Final Fantasy aficionados will be in for a treat with the upcoming DKS3713 issue of Famitsu. Not only are there new details on Final Fantasy XIII, Versus XIII, and Agito, but the magazine has also has published new real-time screenshots for each title to accompany the new information.

According to NeoGAF, the new issue will feature a three-page spread for Final Fantasy XIII and include 20 real-time shots of the game. In addition, their coverage will also showcase 10 new real-time screenshots of Final Fantasy Versus XIII as well as 3 screenshots of Agito, including an image of Odin.



Here is a list of details gamers will find within the pages of the new Famitsu issue.

Final Fantasy Versus XIII:

-The people living in the world of Versus XIII worship a Shinigami
-The Shinigami is designed by artist Yoshitaka Amano.
-The cars and clothing seen in the trailers so far will probably change in design by the time the game is complete.
-The morale of the team is really high.

Final Fantasy XIII Agito:

-The game was moved to the PSP because they could no longer wait for Mobile Phones to get more advanced.
-The battles will be heavy in action but still have some turn based elements to them. The game will use an advanced version of Crisis Core's ATB system.
-While Crisis Core only contained one player (Zack), there will be multiple characters in the party for this game.
-Right now the title supports Infrastructure Multiplayer for up to three players.
-Summons will be a part of the character growth system. Players will be able to control summons after summoning them.
-The game will support both Ad-Hoc and Infrastructure.

Final Fantasy XIII demo to last over two hours

According to the upcoming DKS3713 issue of Famitsu magazine, the PlayStation 3 exclusive Final Fantasy XIII demo will clock in at a longer running time than the CGI film, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete.

Currently the original Advent Children film clocks in at a runtime of 101mins; however, the Blu-ray version of the movie will feature scenes that were either cut completely or not finished in time for the initial release, resulting in a significantly longer runtime.

Here is a list of other tidbits revealed from the three-page spread in Famitsu:

-The Final Fantasy XIII demo will be based from the opening section of the game.
-The demo will come on a separate disc rather than on the Advent Children Blu-ray.
- Mr. 33CM's real name is based off of weather as well.
- One of the female characters, refered to as 'Pigtails Girl', has been through some tough times.

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete is scheduled for release in March 2009

Seed Studios Announces PLAYSTATION 3 Project

"Seed Studios, who completed three Nintendo DS titles, have today announced a project in development for the PLAYSTATION 3 platform. The project will be present along with Seed Studios at Leipzig GC '08 this year to showcase the game to some possible publishers."

Force Unleashed demo hitting PSN in August

In a video interview with G4TV, Marketing Manager at LucasArts Matt Shell revealed that a demo for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed will be coming to the PlayStation Network in August.

According to Shell, the demo will be a special version of the Tie Fighter Construction Facility, where players will have access to extra force powers and a "super secret" ending to the level not found in the final version of the game.

The demo will be available on August 21.

SCEA's Steinberg On 'Future-Proofing' A Ten-Year PS3

Sony's touted its ten-year plan for the PlayStation 3 often enough that it's clear the company's determined to bestow its current console with the same long lifecycle enjoyed by its predecessor -- but as the PlayStation 2 is an exception in console history, it's a daunting objective.

Sony Computer Entertainment of America product marketing VP Scott Steinberg is charged with making sure all three of Sony's current gaming platforms fulfill the 10-year lifecycle plan, orders that come straight down from the top.

"Our motivations and ambitions, of course, are to continue on all three platforms," Steinberg says as part of an in-depth Gamasutra interview. "The ten-year strategy is ingrained in all of us. [SCEA president and CEO] Jack [Tretton] has brought that to all levels of the organization."

A veteran of Sega during its Genesis era, Steinberg has had an expansive role with Sony since he joined last September to head up both hardware and software marketing.

PlayStation 2 may be already most of the way through its planned decade, but the lifecycle of the PS3 must be considered newly begun if it's to reach its goal -- and the hardware marketplace is unarguably much more competitive now.

In Steinberg's eyes, the PS3's "future-proofing," as well as the balance of its media and gaming capabilities, are what will give the system its legs, as the company plans a "roadmap" of firmware updates and added functionality for the machine.

Steinberg's assertion that part of the PS3's value lies in its potential to expand and evolve echoes CEO Howard Stringer's past statements on his company's newest console: "The price of the PS3 is high, but you're paying for potential," a statement that rankled some gamers who were more interested in immediate returns on their dollars.

Sony would rather update a platform than introduce a new hardware iteration, Steinberg says. "We do not have a planned obsolescence strategy," he says, pointing pointing to the PSP as another example.

"Whether it's Skype or some other peripherals, it's not just a dumb terminal that lies secluded and isn't enhanced with all the recent technologies and opportunities."

Unsurprisingly, he also sees the Blu-ray Disc format as a significant competitive advantage. "Blu-ray is bigger, and Blu-ray games are going to be the biggest games in the industry," he says.

"I think that feeds into [gamers'] choices as well. ...I think there are a lot of great 'a-ha's that consumers are going to find with music, and the movie store. ...You buy it for a gaming machine, but it delivers on a value proposition."

Sony also hopes the past will help usher in the future -- Steinberg sees Sony's ubiquitous PlayStation 2 as something of a Trojan horse.

"Every million units of PS2s we sell in 2008 is just a great opportunity for us to upgrade as they get closer to HD households," he argues. "The HD curve is spectacular, and the conversion is happening, so we see that as a natural marketing campaign."