Final Fantasy XIII News

In an interview in this week's Famitsu, Nomura said that he believes that players will have a chance to try out Final Fantasy XIII-2 soon. The thing is, nobody seems to know what he means by "soon".

Also, Nomura cleared up that he is working on the faces for Noel and the new characters. Clothing and other areas are being drawn by Yusuke Naora and Isamu Kamikokuryou. Nomura's main role on the game is Character Design Supervision.

FFXIII-2's reaction at E3 was good. Nomura said that he's disappointed that some fans are judging the game based off videos from E3 though. He feels that players will truly have a better understanding of what the staff is putting into the game when they see it running on actual hardware and that the impression when you directly play differs greatly from seeing videos.

To wrap it up. Kamikokuryo said that he's working on sketches of the visual that will be shown around the time of the game's release.


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Source:  Andriasang

Square-Enix has revealed what is the very first of Final Fantasy Type-0's merchandise. The first one is the "Zero Style Music Album FINAL FANTASY -First Battle-, which will cost 500 yen and will have 5 tracks. The second merchandise are three files called "Zero Clear Expression File FINAL FANTASY", which will cost you 380 yen. Both products will be available for purchase at the Odaiba event, which starts July 16th.




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Source:  4gamer

This week's issue of Famitsu has a interview with Tetsuya Nomura and it's about *gasp* Final Fantasy Versus XIII!

Much of the interview talks about the game's event scenes. Most games have pre-rendered and real time cut scenes. In Versus XIII, you'll be able to control the real time cut scenes and they decided to get rid of the non-controllable real time cut scenes in order to keep the player from stopping. In the controllable cut scenes, players can expect more natural expression as opposed to the game-like expression of past games. He also mentions some sort of new system for this area.

Nomura also showed three new screenshots just for the Famitsu editors. Yep. That's right. Just for the Famitsu editors. Famitsu was impressed and couldn't believe what they were looking at was real time.

One screenshot showed a scene of an Italy-like city showing Noctis looking up at a behemoth. The second one showed an afternoon shot of Noctis on what appeared to be the side of a highway and another version of that shot but at night. The highway sign says "Meguro" which is a region of Tokyo.

The game looks so good because there is a very small difference between the high and low quality models. Nomurs says that they're the same, with the exception of the high quality versions having greater hair detail in them.

Nomura said that Takeshi Nozue was able to apply his pre-rendering know how on the game's real time scenes, specifically with regards to lighting technology. Famitsu says that the pictures look like real photographs with Nomura saying that players can take pictures in the game with Noctis' cell phone.

Nomura said that we'll have to wait a bit to see these pictures that the Famitsu editors get to see exclusively for the time being. He also mentions that the areas that were already shown now have the new lighting technology, so we'll have to wait to see those as well.

As for a development update. Nomura siad that because they're trying out a lot of new challenges, the development staff is still focused on the core members. However, they're making preparations to enter full production. They are also recording the game's voices too. Nomura says that there are many scenes where the four male characters are engaged in a realistic conversation, with their voices overlapping. These scenes are being recorded with all four voice actors together in the recording session simultaneously.

As for when we'll hear about Versus XIII nest? Nomura said the timing for the next reveal has been set but would not say when. As for the next update, he said that he would like to deliver it along with some good information.


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Source:  Andriasang

Here are more better quality Final Fantasy XIII-2 English screenshots, which consist of scenes that we have seen from E3 2011.




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Wondering what that new game is that Tetsuya Nomura was teasing about for next week's Famitsu? If you guessed that it's a Final Fantasy game. You're right! If you guessed it's a RPG Final Fantasy game though. You're wrong!

This 3DS title is a Final Fantasy themed rhythm game called "Theatrhythm Final Fantasy". It's described as a "Theater Rhythm Action" game. The game has field scenes set in dungeons and towns and side-view battle scenes that are similar to the older Final Fantasy titles. Everything is played like a rhythm game where you tap the screen in accordance with prompts.

The music is from past Final Fantasy games and you'll see characters like Lightning, Cloud, Warrior of Light and Onion Knight who are in chibi form, and are similar to the avatars from the mobile Kingdom Hearts game. Story wise, the characters are fighting to return light to the crystal.

The game has a TBA release date and here is a image of what Lightning looks like.




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Source:  Andriasang

Here is a full summary of Famitsu's Final Fantasy Type-0 Interview with Tetsuya Nomura and Director Hajime Tabata.

• The big news is that the game won't be making it's end of Summer 2011 Japanese release. Tabata says that "Due to various circumstances, it became difficult to release it during the short-sleeve shirt season." Nomura said that we'll have to wait until "The season of red leaves."
  
  
• Tabata did say that one reason for the delay had to do with the stoppage of the PlayStation Network service and that it had some effect on the game's multiplayer component. This required extra time beyond the original plan and the development staff is currently working on this ares of the game.
  
  
• In regards to multiplayer, the host side will be able to turn multiplayer on or off in the configuration screen. When this is turned on, other players will be able to participate into their game. To enter another player's game, simply select multiplayer and pick a host from a list of hosts.
  
  
• Multiplayer is short-lived. Reaching a save point forces out a external player from your game. Multiplayer sessions also have a time limit and that time can be extended by helping the host player.
  
  
• Multiplayer is optional meaning that the game is being made so that you can play by yourself.

Here is a quick Q&A that Nomura and Tabata responded to.

• The game will have fighting game-like features like "movement canceling" for the skilled players.
  
• Loading screen shows user data. Also shows player data of SE Members.
  
• You can change your current party characters and set your equipment at save points.
  
• The game has 14 main characters but students from other classes will also team up with you for missions. They have different colored cloaks.
  
• Nomura said that SE is currently looking into a download and overseas version of the game.
  
• Weather will have an effect on things like changing the strength of a weapon and firing range. Summons like Shiva will be stronger in the snow too.

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Source:  Andriasang

Here is a summary of what is leaked from Famitsu this week on Final Fantasy Type-0. The two big ones seem to be that Final Fantasy Type-0 might not make it until the Fall 2011 (it had a end of Summer 2011 release) and that the developers are looking into the possibility of a download version.

• 30-40 hours of play time. 100 hours for those who want to 100% the game.
  
• Development is currently at 80%.
  
• May have to wait until Fall for this game.
  
• There will be a music tie-up.
  
• The basics of the game outside multiplayer are finished. Ad-hoc play is being worked on currently.
  
• The game will have fighting game style elements like movement canceling.
  
• Shiva is erotic.
  
• You can hold down buttons to repeat moves instead of having to press them repeatedly.
  
• Triangle Button is your character's standard attack, Circle and Square Buttons are assigned to Attacks and Magic, X Button is for Defensive and Defensive Magic and L + D-Pad to swap your character.
  
• Square-Enix is looking into the possibility of a download version.
  
• The game has 14 main characters. At one point during development, the figure was 40.
  
• Similar to The 3rd Birthday, there will be Square-Enix Members connectivity where you will be able to see stats on character use and enemy kills amongst fellow members.

Stay tuned for more Final Fantasy Type-0 as the game will be playable at the Odaiba event starting July 16.


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Source:  Andriasang

After a very long wait once again... We may very well get some new details on Versus XIII real soon! Sources for early magazine leaks are reporting that in this week's Famitsu, Tetsuya Nomura says to expect a small followup on Final Fantasy Versus XIII in next week's issue.

Nomura also seems to hint at a new title announcement too.

What do you think the small followup for Versus XIII is? What do you think the new title announcement is? Tell us what you think!


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Source:  Andriasang

We should be getting Final Fantasy Type-0 news from Famitsu next week, which hits news stands on Thursday, July 7th (Japan). But we should probably get leaks before that. So stay tuned!


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Source:  Andriasang

PS3 Trophies asked Final Fantasy Producer, Yoshinori Kitase, about the possibility of a Final Fantasy HD remake collection of classic titles.

Quote: We haven't made up our mind about that yet, but if there was a strong voice coming through from the users asking for such porting, then obviously we would seriously consider it, but no actual plans yet. -Final Fantasy Producer Yoshinori Kitase

So there you have it. No plans yet cause of low demand, which is strange because of the demand for a Final Fantasy VII remake ever since that FFVII Technical Demo appeared at E3 several years ago.





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Source:  PS3 Trophies