[04/12] FFXIII-3 Domain Name Was Defensive Measure By Square Enix USA

[C i d]

A couple of months back, a trademark filing surfaced for a "Final Fantasy XIII-3," prompting speculation that Square Enix was planning another Final Fantasy XIII numbered sequel to follow the upcoming FFXIII-2. Square Enix Japan's PR department -- or, at least one member of the department -- has at last issued a statement about the registration.

In the latest installment of the weekly Square Enix Channel radio broadcast, Square Enix public relations agent Akio Ofuji explained that the name was just taken as a precaution by the company's US office.

The reason the name was suddenly brought in this installment of the radio broadcast is that one of the show's hostesses, voice actress Asuka Nishi, had apparently been asked by Square Enix to help promote XIII-2, and she decided to do so by contacting Ofuji, who was on business in France at the time. She pleaded with him to let her have a voice role in XIII-3, which she said she'd heard about on the internet.

Ofuji's response was that he himself had first heard about the domain name on the internet. The name was registered by the US office without knowledge of Square Enix Japan.

Final Fantasy XIII was only a minor part of this week's broadcast, which was focused primarily on Fortune Street Wii. To listen to the broadcast for yourself, visit the Square Enix Channel official site. Nishi's conversation with Ofuji appears for a couple of minutes about 3/4 of the way through.

Source: Andriasang


In short, FFXIII-3 is NOT real.... yet. There have been no plans for it at all.

---



In other news,

Final Fantasy XIII fans have spoken on their clothing preference for Serah, and they've opted less skin, more hair, boots, and a cute little arm shield.

Square Enix had fans vote on which of two costumes designed by AKB48 member Yuko Oshima would be released as download content for Final Fantasy XIII-2. The two options were "Exposure and Defense" and "Little Red Riding Hood."


The XIII-2 promotional site was updated today with notice that Exposure and Defense won the vote. It will be offered as post release download content. The download will be free, but Square Enix did not say when it will be released.

The final tally was 16,927 votes for Exposure and Defense and 10,678 votes for Little Red Riding Hood.

You'll recall that Square Enix was also planning on letting fans determine Yuko's outfit for her appearance at the Final Fantasy XIII-2 launch event. This vote was based off "Likes" at the promo site.

When the Like count reached 50,000, Square Enix said Yuko would dress as XIII's Serah. After the 70,000 Like mark had been reached, the costume was updated to XIII-2's Serah. Once the Like count reached 100,000, the costume was updated to what appears to be its final form: Yuko will dress up in the Exposure & Defense download costume.

Source: Andriasang

To summarise, costume A wins. The little red riding hood one loses.
AND costume A will be a FREE DLC.

 

[Martel]

In the latest installment of the weekly Square Enix Channel radio broadcast, Square Enix public relations agent Akio Ofuji explained that the name was just taken as a precaution by the company's US office.

It's about fucking time we had some good news in this section!

The reason the name was suddenly brought in this installment of the radio broadcast is that one of the show's hostesses, voice actress Asuka Nishi, had apparently been asked by Square Enix to help promote XIII-2, and she decided to do so by contacting Ofuji, who was on business in France at the time. She pleaded with him to let her have a voice role in XIII-3, which she said she'd heard about on the internet.

Oh, so internet trolls in Square Enix's US branch (not me, I swear) were responsible for XIII-3 rumours coming into existence. I suppose that explains that, but there are some things you shouldn't troll about. They crossed the line there, and they should all be fired

 

[Gingerbread Lesbian]

Oh the post with the words of wisdom from Mr. I Have Never Played A Western Game Haifwinwidnwidnwi has been deleted. Much appreciation.

The fact Final Fantasy XIII-3 had a trademark bought is not remotely surprising in the first place, Square-Enix themselves have bought past domains far exceeding that current number in the series at the time as do other companies. The only baffling thing is the fact that the U.S branch purchased the domain given that they'd be unable to do shit with it until the game was announced for development in Japan and if Final Fantasy XIII-3 is never announced in Japan it ain't happening.

That said, I don't believe that whoever this Sushi Nish person is had anything to do with the domain being bought, anyone who demanded the voice acting role for the sequel would just have it written in their contract.

 

[L]

Oh, so internet trolls in Square Enix's US branch (not me, I swear) were responsible for XIII-3 rumours coming into existence. I suppose that explains that, but there are some things you shouldn't troll about. They crossed the line there, and they should all be fired

but then you would not get your fainaru fantaji in english

i would be impartial if we were talking about namco here... and not that I really care about the future titles of Square Enix, but eh... I'm just sayin'.

 

[Ohri-Jin]

So you quoted yourself and added a picture, well wow you certainly are Godly indeed, I bow down to you........

Anyways yeah in the first thread about this, where Nathan Drake enlightened us so much, I was damn furious about even the damn thought of it.

Protecting yourselfs from what ...its about the principles and the fact and mere idea of a possible FFXIII-3 should never be in existence.

Rumours are bound to be heard when SE buys trademarks and domains etc...

So SE JP were not even aware of this..

 

[Richard B Riddick]

Helps if you know what cybersquatting is.



People register domain names like finalfantasyxiii-3.com for $9.99 and sell them for $20,000 - $50,000, sometimes.

A good domain name in high demand can be worth $100,000.

 

[Ohri-Jin]

http://www.consolemonster.com/newspost.php?id=0000008633

Activision won this one...check out the article.

Activision win one Modern Warfare domain but the war's not over
News
9 September '11 13:54 BST by David Wriglesworth

Activision has won the rights to the modernwarfare3.com domain.
The domain was originally owned by Anthony Abraham, a former fan of the Call of Duty series, used the domain for an unofficial fansite. Abraham turned against Activision and made the domain redirect to EA’s Battlefield 3 website.
A three-member panel at the National Arbitration Forum decided in favour of Activision after Abraham argued that he was entitled to the domain because the term “modern warfare” is “generic.”
However, it emerged yesterday that this wouldn’t be the end of Activision’s domain problems as a group of people have bought the modernwarfare4.com domain “for opportunistic giggles.”

Opportunitists can be sued. I know people can buy domains, but maybe soon there will be a new rule that people cant just buy certain domains and if they do they are obliged to hand it over or suffer being sued. lol.

 

[ANGRYWOLF]

bah....

While I am happy there evidently won't be a XIII-3 I believe it was absolutely silly for Square USA to register the domain witrhout notifying the home office.

Possible cyber squatting on the name isn't a valid excuse unless you intended to use the -3 name at some point in the future.

Good riddance to -3 then.

The question though remains .
Is it possible to take out Caius/Kaius, who allegedly is stronger than Sephiroth, Kuja, Kefka, Ultimecia, Sin and every other previous FF villain in one game without a sequel.

 

[Stoic Hero]

I feel like it doesn't matter how big your company is as far as domain names go. First come, first serve is a good rule. Activision should not have won that battle.

Anyway, I highly doubt there will be a XIII-3. At least, not for a long time. For some reason they seem to really like Lightning and the XIII games. I guess it's because this is the first game where Sakaguchi wasn't even involved, so they kind of see it as a pet project or something.