SQUARE SHIPS FINAL FANTASY X FOR THE PLAYSTATION®2 COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM

FINAL FANTASY X is the story of Tidus who, after miraculously surviving the destruction of his homeland, awakens among ruins and thereafter meets a young woman named Yuna. As a summoner, Yuna must travel to distant temples and learn the secret art of summoning aeons-powerful spirits of yore, in order to defeat "Sin."

LOS ANGELES, CA (PRWEB) August 31, 2003 --- Square Electronic ArtsSM L.L.C. (Square Electronic Arts), the exclusive publisher of all SQUARESOFT? products in North America, announced that FINAL FANTASY® X, a PlayStation®2 exclusive and the latest installment in the best-selling FINAL FANTASY game series, started shipping to retailers nationwide, weeks earlier than the originally scheduled release of January. Consumers can expect to find the game on retail shelves beginning December 20.    

FINAL FANTASY X was released in Japan on July 19 and sold through 90% of the 2.14 million units it shipped in the first four days. It is the first PlayStation 2 title to reach the 2 million-unit mark. Sales of FINAL FANTASY X in Japan have propelled the life-to-date sales of the series to an astounding 36 million units worldwide.

FINAL FANTASY X is the story of Tidus who, after miraculously surviving the destruction of his homeland, awakens among ruins and thereafter meets a young woman named Yuna. As a summoner, Yuna must travel to distant temples and learn the secret art of summoning aeons-powerful spirits of yore, in order to defeat "Sin." FINAL FANTASY X features the first English voiceovers for a FINAL FANTASY title and has a distinct Asian influence, bringing a fresh feel to the characters, music, settings and story.

In addition to the games voiceover dialogue and fluid gameplay-to-full-motion-video transitions, FINAL FANTASY X offers fully 3D environments that seamlessly integrate real-time movement with battles, allowing players to walk around and engage in battles on the same field map screen. Life-like, high-polygon, motion-captured characters designed by Tetsuya Nomura bring realism to the screen. As seen in previous FINAL FANTASY titles, players will be able to enjoy new mini-games, such as mastering the sport of blitzball and the Al Bhed language.

FINAL FANTASY X carries a newly designed battle system with a unique character development system using the "Sphere Grid." Further information on the game is now available at www.playonline.com, where visitors can learn more about the story, characters, world, game features and listen to samples of the characters' voices. A special "Behind the Game" section including interviews with the development team and voice actors as well as a complete online strategy guide will also be available soon at the site.

FINAL FANTASY X carries an ESRB rating of T" for Teen and a suggested retail price of $50 US. The title launches with a multi-million dollar marketing campaign that includes national print, television and online advertising. Not only will ads appear on selected networks such as Comedy Central, ESPN/ESPN2, MTV, Sci-Fi Channel and Much Music (Canada), but FINAL FANTASY X has also secured unique sponsorships with MTV (MTV Store), WWF (Royal Rumble) and Comedy Central (BattleBots). The title is also featured in several PlayStation 2 holiday promotions.

BradyGames' FINAL FANTASY X Official Strategy Guide will aid players in their epic journey. A comprehensive walkthrough and expert boss strategies give players the upper hand over their enemies. Complete blitzball coverage shows gamers how to conquer this engaging sport, while weapon, armor, and item lists play an integral part in strategy planning. All side quests and mini-games are also uncovered to give endless gameplay options. The Official Strategy Guide, part of BradyGames' Signature Series, will be priced at $14.99 US / $21.95 CAN.

Fans of the series can also look forward to FINAL FANTASY X related merchandise. Koto, Inc., through its brand ArtFx will be supporting FINAL FANTASY X with fully articulated, amazing action figures (Tidus, Bahamut and other characters, priced from $12.99 to $34.99), fully painted and assembled statues (Yuna, Lulu and other characters, priced from $24.99 to $29.99), lunch boxes, plush dolls, posters, t-shirts and wall scrolls. Merchandise will start rolling out this January with the posters and t-shirts. They will be available in all comic book stores and specialty retailers.

In addition, TOKYOPOP® will be releasing the FINAL FANTASY X -- Official Soundtrack simultaneously with the videogame. Available where music and games are sold (MSRP $14.99 US), it is the latest in a line of FINAL FANTASY soundtracks offered by TOKYOPOP including FINAL FANTASY N Generation and FINAL FANTASY S Generation Official Best Collection CDs - collecting the best tracks from FINAL FANTASY I through IX. Featuring compositions by master sound-smith Nobuo Uematsu at his best, the FINAL FANTASY X -- Official Soundtrack utilizes the most advanced sound system ever for a FINAL FANTASY videogame soundtrack.

Other popular SQUARESOFT titles available this holiday season include FINAL FANTASY CHRONICLES, FINAL FANTASY VIII, IX and CHRONO CROSS for the original PlayStation. FINAL FANTASY VIII, IX and CHRONO CROSS are available in the Greatest Hits" edition.

About Square Electronic Arts L.L.C. and Square Co., Ltd.
Square Co., Ltd. is the leading third-party developer and publisher of home video game console software in Japan with annual sales of more than US $614 million consolidated base (based on average annual exchange rate of 123 Japanese Yen per U.S. Dollar during fiscal year ending March 31, 2001) and 900 employees worldwide. Square Co., Ltd. became famous for its role-playing games, including its world-renowned FINAL FANTASY series, which has sold more than 36 million units to date, and now publishes other titles under the SQUARESOFT brand spanning all genres. Square Co., Ltd. is based in Tokyo, Japan, and maintains a branch office in Osaka. More information about Square Co., Ltd. can be found on the Internet at http://www.playonline.com.

Square Electronic Arts L.L.C. is the exclusive publisher of all SQUARESOFT products in North America. Square Co., Ltd. publishes its SQUARESOFT titles in North America through Square Electronic Arts L.L.C., located in Los Angeles, Calif. Square Electronic Arts L.L.C. is a Limited Liability Company established on May 1, 1998 by Square Soft, Inc. and Electronic Arts to manage the marketing and distribution of SQUARESOFT products in North America. More information about SQUARESOFT products can be found on the Internet at http://www.playonline.com.

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©2001 Square Co., Ltd. Character Design: Tetsuya Nomura. FINAL FANTASY, SQUARESOFT, the SQUARESOFT logo are registered trademarks of Square Co., Ltd. ©1991, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001 Square Co., Ltd. FINAL FANTASY CHRONICLES and CHRONO CROSS are trademarks of Square Co., Ltd. CHARACTERS: ©1995, 2001 Square Co., Ltd. ©1995, 2001 BIRD STUDIO/SHUEISHA. ILLUSTRATION/©1991 YOSHITAKA AMANO. U.S. Patent No. 5390937, 5649862. Square Electronics Arts is a service mark of Square Electronic Arts L.L.C. Electronic Arts is a trademark of Electronic Arts in the United States and/or other countries. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.