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.
LOS ANGELES, Calif., May 7, 2001 - Square Electronic ArtsSM 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™.
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.
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™.
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.