Square-Enix CEO Feels FFVII Is Franchise's Best

I feel like an age-old struggle is grinding away into dust - finally.

Some will tell you that when fanboys wage war, there are no winners. Final Fantasy VII fanboys, however, just won, big time.

At a recent shareholders meeting, Square-Enix CEO Yoichi Wada was asked about the public's ever-present clamor for a remake of 1997's JRPG classic. See? Even nameless, faceless moneybags who know nothing of the franchise want an FFVII remake. What's the holdup?

[WATCH] The Visceral, New "The Last of Us" Trailer

OMNIpixel hasn't given Naughty Dog's hot new IP "The Last of Us" as much exposure as it probably deserves. 

Sure, post-apocalyptic settings are a dime a dozen nowadays. And make no mistake, TLoU is one of them. But it's less Fallout and more Cormac McCarthy's The Road. 

And that's a damn good thing. 

According to Kotaku's Stephen Totilo, TLoU makes much finer use of the human element in the "end of the world" scenario; just like McCarthy's beleaguered yet devoted father and innocent, defenseless son, making their way across a scorched America, in search of somewhere - anywhere - to call home.

Bruce Straley, the game's director, said that Naughty Dog wants players to feel the same emotions that Ellie and Joel feel as they try to survive in this strange post-apocalypse in the game. He talked about the game as a quest for survival, one that is inflected by a balance of power that causes enemies to adapt to Ellie and Joel's choices of weapons and tactics. Everyone is trying to live, he said.

The trailer above shows just how brutal and visceral that fight for life can get.

So, scope that fresh cinematic, then make sure you suck every ounce of marrow from Kotaku's preview at the link below.


SOURCE: Destructoid | Kotaku

[OMG] Tetsuya Nomura Talks FFVII Remake

Ok, I'll let you down slow, first. That headline is... rather misleading, yes.

When the premier Square Enix art director spoke to Japanese gaming pub Famitsu recently, he wasn't confirming that they were considering remaking one of the most beloved JRPGs of all time, he instead gave some insight into why it'll never happen. :[

Read on to see what the zipper-happy character designer had to say - there's also a previously unheard behind-the-scenes tidbit about FFVII that may interest you... :]

[UPDATE] 38 Studios Pleads with R.I. Gov't for More Assistance

Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, center, is followed by members of the media as he departs the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation headquarters, in Providence, R.I. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling asked Rhode Island for additional help to save his video game company Wednesday, prompting state leaders to consider whether the firm is viable enough to justify further investment.

[UPDATE] R.I. Gov't: Kingdoms of Amalur's 38 Studios in trouble

Screenshot from 38 Studios' Kingdoms of Amalur

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Associated Press) — Rhode Island leaders are working to help former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling's video game company remain viable after it failed to make a scheduled $1.125 million payment to the state's economic development agency.

[WATCH] Leaked Beyond Good & Evil 2 Footage

Take a spinning tour around this back-alley market from Beyond Good & Evil 2 - the exorbitant amount of detail and rich texturing was rendered using the in-game engine

What a rollercoaster ride this one's been - Beyond Good & Evil made a quiet splash when it dropped for all the last-gen platforms in 2003. 

A messianic sequel has long been rumored, but official announcements and concrete details are scant and fleeting, leading many to wonder where the projects stands today.

Currently, EGMNow's getting riled again over footage that surfaced on Unseen64. Ubisoft lead Michel Ancel claims the clip is from 2009 (above). Read more to see more video of BG&E2 that has trickled in over the last few years.

[WATCH] Diablo 3's Animated Short, "Wrath", from Titmouse

Diablo is coming...

... In about a week. BUT - here's something that might tide you over: a six-minute animated short from Titmouse Inc., of Metalocalypse fame. 

Borrowing heavily from Eastern stylings - who doesn't nowadays - the plot follows Tyrael, Archangel of Justice and a recurring character in the Diablo series, and his angelic comrades. 

The production quality is reminiscent of Avatar - which stands high above material from other Western studios.

Diablo 3 will descend from a swirling, fiery rift in the sky on May 15. Enjoy!

SOURCE: Joystiq

Play Diablo 3 This Weekend Only

Blizzard's open beta for Diablo 3 kicked off at 3 p.m. Friday. If you weren't one of the lucky kids to get a golden ticket for the closed beta last month, now's your chance to get your grind on.

Anyone with a Battle.net account can join - if you don't have an account, click here to set up a new one. Each account can hold five characters up to level 13.

The beta will only run through 1 p.m. EST on Monday, April 23 so make sure you stop by your local Mountain Dew retailer before your weekend bender.

Diablo 3 is set to be released May 15, to a moaning, odorous sea of outstretched arms.

SOURCE: EGMNow

Sony Santa Monica Is Back with God of War: Vengeance

After hyping up some teaser art and a leaked product listing on Amazon last night, Sony has confirmed that their Santa Monica studios new title is, in fact, the new God of War.

The reveal trailer after the jump...

Hands-On with Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

In case you hadn't heard, Level-5's Studio Ghibli collabo, Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, is coming stateside Q1 2013. That means we get all its hype-a-licious trailers in our native tongues - for better or for worse. 

That also means American vidya journo outlets will start getting their time in on Namco Bandai's demo unit. Siliconera posted their 20-minute joyride with the game that is shaping up to be the pinnacle of the JRPG.

[RUMOR] PS4 Snubs Used Games, Backwards Compatibility

A trusted source has tipped Kotaku that the next iteration of Sony's PlayStation will lock out used titles - a feature that seems to be catching on as of late. Kotaku says the source is "reliable" but "not authorized to talk publicly about next-gen hardware..."

Oh, and there's a name: "Orbis."

Read on for a bevy of unconfirmed details...