TOKYO--Dragon Quest publisher Square Enix has revealed that Code Age, first announced with the release of Dragon Quest VIII last November, will emerge as a manga series before being developed as a video game.

The first installment of Code Age will arrive in the next issue of Shonen Gangan, which arrives in Japanese bookstores February 12. Code Age's tale follows the story of youths pressured to make decisions in a world that is falling apart. "In order to survive, mankind must evolve," explains Code Age's intro.

Shonen Gangan, a monthly manga, is known for its popular Fullmetal Alchemist series, also published by Square Enix. Fullmetal Alchemist's success was based in part on a number of video games as well as an animated television series. Early signs suggest that Code Age's evolution will take a similar path.

Few details are known about the Code Age game except that it's under the direction of Yusuke Naora, who has worked on a number of Square Enix titles, including Chrono Trigger, The Bouncer, and Final Fantasy VII, VIII, and X.