Weekly News & Notes (10/21)
All the PS2 news that's fit to print!
(Only 4+ days until PlayStation2)
Published: October 21, 2000
Sorry about the delay on WNN, I've been really busy with Launch Day preperations. Alot of news to get to, so I won't waste any more time.
+ TOP STORY - Rumors have been circulating this week that Dragon Warrior VII, the North American release of the best-selling Japanese RPG Dragon Quest VII, would not ship, or that it would be censored for the American audience. Today, Enix denied both rumors, especially the censorship rumor, which it claims is entirely unfounded.
Famitsu, the popular Japanese videogame trade magazine, confirmed that Dragon Warrior VII would ship to North America. Crediting another publication, Sankei, with the rumor, Famitsu claimed that several scenes would be cut or changed due to religious differences between the two countries.
A spokesperson for Enix speaking with Daily Radar could not confirm the release of Dragon Warrior VII in the States, but vigorously denied that Enix would change any game coming from Japan.[blockquote]"As a matter of policy, when we bring games over we want to keep it as close as possible to the original," the Enix spokesperson said. "We don't make changes because they irritate hardcore fans and detract from the game."[/blockquote]While some fans of the series may see the change in name from Dragon Quest to Dragon Warrior as unnecessary, it was made for legal reasons only. The decision to change the name was made years ago when Dragon Quest was first imported to the United States. At that time, TSR, publisher of Dungeons & Dragons, owned the copyright to Dragon Quest for one of its tabletop games. TSR has been sold several times since then, but the owners of TSR products continue to own the Dragon Quest copyright. Therefore, for the time being, Dragon Quest will remain Dragon Warrior in North America.
+ HEADLINES - Once considered a long-standing fixture in the Sony world, Squaresoft is broadening its horizons and sharing the wealth. Apparently, the X-Box is just too pretty and powerful to ignore for most developers and publishers.
It was enough to lure Oddworld Inhabitants and Munch's Oddyssee away from the PS2 and exclusively develop for the X-Box. Although Squaresoft isn't leaving to develop exclusively for the X-Box, it makes a statement about the next generation of gaming.
According to IT Pro, a technology subsidiary of the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, is reporting that Square has confirmed that it is developing Final Fantasy XI for X-Box as well as the PS2. The game is due out sometime during the summer of 2001 according to Nikkei sources. However, despite the news that FFXI is moving to other consoles, Square has reaffirmed that Final Fantasy X will be PlayStation 2 exclusive.
The next generation of FF titles will be playable online with Square's PlayOnline service and, starting with FFXI, will be cross-compatible between PS2 and X-Box versions. Square has reportedly been working on the development process since it received its development kit (XKD) earlier this summer.
Square has been working on the XKD since then and has experienced some trouble with it as all documentation was written entirely in English. However, Square has worked through the obstacles and is now moving forward as it becomes more comfortable with the hardware. As is common with many big announcements of this caliber, not much has been said from either side.[blockquote]"I can't confirm or deny anything right now, but getting killer content like FF is Microsoft's major goal right now," said Naoto Yashioka, Advanced Technology Group Manager for Microsoft. "Nothing would make us happier right now than Square announcing an X-Box version (of FF)."
"We have not made any official statements about entering the X-Box field," commented a Square spokesman. "We cannot comment about the release of an X-Box FF."[/blockquote]Hopefully we'll have more once these guys stop beating around the proverbial bush and get to the point. If Square is developing for X-Box, that means that gamin can only get better for all involved. Well, all involved except maybe Sega and Nintendo.
+ OTHER NEWS - You can relax Sean, despite rumors of a delay, Square has reaffirmed that The Bouncer will make its original Japanese date. On December 21, the game will be available for approximately 6800 yen ($63). The US release is still slated for January 15.
+ FINANCIAL NEWS - The shareholders of Ziff Davis Inc. (publishers of Official PlayStation Magazine) have approved the merger with CNET Networks. According to the original announcement on July 19, 2000, CNET Networks will acquire ZDNet. When the deal is complete, "each share of ZD common stock will be converted into 0.3397 shares of CNET Networks common stock, and each share of ZDNet common stock will be converted into 0.5932 shares of CNET Networks common stock."
+ OTAKU NEWS - Japanese sources have said that there is a new modchip available for the Japanese PS2. The mod allows you to play "backup" games on your PS2. Accordingly, the chip works only with the SCPH-15000 series console, but due to the sensitivity of the lens, not all games will work.
+ PICK OF THE WEEK - In my Pick of the Week for October 21st, I have NOT selected a specific game, but rather a demo disk. Specifically, Offical PlayStation Magazine's November 2000 demo disk (#38). Among the very entertaining Crash Bash and Incredible Crisis playable demos, it also includes the very first CD translation of Konami's Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty demo. While the sound and visual qualities are obviously not on par with the original DVD format trailer, it is a huge improvement over the internet versions. This is a must buy, especially if you don't have broadband internet, as it took my friend 6 hours to download the video on a 56K connection (it only took my 13 minutes with a cable modem, so HA!). The video alone is worth the $10, but the magazine has awesome PS2 feature articles as well, so it's a Win-Win.
That's it for this week! Only 4+ days until Playstation2! (note to weekly readers: don't expect a WNN for the 27th, as I will be working on PS2 game and hardware reviews. I may squeeze an abridged version, but I can't tell you for sure.)
+ TOP STORY - Rumors have been circulating this week that Dragon Warrior VII, the North American release of the best-selling Japanese RPG Dragon Quest VII, would not ship, or that it would be censored for the American audience. Today, Enix denied both rumors, especially the censorship rumor, which it claims is entirely unfounded.
Famitsu, the popular Japanese videogame trade magazine, confirmed that Dragon Warrior VII would ship to North America. Crediting another publication, Sankei, with the rumor, Famitsu claimed that several scenes would be cut or changed due to religious differences between the two countries.
A spokesperson for Enix speaking with Daily Radar could not confirm the release of Dragon Warrior VII in the States, but vigorously denied that Enix would change any game coming from Japan.[blockquote]"As a matter of policy, when we bring games over we want to keep it as close as possible to the original," the Enix spokesperson said. "We don't make changes because they irritate hardcore fans and detract from the game."[/blockquote]While some fans of the series may see the change in name from Dragon Quest to Dragon Warrior as unnecessary, it was made for legal reasons only. The decision to change the name was made years ago when Dragon Quest was first imported to the United States. At that time, TSR, publisher of Dungeons & Dragons, owned the copyright to Dragon Quest for one of its tabletop games. TSR has been sold several times since then, but the owners of TSR products continue to own the Dragon Quest copyright. Therefore, for the time being, Dragon Quest will remain Dragon Warrior in North America.
+ HEADLINES - Once considered a long-standing fixture in the Sony world, Squaresoft is broadening its horizons and sharing the wealth. Apparently, the X-Box is just too pretty and powerful to ignore for most developers and publishers.
It was enough to lure Oddworld Inhabitants and Munch's Oddyssee away from the PS2 and exclusively develop for the X-Box. Although Squaresoft isn't leaving to develop exclusively for the X-Box, it makes a statement about the next generation of gaming.
According to IT Pro, a technology subsidiary of the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, is reporting that Square has confirmed that it is developing Final Fantasy XI for X-Box as well as the PS2. The game is due out sometime during the summer of 2001 according to Nikkei sources. However, despite the news that FFXI is moving to other consoles, Square has reaffirmed that Final Fantasy X will be PlayStation 2 exclusive.
The next generation of FF titles will be playable online with Square's PlayOnline service and, starting with FFXI, will be cross-compatible between PS2 and X-Box versions. Square has reportedly been working on the development process since it received its development kit (XKD) earlier this summer.
Square has been working on the XKD since then and has experienced some trouble with it as all documentation was written entirely in English. However, Square has worked through the obstacles and is now moving forward as it becomes more comfortable with the hardware. As is common with many big announcements of this caliber, not much has been said from either side.[blockquote]"I can't confirm or deny anything right now, but getting killer content like FF is Microsoft's major goal right now," said Naoto Yashioka, Advanced Technology Group Manager for Microsoft. "Nothing would make us happier right now than Square announcing an X-Box version (of FF)."
"We have not made any official statements about entering the X-Box field," commented a Square spokesman. "We cannot comment about the release of an X-Box FF."[/blockquote]Hopefully we'll have more once these guys stop beating around the proverbial bush and get to the point. If Square is developing for X-Box, that means that gamin can only get better for all involved. Well, all involved except maybe Sega and Nintendo.
+ OTHER NEWS - You can relax Sean, despite rumors of a delay, Square has reaffirmed that The Bouncer will make its original Japanese date. On December 21, the game will be available for approximately 6800 yen ($63). The US release is still slated for January 15.
+ FINANCIAL NEWS - The shareholders of Ziff Davis Inc. (publishers of Official PlayStation Magazine) have approved the merger with CNET Networks. According to the original announcement on July 19, 2000, CNET Networks will acquire ZDNet. When the deal is complete, "each share of ZD common stock will be converted into 0.3397 shares of CNET Networks common stock, and each share of ZDNet common stock will be converted into 0.5932 shares of CNET Networks common stock."
+ OTAKU NEWS - Japanese sources have said that there is a new modchip available for the Japanese PS2. The mod allows you to play "backup" games on your PS2. Accordingly, the chip works only with the SCPH-15000 series console, but due to the sensitivity of the lens, not all games will work.
+ PICK OF THE WEEK - In my Pick of the Week for October 21st, I have NOT selected a specific game, but rather a demo disk. Specifically, Offical PlayStation Magazine's November 2000 demo disk (#38). Among the very entertaining Crash Bash and Incredible Crisis playable demos, it also includes the very first CD translation of Konami's Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty demo. While the sound and visual qualities are obviously not on par with the original DVD format trailer, it is a huge improvement over the internet versions. This is a must buy, especially if you don't have broadband internet, as it took my friend 6 hours to download the video on a 56K connection (it only took my 13 minutes with a cable modem, so HA!). The video alone is worth the $10, but the magazine has awesome PS2 feature articles as well, so it's a Win-Win.
That's it for this week! Only 4+ days until Playstation2! (note to weekly readers: don't expect a WNN for the 27th, as I will be working on PS2 game and hardware reviews. I may squeeze an abridged version, but I can't tell you for sure.)