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Final Fantasy III release frenzies fans

  • By Walt Wyman, GameSpot
  • Posted Aug 24, 2006 3:25 pm PT

From Shinjuku to Akihabara, Japanese gamers lined up for Square Enix's DS port of a role-playing classic and limited-edition DS Lite bundles.

Famitsu.com today reported extensively on the launch of the DS Lite edition of Square Enix's role-playing game Final Fantasy III. Although many other members of the Final Fantasy family have been updated and ported to other systems, this marks Final Fantasy III's first appearance on any system after it debuted on the Famicom (NES) 16 years ago.

According to Famitsu, the FF faithful began lining up at Tokyo's electronics stores in the wee hours of the morning. Yodobashi Akiba, a shop in the Akihabara district, had as many as 80 people camped out in front from 3 a.m. It's not that shortages of the game are expected, either; these diehards were instead hoping to snag one of the numbered, limited-edition Final Fantasy III Crystal Edition DS Lite bundles that also went on sale today. The bundle consists of a copy of the game and a special-edition Crystal White DS Lite, adorned with a design penned by the game's character designer, Akihiko Yoshida.

Lines for the bundles formed at all of Tokyo's major shopping hubs, Famitsu said. At the main branch of Yodobashi Camera, for example, the line was 155 strong at 7 a.m., three hours before opening. Lines also reached over 150 people at the aforementioned Yodobashi Akiba. Big Camera, another electronics megastore in the Ikebukuro neighborhood, had more than 100 waiting impatiently by opening time.

Many of the stores employed various strategies to keep mobbing to a minimum. Some opened their doors early or handed out numbered tickets so that customers couldn't lose their place in line. Stores dedicated cash registers--up to seven in some cases--specifically to service the hordes of Final Fantasy III customers. One store simply held a drawing for the privilege of purchasing the Crystal Edition DS Lite bundles. Anyone lined up by 10:30 a.m. was eligible to enter, and the winners were announced 30 minutes later.

108 Comments

  • N-DAWG88

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 2:40 pm GMT

    Yeah, this is the real three, the one that's never been released in the US.

  • elite11

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 7:43 am GMT

    Andro_jeans,didnt you read ,it is the third one duuuhh

  • andro_jeans

    Posted Aug 28, 2006 12:52 pm GMT

    Is this the actual FFIII or is this VI for the DS? Anyone Know? Like the one with Kefka and Gesthal?

  • jetsethi

    Posted Aug 28, 2006 11:13 am GMT

    That really isn't all that special a thing to pay 350 for. I don't know why people complain so much about the "crap " that releases state-side.Japan gets it first because It comes from there,but I don't see anything that cool that is worth complaining about. I don't really feel that I'm missing out.

  • robio12

    Posted Aug 28, 2006 6:21 am GMT

    i gotta say i just bought a ds lite a week ago and it is quickly becoming the most satisfying gaming experience i have ever had. Never have i seen a handheld that continually churns out games with depth comparable to console games. Long live the ds

  • monkkito

    Posted Aug 28, 2006 1:23 am GMT

    I wish we would also get those limited edition DS Lites, i would totally get one and forget about my old, silver, phat, not so bright DS

  • nramsey34

    Posted Aug 26, 2006 9:28 pm GMT

    I love the Japanese!

  • Sw0rDMaN

    Posted Aug 26, 2006 1:26 pm GMT

    Man i wish i was a white man living in Japan =( im so tired of japanese games never being imported here or release at the same date

  • Charlie2688

    Posted Aug 26, 2006 12:39 pm GMT

    Now I am going to buy a DS !

  • cesarotromundo

    Posted Aug 26, 2006 10:48 am GMT

    sweetness

  • L1qu1dSword

    Posted Aug 26, 2006 10:19 am GMT

    go nintendo!

  • kenerhai

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 9:03 pm GMT

    man, why cant we ever get cool stuff like custom hardware and game bundles in america? they dont think japanese games will ever do good in america, but they always do, then they turn around and go "well it sold good in japan and america, so well give the europeans something cool" america always gets jipped on his kinda stuff. japan gets it first so they get all the cool stuff, then europe gets cool stuff cause they had to wait. and we dont get crap, unless you import stuff, and im sick of it!

  • narutoramen

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 5:52 pm GMT

    i so want the FFIII DS. but $350+ to import one is way way too expensive

  • nightclaw

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 3:25 pm GMT

    I wish i lived in Japan... I can't wai for this game to come out!

  • joeamis

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 3:07 pm GMT

    I may buy a DS for it.

  • blackIceJoe

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 2:50 pm GMT

    Final Fantasy III will be a great game when it first came out never made it to the U.S. and now it will so that will be great.

  • neoboru

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 2:09 pm GMT

    the real reason people wait in line for anything is not so much for the item or movie its to be around people who like the same thing, If your willing to sit from some time in the morning till store opening the guy or girl behind you is also so you will of course have something to talk about. It's all just the social aspect of it

  • meimnobody

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 11:53 am GMT

    Try five to six times the price. It seems Square-Enix only made about 20,000 of them and places selling them for import were pricing them for over 300 bucks.

  • Mp5slipknot

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 11:19 am GMT

    I'm so happy this game is going to be coming to the DS. The original NES game was great (You can find the tranlsated ROM online)

  • orionamra

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 10:47 am GMT

    And "meimnobody" we are talking about portable console not home console

  • orionamra

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 10:45 am GMT

    FF sells well no matter in that console go out and now we have the prove because it's sold out in DS crap

  • mr_squibble

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 10:25 am GMT

    Cool stuff. FF3 for the DS is just one of the many excellent games to be on the lookout for this fall. I'll be in line for the Wii too, but will probably do so at 6-7 am, and not camp out all night. I went early to get a PSP, but those things were so darn easy to get that it wasn't even worth it.

  • gonzalezj1

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 10:23 am GMT

    I really hope this game is worth the hype.

  • Ryodude

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 9:21 am GMT

    Don't worry about not getting a crystal DS. Eventually, someone will put it on ebay for 3 times the price. Good to see that they're excited. Hopefully it won't be that way here. I've already decided to do a camp-out for the Wii release.

  • StillWingless

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 8:55 am GMT

    and another reminder that i need to reserve this game.

    i wish i could get my hands on one of those crystal DS, though. they get all this really cool final fantasy stuff in japan, and while i'm glad we're finally getting a special edition of a game when FFXII comes out... i still feel kinda jealous.

  • mos333

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 8:50 am GMT

    Well, they did say if this one goes well, they'll regularly develop for the DS. That seems already very likely.

  • ubj007

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 8:33 am GMT

    Again?

  • gokuofheaven

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 8:27 am GMT

    Oltolomorth, i agree too. I'm just one of those gamers who doesn't fit into the whole "american society" pattern with Halo franchise or anything similar. I'm an artist by heart so i pretty much have an open mind for every game as long as it's enjoyable. I just think it's a little bit ridiculous with people sleeping on streets for a game. I believe the Hype, but i'm hoping these people have lives and have other things to do like go to work.

  • meimnobody

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 8:02 am GMT

    orionamra both the DS and GBA have better versions of Final Fantasy 1-6 on them then will be on the PSP emulation crap.

    Heck the gc versions of Resident Evil 1,2,3 are better then the PS1 versions especially the Resident Evil remake.

  • meimnobody

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 7:59 am GMT

    Square won't put a FF on the psp. Software sales on the psp are crap. Only three titles have gone past a million on the psp most don't even go past 100,000. Heck Square has been estactic about the success of their games on the gba and ds. Btw Final Fantasy VII was planned for the N64. The PS1 game can be put on the DS just make it two carts heck they put Resident Evil 1 PS1 version on the DS and it plays with less load times then the PS1 did.

  • orionamra

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 7:49 am GMT

    I'll definely buy DS Lite only for FF3, but I would like that the remake was for PSP. Why? with the power of PSP Square could do 3D models looks like the FMV's characters with facial expressions, better animation, voices, more FMV during the game, more cut's scenes prerendered in real time, better quality sound and music. In other words the FF3 could have the high standard of quality that Square usually offer. And FFVII it's dificult to port for DS because DS haven't enough power to do it. If you want a portable version of the game you better wait for the emulation of PS One's games for PSP. Then you can play FF1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9, Vagrant Story, Parasite Eve1,2, Xenogear, Musashi, Resident1,2,3, Metal Gear Solid1, etc

  • Flan_Man

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 7:45 am GMT

    Oltolomorth has a very good point. I would also agree with highvolts12 about American gamers doing similar things. How many people got stabbed for their XBox360 on release? Granted, FF3 is a game and not a system but the principle is the same. People like their games, get over it.

  • highvolts12

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 7:16 am GMT

    Oltolomorth is right. No matter how good the game is people in America will buy the sequal. Look at Dirge of Cerebrus. And if Japanese people are bad how many people in the United State only play Halo. Were just the same as them if not worse.

  • Oltolomorth

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 7:06 am GMT

    gokuofheaven, honestly I agree with you, however, I believe that no other country is all that different, the US in particular. Every year a new Madden is released and every year it sells better than the year before. Same thing goes with every final fantasy, same thing goes with every Zelda(even wind waker, where many hated it, it still sold out everywhere). I dunno I just think that Japanese despite culture are still human, and that seems to be a rather human tendency.

  • meimnobody

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 6:59 am GMT

    It is being reported that FF3 sold about 300,900 copies it's first day. It seems most of the weekly shipment sold out that day. This was released on a weekday btw rather then a weekend.

  • gokuofheaven

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 6:27 am GMT

    i love the people of japan and their culture but i'm starting to think that they are very narrow-minded about games ... pretty much going crazy over any Final Fantasy game that comes out. They need to step outside the FF circle and play something else for a change. Sleeping on the streets to get a copy is just too funny after they do this for every FF game that comes out there. Give it a couple of weeks and you can find a copy at any and every store.

  • ffgothic

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 6:10 am GMT

    too bad they didn't make it for PSP

  • metdevthegamer

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 5:26 am GMT

    mhder said:
    "metdevthegamer
    I wouldn't rule out the likelihood of such an event happening even for them (event being crazed fans swarming delivery man). -- Crazed fans on a delivery man? I'd rule it out. The thought hasn't even crossed their minds. There have been thousands of big releases with people lining up since the middle of the night and not an incident to speak of. We've had a few years of the Xbox and PS2 generations and there's been beatings and robberies. It seems normal here but it's one of those things that can't happen in Japan.. especially when you have nowhere to run - you going to train home with your stolen goods?"

    Never say never. Such an event hasn't happened yet, but the possibility is............aw hell, what's the point of explaining? Could be here for hours posting. Dropping subject.

  • mhder

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 5:10 am GMT

    metdevthegamer
    I wouldn't rule out the likelihood of such an event happening even for them (event being crazed fans swarming delivery man). -- Crazed fans on a delivery man? I'd rule it out. The thought hasn't even crossed their minds. There have been thousands of big releases with people lining up since the middle of the night and not an incident to speak of. We've had a few years of the Xbox and PS2 generations and there's been beatings and robberies. It seems normal here but it's one of those things that can't happen in Japan.. especially when you have nowhere to run - you going to train home with your stolen goods?

  • ffmarco

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 4:48 am GMT

    cool, It will be a top-seller in Japan.Considering this a the first time FFIII is ported and completely remade on handheld, the huge success of ds in Japan, FFIII might become the top-seller this year there and who knows, it might reach and even surpass FFXII sales.
    I can´t wait for FFIII, my only RPG on the ds is Lunar: Dragon Song and really the game was really meh..., but FFIII is going to change my RPG experience on the ds.

  • MSG-Deathscythe

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 2:11 am GMT

    Can't wait. This is the only FF I haven't played yet, besides that online-only FFXI. I agree with those posting that FFVI is the best ever of the series. FFVII fans, don't hate me, that's just my opinion. I hope that Square-Enix will soon port FFVI and FFVII too to the DS. It's ok if they'll do it for the PSP but I prefer the DS because of the touch pad. Then maybe they can do Vagrant Story, then FF Tactics, Front Mission ... etc.

  • metdevthegamer

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 1:48 am GMT

    mhder said:
    "metdevthegamer
    I'd hate to be the delivery man over there. They probably need bodyguards on hand just in case. --???????? Umm hello? This is Japan, people wait patiently and wouldn't complain. People actually have manners.'

    Take a chill pill, I'm only joking. And yes, while it's true that residents of Japan are generally kind and polite, I wouldn't rule out the likelihood of such an event happening even for them (event being crazed fans swarming delivery man).

  • mhder

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 1:35 am GMT

    metdevthegamer
    I'd hate to be the delivery man over there. They probably need bodyguards on hand just in case. --???????? Umm hello? This is Japan, people wait patiently and wouldn't complain. People actually have manners.

  • metdevthegamer

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 12:22 am GMT

    I'd hate to be the delivery man over there. They probably need bodyguards on hand just in case.

  • manny_stlye

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 12:15 am GMT

    Pwnoage!!!

  • mr_gouda

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 12:02 am GMT

    Sweet! But I'd love to see the original Final Fantasy Tactics on the DS. Controlling the stradegy stuff with the stylus would totally rock. Plus, it'd be portable! Sweet!

  • t-bag11

    Posted Aug 24, 2006 11:38 pm GMT

    i can't wait for this game to come out. it looks like one of the best ds games yet.

  • nintendorocks

    Posted Aug 24, 2006 11:16 pm GMT

    Japan...You and your Final Fantasy...

    Yeah, that new DS Lite is looking great and so is Final Fantasy III. Only a couple more monthes!

  • jakeboudville

    Posted Aug 24, 2006 11:13 pm GMT

    this game is gonna be great

  • Igwababa

    Posted Aug 24, 2006 11:01 pm GMT

    word

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