Final Fantasy

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Final Fantasy (ファイナルファンタジー, Fainaru Fantajī^?) is a series of computer and console role-playing games produced by Square Enix (originally Square Co., Ltd.). It is considered to be one of the most widely distributed video game franchises of all time, and includes standard console role-playing games, portable games, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game, games for mobile phones, three anime productions, and two full length CGI films. Unlike most game series, the separate installments bearing the "Final Fantasy" name are nearly always unconnected in terms of plot and gameplay specifics, and are sequels in name only. In terms of numerical sequels, it is the longest-running video game series, with Final Fantasy XII having recently been released in 2006.

The first installment of the series premiered in Japan on December 18, 1987, and Final Fantasy games have subsequently been localized for markets in North America, Europe and Australia, on numerous video game consoles as well as IBM PC compatible computers and several different models of mobile phones. Future installments have been announced to appear on future platforms such as the Wii, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 game systems. Two upcoming titles for the PS3 include Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy Versus XIII. Final Fantasy is Square Enix's most successful franchise, and the third biggest selling video game franchise of all time, having sold over 63 million units worldwide as of Spring 2006.

As of Winter 2006, twelve games have been released as part of the main (numbered) series. There are also many spinoffs and related titles.

Overview

See also: List of Final Fantasy titles

Square Co., Ltd. first entered the Japanese video game industry in the mid 1980s, developing a variety of simple RPGs for Nintendo's Famicom Disk System (FDS), a disk-based peripheral for the Family Computer (also known as the "Famicom," and known internationally as the Nintendo Entertainment System). By 1987, declining interest in the FDS had placed Square on the verge of bankruptcy. At approximately the same time, Square designer Hironobu Sakaguchi began work on an ambitious new fantasy role playing game for the cartridge-based Famicom, inspired in part by Enix's popular Dragon Quest (known to some in the United States as Dragon Warrior). Sakaguchi had plans to retire after the completion of the project so he named it Final Fantasy because it was his final game, although it was also going to be Square's final game. It's commonly believed that the game was named Final Fantasy because of Square and not Sakaguchi, although Sakaguchi himself has confirmed it was named because of his plans for retirement. Either way, Final Fantasy turned out to be far from Square's or Sakaguchi's last game. Final Fantasy reversed Square's lagging fortunes, and became their flagship franchise.

Read more at Wikipedia.org