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. ...

The following information has been added to the site:

- Chrono Trigger Story Overview, by Spatvark.
- Chrono Trigger Character listing, by Spatvark.
- Chrono Trigger Time Periods listing, by Spatvark.
- Chrono Trigger Tech list, by Spatvark.
- Chrono Trigger Walkthrough, by Spatvark.
- Chrono Trigger Endings list, by Spatvark.
- Chrono Trigger Mini-Game Guide, by Spatvark.
- Chrono Trigger Mysterious Seals listing, by Spatvark.
- Chrono Trigger Special Equipment listing, by Spatvark.
- Chrono Trigger Tech Rock Locations, by Spatvark.
- Chrono Trigger Spekkio guide, by Spatvark.
- Chrono Trigger FAQ, by Spatvark.
- Chrono Trigger Boss Guide, by Spatvark and Sexay Chef.
- New forum created: Final Fantasy X-2 Forum.

Check back soon for more updates.

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A new trailer released by Square includes extended footage of an earlier trailer, in addition to some new footage not seen anywhere else.

Square has also released information on Nuji, or Nooj, as some translations state his name. He was injured in a fight with Sin sometime in the past, and now uses machina enhancements for his leg to walk around. He is the leader of the Youth Alliance, which completely opposes the New Yevon Movement. During the course of the game, the player can decide which organization Yuna will support, although at the start of the game, Yuna will be completely neutral.

The trailer also shows multiple battle scenes. All the battles shown were very fast-paced, scenes shown include Yuna, Rikku, and Paine as Fencers slashing an enemy multiple times, and another scene in which all the girls were in the Gunner class, shooting an enemy up to fifteen times and counting with the Quick Trigger ability.

Some newly updated information from the Official Final Fantasy X-2 website states that there will be a Chocobo stable somewhere in the game for Yuna to use--whether or not ...

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- Final Fantasy X-2 will make use of a new experience system to gain levels and learn new abilities for each character's job class. The game will use a job class system similar to Final Fantasy Tactics. New abilities will cost a certain amount of ability points, which are earned after battle. New abilities can be learned for any job class at any time, provided the player has the necessary amount of ability points for the ability listed. New job classes include the Dark Knight and the Gambler, as well as the previously announced Pop Star and Mascot job classes.

- A tracklist is now available for the new Final Fantasy soundtrack Final Fantasy Battle Arrange: The Black Mages. The album, published by DigiCube, will go on sale for 2,381 yen on February 13, 2003. Featuring ten special arrangements of classic battle themes from assorted Final Fantasy games, The Black Mages looks not to disappoint music fans. The style for this album is a heavy rock theme.

[Source:] RPGFan. ...

- Final Fantasy Tactics Advance will feature three display modes. The first mode will be optimized for use on the regular Gameboy Advance screen, while the second mode will be optimized for use on the new Gameboy Advance SP's screen. The third display mode is for the GameCube peripheral which will allow gamers to play Gameboy Advance and Gameboy Color games on a television set. This display mode will enhance images to display correctly on the TV. Final Fantasy Tactics Advance is set for release in Japan on February 14, 2003.

- A new character has been announced for Final Fantasy X-2. Nuji is the leader of the Youth Alliance group and will play a pivotal role in the main plot. He is twenty-one years old. Surprisingly, Nuji is known to be calm and compassionate. Screenshots show him speaking to Yuna and company, as well as Le Branc and her gang, as well. During the trailer which was released with Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix, he is seen delivering a speech addressing the people and speaking of the secrets which the temples have hid ...

A prominent stockholder in Square has expressed dismay at the upcoming merge of Square and Enix. As the largest stockholder of Square, Masafumi Miyamoto is not satisfied with the way the merger is going. He is in favor of the companies merging, but not on the terms provided. At the current exchange rate, Miyamoto will lose a large amount of stock in the new company.

Masafumi Miyamoto's approval is necessary for the merger to go through, so Square and Enix are looking for solutions to the problem so that the merger can go ahead as planned. Both companies have called stockholder meetings to see if they can work out a solution and proceed with the merger as normal. At the moment, without Masafumi Miyamoto's approval, there will be no merger taking place.

Update: Square shareholders will now recieve .85 per share in the new company for every share they currently own in Square. Enix shareholders will still be able to trade for a one-to-one ratio. The Square-Enix merger will proceed as planned.

[Source:] RPGamer. ...

Square has announced plans to released Final Fantasy I and Final Fantasy IIj in a package called Final Fantasy Origins.

Final Fantasy Origins will be released on a single CD for the Playstation. The newly-revamped games will feature numerous graphical updates, an updated soundtrack with opening themes for both games, and extra gameplay features. Among the confirmed features:

- A "quick-save" option will be available, allowing easy saving for your gameplay needs.

- Different gameplay modes. An "easy" mode is included to introduce new players to Final Fantasy, and a "hard" mode is included for expert players.

- An art gallery will be available displaying Yoshitaka Amano's artwork for the game. Sketches and character designs will also be accessible.

- A bestiary with detailed information about the monsters you have defeated will be available.

- A "photo gallery" will be available upon completion of the game. Supposedly, each time you replay the game, new photos will be added to the gallery.

Final Fantasy I was originally released in the ...

- The expansion pack to Final Fantasy XI will feature even more content than previously reported. A new coastal village will be accessible only to those who use the expansion pack, and with over 200 monsters and items to be added to the game, the expansion pack promises gamers it will not disappoint. Additionally, Square has announced that the PC version of the game will recieve the update on a normal CD-ROM, while the Playstation 2 version of the game will recieve a DVD-ROM for the update.

- Square and DigiCube have announced three Final Fantasy soundtracks which will be released in February: Final Fantasy Tactics Advance Original Soundtrack, Final Fantasy Battle Arrange ~The Black Mages~, and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance Radio Edition, Volume 1.

- Final Fantasy XI is looking for a foreign gamemaster. If you are between the ages of 25 to 28 and can speak English on both a fluent and business level, submit an application to Square's headquarters in Tokyo. All others need not apply. Applicants must also answer six questions concerning their interest in the job.

[Sources:] ...

Square has released a teaser poster and some information regarding the development team on the company's latest Final Fantasy project: Final Fantasy XII.

- The teaser poster can be found here.

- Jun Akiyama, who worked on Final Fantasy VII, will be the production supervisor.

- Akihiko Yoshida, who worked on Vagrant Story and Final Fantasy Tactics, will be the character designer.

- Hideo Minaba, who worked on Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy IX, will be the art director.

[Source:] Gameforms. ...

Official information from Square has revealed a number of new, important details concerning Final Fantasy X-2.

There are currently six confirmed job classes to appear in the game: White Knight, Black Knight, Dancer, Thief, Fencer, and Gunner. Yuna begins the game as a Gunner, Rikku begins the game as a Thief, and Paine begins the game as a Fencer. As a gunner, Yuna will be able to initiate chain attacks and attack from far away. Rikku, as a thief, will be able to steal Gil, MP, and HP from opponents. Paine will be able to access abilities such as "Armor Break" while in the Fencer class. It is currently not known how each character will gain access to the other job classes, or whether certain classes will be accessible because of story events or something to that effect.

New information on Paine reveals her to be a similar character to Lulu and Auron. Her physical prowess in battle makes her similar to Auron, while her cynical nature and insensitive attitude toward others draws a parallel between her and Lulu. She is 18 years old, and is a senior member of the same sphere hunting team as Yuna.

- Screenshots have revealed Lulu, Wakka, Kimahri, and Tidus making appearances in the game. ...

New information regarding summoning and the aspects of its job classes in Final Fantasy Tactics Advance has been revealed.

Summoners will be able to summon a number of sacred beasts during battle, provided that they have already acquired the sacred beast in an earlier quest. Finding a sacred beast involves first obtaining a crystal corresponding with the correct element, and then undergoing numerous quests before being able to acquire the power of a sacred beast. Screenshots have confirmed the presence of Ifrit, Shiva, and Ramuh in the game, with more likely to appear. Only characters of the Viela race, and those with the Summoner class will be able to summon sacred beasts.

New information regarding the availability of job classes during the game has been revealed, as well. Characters will start out with a roster of three jobs they can train in, similar to the Chemist and the Squire classes in Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. As time goes on, items and equipment can be obtained which will give its wearer new abilities. The new abilities will raise the ...

- Final Fantasy X-2 will have two vocal themes throughout the game. The first song is called Real Emotion, and the second song is called 1,000 Words or 1,000 no Kotoba. Both songs will be sung by Koda Kumi, who is also involved in the voice acting of the game.

- Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles takes place in a world filled with poisonous gas. The people rely on the crystals for their only protection from the dangers of the world in which they live in; however, the crystals' powers do not last forever. The player will take the role of characters in search for Mana Water, the only substance known to recharge the crystal. Battles in the game are fought in real-time, that is, you can move and attack freely without the restrictions of turn-based combat.

- Final Fantasy Tactics Advance has gone public in Japan with new radioplays based on the games set to broadcast in Tokyo starting January 4, 2003.

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