Monday Night, Square Enix helped kick off the 2004 E3 festivities with a press conference to announce its plans for the upcoming year and beyond. If Yoichi Wada, the president of Square Enix, has anything to say about it, this year will feature a number of events announcing new, unforeseen titles and mark a new phase for the company: expanded development for their intellectual property into numerous media platforms.
Building on this phase, Wada explained that Square Enix will start to spread their influence out to other forms of media, such as Massively Multiplayer Online titles, Mobile gaming and DVDs. Wada stated that the reason for this new focus is because he believes that gaming has become the newest era of entertainment, with currently developed technology helping to usher this age into existence. To this end, he introduced two separate concepts that explained this industrial shift. The first was that networks, whether they were based on consoles, computers or cell phones, were starting to become game like. Furthermore, the gaming environments of these systems were all based on communication: player to player, game to player, or machine to machine. Thanks to the current forms of technology, these forms of communication have become sources of entertainment. This idea formed the concept of what Wada called, “Network Is Game.”
The other concept was what Wada called “Everything Does Game,” referring to the proliferation of entertainment that could currently be found across numerous platforms. However, Wada felt that the existing methods of development were too restrictive. He cited how most properties start out as books, then move to movies before becoming games and finally DVDs. Attempting to break out of that mold, he stressed the need to take a concept and release it to numerous formats simultaneously, without confining it to specific boundaries. Wada also stated a desire to foster online communities within potentially “open” content, where players would be able to connect to other players regardless of their console. This “Polymorphic content,” as he called it, wouldn’t be bound by computer or console; in fact, he stressed that the example Final Fantasy XI set by allowing PC and PS2 owners across the world to play together was merely the tip of the iceberg.
After that, the press was treated to a number of trailers, along with quick descriptions of what to expect from each game before being shown some game footage of each title. Below is a quick synopsis of what was shown:
Final Fantasy XII -- The eagerly anticipated Final Fantasy XII, which will come out in the spring of 2005 in North America. Set in Ivalice, XII centers on Vaan, a boy who wants to be a sky pirate and his friend Penelo. The duo finds themselves helping out Princess Ashe and a number of other characters repel a massive invasion that threatens their lands.
Front Mission 4 – The latest title in the Front Mission series (one which hasn’t been seen in four years) is set to debut next month. Fans of the Mech-flavored series will be pleased to know that customizable Wanzers (the giant robots of the game) will be a central part of gameplay, with players able to buy and equip a number of parts from the fictional corporations within the game. Each set up will give units new skills, including being support vehicles such as repair bays or even spotters for air strikes.
Star Ocean: Till The End Of Time – The latest entry in the Star Ocean series will hit North American shores at the end of August. Newcomers won’t need to have any knowledge of the previous titles within the series as End of Time is a fully contained story in itself. Set in the far future and spanning the galaxy, Star Ocean will feature an emphasis on a real-time battle system and a ton of cutscenes to detail the massive story.
Full Metal Alchemist and the Broken Angel – Based on an Anime series that will make its North American Debut in October of this year, Full Metal Alchemist is the story of two brothers who attempt to raise the dead with disastrous results. One loses his right hand and his right leg during the ceremony, while the other loses his corporeal body and is forced to reside within a suit of armor. Their only chance of restoring themselves lies in the fabled philosopher’s stone. This game will come out in Spring 2005.
Musashi Samurai Legend – The long awaited return of Brave Fencer Musashi will finally arrive this winter with Musashi Samurai Legend. Focusing upon a more grownup, teenage Musashi, Samurai Legend has a more cel-shaded look than its predecessor. It also features the ability for Musashi to “piggyback” NPCs through areas, as well as the option to steal opponent’s attacks.
Kingdom Hearts – Both Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts 2 were shown at the press event. Chain of Memories starts up where the original game leaves off, and features a new battle system that suits the control scheme of the Gameboy. Kingdom Hearts 2 is set a year after the first title, and will introduce new characters while answering some questions left from its predecessor.
Final Fantasy XI: Chains Of Promathia – The second expansion to the online Final Fantasy game will significantly increase the landscape of the world of Vana’Diel, with a new focus on underground realms and legendary adventures. Unlike Rise of the Zilart, Chains of Promathia will be released on CD, and significantly address some of the current gameplay features as well.
Square also announced a number of surprising titles, such as the acquisition of the rights for distribution of Everquest 2 from SOE for Japan. Aside from this expansion into the online realm, Square announced that they’ll develop an unnamed title for Nintendo’s DS as well as three cell phone games: The original Dragon’s Quest and Final Fantasy titles, along with Final Fantasy 7: Before Crisis.
After the press event came the highlight of the night: The Dear Friends: Music From Final Fantasy concert featuring the highly acclaimed scores of Nobuo Uematsu. With tickets selling out in less than three days, it’s an understatement to say that this was an anticipated concert. With The Disney Concert Hall filled to capacity, fans and press alike rose to their feet and cheered in an ovation that lasted over three minutes as the celebrated composer entered the auditorium. As the noise died down, Miguel Harth-Bedoya conducted the L.A. Master Chorale and L.A. Philharmonic to a rousing start of Liberi Fatali from Final Fantasy VIII. Hosted by James Arnold Taylor (better known to Square fans as Tidus from Final Fantasy X), the night went over a number of classic pieces, including fan favorites Aeris’ Theme and a variation of the Chocobo theme, which summoned tears and cheers respectively from concertgoers. As a specific piece was played, cutscenes from its Final Fantasy game were projected on a number of video screens to help set the mood. In its entirety, the concert playlist was:
Liberi Fatali (Final Fantasy VIII)
Zanarkand (Final Fantasy X)
Terra's Theme (Final Fantasy VI)
Theme of Love (Final Fantasy IV)
Dear Friends (Final Fantasy V)
Vamo' Alla Flamenco (Final Fantasy IX)
Love Grows (Final Fantasy VIII)
Aeris's Theme (Final Fantasy VII)
Not Alone (Final Fantasy IX)
Ronfaure (Final Fantasy XI)
Final Fantasy I - III Medley
New Melody From Final Fantasy VII Advent Children
Final Fantasy (Theme)
But the best was still yet to come. The trio of the Final Fantasy series, Uematsu, Yoshitaka Amano and Hironobu Sakaguchi took the stage and spoke with heartfelt sincerity to the audience about their works, the music, and the uniqueness of the night. What then followed was a true surprise, as the Philharmonic launched into Sephiroth’s Theme from Final Fantasy 7, complete with a smug image of the villain emblazoned on the video screens. The crowd went wild, and at the end of the concert, both Uematsu, the Philharmonic and the Master Chorale received a thunderous standing ovation that lasted almost ten minutes. It truly was an impressive night for a Final Fantasy fan to behold, although unfortunately most of them were unable to take part in the follow up press conference, which featured Uematsu answering questions about his compositions.
Check back here for more coverage of both Square Enix’s E3 Plans and further coverage of the show!
