasy VII ... only Cloud is seriously lacking in the spikey hair department and Red XIII is nowhere to be found. Check out the highlights for this weekend:

Joystiquery
The Best of Big Download: July 20-26
Costumes of Comic-Con 08: Days 1 and 2
DS Fanboy Lite: July 19 - July 25
Japanese hardware sales, July 14 - July 20: Turn-based edition
Joystiq Podcast 058 - Merchant-off edition
WRUP: The Warehouse Edition
Weekly Webcomic Wrapup gets a Reality Check

News
Guitar Hero III 'Virtuoso Track Pack' now available
England, Wales prisoners lose access to 18-rated games
See first posters, date for Max Payne flick
Unlock the Uncharted Trophies beginning Aug. 22 ... or not
Marc and Dexter: Ecko making iPhone-only slasher
PlayStation 2 travels through time to kill children
Rock Band Weekly: Staind, Testament, Scars on Broadway, The New No 2
Super Street Fighter II HD beta gets time extension
Tera Patrick 'hired' as 'special' 'producer' on Saint's Row 2
Gears of War movie development soldiers on
Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe adds a killing Joker
Bungie working on 'three distinct projects'
Peter Moore calls E3 'soulless,' calls for public event
Point your single oversized eyeball at this Resident Evil: Degeneration trailer
Wheelman pumps brakes, delayed until Q1 2009
EA Sports working on fixes for NCAA Football 2009 bugs
Microsoft's Frank O'Connor hints at 'HaloCon', comments on 'Bungiegate'
Warhammer Online launches Sept 23, says EA website
Cryptic Studios job listing reveals Star Trek Online
Toasty! Midway announces Mortal Kombat: Kollection for PS2
Gears of War 2 content unlocked by original Gears achievements, $130 Lancer bundle coming
Too Human demo classes unlock over time, internal clock shift makes them all available
Check out the star-studded Afro Samurai trailer
The NSFAmerica Dead Space 'Lullaby' trailer

Rumors & Speculation
Rumorong: Activision, Red Octane call shenanigans on World Tour set list
Rumor: Ratner to turn God of War film into geek tragedy
Rumor: Vader DLC bringing dark side to Xbox 360 Soul Calibur IV
Rumor: New Marvel vs. Capcom game may be coming 'sooner than you think'

Culture & Community
Rigopulos on why air drumming doesn't work

JoystiqThe Joystiq Weekend: July 25 - 27, 2008 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 27 Jul 2008 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dailyrecapfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-viiSun, 27 Jul 2008 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Shocking announcement at DKS3713 from Square Enix]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/18/shocking-announcement-at-dks3713-from-square-enix/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/18/shocking-announcement-at-dks3713-from-square-enix/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/18/shocking-announcement-at-dks3713-from-square-enix/#commentsFiled under:


In an interview with 1UP, co-producers Shinji Hashimoto and Yoshinori Kitase for Final Fantasy XIII spoke about the upcoming RPG. They reiterated that FFXIII will not be delayed in Japan due to the 360 version -- Square will complete the PS3 version first then port the game to the 360 during localization for America. The most cryptic statement though, is when Hashimoto is asked about Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete, he replies "You can look forward to the upcoming invite-only fan event DKS3713, where we'll have a major announcement that will shock the fans in attendance."

What do you guys think? What major announcement could possibly "shock" fans at this point? We'll find out more on August 2nd or 3rd during DKS3713!

JoystiqShocking announcement at DKS3713 from Square Enix originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advent-childrenDKS3713final-fantasy-viifinal-fantasy-xiiisquare-enixFri, 18 Jul 2008 13:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Game Melody Oratorio Volume Two: More music to our ears]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/game-melody-oratorio-volume-two-more-music-to-our-ears/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/game-melody-oratorio-volume-two-more-music-to-our-ears/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/game-melody-oratorio-volume-two-more-music-to-our-ears/#commentsFiled under:


Fresh off his success placing fourth in Neoflash's Spring Coding Competition, homebrew developer Multiple: Option has followed up his Game Melody Oratorio software with a second volume, packing ten songs and new features into the virtual piano update.

Here's your chance to learn classic melodies from a diverse set of games:
  • Double Dragon
  • Dr. Mario
  • Duck Tales (a woo woo)
  • Final Fantasy VII
  • Halo
  • Leisure Suit Larry
  • Metal Gear Solid
  • Outrun
  • Streets of Rage 2
  • Super Castlevania VI
Game Melody Oratorio Volume 2's new features include an extra piano key (C3), a new Practice Stage with hidden notes, a new Recital Challenge mode, improved flashcart support, and the ability to preview melodies on the song selection screen. Wow! All that for free!

[Via DCEmu]

JoystiqGame Melody Oratorio Volume Two: More music to our ears originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>castlevaniadouble-dragondr-marioduck-talesfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-viigame-melody-oratoriohaloleisure-suit-larrymultiple-optionmusicoutrunpianostreets-of-rageWed, 30 Apr 2008 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Why Crisis Core is on PSP, not DS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/why-crisis-core-is-on-psp-not-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/why-crisis-core-is-on-psp-not-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/why-crisis-core-is-on-psp-not-ds/#commentsFiled under:

Square Enix is a firm supporter of both handhelds, with a number of great titles available on both Sony PSP and Nintendo DS. However, why was (arguably) their biggest game developed exclusively for PSP, instead of the more-popular DS? Pocket Gamer talked to producer Hideki Imaizumi and executive producer Yoshinori Kitase about exactly that: "Yes, there are a lot of DSs out there - but does that mean that our products sell in relation to that? That our sales grow with how many DSs or PSPs there are out there? It's not really the case."

The PSP seemed appropriate for a number a reasons, one being the more adult age group the PSP seems to attract: "the demographic was higher teens to young adults as opposed to small children. The PSP seemed closer to that demographic than DS in general. So we feel we really made the right choice."

As a joke, he added "We'll make a DS game called Brain Age: Final Fantasy for DS [laughs]." To be honest, we wouldn't mind trying that out.

JoystiqWhy Crisis Core is on PSP, not DS originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brain-agecrisis-coreCrisis-Core-Final-Fantasy-7ffviifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-viiThu, 24 Apr 2008 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Crisis Core is not the end of the FFVII compilation]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/crisis-core-is-not-the-end-of-the-ffvii-compilation/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/crisis-core-is-not-the-end-of-the-ffvii-compilation/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/crisis-core-is-not-the-end-of-the-ffvii-compilation/#commentsFiled under:

1UP's James Mielke had a chance to chat with Crisis Core's director, Hajime Tabata. In the interview, he notes that the world of Final Fantasy VII will continue to expand even further. Crisis Core is but the most recent addition of a long series of works expanding the FFVII universe, such as Advent Children, Dirge of Cerberus and Before Crisis. Tabata notes that "the Compilation's finale will take some other form." Could the long-rumored FFVII PS3 remake become reality?

For the complete interview, check out 1UP. Stay tuned for our review of Crisis Core next week.

JoystiqCrisis Core is not the end of the FFVII compilation originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crisis-coreffviifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-viiFri, 21 Mar 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Square Enix to hold Crisis Core launch event at Metreon]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/20/square-enix-to-hold-crisis-core-launch-event-at-metreon/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/20/square-enix-to-hold-crisis-core-launch-event-at-metreon/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/20/square-enix-to-hold-crisis-core-launch-event-at-metreon/#commentsFiled under:


San Francisco's Metreon store will host the official Crisis Core launch event next Tuesday. Expect legions of Square Enix fans to cosplay as their favorite Final Fantasy VII character as they line up to purchase this hotly anticipated PSP exclusive.

The Metreon is located at 101 4th St in San Francisco. The event will last from 6 to 9PM on March 25th. The first 100 customers in line will receive a free commemorative t-shirt. In addition, there will be raffle prizes, including a limited edition lithograph and other Final Fantasy merchandise. Shinra Company identification cards, with attendee's names and photographs will also be created on site -- this is sure to incite nerdgasms everywhere.

If you plan on attending the event, please contact us -- we'd love to see your pictures!

JoystiqSquare Enix to hold Crisis Core launch event at Metreon originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crisis-corefinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-viimetreonThu, 20 Mar 2008 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Watch Zack dance with a Cactaur]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/15/watch-zack-dance-with-a-cactaur/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/15/watch-zack-dance-with-a-cactaur/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/15/watch-zack-dance-with-a-cactaur/#commentsFiled under: ,

Oh no! You're caught in a fight for your life! Your life is in certain doom -- what do you do? Easy: if you're like Zack from the upcoming Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, you dance with a giant animated cactus. Duh.

JoystiqWatch Zack dance with a Cactaur originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cactaurcrisis-coreff7ffviifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-viiSat, 15 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cloud, Aerith and the Turks star in new Crisis Core vids]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/08/cloud-aerith-and-the-turks-star-in-new-crisis-core-vids/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/08/cloud-aerith-and-the-turks-star-in-new-crisis-core-vids/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/08/cloud-aerith-and-the-turks-star-in-new-crisis-core-vids/#commentsFiled under: ,

In just a few weeks time, a real Final Fantasy VII prequel will await you: Crisis Core's English release has us quite excited, and these new videos look really fantastic. We were doubtful of the dub at the first, but these new videos have alleviated many of our fears. Check out IGN for even more videos.

[Thanks, CyborgSPIKE!]

JoystiqCloud, Aerith and the Turks star in new Crisis Core vids originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 08 Mar 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crisis-coreff7ffviifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-7final-fantasy-viiSat, 08 Mar 2008 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy VII ported to the Famicom. Finally!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/22/final-fantasy-vii-ported-to-the-famicom-finally/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/22/final-fantasy-vii-ported-to-the-famicom-finally/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/22/final-fantasy-vii-ported-to-the-famicom-finally/#commentsFiled under: ,


Remember back in the late '90s, when Square was so frustrated trying to fit their opus Final Fantasy VII onto the cartridge-based Nintendo 64 that they made their famous defection to Sony? Well, just a short decade later, China's Shenzhen Nanjing Technology Co, Ltd has apparently done what Square couldn't, squeezing the PlayStation epic onto a cartridge. And not just any cartridge .. a Famicom cartridge. How's it feel to be shown up, Square?

Of course, the conversion isn't perfect. According to a write-up from intrepid blogger CinnamonPirate (who unearthed the 2MB ROM from a Chinese blog) the polygonal graphics and cut scenes are gone, replaced with an impressively wide array of sprites, many stolen from other Final Fantasy games. The story remains surprisingly authentic, though, encompassing the entire three-disc epic while only leaving out a few optional side stories (bye bye, Yuffie and Vincent). The wide array of weapons, magic and materia from the original is a bit restricted in the port, but frankly, we're impressed that features like materia-leveling made it on to the 20+ year old hardware in any form.

The company behind the cart is apparently now primarily makes MP3 players, so our hopes for a Colecovision version of Final Fantasy XII will probably remain unfulfilled.

JoystiqFinal Fantasy VII ported to the Famicom. Finally! originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Feb 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bootlegChinaChinesefamicomFF7FFVIIfinal fantasyfinal-fantasy-viiFinalFantasyportPS2squaresquare-enixsquaresoftFri, 22 Feb 2008 10:30:00 EST