Making its first E3 appearance since the recent merger between Square andEnix, Square Enix U.S.A. is poised to take role-playing games (RPGs) to thenext level with a variety of innovative titles.  The new company will continueits efforts to elevate the popularity of RPGs worldwide.  The highly anticipated Final Fantasy® XI, the company's first venture into onlinegaming, will make its North American debut for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and the PC.  The company will bring several high caliber role-playing games to the North American market -- Unlimited Saga�E/font>, Final Fantasy® X-2, STAR OCEAN�E/font> Till the End of Time and Drakengard�E/font> -- allfor the PlayStation 2.   In addition, Square Enix U.S.A. will showcase Final Fantasy® Crystal Chronicles�E/font> for the Nintendo GameCube�E/font>, and  Final Fantasy Tactics�E/font> Advance and Sword of Mana�E/font> for the Game Boy® Advance.

Final Fantasy XI is the first massively multiplayer online role-playinggame (MMORPG) and latest installment for the world-renowned series.  Final Fantasy XI is a cross-platform, cross-continent MMORPG, allowing players toconnect to the same exact world whether they are playing on a PlayStation 2 ora PC.

The title showcases the same award-winning visual content, innovative game play and emotional storyline that has made the Final Fantasy series one of the most popular video game series in the world, selling over 44 million units worldwide to date. Final Fantasy XI incorporates the features the franchise has become known for and has those elements constantly evolve in its ongoing adventure.

In Final Fantasy XI, players become immersed in an expansive, originalstory that includes quests and boss battles.  They can participate in missionseither alone or with other party members and acquire skills such as alchemy,leatherworking, jewel crafting, fishing and many more.  Various communicationstools have been incorporated into Final Fantasy XI to assist communicationbetween players, including easy-to-learn chat and messaging systems. Whetherit be cross platform or cross continental, players can communicate andinteract with each together simultaneously to create a new history for theworld of Vana'diel.

Square Enix U.S.A. recently announced the public beta test program forFinal Fantasy XI.   The beta program is scheduled to begin in June for thePlayStation 2 and July for Windows.  Selected testers will have a chance toexplore the world of Vana'diel in Final Fantasy XI prior to its release.  This title is rated "T" (Teen).


The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) is starting its conferences from May 13-15 and will open its exposition from May 14-16. Check back around that time for any up-to-date Final Fantasy XI related information.