Square-Enix is now showing the world a video that was previously shown at E3. The short trailer basically shows the six main characters and some of the game’s different races in the world of Ivalice. The trailer also includes some FMV clips and cut scenes that show off the game’s engine. The dialogue is in Japanese but this time with English subtitles. Finally, the video ends off with what we’ve all been waiting for, a North American release date. Hence, FFXII is scheduled for a 2005 release. Though, FFXII has a more firm and concrete release date for Japan, which is in the Spring of 2005.
 

Square-Enix will show Advent Children at the 61st annual Venice film festival with a special preview screening. The movie will be featured as part of the new digital image category of the show. Advent Children is slated for a fall 2004 DVD release in Japan. Tetsuya Nomura, the director of the film; is thrilled and excited about being part of the film festival.
 

3 years from today, Final Fantasy Odyssey was launched under the domain finalfantasyodyssey.cjb.net.  The site has grown since then to be under the current domain, then being offered a hosting service from Telefragged.net.  We would like to thank all our visitors for making this site a success.  We appreciate the comments and suggestions offered by our viewers.  Please remember, that this site has plenty of life left.  Furthermore, the contributions by our viewers has impacted the site in a positive way.  Keep in mind that you can contact us for suggestions, submit various items, join the topsites, hang out in the forums, and help support the site by purchasing an FF XI Online strategy guide membership.  Currently, we have approximately 282000 visitors who have visited FF Odyssey.  Let's hope we can increase the site traffic.

Today, we have put up several minor updates to commemorate FF Odyssey's 3rd anniversary.

1) Covers, and minor updates:
     FF: TSW
     FF Legend of the Crystals
     FF Unlimited
     FF Tactics Advance
     FF X-2
     FF XI
2) New Wallpaper (FF 7: AC)
3) Featured Editorial (final part)
4) Site History
5) Updated Release Dates
6) Fan Art (2)
7) Fan Fiction
8) Release Dates
 

Advent Children’s official website updated recently and the update happens to contain more details about the mysterious trio of Sephiroths and what is up with the heroes of FFVII. Tifa still works at the seventh heaven bar for instance, like usual. Barret, has been searching for an energy replacement for Mako, which once destroyed the world he fought so hard to protect. Loz, one of the three Sephiroth look-a-likes uses a weapon called the “Pile Bunker”, which is described as something like a stuntgun and shield combination. Yazoo, another look-a-like, uses a weapon similar to the Gunblade found in FFVIII. Kadaj, the leader of the group and sibling to the others, uses dual katana blades. Finally, Sephiroth is back once again. SquareEnix has also released new trailers on it’s official website, at http://www.square-enix.co.jp/dvd/ff7ac.
 

Square-Enix conducted a board of directors meeting on June 19th and they decided to make some minor changes to the names of their overseas branches and divisions. Square-Enix USA will be changed to Square Enix Inc. and Square Enix Europe now becomes Square Enix Ltd. In other changes, Vice President Keiji Honda now holds a new position on the board. He is now in charge of overseeing Square Enix’s Chinese market in Shanghai.
 

Square Enix has announced that the game boy advance compilation remake of Final Fantasy I and II will hit Japanese store shelves on July 15th. People who purchase the game will also have the chance to get one of a possible three original straps via Club Nintendo. However, these special presents will be limited to a mere 10,000 only. The game is set at a 5,800 yen retail price.
 

Square Enix has recently revealed a new character in FFXII, a 36-year old general who became a traitor of the country. A new battle system is introduced in the game which is completely different from past FF games.
ADB – Active Dimension Battle will take the series in a new direction and possibly provide some new life and freshness to the franchise’s battle system. The in-game battles take place directly in the field and there is no shattering glass and the random battles seem to be gone entirely. Characters can be inserted with “Gambits” which gives them special spells and commands, such as fire or ice attacks, for example. There is also an on/off switch on the screen to tell the character whether or not to respond to the gambits during battles. This should make FFXII to be quite an interesting prospect as more details are revealed about the game.

*Image taken from http://mb.game-server.cc/0405/ffxii2.jpg.
 

Square Enix has confirmed that Final Fantasy XII has been delayed and the release date has been pushed back from it’s estimated Summer 2004 release in Japan to somewhere around winter 2004 or spring 2005. The company claimed the main reason for the delay was for quality purposes and other improvements to the game. Square-USA has only listed that highly anticipated FFXII for a 2005 release date.