After latest news pretty much suggested that a remake would only happen once hell freezes over, they recently asked fans about their opinion for a remake of FF7 on their official Square-Enix Members Twitter account. It was immediately flooded with positive replies, so many in fact, that the author asked everyone to stop replying.

This is pretty much the first time Square-Enix themselves asked people about a remake.

Two days later, they even asked about fans’ opinions for a remake of FFVIII.

Here are the links to the respective twitter entries:
http://twitter.com/SQEX_MEMBERS_JP/status/9915740773
http://twitter.com/SQEX_MEMBERS_JP/status/10021366399

Source:
Japanese S-E Members Twitter
Cetraconnection.de

If you’re interested at getting a sneak peek at what FFXIV is starting to look like, you can apply to be a beta tester and get your hands on a copy of the game to help iron out the tweaks. Square Enix’s looking for players to test out the Windows version of Final Fantasy XIV. You can apply to play the online version here.

Just make sure not to be a pest and apply more than once, otherwise they’ll chuck all your applications. Guess they don’t like people who are too persistent. Thanks to our member Earl for bringing it to our attention!

Do my eyes deceive me…?

With the lack of Final Fantasy characters appearing in KH 358/2, I kinda wasn’t expecting any FF characters to appear in Birth By Sleep.

Was I wrong.

A new scan from Weekly Jump showcases our loveable SOLDIER, Zack Fair, making an appearance in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. And as an even more amusing nod to Crisis Core, Zack’s D-Link ability with Terra in the game, is an attack called “Heroes Pride.”

I think it’s safe to say this game’s cool factor got a +5.

Thanks Dark & Divine for bringing this to my attention!

Apparently Cloud Strife is continuing his foray into digital modeling and merchandising with the release of his new brand name cologne, “Cloud Strife.” The new cologne was showcased at Tokyo Gameshow 2009 in the Square Enix Merchandise booth. A bottle of the FFVII hero’s scent is going for 6,800 yen. No word for when it’ll be released over seas.

Because nothing says you’re SO CASH, than smelling like an JRPG hero from 1997! Although I am curious as to what this stuff would smell like…Thanks to Tennyo for bringing this.. rare gem of S-E news to our attention. Oh, and don’t worry female fans, the cologne is apparently unisex, so you can get in on Cloud’s sexy aura too. Glad to know Cloud’s still swinging both ways 12 years later.

Source: Destructoid Site

Take a look at the new trailer from Final Fantasy XIV: Online at Tokyo Game Show 2009! (more…)

The Dissidia Final Fantasy: Universal Tuning site has been updated with new CG character artwork for the 10 warriors of Cosmos. Cloud_S was able to extract these new artworks from the site, and we offer them to you below to use for your own nefarious creative purposes! With this current update, it’s almost certain the villains will be soon to follow. You can visit the official Janapese Dissidia site by clicking on this link. Oh, and take a look at the pretty cover while you’re at it.

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In an interview with videogamer.com, Yoshinori Kitase gave a promising hint of news of an FFVII remake, stating fans should expect news on it at a later date.

Also, at GamesCom in Cologne, Germany, Kitase was quoted saying regarding an FFVII remake through a translator..

There’s no official project that’s up and running for a remake of Final Fantasy VII at this point. Both Toriyama-san and Kitase-san were involved in the development of the game, however, and it holds a special place in their hearts. They do talk about it on a personal level, like, ‘If we did it it would be like this or like that.’

“So, they do talk about it, but there’s no official project yet. But there’s that PSN release that just came out, so if you could play that for the time being, it should be fun.”

So for now, fans will have to tide themselves over with the re-release of the original game on the PS Network. But it still seems the creators are toying with the idea and thinking on it fondly. Who knows where their discussion will lead.

Source: Videogamer.com and gamezine.co.uk

Square-Enix has now published the track list for the ACC Reunion Tracks album on their Square Enix Music website. The album will be released on September 16th 2009 in Japan for 2,500¥ and will contain the following tracks: (more…)

Square-Enix showed some gameplay videos from FFXIV  at Gamescom 2009. The demo presented some simple quests to the players, like “kill those enemies”, or “bring those animals from the point A to the point B”.  This was an Alpha version, so minor issues ocurred, but from the looks of it, the final version will have awesome graphics.

FFXIV Gameplay Video 1

FFXIV Gameplay Video 2

FFXIV Gameplay Video 3

FFXIV Character animation video

Sources: GameVideos and Gametrailers

Update 20/09/2009 – Two more videos have surfaced:

FFXIV Gameplay Video 4

FFXIV Gameplay Video 5

Thanks go to our member KuraudoStrife for bringing this up to our attention.

The official Final Fantasy XIV Japanese site is now online.

You may check it out here.

SQUARE-ENIX did a massive update on Final Fantasy XIV: Online, revealing the races and their story, the world, and the gameplay system.

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New information on FFXIV was revealed in the latest issue of Famitsu. And it appears this FF MMORPG is going to be one that breaks the mold.

Some interesting points include:

Final Fantasy XIV revolves around character growth. There will be no experience points or leveling system this time around, and a new system will come in to play. Square Enix wants to deliver an experience where new players have the freedom to try out any quest and many different things, growing naturally from their experiences. A deep story will be in tact in Final Fantasy XIV, including cut-scenes, but they’re going beyond that by also delivering a wider variety of stories and quests. They want players to enjoy the process of character growth.

The main idea for Final Fantasy XIV is to provide freedom of growth through the variety of quests offered. However, players can meet up with friends and set off on adventure or they can play solo. Players won’t be left with nothing to do, bored.

A MMORPG with no level grinding? Can it be? That definitely sounds like a game I’d love to play. You can read more information on the setting of this game in the above article. It certainly looks like S-E is learning a lot from their previous installment, FFXI.