Final Fantasy Artniks

Final Fantasy Artniks

Game logo
Publisher(s) Square Enix
Director(s) Kazunari Itakura
Producer(s) Ichiro Hazama
Series Final Fantasy
Platform(s) Mobile phones, GREE
Release date(s)
  • JP November 30, 2012
Genre(s) Social role-playing video game
Mode(s) Multiplayer
Distribution Download

Final Fantasy Artniks is a Japanese video game developed by Square Enix and the GREE social network. It is the second Final Fantasy social game and the second game developed with GREE.

The game is a card game using art assets, characters and battle systems from previous Final Fantasy titles. Players either fight series of battles against enemies and bosses for rewards and rankings, or engage other players.

The game was released on November 30, 2012, and in just over a month, one million players had joined. Square Enix reported in 2013 that social games like Artniks were their most profitable products.

On June 30, 2014, Square Enix and GREE announced a sequel to the game, titled Final Fantasy Artniks Dive, scheduled to be released later in the near future.[1]

Gameplay

Players begin by choosing a main card. They also utilize equipment cards that enhance all characters in play.[2] Ability cards are also used to make attacks stronger and hit points higher.[3] Defeating enemies and completing quests fills a meter that when full makes players enter "Burst Mode", releasing treasure chests.[2][3] Boss combat uses Final Fantasy's active time battle system.[3] Player versus player combat is also possible, and involves eleven cards instead of the five used in boss battles.[3] Winners get points toward the games leaderboard, and also "Mog Medals" that are used to access a mini-game.[2]

Features

Characters, monsters and items from all the main Final Fantasy games appear, as well as Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, Dissidia Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy Type-0, and others.[4] Well known events from previous Final Fantasy titles are occasionally encountered. The game receives updates periodically in the form of "Most Wanted" villains for players to share information about to find and defeat to earn rewards.[4] The first update featured Kefka Palazzo from Final Fantasy VI and the second being Sephiroth from Final Fantasy VII.[4]

Development

The game was first revealed under the temporary title of "Final Fantasy X GREE" on October 23, 2012.[2][5] Theatrhythm Final Fantasy producer Ichiro Hazama collaborated with Kazunari Itakura to create the game.[3] It was the second social game released under the Final Fantasy title and the second collaboration with the Japanese social network GREE.[6] In an interview with Famitsu, Yuichi Itakura explained that the graphics were not remade to have a similar aesthetic like Dissidia or Theatrythm, but were kept similar to their original appearances to appeal to players sense of nostalgia and make the game feel more like a collectible card game.[7] Those the registered early for the games release received a free "summon ticket" reward and signing up for "The World Ends With You Live Remix" as well gave access to two extremely rare Aerith and Bahamut cards.[8] The game was released in Japan on November 30, 2012.

Reception

Famitsu featured Artniks on the cover of "Famitsu GREE" magazine on January 31, 2013, and carried rare character game card "Seifer Almasy".[9] Square Enix revealed on January 11, 2013 that Artniks had reached over one million players in a little over a month, becoming their fourth game to reach one million.[4][10] In February 2013 Square Enix revealed that Artniks, like their other social gaming offerings, was producing "acceptable profits".[11]

References

  1. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (2014-06-30). "Final Fantasy Artniks Dive is a new free-to-play RPG designed for mobile". Polygon. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Spencer (December 3, 2012). "How To Play Final Fantasy Artniks, The New Final Fantasy Crossover Game". Siliconera. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Spencer (November 5, 2012). "Final Fantasy X GREE Explodes With Treasures In Burst Mode". Siliconera. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Spencer (January 11, 2013). "Final Fantasy Artniks Has 1 Million Users, I Wonder How Many Killed Sephiroth". Siliconera. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  5. ↑ Spencer (October 23, 2012). "The World Ends With You Live Remix Set For Winter Release [Update: Screenshots]". Siliconera. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  6. ↑ Spencer (October 31, 2012). "Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Director Making Final Fantasy X GREE". Siliconera. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  7. ↑ "『ファイナルファンタジー × GREE（仮題）』開発スタッフインタビュー――『FF』の新たな挑戦とは!?". Famitsu. November 5, 2012. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  8. ↑ Spencer (October 24, 2012). "Final Fantasy X GREE Brings Together Even More Final Fantasies Than Dissidia". Siliconera. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  9. ↑ Spencer (December 24, 2012). "Famitsu Giving Away Seifer Almasy Card For Final Fantasy Artniks". Siliconera. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  10. ↑ Martin Gaston (February 5, 2013). "Square Enix stung by 'increasingly difficult' console market". GameSpot. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  11. ↑ Sinan Kubba (February 5, 2013). "Square Enix posts $61 million nine-month net loss, net sales up". joystiq. Retrieved March 31, 2013.