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[Life is a side quest -- I wanna ride it all night long!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/16/life-is-a-side-quest-i-wanna-ride-it-all-night-long/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/16/life-is-a-side-quest-i-wanna-ride-it-all-night-long/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/16/life-is-a-side-quest-i-wanna-ride-it-all-night-long/#commentsFiled under:


Kylie Prymus is the first columnist for PS Fanboy. A Ph.D candidate in philosophy, Kylie specializes in the sociology of technology. Through this new weekly column, Kylie will explore the impact of PlayStation on thought and culture.

I have returned, noble fanboys and fangirls! Yes returned to the land of milk and honey - if by milk you mean PixelJunk Eden and by honey you mean Soulcalibur IV. As I sat in my car staring at long stretches of side quest highway for hours, drooling at the though of returning home to days upon days of new games and DLC (not to mention resolving the heart-wrenching gamus interruptus of a few key titles ), I couldn't help but wonder if my extended absence from the PS3 had taught be anything. Besides the hard lesson that I most definitely need to invest in an HDMI capable monitor - or even better, a PS3 laptop - what did I learn from 6 weeks of quality time with naught save my PSP?

Continue reading Life is a side quest -- I wanna ride it all night long!

JoystiqLife is a side quest -- I wanna ride it all night long! originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 16 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>final fantasyFinalFantasyjoystiqfeaturesnarrativephilosonypspside questSideQuestSat, 16 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy Tactics A2 trailer full of whimsy, tactics]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/14/final-fantasy-tactics-a2-trailer-full-of-whimsy-tactics/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/14/final-fantasy-tactics-a2-trailer-full-of-whimsy-tactics/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/14/final-fantasy-tactics-a2-trailer-full-of-whimsy-tactics/#commentsFiled under: , ,


It's actually pretty difficult for us to tell if the above trailer is any good -- you see, when the original Final Fantasy Tactics Advance came out, we played it until our GBA SP's brilliant backlight peppered our poor eyeballs with cataracts. From what we can tell through blurs and blind spots, Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift looks similar to it's last-gen predecessor, with a few minor graphical tweaks and improvements in sound. Considering Square-Enix has added a handful of new classes and races, and yet another lengthy single-player campaign, we're wondering where we can find a black market eyeball dealer/installer in our neck of the woods, and if they can pencil us in before the game's June 24 release date.

JoystiqFinal Fantasy Tactics A2 trailer full of whimsy, tactics originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 14 Jun 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-tactics-a2finalfantasygrimoire-of-the-riftivalicenintendodssquare-enixtrailerSat, 14 Jun 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kingdom Hearts composer Yoko Shimomura talks PS3 musical freedom]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/02/kingdom-hearts-composer-yoko-shimomura-talks-ps3-musical-freedom/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/02/kingdom-hearts-composer-yoko-shimomura-talks-ps3-musical-freedom/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/02/kingdom-hearts-composer-yoko-shimomura-talks-ps3-musical-freedom/#commentsFiled under: ,


While video game music is no longer simply the series of 'beeps' and 'boops' it was in the past, it has nonetheless remained one of game design's -- groan -- unsung heroes. This isn't lost on tune-focused Music4Games, and in a recent interview with Kingdom Hearts composer Yoko Shimomura, she spoke out on a number of topics, including her thoughts on creating music for the PlayStation 3.

According to Shimomura, who is responsible for the tunes we'll be humming along to in Square Enix's upcoming Final Fantasy Versus XIII for the PS3, composing on Sony's current platform is much less limiting than it was in previous generations. "With the PlayStation 2, sound production...was a constant battle with memory and limitations," she recalled, adding that "with the PlayStation 3, I'm expecting to have it sound the way I please, without limitations." It's encouraging to hear someone at any level talk about creating content on the PS3 that doesn't involve the words "difficult" or "costly." However, with Square Enix continuing to play coy with regards to when its decade of Final Fantasy will actually kick off, it may be some time before our ears ring with the fruits of Yoko Shimomura's musical labor.

JoystiqKingdom Hearts composer Yoko Shimomura talks PS3 musical freedom originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Jun 2008 08:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>composerfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-versus-xiifinalfantasyfinalfantasyversusxiiikingdom-heartskingdomheartsmusicPS3square-enixsquareenixyoko-shimomurayokoshimomuraMon, 02 Jun 2008 08:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy IV trailer gets English subtitles]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/24/final-fantasy-iv-trailer-gets-english-subtitles/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/24/final-fantasy-iv-trailer-gets-english-subtitles/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/24/final-fantasy-iv-trailer-gets-english-subtitles/#commentsFiled under: ,


We here at Joystiq HQ are, as you might imagine, savvy world travelers, and therefore have a vast knowledge of the languages of many countries. Swedish, Italian, Esperanto -- one of us (we shall not reveal who) is even fluent in Klingon. Unfortunately, Japanese is one of our weaker subjects, thus a majority of the promotional material for Squeenix and Matrix Software's (the guys who made the DS remake of FFIII) recreation of the 1991 SNES role-playing classic Final Fantasy II (or IV, for purists) has largely gone over our heads.

Luckily for us, this astonishing trailer created from promotional footage already released in Japan comes with English subtitles -- not that words would be required to appreciate the visuals featured in this preview. Regardless of whether those CGI cutscenes make their way into the handheld package, the game's 3D models look fantastic, filling us with unbridled desire for some old-school crystal hunting. July 22 can not come soon enough.

JoystiqFinal Fantasy IV trailer gets English subtitles originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 24 May 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsfinal-fantasy-ivfinalfantasymatrix-softwarenintendoremakerpgsquare-enixsquareenixSat, 24 May 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[FFXII composer bringing his music to non-Japanese games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/ffxii-composer-bringing-his-music-to-non-japanese-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/ffxii-composer-bringing-his-music-to-non-japanese-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/ffxii-composer-bringing-his-music-to-non-japanese-games/#commentsFiled under: ,

For those of you who who can't seem to get Final Fantasy XII's battle music out of your head, there may soon be something else to hum along to as FFXII composer Hitoshi Sakimoto is looking to bring his musical style to a wider audience, including games produced outside of Japan.

Helping him in this will be Four Bars Intertainment, which also represents other game composers such as Jason Hayes (World of Warcraft), Inon Zur (Fallout 3, Crysis), and Jack Wall (Myst series). No games have been announced yet, though we doubt Sakimoto will lack for projects to fill his free time. Over the past two decades the workaholic composer has added more than 150 projects to his credit, including such titles as Vanillaware's GrimGrimoire and Odin Sphere, shooters Gradius V and Radiant Silvergun, plus a handful of anime releases as well -- many of which we've given our own spin while humming along to in the shower.

JoystiqFFXII composer bringing his music to non-Japanese games originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 May 2008 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ffxiifinal-fantasyfinalfantasygrimgrimoirehitoshi-sakimotohitoshisakimotomusicodinsphereTue, 20 May 2008 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy IV coming to North America ... maybe]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/final-fantasy-iv-coming-to-north-america-maybe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/final-fantasy-iv-coming-to-north-america-maybe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/final-fantasy-iv-coming-to-north-america-maybe/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Role-playing fans can slip on their dancing shoes and party like it's 1991. A new interview with Final Fantasy IV director Takashi Tokita in the latest Nintendo Power seems to point to the game's recent DS remake being localized for North American audiences. Oh sure, he doesn't come right out and confirm the localization -- where's the drama in that? -- but given that the article comes peppered with English language screens and the game itself is featured on the cover, we're certainly leaning towards believing that the RPG will soon be getting some domestic love.

Tokita also toys with our emotions, speaking to the possibility of a remake of SNES RPG classic Chrono Trigger provided "the demand is great enough." Though like coming down hard off a caffeine high, he sends us crashing back down to earth by adding that he really wants to "create new titles and not just series installments and remakes." Yours is a cruel love, mon cher.

[Via DS Fanboy]

JoystiqFinal Fantasy IV coming to North America ... maybe originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chrono-triggerchronotriggerDSFF4final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-ivfinalfantasyfinalfantasyivlocalizationMatrix-SoftwareNintendoremakeRPGsquaresquare-enixsquareenixTue, 01 Apr 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Chocobo's Dungeon kweh-ming to North America in July]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/chocobos-dungeon-kweh-ming-to-north-america-in-july/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/chocobos-dungeon-kweh-ming-to-north-america-in-july/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/chocobos-dungeon-kweh-ming-to-north-america-in-july/#commentsFiled under: ,


Be sure to check your teeth for cavities after this post, as Square Enix will bring an extra dose of saccharine sweetness to the Wii this summer by way of Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon. The game, designed for both RPG enthusiasts and fans who spend their nights imagining dressing up the company's iconic yellow birds, will ship on July 8, and its asking price of just $39.99 won't leave your wallet looking for a phoenix down.

According to Squeenix, this overdose of cute will find Final Fantasy stalwarts Cid and Chocobo hunting for treasure while trying to solve the mystery of a strange town full of people who have lost their memories. The game will even take the cute online via Wi-Fi card battles featuring a darling "3D pop-up book style." Kweh!

[Via Nintendo Wii Fanboy]

JoystiqChocobo's Dungeon kweh-ming to North America in July originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chocobochocobos-dungeonchocobosdungeoncidfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-fablesfinalfantasyfinalfantasyfablessquaresquare-enixWiiTue, 01 Apr 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy Tactics A2 not released B4 June 24]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/19/final-fantasy-tactics-a2-not-released-b4-june-24/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/19/final-fantasy-tactics-a2-not-released-b4-june-24/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/19/final-fantasy-tactics-a2-not-released-b4-june-24/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Two crushing disappointments awaited us in the latest Square Enix press release. The first, admittedly, was entirely due to our misreading of the subject line and consequent imagining of the many, many flavors Final Fantasy Tictacs could contain. Just think: You'd have the sour Squall-flavored ones, the spicy Red XIIIs, a couple of Cloud candies (indiscernible from Sephiroth flavor) , the Tidus fruit droplets and ... well, now you see why were so disappointed.

Similarly, we didn't quite appreciate the North American release date for Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift. You'll only be able to stick the third part of the "Ivalice Alliance" into your DS on June 24th, which is quite a long way off if you're a Final Fan of strategic RPG-ery. Square Enix promises it'll be worth the wait though, as the grimoire comes packed with 400 quests, "polished game mechanics," stylus controls and new jobs and classes.

Gallery: Final Fantasy Tactics A2 (DS)

JoystiqFinal Fantasy Tactics A2 not released B4 June 24 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSFFTA2Final-FantasyFinal-Fantasy-Tactics-A2FinalFantasyGrimoire-of-the-RiftSquare-EnixSquareEnixWed, 19 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[FF7 Crisis Core receiving special edition in UK [updated]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/14/rumor-ff7-crisis-core-receiving-special-edition-in-uk/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/14/rumor-ff7-crisis-core-receiving-special-edition-in-uk/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/14/rumor-ff7-crisis-core-receiving-special-edition-in-uk/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We're well aware that only two groups of people are going to be interested in this particular bit of news. The first, of course, is the set of people eagerly awaiting the English version of Square Enix's portable Final Fantasy VII prequel, Crisis Core. Though American fans are due to receive the PSP game later this month, folks in the UK have to wait a bit longer. The wait may not be without reward, however, as a "Special Pre-Order Edition" of Crisis Core: FF7 (complete with obligatory art book and slipcase) has been spotted on certain retailer websites. Eurogamer notes that an announcement is "imminent," and suggests that offers for the rest of Europe may differ.

Oh, and the other group? That would be the smaller and decidedly more eccentric bunch that absolutely hates the F7 key for no apparent reason. We apologize if Google search picked up on our headline and led you astray. Personally, we've never cared much for that tilde key.

[Update: You can now see the special edition (animated and spinning!) on the official Crisis Core website.]

[Via PSP Fanboy]

JoystiqFF7 Crisis Core receiving special edition in UK [updated] originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Crisis-CoreFF7Final-FantasyFinalFantasyPSPSquare-EnixSquareEnixFri, 14 Mar 2008 15:35:00 EST<![CDATA[FFCC: My Life as a King to be WiiWare launch title, price revealed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/01/ffcc-my-life-as-a-king-to-be-wiiware-launch-title-price-reveal/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/01/ffcc-my-life-as-a-king-to-be-wiiware-launch-title-price-reveal/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/01/ffcc-my-life-as-a-king-to-be-wiiware-launch-title-price-reveal/#commentsFiled under:


A Square-Enix insider recently revealed that Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King (formerly The Little King and the Promised Land) would share a May 12th U.S. release date with the WiiWare service, joining Defend Your Castle and Major League Eating: The Game for the somewhat less than auspicious WiiWare launch lineup. The game will set you back 1,500 Wii points, or $15, if you prefer an actual monetary system.

We never thought we'd be hotly anticipating a Final Fantasy/Sim City mash-up, but when our other choices are limited to a once-free flash game that's been available online for nearly five years, or a game that crudely depicts the action-packed world of aggressive binge eating, the least of the three evils is abundantly clear.

JoystiqFFCC: My Life as a King to be WiiWare launch title, price revealed originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 01 Mar 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ffccffccmlaakfinalfantasyfinalfantasycrystalchroniclesfinalfantasycrystalchroniclesmylifeasakingmylifeasakingnintendosquare-enixsquareenixwiiwiiwareSat, 01 Mar 2008 14:00:00 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<![CDATA[Square Enix lawyers on guard against Final Fantasy replica swords]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/12/square-enix-lawyers-on-guard-against-final-fantasy-replica-sword/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/12/square-enix-lawyers-on-guard-against-final-fantasy-replica-sword/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/12/square-enix-lawyers-on-guard-against-final-fantasy-replica-sword/#commentsFiled under: ,

As we discovered during our trip to Japan's Square Enix store last year, the many worlds of Final Fantasy are pockmarked by some surprisingly deep merchandise mines. No matter what the item -- t-shirts, mugs, jewelery, clothing, action figures or spoons -- chances are a tenuous link can be established between it and your favorite spiky-haired moper. Replicas of the many extravagant and frequently weapons are fine too, just as long as they're approved by Square Enix.

The company today announced a federal lawsuit filed in the Central District of California against "alleged infringers of Square Enix's intellectual property." Specifically, said infringers include "at least" four wholesalers of unlicensed sword replicas based on four video games and a CG movie (likely Advent Children) within the Final Fantasy franchise. "While Square Enix appreciates the enthusiasm of its fans, and values its relationship with
them," said Square Enix General Counsel Yasuhiko Hasegawa, "it is also obligated to protect its intellectual property rights or risk weakening or losing the very rights that enable the company to continue to provide its fans with an exciting entertainment experience."

The lawsuit has its swordid (OOF!) origins in the recent seizure of a crate full of "counterfeit" replica blades by the United States Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Patrol. Following an investigation, Square Enix located the primary wholesalers and retailers of these "unauthorized products in the United States." We hope this turn of events will serve as a lesson to all of you looking to sell real things based on fake things.

JoystiqSquare Enix lawyers on guard against Final Fantasy replica swords originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Advent-ChildrenAdventChildrenCrisis-CoreCrisis-Core-Final-Fantasy-7Crisis-Core-Final-Fantasy-VIIFinal-FantasyFinalFantasyLawsuitRPGSquare-EnixSquareEnixTue, 12 Feb 2008 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Get a job in FFCC: The Young King and the Promised Land]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/08/get-a-job-in-ffcc-the-young-king-and-the-promised-land/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/08/get-a-job-in-ffcc-the-young-king-and-the-promised-land/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/08/get-a-job-in-ffcc-the-young-king-and-the-promised-land/#commentsFiled under: ,


The many jobs available in Final Fantasy games rivals those that exist out in the real world, however we're sure being able to use Cure on your hurt friends and casting Thundaga on your enemies is pretty much better than any kind of job we've ever had. And we used to work as a late-night security guard. We didn't have to do anything but sit!

But, we digress. The upcoming Wii Ware title Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Young King and the Promised Land will feature many of the job classes you Square Enix fans know and love. So, feast your peepers on the above trailer.

JoystiqGet a job in FFCC: The Young King and the Promised Land originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Feb 2008 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fffinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-crystal-chroniclesfinalfantasyrpgsquare-enixsquareenixFri, 08 Feb 2008 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Square Enix: Final Fantasy XIII release date rumors 'erroneous']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/31/square-enix-final-fantasy-xiii-release-date-rumors-erroneous/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/31/square-enix-final-fantasy-xiii-release-date-rumors-erroneous/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/31/square-enix-final-fantasy-xiii-release-date-rumors-erroneous/#commentsFiled under: ,

what's for dinner?
Boy, this is awkward ... After "certain videogame websites" reported last week that Final Fantasy XIII had been promised for 2008, Square Enix has issued this sobering statement: "Any reports of a confirmed release date are erroneous and should be disregarded. Square Enix will make an official announcement in the future concerning the release date when it has been determined."

While we had corrected and reclassified our post as a mistranslation before the release of this statement, we felt it important to highlight Square Enix's official response to the misinformation, despite again acknowledging our error. Is an "our bad" enough of an apology? If not, feel free to take a few shots at us in the comments section. (Hint: This is the one time you won't be banned for it!)

JoystiqSquare Enix: Final Fantasy XIII release date rumors 'erroneous' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ffxiiifinal-fantasyfinalfantasyfinalfantasyxiiiPS3RPGsquare-enixsquareenixThu, 31 Jan 2008 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: FFXIII director predicts demo in 2008 [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/27/ffxiii-designer-promises-demo-2008-release-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/27/ffxiii-designer-promises-demo-2008-release-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/27/ffxiii-designer-promises-demo-2008-release-date/#commentsFiled under: ,


We know that Final Fantasy games, much like fine wine and Radiohead albums, take some time to come together nicely -- still, it's hard for us to believe that Final Fantasy XIII (in all its shapes and forms) will be dropping any time soon. We've had our hearts broken so many times by delays for hotly anticipated titles that we've sadly come to expect them.

Fear not, for the long wait for the Fabula Nova Crystallis collection will be over soon enough. According to FinalFantasyVersusXIII.net's translation (there appear to be conflicting versions), game director Motomu Toriyama teases that a playable demo for FFXIII would be arriving in 2008 to show off the game's revamped battle system. So don your steepled hat and cuddle tight your cactuar plushie -- your chance to sit down with the unluckiest chapter in Square Enix's seminal RPG franchise may have just gotten a teensy bit closer.

[Update: We originally posted an incorrect interpretation of the original translated comments. The post has been corrected and Joystiq apologizes for the error.]

[Update 2: Square Enix has released an official response - and we eat more crow.]

JoystiqRumor: FFXIII director predicts demo in 2008 [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 27 Jan 2008 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>13fabulanovacrystallisffxiiifinalfantasyfinalfantasyxiiiPlayStationNetworkPS3PSNRPGSquare-EnixsquareenixSun, 27 Jan 2008 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Square Enix announces PAL date for Ring of Fates]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/17/square-enix-announces-pal-date-for-ring-of-fates/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/17/square-enix-announces-pal-date-for-ring-of-fates/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/17/square-enix-announces-pal-date-for-ring-of-fates/#commentsFiled under:

Last week, we clambered onto our soapboxes to rant about the ridonkulous delay between the U.S. and European release of Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker. "No more, Square Enix!" we cried, shaking our fists and jabbing our rusty pitchforks skywards. "No more neglecting Europe!"

Despite the fact that we did this while at our desk in another country with nobody else in the room, Square Enix seems to have listened. The company just announced a PAL date for Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates, and it's not in 2013 or anything. It's on March 21st THIS YEAR, just ten days after the U.S. release. Square Enix had promised a spring release for PAL gamers all along, but we had no idea whether it would hold, much less that it would be so close to the North American release. Oh, happy days!


[Via press release]

JoystiqSquare Enix announces PAL date for Ring of Fates originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 Jan 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ARPGCrystal-ChroniclesCrystalChronicleseuropeFinal-FantasyFinal-Fantasy-Crystal-Chronicles-Ring-Of-FatesFinalFantasyRing-of-FatesRingofFatesRPGSquare-EnixThu, 17 Jan 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Slowly expand your Revenant Wings army]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/03/slowly-expand-your-revenant-wings-army/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/03/slowly-expand-your-revenant-wings-army/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/03/slowly-expand-your-revenant-wings-army/#commentsFiled under: ,

You can already pick up tiny Vaan, of Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, at the Square Enix store, and soon, you'll be able to add others -- at least, with the Japanese sets. The next round of figures, which includes Ashe and Basch, hits Japan in April, but whether or not they'll make it to the U.S. remains to be seen. The first Japanese trading arts set included Penelo, and she's missing from the non-import version (though available for import, if you need your perky braid fix ... and if you can track her down).

If you're really determined to start recreating your crew, you can also shoot for Balthier, who's available in the Final Fantasy Tactics Japanese set -- but the figures that ship with the Japanese sets are randomly selected, so keep your fingers crossed.

JoystiqSlowly expand your Revenant Wings army originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 Jan 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ashebalthierbaschfinal-fantasyfinalfantasypenelorevenant-wingstrading-artsvaanThu, 03 Jan 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Mini FFIV figures are super teeny, super cute]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/16/mini-ffiv-figures-are-super-teeny-super-cute/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/16/mini-ffiv-figures-are-super-teeny-super-cute/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/16/mini-ffiv-figures-are-super-teeny-super-cute/#commentsFiled under:


Face it. If you've owned Final Fantasy IV for the SNES, the GBA, and plan on getting it for the DS, you're an FFIV addict. Of course, when we show you things like these miniature figurines, that just makes us enablers.

For $39.00, you can get your fix from NCXS. The figures in this Final Fantasy IV Trading Arts Mini collection are only 6cm tall, which means they're tiny. Of course, you might just want to save your money for the game instead.

[Via Kotaku]

JoystiqMini FFIV figures are super teeny, super cute originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 16 Dec 2007 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ff4ffivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-4final-fantasy-ivfinalfantasytrading-arts-miniSun, 16 Dec 2007 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Chronicling the Young King and the Promised Land with goodies galore]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/16/chronicling-the-young-king-and-the-promised-land-with-goodies-ga/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/16/chronicling-the-young-king-and-the-promised-land-with-goodies-ga/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/16/chronicling-the-young-king-and-the-promised-land-with-goodies-ga/#commentsFiled under: ,


Another trailer has popped up for (deep breath) Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Young King and the Promised Land, which introduces two of game's main characters. Aside from that (and some pretty Wii Ware graphics), though, this true-to-form Square Enix trailer doesn't really show us much in terms of gameplay. Still, the mystery of it all is enough to make us want it, and we're really looking forward to the coming of Wii Ware ... since, you know, we hate money and want to get rid of it as fast as possible.

Also, the game has stopped bumming off the offical Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles website, as its own official site launched this week. You can check it out here, if you feel so inclined.

If that's not enough to quell your burning desire for Promised Land goodness (insatiable pigs, the lot of you), check after the break for some Famitsu scans.

Continue reading Chronicling the Young King and the Promised Land with goodies galore

JoystiqChronicling the Young King and the Promised Land with goodies galore originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 16 Dec 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crystal-chroniclescrystalchroniclesfamitsuffccfinal-fantasyfinalfantasylittle-king-and-the-promised-landscanssquare-enixyoung-king-and-the-promised-landSun, 16 Dec 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Extended trailers for Final Fantasy XIII and XIII Versus on Japanese DVD]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/15/extended-trailers-for-final-fantasy-xiii-and-xiii-versus-on-japa/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/15/extended-trailers-for-final-fantasy-xiii-and-xiii-versus-on-japa/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/15/extended-trailers-for-final-fantasy-xiii-and-xiii-versus-on-japa/#commentsFiled under: ,


Remorselessly ripped from the special features of CLOUD, a Japanese DVD named after Final Fantasy VII's spiky-haired protagonist, these extended trailers for Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy XIII Versus (waiting just behind the jump) are pretty spectacular. We're willing to look beyond the lack of pointy hats and crystals, as we're aching to play the system's first offering from RPG powerhouse Square Enix.

Does it look like 13 will be your unlucky number? Don't worry, the next Final Fantasy franchise is just a decade away.

Continue reading Extended trailers for Final Fantasy XIII and XIII Versus on Japanese DVD

JoystiqExtended trailers for Final Fantasy XIII and XIII Versus on Japanese DVD originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 15 Dec 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Final-FantasyFinalFantasyFinalFantasyXIIIFinalFantasyXIIIVersusPS3RPGSonySquare-EnixSquareEnixSat, 15 Dec 2007 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Square wins plagiarism case against Korean music video]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/square-wins-plagiarism-case-against-korean-music-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/square-wins-plagiarism-case-against-korean-music-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/square-wins-plagiarism-case-against-korean-music-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Imitation isn't only the sincerest form of flattery, it's also the most legally actionable. At least it is to Square Enix, which recently won a plagiarism case against South Korean music video producer Fantom to the tune of 16 million won (approx. $17,400).

The case centers on the video for the song Temptation Sonata, in which live actors recreate a scene from Square Enix's animated movie, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. According to a judge for the Seoul Central District Court, the video "illegally used 80% of the storyline, setting, characters and their styles of dress and their demeanors," from the movie scene. We're not sure how the judge came to such an exact statistic, but who are we to argue with such an official sounding pronouncement?

A comparison of the videos (both viewable below the break) shows much more than a passing similarity between the two, and Square was definitely within its rights taking legal action. That said, we have to wonder what Square Enix felt it had to gain from a court case. Is this video really hurting the company's ability to milk insane amounts of money out off the Final Fantasy franchise? Does seeing the video makes someone less likely to buy a copy of Advent Children? What's next, a legal case against the makers of College Saga? We just hope the negative PR associated with this case is worth the massive $17,000 pay day Square Enix made off of it.

Continue reading Square wins plagiarism case against Korean music video

JoystiqSquare wins plagiarism case against Korean music video originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advent childrenAdventChildrencourtenixfinal fantasyFinal Fantasy VIIfinal fantasy7FinalFantasyFinalFantasy7FinalFantasyViikorealawlegalplagiarismPS2PS3PSPsquaresquare enixSquareEnixTue, 11 Dec 2007 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy IV Japanese site rolls out the updates]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/final-fantasy-iv-japanese-site-rolls-out-the-updates/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/final-fantasy-iv-japanese-site-rolls-out-the-updates/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/final-fantasy-iv-japanese-site-rolls-out-the-updates/#commentsFiled under: ,


The Japanese website for Final Fantasy IV has updated with new goodies. First off, is an update to the character section, which describes a lot of the game's characters. There is also the download section, which has some sweet wallpapers available. Three of those wallpapers are of in-game characters, with the last new wallpaper available being one kickass piece of concept art. So, head on over and check the new stuff out.

[Via Go Nintendo]

JoystiqFinal Fantasy IV Japanese site rolls out the updates originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Dec 2007 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ffivfinal-fantasyfinalfantasyonlinesquare-enixsquareenixwebsiteTue, 11 Dec 2007 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[1UP talks turkey games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/22/1up-talks-turkey-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/22/1up-talks-turkey-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/22/1up-talks-turkey-games/#comments
What better way to spend Thanksgiving than talking about turkeys? And by turkeys, of course, 1UP's referring to those massively-hyped titles that ultimately fizzled.

We can't say we agree with all of the choices presented, though 1UP's criteria suggests that the games featured aren't necessarily "bad," but that all of them "fell short of expectations."

Still, given the sheer number of games out there, there are bound to be bigger, badder turkeys hiding in the bushes. Any more main-course nominees?

Joystiq1UP talks turkey games originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Nov 2007 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1upassassins-creedenterthematrixfablefinal-fantasyfinalfantasylairmariometal-gear-solidmetalgearsolidperfect-darkperfectdarkred-steelredsteelshenmueThu, 22 Nov 2007 16:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Finality with Final Fantasy retrospective: Part XIII]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/03/finality-with-final-fantasy-retrospective-part-xiii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/03/finality-with-final-fantasy-retrospective-part-xiii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/03/finality-with-final-fantasy-retrospective-part-xiii/#commentsFiled under:

This week GameTrailers.com ends their epic Final Fantasy retrospective by going over what it takes to make a Final Fantasy game. The rules to create a FF game worthy to be part of the Roman numeral series are pretty loose, but GT does their best to go over most of the minutia required for an installment in the franchise. Crystals vs. spheres, three party members or four, what role should Cid play? These are the hard questions SquareEnix has to sit down and answer before starting a project.

Go ahead now and enjoy the last retrospective. If you missed any of the episodes they are linked below for easy reference. If you decide to go on a Final Fantasy retrospective today it'll only take a few hours to watch them all. We're looking forward to GameTrailers' next (significantly shorter) retrospective series tackling ... well, they won't tell us. What would y'all want it to be?

See also: Part I & II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, Part IX, Part X, Part XI, Part XII

JoystiqFinality with Final Fantasy retrospective: Part XIII originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 03 Nov 2007 10:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>finalfantasyfinalfantasyretrospectiveretrospectiveSat, 03 Nov 2007 10:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy retrospective: Part XII]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/26/final-fantasy-retrospective-part-xii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/26/final-fantasy-retrospective-part-xii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/26/final-fantasy-retrospective-part-xii/#commentsFiled under: , ,

OK everybody, the Final Fantasy retrospective is almost over, so soak it up while you can. This week, GameTrailer's retrospective episode looks back at all the Final Fantasy remakes. Yes, it takes 14 minutes to go through them all. The most interesting part of this episode is the significant portion of time spent explaining the language translation issues that have haunted the series since its inception.

Next week, in the final episode of the Final Fantasy retrospective, GameTrailers will cobble together an original Final Fantasy game from scratch, utilizing the elements necessary for a "Final Fantasy game." This ought to be a joyous bundle of clichés. You know Cid has to be in there somewhere.

See also: Part I & II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, Part IX, Part X, Part XI

JoystiqFinal Fantasy retrospective: Part XII originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Oct 2007 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSfinalfantasyfinalfantasyretrospectivePSPretrospectiveFri, 26 Oct 2007 14:55:00 EST<![CDATA[First trailer for Wii Ware Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/11/first-trailer-for-wii-ware-final-fantasy-crystal-chronicles/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/11/first-trailer-for-wii-ware-final-fantasy-crystal-chronicles/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/11/first-trailer-for-wii-ware-final-fantasy-crystal-chronicles/#commentsFiled under: ,


After checking out Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Young King and the Promised Land, we can only guess one thing: a hard drive or some other storage solution for the Wii is coming, and it's coming soon. With 512mb, we can barely handle the title of this Wii Ware game, and that's not even counting the game itself.

The latest Crystal Chronicles looks like the result of a romantic evening between King Story and Chocobo's Dungeon, and we're behind that 100% ... especially when we see dancing moogles.

JoystiqFirst trailer for Wii Ware Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Oct 2007 17:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Crystal-ChroniclesCrystalChroniclesFinal-FantasyFinalFantasysquare-enixwii-wareYoung-King-and-the-Promised-LandThu, 11 Oct 2007 17:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy retrospective: Part XI]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/10/final-fantasy-retrospective-part-xi/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/10/final-fantasy-retrospective-part-xi/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/10/final-fantasy-retrospective-part-xi/#commentsFiled under: , ,

GameTrailer's Final Fantasy retrospective finished looking at the Roman numeral games in the franchise weeks ago, but there are still many titles to cover that have the Final Fantasy name attached to them one way or another. This week they move into the Final Fantasy Legend, The Crystal Chronicles, and the Kingdom Hearts saga.

Let's just skip past the Final Fantasy Legend games because those aren't really Final Fantasy games (although what really is?), they were just given the name to capitalize on the Final Fantasy brand in the west and are actually the Saga series. Next on the list is the endearing Crystal Chronicles. If the GameBoy Advance required multiplayer were done today using the Nintendo DS, it really wouldn't be such a big deal considering everyone and their mother has a DS that could link up wirelessly with the Wii. The smart man's modern Gauntlet, Crystal Chronicles really is a great multiplayer experience if you have the GBAs. Finally, the retrospective covers Kingdom Hearts, where the peanut butter of Final Fantasy meets the chocolate of Disney. Kingdom Hearts now stands alone with its own separate world and rules to continue down its own path as more additions to the series are guaranteed to come along.

Next week the Final Fantasy retrospective will cover all the remakes of the Roman numeral series we've seen over the years.

See also: Part I & II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, Part IX, Part X

JoystiqFinal Fantasy retrospective: Part XI originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Oct 2007 11:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>finalfantasyfinalfantasyretrospectiveGameCubePS2retrospectiveWed, 10 Oct 2007 11:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Pokemon Farm, Crystal Chronicles game revealed for Wii Ware]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/10/pokemon-farm-crystal-chronicles-game-revealed-for-wii-ware/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/10/pokemon-farm-crystal-chronicles-game-revealed-for-wii-ware/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/10/pokemon-farm-crystal-chronicles-game-revealed-for-wii-ware/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Finally, some Wii Ware titles with less-than-sketchy origins. At today's press conference in Japan, Nintendo has announced a handful of downloadable titles that will be coming to its Wii Ware service when it launches in Japan this March. Pokemon Bokujou (which translates to Pokemon Farm, according to IGN), will have you raise the pokemon you have captured and transferred from Pearl and Diamond on - you guessed it - a farm.

Also revealed was a new iteration of the Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles series from Square Enix. In The Young King and the Promised Land, you build your own country. No other details were revealed; Nintendo is touting this as an exclusive title for Wii Ware.

Star Soldier R, Doctor Mario (why isn't this a Virtual Console release?) and the Bandai Namco word puzzler Mojipittan Wii were also announced.

JoystiqPokemon Farm, Crystal Chronicles game revealed for Wii Ware originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Oct 2007 02:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crystal-chroniclesDSfinal-fantasyfinalfantasynintendopokemonWiiwii-warewiiwareWed, 10 Oct 2007 02:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy Tactics A2 advances]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/08/final-fantasy-tactics-a2-advances/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/08/final-fantasy-tactics-a2-advances/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/08/final-fantasy-tactics-a2-advances/#commentsFiled under:

With Final Fantasy Tactics A2 hitting Japan this month, FFXII: Revenant Wings out for US gamers next month, and the PSP's Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions out this week, the Ivalice Alliance ... uh, alliance seems to be going strong. Of the set, FFTA2 seems to be the most controversial, with lines drawn between the fans of straight Tactics and Tactics Advance, and fans of both on the sidelines shaking their heads. Reviews on this one should be interesting! In the meantime, you can check out the latest screens in our updated gallery.

JoystiqFinal Fantasy Tactics A2 advances originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Oct 2007 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Final-Fantasy-Tactics-A2finalfantasygalleryIvalice-AllianceSquare-EnixSquareEnixsrpgMon, 08 Oct 2007 16:40:00 EST<![CDATA[FFXII: Revenant Wings gets PAL release window]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/08/ffxii-revenant-wings-gets-pal-release-window/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/08/ffxii-revenant-wings-gets-pal-release-window/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/08/ffxii-revenant-wings-gets-pal-release-window/#commentsFiled under:


All of our European readers who've been sitting on their hands, anxiously awaiting a release date for Square Enix's Final Fantasy XII spin-off title for the DS, Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, can now breathe a sigh of relief. Releasing to the territory in early 2008, no longer do gamers residing in the PAL region even have to wonder if they're getting the title. And, while we'd like to provide an exact date when you can expect to be able to pick the game up, sadly this is all Square Enix has given us to go on.

JoystiqFFXII: Revenant Wings gets PAL release window originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Oct 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>europefinalfantasyPALrevenantwingssquareenixMon, 08 Oct 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS07: Joystiq chronicles some crystals]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/01/tgs07-joystiq-chronicles-some-crystals/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/01/tgs07-joystiq-chronicles-some-crystals/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/01/tgs07-joystiq-chronicles-some-crystals/#commentsFiled under: ,

Even though the game is already out in Japan, Square Enix was happy to show off Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates at this year's TGS. Joystiq's TGS contingent happened upon the game and engaged in a multiplayer session with Square Enix booth staff, for our edification, and found the experience "very shallow".

The game hews closely to the Gamecube original, without the restrictive hardware requirements, of course, Your team picks character classes and explores a dungeon together, finding magic in the form of powerup items along the way. The magic is equippable from a menu on the touchscreen. Players have the ability to "boost" each other in order to make difficult jumps, which sounds fun, but could lead to split parties very easily (how does the last guy get up?)

What the Joystiq team saw as "shallow," we see as "intriguing." They decry the lack of anything to do other than defeat wave after wave of enemies, but that sounds quite like bliss to us, especially when the movement is "quite free" as described. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles sounds like it might be unexpectedly action-oriented.

JoystiqTGS07: Joystiq chronicles some crystals originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Oct 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>final-fantasyfinalfantasyring-of-fatesringoffatessquare-enixsquareenixtgs07Mon, 01 Oct 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy retrospective: Part X]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/final-fantasy-retrospective-part-x/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/final-fantasy-retrospective-part-x/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/final-fantasy-retrospective-part-x/#commentsFiled under: ,

GameTrailers moves beyond the Roman numerals in their Final Fantasy retrospective and into the peripheral media with the Final Fantasy name attached to it. Some of it good, some of it Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. One of the more interesting parts about this episode is all the Chocobo games, many of which never made it to the States. You'd think if there's anything that Americans would gobble up it's games with big cute yellow birds -- we've been watching one on PBS for decades. Next week the retrospective covers the successful spin-offs of Final Fantasy like Crystal Chronicles and Kingdom Hearts.

See also: Part I & II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, Part IX

JoystiqFinal Fantasy retrospective: Part X originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Sep 2007 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSfinalfantasyfinalfantasyretrospectiveretrospectiveWed, 26 Sep 2007 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Show and Tell: Straight outta Japan]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/20/show-and-tell-straight-outta-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/20/show-and-tell-straight-outta-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/20/show-and-tell-straight-outta-japan/#commentsFiled under:


With all the news from TGS this week, we thought it might be the perfect time to tie in with a little Show and Tell session featuring the limited edition DS Lites those of us outside Japan so often sigh over. Reader Eoghan sent in the picture available after the break, and now we just want to track down the location of these goodies and rob them. And then we thought ... if PAX is a veritable DS mecca, what must the crowd at TGS look like? These things could be everywhere. Oh well. Since we're not there to ogle the array of Lites, we'll just have to make due with Eoghan's very pretty picture.

Got something you want to show off? Crafts, cakes, collections from modest to extreme, t-shirts ... whatever you've got, if it has a little Nintendo flavor, we want to see it. Just take some pictures (or copy your web album links) and send them to showmeit [at] dsfanboy [dot] com. We'll take care of the rest.

Continue reading Show and Tell: Straight outta Japan

JoystiqShow and Tell: Straight outta Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 Sep 2007 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>final-fantasyfinalfantasypikachuspecial-editionspecialeditionThu, 20 Sep 2007 17:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy retrospective: Part IX]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/18/final-fantasy-retrospective-part-ix/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/18/final-fantasy-retrospective-part-ix/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/18/final-fantasy-retrospective-part-ix/#commentsFiled under: ,

GameTrailer's Final Fantasy retrospective chugs along into the last of the playable Roman numeral series: Final Fantasy XII. Actually this episode is more about the world of Ivalice -- all of it. At around 25 minutes long, you might as well grab a drink and some popcorn before you start this episode.

The world of Ivalice is actually playable in four games: Final Fantasy Tactics, Vagrant Story, Final Fantasy Tactics Advanced and Final Fantasy XII. The big question is how these four games and their respective worlds tie into each other, which the retrospective covers in the last section of this episode. There are more games planned to occur in the world of Ivalice as well. In the next episode of the retrospective they'll cover all the random Final Fantasy stuff like the spin-offs and movies.

See also: Part I & II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII

JoystiqFinal Fantasy retrospective: Part IX originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Sep 2007 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>finalfantasyfinalfantasyretrospectivePS2retrospectiveTue, 18 Sep 2007 10:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Odyssey delayed to 2008 in US]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/lost-odyssey-delayed-to-2008-in-us/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/lost-odyssey-delayed-to-2008-in-us/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/lost-odyssey-delayed-to-2008-in-us/#commentsFiled under: ,

Lorne Lanning! If you're reading this, be sure to note our continued frustration at typing "Oddysee" instead of "Odyssey" every single time we discuss Hironobu Sakaguchi's upcoming Xbox 360 RPG. The cumulative seconds wasted in correcting every article must surely extend beyond 2008 by now -- much like the English version of Lost Oddysee Odyssey. Confound it!

In Microsoft's pre-TGS conference held in Japan, Mr. Final Fantasy announced that his Unreal-powered tale of turn-based timelessness would be radically altering the meaning of "simultaneous worldwide release" to be more along the lines of "out in Japan on December 6th, then in North America in February 2008." Judging by the release schedule adopted by Mist Walker's most recent RPG, Blue Dragon, a European date for this Odyssey should be found on the same calendar page.

JoystiqLost Odyssey delayed to 2008 in US originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Sep 2007 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BreakingNewsfeelplusFinalFantasyLost-OdysseyLostOdysseyMicrosoftMistwalkerRPGSakaguchiTGS07UnrealXbox-360Wed, 12 Sep 2007 07:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy IV launches dev blog]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/final-fantasy-iv-launches-dev-blog/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/final-fantasy-iv-launches-dev-blog/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/final-fantasy-iv-launches-dev-blog/#commentsFiled under:


Do you like blogs? We love blogs, even if they're comprised mostly of indecipherable script from the Japanese language. Of course, it doesn't hurt that it's about games.

One of the game's producers comments that the title was planned immediately following the completion of Final Fantasy III, but fails to mention how frequently the blog will be updated. So, be sure keep up with the RSS over there.

[Via Go Nintendo]

JoystiqFinal Fantasy IV launches dev blog originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 00:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ffivfinal-fantasyfinalfantasysquare-enixsquareenixTue, 11 Sep 2007 00:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy Tactics A2 to feature bastards]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/10/final-fantasy-tactics-a2-to-feature-bastards/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/10/final-fantasy-tactics-a2-to-feature-bastards/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/10/final-fantasy-tactics-a2-to-feature-bastards/#commentsFiled under:

Six weeks away from the SRPG's release in Japan, Square Enix has offered a preview of job classes for the two new tribes in Final Fantasy Tactics A2: The Sealed Grimoire, the Seeq and Gria, the former being a race resembling portly pigs and originally appearing in Final Fantasy XII, and the latter of which are a humanoid feminine race with dragon-like characteristics.

The Seeq's Raptor class has skills similar to the Knights' in Final Fantasy Tactics, while the Gria's Lunistas are able to trade HP to increase their critical hit chance. Both tribes also have a Bastard class which we assume to comprise of one of the following:
  1. Children born out of wedlock
  2. Jerks of the highest degree
  3. Warriors who wield oversized medieval swords
You can check out some concept art for the Seeq and Gria past the post break, where we always hide the goodies. It has yet to be confirmed whether or not the two tribes, similar to Wu-Tang Clansman Ol' Dirty Bastard (R.I.P.), like it raw.

Continue reading Final Fantasy Tactics A2 to feature bastards

JoystiqFinal Fantasy Tactics A2 to feature bastards originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 10 Sep 2007 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ffta2finalfantasysquareenixsrpgtacticsMon, 10 Sep 2007 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Austin GDC: Live at the Hiromichi Tanaka keynote]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/06/austin-gdc-live-at-the-hiromichi-tanaka-keynote/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/06/austin-gdc-live-at-the-hiromichi-tanaka-keynote/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/06/austin-gdc-live-at-the-hiromichi-tanaka-keynote/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Hiromichi Tanaka is the executive officer of Square Enix and the producer of company's entry into the MMO market, Final Fantasy XI. This morning at the Austin Game Developer's Conference he's going to be talking to us about the challenges of cross-platform design with a design post-mortum of Final Fantasy XI.

11:06 AM CST: We were supposed to get started at 11AM CST, but the event seems to be running fashionably late.

11:08 AM CST: Introducing Hiromichi Tanaka speaking on Launching Final Fantasy XI on Multiple Platforms.

Continue reading Austin GDC: Live at the Hiromichi Tanaka keynote

JoystiqAustin GDC: Live at the Hiromichi Tanaka keynote originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Sep 2007 12:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agdcaustin game developers conferenceAustinGameDevelopersConferencefinal fantasyfinal fantasy xiFinalFantasyFinalFantasyXihiromichi tanakaHiromichiTanakaPCPS2square enixSquareEnixThu, 06 Sep 2007 12:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy retrospective: Part VIII]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/05/final-fantasy-retrospective-part-viii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/05/final-fantasy-retrospective-part-viii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/05/final-fantasy-retrospective-part-viii/#commentsFiled under: , ,

GameTrailers does an excellent job looking at the bright side as they go over Final Fantasy XI in their continuing retrospective. Remember when the idea of Final Fantasy going online sounded like a great idea, the dream of an entertaining and epic masterpiece that would revolutionize MMOs forever? Boy, were we all smoking the Moogle dung hard back then! Final Fantasy XI, which should have just been called Final Fantasy Online, brought an online experience that seemed fine at the time -- until the World of Warcraft came along.

According to the retrospective there are still 4 million people playing Final Fantasy XI and enjoying its amazing grind and unforgiving gameplay. Actually, it'd be good to hear from people who are still playing what kept them involved all this time.

See also: Part I & II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII

JoystiqFinal Fantasy retrospective: Part VIII originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Sep 2007 05:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>finalfantasyfinalfantasyretrospectivePCretrospectiveXbox-360Wed, 05 Sep 2007 05:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Dragon Quest IV and others playable at TGS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/03/dragon-quest-iv-and-others-playable-at-tgs/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/03/dragon-quest-iv-and-others-playable-at-tgs/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/03/dragon-quest-iv-and-others-playable-at-tgs/#commentsFiled under: ,

It's nice to see that even though Nintendo won't have a booth at the Tokyo Game Show this year, our favorite handheld will still be properly represented at the convention by companies like Square Enix (Sanuk Software, too!).

Square Enix has announced its sequels, remakes, spin-offs, and casual titles the company plans to present at the event, most notable on the list -- at least for us -- being a playable Dragon Quest IV. Dragon Quest IX, recently pushed back for a 2008 release, will only show up in video form. Check past the post break for Square Enix's full list of DS RPGs and Style Games for TGS.

Continue reading Dragon Quest IV and others playable at TGS

JoystiqDragon Quest IV and others playable at TGS originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Sep 2007 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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