Final Fantasy News
Round-Up
 November 30th, 2000 - Its been
a busy two years for Square, and it looks as though it's about to get even more hectic next year!
In a recent addition of Japan's Nikkei Sangyo newspaper, Square's president
Takashi Suzuki gave a surprising insight into their aims for Final Fantasy X sales.
Suziki suggested that Square could sell 2.9 million copies of the game, although
he was quick to add that they weren't completely sure that they would achieve this
figure.
In meeting this figure, nearly every current PlayStation 2 owner would have to purchase
Final Fantasy X - something not quite impossible seeing as just about every PlayStation
owner owns Final Fantasy VII or VIII.
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Uematsu (right) at a recent Q&A session.
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According to PlayOnline.com, Nobou Uematsu has commented that
he has completed the theme song for Final Fantasy X - a good four or five months
before the scheduled release in Japan.
The song is composed by Uematsu with the lyrics by Kazunari Nojima (who was on the
Final Fantasy VIII team). Although Square have not revealed who will be performing the
song, it will be likely that a popular artist will be employed in the same way as with
Final Fantasy VIII and IX who's themes were performed by Faye Wong and Emiko Shiratori
respectively.
Seeing as the release of Final Fantasy IX has long been and gone in Japan, the
most wanted charts have altered accordingly. And surprise surprise, Final Fantasy holds top spot!
Not only that, but Final Fantasy for the WonderSwan Color holds second. Looks like
Square are in for another lucrative year in 2001.
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PlayOnline: Surely Square should have anticipated demand?
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Following the release of Final Fantasy IX in North America, the PlayOnline website
has been in heavy demand and struggled to cope all through this week and last.
The site, which contains hints and tips for Final Fantasy IX, is linked to in
the official strategy guide published by Brady.
No surprises there - Final Fantasy IX storms the gaming charts in America and Canada
with WWF No Mercy coming a distant second on the Nintendo 64. We are still awaiting the official
sales figures.
Due to task of translating the huge text into French, German and Spanish (not to mention
U.K. English), the PAL version of Final Fantasy IX will not hit shelves in Europe until January
of next year - some retailers were even quoting February.
Square announced another hugely successful year in their
mid-quarter earnings report - consolidated sales
figures of 45.7 billion yen and a consolidated profit of 4.2 billion yen.
Square also announced plans to put on a show at the Jump Festival in Japan on
December 23rd to the 24th. At the festival, they will exhibit WonderSwan and
PlayStation 2 titles.
Article by Rob for Final Fantasy: Worlds Apart.
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