News

In a somewhat embarrassing and very costly twist of fate for Nintendo, a shipping container carrying a multitude of DS Lite systems as well as a large assortment of games worth a combined total of over $2.3 million (US) - rumored to have gone missing last week during its delivery to the UK - was publicly confirmed earlier today by GamesIndustry, on behalf of Nintendo, as stolen.

Having begun its trip from China, the metal crate turned up missing in Hong Kong after a brief journey rather shy of its European destination. As such, Hong Kong's police unit is willing to provide a several thousand dollar reward to anyone with helpful information regarding the retrieval of the handhelds.

Nintendo, meanwhile, has worked hastily to replace the stolen game units prior to their release date in Europe on June 23rd: "Nintendo is making every effort to ensure that there [are] enough product[s] available in the UK to meet market demand at launch." And heavy that demand may surely be; after all, the remodeled DS has thus far garnered enormous support all over Japan and throughout the US, where 135,000 systems flew off the shelves within just the first two days.

Perhaps it was merely overlooked, but regardless a third Paper Mario title has been announced. In this new game you'll play as Mario, of course. But joining your playable characters will be both Peach and Bowser, though their parts seem unconfirmed, it seems possible that they might actually be playable in battle and normal gameplay, rather than just the bit parts they had in previous Paper Mario titles.

The game is slated for release sometime in the fourth quarter of 2006.

Source: IGN

One of Square-Enix's head honchos presented a ton of new delicious tidbits of news in a recent interview with the Japanese gaming site Dengeki Online, primarily concerning the upcoming PS3 games Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy Versus XIII as well as Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII for the PSP.

First of all, Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy Versus XIII were both originally slated for the PS2, but eventually production was moved to the next generation of consoles because Tetsuya Nomura, who was Versus' project director, was still working on Kingdom Hearts II at the start of production. We know that the three games in the FF XIII project (the two previously mentioned as well as Agito for mobile phones) will share the same universe but other than that we have only speculation. Anyhow, here's some big news: FF Versus XIII is going to have an intense action battle system, but the "real" FF XIII is going back to the ATB, with an extra emphasis on speed and chain comboes. The girl from the trailers is the game's main character, but she'll also have allies in battle (surprise, surprise...). Also worth noting, both FF XIII and Versus XIII will have classic Amano logos, but FF XIII's background will be white and Versus' will be black.

Nomura is really set on making FF Versus XIII different from the classical FF tradition, so his team is combining members of the FF VII and VIII teams for visuals and his Kingdom Hearts team for the game's engine and interface (FF XIII is being worked on primarily by the FF X / FF X-2 team) to create a classic FF feel with a new action-oriented battle system. Nomura also emphasized the fact that the word Versus also has two meanings: the English definition of identifying two or more opponents and the Latin definition of changing directions.

And now, here's some interesting news for FF VII fans. The PSP game Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII will be centered around four characters: Zack, Aeris, and two male characters yet to be identified. The game will implement voice acting, a materia creation system, and the abilities of Shinra's SOLDIER members. Unfortunately, Nomura refused to give out any more details.

Source: RPGFan

Though unconfirmed, reports of a Dragon Quest title for the Nintendo DS are exciting the Nintendo community. The game, a part of the Dragon Quest Monsters series, is due to be released in Japan some time in 2006, leaving only a few months before more extensive details have to be released.

Titled Dragon Quest Monsters Joker, the game will use the DS WiFi capabilities to allow players to enter their monsters in the Joker GP tournament against other players. Akira Toriyama returns as lead character designer.

Source: IGN

Square-Enix has divulged yet another arranged collection of music based on its best-selling franchise that will soon find itself on the market, only this time in DVD format. The Voices: Music from Final Fantasy Premium Orchestra Concert DVD is to be available in two editions: A one-disc version retailing at around ¥3,800 ($28.68 US), and a two-disc first print limited edition set at ¥4,800 (or $33.93 US). The DVD will arrive in Japanese stores on the 21st of this month.

Recorded from the concert of the same name - featuring the Prima Vista Philharmonic Orchestra and held at the Pacifico Yokohama this past February - The Voices, as its title implies, presents the Final Fantasy series' highly notable vocal themes performed by Izumi Masuda, RIKKI, Emiko Shiratori, The Black Mages, and more. Among the selections included are "Melodies of Life" (IX), "Distant Worlds" (XI), and "Suteki Da Ne" ("Isn't It Wonderful?" - X).

It's unknown, although doubtful, if either edition will eventually go for sale outside Japan.

Source: RPGFan

In another one of our fun, intermittent fanart updates, we've got eleven new pieces available to vote today. They're all from Final Fantasy V, Final Fantasy VI, and Final Fantasy VII this time around, and Kappa, Mimic and I have them all put together for you on the new fanart page.

Here are your artists this time around:

• bratkitty



• Rujuken



• Skangl



• SilverFork



• InkTank



• Terra_the_Mighty_Esperlet



• Kame

Some of these artists you'll recognize right away if you're a CoN regular, but we'd really like to thank Terra_tME, Skangl, and InkTank for sharing with us for the first time!