Final Fantasy XII Launch at HMV

I am ill and off work. Even so, I dragged my virus-ravaged, still-coughing body into Central London this afternoon in order to cover the European launch of Final Fantasy XII at HMV in Oxford Street. Executive producer Akitoshi Kawazu and visual designer/co-director Hiroshi Minagawa were there. Also, I heard rumours of games-related freebies ;)

There were about two hundred people at the event. HMV had encouraged cosplayers to turn up, so the audience was a nice change from the black-metal-t-shirt-wearing unwashed masses that I normally see at this sort of thing.

The drill was pretty simple:

1. Turn up early.
2. Buy a copy of Final Fantasy XII, and/or associated merchandise.
3. Put on a wristband in sight of the cashier.
4. Wait around for hours in the queue while they do the cosplay awards and a superficial interview and sign stuff for the 197 people that arrived before you.

I missed out Stage 1 so I have no idea how they selected winning cosplayers. I also missed out on the posters they were giving away. It’s okay, I made up for it by surreptitiously detaching one from a wall when the staff weren’t looking…

Lots of photos are below. I do apologise for not getting anyone’s name. If I were a proper journalist I would probably be fired on the spot for such superficial coverage. Lucky I own and run this site myself, eh? I really should get some business cards printed up so that I can get in touch with people without all that awkward business of trying to conduct interviews in the aisles of a very busy HMV.

A black mage and one of many Clouds present. Is it just me or is his hair attempting to climb away from his head?

Sephiroth Kadaj from Final Fantasy: Advent Children and Lulu from Final Fantasy X.

My Final Fantasy knowledge is woefully lacking. I’m not sure who any of these girls are meant to be. I’m thinking blonde Yuna That’s Princess Ashe from Final Fantasy XII on the right. A Google Image search is strongly suggesting Penelo from Final Fantasy XII for the girl in the middle. Well, I just bought the game so I’ll find out tonight. I really don’t have a clue as to what the moogle-rabbit person on the left might be. The girl on the left is a moogle. Apparently they have giant rabbit ears these days.

I like the way this photo of fans illustrates the international appeal of Final Fantasy. Entirely intentional of course. Honest!

Okay, no. But that doesn’t make it any less true.

A close-up of female Sephiroth Kadaj, because her contact lenses are amazing. Okay, I’ll admit it. I had no idea what was what in Advent Children. I didn’t know who anyone was nor what was happening. I am a bad Final Fantasy player.

Executive producer of Final Fantasy XII Akitoshi Kawazu, kindly signing my ill-gotten poster.

Finally, co-director and visual designer Hiroshi Minagawa.

The Q&A was conducted through a translator, so I presume neither of them spoke much English. From my vantage point of being the third-last person in a queue of two-hundred-odd the only interesting fact I managed to glean was this: Akitoshi‘s favourite Final Fantasy game is Final Fantasy II because he got to work very closely on it. Thanks to both of them for graciously agreeing to let me take photos as they were signing.

Comment if you recognise any of the cosplayers, please. I’d love to publish their real names.

Edit: She’s playing Kadaj, not Sephiroth.
Also, check out Weirdo’s blog, We Are As Gods for the cosplayer insider’s view on the FFXII launch at HMV.

Update 20th Feb 2010: Check out the details for the official launch event for Final Fantasy XIII.

17 Comments

1. Pingback: The Average Gamer » London Games Festival 07 - Video Games Live Concert

2. Pingback: Final Fantasy XIII – Offical UK Launch Event Details | The Average Gamer

3. Pingback: Nice Final Fantasy photos - Games Fast