Training Simulations: Square-Enix 25th Extravaganza at PAX

Square Enix has announced the official North American 25-year celebration of Final Fantasy, one of the most groundbreaking video game franchises in history. Since its first release in 1987, Final Fantasy has won hundreds of awards and has received tremendous praise from fans around the world. The franchise titles are currently displayed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s “The Art of Video Games” exhibit that showcases the forty-year evolution of video games as an artistic medium. With fourteen installments of the main game and multiple sequels and spin-offs, the brand has expanded into other areas including motion pictures, anime, merchandise and publications.

In conjunction with the official Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary event in Tokyo, Square Enix will kick-off the North American festivities at Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) Prime 2012 with the franchise’s first “Experience Final Fantasy” event on Friday, August 31 from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the ACT Theatre in Seattle (700 Union Street). The general public is invited to re-experience their most cherished Final Fantasy games through dozens of playable units that span multiple generations and participate in a series of commemorative activities and games for fans of the renowned franchise. Prizes include fan favorite character plushies and a custom Final Fantasy XIII-2 branded PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Attendees will also be able to receive a special 25th anniversary poster featuring Yoshitaka Amano’s artwork.

Near the end of the event at 7:30 p.m., fans will also have the opportunity to learn about the new details about the direction of Lightning’s story through a special video message from the esteemed creators Yoshinori Kitase (producer), Motomu Toriyama (director) and Isamu Kamikokuryo (art director).

The general public is also invited to attend two special concerts celebrating the music of Final Fantasy. The Chicagoland Pops Orchestra and Chorus will perform at the official 25th Anniversary Distant Worlds: The Celebration concert of FINAL FANTASY music on Friday, December 7 at 8:00 p.m. at the Akoo Theatre in Chicago, Illinois. This concert conducted by GRAMMY Award-winning artist Arnie Roth, will be an exclusive, one night engagement of the specially designed program of new celebration arrangements and a pantheon of classic Final Fantasy music from the entire series. Additionally, the Final Fantasy XI concert will be held on Saturday, September 22 at 8:00 p.m. at the Zellerback Auditorium in Berkeley, California.

Anyone whom has gone to a Video Games Live concert will know that Final Fantasy music is quite limited as far as their visual displays go, so these are going to be some of the rare opportunities to get in on the orchestral awesomeness. DON’T MISS OUT!!!!!

-Nate Biller