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February 2006 アーカイブ

February 8, 2006

Consolidated Financial Report for the Nine-Month Period Ended December 31, 2005 (PDF:120K)

SQUARE ENIX AND DISNEY’S BUENA VISTA GAMES UNVEIL ALL-STAR VOICE CAST FOR KINGDOM HEARTS II

Highly Anticipated Title to Ship on March 28, 2006 in North America
Square Enix, Inc. (Square Enix), the publisher of Square Enix™ interactive entertainment products in North America, and Buena Vista Games, Inc. (BVG), the interactive entertainment arm of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) announced today the all-star voice cast and North American release date for KINGDOM HEARTS® II, the highly-anticipated action role-playing game (RPG) exclusively for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. KINGDOM HEARTS II is the sequel to KINGDOM HEARTS, one of the top 10 best-selling PlayStation 2 titles of all time in North America (Source: The NPD Group, Dec. 2005).

The all-star ensemble voice cast is led by Haley Joel Osment ("The Sixth Sense," "A.I. Artificial Intelligence") as the main character Sora and is joined by David Gallagher ("7th Heaven") as Riku, and Hayden Panettiere ("Racing Stripes," "Raising Helen") as Kairi. KINGDOM HEARTS II will also feature the voice talents of Jesse McCartney ("Summerland," Recording artist, "Beautiful Soul" CD) as the mysterious boy Roxas, Brittany Snow ("The Pacifier," "American Dreams") as Namine, Christopher Lee ("Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "Lord of the Rings : The Fellowship of the Ring") as DiZ; Steve Burton ("The Last Castle," "Taken") as Cloud, Rachael Leigh Cook ("She's All That," "Josie And The Pussycats") as Tifa and Mena Suvari ("American Beauty," "Rumor Has It") as Aerith, all characters from FINAL FANTASY® VII; and Hedy Buress ("Boston Common," "If These Walls Could Talk"), Tara Strong ("Fairly OddParents : Shadow Showdown," "Teen Titans") , Gwendoline Yeo ("Desperate Housewives," "24") as the popular female-trio Yuna, Rikku, Paine from FINAL FANTASY X-2. In addition, many of the original Disney film star voice actors are reprising their role for this project, including Ming-Na ("ER," "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within") as Mulan, James Woods ("Be Cool"), returning as the villain Hades and Zach Braff ("Scrubs") as Chicken Little.

KINGDOM HEARTS II will ship to North American retailers on March 28, 2006. Since its release in September 2002, the original KINGDOM HEARTS for the PlayStation 2 has shipped more than 2.6 million units in North America. Bridging the gap between the original and the sequel, KINGDOM HEARTS: CHAIN OF MEMORIES® followed in December 2004 for the Nintendo® Game Boy Advance® system. With the release of the Japanese version of KINGDOM HEARTS II in December 2005 (1 million units shipped during only three days after the release date), the series has shipped in excess of 7.5 million units worldwide.

The world of KINGDOM HEARTS joins classic Disney characters and worlds together with a new story filled with new characters and environments created in the renowned Square Enix style. The result was one remarkable, innovative, original property that captured the attention of both gamers and critics alike. In KINGDOM HEARTS II, players will travel through the worlds of Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Mulan, Pirates of the Caribbean, Steamboat Willie and Tron as well as revisit worlds from the original, including Aladdin, Disney Castle, Hercules, The Little Mermaid, Winnie the Pooh and Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. The game features more than 100 Disney characters, and also introduces new, original characters such as Roxas, members of Organization XIII and the Nobodies, all designed by Square Enix's Tetsuya Nomura, director and character designer of the KINGDOM HEARTS series. Nomura is best known for his creations in the top selling titles FINAL FANTASY VII, VIII, X and X-2. New Disney additions to the sequel include Chicken Little and Stitch from Disney's Lilo and Stitch as summons as well as one of Disney's favorite villains, Pete.

"We have enjoyed success with the Japanese release of KINGDOM HEARTS II this past December and cannot wait to roll out this title in March in North America - North America is where KINGDOM HEARTS all began," said Tetsuya Nomura. "The entire team has been working day and night to perfect the North American version and we hope the gamers will find it even more exciting than the original."

"KINGDOM HEARTS is the perfect creative example of how BVG is growing and developing the Disney brand and relevance in video games worldwide," said Graham Hopper, senior vice president and general manager, Buena Vista Games. "Our excellent relationship with Square Enix has once again resulted in a game that sets the artistic benchmark in developing video games based on popular entertainment intellectual properties."

"The KINGDOM HEARTS series has given us the opportunity to showcase Square Enix's expertise in game design and development together with Disney's memorable worlds and characters. This collaborative project is a situation most can only dream of and we are fortunate to have had this opportunity," said Shinji Hashimoto, producer, Square Enix. "KINGDOM HEARTS II is packed with even more excitement and amazing adventures and we cannot wait for gamers to experience it for themselves."

KINGDOM HEARTS II follows Sora, Donald, and Goofy on their continuing quest, after the events of KINGDOM HEARTS. Sora is looking for his lost friend Riku, while Donald and Goofy are searching for their missing king. The story begins in Twilight Town, a quiet burg nestled between night and day. Sora and friends are joined by a vibrant new cast of characters, including the king himself. Together, they will encounter countless dangers in worlds both familiar and brand-new.

KINGDOM HEARTS II features a new and improved real-time battle system which provides an increased selection of commands, such as performing special attacks and cooperative attacks with members of your party, adding strategy to the gameplay. Players can also perform the "Drive" to transform main character Sora into his various forms, altering his skills and abilities. Examples include the Brave Form, where Sora absorbs the power of Goofy allowing him to use two Keyblades; the Wisdom Form, where Sora absorbs the power of Donald allowing him to increase his magic power; and the Master Form, where Sora absorbs the power of both Donald and Goofy and increases both his attack and magic powers. These new features bring additional challenges and excitement to the players and further enhance gameplay.

Japanese pop artist Utada Hikaru returns to sing the theme song for KINGDOM HEARTS II. The song titled "Sanctuary," the English version of its original Japanese release "Passion," was written specifically for KINGDOM HEARTS II. More information on the artist can be found at http://www.utada.com.

KINGDOM HEARTS II will be available at North American retailers for a suggested retail price of $49.99 (USD). Additional information can be found at http://www.kingdomhearts.com. The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has rated the title "E10+" for ages 10 and up. For more information about the ESRB, visit http://www.esrb.org.

About Square Enix Co., Ltd. and Square Enix, Inc.

Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix) develops, publishes and distributes entertainment content including interactive entertainment software and publications in Japan, North America, Europe and Asia. Square Enix brings two of Japan's best-selling franchises - FINAL FANTASY, which has sold over 63 million units worldwide, and DRAGON QUEST™, which has sold over 40 million units worldwide - under one roof. Square Enix is one of the most influential providers of digital entertainment content in the world and continues to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation.

Square Enix, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Co., Ltd. with offices in Los Angeles, California and Seattle, Washington. It handles operations in North America, including development, localization, marketing, and publishing of Square Enix titles. More information on Square Enix can be found on the internet at http://www.square-enix.com/

About Buena Vista Games

Buena Vista Games, Inc. (BVG) is the interactive entertainment arm of The Walt Disney Company. BVG publishes, markets and distributes a broad portfolio of multi-platform video games and interactive entertainment worldwide. The company also licenses properties and works directly with third-party interactive game publishers to bring products for all ages to market. For more information, please log on to http://www.buenavistagames.com.

©2006 Disney. Developed by SQUARE ENIX. Tim Burtonfs The Nightmare Before Christmas © Touchstone Pictures. Characters from FINAL FANTASY video game series: © 1990, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005 Square Enix Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. SQUARE ENIX, the Square Enix logo, FINAL FANTASY, and DRAGON QUEST are trademarks or registered trademarks of Square Enix Co., Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries. Nintendo and Game Boy Advance are registered trademarks of Nintendo of America Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

February 10, 2006

SQUARE ENIX AND IDEAWORKS3D ANNOUNCE GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP

UK Mobile Games Company to Collaborate with Digital Entertainment Giant
LOS ANGELES and LONDON (February 10, 2006) — Square Enix, Inc. the publisher of Square Enix™ interactive products in North America and Ideaworks3D, the BAFTA award-winning mobile games studio and developer of advanced mobile gaming technology, today announced they have reached an agreement to develop a key Square Enix title for mobile phone platforms jointly.

"Square Enix is committed to perfecting the gaming experience on every platform," said Daishiro Okada, president and COO, Square Enix, Inc. "Our collaboration with Ideaworks3D reinforces our continued expansion in the mobile market and extends the Square Enix universe to a larger audience."

"We are thrilled that Square Enix, Inc. has, for the first time, appointed an external studio to collaborate on development of a new mobile game title from scratch," commented Frazer Wilson, CEO, Ideaworks3D. "It is a reflection of our position at the forefront of mobile games development, but also a true honor for our team to work with such a respected developer and publisher in the industry."

The deal will see Ideaworks3D collaborate with Square Enix on a soon to be announced project set for release in 2006. Specific details of the game will be disclosed at a later date. Financial details were not disclosed.

About Square Enix Co., Ltd. and Square Enix, Inc.

With headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix) develops, publishes and distributes entertainment content including interactive entertainment software and publications in Japan, North America, Europe and Asia. Square Enix brings two of Japan's best-selling franchises—FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 63 million units worldwide, and DRAGON QUEST™, which has sold over 40 million units worldwide—under one roof. Square Enix is one of the most influential providers of digital entertainment content in the world and continues to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation.

Square Enix, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Co., Ltd. with offices in Los Angeles, CA and Seattle, WA. It handles operations in North America, including development, localization, marketing and publishing of Square Enix titles. More information on Square Enix can be found on the Internet at http://www.square-enix.com/na.

About Ideaworks3D

Ideaworks3D, Ltd. is a privately held technology and game development company headquartered in London. Founded in 1998 with a strong Oxford and Cambridge computer science and electronic engineering pedigree, the company has an unparalleled track record of creative innovation and technical leadership in the field of rich mobile gaming. Its Segundo3D™ game development and porting tool-chain, and AirPlay™ connected games platform power more blockbuster gaming brands across BREW, Symbian OS, JAVA, Linux and Windows Mobile than any other mobile games technology.

Ideaworks3D's game studio is the recipient of multiple industry accolades including two consecutive BAFTA Games Awards in 2005 and 2004 for best handheld and mobile games.

Ideaworks3D is online at http://www.ideaworks3d.com.

DRAGON QUEST, FINAL FANTASY, SQUARE ENIX, and the Square Enix logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Square Enix Co., Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

February 13, 2006

STEVE BURTON, RACHAEL LEIGH COOK AND MENA SUVARI LEND THEIR VOICES TO THE CG-ANIMATED ACTION-PACKED FEATURE FILM BASED ON THE BEST-SELLING PLAYSTATION GAME FINAL FANTASY VII: ADVENT CHILDREN

Arriving Onto A Two-Disc Special Edition DVD Set And For PSP™ April 25th From Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
CULVER CITY, CA (February 13, 2006) — Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is bringing the highly-anticipated CG-animated film FINAL FANTASY VII: Advent Children to DVD and for PSP on April 25th. Through 100 minutes of beautifully crafted visual content, FINAL FANTASY VII: Advent Children revisits the rich universe and memorable characters of FINAL FANTASY VII, one of the best selling video games of all time. Boasting the voice talent of Steve Burton (The Last Castle, Taken) as Cloud, Rachael Leigh Cook (She's All That, Josie and the Pussycats) as Tifa, Mena Suvari (American Beauty, Rumor Has It) as Aerith and from the adventurous mind of Director and Character Designer Tetsuya Nomura (FINAL FANTASY VII, VIII, X and the KINGDOM HEARTS® video game series), the film features a strong blend of action, sci-fi and anime in the most stylish CG animation that fans of the video game have come to expect.

FINAL FANTASY VII: Advent Children will be coming to Special Edition DVD in a 2-disc set (SLP of $26.96) as well as UMD™ video for PSP (SLP of $28.96). The DVD set will be exploding with bonus materials, including a story digest, deleted scenes, a "Making Of" featurette, FINAL FANTASY VII: Advent Children Venice Film Festival footage and a "Sneak Peek" of the upcoming games in the "Compilation of FINAL FANTASY VII" series.

Developed by Square Enix™ and released in 1997 for the PlayStation game console, FINAL FANTASY VII has sold more than nine million units worldwide and is the best selling game of the FINAL FANTASY series, which has sold over 63 million units worldwide to-date. With its high quality graphics, strong storytelling and dynamic game-play, FINAL FANTASY VII redefined the standard for video games.

FINAL FANTASY VII: Advent Children continues the game's storyline in this CG-animated film, featuring non-stop action and exciting visual effects. Two years have passed since the ruins of Midgar stand as a testament to the sacrifices made in order to bring peace. However, the world will soon face a new menace. A mysterious illness is spreading fast. Old enemies are astir. And Cloud, who walked away from the life of a hero to live in solitude, must step forward yet again...

DVD BONUS FEATURES INCLUDE

  • Story Digest

  • Deleted Scenes

  • "Making Of" Featurette

  • FINAL FANTASY VII: Advent Children Venice Film Festival Footage

  • "Sneak Peek" of the Upcoming FINAL FANTASY VII Games
  • FINAL FANTASY VII: Advent Children will be available in widescreen presentation, has a run time of 101 minutes and is rated PG-13. Artwork is available at www.SPHEPublicity.com. Visit Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on the Web at www.SonyPictures.com. or http://na.square-enix.com/dvd/ff7ac.

    DVD Catalog #: 11896
    UMD Catalog #: 11795
    DVD UPC Code: 0-43396-11896-6
    UMD UPC Code: 0-43396-11795-2
    DVD Order Date: 3/23/06
    UMD Order Date: 3/23/06
    DVD SLP: $26.96
    UMD SLP: $28.95

    About Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

    Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company. SPE is a division of Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital contest creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com.

    About Square Enix Co., Ltd. and Square Enix, Inc.

    Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix) develops, publishes and distributes entertainment content including interactive entertainment software and publications in Japan, North America, Europe and Asia. Square Enix brings two of Japan's best-selling franchises - FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 63 million units worldwide, and DRAGON QUEST™, which has sold over 40 million units worldwide - under one roof. Square Enix is one of the most influential providers of digital entertainment content in the world and continues to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation. More information on Square Enix can be found on the internet at http://www.square-enix.com/

    © 2005 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CHARACTER DESIGN: TETSUYA NOMURA FINAL FANTASY is a registered trademark of Square Enix Co., Ltd.

    February 14, 2006

    GRANDIA III GLIDES INTO STORES THIS WEEK

    Square Enix Ships Uplifting RPG with Sky High Scores
    LOS ANGELES (February 14, 2006) — Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of Square Enix™ interactive entertainment products in North America, announced today that GRANDIA® III has shipped to retailers nationwide. Exclusively for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, GRANDIA III follows the growth of an aspiring pilot, Yuki and the unexpected adventure that awaits him. GRANDIA III draws gamers into a wondrous world with an innovative battle system and uplifting story about the freedom in controlling one's own destiny. The developers have taken special care to accentuate this feel, not only throughout the game's story, but also in the game's music and the openness that is felt while navigating the world map by plane.

    The developer's efforts to weave an inspirational coming of age story with an intuitive battle system, that can be played as simply or complex as the player wants to, has been observed by industry critics:

    "Whether you're traipsing through the game's puzzle-packed dungeons or pulling off sweet aerial combos in the engrossing battles, the production values remain top-notch."
    - Electronic Gaming Monthly, March 2006 issue

    "Story-intensive and breathtaking, this finely polished RPG makes you feel right at home with a plot that unfolds with the clarity and intrigue of a great novel."
    - Game Informer Magazine, March 2006 issue

    "The combat system is so interesting that I didn't mind leveling a lot, simply because that meant I was fighting a lot."
    - Official PlayStation Magazine, March 2006 issue

    Yuki has idolized the legendary pilot Schmidt since he was a young boy and has been trying to build his own ever since. Loving the freedom of flight, he dreams of one day leaving his small island and reaching the mainland.

    In the woods not far away, Alfina rides alone on a horse-drawn carriage. She is a Communicator, one of the few who can speak with the Guardians, gods that protect the world. She is hurrying to a temple to take the place of her brother, Emelious. Resentment of his obligated duty as a Communicator has turned Emelious into a cruel and violent being filled with hate.

    Fate will bring together Yuki and Alfina just as the world is about to fall apart.

    FEATURES

  • Romp through vibrant and colorful fantasy locales and natural environments

  • Stunning cinematic sequences are animated by hand without the use of motion capture

  • Scan surroundings to look for search points or treasure chests

  • Ply the skies by plane to journey from one place to another

  • Use your sword in the "random encounter free" field to destroy objects or stun enemies before attacking

  • Seamless transition from field screen to battles with over-the-top animations

  • Semi real-time battle system allows for fast paced action and strategizing with a Command Wheel breaks the RPG mold of typical command text windows

  • Perform and link up Aerial Combo attacks for massive damage

  • Multiple auto-battle settings for each character dictate fighting strategy, in addition, utilize the Strategy Advice System for tips during critical moments in battle

  • Control conversation flow during special event scenes
  • GRANDIA III is rated "T" for Teen, please visit the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) website, www.esrb.com for more information about ratings. Additional information and impressions on GRANDIA III can be found at http://na.square-enix.com/games/grandia3/. For the official fansite please visit http://www.hangar-g3.com. GRANDIA III is available at North American retailers for a suggested retail price of $49.99 (USD).

    About Square Enix Co., Ltd. and Square Enix, Inc.

    With headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix) develops, publishes and distributes entertainment content including interactive entertainment software and publications in Japan, North America, Europe and Asia. Square Enix brings two of Japan's best-selling franchises—FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 63 million units worldwide, and DRAGON QUEST™, which has sold over 40 million units worldwide—under one roof. Square Enix is one of the most influential providers of digital entertainment content in the world and continues to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation.

    Square Enix, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Co., Ltd. with offices in Los Angeles, California and Seattle, Washington. It handles operations in North America, including development, localization, marketing and publishing of Square Enix titles. More information on Square Enix can be found on the Internet at http://www.square-enix.com/na.

    DRAGON QUEST, FINAL FANTASY, SQUARE ENIX, and the Square Enix logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Square Enix Co., Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries. GRANDIA is a registered trademark of GAME ARTS Co., Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

    About February 2006

    February 2006にブログ「NA Press Releases」に投稿されたすべてのエントリーです。過去のものから新しいものへ順番に並んでいます。

    前のアーカイブはJanuary 2006です。

    次のアーカイブはMarch 2006です。

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