Final Fantasy XIII

YOSHIKI KASHITANI (MAIN PROGRAMMER)

2010-03-24T18:00:00+00:00

YOSHIKI KASHITANI (MAIN PROGRAMMER)

Greetings!

The development of FINAL FANTASY XIII proceeded in parallel with the construction of our internal shared development environment “Crystal Tools”.

Most of the development staff pushed forward on this project, striving to realise their ideals and going beyond the limits of their respective fields, taking on huge amounts of work in addition to their own game development projects. They did all of this under the constant pressure of having to finish our most valuable flagship title.

Thankfully, our developers’ attachment to and passion for FINAL FANTASY was strong enough to overcome these hardships, and their unfaltering cooperation made it possible to complete the project.

Incidentally, I believe the movie sequences in this instalment are more beautiful than any seen in a previous FINAL FANTASY. These days, lengthy loading times are unavoidable for long CGI movies, but for FINAL FANTASY XIII we paid special attention to reducing loading times from the start of development right through to the end.

I hope our efforts in this and other areas help you to enjoy the whole game experience free from frustration!

OFFICIAL FINAL FANTASY XIII ART GALLERY AVAILABLE ON IPHONE / IPOD TOUCH

2010-03-17T10:00:00+00:00

OFFICIAL FINAL FANTASY XIII ART GALLERY AVAILABLE ON IPHONE / IPOD TOUCH

London (17th March 2010) – Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of Square Enix® interactive entertainment products in Europe and other PAL territories, today announces a FINAL FANTASY® XIII LARGER-THAN-LIFE GALLERY™ is available to download now from the App Store for the iPhone® and iPod® touch, priced E6.99 / £5.49.

To celebrate the launch of FINAL FANTASY XIII, released on 9th March 2010, SQUARE ENIX has released a special digital art book featuring official high-resolution images from the world of FINAL FANTASY XIII.

All the images featured in the Application can be enlarged and reduced using the platforms’ multi-touch functionality. By enlarging the beautiful mastered CG images, which feature in the game’s advertising campaigns, fans can see for themselves all the elaborative and extraordinary details which the designers particularly focused on during the creative processes - from the minute lifelike detail of the eye colours and fingertips, to the beautifully designed and embellished outfits and accessories. The App also features a clock and calendar function which can be added on the top of any image within the gallery.

The LARGER-THAN-LIFE GALLERY is available exclusively via the App Store.

PRODUCT OVERVIEW
Product name: FINAL FANTASY XIII LARGER-THAN-LIFE GALLERY
Platform: iPhone /iPod touch
Genre: Digital photo album
Release date: 17th March 2010
RRP: E6.99 / £5.49 each (available worldwide via App Store)
Copyright: ©2009, 2010 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved.
Character Design: Tetsuya Nomura

TAKUYA IWASAKI (LEAD FACIAL MOTION DESIGNER)

2010-03-11T18:00:00+00:00

TAKUYA IWASAKI (LEAD FACIAL MOTION DESIGNER)

Nice to meet you, gamers of the world!

I was in charge of the facial motions shown in the game’s cut-scenes.

We have done our very best to bring the characters’ facial expressions to life, while taking great care to capture the spirit of each individual living in FINAL FANTASY XIII’s world.

During the adventure, you are sure to see a rich variety of expressions, and I would be more than happy if you felt that you could catch a glimpse of a character’s soul in their face.

We really cannot wait for you to discover the world of FINAL FANTASY XIII.

Don’t miss it!
Takuya Iwasaki

YOICHI SEKI (MENU DIRECTOR)

2010-03-10T18:00:00+00:00

YOICHI SEKI (MENU DIRECTOR)

We really put in a lot of effort and worked ourselves to the bone in finalising the design for the Crystarium system, one of the most important elements of character growth in Final Fantasy XIII.

In the initial design phase we were given several keywords such as “crystals” and “tree charts” etc to work with, but working out what kind of theme to put them to in order to gel with the atmosphere of the game world was a big challenge. I remember that we trialled and experimented with quite a number of different systems and came up with many ideas, such as using a futuristic “cyberspace” style and an arrangement similar to the sphere grid from Final Fantasy X, but for a long time nothing really seemed to fit.

In the end we settled on the concept of using the crystals carried by the various characters and extending individual abilities through those. Once this had been decided the design process really began to take off.

Also, we were given an order that the character growth should have a feeling of control about it and be satisfying rather than just choosing options and pressing a confirm button to level up.

Accordingly, in the Crystarium you will collect CP and can level up repeatedly by holding down the button. It is of course perfectly ok to develop your characters cautiously and steadily by acquiring each ability one at a time. However, collecting a large number of points and then shooting up the levels in a single burst feels great too so I really recommend doing it like that!

FINAL FANTASY XIII EUROPEAN LAUNCH

2010-03-09T17:00:00+00:00

FINAL FANTASY XIII EUROPEAN LAUNCH

The European launch of FINAL FANTASY XIII took place last night in Paris and was a record-breaking success.

Yoshinori Kitase (producer) and Isamu Kamikokuryo (art director) were the special guests at the FNAC store on the Champs-Élysées. They were joined by classical music group Les Muses who played music from FINAL FANTASY XIII, whilst celebrity guests from the world of film and television, mingled with sports stars from Paris Saint-Germain and even Miss France, who we were very pleased joined the celebration.

What nobody was expecting was such a huge crowd waiting outside the store. Members of the public started queueing at 9am, by midday there were over 100 and the number kept growing throughout the day.

By the time the event officially began, over 3500 people were waiting outside the store waiting to join in the celebration and to be among the first people in France to purchase the game and meet the development team.

Follow the FINAL FANTASY XIII London Launch Event live from our official Twitter page (www.twitter.com/square_enix_eu)! Today, Tuesday 9th March 2010, from 5:00 pm, GMT

YOSHINORI KITASE (FINAL FANTASY XIII PRODUCER)

2010-03-08T18:00:00+00:00

YOSHINORI KITASE (FINAL FANTASY XIII PRODUCER)

Since late last year, I’ve made numerous visits to countries around Europe and North America, together with the director Motomu Toriyama, spending a total of something like 40 days on the road. Of course, I had to devote most of my time to the FINAL FANTASY XIII promotional tour, but I still had the opportunity to experience the culture, art, landscapes and architecture of all the amazing places we visited.

Majestic cathedrals, old-fashioned trams running across cobbled streets, beautiful rivers, and galleries hiding a treasure trove of art left for us by history’s great masters…

(Which is not to say I didn’t visit a few game stores too!)

Standing in the overwhelming presence of things like these, which I’ve only ever seen on TV or the net, I could not help but feel that I’d been given a wonderful and precious gift – the inspiration to fuel my future creative efforts.

Now it is time for us to give something back.
I’m sorry to have kept you all waiting so long, but FINAL FANTASY XIII will at last be released around the globe on Tuesday the 9th of March.

This instalment is set in a world which mixes futuristic design and fantasy, and tells the story of a disparate band of individuals overcoming hardship and despair on a journey to find hope.

I hope you thoroughly enjoy the vibrant and uniquely imaginative world of FINAL FANTASY XIII.

YUSUKE TANAKA (EVENT MOTION DIRECTOR)

2010-03-05T18:00:00+00:00

YUSUKE TANAKA (EVENT MOTION DIRECTOR)

Hello everyone.

My name is Yusuke Tanaka and I was the event motion director on FINAL FANTASY XIII.

There are a total of more than six hours of real-time FMV cinematic sequences to enjoy in FINAL FANTASY XIII. In movie terms, that equates to roughly three full-length feature films’ worth!

…What’s that I hear? You say this is too much? Well, you are only saying that because you haven’t played FFXIII yet! Once you’ve completed the game, I’m sure you’ll be thinking something along the lines of: “Ah, why do the most enjoyable things in life always seem to be over so quickly!?” Things need to be tried to be appreciated, you see... If you don’t believe me, just play FINAL FANTASY XIII and immerse yourself in its unique and exciting world.

For the majority of the cut-scenes I oversaw, we used motion capture. In case you’re not familiar with the term, this involves recording the movements of real human beings and translating those movements into data. Of course, this kind of technique is used in game development studios everywhere, but what sets FINAL FANTASY XIII apart from other games is the effort we put into rendering cool poses in order to imbue each character with a distinctive image.

Having human-like characters that move with faithfully recreated, realistic human movements can be dull, and will not necessarily create an exciting image that holds your attention. Thus we took the data from the motion capture process and edited each frame individually in order to create cut-scenes where you can pause the action at any point in time and still see a vibrant and attractive picture.

We then added further depth to the motion capture actor’s performance by adding in finer movements for each character, such as subtle facial expressions and lines of sight, right down to the waving motion of the tips of individual strands of hair. The fact that we have completely lip synched all of the characters to every single voiced line is another big selling point.

Thank goodness the long wait will soon be over!

HIDEO KUBOTA (CHARACTER MODELING DIRECTOR)

2010-03-04T18:00:00+00:00

HIDEO KUBOTA (CHARACTER MODELING DIRECTOR)

I put a lot of effort into creating models that would be believable. Of course this applies doubly to humans and other things that exist in reality but for the fantastical things such as monsters too, I strived to make lifelike creations by continually studying and observing beautiful forms in nature and the unique, refined shapes found in manmade artifice. Every single character has been diligently and painstakingly crafted so I would be very happy if players would take time to examine and appreciate them.

Rendering hair on the human characters was one particularly challenging area but I feel that my hard work was well worth it and a very naturalistic effect has been achieved.

TAKESHI NOZUE (CG MOVIE DIRECTOR)

2010-03-03T18:00:00+00:00

TAKESHI NOZUE (CG MOVIE DIRECTOR)

I am Takeshi Nozue, director of the game’s CG movie sequences.

Unfortunately, there has been a slight delay since the release of the Japanese version, but now – at last – we are ready to deliver Final Fantasy XIII to the rest of the world.

It is wholly thanks to the efforts of all the staff who worked so hard, and gave so generously of their knowledge and enthusiasm, that we were able to make the world of Final Fantasy XIII a reality.

We all hope that you enjoy your time in the world we have created.

YOSHIHIKO OTA (BACKGROUND TECHNICAL DIRECTOR)

2010-03-02T18:00:00+00:00

YOSHIHIKO OTA (BACKGROUND TECHNICAL DIRECTOR)

I hope that you will enjoy all the seamlessly blended backdrops that we crafted for this game, using every last shred of originality we could muster!

We focused our efforts on minimising the potential uncertainty experienced by the player in areas such as the transition to the battle screen etc. (Rest assured that there are no installation times either!)

KIMITOSHI TSUMURA (CHARACTER MODEL SUPERVISOR)

2010-03-01T18:00:00+00:00

KIMITOSHI TSUMURA (CHARACTER MODEL SUPERVISOR)

Greetings!

I was in charge of character modelling for the FMV sequences.

There were many factors that I grappled with when creating the character models for FFXIII, but the one I focused the most time and effort on was definitely the realisation of realistic-looking textures.
On previous projects I have largely relied on my own instincts and intuition when designing. For example, I would simply select the colour “white” from the palette for an object that is supposed to be white, or fix the lighting level at what I felt to be the appropriate brightness without too much consideration.
For this project, however, I re-evaluated the areas which I had previously entrusted to gut-feeling and created the character models with a fresh awareness of the visual phenomena produced by real-world lighting.
Rather than simply relying on the latest technology, the team went back to basics and re-learnt the fundamentals of designing objects with CG, revisiting all of those subjects that every artist in the field should really know. As a result, I feel that we have arrived at a new and vibrant style of expression which is different to anything that has come before.

It goes without saying that we put in a lot of hard work realising the fine level of detail that is a prerequisite when working in HD, and have spared no effort in making the characters as appealing as possible. I hope that our diligence will help to make the player’s journey through the world of Final Fantasy – alongside Lighting and the team – a genuine delight.

YUJI ABE (BATTLE DIRECTOR)

2010-02-26T18:00:00+00:00

YUGI ABE (BATTLE DIRECTOR)

Dear gamers of the world,

The day of FINAL FANTASY XIII’s international release is drawing near, and I look forward to it reaching all of the series’ eager fans, wherever they may be.

I must say that I am confident that the excitement of the battle system, which I was privileged to oversee, will stimulate the minds and fingertips of gamers across the globe!

It’s my hope that everyone who plays FINAL FANTASY XIII will at some point experience the maddening yet compelling sense of frustration you get when you come so close to victory but fall at the last hurdle!
The fiendish obstacles awaiting the player can only be overcome with awareness and ingenuity, but the incomparable feeling of achievement once you crack it will be well worth the effort.

DAISUKE INOUE (BATTLE PLANNER)

2010-02-25T18:00:00+00:00

DAISUKE INOUE (BATTLE PLANNER)

Comments regarding the missions:

For this instalment of the series, I stuck to the following rules when assigning the mission monsters their capabilities:

1. They should never force the player characters to equip any specific accessories.

2. They should never require the player to use TP abilities to defeat them.

3. They should never require the player to use healing items to defeat them.

4. They should never require the player to use shrouds to defeat them.

In short, I made it so that you should be able to defeat any of the mission monsters in FFXIII without equipping specific accessories or using any TP abilities, items or shrouds. Moreover, it is theoretically possible to earn a five star ranking in the battle results, even in the absence of any of those aids. Once players have become confident in their abilities with the battle system, I recommend that they try completing the missions unaided for a real test of skill!

In case this makes the game sound too easy, I can assure you that the mission monsters were designed first and foremost to present players with a real challenge. So much so, in fact, that our producer Mr Kitase even came to us complaining that he could not beat some of them and had no idea what to do, despite fighting with none of the handicaps mentioned above. I sincerely hope that you will have fun pitting your wits against these truly formidable opponents.

HIROAKI HISHINUMA (FIELD PLANNING CO-DIRECTOR)

2010-02-24T18:00:00+00:00

HIROAKI HISHINUMA (FIELD PLANNING CO-DIRECTOR)

It has taken an awfully long time, but we have finally completed the latest entry in the Final Fantasy series! I’m pleased to be able to report that the years we have devoted to constructing and setting up the field sections of the game were well spent, and that we believe we have achieved a level of quality that has never been seen before. I am personally very happy to have been involved in bringing this game to life, and hope that as many people as possible get to visit its incredible world.

The game itself is made up of 13 chapters, and I can proudly say that each of the field areas that I have had a hand in creating presents a completely new and different vista to the player.

You will be catapulted from modern high-rise buildings to an ancient world where vast waves stand frozen in time... One moment, you’ll be riding a hi-tech fighter craft, and the next, you’ll find yourself abandoned on a mountain of debris... You’ll travel from a futuristic metropolis, raised into the sky with miraculous technology, to the gates of another dimension! I strongly believe that there have not been many other works – not just in games, but across all genres of entertainment – which deliver such breathtaking changes in setting with such style.

I should add that we did not go all out to throw as many eccentric juxtapositions at the player as possible, but always took great care to maintain the coherence and integrity of design within the game’s two vastly different worlds – the glittering, manufactured world of Cocoon that floats in the heavens, and the untamed natural wilderness of Gran Pulse below it. From the architectural styles to the appearance of the monsters, all factors were tailored to emphasise the character of the respective worlds.
At every stage in the planning and fashioning of the game world, we gave consideration to the battle-orientated gameplay which forms the core of the experience, as well as to the story development which provides the player’s motivation to continue onwards with the game.
This will be a lot clearer when you actually play the game, but there are numerous subtle touches in the game’s design which reinforce the story, such as the way many of the monsters which roam around Cocoon deliberately look as though they were taken from Gran Pulse and remoulded to fit the environment.

In order to realise our vision for this project, we spent a great deal of time and effort getting things just right. Although it may have been more efficient and cost-effective to have used the same designs and structures in multiple places, we knew that the world simply had to look and feel a certain way if it was to truly live up to the expectations of the series, and be considered worthy of the Final Fantasy name. For this reason, we focused exclusively on the actualisation of the world, and decided not to worry about the methods used to achieve the desired results. In short, we individually crafted each and every object in the game, however small, intricately working all the fine details separately.

Furthermore, in order to provide the sort of experience that only videogames can offer, we paid particular attention to the tempo at which the story and gameplay progresses, and carefully removed elements that would slow down or interrupt the flow. The first half of the game sets a continuous pace for the story and is designed so the player can make progress without any pauses in the action. In contrast, the second half has areas that spread out laterally and allow the player to get the very best out of the battle system that they have now had time to master. When the time came to think about enemy placement, we collaborated closely with other teams and collected numerous ideas, but even with our combined knowledge we continued to tweak and perfect well into the middle phase of the design schedule. There were even occasions when we changed the composition of maps to balance the gaps separating important conversations between characters.

We continuously assessed and evaluated all of the game’s component elements, and while the resultant refinements are far too numerous to mention here, it is clear that the final product benefits from all of these detailed design decisions – its content doing justice to its phenomenal graphical quality. The attention to detail is evident in little things like the way a character lets slip an important piece of information in an innocuous comment; the fact that different types of soldier supervise the various areas of Cocoon; or the presence of different groups of enemies fighting between themselves in certain backgrounds.

It was certainly worth the effort spent making sure that each of these individual factors gave rise to a balanced whole, and sincerely believe that we have created a product that offers genuine entertainment and no shortage of fun.

I believe that Final Fantasy XIII is a work that will speak to any player who takes the time to experience it personally, and that its appeal goes beyond narrow categorisations like genre and nationality.
Whether you are pressing on with the frenetic story, or taking time out to marvel at the gorgeously realised environments, the world of Final Fantasy XIII is one that will draw you in more deeply with every passing minute.

As you interact using your controller, you will really begin to feel the progress you are making, and understand the integral part you have to play in the story. I urge you to make this game of ours truly complete by experiencing every last one of its wonders.

YOICHI KUBO (BACKGROUND GRAPHICS DIRECTOR)

2010-02-26T18:00:00+00:00

YOICHI KUBO (BACKGROUND PLANNING DIRECTOR)

Welcome to the world of Final Fantasy, reborn for a new age!

Take a step within and what awaits you is a seamless, high-speed, high-tension, adrenaline-fuelled world of unprecedented experience, like a super-blockbuster action movie, smashing aside existing concepts of what an RPG is!

In order to render the backdrop to this world in real time we have constantly been carrying out cautious testing and then making bold and fearless decisions and implementations based on that.

With the overarching goal of maintaining the levels of tension throughout the game, we started with a data setup that completely removed the need for further reading from the disc after entering a location. From there we repeated and perfected an endless process of trial and error for the graphical composition and game structure using rough models, until we were almost ready to feint from exhaustion! We thoroughly bashed the data into shape until every element on screen, from the backdrop’s colour and contrast to the atmospherics exuded dynamism.

When all the masses of data; the story, battles, events and the backdrops that set the stage for the adventure were tied together and merged, it is safe to say that the finished product exceeded the expectations of us, the creators by a long way and the definitive Final Fantasy for a new generation was born.

The feeling of claustrophobia in amongst a grimy, oil caked morass of machinery, a lush green forest and the tranquility of wild flowers, the warmth of the stars spreading far and wide into the night sky, the feeling of overwhelming freedom in the soaring azure heavens and rolling earthly landscape and the majestic beauty of the setting sun as it illuminates a metropolis of the far future. The colours, atmosphere and change in all of these locations, the rolling movement of their clouds and water and the vast differences in history and culture. We hope that you can feel all these and more when stopping to take in a moment in time in a world of eternally shifting myth and fantasy.

I am overflowing with happiness from the core of my being in knowing that the day is drawing close when the entirety of our vision is delivered, a Final Fantasy world the likes of which has never been seen before!

May all of you eagerly waiting smile with joy when you get your hands on the game.

Please just hold on a little longer! (＾▽＾)/

Thanking everyone from the bottom of my heart.

Yoichi Kubo

MASASHI HAMAUZU (COMPOSER)

2010-02-22T18:00:00+00:00

MASASHI HAMAUZU (COMPOSER)

I have dreamt about producing the music for Final Fantasy since I was very young, so when I finally received the offer to do so, I was overjoyed – and more than a little daunted by the challenge of living up to the series’ lofty reputation. Thankfully, my anxiety disappeared soon after work on the project had begun. Thanks to the truly inspirational game world and the surpassing quality of the gameplay, I was able to approach the music with hunger, motivation, and just the right amount of tension right up until the very end of development.

This latest instalment of Final Fantasy offers a huge variety of musical genres and sounds, all of which are wholly in-keeping with the game’s unified visual style, and tailored to the unique emotions of each scene.

I have great confidence that you will enjoy what we have created.

MOTOMU TORIYAMA: DIRECTOR

2010-02-19T18:00:00+00:00

MOTOMU TORIYAMA: DIRECTOR

Hello there everyone.

The Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 editions of FFXIII have finally been fully mastered and we are now eagerly awaiting the countdown to the worldwide release. I have just returned from a three week global media tour where I was interviewed by media people from a huge number of places and sincerely appreciate all the excitement and expectation continuing to build for the release date coming from everyone outside of Japan. I have also truly felt the speed with which information moves these days from talking to all the people who have already picked up on the reception to FFXIII at home.

In particular there have been many who expressed opinions regarding the story driven nature of FFXIII making for a linear gameplay progression so I shall briefly talk about that concept here.

The story of FFXIII plays out across two different worlds; the futuristic world of Cocoon, with its sprawling urban areas built inside a spherical planetoid and the primeval world of Gran Pulse populated by gigantic beasts the size of dinosaurs. The game system itself actually changes between these two worlds, with the first half of the game taking place in Cocoon being a very story driven experience, whereas the second half in Gran Pulse is an open world design with a more free style of gameplay.

In order to allow the player to become absorbed in the drama of the storytelling and the new and exciting world of Cocoon and be drawn to the characters without getting distracted or lost we have deliberately used a linear game design for the introduction sections so they can be enjoyed in the same manner as watching a film. We are aiming for a vibe while playing that is similar to the experience of an FPS style game, where the player rapidly progresses through a series of dramatic events and experiences one after the other on an imposing and atmospheric battlefield. This kind of design is also very beneficial for the player in allowing them to gradually and systematically learn the brand new battle system that this instalment brings to the series. It is set up such that the player will experience and try out each character’s possible roles in battle and naturally internalise the intensely tactical nature of the paradigm shift system.

I make a promise that even if you have never played a Final Fantasy game, or even an RPG before then you will still be able to appreciate FFXIII with no difficulty. I hope that you will pick up and play it and experience the fresh and unique gameplay that is only possible with Final Fantasy!

FINAL FANTASY XIII OFFICIAL UK LAUNCH EVENT AT HMV

2010-02-19T18:00:00+00:00

FINAL FANTASY XIII OFFICIAL UK LAUNCH EVENT AT HMV

London (18th February 2010) – Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of Square Enix® interactive entertainment products in Europe and other PAL territories today announces the UK launch event plans for FINAL FANTASY® XIII, the eagerly awaited latest instalment in the award-winning series that has sold more than 92 million units worldwide.

Special Guests - Fans attending the UK launch event on 9th March will be treated to a very rare opportunity to meet both Yoshinori Kitase, the producer of the game, and Isamu Kamikokuryo, the game’s art director, who will be available to sign games and answer questions. High-profile DJ and TV presenter Alex Zane will also be entertaining fans as the MC for the event.

Treats for the fans - The first 50 people to attend the signing dressed in FINAL FANTASY costumes will be given a free FINAL FANTASY XIII soundtrack and everyone who attends the launch will have the chance to win goodies.

Date: 9th March 2010

Time: 5.30pm - 7:30pm

Photocall: 6:05pm – 6:15pm

Address: HMV, 150 Oxford Street, London, W1D 1DJ

Entry: Free to everyone

In FINAL FANTASY XIII, players will embark on a journey through the cityworld of Cocoon and the outerworld of Pulse, encountering and fighting alongside a diverse group of allies. Execute powerful attacks with weapons and magic, and summon the enigmatic Eidolons with an evolved Active Time Battle™ system. Experience seamless transitions between real-time gameplay and in-game cinematics. Do you have the courage to face your destiny?

This latest title in the multi-platinum FINAL FANTASY series promises to be intensely compelling and will be available for both the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

SQUARE ENIX EUROPE UNVEILS FINAL FANTASY XIII Xbox 360 BUNDLES

2010-02-12T18:00:00+00:00

SQUARE ENIX EUROPE UNVEILS FINAL FANTASY XIII Xbox 360 BUNDLES

London (12th February 2010) – Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of Square Enix® interactive entertainment products in Europe and other PAL territories, today announces Microsoft® and Square Enix have created two exclusive Xbox 360 FINAL FANTASY® XIII Bundles to celebrate the launch of the game across PAL territories. The FINAL FANTASY XIII Bundles – the Special Edition and the Elite Bundle – are available to pre-order now, and will be available to buy in-store from 9th March, while stocks last.

In addition, anyone who pre-orders the Special Edition Bundle will receive a Limited Edition Faceplate created by legendary character designer Tetsuya Nomura. The Faceplates are only available promotionally in fixed quantities across select PAL retailers and while stocks last.

The Special Edition Bundle includes a 250GB Hard Drive engraved with the FINAL FANTASY XIII name, two Wireless Controllers, downloadable Avatar items (exclusive to the Special Edition) comprised of 1 x Rosch Outfit, 1 x Nabaat Outfit and a Chocobo pet for your Avatar, and a copy of FINAL FANTASY XIII, the forthcoming adventure in the multi-million-selling series.

The Elite Bundle includes a 120GB black Hard Drive, one Wireless Controller and a copy of FINAL FANTASY XIII.

Larry Sparks, Vice President Brands PAL Region of Square Enix Ltd. comments, “FINAL FANTASY XIII is one of the most anticipated entertainment releases of all time and we’re pleased to be working with Microsoft to offer gamers across PAL territories the chance to pre-order and buy one of these special Bundles and own a piece of gaming history.”

About FINAL FANTASY XIII

FINAL FANTASY XIII marks the dawning of a new era for the celebrated series, bringing the game to multiple hi-definition consoles simultaneously for the first time in its history.

The game is available for both the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system on 9th March 2010.

Expanding upon the rich tradition of the series, producer Yoshinori Kitase (FINAL FANTASY VII, X, X-2), director Motomu Toriyama (FINAL FANTASY VII, X, X-2), character designer Tetsuya Nomura (FINAL FANTASY V, VI, VII, VIII, X) and art director Isamu Kamikokuryo (FINAL FANASY X, XII) combine their creative vision to deliver the latest masterpiece in the FINAL FANTASY universe. Additionally, Masashi Hamauzu (FINAL FANTASY X, DIRGE of CERBERUS -FINAL FANTASY VII-) presents a sweeping soundtrack while movie director Takeshi Nozue (FINAL FANTASY VII ADVENT CHILDREN) and his team of artists adorn the game with seamless cinematic sequences of unparalleled calibre.

SQUARE ENIX UNVEILS FINAL FANTASY XIII LIMITED COLLECTOR’S EDITION

2010-01-28T18:00:00+00:00

SQUARE ENIX UNVEILS
FINAL FANTASY XIII LIMITED COLLECTOR’S EDITION

London (22nd January 2010) – Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of Square Enix® interactive entertainment products in Europe and other PAL territories, today announces a LIMITED COLLECTOR’S EDITION of FINAL FANTASY®XIII will be available at launch.

FINAL FANTASY XIII, the latest project in the multi-platinum FINAL FANTASY series will be available for both the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft on 9th March 2010.

textformat blockindent="20">The LIMITED COLLECTOR’S EDITION, which will be available for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, will comprise the FINAL FANTASY XIII game;

FINAL FANTASY XIII Original Sound Selection - an exclusive soundtrack CD featuring in-game music tracks especially chosen for the Limited Collector’s Edition by composer Masashi Hamauzu;

The World of FINAL FANTASY XIII – a hardback book featuring character artwork, CG rendered artwork and environments from across the game’s production;

Exclusive Art Prints - three highly collectable prints showing artwork of the Eidolons, the powerful summoned allies of the lead playable characters; and a Unique ‘Brand of the l’Cie’ decal – a collectible decal featuring the most iconic symbol from the game’s storyline.

The LIMITED COLLECTOR’S EDITION will be available in a branded presentation box.

Message from the Team

2010-01-13T18:00:00+00:00

MESSAGE FROM MOTOMU TORIYAMA

Dear gamers in Europe,

FINAL FANTASY XIII overseas version is finally completed.
I am sorry for the long wait.

At present, members of the development team in Japan are on a New Year holiday while awaiting an approval for the master disc.

The overseas version was developed simultaneously with the Japanese one as we wanted to ensure that it comes out as soon after the Japanese release date as possible.

In the completed FINAL FANTASY XIII, the features which were popular amongst gamers at our survey last summer have been enhanced even further.

One of those features is characters’ facial animations, which work as the core of any human drama. Their movements are completely synchronised with the English lines and, due to this, each scene in the game is truly spectacular. Another feature to be mentioned is FFXIII’s new strategic battle system, Paradigm Shift.

Just like the Japanese version, this system adds elements of real-time actions to the battle, which has been made almost over-the-top, so that the more you use the shift, the more exhilarating the combat becomes.

The release date is now approaching.

Don’t get distracted. You will see the truth when you hold it in your hands.
Please be patient a little longer for the “day of a battle against the fate”!

Motomu Toriyama

Director
FINAL FANTASY XIII