Win Tickets to Distant Worlds Atlanta!

May 18th, 2013 by Tony Garsow

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Attention Atlanta-area Final Fantasy fans!

Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy will be performing in Atlanta, Georgia on June 7th and 8th at the Atlanta Symphony Hall. We’re partnering with Square Enix and AWR to give out two pairs of tickets for those of you and a friend who can attend. Here’s your chance to witness the orchestrated history of Final Fantasy live!

Two winners will be selected. One winner will receive a pair (2) of non-VIP tickets for the Friday (June 7) performance, the other winner will receive a pair (2) of non-VIP tickets for the Saturday (June 8) performance. If you decide to enter — keep both of those days free! Please enter only if you can attend!

We will select two winners through a written essay contest about the music of Final Fantasy, no shorter than 500 words in length. The topic can include anything involving the music of Final Fantasy, but here are a few example topics:

- What is your favorite Final Fantasy game and why its music makes it so special.
- What you enjoy most about the music of the Final Fantasy series overall.
- Your favorite composer(s) in the series and what you enjoy about their compositions.
- What do you enjoy about performing the music of Final Fantasy?
- How has the music of Final Fantasy inspired you to create your own music?

Our staff will select two winners from the entries, and the deadline for submission is Sunday, May 26th. We will also feature the winning entries on Final Fantasy Network. Be sure to get the word out to your friends in and around Atlanta if they’re interested!

To submit your essay, you can email me at tgarsow@finalfantasy.net, and be sure to include the title Distant Worlds Atlanta in the subject line! We will be contacting winners through the emails provided.

For more information on the Distant Worlds Atlanta performance, including the music on tap, click here.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to drop me a line or comment below! Good luck!

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Final Fantasy XIV Character Creation Update

May 17th, 2013 by Tony Garsow

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So it’s been a while since we’ve had a look at the character creation system in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. Back then, the unfinished creator had many of the options that were in the original version, but many were still under lock and key or had yet to be changed.

Project Manager Fernehalwes provides us with an update, revealing some brand new hairstyles and tats. The character creator itself has gone through something of an upgrade, with sliders for height (and likely other… parameters) and larger color palettes to further customize your journeying partner. You can now pose them with backgrounds from Ul’dah and Limsa Lominsa regions, giving you a better idea how your character will look in different types of lighting.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is currently in transition from Phase 2 to Phase 3, set to begin in June. The game will be in attendance at E3, and playable to boot. The next Letter from the Producer Live has also been scheduled for May 30, 2013, from 6:00AM Pacific US Standard Time. We will be bringing that stream to you here on Final Fantasy Network along with all the juicy highlights that accompany it!

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11 Years of Final Fantasy XI

May 16th, 2013 by Tony Garsow

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Believe it or not, it’s been eleven years since Final Fantasy XI originally launched, marking the first MMORPG entry for the franchise. First revealed at the Square Millenium Event in January 2000 (seen above), the game has blossomed into one of the most successful online RPGs since. Five expansion packs, including Seekers of Adoulin in March, have marked transformation on the world of Vana’diel as the game continued to evolve alongside its community.

Whether you’re a first-timer or a veteran looking to return to the game, you can currently get the Final Fantasy XI: Ultimate Collection Seekers Edition for Windows PC and Xbox 360. For Steam users, you can currently download the collection for $29.99, it includes every expansion pack and add-on scenario in the game’s 11-year history.

The community team has a wealth of events planned, you can learn more by following the links below:

• The Eleventh Adventurer Appreciation Campaign
• The 11th Vana’versary Mog Bonaza
• Shield Design Contest

Are you a current player of Final Fantasy XI? If you aren’t, what made you leave (or return to the game)? If you haven’t played Final Fantasy XI or any Final Fantasy MMORPG, what are your reasons why? What are your most treasured memories, be they with the game itself or the community around it? Share with us your memories by leaving us a comment below!

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Final Fantasy VIII PC Gets Japan Release

May 15th, 2013 by Tony Garsow

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FF8

In addition to Final Fantasy VII International (May 16th), Final Fantasy VIII will be released in Japan for PC. Like Final Fantasy VII, the game was originally ported to PC by Eidos in the late 90s. This week’s Famitsu provided the scoop, and announcement is expected at some point for North American and European release.

Earlier this year Final Fantasy VII PC was released worldwide through Square Enix’s online store, but originally, rumblings of a Steam release for both titles were hinted. The re-release featured a cloud saving, which also displayed stats on a website where players could effectively “boost” their HP, MP, and Gil to maximum for those looking to enjoy the story. For those looking for a challenge, Square Enix included a healthy amount of achievements.

Final Fantasy VIII fans and PC enthusiasts, what are your thoughts about a forthcoming release? Leave us your thoughts in a comment below!

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Thanks: ArikaMiz

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Final Fantasy XIII-2 Joins Ultimate Hits Lineup

May 13th, 2013 by Tony Garsow

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Square Enix has announced that Final Fantasy XIII-2 will be joining the companies top-seller list entitled Ultimate Hits, and with it will come a special edition. A Digital Content Selection is also being prepared and will comprise a large batch of DLC, a list of which you can read below. Japanese players will be able to download this from either PlayStation Network or Xbox Live.

Both the Ultimate Hits and Digital Content Selection will be available on July 18th for 5040yen and 2940yen respectively. A domestic announcement for North America and Europe has not been made yet.

Coliseum Battles:
- Enemy “Omega”
- Enemy “Lightning and Lieutenant Amodar”
- Enemy “Jihl Nabaat”
- Enemy “Ultros and Typhon”
- Enemy “Gilgamesh”
- Enemy “PuPu”

Outfits:
- Serah’s “Summoner’s Garb”
- Serah’s “Beachwear”
- Serah’s “White Mage”
- Noel’s “Battle Attire”
- Noel’s “Spacetime Guardian”
- Noel’s “Black Mage”
- Moogle outfit set
The collaborative outfits with Mass Effect, Assassin’s Creed, and AKB48 will not be included.

Weapons:
- Serah’s “Genji Bow”
- Noel’s “Calamity Blade”
- Noel’s “Muramasa”

Scenarios:
- Sazh “Heads or Tails”
- Lightning “Requiem of the Goddess
- Snow “Perpetual Battlefield”

The following is a list of links to the various product listings on Square Enix’s Japanese eStore:

Square Enix eStore: Final Fantasy XIII-2 Ultimate Hits (PS3)
Square Enix eStore: Final Fantasy XIII-2 Ultimate Hits (360)
Square Enix eStore: Final Fantasy XIII-2 Digital Contents Selection (PS3)
Square Enix eStore: Final Fantasy XIII-2 Digital Contents Selection (360)

Via: Lightning Returns (Facebook)

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The Three City-States of Eorzea

May 10th, 2013 by Tony Garsow

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Limsa Lominsa

To start off your adventure into Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn means a start in one of three cities spread across the Eorzean frontier. Should you start in Gridania, the wood-shrouded city in the east? Or what about Limsa Lominsa, full of salty-tongued piratefolk? Then there’s Ul’dah, the bustling sultanate in the arid south. Thanks to new screenshots of these regions released today, we’ve prepared something of an image-heavy primer to help you decide.

Each of the city-states is home to a Grand Company, one of three you’ll encounter in A Realm Reborn. Should you join up with their ranks, you can expect to collect exclusive weapons, gear, and even chocobo barding. With that in mind, it’s important to plan out which company you’ll be raising your sword and cup for.

Since there’s quite a bit of new media, you can view it all by expanding the article.
Which city-state appeals to you the most? Leave us your thoughts in a comment below!

Read the rest of this entry »

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Final Fantasy X-2 HD Remaster Revealed

May 9th, 2013 by Tony Garsow

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Square Enix has provided brand-new screenshots of Final Fantasy X-2 HD, set to release alongside Final Fantasy X HD this year on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita. The team has added new 3D character models that have allowed for more expressive facial animations, painstakingly redrawn the game’s pre-rendered backgrounds, and upped the resolution of the CG movies including Final Fantasy X-2′s opening.

Final Fantasy X and X-2 HD will be on one Blu-ray disc for PlayStation 3, but the PlayStation Vita versions will be sold separately. The game will include the International content from their subsequent re-releases in Japan, but content like Last Mission and Eternal Calm has yet to be decided.

How does Final Fantasy X-2 HD stack up against its predecessor and the original Final Fantasy X-2? Leave us a comment with your thoughts below!

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Retailer Reveals FFX/X-2 HD Int’l Content

May 6th, 2013 by Tony Garsow

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Retailer Best Buy Canada recently put up a listing for Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD on its website and included some interesting details as to what’s included. Previously, Yoshinori Kitase hinted that the team would work hard to include all of the International content like “Last Mission” from Final Fantasy X-2 in the release, and it looks like that may be happening after all. Via the listing here:

“Contains content not previously released in North America, including the optional superboss “Penance,” the “Eternal Calm” video that bridges the gap between the two titles, the “Last Mission” dungeon with 20+ hours of battle and story, and bonus dresspheres and garment grids”

Also included will be the “Eternal Calm” trailer that was released with the International version of Final Fantasy X to tease a sequel; this video takes place after the conclusion of the first game. Extra content like Garment Grids and Dresspheres such as the Psychicer and Festivalgoer will be included from the International release.

Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD will release in Japan and abroad this year for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita. The PS3 version will include both games on one Blu-ray while the Vita versions will be sold separately. With all of the International content included, it appears North American fans will be treated to the most definitive version of these two PlayStation 2 classics yet.

Want to know more about the extra International content in Final Fantasy X and X-2? Take a gander at our write-up by clicking here.

Update: Best Buy Canada has removed the information about Last Mission from their product listing. In this week’s Famitsu, a blurb about Last Mission states that it’s inclusion is not yet decided. You can view that here.

Thanks: Seda, ArikaMiz

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FFXIV: A Realm Reborn Screenshot Update

May 3rd, 2013 by Tony Garsow

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Final Fantasy XIV

While the testing for Phase 2 in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn‘s beta has concluded, the team is busily preparing for the next phase that will open up much more of the game for testers. Square Enix posted a handful of new in-development high-resolution screenshots this morning which feature some of the newly-revamped locales.

In the images below you can see that the UI has gone through a few aesthetic tweaks, and that the player is controlling a Thaumaturge class Lalafell. There are several different places in Thanalan (a mostly arid region of Eorzea) shown, such as: an overlook in what I presume is western Thanalan near the sea, Uldah in the distant nightscape, and in the city of Ul’dah itself. It should be noted that the map has transparency, which may be adjustable going forward.

The next phase of closed-beta testing (Phase 3)will begin in June for both PC and PlayStation 3. You can apply by following this link. Following that will be the open beta (Phase 4) followed by the official release. If you’re wondering what time-frame the team is shooting for, they assure us it will release in the “hot summer” — as if to rule out later in September.

What areas are you most excited to revisit and re-explore in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn? Those of you who are completely or generally new to the game, what strikes you the most about the areas featured in media thus-far? Do you find the new Eorzea to be more appealing to play in? Leave us your thoughts in a comment below!

Update: Four new screenshots have been posted featuring the Limsa Lominsa/La Noscea region.
Update #2: Three new screenshots from Ul’dah/Limsa Lominsa.
Update #3: Four new screenshots from Limsa Lominsa at night time.

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Still More Surfing:
The Lost Art of Final Fantasy IX

May 1st, 2013 by Tony Garsow

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Coffee, anyone?

Believe it or not, it’s been nearly thirteen years since Final Fantasy IX released in North America. Okay, maybe it’s not that hard to believe. The last Final Fantasy title for the original PlayStation served as a reflecting point for the franchise, and interwove elements and themes from the classics with the gameplay of the new (at the time) titles.

NeoGAF member Mama Robotnik has a penchant for digging up relics from the past, and has uncovered a veritable treasure trove of concept artwork and pre-rendered backgrounds from the game. I’ve chosen just a few to feature here from the dozens available, but you can view them all by reading their post here.

The game itself started development in 1998 at Squaresoft’s Honolulu office, in the middle of Final Fantasy VIII‘s development in Japan. At first, the game was planned to be a spinoff, but it was eventually given a proper Roman numeral as development progressed. In around 1999, most of the staff that had wrapped production on Final Fantasy VIII were moved to the Final Fantasy X project such as: Yoshinori Kitase, Kazushige Nojima, Yusuke Naora, and Tetsuya Nomura. This, of course, was due to Final Fantasy IX being deep in development. The game’s staff, including character designer Toshiyuki Itahana, eventually moved on to different projects like Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles. Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, who conceived the game and wrote its scenario, regards it as his favorite in the series.

What fond memories do you have with Final Fantasy IX? Would you like to see Square Enix revisit this world at some point in the future — or would you rather “let memory be a memory”? What about Final Fantasy IX stood out to you as an example of what a Final Fantasy game should be? Do you agree with the decision that Final Fantasy IX should become a numbered title? Leave us a comment with your thoughts below!

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