March 2008 Archives
Week Two Updates
- Posted on
- March 31, 2008 9:26 PM
- in
- Memberland
To kick off week two, we're updating the site with more CRISIS CORE content: Q&A with Hajime Tabata Part 2, 30-second and 15-second TV spots and Aerith and Sephiroth wallpapers.
We're also pleased to announce that FINAL FANTASY FABLES: Chocobo's Dungeon will be coming to Wii on July 8th. You can read more about it in the press release.
A whole week old and the MEMBERS machine is still churning out hits like the day we debuted.
CRISIS CORE Launch Event Diary
- Posted on
- March 28, 2008 5:10 PM
- in
- Behind the Games
Here's the rest of the event diary by our PR manager Sonia Im.
1:20 p.m.
Check in with the retail manager at SCEA and start setting up. After the Audio/Visual check, we all split up into groups to put up the window clings, prepare the art display and set up the merchandise. Here's where everyone's obsessive tendencies go into full swing: a microscopic piece of dust is stuck between the frames (it must be removed!), the window cling isn't centered (it must move to the left 4 millimeters!), Cloud's Buster Sword needs to be rotated (by 2 degrees!).
3:00 p.m.
We begin setting up the Shinra ID station, loading the XMB [cross-media bars] to the PSPs and, lo and behold, Romeo (Merchandise/Sales) is still setting up the merchandise! Here's the thing: the shelves he's so meticulously setting up the figures on have to come down so the art can be hung. (Note: Romeo's obsession with the merchandise will make returns throughout.)
4:30 p.m.
The store is shut down so we can seriously set up! Between the awesome PlayStation Store staff and the rest of the crew, the setup goes pretty smoothly.
6:05 p.m.
Here we go! Doors open and everyone heads to the Shinra ID card station to have their cards made. A lot of the attendees then head over to the art area where there are concept art, story boards and merchandise, including these really awesome, high-end figures of Cloud and Sephiroth from the Masterpiece Arts series. On the way back to the ID station, people stop at the theater to catch screenings of the trailers and check out the game.
7:00-ish (getting hard to keep track of time)
Our MC gets the crowd going, and we start the raffle. Coincidentally, #77 wins one of the special Tetsuya Nomura lithographs. The other prizes are themed, and each package consists of a variety of merchandise: the "Cloud Award," with a Cloud Play Arts figure and Cloud silver pendant/necklace; the "Sephiroth Award," with a Sephiroth Play Arts figure and Sephiroth pendant/necklace; and the "Shinra Award," with a Shinra card case, a Shinra pin badge and a SOLDIER key chain.
The ID station procedure is a bit grueling for the staff, but we trudge through and successfully distribute badges to everyone. This was one part of the event we were a little worried about (it was something new for us and the equipment was not ours), but it all ends up working out in the end. Whew!
7:30-ish
The first hundred start moving out with commemorative shirt and ID card in hand, and we have a bit of lag time while we reset for the next group. Guess who's back rearranging the merchandise? Told you he'd make a comeback! He continues this throughout the night, a new pose about every fifteen minutes.
8:00-ish
We start bringing in the next hundred. Since the event is going so smoothly our MC puts together an impromptu trivia session with attendees, game show-style in the theater area. The winner takes home an FFVII Advent Children poster and UMD, and the runner ups get the poster.
Little after 9:00
Wow where did the time go? And are we actually done on time? Time to close up shop.
Little after 10:00
And we're done! Record time too! We're so stoked that everyone seemed to have a great time (event staff included)!
Last words
Thank you to the unbelievably awesome crew at the PlayStation Store! Your passion makes these events great every time. And thank you, thank you to our amazing fans! Without you we're nothing, and don't doubt for a second that we don't totally appreciate it.
XOXO from everyone at Square Enix!
CRISIS CORE Launch Event Diary - Preview
- Posted on
- March 27, 2008 8:32 PM
- in
- Behind the Games
We'll post the full article tomorrow, but here's the preview of what's coming:
CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII- EVENT DIARY
By Sonia Im, Senior PR Manager,
Events
Alright, press release out, replies complete on SCEA [Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.]'s blog, went through check list for the event a million times. Time to grab a quick bite with Amelia and Klee (other PR peeps) before we head over to the PlayStation store in San Francisco.
It's event day, and the ship date for CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII-, so things are a bit crazy today for the PR and event teams. Thank goodness that the event leads were so on top of the pre-event stuff! For those of you looking to get into event planning, you may want to do some behind the scenes research before you dive in ;) There's a lot of stuff that goes on for weeks, often months before the event actually happens -- I find my obsessive nature to be a good quality when it comes to events!
Sweet! There's already like 50 people in line. We're stoked but know there will be no chance to eat until after 10 tonight so we inhale some grub and head over.
...To be continued!
To those who live and breathe CRISIS CORE...
- Posted on
- March 26, 2008 11:16 AM
- in
- Behind the Games
1. To those who missed out on the preorder opportunity:
Good news! The limited-edition Shinra UMD cases are still available with the purchase of CRISIS CORE at Amazon, GameCrazy and GameStop, while supplies last.
With the Shinra aesthetic in mind, and based on what we thought Shinra might offer to their employees, we created this special item. The supplies are running low so you'd better get moving if you want one!
2. To those who already created Shinra Company ID Card Signatures on SQUARE ENIX MEMBERS:
We tweaked the generator a little so your names should now display in a clearer font. If you've already created a signature, you will have to regenerate one to see the difference. Just go to the signature generator page, and click on the "Edit Signature" button.
3. To those who entered the CRISIS CORE Official Soundtrack giveaway:
Your comments are most appreciated. We received thousands of messages, memoirs and manuscripts on how you purchased a PSP just to play CRISIS CORE, on how you first met FINAL FANTASY VII, and on how CRISIS CORE will be the best PSP game ever. We read them all. We no longer have time to play the Squats Test. But don't bother — keep them coming.
CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII- Now On Sale
- Posted on
- March 25, 2008 2:42 PM
- in
- Behind the Games
The latest entry in the COMPILATION of FINAL FANTASY VII is now available at all major video game retailers, and as a special metallic silver package in limited quantities at Best Buy.
Set before the events of FINAL FANTASY VII, CRISIS CORE follows SOLDIER operative Zack Fair on his journey to SOLDIER 1st Class.
SQUARE ENIX MEMBERS is proud to host a giveaway for 10 copies of the CRISIS CORE Original Soundtrack, autographed by composer Takeharu Ishimoto. Entry into the drawing is available only to registered members, so sign up soon if you haven't already!
To bring the festivities into the real world, there's a launch party tonight in San Francisco. Attendees can get a personalized Shinra ID card (while supplies last, of course). More details can be found in the press release.
If you aren't able to attend the launch party, though, we still have plenty here on the MEMBERS site. Head on over to the CRISIS CORE featured page for further information, but the Squats Test alone is enough to keep us here on the MEMBERS staff occupied.
SQUARE ENIX MEMBERS
- Posted on
- March 24, 2008 5:00 PM
- in
- Memberland
Welcome, on this first day of operations for SQUARE ENIX MEMBERS, the premier destination for all of the latest and greatest Square Enix information in North America!
To kick off, we've lined up a series of special articles with some of the development staff behind CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII-, FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: Ring of Fates and THE WORLD ENDS WITH YOU. Along with plenty of other exclusive content, including games and contests, we've got some big plans we'll be rolling out over the next several months.
Most of all, thank you for your patronage. We hope you enjoy what we have to offer.
