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Rumor: Japanese Final Fantasy XIII to include Final Fantasy XIV content

Beyond the term "campaign code," we aren't actually sure what the content is. Is it a pre-release demo of the MMO? A beta? An exclusive quest to be downloaded in the final game? It isn't clear. But it's definitely some kind of Final Fantasy XIV content, and it's sure to entice those three guys in Japan who were going to buy XIV but not XIII.
[Via CVG]
Final Fantasy XIII announcement possibly due on Nov. 13
"A Henchmen Inventor Tent Unto."
Before reading on, why not try to solve that puzzle for yourself? It's an anagram, which means you can mess the letters about to spell a secret message. Here's a hint: It was posted by Square Enix as a tease for Final Fantasy XIII, meaning it probably has something to do with that game. What's that? "A Chevron Non-nineteenth Mutt?" We suppose that's a pretty good guess, but unfortunately, it's the wrongest thing ever. A Final Fan-site recently had better luck uncovering the message's true meaning: "Announcement Nov Thirteenth."
The nature of this "announcement" is still up in the air, though our money's on an official North American release date for the super-anticipated RPG. Though, considering the speed at which the series is growing now, we wouldn't be surprised if Squeenix went ahead and dropped the Final Fantasy XV bomb on us.
Before reading on, why not try to solve that puzzle for yourself? It's an anagram, which means you can mess the letters about to spell a secret message. Here's a hint: It was posted by Square Enix as a tease for Final Fantasy XIII, meaning it probably has something to do with that game. What's that? "A Chevron Non-nineteenth Mutt?" We suppose that's a pretty good guess, but unfortunately, it's the wrongest thing ever. A Final Fan-site recently had better luck uncovering the message's true meaning: "Announcement Nov Thirteenth."
The nature of this "announcement" is still up in the air, though our money's on an official North American release date for the super-anticipated RPG. Though, considering the speed at which the series is growing now, we wouldn't be surprised if Squeenix went ahead and dropped the Final Fantasy XV bomb on us.
Square Enix summons Earnings Report; Final Fantasy XIII Sales Projections evade attacks

The statement also talks about the acquisition and assimilation of Eidos in direct proportion to Square Enix's games group division -- which includes video games across all platforms and online games for personal computers. Through the aid of titles like Batman: Arkham Asylum, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days and the aforementioned Dragon Quest IX, the games division rose its net sales and operating income by 117 percent and 63 percent to 4.8 billion yen ($53 million) and 1.0 billion yen ($11 million), respectively.
As for the company's upcoming darling, Final Fantasy XIII, Square Enix prez Yoichi Wada spoke about concern regarding the title's projected domestic sales. Basically, he's not concerned at all! "PS3 sales continue to increase. We're bundling PS3 and FFXIII, and can expect even further sales increases. Orders for FFXIII are definitely not bad," he said. While he didn't reiterate anything as bold as six million, Wada did claim that the game is expected to sell in the millions.
Source - Square Enix earnings (PDF) [Via andriasang]
Source - Wada comments on FFXIII sales
Gyromancer will end our lives on November 18
Looks like we're going to have to start working on that Bucket List a lot sooner than we would've guessed. The recently released English language trailer for Square Enix and PopCap's RPG-puzzle mash-up Gyromancer has delivered a release date for our pending doom: November 18. Not only that, but the trailer's now-readable text has revealed a gameplay mechanic which slipped our attention in the original, Japanese trailer: Monster collection.
So, it's Bejeweled, Final Fantasy and Pokémon all rolled into one, then? Awesome. That's really awesome. We hope you guys have enjoyed reading our humble site, because Gyromancer looks to be addictive enough make us forget to feed ourselves, let alone work.
So, it's Bejeweled, Final Fantasy and Pokémon all rolled into one, then? Awesome. That's really awesome. We hope you guys have enjoyed reading our humble site, because Gyromancer looks to be addictive enough make us forget to feed ourselves, let alone work.
Everyone agrees: new IP needed for industry 'to survive'

Wada agrees with Denny's sentiment, noting that "as an entertainment company the business won't be viable if we don't continue to nurture new IPs." This may be ironic coming from a company that's releasing a game called Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers this holiday, and both Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy XIV next year, but we can credit them for making The World Ends With You, right?
Cousens goes a step further, saying innovation has always been at the heart of the industry. "From day one since we walked in the door we've always tried to be experimental, to be innovative, to take things into new areas and to make it interesting." Obviously, the reason why publishers need to invest in new IPs is clear -- let's not forget that games like Madden used to be an original IP at one point.
Source - Sony: Industry needs new IP to survive
Source - Wada: Business 'not viable' without new IP
Source - Cousens: Industry must pursue new IP
Space Invaders Extreme Z invades Japan's DSiWare

Space Invaders Extreme Z is available on DSiWare now (in Japan only) for 500 DSi Points. It's the first DSiWare game from Taito, who has released several WiiWare titles including Space Invaders Get Even, Bubble Bobble Plus, Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure! and Arkanoid Plus -- all of which were released in North America.
Square Enix files U.S. trademark for Fantasy Earth Zero
You could be forgiven for never hearing about Fantasy Earth Zero -- in addition to having a cookie cutter RPG moniker (following the role-playing trope/noun/number formula), it's only available in Japan, though China and Taiwan are currently in a prolonged beta testing period. However, if a recent Square Enix trademark filing is any indication, the free-to-play, microtransaction-supported MMO will be heading stateside at some point in the future.
The trademark filing was expectedly scant on details about the game, so we suggest watching the three-year-old debut trailer we've posted after the jump. It, too, doesn't provide many hard-and-fast facts about the MMO but after watching it, we feel like we can safely vouch that, yes, the game does include Fantasy. Possibly in an Earth-like setting.
[Via Superannuation]
The trademark filing was expectedly scant on details about the game, so we suggest watching the three-year-old debut trailer we've posted after the jump. It, too, doesn't provide many hard-and-fast facts about the MMO but after watching it, we feel like we can safely vouch that, yes, the game does include Fantasy. Possibly in an Earth-like setting.
[Via Superannuation]
Nintendo still planning to co-market Dragon Quest IX

"Hatano said that helping to sell Dragon Quest IX outside Japan is part of a larger effort on the part of Nintendo to partner with software makers to sell their games for Nintendo hardware," GameLife summarized. Maybe eventually, Square Enix will announce this game.
Also on the subject of Dragon Quest IX, at the same event, Shigeru Miyamoto praised DQIX's communication mode, which allows players to collect and interact with others' characters passively. "Dragon Quest IX's passerby communication has caused the number of people walking around outside using their DS systems to increase greatly, and I'm thinking that I could probably make something unique like that," he said. And then he said "Also, recently, we got a cat." Hint, hint.
[Via GameLife]
OK, Japan, you can have Batman: Arkham Asylum Jan. 14

So, Eidos is going ahead bringing you the game on January 14, 2010. Unfortunately, it's up in the air whether you'll get the cool extras we did, like a replica Batarang and really big packaging. Seems you will be getting the DLC though, according to Andriasang. So yeah, please enjoy this gift from us to you. We'll be watching the sales numbers closely.
(P.S. If you want, you can return the favor by sending over the Final Fantasy XIII edition PS3.)
Square Enix's expected FY09 earnings hit for $55M damage
Square Enix predicts ¥7.5 billion ($82 million) net earnings for April 1 through September 30, 2009
MISS!
Eidos Buyout attacks Square Enix!
Taito Retirement Program attacks Square Enix!
Square Enix Retirement Program attacks Square Enix!
Square Enix net earnings for April 1 through September 30, 2009 hit for ¥4.9 billion ($54 million)!
Square Enix predicts ¥15 billion ($164 million) net earnings for fiscal year 2009
MISS!
Square Enix predicts ¥10 billion ($109 million) net earnings for fiscal year 2009
SUCCESS!
Square Enix earned 100 XP!
Square Enix found the following items!
HUMBLE PIE x1
MISS!
Eidos Buyout attacks Square Enix!
Taito Retirement Program attacks Square Enix!
Square Enix Retirement Program attacks Square Enix!
Square Enix net earnings for April 1 through September 30, 2009 hit for ¥4.9 billion ($54 million)!
Square Enix predicts ¥15 billion ($164 million) net earnings for fiscal year 2009
MISS!
Square Enix predicts ¥10 billion ($109 million) net earnings for fiscal year 2009
SUCCESS!
Square Enix earned 100 XP!
Square Enix found the following items!
HUMBLE PIE x1
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers: The Pre-order Bonuses

Click to My Life as a King-size
If you purchase the game from Amazon (current price: $44.99), you'll get a 2010 calendar. If you opt for Best Buy, you'll get a soundtrack sampler, which probably has tracks from the game, rather than Bon Jovi singles. GameStop's offer is $5 off of reservations, but that's not terribly appealing, given that the reduced price is the same as what Amazon is offering, with no extra stuff.
Square Enix mobile title Kuni Yaburete Sanga Ari coming to DSiWare
Here's the thing about Square Enix bringing its mobile games to DSiWare -- we want the games over here! (Anything but the clocks and calendars, please!) Andriasang has news that the Japanese publisher will be offering Kuni Yaburete Sanga Ari (translated as "Hills and Rivers Remain") via Nintendo's DSiWare digitial distribution platform starting this week. Unfortunately for those on this side of the Pacific, the game will remain exclusive to Japan for the time being.
Four-player wireless gameplay will be added for Nintendo's handheld, as well as updated stylus controls and "some exclusive maps" in multiplayer. For those of you able to pick it up, the game will run you 800 DSi points ($8) when it's made available this Wednesday. For everyone else, TinyCartridge points out the recent trademark filing by Square Enix for the game's English title. Keep hope alive!
Four-player wireless gameplay will be added for Nintendo's handheld, as well as updated stylus controls and "some exclusive maps" in multiplayer. For those of you able to pick it up, the game will run you 800 DSi points ($8) when it's made available this Wednesday. For everyone else, TinyCartridge points out the recent trademark filing by Square Enix for the game's English title. Keep hope alive!
New Final Fantasy XIII screenshots reintroduce Oerba
We're still dumbfounded by the fact that -- after years of endless CG teases and countdowns -- Final Fantasy XIII is actually coming out. While still pegged with a vague "Spring 2010" release, Square Enix has made good on its promise of a hastened localization. Already, the HUD sports English text, and the characters have been dubbed in English.
The latest batch of screenshots released by Square Enix focus on Oerba Yun Fang, a character introduced at Tokyo Game Show as a traitor working for the government. She may start out as a villain, but it seems one way or another, she's bound to join your party: these screens show her (and her summon) in actual gameplay screens, proving there will be some interactivity between the hours of cutscenes FF13 is bound to have.
The latest batch of screenshots released by Square Enix focus on Oerba Yun Fang, a character introduced at Tokyo Game Show as a traitor working for the government. She may start out as a villain, but it seems one way or another, she's bound to join your party: these screens show her (and her summon) in actual gameplay screens, proving there will be some interactivity between the hours of cutscenes FF13 is bound to have.
Gallery: Final Fantasy XIII (10/23)
Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure ascends to XBLA next week

A Japanese press release contained a single screen (pictured above), confirming that the game looks pretty much just like the WiiWare version with bigger UI elements -- it's still kind of a mess, visually, and it still features those weirdly human-sized characters; instead of the adorably round Bub and Bob we grew up with. Towering Adventure also differs from the arcade classic by making the ascent up the game's tower a continuous pursuit, even during boss battles.
[Thanks, sacra]
Source (PDF link)
No install for Final Fantasy XIII on PS3
If you were planning on making yourself a nice sandwich for your first session of Final Fantasy XIII, it looks like you'll have to make it before you pop the disc in your PS3. According to IGN, director Motomu Toriyama told Famitsu that FFXIII will not require an install on PS3. Furthermore, other than the transition between town and field segments, the game won't feature any loading screens at all. Toriyama stated that loading time was one of the biggest concerns from the beginning of development.
We're sure there were at least a few folks out there looking forward to watching a Chocobo take a smoke break. Alas, it just wasn't meant to be.
We're sure there were at least a few folks out there looking forward to watching a Chocobo take a smoke break. Alas, it just wasn't meant to be.

















