500 c.... sur la ligne de départ

Square USA vient de sortir un communiqué de presse annoncant que son Final Fantasy XI vient de dépasser les 500.000 abonnés. Donc ça fait déjà plus que EverQuest, mais Lineage reste loin devant avec son gros million d'abonnés.

LOS ANGELES, Calif., (January 7, 2004) - Square Enix U.S.A., Inc. (“Square Enix U.S.A.”), the publisher of Square Enix™ interactive products in North America, announced today milestones that were reached due to the successful holiday sales of FINAL FANTASY® XI. The PlayOnline™ service has surpassed 500,000 registered users in North America and Japan combined, with the total online community population (number of active characters) of FINAL FANTASY XI at nearly one million characters.

Released on October 28, 2003 in North America, FINAL FANTASY XI for Windows®, the first online title in the world-renowned series has quickly become one of most popular massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG) to date. The title has garnered several “Best of 2003” nominations and awards among the enthusiast sites and other outlets. FINAL FANTASY XI for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system is scheduled for release in March 2004. The first cross-platform, cross-continent MMORPG, FINAL FANTASY XI allows gamers to connect to the same exact world regardless of whether they are playing on a personal computer (PC) or PlayStation 2 and whether they are playing in North America or Japan. In Japan, FINAL FANTASY XI for the PlayStation 2 and for Windows were released in May and November 2002, respectively. Launched in May 2002 in Japan and October 2003 in North America, the PlayOnline service provides a wide range of online services including games, entertainment and communication. PlayOnline serves as a portal to the world of FINAL FANTASY XI and a gateway to several other applications.

About FINAL FANTASY XI
In FINAL FANTASY XI, players will undertake multiple adventures through vast environments in the world of “Vana'diel,” a persistent world that has more than 100 areas to explore, including mountains, forests, ice plains, deserts, oceans, rivers, castles, and dungeons. The brand new gaming universe contains the award-winning visual content, innovative gameplay and deep storyline seen throughout the FINAL FANTASY series. FINAL FANTASY XI allows players to create their alter ego that will exist in the world of Vana'diel, choosing from a variety of races, facial features, hairstyles and colors. They will be able to play at their own pace and form parties by utilizing the various communication tools that have been incorporated into FINAL FANTASY XI, including easy-to-use chat and messaging systems. The inclusion of “Rise of the Zilart” expansion pack expands the storyline and opens up a variety of higher-level skills and abilities.

FINAL FANTASY XI for Windows is available for a suggested retail price of $49.99 (USD). Subscribers will receive their first 30 days of access without charge. Aside from Internet service provider access charges, the free trial period will begin on the date players create their first Content ID or character. Any additional Content IDs purchased are also available without charge until the end of the free trial period. After 30 days, players can continue to play FINAL FANTASY XI by paying a monthly fee of $12.95 (USD) for one FINAL FANTASY XI character, and can create up to 15 additional characters for an additional charge of $1.00 (USD) per character, per month. Tetra Master®, the online version of the wildly popular and addictive mini-game from FINAL FANTASY IX, also included in the package is available for $1.00 (USD) per month. Payment for monthly access charges must be made by credit card only (restrictions apply).

For more information on PlayOnline, FINAL FANTASY XI, and Tetra Master, please visit the official Web site at http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/index.shtml.