- Final Fantasy XI will be released in North America around the first quarter of 2004 for the Playstation 2. In order to sell the game in a much easier fashion, Sony will be publishing the title and will distribute the 40 gigabyte hard drive with the actual game title. Sony will also be releasing a new Playstation 2 package which comes complete with a network adapter and other extras for about 199 dollars. Final Fantasy XI will be on display at the E3 conference.

- Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles is told to have lost some of the traditional elements of other Final Fantasy games. For example, like Final Fantasy X-2, it is a short, mission-based game. It is also said to lack summon monsters and CG scenes, another traditional aspect of the later Final Fantasy games. Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles is slated for a release in Japan on July 18, 2003, with a North American release sure to followup. It will be on display at the E3 conference.

[Sources:] RPGamer. ...

The following content has been added to the site:

- Final Fantasy IIIj Boss Guide, by Night_Sword.
- Final Fantasy Tactics Monster Attacks, by Night_Sword.
- Final Fantasy Tactics Accessories, by bennator0.
- Chrono Cross Armor, by Spatvark.
- Chrono Cross Accessories, by Spatvark.
- Chrono Cross Items, by Spatvark
- Final Fantasy XI Abilities, by McNall and Spatvark.

Check back soon for more updates.

Have something you'd like to submit? Want to help out? Register for the forums and check out the Site Staff Forum. ...

- Final Fantasy XI: Vision of Jiraat will have its own original soundtrack which will cover 19 tracks from the expansion pack. It will also contain some extra notes from the composer Naoshi Mizuta as well as some illustrations of the various CG scenes found in the game. The soundtrack will sell for 2,100 yen, or about 18 dollars, and is slated for release on May 21, 2003.

- Square Enix talks finances in its first financial report since the merger has taken place. The numbers are looking up, as strong sales from Square's recent titles, Final Fantasy X-2 and the Final Fantasy XI expansion pack, have balanced out against the slower sales of Enix's Star Ocean 3: 'Til the End of Time. Profits have already beaten expectations, and are expected to increase. The company is planning to publish and develop 19 new titles for release this fiscal year.

- Square Enix has announced a strategy meeting which will take place on May 29, 2003. As previously stated, the company plans to develop 19 new titles for the fiscal year, and 10 of those titles have already been announced. Perhaps ...

[05-09-03] Sorry, I took a little break on the news for awhile. Here's what's been going on in the past few months. ...

The following information and downloads have been added to the site:

- Final Fantasy Tactics Items, by bennator0.
- Final Fantasy Legend 2 ROM in the emulation section.
- Final Fantasy Legend 3 ROM in the emulation section.
- Contacts page added.

The following sections of the sites have been revamped:
- Chrono Trigger section.
- Final Fantasy 3j section.

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Have something you'd like to submit? Want to help out? Register for the forums and check out the Site Staff Forum. ...

Sorry for the long hiatus, guys. There will be plenty of updates coming up in the next few weeks, including a new section dedicated to Final Fantasy X-2, along with a large news article covering the many events that have transpired in the last month or so.

Before we get things started, however, we'd like a bit feedback from our users. Please send your ideas, comments, or anything you'd like to see to our site staff, which can be reached by clicking here, and please make sure all the emails are text-based, thanks. ...

As the release of Final Fantasy X-2 grows nearer in Japan, copies of the two vocalized theme songs by Koda Kumi have become widely available even before the release date of her single album. The two songs, Real Emotion and 1,000 no Kotoba [1,000 Words], will play throughout the course of the game.

Real Emotion will be sung by Yuna and perhaps possibly with the help of Lenne, Koda Kumi's character in the game. 1,000 no Kotoba has not been seen sung by a character in any of the trailers.

Click here to listen to Real Emotion, sung by Koda Kumi.

Click here to listen to 1,000 no Kotoba, sung by Koda Kumi.

Final Fantasy X-2 will be released in about a week in Japan, on March 13, 2003. A North American release is rumored to be sometime around November, with a PAL territory release to follow up a few months after that.

Update: Upon its release on Thursday, Final Fantasy X-2 has sold well over a million copies and is still running strong. As Square soaks in the profit from this award-winning title, ...

The following information has been added to the site:

- Final Fantasy IX Locations, by Kuja Trance.
- Final Fantasy X Review, by Cheffie.
- Final Fantasy VII Chocobo Breeding Guide, by Sephiroth1999AD.

Check back soon for more updates.

Have something you'd like to submit? Want to help out? Register for the forums and check out the Site Staff Forum. ...

Square has released two new trailers previewing gameplay and video sequences from its upcoming RPG, Final Fantasy X-2.

Both trailers feature the game's vocal themes, with one focusing entirely on Real Emotion, and another one playing half of Real Emotion and half of 1,000 no Kotoba (1,000 Words).

Displaying both new and old footage, the first trailer, which features both vocal songs, shows more of the concert scene shown in the trailer from last month.

The second trailer isn't really a trailer at all, but rather a music video for the song Real Emotion. It does, however, display some footage from the game and some rather shocking content from the video scenes.

Final Fantasy X-2 is scheduled for release in Japan on March 13, 2003. A release for North America is estimated around September, and a PAL release, which has recently been confirmed, will most likely follow afterwards into 2004.

To download the trailers for yourself, please visit FFX-2 Source. ...

- The Black Mages, published by DigiCube, is currently on sale for 2,381 yen. It was released February 13, 2003. A recent announcement has revealed that a live concert featuring music from the album will take place in Tokyo on April 27 and April 28, 2003.

- Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles will feature a vocal song done by Japanese artist Yae entitled "Kazenone".

- Square EA will cease to exist by the end of March due to the Square-Enix merger. Square EA has been responsible for publishing Square titles in both North America and Japan for five years. The company consists of Square and Electronic Arts; however, as of April 1, 2003, Square Enix will publish all of Square and Enix's future titles.

- Final Fantasy X-2 will make use of the Result Plate system in order to allow characters to utilize skills outside of their job class. For example, Paine may be able to cast healing magic while in the Samurai job class by storing the skill on the Plate.

[Sources:] The MagicBox, RPGFan. ...

Square has released new details on its upcoming GameCube Final Fantasy game, Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles.

The game will encourage cooperation with other party members in order to get to certain destinations. For example, characters may have to work together to move a boulder blocking the path, or find some way to open a closed gate. In addition, magic stones found scattered in various locations throughout the overworld will allow the player to upgrade the characters' spells.

The role of Moogles has also been revealed. Like Final Fantasy IX, Moogles will act as a postal service, delivering letters to the party from a person they previously talked to in town.

Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles will be released sometime this spring in Japan; Square has not confirmed a definite release date for this title. A North American release is suspected to follow up by the end of this year.

[Source:] RPGFan. ...

Due to the upcoming release of the Final Fantasy XI expansion pack, Square is releasing a compilation package which will include the original version of Final Fantasy XI, the expansion pack, and the latest version of the PlayOnline browser, all in one package.

The expansion pack, which has no official English title, will increase the game's playability by adding new locations, items, weapons, and character classes for players to use.

The all-in-one package will be released on the same day as the expansion pack, on April 17, 2003. It will be the first game published under the name of the new Square-Enix company. There has been no official announcement on how or when the games will be released outside of Japan, but past announcements have proved that the game will be released eventually.

[Source:] RPGFan. ...

Square has announced a North American release date for its new compilation package, Final Fantasy Origins. The game will be set for a release on April 8, 2003 for a suggested retail price of 30 dollars. The game is for the Playstation console.

Final Fantasy Origins will contain both Final Fantasy I, which was originally released for the Nintendo in North America, and Final Fantasy IIj, the second Final Fantasy title ever made--never seen on this side of the Pacific. Both games have been completely remade and will include graphical updates, bonus material, and full motion video sequences.

Although there has been no official announcement on an exact release date for the game in PAL territories, a dependable gaming website has listed the game as slated for a release in the United Kingdom on March 14, 2003 for a price of £17.99. Square has yet to update their PAL website to validate the claims.

Square has also created an official website based on the game, which can be reached by following the link below.

[Sources:] RPGFan, Final ...

Square and Enix have announced the last titles they will publish before their merger, which will take place on April 1, 2003.

- Final Fantasy X-2 will be the last game published by Square. It will be released in Japan on March 13, 2003 for a price of 7,800 yen, or roughly 64 dollars.

- Star Ocean 3: 'Till the End of Time will be the last game published by Enix. It will be released on February 27, 2003 and will also retail for a price of 7,800 yen, or about 64 dollars.

After the merger takes place, the first title published under the new company's name will be none other than the expansion pack for Final Fantasy XI, Final Fantasy XI: Vision of Jirat. The game will be released just two and a half weeks after the merger takes place, on April 17, 2003.

Thanks goes to RikkuYuna89 for the tip.

[Source:] Unofficial Final Fantasy 9 Site. ...