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| Chris Winkler |
As highly anticipated RPG launches in Japan.
12.17.09 - 12:13 PM
Square Enix released Final Fantasy XIII in Japan today. The event to commemorate the launch of the highly-anticipated RPG was, as always, held in the Shibuya store of media chain Tsutaya. Songstress Sayuri Sugawara performed the game's main theme "Kimi ga iru kara" in front of fans, company representatives and members of the media. After the performance was over, company president Youichi Wada and producer Yoshinori Kitase took the stage. Wada reported that Square Enix had already shipped 1.8 million copies to Japanese retail stores. As the PlayStation 3's installed hardware base keeps growing, Wada aims for two million copies. Reflecting on the long development period, producer Kitase mentioned that Final Fantasy XIII had been in development for five years. Because of this long creation process, about 1,000 people were involved in making the game. He was confident that he and his team had delivered a game capable of living up to the high expectations of the series' fans.
All major electronics retailers in downtown Tokyo have opted to open their stores early, at 07:00 am to cope with the expected rush demand. The first fans in line in front of Bic Camera's main store in Ikebukuro started camping 10 hours before the store opened. By 07:00 am, the line had grown to more than 350 people. A few miles away, 300 people were queuing In front of Yodobashi Camera's store in Akihabara.
Fans on this side of the Pacific will have to wait until March 9th before they can get their hands on the game's PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360-based domestic release.
