Final Fantasy IX FMV reportedly completed

[12.23.99] » All the CG movies and sequences for Square's next installment in the Final Fantasy series have been completed, according to videogames.com.

   According to videogames.com, sources within Square USA's Honolulu studio have divulged news that the company's CG animation team has completed development of the movie sequences to be used in Final Fantasy IX: intro, ending, and the usual supply of rendered cutscenes. With the CG cinematic team's work completed, Square is apparently disbanding the team. A company spokesperson noted "the current plan for the Honolulu studio teams that are disbanded are either reassigned to the Honolulu movie team or relocated to Japan to work on the next generation of games."

   So, how do the rendered movies compare to the sequences found in Final Fantasy VII and VIII? Square has likely included at least as many minutes of CG footage as past titles, but it's quite possible the technical quality of the clips will climb even higher -- the Final Fantasy Movie, also in development at the Honolulu studio, is pushing the boundaries of computer animation and will certainly affect the quality of in-game cinematics. There's no telling exactly how realistically Square will portray their characters in the new sequences, however -- Square artist Yoshitaka Amano has publicly stated that Final Fantasy IX will "[become] more of a fantasy game again," something "closer to the original Final Fantasy."

   Final Fantasy IX is currently expected for release on the PlayStation sometime after March 2000, to avoid conflicting with Dragon Quest VII's release. The first offically announced details on the game are expected at the Square Millennium conference in Japan on January 29.