[kupoartist]

FF Tactics Advance: Not too much to report, except that the game has been sucessfully released in the 3 main terriotories of Japan, USA and Europe. I've got my copy and am pleased: even if the plot is somewhat lacking, the excellent Tactics gameplay has been wonderfully utilised and is perfect in short blasts for the busy gamer. Go buy now if you haven't... if you don't have a GBA already, I seriously recommend you get one (and not just for Tactics either!)

FFXI - Online: Is now released in the US for PC, with a PS2 version available early next year. It has already been acclaimed, winning Japan's Consumer Entertainment Software Association (CESA) grand prize. To mark the release, Square-Enix USA has started it's "Vana'diel Tribunal", an online newspaper detailing goings on in the game world. Recently, an in game event was held for Halloween, where players could dress up in various "spooky" costumes. The Tribunal can be found at:
https://www.playonline.com/ff11us/vt/18/index.html

FFXII: Square-Enix have updated their estimates of their yearly profits (2 billion yen less) to account for the slipping of FFXII out of this fiscal year. Basically, that means that Japan won't get FFXII before the end of March 2004, with an April 2004 release as the best case scenario.

FFX-2:As reported on PS2Fantasy, FFX-2 will be released in the USA on the 18th of this month (18th november, dummy!), just in time for you North Americans to add it to your Chrimbo lists. The offical website is now open, and can be found at: https://www.square-enix-usa.com/games/FFX-2/

and Finally... PS1 Budget Releases (US): Square Enix is set to rerelease four of the Playstation's more popular (and equally critically acclaimed) square titles: Final Fantasy Anthology (FF5+6), Final Fantasy Chronicles (FF4 + Chrono Trigger), Vagrant Story and Xenogears. They will retail for $20 under the Greatest Hits range. (I myself am considering importing Xenogears - its massivley overpriced at around £50 in the UK importers, and virtually unavailable from any stateside companies who'd consider shipping it here...)