SQUARE
ANNOUNCES PRODUCT LINEUP FOR ELECTRONIC
ENTERTAINMENT EXPO 2001
Highly
Anticipated FINAL FANTASY X To Be Unveiled At
Show Along With Preview Of FINAL FANTASY: THE
SPIRITS WITHIN
Square
Electronic Arts(SM) L.L.C. (Square Electronic
Arts), the exclusive publisher of all
SQUARESOFT® products in North America, best
known for the FINAL FANTASY® series which has
sold more than 31 million units to date, today
announced the titles to be showcased at the
Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) to be held May
17-19, 2001 in Los Angeles, California.
Square’s
product lineup features a special bundle package
titled FINAL FANTASY CHRONICLES™: FINAL
FANTASY® IV & CHRONO TRIGGER®, including
two titles which have been updated for the
PlayStation® game console, and the highly
anticipated FINAL FANTASY® X, the next release
in the popular series, pushing the PlayStation®2
computer entertainment system to new levels.
Square is also
breaking new ground with Square Pictures'
production of the first computer-generated (CG),
animated motion picture featuring hyperReal
characters in FINAL FANTASY: THE SPIRITS WITHIN,
scheduled for release on July 11, 2001, by
Columbia Pictures. The film seeks to reach
new heights in CG films by simulating human
emotions and movements more realistically than
ever before.
Visitors
at E3 will have the opportunity to get a sneak
peek at the state-of-the-art technology used in
this film featuring the vocal talents of Alec
Baldwin, Steve Buscemi, Peri Gilpin, Ming-Na,
Ving Rhames, Donald Sutherland and James Woods,
and directed by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the brilliant
creator of the FINAL FANTASY game
series.
The following
PlayStation titles will be unveiled at E3 2001:
FINAL FANTASY
CHRONICLES: FINAL FANTASY IV & CHRONO TRIGGER
This compilation package will include updates of
two classic SQUARESOFT role-playing games,
available for the first time in North America for
the PlayStation game console. Super
Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) versions of
both titles have become extremely difficult to
find and have been favorites of gamers since
their original release many years ago. FINAL
FANTASY CHRONICLES is scheduled to be released
this July in North America.
FINAL FANTASY IV
- Originally released for the SNES in 1991 as
FINAL FANTASY II, FINAL FANTASY IV continues to
be praised by gamers and critics alike as a
groundbreaking title with its engrossing
storyline and revolutionary Active Time Battle
(ATB) system. New FINAL FANTASY IV features
include a "dash" feature, allowing
players to move quickly through towns and
dungeons; a "two-player mode" allowing
two players to participate in battles together;
and a completely new, improved localization of
the original unedited story. In addition,
it contains new cinematic sequences and includes
all the original monsters, abilities, items and
scenes that were not included in the SNES
version.
CHRONO
TRIGGER - Originally released for the SNES in
1995, CHRONO TRIGGER is a time-traveling
role-playing game that takes players on a journey
to several different time periods. A
collaboration between Hironobu Sakaguchi (FINAL
FANTASY series), Yuji Horii (Dragon Quest) and
Akira Toriyama (Dragon Ball Z), the title was
dubbed the "Dream Project" and sold a
record-breaking 2,500,000+ units in Japan in its
original release, receiving numerous accolades
for having the highest quality graphics and
sound, as well as an innovative battle
system. The updated version includes new
opening and closing cinematic scenes, and several
re-creations of memorable sequences, all of which
add to the game's emotional impact, answer
lingering questions, and offer insight into the
game’s successor, CHRONO CROSS(TM).
The following
PlayStation 2 title will be unveiled at E3 2001:
FINAL FANTASY X -
One of the most anticipated titles for the
PlayStation 2, FINAL FANTASY X is the first title
in the popular franchise to be released for the
PlayStation 2. With the caliber of
artistic, creative and developmental talents
involved in the project, FINAL FANTASY X will set
new standards for games released for the
PlayStation 2, reminiscent of the technological
feats FINAL FANTASY VII accomplished on the
original PlayStation in 1997.
The main
character, Tidus, is a star player of blitzball,
a popular full-contact sport. After miraculously
surviving the destruction of his homeland, he
awakens among ruins. He befriends a young
woman named Yuna on her journey through the world
of Spira. As a summoner, Yuna must travel
to distant temples and learn the secret arts of
summoning aeons---powerful spirits of yore, in
order to defeat Sin. Tidus learns that a
thousand years in the past, mankind lived in
spectacular cities and relied on machines for
everything, until Sin suddenly appeared and
destroyed all civilization. Now, people
shun technology, and no one knows when Sin will
strike next. This installment of FINAL FANTASY
features a distinct Asian influence, bringing a
fresh feel to the characters, music, settings and
story. FINAL FANTASY X is scheduled to be
released early 2002 in North America.
About Square
Electronic Arts L.L.C. and Square Co., Ltd.
Square Co., Ltd. is the leading third-party
developer and publisher of home video game
console software in Japan with annual sales of
more than U.S. $687 million consolidated base
(based on average annual exchange rate of 106
Japanese Yen per U.S. Dollar during fiscal year
2000) and 1,200 employees worldwide. Square
Co., Ltd. became famous for its role-playing
games, including its world-renowned FINAL FANTASY
series, which has sold more than 31 million units
to date, and now publishes other titles under the
SQUARESOFT brand spanning all genres.
Square Co., Ltd. is based in Tokyo, Japan, and
maintains a branch office in Osaka. More
information about Square Co., Ltd. can be found
on the Internet at http://www.square.co.jp.
Square Electronic
Arts L.L.C. is the exclusive publisher of all
SQUARESOFT products in North America.
Square Co., Ltd. publishes its SQUARESOFT titles
in North America through Square Electronic Arts
L.L.C., located in Los Angeles, Calif.
Square Electronic Arts L.L.C. is a Limited
Liability Company established on May 1, 1998 by
Square Soft, Inc. and Electronic Arts to manage
the marketing and distribution of SQUARESOFT
products in North America. More information
about SQUARESOFT products can be found on the
Internet at http://www.squaresoft.com.
|
