Extra FF Editions
Set For Japan
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Final Fantasy XI: Online is already eating up a lot of attention from hungry gamers
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 November 17th, 2001 - Continuing with their tradition of including demos with their videogame releases, Square have revealed that they are to unleash a special edition of their Spirits Within DVD movie on the Japanese market. The DVD package will include "new footage" of the latest chapter in the Final Fantasy saga, Final Fantasy XI: Online, currently penned for Spring 2002, as well as the original TSW DVD complete with Thriller-style video and the other bonuses. It will retail for ¥9800 (some £55/$80).
It is expected that the demo will take the form of a movie on a separate DVD rather than a playable PS2 trial edition of any sort. News of the release comes after rumours that a playable demo of Final Fantasy X was planned for the original release of the movie on DVD, which failed to materialise. Square being generous and giving eager fans a glimpse of the in-production FFXI, or a cunning ploy to get fanatics to buy the DVD twice? You decide. In the meantime, the Spirits Within is scheduled for a European DVD release sometime before Christmas, following the US debut within the last month.
Much as they did with Final Fantasy VII some four years ago, Square are producing an "International" edition of Final Fantasy X. FFVII International was basically the improved form of FFVII, which came out in the US and Europe, released back into the Japanese market. If you remember, this was done because FFVII had extra WEAPON monsters, an altered FMV clip and new items added to the US/European version, which makes you wonder what Square are adding to the English-language FFX that makes it worth a rerelease in the east.
There are no concrete details yet, but the possibilities include simply giving the Japanese a version of FFX with the English-language voice actors, in the vein of SEGA's Shenmue, or including a lot more... maybe an extra disc full of bonuses like FMV clips from the game and a bestiary, for example, à la FFVII International? Whatever it ultimately consists of, Final Fantasy X International will be released in Japan on January 31st 2002.
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Final Fantasy X US Box Art, courtesy IGN PS2.
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Finally, the box art for the US version of Final Fantasy X has been revealed, and, much in the same way as with Final Fantasies VII-IX, Square have opted for a more eye-catching, colourful CG image for the US market, as opposed to the traditional, understated, simplistic box art of the Japanese version. Expect the European edition to sport a cover image more akin to the Japanese than the American design. Final Fantasy X is released in North America on January 2nd 2002.
Article by Mike for Final Fantasy: Worlds Apart. Thanks to CoreMagazine, TheGIA.
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