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Finally! A 7-minute Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep trailer in Japanese

by Ben Gilbert { Dec 28th 2009 at 12:30PM }

You might have noticed a serious dearth of Disney characters speaking in Japanese on Joystiq lately -- we sure have, and it's just tearing us to bits inside. Thankfully, Square Enix seems to have taken note as well, recently updating the Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep website with more than just wallpapers (though you'll find three of those on there, too). How about the entire seven-minute-long trailer from Jump Festa 2010?

We've embedded it above, though if you're dying to know what the people in it are actually saying, we suggest you check out the full translation right here. And then, once you have it in English, you might ask your nearest Kingdom Hearts fan to translate further.

Gallery: Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep

[Thanks, G. Finnsson]

Final Fantasy XIII limit breaks Japanese PS3 software sales record

by Griffin McElroy { Dec 24th 2009 at 10:45AM }

Are you shocked? Probably not, considering we all knew Final Fantasy XIII would make a killing during the initial week of its release. However, the magnitude of the game's success was still a little alarming. Within its first day on the market, it broke one million units, becoming the best-selling PS3 game in Japan. According to Media Create, the game had reached 1,501,964 units by the end of the week, which more than doubled the life-to-date totals of the platform's previous bestseller, Metal Gear Solid 4. It did so in just four days. Great googly moogly!

As you also might have expected, these unprecedented sales also boosted PS3 sales in the region for the week. The platform's sales leaped, much like a gazelle would leap, from 75,086 units sold to 237,086 units (an increase of 215.75 percent). That's an impressive upshot -- but we're not sure it deserves any gibberish exclamations.

XBLA in Brief: Polar Panic, 0 day Attack on Earth

by Richard Mitchell { Dec 23rd 2009 at 3:15PM }

We're not going to say that the two games released on Xbox Live Arcade this week -- this week being Christmas -- were released as afterthoughts. However, they probably aren't games you've been dying to play. You can choose between block-pushing puzzle goodness or alien-blasting action in Polar Panic or 0 day Attack on Earth, respectively. Polar Panic will set you back 800

($10), while 0 day Attack on Earth expects 1200 of your hard earned points ($15). Watch the latest XBLA in Brief and see if either demands your attention.

Shortcut: Download the trial version of Polar Panic [Via Xbox.com]
Shortcut: Download the trial version of 0 day Attack on Earth [Via Xbox.com]

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Nomura has more unannounced games, one 'not entirely new'

by David Hinkle { Dec 22nd 2009 at 10:00PM }

If you're reading gaming blogs on a regular basis, Tetsuya Nomura needs no introduction. While Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep is by no means finished, Nomura is already talking about what's next. In the latest issue of Famitsu (via Siliconera; scan can be seen here), he confirms two additional projects: one that is already fairly far along in development and another unannounced project that's "not entirely new."

Aside from Birth By Sleep, Nomura's other known projects include Final Fantasy Agito XIII and 3rd Birthday, a new game in the Parasite Eve series. Keep an eye on Famitsu's site, where the full interview will soon be available.

Dragon Quest IX breaks shipment record in Japan

by Justin McElroy { Dec 22nd 2009 at 10:15AM }

According to Square Enix, Dragon Quest IX has broken a shipment record in Japan, but we can't help but be underwhelmed by the figure (and not just because Square was hoping for 5 million). Unfortunately, Google Translate initially told us that the game had moved 415 million copies, rather than the 4.15 million it actually shipped. Sure, we guess 4.15 million is okay, but with 415 million, the jokes would have written themselves.

"There are only 127,704,000 people in your country! What, are you building forts out of the things?" See? There's a lot going on there. But let's not cry over spilled lulz -- 4.15 million is a great number and this is a time for celebration.

That said, if everybody over there wouldn't mind buying just 3.22 more copies of Dragon Quest IX, we'd be eternally grateful.

Star Ocean: The Last Hope International trailer boldly goes into Trek territory

by JC Fletcher { Dec 21st 2009 at 11:00PM }

Square Enix went for a Star Trek vibe with the latest English trailer for Star Ocean: The Last Hope International. If Star Trek was made in Japan and starred a bunch of angsty, futuristic, computer-generated teenagers instead of B-movie actors, and if it was a video game, it would probably look a lot like this. At least the part of the trailer before the sword fights and the demonstrations of language options.

However, while Star Trek benefited from a vocal fan base that saved the original show from cancellation, people who have put time into Star Ocean: The Last Hope are more likely to warn than evangelize.

Final Fantasy XIII and Bravia -- feel the synergy!

by Justin McElroy { Dec 21st 2009 at 4:15PM }

Here's an example of the sway RPG characters hold in Japan: A writer for AndriaSang spotted Final Fantasy XIII's Lightning hocking TVs in a Japanese electronics store. Her favorite model? Why, the Sony Bravia, of course.

Do what you will, but, speaking from experience, if you start making your purchasing decisions based on the whims of computer-generated characters you end up buying a crate of New Coke solely on the recommendation of Max Headroom. Trust us on this one.

Dragon Quest VI trailer prepared in time for Jump Festa

by JC Fletcher { Dec 21st 2009 at 3:47PM }

Given Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie's status as the only game in the main Dragon Quest series to be localized (except for the no-doubt upcoming IX), we watched this Jump Festa 2010 trailer raptly, seeing an RPG world that was both classic and unfamiliar.

Even 14 years after its release, we found ourselves occasionally wowed by the trailer. The boat went underwater! The covered wagon floats! The characters look like every other Akira Toriyama character! (The last one was a different kind of wow). By the time the traditional theme came up, we were thrilled about Realms of Reverie. Too bad it's only coming out in Japan on January 28, with its North American release at some unspecified later date.

[Via NeoGAF]

Just Cause 2 visits small island, kills everyone

by Ben Gilbert { Dec 19th 2009 at 9:30PM }

The acquisition of Eidos by Japanese publisher Square Enix earlier this year brought with it some strange consequences. Aside from the obvious Tomb Raider/Final Fantasy crossover that we all know is bound to happen, the above trailer for Just Cause 2 ends with a glaring Square Enix logo that still feels a bit out of place to us. Maybe it's the theme of deposing a South East Asian dictator, the pronounced "Engrish," and the musclebound American protagonist in the trailer -- or maybe it's just us being weird! Who knows?! We do know that the gameplay itself looks like a ripe barrel of monkeys and we're looking forward to its release on March 23, 2010.

Gallery: Just Cause 2 (11-13-09)

Nier video is Nier-ly video-free

by JC Fletcher { Dec 18th 2009 at 6:00PM }

We were really hoping this Nier trailer would help answer some of the questions we had about the title. For example, what's up with the two different games? We're getting just one game on PS3 and 360 -- but that game is a 360 exclusive in Japan, with a different Nier game being released on PS3. Why not release both games in the larger North American market? And how will the gameplay be evolved since the E3 demo? Because if there's not some improvement, the number of Nier games may not matter.

It does not answer any of those questions. In fact, we have several more questions after this trailer, which features the voice (but not much else) of the AI partner, Kaine. Questions like "what?"

Final Fantasy XIII launch day sales exceed 1 million in Japan

by Ben Gilbert { Dec 18th 2009 at 4:40PM }

In the roughly 24 hours since Square Enix dropped Final Fantasy XIII into retailers across Japan, over 1 million consumers have snagged the game for their PlayStation 3s. The Japanese publisher says that the number doesn't include the Lightning Edition PS3 hardware bundles, which would presumably add another handful of copies to the grand total. With another few months to go until North American gamers can hungrily grab up the sequel, we'll have to focus our time on jewelry contests instead.

[Via Kotaku]

Gallery: Final Fantasy XIII

Final Fantasy XIII sweepstakes offers up merch, still no English demo

by Ben Gilbert { Dec 18th 2009 at 2:00PM }

There's nothing quite like being placated by material things -- it's what gets us by in this cold, Capitalist world. Knowing that us North Americans are heart-hurtin' over the lack of a localized Final Fantasy XIII demo, Square Enix recently announced plans to give us merchandise based on the upcoming game though a sweepstakes, as teased by Square's Sonia Im on her Twitter account recently.

Starting December 23, the contest website will open for entries and 13 "lucky winners" will get their hands on the FFXIII-inspired merchandise seen in the gallery below. More specifically, four people will get their necks adorned with one of the four pendants while nine others will get an "accessory" (keychain or card holder). Sure, you might want to play the game instead, but isn't getting stuff nice?

Gallery: Final Fantasy XIII Sweepstakes Prizes

Vagrant Story finally coming to PSN in Europe

by Richard Mitchell { Dec 17th 2009 at 6:45PM }

While most people recognize Square Enix as the company that gave us the Final Fantasy series, there are some who remember the company differently. Some remember Square as the benevolent force that gave Vagrant Story to the world back in the PSOne era. A truly unique action RPG, Vagrant Story brought together a great story and a one of a kind battle system. As such, many gamers (including Joystiq editors) have been slavering for the game to hit PSN. Japan received it earlier this year and now it looks like Europe is next in line.

Square Enix has announced that Vagrant Story will hit the PSN in PAL territories starting December 22. The game will be sold for €5.99, an absolute pittance. Let's hope the North American release isn't far behind. Considering the bizarre gaps between regional PSN releases though, we're not holding our breath.

Final Fantasy XIII goes Home in Japan

by Andrew Yoon { Dec 17th 2009 at 12:30PM }

To coincide with the launch of Final Fantasy XIII in Japan, PlayStation Home has been updated with a number of virtual Square Enix goods -- all of them terribly expensive. For 600 yen (about $6.66), Final Fantasy fans will be able to purchase an avatar costume of Snow, Lightning or Sazh. (The Baby Chocobo wig for Sazh will cost an additional 100 yen, though.) While these costumes may be pricey, the alternative (cosplaying in real life) exacts an even greater cost.

FF13-inspired furniture is also available at the Home Marketplace, ranging from 100 to 200 yen each. Perhaps you'll want a Cactaur for your apartment? Or a Final Fantasy XIII sofa? Certainly, there's no better way to relax after a lengthy FF13 grind than to sit down on your virtual couch.

Square Enix accepting beta applications for PC Final Fantasy XIV

by JC Fletcher { Dec 16th 2009 at 8:05PM }

Final Fantasy XIII? Totally old hat, even though it's not out yet. Square Enix has just opened applications for a Final Fantasy XIV beta, for the Windows version only. "All individuals are invited to apply," the page reads, "regardless of their past MMORPG experience."

Slow down, chocobo! Before applying, you need to be 18 years old, have plenty of hard drive space and an internet connection (obviously), be fluent in Japanese, English, French or German for the purpose of bug reports, and have a Square Enix ID account.

Though the current round of applications is only for the PC version, Square Enix indicates that a PS3 beta may be on the way later. And if you don't get in this time, don't worry -- the company says there will be "several rounds of tester selection, with the total number of participants increasing each time." And if there's anything Final Fantasy fans are good at, it's waiting their turn.