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[sonycowboy]

Square Enix's Final Fantasy VII CG movie proves popular in Japan; US release still up in the air.

TOKYO--Square Enix's first computer-generated movie may have flopped, but its second attempt has been a major success. In 2001, Sony-owned Columbia Pictures released Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, an ambitious computer-generated movie made by game publisher Square Co. Ltd. The film, in a word, tanked. Earning only $32 million against a budget of more than $135 million, Spirits Within forced Square to scrap its animated film efforts to eventually merge with rival role-playing-game publisher Enix.

Luckily, Square's second CG effort isn't suffering from sophomore-slump syndrome. The company announced today that Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children has shipped a total of 700,000 units in Japan since its release on September 14. The figure includes the UMD version of the film, the DVD version, and the 29,800 yen ($260) limited edition DVD package, which was only available for preorder.

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children has been the subject of much attention because of its high-quality graphics, and it was featured at the Venice Film festival for two years in a row. This year, the film is making its way to the Montreal Film Festival and the Catalunya International Film Festival in Spain.

"We believe this was the result of the movie getting accepted by not just Final Fantasy VII fans, but by a wide audience," commented producer Shinji Hashimoto. "We feel that there is great anticipation [for the movie] in North America and Europe, where it is scheduled for release. We hope to make it an even bigger success [in those regions] than it was in the Japanese market."

But while the Japanese success of Advent Children is now an established fact, its American release remains plagued by uncertainty. Although online retailers list the movie as coming out on DVD and UMD next month, American Square Enix reps told GameSpot that "no final US release plans have been announced yet."

 

[DarienA]

Damn you Square Enix.... Damn You!!!!!!!

 

[Prince of Space]

UGH.

 

[Suikoguy]

See square, thats all you had to do in the first place

 

[SolidSnakex]

This is why it doesn't make sense that people question whether or not they should remake FF7 on the PS3. This series is a gold mine for them.

 

[jiggle]

FFVII remake please. I'll wait 5 years if I have to.

 

[dog$]

http://acsummary.ytmnd.com

 

[BMAN]

I have no dout it sold well. By the way it says that they have shipped a total of 700,000 units, not sold

 

[Solid]

good for you square! now please make something for ff8! it sold more than ff7!! sales!!

 

[Doube D]

I have no dout it sold well. By the way it says that they have shipped a total of 700,000 units, not sold

by the way shipped is the SAME DAMN THING as sold as far as Square is concerned. Why do you people keep bringing up this distinction as if the publisher could give a shit. SHIPPED = SOLD FROM PUBLISHER TO RESELLERS = MONEY IN THE PUBLISHER's pockets = successful product. sheesh

 

[XMonkey]

But while the Japanese success of Advent Children is now an established fact, its American release remains plagued by uncertainty. Although online retailers list the movie as coming out on DVD and UMD next month, American Square Enix reps told GameSpot that "no final US release plans have been announced yet."

What. The. Fuck.

What's bad too is that they changed the trailer that used to say Worldwide Release (or US and Japan, whatever it said) September 14th to "Japanese Release September 14th" on the Special Edition Bonus DVD. Fuck off Square.

 

[123rl]

And this is just for the Japanese language version. I bet that figure could have been 50% higher at least if it had English subtitles so people could import it

But it didn't...so most people just downloaded it and got the fansub version.

Meanwhile I'm still waiting for my fucking American version on the small chance that it'll have a Japanese dialogue and English subtitle option!

 

[Dante]

Cool hopefully this opens the doors for more foreign made CG features.

 

[jiggle]

good for you square! now please make something for ff8! it sold more than ff7!! sales!!

That would be even better than a VII remake

 

[..pakbeka..]

hey, nomura, how about using all that money for the "compilation of final fantasy VIII" project?

 

[jett]

good for you square! now please make something for ff8! it sold more than ff7!! sales!!

Not worldwide it didn't.

 

[Tenacious-V]

As much as I appreciate nostalgia Square, fucking let FF7 rest (I know I'm the minority here). Apply that same great talent you had then and come out with a new FF that blows us away just as FF7 did. Don't milk it, make something else great.

I mean FF7 PSX had such a great impact on me, remaking it just doesn't have that same appeal for me. It's such an amateurs way out (for lack of better wording). Sure it looks nicer, but so what, it doesn't add to anything. Come up with a new fantastic, immersive, compelling story and blow me away with a new FF, don't rely on a remake..... Let that world rest and give me a new world!!

 

[Johnas]

Raise your hand if you have NOT yet seen this.

*raises hand*

I know a ton of people have, but I don't import. I really hope it still comes out over here.

 

[HomerSimpson-Man]

Raise your hand if you have NOT yet seen this.

*raises hand*

I know a ton of people have, but I don't import. I really hope it still comes out over here.

Oh, it's coming over here, just later than the Japan. I held off downloading it, but I did watch the Final Fantasy 7: Last Order OVA though since that's probably not coming over. The wait to watch it on DVD still is painful though.

 

[CosmicGroinPull]

As much as I appreciate nostalgia Square, fucking let FF7 rest (I know I'm the minority here). Apply that same great talent you had then and come out with a new FF that blows us away just as FF7 did. Don't milk it, make something else great.

I mean FF7 PSX had such a great impact on me, remaking it just doesn't have that same appeal for me. It's such an amateurs way out (for lack of better wording). Sure it looks nicer, but so what, it doesn't add to anything. Come up with a new fantastic, immersive, compelling story and blow me away with a new FF, don't rely on a remake..... Let that world rest and give me a new world!!

Yeah! You said it, man.


















Please remake FF8, Square.

 

[TheDuce22]

Thats funny because their first movie was actually better. At least it had a somewhat coherent plot.

 

[Polari]

Thats funny because their first movie was actually better. At least it had a somewhat coherent plot.

I haven't seen Advent Children, but if it's worse than the first one... wow.

 

[jiggle]

Thats funny because their first movie was actually better. At least it had a somewhat coherent plot.

It was a better movie, but not a better Final Fantasy movie.

 

[G-Fex]

good for you square! now please make something for ff8! it sold more than ff7!! sales!!

YES! never played the game, wanted to. But I want to see the gunblade in action!

 

[SolidSnakex]

I haven't seen Advent Children, but if it's worse than the first one... wow.

It depends on what you're going in wanting from it. If you want a normal movie you'll be disappointed, if you're wanting something that seems like an extended FF7 cutscene you'll be happy because that's what it is. Most FF7 fans really like it.

 

[Flynn]

Sophmore slump only applies if you were sucessful the first time.

 

[123rl]

Raise your hand if you have NOT yet seen this.

*raises hand*

I know a ton of people have, but I don't import. I really hope it still comes out over here.

I've still not seen it. I don't know what happens in it, or any film details. I'm waiting for the DVD but I'm getting annoyed now that the US release might not be in November. I'm in the UK but there's no way I'm waiting for that...I could get Final Fantasy 12 before Advent Children comes out in the UK :lol

 

[Tabris]

I've still not seen it. I don't know what happens in it, or any film details. I'm waiting for the DVD but I'm getting annoyed now that the US release might not be in November. I'm in the UK but there's no way I'm waiting for that...I could get Final Fantasy 12 before Advent Children comes out in the UK :lol

Oh, come on now, Advent Children will be released in the UK before 2008

 

[SantaC]

good for you square! now please make something for ff8! it sold more than ff7!! sales!!

QFTFT

Quoted for the fucking truth

 

[Pachinko]

I feel I have to disagree with both the no more ff7 milking comment AND the remaking FF8 comment. Final Fantasy 8's vision was more or less succesfully pulled off on the regular playstation and would have no reason for a remake aside form higher res CG and better graphics.

FF7 had some flaws that I believe were the work of square being so new to 3D graphics and such. Especially farming out the CG backgrounds and movies to seperate companies. Midgar aside, every town in FF7 was comprised basically of a store, an inn, a main characters home and / or a story related building of some kind. Why ? I think it's becuase it would have cost even more money and taken more time to have the other companies render houses all over that you wouldnt' even be going into. You know what though? to me having a town that looks to have enough homes to support atleast the 8 people wandering around is just a bit more believable. Plus I think the story was a bit stilted in the original game. Basically anyone whose played the game a couple times can see that much of it was made up has they went along , things just don't fit togethor has nicely has they should and finally the translation for the original north american release is pretty bare bones. Basically, I think much like Resident evil 1 before it, this is an early attempt at a 3D game that needs to have its vision properly showcased. I fully expect to see a 10th anniversary version with graphics at or approaching that tech demo's stuff in the next year, expect to see it annnounced atleast.

FF8 on the other hand, again, while it would certainly benifit from better graphics somewhat , doesn't need them like 7 does , it's translation had far fewer hiccups and it's overall vision just seemed to come across fine. Better graphics and voice acting is about all you could really add to this one which to me is not a reason to remake a game.

Honestly, I'd like to see a 3D remake of FF6 on PS3 out of anything but it's a selfish hope becuase muchlike ff8 , FF6's benefits would only be cosmetic.

 

[Speevy]

A thread about selling children and everyone is so happy. For shame.

 

[CB3]

:lol was i the only one that read that as 700,000 Advent Rising sold?

 

[Tenacious-V]

I feel I have to disagree with both the no more ff7 milking comment AND the remaking FF8 comment. Final Fantasy 8's vision was more or less succesfully pulled off on the regular playstation and would have no reason for a remake aside form higher res CG and better graphics.

FF7 had some flaws that I believe were the work of square being so new to 3D graphics and such. Especially farming out the CG backgrounds and movies to seperate companies. Midgar aside, every town in FF7 was comprised basically of a store, an inn, a main characters home and / or a story related building of some kind. Why ? I think it's becuase it would have cost even more money and taken more time to have the other companies render houses all over that you wouldnt' even be going into. You know what though? to me having a town that looks to have enough homes to support atleast the 8 people wandering around is just a bit more believable. Plus I think the story was a bit stilted in the original game. Basically anyone whose played the game a couple times can see that much of it was made up has they went along , things just don't fit togethor has nicely has they should and finally the translation for the original north american release is pretty bare bones. Basically, I think much like Resident evil 1 before it, this is an early attempt at a 3D game that needs to have its vision properly showcased. I fully expect to see a 10th anniversary version with graphics at or approaching that tech demo's stuff in the next year, expect to see it annnounced atleast.

Which is why I said I'm in the minority. I played FF7 at least 20-30 times. I believe the impact FF7 had on gamers back in the PS1 days was somewhat monumental. It had an impact that was timeless. It was amazing for the time, and I just think a remake would ruin that sensation I felt back then. It's not a matter of making it look good, or making cities look like better cities, and I sure as hell would be even MORE pissed if they even modified the story 1 bit. It's the fact that they could be creating another timeless fantastic story, instead of milking one that should be left as a great memory. Use that talent to make something new, let FF7 be what it is, a fantastic PS1 game.

 

[Suikoguy]

:lol was i the only one that read that as 700,000 Advent Rising sold?

I think so, hehe funny thought though

 

[Jonnyram]

This is why it doesn't make sense that people question whether or not they should remake FF7 on the PS3. This series is a gold mine for them.

Really? You think they'd be happy if the remake sold 700,000?

 

[Prince of Space]

now please make something for ff8!

hey, nomura, how about using all that money for the "compilation of final fantasy VIII" project?

Please remake FF8, Square.

NO. NO. NO.

 

[SolidSnakex]

Really? You think they'd be happy if the remake sold 700,000?

I think it'd sell more, just look at the DQ remakes. And the big plus for FF7 is that its huge outside of Japan too so that's even more sales for them to bring in. It's a sure fire hit for them if its made.