Less than five days after arriving in Japan, I was sent off to the
Makuhari Messe convention center to attend Day 2 of Square Enix Party 2007. The
convention was an opportunity for eager fans and media to see and try future
software – both completely new games, and old games that have been remade.
It also served as an opportunity for fans to experience all things
Square Enix in the form of merchandising. There were many opportunities to purchase
Square Enix goods thanks to the Square Enix Goods Shop and the Square Enix
Music CD Shop. The convention also was as an opportunity for fans to express
their love of Square Enix characters through cosplay.
The day started off with a lineup, arriving at nine thirty there was
already a lineup of thousands in front of me. Within half an hour thousands
more were lined up behind me.
At 10 a.m. we were ushered into the convention hall and released on
to the exhibits. Highlight games such as Final Fantasy Tactics Advance 2 for the
Nintendo DS had their own booths set up through out the convention hall where
gamers could try out the new software. Other games that had their own booths
included Final Fantasy 12 Revenant Wings and Final Fantasy
Crystal Chronicles Ring of Fates
for the Nintendo DS
.
A noticeable aspect of the convention was the visible effort to make
sure fans had enough to see and do. Areas of the convention hall were set aside
for fans to sit down and play on their Nintendo DSs, read comic books, or watch
anime. There was even a stage set up for a Square Enix quiz show where
contestants were quizzed on there Square Enix trivia knowledge. A section of
the convention hall was set aside so that fans can review and rate the fan art.
Overall the Square Enix Party 2007 served as a great show case of
future Square Enix software offerings, and as an opportunity for fans to
indulge in all aspects of their favorite game company. From picking up the
plentiful Square Enix merchandise, to playing the latest games, to indulging in
cosplay fans had wide variety of choices for what they could do.