Well, for all of you hoping for new Final Fantasy XIV information during the Tokoyo Game Show must be sorely disappointed as there was no new information at all. A trailer was released however that does depict some new insights into the storyline and some footage that you haven’t seen before.

Tokoyo Game Show 2009 Trailers

In a recent article from 1UP.com Final Fantasy 14 director Nobuaki Komoto shares his views on the MMO market and how he feels it is much evolved from how it started out. He says:

The way MMOs attract players has dramatically evolved, It’s especially noticeable with American and European titles. Games used to favour hardcore players; there were a lot of games made with the philosophy that everything should be hidden and the players can work together to figure it out. It was very unkind. Games these days don’t let their players ask ‘What am I supposed to do?’. They guide the player along the way — but there are several paths to take, and you’re still free to do something else. They’re free experiences.”

Source: 1UP.com

Square Enix Japan have released their TGS (Tokoyo Game Show) website. The picture of the FFXIV icon indicates that the upcoming MMORPG will not have a playable demo at the show, as in GamesCom 09 earlier this month but only a video presence.

Square Enix’s TGS Website

Final Fantasy XIV producer Hiromichi Tanaka, talking to VG247, has said that the level system in Final Fantasy 14 is somewhat similar to that of Ultima Online and will “make sense” to players when the game launches next year.

“From MMO history, from the beginning, [games like] Ultima Online had a similar, skill-based system, so we do believe it will make sense to our players,” he said.

“What we’re trying to provide to our players is flexibility. They don’t have to stick to one job: by providing this system they’ll be able to enjoy a variety of classes.

This time it’s not going to be just by killing monsters that you’ll gain experience points, but by using the weapon you hold in your hand, you’ll gain skills for that class. So, if you change your weapon you’ll change your class. You can change your class even between the battles; not during the battles.”

Source: VG247

Square Enix have announced their line-up for GamesCom 2009, which takes places 19th-23rd of August. The line-up consists of highly-anticipated games and it appears they have chosen Final Fantasy 14 to be amongst these titles as the snippet below shows.

FINAL FANTASY XIV
Developer: Square Enix Co., Ltd.
Brand: Square Enix
Platform: PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system / Windows PC
Genre: MMORPG
Release Date: 2010

During E3 2009, FF14 was given a surprise announcement and we can be sure that it will play a much more significant part of GamesCom 2009 and hold the interest of gamers across the globe, not hindered by it’s planned simultaneous release in German, French, English and Japanese.

This is great news for our readers who do not have to wait till TGS (Tokyo Game Show) 2009 for additional information but instead have to wait merely a month to be able to learn a lot more about the game and how it will function. Highly anticipated is information on the weapons based levelling system and the more strategic battle system and last but definitely not least, concrete beta details. We are just hoping that Square Enix will treat us to such information.

Added to our library of content is the Connet!On magazine’s interview with the director and producer of Final Fantasy 14. This is another interview that was conducted during E3 2009 but, like the other interviews, it brings up interesting details and different angles on the game. Whilst some of the content is reiterated in this interview there is a fair few snippets of new information which I am sure will make it an enjoyable read for those who have an interest in the upcoming Final Fantasy instalment.

Connect!On Speak with Tanaka and Komoto

Source: FF14 at ZAM

At a recent Distant Worlds Concert in Maryland Nobou Uematsu made two surprise announcements, one which he said Square Enix allowed him to say, and another he gave to the fans as a little teaser of what is to come.

The first announcement was that he is the only person composing music for Final Fantasy XIV. This is probably a surprise to most people as composing for a game with such large scope is mammoth task. However this move by Square Enix virtually insures that the game will have a very solid and well developed soundtrack, as well as giving fans more assurance in the game by giving it the ‘Uematsu’ brand.

The second snippet of information given is about the Distant Worlds concerts and that they have started to work on FFXIV music for performance purposes, of which more will be announced soon. This is great news for fans, especially if these performances are delivered before the game is released.

Source: FF14 at ZAM

Famitsu has printed some reactions to Square Enix’s announcement of Final Fantasy XIV in this weeks issue of the magazine. In the Gamer Opinion Box, comments are featured from submissions from the public. This week submissions about FF14 ranked #1. This gives an indication to the popularity of the game, at least in Japan.

Below are the the comments featured in the magazine, posted with the gamers’ age and occupation (as is the common format in Japan)

• I was shocked to hear talk of XIV with XIII not even out yet. Since it’s online, I’m curious about the fees. I hope they show us soon. (Male, 38, company employee)
• To think they’d unveil XIV, and have it be completely online no less! I never could have guessed that was coming. (Male, 28, self-employed)
• It was certainly the most shocking presentation of this year’s E3. I can’t believe they’ve been developing it this whole time! (Male, 38, self-employed)
• I was so certain they’d make “XI-2″ but I’m really happy they gave it its own number in the series. (Male, 31, unemployed)
• The timing of this announcement really caught me off guard. I can’t wait to see what Square Enix has in store. (Male, 33, pastry chef)
• Square Enix has done it again! They have a long history of producing epic RPGs, and I have high hopes for the future. (Male, 35, unemployed)
• I was so addicted to XI, so I’m sure I’ll be giving XIV a try. (Male, 30, part-time worker)
• I’m looking forward to XIV, but more than that, I’m worried about what is going to happen to XI. I think it would be nice to have some kind of feedback regarding this. (Male, 32, company employee)
• I assumed there wouldn’t be another numbered Final Fantasy that was fully online coming out for a while. (Male 24, part-time worker)
• I wonder if service for XI is really going to continue? (Male, 24, student)
• I kind of missed the boat on the release of XI and never got into it. I’ve been waiting for a new online Final Fantasy to come out. (Male, 27, nursing assistant)

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