"Song of the week" #13

"Song of the week" #13 is all about... 13! So here's the main (?) theme from Final Fantasy Versus XIII, a Square Enix video game still in development, despite being unveiled in 2006.

"Somnus" by Yoko Shimomura and Aundréa Hopkins
From the album "Drammatica", 2008

I can't wait for Versus XIII to get released (will it ever happen?); to stay on topic, here's the latest wonderful trailer, published in 2011:

Final Fantasy XIV: Letter from the Producer LIVE Part V Q&A

Letter from the Producer LIVE Part V aired on YouTube some hours ago. As always, it will be published soon as a not-live video, most likely with subtitles in different languages; in the meanwhile, check this official thread with all the Q&As (note from Bayohne: "Please note that after we create the full Q&A summary, it will be posted in the normal "Letter from the Producer" forum and this thread will be removed". I'll update the link when this happens). Click here to check the video and the full Q&A text summary in one of the available languages.

Some highlights:

• The housing system (for Free Companies and individual players) will be available with the first major update after release
• Focus right now is on developing the game for PC and PlayStation 3. No real info on a possible PlayStation 4 release
• There will be a downloadable version of the game for PC and PS3
• Summoner (and Arcanist) will be available at launch
• 1.0 players will be able to reallocate their attribute points
• Shouts (/shout) will now reach an entire area
• Legacy Config: players will be able to toggle their controls and movement system like they were in 1.0 (example: turning and running instead of backpedaling)
• Fall damage can't make you die (worst scenario: you'll be left with 1 HP)
• After the housing system, chocobo raising will be implemented as well
• Gatherers (Disciples of the Land) will have a chance to find a Treasure Map while gathering: this will contain a hint of a location, where many monsters will spawn. Defeating them will give the players a reward
• The global cooldown on actions (which was implemented in alpha) has been reduced by 0.5 seconds
• Gilgamesh will be in A Realm Reborn (mini-scenario quests)
• The first expansion, which will also come with a new playable race, will be released within two years of launch
• Different functionalities will be available on smartphones (example: check your character data or items and quests database)
• Minions: you can bring a pet along with you (example: the baby Behemoth shown on New Year's day)
• Character creation benchmark will be released after Beta test phase 3
• During Beta test phase 3, we'll get to know which world will be connected to which data center

FFXIV A Realm Reborn: first benchmark now available + new videos

The first Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn official benchmark, titled Exploration, is now available for download: click here (UK), here (DE), here (FR), here (NA) or here (JP). Also, three new videos have been released by Square Enix. The first of them uses real-time benchmark footage; we had a small preview of the second video with yesterday's scans. Enjoy!

I'm in love with the music which plays @ 1:05 during the first video!

FFXIV: A Realm Reborn scans show Ul'dah, new character models and more

Final Fantasy XIV new scans surfaced, giving us a small preview of Ul'dah, Limsa Lominsa, new character models, hairstyles and more! Here we go...

FFXIV: A Realm Reborn beta start date and new screenshots

Today, the start date for A Realm Reborn beta test (phase 1) has been announced: February 25! Also, acceptance e-mails "will be sent out in the next few days" (source). But there's more, a new Developers' blog post, titled I left my heart..., and Letter from the Producer XLIII are here with a bunch of new screenshots:

FATE (Full Active Time Events): "These events will take place in non-instanced areas and appear at random. Players can participate by simply being within proximity of the event, and there's no need to form parties. Rewards are automatically distributed when it's over, making it easy to jump in and have fun". Screenshots:

"If you're up to the challenge, an instanced dungeon designed with level 30 players in mind will also be ready for testing. The boss has a few tricks up its sleeve that are sure to give you a run for your money":

Pics collection from Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn media tour

Here are some photos from FFXIV: A Realm Reborn media tour.

"Meetings, meetings, and more meetings today!" (click here to read this post; you can see some mandragoras on the third photo!)

From Developers' blog post From LA with love, we get to see a "radical A Realm Reborn elevator door art" and some members of North American and Japanese Community & Services team. From left to right: Devin “Camate” Casadey, Matt “Bayohne” Hilton, Paul "Okipuit" Malixi, Bethany "Rukkirii" Stout, "Triairy".

And now, some venue and gadgets pics!

"Song of the week" #10, #11, #12

Valentine's Day is almost here, so what about celebrating it with not one, not two, but three nice love songs? These aren't the usual "I-love-you songs", and I hope you like them as I do! (Check "Song of the week" #3 and #4 too!)

"When you're gone" by The Cranberries
From the album "To the faithful departed", 1996
Note: it's simply beautiful, isn't it?

"Soon we'll be found" by Sia
From the album "Some people have real problems", 2008
Note: not only this is a very good song, but it also got one of the music videos I like the most; remember to toggle fullscreen!

"Stay" by Rihanna and Mikky Ekko
From the album "Unapologetic", 2012

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn quick news

Latest official news:

• Unused buddy passes which came with Final Fantasy XIV (1.0), can be used in A Realm Reborn
• At the moment, there are no plans for illustrating all of the Twelve. However, there will be statues of them (in beta test) and more later
• It will be possible to change the directional orientation so that the mini-map is based on your character’s line of sight
• Item binding: click
• Beta test (phase 1 & 2): Conjurer, Lancer, Archer classes will be available from the start. Gladiator can be unlocked after completing specific objectives. "Tanks will be very much needed for content like instanced raids (the level 25 dungeon in particular)"
• A new Developers' blog post, titled Best day of the week, shows us FFXIV producer Naoki Yoshida playing with the PS3 version of A Realm Reborn:

FFXIV A Realm Reborn beta test: new dungeon and first FATE screenshots

New Developers' blog post, new sneak peeks! This time we get to see the first screenshot showing a Full Active Time Event (FATE system), a new enemy in an unknown instanced dungeon (beautiful!), along with two Lalafells in Gridania's Adventurers’ Guild.

Nokia FB contest: win Lumia 820 + wireless shell + Fatboy charging pillow

"We've challenged students from renowned art and design institutes to take part in the Nokia Lumia 820 Design challenge and to re-imagine the wireless charging shell of the Nokia Lumia 820. Our jury of experts has picked a shortlist from all the amazing designs": click here by February 13 to vote one of the nice entries and you could win a Nokia Lumia 820 Windows Phone 8 smartphone + a Lumia 820 wireless charging shell with the winning design printed on it + a Fatboy wireless charging pillow. 3 of each are up for grabs; good luck!

FFXIV Eorzea Haiku EU contest: win a beta key

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn beta test will start soon. What about trying to win a beta key? If you are resident in a PAL territory country, you can entry the Eorzea Haiku contest. You have time till February 14 to share your Eorzea related Haiku; a Haiku is a Japanese lyric based verse with three lines alternating with five syllables on the first line, seven syllables on the second line and five syllables on the third line. The lines do not rhyme with each other. Click here to peruse all the details and enter. 30 keys are up for grabs; good luck!

Note: don't forget that, if you own a FFXIV Legacy account, you're guaranteed to get a beta registration code before phase 1 starts.

FFXIV A Realm Reborn: new screenshots from benchmark and character creation

Letter from the Producer XLII is now live, and we get to see new screenshots from the upcoming beta test and beta benchmark. "Although phase one will be limited to areas around Gridania like the alpha test, there will be plenty of Full Active Time Events to try, and we've put everything we've got into creating an exciting game experience. It won't be long now before the testing begins, and in my next letter you can expect an announcement for the starting date". Also, a few days after February 10, Letter from the Producer LIVE Part V will air on YouTube.

Elezen female and Lalafell male: