A two page spread of the Final Fantasy XIII Famitsu PSP + PS3 article was photographed a while ago but thanks to Cathryn we have the entire six pages in extremely high quality scans. There are no new images but she has scanned the screenshots at higher quality meaning these are the best screenshots we're going to get until they're officially released.

Apon entering the Japanese PlayStation Home there are a few new changes including a wintery scene and a nice Happy New Year from the staff. Also included is the latest addition of the News Report video playing in the square which advertises Final Fantasy XIII.

The footage in the news report is sadly old, but does indicate that more than first party titles are already being advertised in Home. Other games on the news report include Resident Evil 5, Yakuza 3 and even Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children complete.

Source: RPG Tony (FF-XIII.net)

From "Famitsu Weekly," issue #1048, dated 2009 1/9-16, as part of Famitsu Weekly's interviews of 21 creators from the gaming industry.

Interviewer (hereafter "I"): First of all, we'd like to hear what kind of year you've had.

Kitase (hereafter "K"): This year I was set to work on Sigma Harmonics and Final Fantasy Dissidia, two portable games.

I: What was your impression of the game industry as a whole this year?

K: That'll also turn into talk of portable games, but I can't help but think that this past year, portable game systems have become even more a 'typical' thing. That is, before the DS was released, playing portable games outside would get you a bunch of strange looks from others (he's talking about adults playing portables), but now it's totally normal for people to play.

I: I see. Incidentally, is there anything you observed in regards to already released (not sure if 'released' is the right word....) hardware?

K: Personally, I think the casual games available for download were fun, and I played them often. The few hundred yen price is quite nice. I also often buy extra content for games, haha.

I: Do you plan to add those elements to the games you're working on yourself, Mr. Kitase?

K: I wonder, haha. For example, with a game type like FF13, you really have to put the whole thing in one package, so it's not easy to do that (add extra content for purchase). If we made plans to make new downloadables, it would turn into a full blown game, I think.

I: Then, what kind of year do you think 2009 will be for you personally?

K: It's the year that XIII speeds toward facing completion. Together with that, I want to see the PS3['s popularity] gain ground, too. In spring, there's the plans for the demo to come out, so if we're (the industry) given the energy to speed both along, it would be great.

I: In order for the hardware to catch on, what do you think it needs more of?

K: Of course, having interesting and fun software for the system would make users think "I want to play those games."

I: If that [software] was FFXIII, that would be great, wouldn't it?

K: Of course, if FFXIII became a reason for people to buy a PS3, I would be most happy. From FFXIII's announcement until now, we've shown much pre-rendered material. However, after we get into 2009, I'm thinking we'll be showing more realtime rendered material. In the demo, I want to show the definite form of FFXIII, and gradually build on the game from there.

I: In the demo, to what degree will we be able to play?

K: There's still quite some time before the game comes out, so the demo will probably extend to 'pinning down the foundations,' but I believe you will be able to properly experience 'the new Final Fantasy on the Playstation 3.' By all means, please try it out.

I: So 2009 will be a year focused on FFXIII, it seems?

K: 3rd Birthday and Agito XIII are also being developed side by side [with FFXIII], but it's certain that the focus will be more on XIII. The entire work is quite large, and it will still take some time, but it seems the base pieces have been finished, and it seems like the completion is coming into view.

I: It seems 2009 will be quite busy, doesn't it?

K: Constructing the foundation of FFXIII has taken a long period of time, so I want this year to be the one to bring the fruits of our labor, I think. Also, for people to feel the force of FFXIII as a unified work, we'll be doing various promotions. Right now, the public isn't very involved, but we need to push FFXIII out into the light, I think. If we produce a great work and rouse demand [for games], Japan's economy could brighten up, maybe, haha. By all means, I'd love to see the game industry pull up the economy, you know?

As the rest of the Japanese game magazines, Dengeki has followed suit with the new Final Fantasy XIII gameplay screenshots and information. There are no new screenshots that we can see but there may be a few extra pieces of information the other magazines have missed. We'll hopefully have them translated soon. Thanks to BlankChocobo who scanned them in for us.

Endless E-Entertainment has once again provided some very good quality scans from Famitsu China which contain lots of good screenshots of Final Fantasy XIII which you can actually see this time. Enjoy the sexiness. Merry Christmas.

Update: They're actually from Famitsu HongKong and here they are unwatermarked courtesy of TGBus.com thanks to forum member Teggles.



Source: Endless E-Entertainment

The scans from the latest issue of Famitsu have surfaced just a few moments ago and inside them are new screenshots of Final Fantasy XIII's gameplay. Unfortunately they're photos but we'll update you when full scans are available. We are expecting more scans to appear so keep checking back.

I've just come back from Jump Festa's Sunday and have run through the Megatheater twice.

The Versus and Agito trailers are the same as the ones that were shown at TGS, I do believe.

The FFXIII trailers (there were two separate trailers shown) had little repeat footage from previous trailers. Please keep in mind, the following is just from the notes I took, and isn't necessarily any more accurate other accounts.

Open the full article for my account. It got really long.

Or make a chocobo happy and discuss the new trailer in the forums.

V-Jump have released their latest issue which contains new Final Fantasy XIII screenshots showing gameplay as well as a first glimpse at what it looks like to run around an area with enemies on screen. They also say that the Pigtails girl name is "Oerba Dia Vanille" which is slightly different to what we heard before but I suppose it's confirmed.



Thanks to our forum member taepoppuri for finding this.
Source: GConsole

Because BlankChocobo is an idiot, she didn't make it into the Megatheater on Saturday. Sorry, guys.

I did, however, take high quality images from Square-Enix's upcoming merchandise displays of the Shiva figure and the PlayArts Lightning figure, which has been painted since TGS.

Square-Enix's annual attendance to Jump Festa today is just as predictable as every year. They've brought along their lovable Closed Mega Theater and in it they're showing a brand new Final Fantasy XIII trailer in private. We'll be relying on the scattered trailer descriptions as usual to find out what happened.

Apparently this trailer stars a new male character who has a "shota" like nature. We'll be expecting another feminine character as per usual. He might have an unusual way of speaking.
There is supposed to have been new never seen before battle footage with Snow fighting by kicking and punching. They're defending the Pigtails girl. Lightning fights using a mix of melee and shooting attacks.
They summon Shiva during the battle shown. She freezes them using Ice magic and then runs them over in her motorcycle form.
Another new character seems to have been shown in the trailer. It's apparently a young Asian woman.
The combat is seamless in the trailer. Imagine running around an FFXII worldmap but the camera and character locking on when in an encounter like FFX.
Lightning is planning a prison break to free the Pigtails girl. Snow is the one leading the attack. Lightning is apparently in a straight jacket which leads into the original train footage on the prison train back in 2006.
Snow is the one wanting to get back the Pigtails girl but Lightning says she has already been captured by the fal-Cie. She hits Snow and says "You didn't protect her! did you!" to which Snow replies "Therefore I came to help".
The battle taking place in the trailer is really fast paced, more so than any other Final Fantasy game.
Snow and Lightning frees the Pigtails girl who's being taken away by guards. Snow gives her a machine gun and she introduces herself as "Vanilla" (Almost 100% confirmed to be her name now).
Every character in the trailer is voiced.

We'll update you when we get more information.

Source: FF7AC Reunion, Airsworld & Autumn Thread on Neogaf.