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WHAT: FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS ARRIVES FOR NINTENDO'S WIIWARE SERVICE TODAY

Continue the epic tale with this multiplayer sequel to FINAL FANTASY IV! The main product, as well as the first of eight additional downloadable episodes, "Rydia's Tale" are now available. Additional episodes will become available in the coming months.

FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS
Developer: Square Enix Co., Ltd.
Publisher: Square Enix, Inc.
Platform: Wii                                                                                                   
Genre: RPG                                                                             
ESRB: E (Everyone)
Launch Date: June 1, 2009

Main Product:
FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS
800 Wii Points

Downloadable Episode:
Rydia's Tale     
300 Wii Points

The official website can be found at http://www.ff4theafteryears.com/.


WHEN: Available Now

WHERE: The Wii Shop Channel


About FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS

A true sequel to the classic Super NES title, FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS is an episodic game available exclusively for Nintendo's WiiWare service. With both single and multiplayer modes, Wii users will now be able to explore the world of FINAL FANTASY IV with up to three of their friends and coordinate commands into a single attack. Unravel a mystery told through the intertwining stories of a familiar cast of characters, and complete the FINAL FANTASY IV experience with this latest installment in the franchise.

STORY
Seventeen years have passed since the events of FINAL FANTASY IV, and the world has returned to a state of peace. The second moon has left the Blue Planet's orbit and Damcyan, Eblan and the Village of Mist have been rebuilt. After the Kingdom of Baron came under the rule of Cecil and Rosa, the people of the land rejoiced with the birth of Prince Ceodore. However, the second moon has reappeared in the sky, much closer to the planet than it was years ago, and the Castle of Baron is besieged by monsters. It is now up to Ceodore to unravel the mysterious events befalling the Blue Planet...

FEATURES

• The True Sequel to a Classic: Players can now continue the FINAL FANTASY IV experience, enhanced with a multiplayer mode that allows for up to four Wii users to join forces in battle
• Enhanced Battle Experience : A new element of the classic ATB system reflects the game's lunar phases, with each phase altering the physical and magical attack powers for both players and enemies. Players may find that some rare monsters will only appear during certain lunar phases
• Band System: Combination attacks allow two or more characters to coordinate commands into a single attack

Exclusive Artwork: Featuring original artwork by famed illustrator Yoshitaka Amano and character designs by Akira Oguro

LOS ANGELES (June 2, 2009) — Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of Square Enix® interactive entertainment products in North America, and Disney Interactive Studios announced today that KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days will launch in North America on September 29, 2009. The best-selling action RPG franchise makes its memorable debut on Nintendo DS™ by adding a brand new multiplayer mode. Jump into the action alone or with friends and experience the thrilling gameplay the series is known for.

KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days revolves around Roxas, the “other” hero from
KINGDOM HEARTS II. Players follow Roxas through his days among Organization XIII’s ranks, unraveling the events that took place during the year that Sora was asleep, and ultimately revealing one of the KINGDOM HEARTS saga’s most shocking secrets. Players and their friends will join Roxas, his friend Axel and the mysterious fourteenth member of Organization XIII on a journey across charming, vibrant worlds full of Square Enix’s and Disney’s beloved characters.

Additionally, KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days uses the local wireless capabilities of Nintendo DS to introduce the series’ first ever multiplayer mode, in which players can take control of their favorite Organization XIII members and tackle a variety of missions on their own terms.

With more than 12 million copies shipped worldwide, the KINGDOM HEARTS franchise is one of the most cherished RPGs in video game history. Featuring characters created by renowned character designer Tetsuya Nomura, KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days offers a magical, immersive world that will engage players with its gripping storyline and dynamic gameplay.

STORY

In KINGDOM HEARTS, Sora turned the Keyblade on himself in order to release Kairi’s heart, but his heart was also released in the process. This brought about the creation of Roxas, Sora’s Nobody. Unlike most Nobodies, however, Roxas has no memories of his past. He joins Organization XIII and slowly begins to discover the truth behind his existence and the Organization itself. He meets and befriends the fourteenth member of the Organization, who also has no recollection of her past. What will Roxas see during his time in the Organization? What is the connection between him, Sora and the fourteenth member? And what becomes of them? Dive into the heart of the KINGDOM HEARTS storyline’s biggest secrets.

FEATURES

• Familiar action-packed KINGDOM HEARTS gameplay that has captivated fans worldwide
  
• “Panel System” — a brand-new system that allows you to customize Roxas’s arsenal by placing abilities, items and weapon parts into allotted slots
  
• A series-first multiplayer mode, allowing up to four players to control any Organization XIII member
  
• Learn about the origins of the “Organization XIII” name
  
• Get to know the members of Organization XIII, including the mysterious fourteenth member
  
• Finally experience the KINGDOM HEARTS storyline’s missing chapter
  

KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days is not yet rated by the ESRB. Please visit the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) website at www.esrb.org for more information about ratings. KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days will be available at North American retailers for a suggested retail price of $34.99.

The official website can be found at http://na.square-enix.com/khdays/.

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

Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd., with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, develops, publishes and distributes entertainment content including interactive entertainment software and publications in Asia, North America and Europe. Square Enix brings two of Japan's best-selling franchises &mdash FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 85 million units worldwide, and DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 47 million units worldwide &mdash 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 Holdings Co., Ltd. with offices in Los Angeles, California. 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 Disney Interactive Studios.

Disney Interactive Studios is the interactive entertainment affiliate of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS). Disney Interactive Studios self publishes and distributes a broad portfolio of multi-platform video games and interactive entertainment worldwide. The company also licenses properties and works directly with other interactive game publishers to bring products for all ages to market. Disney Interactive Studios is based in Glendale, California, and has five internal game development studios around the world including Avalanche Software, Fall Line Studio, Propaganda Games, Black Rock Studio and Junction Point Studios. For more information, log on to http://www.disneyinteractivestudios.com.

© Disney. Developed by Square Enix/h.a.n.d.

DRAGON QUEST, FINAL FANTASY, SQUARE ENIX and the SQUARE ENIX logo are registered trademarks of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries. Nintendo DS is a trademark of Nintendo.

LOS ANGELES (June 2, 2009) — Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix), announced that FINAL FANTASY XIV, an all new massively-multiplayer role-playing game (MMORPG), is planned for simultaneous global release with language support in Japanese, English, French and German.

Adventure begins anew in the vast realm of Eorzea!

More information on FINAL FANTASY XIV can be found at http://www.finalfantasyxiv.com/.

About FINAL FANTASY XIV

Platforms:

PLAYSTATION®3 & Windows®

 

*Details on required PC specifications to be announced at a later date

Languages:

Japanese, English, German, French (simultaneous release)

Genre:

MMORPG

Release:

2010

MSRP:

TBD

ESRB:

RP (Rating Pending)

Copyright:

© SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved.

Development Staff

Producer:

Hiromichi Tanaka (FINAL FANTASY I, II, III, XI)

Director:

Nobuaki Komoto (FINAL FANTASY IX, XI)

Art Director:

Akihiko Yoshida (Vagrant Story®, FINAL FANTASY XII)

Music:

Nobuo Uematsu of SMILE PLEASE (FINAL FANTASY series)

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

Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd., with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, develops, publishes and distributes entertainment content including interactive entertainment software and publications in Asia, North America and Europe. Square Enix brings two of Japan's best-selling franchises &mdash FINAL FANTASY, which has sold over 85 million units worldwide, and DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 47 million units worldwide &mdash 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 Holdings Co., Ltd. with offices in Los Angeles, California. 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.

DRAGON QUEST, FINAL FANTASY, SQUARE ENIX and the SQUARE ENIX logo are registered trademarks of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries. VAGRANT STORY is a registered trademark or trademark of Square Enix Co., Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries. “PlayStation” and the “PS” Family logo are registered trademarks and “PS3” is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft.

LOS ANGELES (June 11, 2009) — TAITO Corporation (TAITO®), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd., today announced that, with the cooperation of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Japan, action-puzzler WATERWAYS™ will be on sale at the App Store® worldwide and available for the iPhone® and iPod touch® on June 11. WATERWAYS, developed by Dutch studio Rough Cookie, was the winning concept of the Netherlands-Japan GameJam 2008 contest, held as part of the "Netherlands in Japan 2008-2009" celebration.

Last year was the 150th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Japan and the Netherlands, and this year, 2009, marks 400 years of trade between the two nations. Sponsored by the Dutch game organizations NLGD Foundation and the Dutch Game Garden, and also backed by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Japan GameJam 2008 contest was held by Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Japan as part of the continuing "Netherlands in Japan 2008-2009" celebration.

The Netherlands government invests in the growth of its national creative industry, and for this reason the "Netherlands in Japan 2008-2009" celebration has also featured events focusing on cross-cultural exchange via games. TAITO has long taken an active role in promoting the industry and mobile gaming in particular by participating in world-class events such as the International Mobile Gaming Awards. Hoping to make use of this prior experience and eager to contribute to the longstanding friendship between Japan and the Netherlands, TAITO participated in the "Netherlands in Japan 2008-2009" celebration by joining the panel of judges for the Netherlands-Japan GameJam 2008 competition and agreeing to publish an extended and adapted version of the winning concept.

GameJam winner WATERWAYS is an action puzzle game designed and developed by Dutch studio Rough Cookie. Players assume the role of a heroic cow named Patch. When the Netherlands' state-of-the-art water management system "Caretaker 3000" goes haywire, leading to widespread flooding, it's up to Patch to navigate a series of water-filled mazes and drawbridges in an effort to reach and repair the leaking valves. WATERWAYS makes full use of the iPhone/iPod Touch's motion sensors, with intuitive controls and instantly appealing game play.

TAITO and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Japan hope to continue to work together for the benefit of both Japan and the Netherlands' game industries.

WATERWAYS

Publisher	TAITO CORPORATION
Platform	iPhone / iPod Touch
Release Date	Thursday, June 11, 2009
Genre	Game (Puzzle / Action)
Price	US$2.99 / EUR2.39
Region	Worldwide
Copyright	© Rough Cookie 2009 / Published by TAITO

About TAITO Corporation
TAITO Corporation (TAITO) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. With headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, TAITO operates core businesses such as game arcade operations, coin-operated game machines, and mobile phone content services. A seminal part of gaming history, TAITO caused a worldwide sensation with its arcade legend, SPACE INVADERS®, and developed such fan favorites as EXIT™ and ARKANOID®. Today, TAITO continues to thrill game lovers of all generations by offering both classic and new family-oriented titles on the latest gaming platforms. TAITO delivers a wide range of entertainment experiences with the goal of providing consumers with fresh surprises and new discoveries. More information on TAITO can be found on the Internet at http://www.taito.com/.

About Rough Cookie

Based in The Netherlands, Rough Cookie is focused on the design and development of triple-A quality games for high-end mobile and handheld devices including the Apple iPhone. Rough Cookie is founded in 2008 and is privately held. More information on Rough Cookie can be found at http://www.roughcookie.com/.

WATERWAYS and Rough Cookie are trademarks or registered trademarks of Rough Cookie B.V. ARKANOID, EXIT, SPACE INVADERS, TAITO and the TAITO logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of TAITO Corp in the United States and/or other countries. SQUARE ENIX is a registered trademark or trademark of Square Enix Holdings Co. Ltd., in the United States and/or other countries. iPhone, iPod touch, and App Store are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

LOS ANGELES (June 19, 2009) — Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of Square Enix® interactive entertainment products in North America, announced that it has strengthened its executive team with the addition of Ami Blaire as vice president of marketing.

Blaire now leads brand and marketing strategy for Square Enix and will also be responsible for the Square Enix Members site and online commerce. She will work to increase the presence of Square Enix in North America and emphasize community engagement to ensure that the company is meeting the needs of its most important constituents, the fans.

"As part of our goal to expand our business in North America, Square Enix is courting the best and brightest talent in the interactive entertainment industry," said John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix, Inc. "Ami is an outstanding addition to our team and we are thrilled to have the benefit of her expertise."

Blaire brings over 18 years of experience in consumer marketing and was previously the vice president of integrated marketing at Vivendi Games, where she drove all integrated marketing functions and lifestyle marketing platforms for all four business units – Sierra Entertainment, Sierra Online, Vivendi Games Mobile and Blizzard. Prior to joining Vivendi Games, Blaire was the global marketing director of Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft at the Interactive Entertainment Division, where she launched Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360.

An accomplished brand marketing and business development executive with extensive experience in the interactive entertainment industry, Blaire has also served as director of marketing at Sony Computer Entertainment America and has worked with Sega of America and SNK Home Entertainment.



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

Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix), with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, develops, publishes and distributes entertainment content including interactive entertainment software and publications in Asia, North America and Europe. Square Enix brings two of Japan's best-selling franchises – FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 85 million units worldwide, and DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 47 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. 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.

DRAGON QUEST, FINAL FANTASY, SQUARE ENIX and the SQUARE ENIX logo are registered trademarks of Square Enix Co., Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft. All other marks are the properties of their respective owners.

LOS ANGELES (June 29, 2009) — Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of Square Enix® interactive entertainment products in North America, today announced that the second add-on scenario for FINAL FANTASY® XI, their MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online Game), will begin pre-sale on July 5, 2009. Titled "A Moogle Kupo d’Etat™ – Evil in Small Doses," this upcoming add-on scenario will launch simultaneously worldwide later this summer.

Beginning on July 5, 2009, "A Moogle Kupo d’Etat – Evil in Small Doses" will be available for pre-purchase for $9.99 via the PlayOnline® Viewer. Slated to launch at the end of July following the next FINAL FANTASY XI version update, players whose in-game character’s main job level is at least 10 can begin to enjoy this new content. Introducing a brand-new story arc, this new scenario requires the purchase and installation of RISE OF THE ZILART®, the first expansion pack in the FINAL FANTASY XI series.

The development of these add-on scenarios, including the already launched "A Crystalline Prophecy™ – Ode of Life Bestowing" and the upcoming third and final scenario, "A Shantotto Ascension™ – The Legend Torn, Her Empire Born," is led by Masato Kato, who created the stories and scenarios for FINAL FANTASY XI and its first expansion pack, RISE OF THE ZILART. With the summer release of this second scenario, "A Moogle Kupo d’Etat – Evil in Small Doses," players will delve into a dark mystery set in motion by a single drop of water.

Story

It all started with an innocent drop of rainwater and a rickety, ramshackle Mog House desperately in need of repair.

Little did anyone suspect that this would be the beginning of a harrowing nightmare unheard of in the annals of moogle-kind.

Accommodating players in North America, Europe and Japan, FINAL FANTASY XI is the first massively multiplayer online role-playing game capable of simultaneous multiplayer cooperation across three different platforms. Now in its eighth year of service, FINAL FANTASY XI has a robust community of 500,000 subscribers from around the world. The series continues to evolve and expand, offering newcomers and fans alike an immersive, engrossing and engaging universe to traverse, defend and explore.

For more information about FINAL FANTASY XI, please visit the official website: http://www.finalfantasyxi.com. To access the official site for these FINAL FANTASY XI add-on scenarios, please visit: http://www.playonline.com/ff11/addon/.

Profile of Masato Kato
Masato Kato served as director and scenario writer on titles including Chrono Trigger®, Radical Dreamers, Xenogears® and Chrono Cross® for Square Co., Ltd. (now Square Enix) and oversaw the initial plot conception and event direction for the original FINAL FANTASY XI and the Rise of the Zilart expansion. Since leaving Square in 2002, Mr. Kato has worked on a number of titles and continues to pursue his unique design vision.

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

Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd., with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, develops, publishes and distributes entertainment content including interactive entertainment software and publications in Asia, North America and Europe. Square Enix brings two of Japan's best-selling franchises FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 85 million units worldwide, and DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 47 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 Holdings Co., Ltd. with offices in Los Angeles, California. 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.

© 2002-2009 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved. DRAGON QUEST, FINAL FANTASY, SQUARE ENIX and the SQUARE ENIX logo are registered trademarks of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries. RISE OF THE ZILART, PLAYONLINE, CHRONO CROSS, CHRONO TRIGGER, XENOGEARS, A CRYSTALLINE PROPHECY-ODE OF LIFE BESTOWING, A MOOGLE KUPO D’ETAT-EVIL IN SMALL DOSES, and A SHANTOTTO ASCENSION-THE LEGEND TORN, HER EMPIRE BORN are registered trademarks or trademarks of Square Enix Co., Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries.