Square Enix has revealed it's promotional plan for Kingdom Hearts -HD 1.5 ReMIX- in Japan. Thanks to bKvEBVAvUq we now that their promotional plan includes magazine articles going into April, website updates going into April and also the Television commercials will begin to air after the collection's release on March 14 and continue until the beginning of April.
You can view it below, in our gallery thanks to bKvEBVAvUq.
Square Enix Members Japan has released a new wallpaper/calendar for Kingdom Hearts -HD 1.5 ReMIX-. The calendar is for March 2013. You can view it below, in our gallery in all available resolutions.
The case for Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX has been spotted in Japanese stores. Thanks to bKvEBVAvUq, you can view photos of this below, in our gallery. The back of the case reveals that the game is playable in 1080p, among other resolutions. Audio outputs will include both Dolby Digital 5.1 sound and DTS Digital Surround 5.1. Save files will take up 10.9MB of space.
Amazon.com have added a pre-order page for the North American version of Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX. Amazon.com reveals that the price of the title will be US$39.99 in North America, and adds a tentative release date of September 30, 2013. This is the last day of September, so it is likely that it is just a placeholder, but this does seem to point towards a September 2013 release.
Square Enix North America (announcement) and Square Enix Europe (announcement) have both confirmed that Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX will be receiving releases in North America, Europe, and PAL territories. The release date for all regions is currently set for Fall/Autumn 2013 (either September, October or November).
The RRP for the title in Europe will be 39.99 Euro, and the European/PAL releases are said to be "localised in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish". The exact details for this are explained below:
Kingdom Hearts Final Mix will be dubbed in English, French, and German with EFIGS subtitles. Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories and Kingdom Heats 358/2 Days will be English dubs with EFIGS subtitles.
The following screenshots and artwork were released along with the announcement. Currently, these are some of the best quality screenshots, and the highest resolution of the logo and key artwork that we have seen so far. Square Enix Europe also promised "a lovely gameplay trailer for you to drool over soon", and "more news for you in the coming months". Look forward to it!
Square Enix North America have also transformed the official Kingdom Hearts portal website into a website for Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX. Make sure you check it out!
Update: Robert Peeler, Community Manager for Square Enix, answered some questions about HD 1.5 ReMIX on the North American PlayStation Blog. While there was no new details revealed, he did state the following:
We're not replacing the tracks, the audio is being improved for better sound quality.
He also said that more details will be available in the future.
A poster advertising Kingdom Hearts -HD 1.5 ReMIX- has been spotted in Japan. ArikaMiz uploaded a photo of this poster to Twitter, and thanks to her, you can view it below.
Update: bKvEBVAvUq has uploaded two more photos, one of the same poster shown above, and another of a completely new poster advertising HD 1.5 ReMIX. Both of these photos can be seen below.
GAME Watch have posted an article concerning Kingdom Hearts -HD 1.5 ReMIX-, with a focus on the Re:Chain of Memories portion of the title. This article contains 43 new screenshots of, as well as information about the game. The screens can be seen below, in our gallery.
Square Enix have announced that Kingdom Hearts Mobile will be terminated in Japan on April 30, 2013. ArikaMiz tweeted an image of Square Enix announcing this, and this can be seen below.
goldpanner has translated this, and thanks to her, it can be read below.
We have an important announcement for everyone.
The Kingdom Hearts Mobile service, launched December 2008, will be discontinued from the 30th April 2013 (Tue).
Additionally, the service will be closed to new registrations from the 31st March 2013 (Sun).
As any points conferred up until the discontinuation will disappear, please make sure to spend them in time.
On behalf of all our staff we wish to express our appreciation and extend our warmest gratitude to all of you who have long enjoyed Kingdom Hearts Mobile.
We would be honoured by your continued patronage of Kingdom Hearts Mobile from now for the short amount of time we have left.
Hidemi Matsuzuka has revealed that a special Kingdom Hearts -HD 1.5 ReMIX- themed towel is "almost ready". Hidemi uploaded a photo of the towel to his Twitter, and this photo can be seen below.
Earlier, Famitsu.com posted an article concerning Kingdom Hearts -HD 1.5 ReMIX-. This article contains a huge amount of information about the Re:Chain of Memories part of the title. goldpanner has done a full translation of this article, and thanks to him, you can read the article below.
KH Re:Chain of Memories is even more beautiful in KINDGOM HEARTS -HD 1.5 ReMIX-!
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With the utilisation of things such as exploration and battle card use and indicated encounters, there is a sharp distinction between Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories and the other titles in the series. This uniquely charming title has also been remastered in HD!
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2013-02-22
●The remake Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories now remastered in HD
The three games that form the first part of the story of the Kingdom Hearts (hereon KH) series have been remastered in HD and are being offered as one title, KH -HD 1.5 ReMIX- (hereon KH1.5). One of the titles included, KH Re:Chain of Memories (hereon KH Re:CoM), reveals the experiences of protagonist Sora and his best friend Riku after the events of KH.
Incidentally, KH Re:CoM originated from KH Chain of Memories, released on the Game Boy Advance in 2004. This title was fully remade for the PS2 in 2007 and included with KHII Final Mix with the title KH Re:CoM. This PS2 version has now been remastered in HD in KH1.5.
■ Changes from the PS2 version
- Everything is high resolution, including UI (user interface) such as the menus
- Trophy support
- PS3 custom theme made available upon clearing the game
● Interview with Art Director for Maps Takeshi Fujimoto
—What sort of work did you do on the HD remaster?
Fujimoto: I made the background textures high resolution. Unlike the old CRT displays, LCD and plasma televisions show textures clear and sharp, and if the resolution doesn't live up to that it gives quite a disappointing impression. Because of that, I went over all the backgrounds again for the first time in a long time, remaking as many of the parts that stood out as rough as I could in the time I had.
—What would you especially like players to see?
Fujimoto: There's not really anything I'd like them to look long and hard at while playing normally, but, we have remade many of the distant off-path background elements, so please check those out if you'd like to.
—Lastly, please tell us about anything that left you with a deep impression.
Fujimoto: In the beginning, the stained glass floors depicting princesses, or 'stations of awakening', in the opening of KH were retouched to such a high resolution that they'd have been fit for use in print media. However, as we added data we went over the memory limit, and sadly had to compress the texture size. Still, as you may expect, the compressed texture was unsatisfying compared to what we had become used to, and many people said things like 'it was better before' and 'isn't there anything we can do', and we ended up testing out many things. And then finally thanks to the magic of(Sumio) Nasu we were able to put a beautiful texture into the game.
■ A comment from Animation Director Kouji Hamada
Our work on motion went basically hand in hand with the remake of the cutscenes for KH 358/2 Days. The animations in KH and Re:CoM were basically left as they were. I would love for you to see the vivid animation you would never have imagined for a game from about ten years ago. For the KH 358/2 Days cutscenes, I hope you feel the progression of the fun atmosphere of the first half to the heart-wrenching second half from the detailed expressions and performances of the main three. We also remade the dialogue-free scenes of the three just sitting together, and I hope that we were able to convey that gentle, somehow painful atmosphere.
Earlier, 7-Eleven Japan announced that they would be offering a special pre-order bonus for Kingdom Hearts -HD 1.5 ReMIX--- a product code for a downloadable original PS3 custom theme. Today, Message from the KINGDOM have revealed that 7-Eleven will also be giving away a limited edition smartphone wallpaper. Thanks to bKvEBVAvUq, previews of both the smartphone wallpaper and PlayStation 3 custom theme can be seen below.
Famitsu.com have posted an article concerning Kingdom Hearts -HD 1.5 ReMIX-, with a focus on the Re:Chain of Memories portion of the title. This article coincides with the appearance of HD 1.5 ReMIX in the February 21 issue of Famitsu Weekly, and contains 18 new screenshots of, as well as information about the game. The screens can be seen below, in our gallery.
Square Enix Members Japan have announced a special promotion for Kingdom Hearts -HD 1.5 ReMIX-. They will be creating a commercial that will air on the game's release date, March 14, 2013, and be available on the web. Fans who apply to Square Enix Members Japan will have the chance to go to Tokyo on March 2, 2013 and have their appearance and remarks included in the commercial. In total, 200 of the people that apply will be randomly selected for the opportunity.
Update: goldpanner has translated Square Enix Members Japan's page about the promotion, and thanks to her, all details can be read below.
Let's all connect our love of Kingdom Hearts!
Kingdom Hearts -HD 1.5 ReMIX-
Recruiting actors for special ads and web content!
The three titles that form the beginning of the story of Kingdom Hearts are restored in HD quality in Kingdom Hearts -HD 1.5 ReMIX-. We are announcing the production of a special advertisement gathering the love of the fans to be televised during the title's release!
For the special advertisement, we will put together a clip that connects photographs of all the fans into one. In addition to this clip, we also plan to release web content that collects scenes of memories of KH.
We are mass recruiting SQEX Members to appear in the clip and web content! The Kingdom Hearts series is beloved by many fans even over ten years after the release of the first title. Would you like to bring the newest title, Kingdom Hearts -HD 1.5 ReMIX-, in with a bang together as friends?
APPLICATION DETAILS
(TRANSLATOR NOTE: MY UNOFFICIAL FAN TRANSLATION DOES NOT REPRESENT OFFICIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS)
Date and time of invitation: 2nd March 2013 (Sat) 9:00~21:00
※Photographing is planned to take about an hour within the time-frame mentioned above
※You will be invited at a designated time which cannot be changed. We request that you understand this beforehand.
Meeting place: Somewhere in the Tokyo Metropolitan area
※Successful candidates will be notified
Admission costs: None
Number of positions available: 200 people
Application period: Until 24th Feb 2013 (Sun), 12am
Participants in the actual event: your likeness and speech will be published, broadcast and available on television advertisement and the official website etc. Also, it will be published, included and uploaded by our company and publications, media (including DVD), websites, mobile sites, shop front promos etc. sanctioned by our company.
Only those who acknowledge the above may apply.
※You must login as a SQEX Member to apply.
You may register as a new member here (no charge).
WARNING
※Successful candidates are determined through lottery, not the order of application.
※One person may only apply once.
※Invitations are only made out to one person. Fellow travellers may not travel together.
※A letter of consent regarding permission to use one's likeness is necessary to participate. Adults (over 20 years old) may complete their own 'letter of consent (adult)', minors (under 20 years old) must have a guardian complete a 'letter of consent (guardian)', which must be read carefully, signed and carried on the day.
※As part of the editing process there is a chance that not all participating members' photos will be used.
※During production of the clip and web content, there is a chance that the photographs from the shoot will be manipulated or changed etc. Please understand this beforehand.
※The right to participate cannot be sold or transferred.
※We will check the identity of participants upon their arrival. People who are not the actual successful candidate (including family or friends of the candidate)will be denied participation. Please understand beforehand.
(TRANSLATOR NOTE: MY UNOFFICIAL FAN TRANSLATION DOES NOT REPRESENT OFFICIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS)
Square Enix have announced the name and logo for the title with the previous tentative name of Kingdom Hearts for PC Browsers. The title is now known as Kingdom Hearts χ [chi] (pronounced "Kingdom Hearts Key"), and will have the logo shown below. For more information on Kingdom Hearts χ [chi], check out our news archive for the title.
Square Enix also updated the official website for Kingdom Hearts -HD 1.5 ReMIX- with a graphic explaining the pre-order bonus for the game. As announced earlier, pre-ordering HD 1.5 ReMIX in Japan will give you special exclusive codes in Kingdom Hearts χ[chi]. These codes are now known to be for the Sora (R+) and Riku (R+) cards.
Update 1: Famitsu.com have updated with an article providing all of the same information revealed by Square. This article also contains a non-transparent version of the game logo, as well as high quality images of the pre-order bonus cards. These can be seen below.
Update 2: Our translator, goldpanner, has translated the information provided in the Famitsu.com article. This describes Kingdom Hearts χ[chi], as well as the pre-order bonuses for HD 1.5 ReMIX. Thanks to her, you can read this below.
Announcing the confirmed official title of KH for PC Browser 'Kingdom Hearts: Key' and bonus extras included with first run editions of -HD 1.5 ReMIX-!
2013.02.30
●Handy kits of bonus extras for Kingdom Hearts: Key!
Square Enix has two announcements regarding the Kingdom Hearts series, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year! First, we have confirmation of the official title and logo of the series' first online PC browser game, Kingdom Hearts: Key. Second, we have details on the bonus extras to be included with first-run editions of Kingdom Hearts -HD 1.5 ReMIX-, scheduled for release on 14th March 2013 on PS3.
■ Outline of Kingdom Hearts: Key
Presenting the series' first online PC browser game. The protagonist, controlled by the players themselves, will be able to adventure through various Disney worlds on web broswers. Advancing through strategic battles using cards available in-game, occasionally working together with friends to face off against enemies... Introducing a new gameplay sensation that has never been seen in the Kingdom Hearts series so far. With collectible items to obtain, this title is looking like something that will be fun to play for a long time. The standard game is free-to-play, charges will be for purchasable items only.
■Bonus extras included with first-run editions of Kingdom Hearts -HD 1.5 ReMIX-
The bonus included with first-run editions of Kingdom Hearts -HD 1.5 ReMIX- is confirmed to be a handy kit for Kingdom Hearts: Key. Copies purchased via e-STORE, the Square Enix online shop, will also come with a bonus serial code for use in Kingdom Hearts: Key. If you make your purchase through e-STORE you have a chance of obtaining both bonuses, but there are limited numbers, so please pre-order ASAP.
[First-Run Inclusion Extras]
Handy Kit for Kingdom Hearts: Key
~Card: Sora (R+)....For use during battles in-game
~20,000 Munny....For use synthesising cards in-game
~4,000 Card Draw Points....Points that enable you to exchange cards in-game
[e-STORE Purchase Extras]
Battle Support Kit for Kingdom Hearts: Key
~Card: Riku (R+)....For use during battles in-game
~Potion x10....Allows recovery of ATP
~Ether x10....Allows recovery of power necessary during boss battles
(C)Disney developed by SQUARE ENIX
※Images are from a work in progress.
Update 3: goldpanner has also translated the original announcement from Square Enix's blog, Message from the KINGDOM. This translation can be read below.
20th Feb 2013
PC Browser Kingdom Hearts χ[chi] Official Title and Title Logo Confirmed
Kingdom Hearts χ[chi] (Kingdom Hearts: Key)
Presenting the series' first online PC browser game.
The protagonist, controlled by the players themselves, will be able to adventure through various Disney worlds on web broswers.
Advancing through strategic battles using cards available in-game...
Occasionally working together with friends to face off against enemies...
Introducing a new gameplay sensation that has never been seen in the Kingdom Hearts series so far.
Loaded with collectible items to obtain,
This title is looking like something that will be fun to play for a long time.
Supported systems: PC
Genre: Online game for PC browser
Date available: TBA
Charges: Charging for items (standard game free to play)
Collaborating company: SUCCESS Corporation
Please look forward to the upcoming follow-up report!
-KH Staff
The issue of Famitsu Weekly releasing on February 21, 2013 has been confirmed to contain an article on Kingdom Hearts -HD 1.5 ReMIX-. This announcement was included in the back of the February 14, 2013 issue of the magazine, and posted online by hokanko-alt.
It is likely that this issue will focus on Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories, as the last two HD 1.5 ReMIX articles in Famitsu Weekly focused on Kingdom Hearts Final Mix and Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, respectively. Information from the article is expected to appear online as early as February 19, so please look forward to our coverage of this article next week!
