Final Fantasy XIII Premier Live Blog

The press conference will look something like this.

Square Enix is holding a major event in Tokyo's Odaiba area today to announce Final Fantasy XIII's release date and price.

Sure, the information has already leaked out. The price, the date -- we already know all of it. You already know all if it too, if you read stories like this and this.

But regardless of that, I'm going to attend the event and enjoy myself. And you're going to read about the event on this page, on the main event page, and on the site mobile blog and enjoy yourself!

And you're going to tell your friends about it! And they're going to read about it and enjoy themselves even more than you. Because, you see, you're not going to tell them that all the information was leaked out.

Assuming Square Enix provides seats (the invite lists this as a "party-style" event, so it may be standing-only), I'll be live blogging the proceedings here in this space.

Even if there are seats, I'm not necessarily sure there'll be anything worth live blogging, what with all the leaks. At the very least, I'll be sure and pass along the make of Tetsuya Nomura's shoes.

20:57 -- I'll have more on FFXIII shortly!

20:57 -- I was updating via the mobile blog, so check that for now.

20:57 -- Hope no one was waiting!

20:57 -- ... Oops. Looks like I forgot to kill off the live blog!

19:22 -- I'm going to go play the game now... I may not return, so check the mobile blog for updates.

19:20 -- I think they're taking a break.

19:18 -- Hmm... doesn't look like we'll get a look today, though.

19:18 -- He also says that Sony is thinking of releasing a bundle version with FFXIII.

19:18 -- He mentions that the PS3 slim had extremely good sell through.

19:17 -- Kaz is going over the history of Final Fantasy on the PS format.

19:16 -- He's going to lead us in a toast.

19:16 -- Kaz Hirai takes the stage.

19:15 -- Hmm... sounds like Spring?

19:14 -- But, he expects a "one season" lag.

19:14 -- He says they can't give a specific an exact time.

19:14 -- She asks Kitase about the overseas release.

19:13 -- Now Mona is asking questions to the two.

19:11 -- Toriyama and Kitase take the stage.

19:10 -- They've got demo units today!

19:10 -- Oh yeah!

19:08 -- That's somewhat high...

19:08 -- With tax, 9,240 yen.

19:08 -- Price is 8,800 yen.

19:08 -- Yep, 12/17...

19:08 -- Wada admits that people know the date already.

19:07 -- Imperial Hot takes the stage

19:06 -- Man... I knew I recognized her!

It's Mona Yamamoto!

19:06 -- The footage finishes and the MC takes the stage.

19:06 -- They're showing trailer footage set to the demo title screen's background music.

19:04 -- The screen shows realtime images of Pulse I presume.

19:04 -- There's a giant Cocoon above us all!

19:04 -- HOLY.... the lights just came on.

19:03 -- Ooh... this looks kinda introish.

19:03 -- All text.

19:03 -- Actually, it's more of a description of the background story -- fal'cie, l'cie, etc...

19:02 -- They're showing a trailer.

19:02 -- Where's my damn Pulse!

19:02 -- WOOOOOOOT!

19:02 -- HERE WE GO!!!

19:01 -- Man... this Cocoon drink is strong!

19:01 -- I wonder if they have a Pulse.

19:01 -- It's getting hard to type though.

19:01 -- Man... this Cocoon drink is great.

18:58 -- They're fixing up the MC. But she don't need no fixing!

18:57 -- I think they're about to start.

18:51 -- Ooh... I see Kaz Hirai speaking with the Famitsu dude.

18:50 -- But the Japanese media are on the floor and on the tables with their laptops, so I'm doing the same.

18:50 -- The place is elaborately decorated... definitely more of a party than a press conference.

18:50 -- They've let us in.