Square Enix Announces New Downloadable Titles for Nintendo’s Wii

Line-up Includes Two WiiWare Titles and FINAL FANTASY Series for Wii Virtual Console

SAN FRANCISCO, March 25 /PRNewswire/ — GAME DEVELOPERS CONFERENCE — Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix) announced today at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) the forthcoming releases of new downloadable titles including FINAL FANTASY(R) IV: THE AFTER YEARS(TM) and FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES(R): My Life as a Darklord(TM) for WiiWare(TM), as well as the FINAL FANTASY series for the Virtual Console(TM) for Wii(TM).

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030403/SQUARELOGO)

The release of these new downloadable titles represent Square Enix’s recognition of the growing demand for online distribution of content/services, and the commitment they have made to provide content/services that match the needs of their customers.

Square Enix will be offering two new releases for WiiWare: FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS and FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a Darklord. FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS is an RPG that continues the story that began in the 1991 Super Famicom(TM) title FINAL FANTASY IV. In Japan, this title was released as a downloadable cellular phone application in February 2008. It has since been lauded for its deep storytelling, and a year after its release, has been downloaded over 3 million times.

FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a Darklord is the newest installment in the FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES series, which has shipped over 2 million copies worldwide and is set to grow further in 2009. This title will be a sequel to FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a King(TM), which launched simultaneously with the WiiWare service in May of 2008.

The Virtual Console allows Wii users to download and play classic titles released on previous game consoles, and now for the first time ever, the FINAL FANTASY series will be made available via home console download. The first installment of the series will be FINAL FANTASY, originally released for the Famicom(TM) in Japan in 1987, which will be available for download in May 2009 in Japan. The North American release is scheduled for a 2009 launch as well.

Please see below for product details:

    FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS
    Developer: Square Enix Co., Ltd.
    Publisher: Square Enix, Inc.
    Platform: Wii
    Genre: RPG
    ESRB: E (Everyone)
    Launch Date: 2009

18 years after FINAL FANTASY IV first stole the hearts of Japanese gamers, the adventure continues in FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS.

Released as a mobile phone game in Japan, this wildly popular sequel has topped 3 million paid downloads as of February 25, 2009. The game focuses primarily on Ceodore, son of FINAL FANTASY IV heroes Cecil and Rosa. He is ably supported by a host of familiar faces from the original cast who star in a series of additional tales.

For more information, please visit the official website at http://www.ff4theafteryears.com.

    FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a Darklord
    Developer: Square Enix Co., Ltd.
    Publisher: Square Enix, Inc.
    Platform: Wii
    Genre: Real Time Strategy
    ESRB: Not Yet Rated
    Launch Date: 2009

FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a Darklord puts players in the highly fashionable shoes of the Darklord’s daughter, a malevolent little Miss, charged with dispatching intruding do-gooders by strategically placing traps and monsters around the tower she calls home.

Players will need to get their hands on ever more diabolical traps and abominable monsters to stop those pesky adventurers from making it to the Dark Crystal at the top of the tower. Be warned, though – with heroes of all the races and job classes from the FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES series storming the Darklord’s lair in real time, traps and minions will count for nothing unless deployed like a true evil genius. Anything less and the Darklord’s beloved home will be reduced to rubble!

For more information, please visit the official website at http://www.MyLifeasaDarklord.com.

    FINAL FANTASY
    Developer: Square Enix Co., Ltd.
    Publisher: Square Enix, Inc.
    Platform: Wii
    Genre: RPG
    ESRB: Not Yet Rated
    Launch Date: 2009

The historic first installment of the FINAL FANTASY series will now be available on Virtual Console. Players can select jobs to customize their party of four, and set off on an exciting adventure as the Warrior of Light. Staple FINAL FANTASY elements such as the job system and spells like Cure and Fire all began here!

About Square Enix Co., Ltd. and Square Enix, Inc.

Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix), with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, develops, publishes and distributes entertainment content including interactive entertainment software and publications in Asia, North America, and Europe. Square Enix brings two of Japan’s best-selling franchises – FINAL FANTASY, which has sold over 85 million units worldwide, and DRAGON QUEST(R), which has sold over 47 million units worldwide – under one roof. Square Enix is one of the most influential providers of digital entertainment content in the world and continues to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation.

Square Enix, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. with offices in Los Angeles, California. It handles operations in North America, including development, localization, marketing and publishing of Square Enix titles. More information on Square Enix can be found on the Internet at http://www.square-enix.com.

DRAGON QUEST, FINAL FANTASY, SQUARE ENIX and the SQUARE ENIX logo are registered trademarks of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries. CRYSTAL CHRONICLES, MY LIFE AS A KING, MY LIFE AS A DARKLORD and THE AFTER YEARS are registered trademarks or trademarks of Square Enix Co., Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries. Nintendo Properties are trademarks of Nintendo. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Square Enix Co., Ltd.