October 31, 2000
Square Plans Multiple Promotions in
Theaters,
at Retail and on TV
COSTA MESA, Calif., October 31, 2000 Square Electronic
ArtsSM L.L.C. (Square Electronic Arts), the exclusive publisher of all
SQUARESOFT® products in North America, today will kick off a nationwide
in-theater promotional campaign for the upcoming release of FINAL FANTASY®
IX. FINAL FANTASY IX, the latest title in the highly acclaimed FINAL FANTASY series, is
the last FINAL FANTASY game for the original PlayStation® game console
and will offer a rich storyline set in completely new 3D environments. FINAL FANTASY IX
will hit store shelves on November 14.
Character artwork from FINAL FANTASY IX will be displayed on popcorn
containers and lobby standees at 244 movie complexes. In addition, FINAL FANTASY IX will
be featured in pre-show trivia slides in 1,941 movie theatres. Participating cinema
complexes include all U.S.-based Cineplex Odeon, Loews, Magic Johnson, Sony and Star
facilities. The campaign runs from November 1 through December 31.
"We are always thrilled with a new release in the FINAL FANTASY
series," said Director of Merchandising, Video Games for Babbage's Etc., Doreen
McKenzie. "The FINAL FANTASY games always prove to be among the top-sellers for our
store, and Im sure FINAL FANTASY IX will be no exception."
Further demonstrating consumers eagerness for the latest FINAL
FANTASY game is the turn out for a recent Demo Day event of the game in San Francisco.
"The Consumer Demo Day event was a huge
success. Fans flew in from as far away as Chicago, Houston, Tucson and waited in line for
two hours for the opportunity to play this highly anticipated game," said Omar
Brodrick, PlayStation store manager at MetreonA Sony Entertainment Center, where the event was held. "Im
sure that FINAL FANTASY IX will be one of the top-sellers this holiday season."
FINAL FANTASY IX merchandise will be available at retail outlets
nationwide starting November 14. Consumers will be able to purchase stickers, patches,
keychains, magnets, wall calendars and lunch boxes. There will also be characters from the
game available in vinyl or resin and a variety of clothing items such as t-shirts,
sweatshirts, tank tops, dress shirts, button down work shirts, visors and caps.
Rounding out the marketing promotional activities, on November 13,
Square Electronic Arts will kick off a television ad campaign for FINAL FANTASY IX. Ads
for the game will appear on selected networks that include MTV, Comedy Central, FOX, UPN,
ESPN/ESPN2, E! and WWF. The campaign will run for five weeks.
About FINAL FANTASY IX
FINAL FANTASY IX takes players through an immersive storyline with
numerous subplots as they play with eight unique characters who use a variety of weapons,
magic and monsters in a quest for good over evil. The game centers around an evil queens
desire to dominate the world. Brahne, the Queen of Alexandria, has begun using
highly-advanced magical weapons to terrorize neighboring kingdoms.
Players follow a group made up of bandits, knights, and magicians lead by a skilled thief,
Zidane, who all must ban together to try to stop the Queen. Soon after embarking on their
quest, they discover that the queens threats merely cover a far more sinister plot.
For the sake of mankind, Zidane and company must put an end to the Queens reign
before she and the evil forces that accompany her can carry out the deadly plan.
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