• by Published on 05-31-2012 11:39 AM
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    2. News

    Earlier today, the Japanese Final Fantasy website was updated to reflect the series' 25th anniversary. Clicking on the anniversary logo takes you to a 'Discography' of every numbered game's various versions (so far), with a part of Yotitaka Amano's original art peeking out from behind it.

    The site will also feature various messages from people associated with the games in the future. The first message is from Square Enix President Yoichi Wada, who says he looks forward to the next 25 years. Translated by Andriasang, one interesting thing he said was, "In order to make the fans happy, we the developer have just one promise we can make. Outside of talent and ability, we will also make sure development is handled exclusively by creators who feel love of the FF series stronger than anyone else." This could be suggesting that there will be Final Fantasy games made by people other than Square-Enix, which the company has dabbled in before.

    E3 is next week, so we can likely expect some special ...
    by Published on 05-06-2012 11:11 AM
    1. Categories:
    2. Community

    No not Great Yarmouth, but the Eyes on Final Fantasy East Coast Meetup is only weeks away, so if your within travelling distance of the nations capitol (I'm promised it's Washington DC and not Ohio) why not join us between the 18th and 21st of May for a weekend you might not forget!

    For more details why not check out the East Coast Meet-Up Part III Thread for more details.

    Also in other news check out these fine threads:
    * Eyes on You Grills G13 for burgers, sorry, answers.
    * Discuss why we've been around so long.
    * Post a visitor message on Loony BoB.
    * Discuss ways to help FF heros get over their chronic accidentproneness
    * Talk about who you think is the sexiest FFXIII character (I mis-read it first as Red XIII character :/).
    * More photo contests!!ONE!1!.
    * Let's all go to the lobby and write ourselves a delicious treat!.
    * Join in talking riddles about FF8 or FF9.
    by Published on 04-30-2012 08:17 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. News

    Game news site Siliconera was teasing over the weekend that they had an unannounced Square Enix game to reveal to the world, and that game is Catacombs. Initially developed by Cavia--the developers of Nier--before they were closed down, it's a 3rd person action game that was set to take place in New York's Museum of Natural History. Their source was someone who worked on the game before Cavia was closed, so they aren't sure if the game will ever be released.

    I suggest checking out Siliconera for the news as they will be featuring more details on what makes the game unique through the week. We don't really get to see a lot of what developers abandon, if this indeed doesn't get released.

    Source: Catacombs - The Game Cavia And Square Enix Were Working On After Nier | Siliconera ...
    by Published on 04-26-2012 09:42 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. Square-Enix,
    3. News

    Along with a new epic trailer came a set of details and statistics from the beta of the next entry in the Dragon Quest franchise. Square-Enix revealed that the game will allow you to register up to 100 friends and that in doing so you can keep track of which server your friends are on and where they are in the game so that you can easily join them.

    They are about to begin phase 2.1 of their Japanese beta which involves sending out 3,000 to 5,000 additional test kits. Currently the beta is only being played by 17,000 but they hope to have between 30k and 50k by the beta's end.

    View this fantastic trailer!



    Source: GoNintendo ...
    by Published on 04-23-2012 10:53 AM
    1. Categories:
    2. Final Fantasy Series,
    3. Final Fantasy XIV,
    4. News
    Article Preview

    If you did or didn't know (probably did) Final Fantasy XIV has had, well, a rocky start. It came out in 2010, then they proceeded to fire all their devs that December and has since been trying to re-work itself into what they are calling Final Fantasy XIV Version 2.0. And it's about to beta itself up!

    So to get everyone back into playing, Square-Enix is giving those who have spent the time in game, with all the recent patches and what not, something nifty and special through the Legacy Campaign. What special things, you may ask. How about permanently discounted subscription of $9.99 per month and a Chocobo mount when 2.0 releases! How do I get these things? Another valid question. The Legacy Campaign introduces benefits to subscribers active for 90 days (cumulative) or more between Jan 6th up until the launch of Version 2.0.

    [img]http://home.eyesonff.com/content/attachments/35919d1335037503-chocobomount.png.html[/img]


    Yupppppp. That's pretty nifty BUT JUST YOU WAIT! They also have a Welcome Back Campaign too! It wants you to recruit your inactive friends who may ...
    by Published on 04-17-2012 03:25 AM
    1. Categories:
    2. Square-Enix,
    3. News

    Bear in mind this is just a rumor, but GoNintendo is reporting that they've heard that Square-Enix may be licencing a character (or characters) to Nintendo for an undisclosed title.

    Square-Enix and Nintendo have worked together in the past on the beloved Super Mario RPG (which contained cameos from then-Squaresoft's franchises) and more recently on Fortune Street, a board game styled game featuring Mario and Dragon Quest characters.

    Could it be a new iteration of one of those games? Or could it be something brand new? A Nintendo vs. Square-Enix sports game? Or could it just be a baseless rumor? Perhaps we'll get some sort of indication at E3.

    What sort of Nintendo game would you like to see Square-Enix characters make an appearance in?

    Source: GoNintendo ...
    by Published on 04-16-2012 08:34 PM
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    2. Final Fantasy XIII-2,
    3. News
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    Final Fantasy V was nice enough to lend their beloved Gilgamesh to the XIII-2 Coliseum. Not only that but Final Fantasy VIII lent their PuPu as well!

    Square stated,
    One of the complaints that people have sent our way concerning FINAL FANTASY XIII-2 and its DLC is that the battles aren't hard enough, that it's just too easy to defeat these challenges. Let me emphasize to you, that we've heard you, LOUD & CLEAR. Introducing new Coliseum opponents that are guaranteed to give you a run for your money.
    Guess that means these fellas will be a challenge. But what are they going to be like to fight?

    [img]http://home.eyesonff.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=35890&d=1334296887[/img]

    Gilgamesh will drop in on your characters and declare he's going to fight in a new way. A better way. They rebuilt him. Made him faster, stronger, better? Showing off some heavy caliber guns, rocket launchers, and automated weaponry, this Gilgamesh will rock you with his new robotic tech.




    He's coming in at 10,000,000 HP! If you get him low enough his sword ...
    by Published on 04-13-2012 02:24 PM
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    2. Square-Enix,
    3. News
    Article Preview

    For when you just have to hear a little something from Final Fantasy or Xenogears Square-Enix has just the answer for you! They've just begun a service called Square Enix Audio, a free streaming radio channel which you can access from your PC or Android smart phone. Simply select the game you wish to hear music from, and sit back and relax (or go for a run, or whatever it is you do when listening to Square-Enix music).

    At this time there isn't that wide a selection of games to choose from, but that will improve with time.

    You can access the site here.

    Which soundtrack will you stream first?

    Source: Square-Enix (via Kotaku) ...
    by Published on 04-13-2012 01:14 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. News

    Seems like a couple of talented guys decided to put their minds together and see what they could produce. Guild 01 is the result.

    Guild01 is a collaboration between 4 different game designers who are making 4 different games under one label. This includes Japanese comedy duo America Zarigani and respected game designers Yasumi Matsuno (FF Tactics, FFXII), Suda51 (No More Heroes) and Yoot Saito (Seaman). Check out the 30 second trailer to have a glimpse of this 4-in-1 package.


    This package actually has several ties to Square Enix without them being directly involved. Most obviously is the involvement of Matsuno. If you've ever played any of his games, I'm sure you'll be able to recognize his work at the end of the trailer. A looser connection level is the game 'Rental Weapon shop', which is reminiscent of Dragon Quest 4's playable weapons dealer Torneko Taloon.

    On a grander scale, this production is being put together by game company Level 5--which was basically launched into ...
    by Published on 04-09-2012 12:23 PM
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    2. Square-Enix,
    3. News

    The seemingly Final Fantasy-esque Bravely Default: Flying Fairy for the 3DS just keeps getting more Final Fantasy-y with each new piece of news. A new set of details exemplifies this.

    The game is said to feature four elemental crystals, the first of which is the Wind Crystal. This crystal becomes covered in darkness which stops the winds, causing havoc in the windmill-dependent country in which the crystal resides. This also leads to other disasters such as shipwrecks. For those familiar with Final Fantasy III and the first Final Fantasy, the familiar-sounding plot and the notion that it begins in a land utilizing a Wind Crystal should come as no surprise.

    What is also unsurprising is that this very retro Final Fantasy-like game is directed by Takashi Tokita who was instrumental behind other throwbacks to Final Fantasy's yesteryears. He is the one behind Final Fantasy: 4 Heroes of Light, Final Fantasy IV: The After Years and the DS remake of Final Fantasy IV.

    Some other interesting details ...
    by Published on 04-06-2012 07:24 AM
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    2. News

    Square Enix just announced North American release dates for two of their upcoming 3DS titles. Theatrhythm gets in before the fireworks on July 3rd while Kingdom Hearts 3D closes out the month on the 31st.

    Flagship releases like XIII and XIII-2 aside, we had to wait about 7 months to get Birth By Sleep just a couple of years ago. Now we're down to about 3. Ain't it nice that the localization lag is shrinking on these games? ...
    by Published on 04-06-2012 02:05 AM
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    2. Final Fantasy Series,
    3. News
    Article Preview

    Video game characters would probably be one of the last things you'd expect to see when you open a fashion magazine, but this month's Arena Homme+ will feature just that. Part of SquareEnix's 25 Years of Final Fantasy celebration, the 12-page spread will feature characters from the games wearing items from Prada's Spring 2012 Menswear collection.

    Yoshinori Kitase, producer of Final Fantasy XIII-2 (and several other Final Fantasy games) said in an interview, “The Final Fantasy series is known for its creativity and innovation, so working with Prada, a renowned fashion house with such beautiful clothing, was a very exciting opportunity. The images we have been able to create together are vibrant and unique."

    The issue featuring the CGI images, created at SquareEnix’s Visual Works studio in Japan, will hit shelves April 12th.


    ...
    by Published on 04-02-2012 04:51 PM
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    2. News
    Article Preview

    [IMG]http://home.eyesonff.com/content/attachments/35868d1333448386-33.jpg.html[/IMG]

    Square Enix's seemingly Final Fantasy-esque entry for the Nintendo 3DS finally received its second demo release this past week. Quite a bit more immersive, this demo allows the player to wander about the watercolored-looking town, interacting with the natives, and learn a bit more of the story than we've previously been privy to.

    This is quite a departure from the game's first demo which merely amounted to showing off the Augmented Reality aspect of the game. This time around, however, we finally get a feel for what the actual game might be like, with access to inventory, the ability to buy items, sleep at an inn, and details of a character likely to be one of the main characters... this demo shows us just how similarly structured this title is to the Final Fantasy entries of yore. Yet while the structure seems fairly old school, the art style is anything but; the gorgeous graphics look almost like something straight out of a Studio
    ...
    by Published on 04-02-2012 12:12 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. Square-Enix,
    3. News

    Google unleashed a "new product" today, just in time for the holiday: "Google Maps for NES."

    That's right: just in case you wanted to plot a course to that resteraunt you like but aren't near your computer or smart phone... and happen to have your NES up and ready to go, you can now do so via a cartridge whose programming looks more than a bit familiar.

    Clearly there are some Dragon Quest fans over at Google who meticulously recreated the menus and quirks from the beloved series for this very special Google product.

    View the video below!



    Source: YouTube (via GoNintendo) ...
    by Published on 03-31-2012 10:57 AM
    1. Categories:
    2. Final Fantasy Series,
    3. Features

    It’s a simple fact of life that everybody has, at some point, had parents. Even immaculate conception along the lines of Jesus Christ and Anakin Skywalker needs at least one parent. Some people have adoptive parents. Parents are everywhere. So too are parents present in the Final Fantasy series. Most of the time. While it seems a sad trait that the main parties are usually orphans of one kind or another, there are some NPCs who are parents, some main characters who fortuitously retain their parents, and some who even are parents themselves. In a toast to the people who raised us, let’s look at the parents throughout Final Fantasy and the impacts they have had! Watch out for spoilers, kids.

    Final Fantasy
    The original Final Fantasy was light on plot and character development, there’s no denying. However, this was the first instance of a character having both parents alive. Princess Sarah, of Cornelia, was kidnapped by the wicked Garland. Her father who is aptly named King of Cornelia, tasks the Light Warriors King of Cornelia and Queen Jane are the first parents introduced in the Final Fantasy series.with rescuing his daughter and defeating the evil knight. Queen Jane, who resides elsewhere in the castle, appears rather distraught at her daughter’s disappearance. You can always be sure that your parents are missing you when you’re kidnapped by an evil knight, I guess.

    Final Fantasy II
    The main party of Final Fantasy II are all presumed orphans, their parents killed by the Palamecian Empire in the raid on Fynn. However, Final Fantasy II is also the first instance of a party member being a parent! Josef, of Salamand, joins the party as they search for the Goddess’s Bell. Sadly, when exiting the Snow Cavern with the bell, the party is ambushed and Josef sacrifices himself to save them.

    Josef no doubt instilled a sense of self sacrifice and working towards the greater good in his daughter.In another sad moment, the King of Fynn, father to Princess Hilda, leader of the Wild Rose Rebellion, passes away from the injuries he received in the raid on Fynn. Lastly, there is an NPC named Elina, who resides in Castle Deist. Her son is Kain, whose name would later become synonymous with dragoons. Little wonder, since his late father, Phillip, was a dragoon and his almost-step-father-until-he-too-died, Ricard, was also a dragoon. Happy families is not what Final Fantasy is all about, it seems.Cid Haze and his wife acted as foster parents to the heroes for a short time, but helped them out later during the game too!

    Final Fantasy III
    There are many more biological parents present in Final Fantasy III than the previous games in the series. The kings of both Sasune and Saronia are alive – at one point. King Gorn of Saronia is mind-controlled by Gilgamesh into attacking his son, but he resists, stabbing himself. On his death bed, he begs forgiveness for all the things he did whilst under Gilgamesh’s power. Sad stuff! Takka, in the DS remake, is the adopted father of Refia.

    Cid Haze, and his wife Mrs Cid, are the pseudo-adoptive parents of the main party – the onion kids. After Cid and the four children survived an airship crash ten years prior, he and Mrs Cid looked after them until they found other families. Though Mrs Cid falls ill during the course of the game, the party heals her right up with an elixir. Phew!

    Final Fantasy IV
    Thanks to Final Fantasy IV: The After Years, we have an abundance of parents. That’s something to celebrate, I think! Our first parent is Tellah, most famous for his line “You spoony bard!” Sadly, his daughter Anna dies in the attack on Damcyan, which then prompts the famous line. However, in a valiant sacrifice, Tellah casts the ...

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