Final Fantasy XIII release date: March 9, 2010

Square Enix today officially announced the North American street date for its next Final Fantasy game. And what a fitting day for such an announcement - Friday the 13th. Final Fantasy XIII will be released in North America on March 9, 2010 and will be available for both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 (see the brand new announcement trailer for some inside info from the developers).

The game is being produced by Kitase Yoshinori (Final Fantasy VII, X and X-2), directed by Motomu Toriyama (Final Fantasy VII, X and X-2), will feature character design by Tetsuya Nomura (Final Fantasy V, VI, VII, VIII, X) with art direction being handled by Isamu Kamikokuryo (Final Fantasy X, XII). Rounding out this reunion of sorts is Misashi Hamazu (Final Fantasy X, Dirge of Cerebus) who will create the orchestral score, and Takeshi Nozue (Advent Children), who will direct the cinematics. The game will also feature “My Hands,” a single from Leona Lewis’ upcoming album Echo (set for release Nov. 17, 2009).

Final Fantasy XIII features a brand new world, an improved Active Battle System (ATB), an all new summon system that features the ability (Gestalt mode) to let players combine with their summons (Eidolons) to deliver devastating amounts of damage, a brand new game mechanic called Paradigm that lets players assign roles to part members that can change the tide of battle and high definition graphics and sound enabled by development on the Xbox 360 and PS3.

Look for the game in stores March 9, 2010. Square Enix promises to reveal more about this game in the days, moths and weeks leading up to its release next year so stay tuned. You can learn what there is to know about Final Fantasy XIII by visiting www.finalfantasyxiii.com. The site features new info on characters Fang, Hope and Serah today.�

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers in Dec.

Square Enix will bring Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers for Wii on December 26, 2009. This latest installment in the Nintendo focused franchise (popularized by various titles on the GameCube and DS) promises a fresh take on the Crystal Chronicles universe, this time featuring action-adventure themed gameplay. According to Square Enix the game combines the a deep story, immersive events and graphical quality of the FINAL FANTASY franchise with motion-driven gameplay and the ability to freely explore the game world.

In the newest game in the series a thousand years have passed since the events of the original game. The destruction of the Yuke Crystal during the Great War had at once brought the Lilty Tribe prosperity, the defeated Yuke Tribe apparent annihilation, and the world a new age of science and reason. In this new era exists a rare breed of powerful beings called “crystal bearers,” whose magical abilities have led them to be feared and scorned by the public.

The young mercenary Layle is one such crystal bearer, who has been hired to escort the new passenger airship Alexis, the pinnacle of Lilty technology and a symbol of their current dominance. However, when the Alexis is suddenly besieged by a horde of monsters, Layle comes face-to-face with an adversary thought to have vanished from the pages of history, on a quest that may threaten the future of the world…

Other key features include motion-driven gameplay and controls that are accessible for gamers of all levels, action and third-person shooter style gameplay exploration, object manipulation using the Wii remote, and co-op for what we assume is up to at least 2 - 4 players. Look for the game the day after Christmas.

Dissidia Final Fantasy in stores

Square Enix wins Advent Children infringement lawsuit

Square Enix has prevailed in its copyright infringement lawsuit against Korean entertainment production company Fantom Entertainment Group and music video producer Hong Jeong-ho. The lawsuit came to fruition when the company was given 300 Million Korean Won (approx. US $244,000) at the conclusion of the trial in March 2008. Following an appeal lodged by the defendants, on July 3, 2009, the Seoul High Court ruled that Fantom and Hong Jeong-ho should pay 400 Million Korean Won (approx. US $326,000) to Square Enix.

“We have been consistent in our claims during this lawsuit regarding the value of FINAL FANTASY VII ADVENT CHILDRENTM and our FINAL FANTASY series, as well as the damages the company has suffered as a result of the modification and adaptation made without obtaining permission,” said Yasuhiko Hasegawa, Square Enix’s General Counsel, in a statement this week. “The initial amount awarded in this case, 300 Million Korean Won, was the largest the courts in South Korea have ever awarded in cases infringing one single work of art, and having this figure increased to 400 Million Korean Won following an appeal by the defendants is further affirmation of the severity of this copyright infringement as well as the recognition and value the FINAL FANTASY series has attained in South Korea. Square Enix will continue to take decisive action against any infringements upon our intellectual property, recognizing that this property is one of our most crucial resources.”

In March 2007, Fantom began the for-profit online distribution of a music video for the song Sonata of Temptation by popular Korean pop singer IVY containing an unauthorized live-action scene-for-scene adaptation of a scene from Final Fantasy VII Advent Children. In response to an injunction filed by Square Enix, the Seoul Central District Court ordered Fantom to cease distribution and sales of the video as of April 6, 2007, and subsequently, on March 13, 2008, ordered Fantom to pay damages of 300 Million Korean Won. Fantom and Hong Jeong-ho appealed this decision and the case was elevated to the Seoul High Court, which on July 3, 2009, issued the decision ordering Fantom and Hong Jeong-ho to pay damages of 400 Million Korean Won.

My Life as Darklord released

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as Darklord is now available on WiiWare. This game is the follow-up to Square Enix’s popular kingdom management game, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as King.

The new game invites players to switch teams and play a bad guy in charge of the dungeons and other dark regions that trap do-gooders and heroes. My Life as a Darklord is a real-time strategy game that offers an all-new tower-style stage structure. As the newly appointed Darklord on a mission to take over the world, players must strategically place monsters and traps in their tower to ward off invading adventurers. The game offers build-or-be-destroyed gameplay coupled with accessible controls for gamers of all ages.

While gamers can enjoy My Life as Darklord for 1,000 Wii Points, Square Enix has released two add-ons for the new game that will extend the play a slight bit. The first is Darklord Armory (400 points), which gives gamers five items each usable once per battle, including four spells (Shockwave, Blast Arrow, Fira and Quake) that deal moderate elemental damage to adventurers on all floors and one (Cura) that restores moderate HP to all monsters and Artifacts. The second item, Vile Ribbon (200 points), Raises your NP by 50 at the start of battle. The effect is permanent with a single purchase. The more accessories you equip, the more NP you’ll start with (and the prettier Mira will be). This ribbon was cherished by a world-famous actress who disappeared without a trace one day. Anyone who wears it is said to invite destruction upon herself. More add-on content will become available at a later time.

Learn more at www.mylifeasadarklord.com

Final Fantasy VII now available on PlayStation Network

Announced in Sony’s press conference this week at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, Square Enix’s callsic PlayStation RPG Final Fantasy VII, is now available on the PlayStation Network. For right around $10 USD you can relive the adventur of Cloud and the gang on the PS3 and the PSP. Download one of the most influential and cherished RPGs of all time at the PlayStation Network Store today for just $9.99. Why play a spin-off or watch a movie when you can play the real thing. There’s also a web page dedicated to it here but there’s no information about the game there as of this writing.

Final Fantasy VII is one of many PlayStation Classics that are coming to PSN this year and beyond. It looks like Sony has finally figured out that old games can sell on new systems - too bad someone didn’t ask Nintendo for advice on this, considering it has been seeling classic games like Final Fantasy VII for several years. Live and lear.

Final Fantasy XIII Demo Video - Translated

You probably have already seen the Final Fantasy XIII Japanese demo video around the internet showcasing character Snow Villiers, but chances are you haven’t seen it with English subtitles.

Luckily, G4tv.com has posted direct-feed videos of the Snow demo with English subtitles in two parts.

These videos showcase some gameplay and a bit of the character’s story arc.

Follow the links below to check them out:

Part I

Part II