LADYDRAGON.COM - FINAL FANTASY X To Arrive In U.S. In January 2002

Tuesday September 11, 2001

FINAL FANTASY X To Arrive In U.S. In January 2002; The Highly Anticipated Title Is The First FINAL FANTASY For The PlayStation 2 Computer Entertainment System

Square Electronic Arts(SM) L.L.C. (Square Electronic Arts), the exclusive publisher of all SQUARESOFT(R) products in North America, announced today that FINAL FANTASY(R) X for the PlayStation(R) 2 computer entertainment system will hit U.S. retail store shelves in January 2002.

FINAL FANTASY X was released in Japan on July 19 and sold through 90% of the 2.14 million units it shipped in the first four days. It is the first PlayStation 2 title to reach the 2 million-unit mark.

FINAL FANTASY X is the first title in the popular role-playing game (RPG) series 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 full contact sport. After miraculously surviving the destruction of his homeland, he awakens among ruins and thereafter meets a young woman named Yuna. As a summoner, Yuna must travel to distant temples and learn the secret art 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 again. FINAL FANTASY X features a distinct Asian influence, bringing a fresh feel to the characters, music, settings and story.

FINAL FANTASY X will also be the first in the series to feature voiceovers for the characters. James Arnold Taylor ("A Moment of Silence") and Hedy Burress ("Valentine") will voice the main characters in the U.S. release of FINAL FANTASY X. James Arnold Taylor voices the main character, Tidus. The voice of "Walla" in the 1999 TV series "Futurama," James Arnold Taylor appeared in the feature film "A Moment of Silence," and most recently lent his voice talent to the TV series "Team Atlantis." Hedy Burress provides the voice for the female lead, Yuna. Best known for her performance in the 1996 HBO original movie "If These Walls Could Talk," Hedy Burress' credits also include a role in the upcoming TV series "First Monday," "Boston Common" and recurring guest appearances on "Gideon's Crossing."

In addition to the game's voiceover dialogue and fluid gameplay-to-full-motion-video transitions, FINAL FANTASY X offers fully 3D environments that seamlessly integrate real-time movement with battles, allowing players to walk around and engage in battles on the same field map screen. Life-like, high-polygon, motion-captured characters designed by Tetsuya Nomura (FINAL FANTASY VII, VIII, Parasite Eve(TM), Parasite Eve 2(TM)) bring realism to the screen. As seen in previous FINAL FANTASY titles, players will be able to enjoy new mini-games, such as mastering the sport of blitzball and the Al Bhed language. FINAL FANTASY X carries a newly designed battle system with a unique character development system using the "sphere grid." The game will be released on DVD format with Dolby(R) Digital 5.1 sound.

    Fans of the series can look forward to FINAL FANTASY X related merchandise. Koto, Inc., through its brand ArtFx will be supporting FINAL FANTASY X with fully articulated, amazing action figures (Tidus, Bahamut and other characters), fully painted and assembled vinyl and PVC statues (Yuna, Lulu and other characters), lunch boxes, plush dolls, posters, t-shirts and wall scrolls. Merchandise will start rolling out this January with the posters and t-shirts. In addition, TOKYOPOP(R) Soundtrax will be releasing the FINAL FANTASY X - Official Soundtrack simultaneously with the videogame. Available where music and games are sold, it is the latest in a line of FINAL FANTASY soundtracks offered by TOKYOPOP including Uematsu's Best Selection -- Music from the FFIX Video Game and the FINAL FANTASY IV Official Soundtrack. Featuring compositions by master soundsmith Nobuo Uematsu at his best, the FINAL FANTASY X - Official Soundtrack utilizes the most advanced sound system ever for a FINAL FANTASY videogame soundtrack.
    To date, the FINAL FANTASY series has sold over 35 million units worldwide, making the franchise one of the best-selling series in the history of videogames.

    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. $614 million consolidated base (based on average annual exchange rate of 123 Japanese Yen per U.S. Dollar during fiscal year 2001) 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 35 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.playonline.com.

    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.playonline.com.