From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
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Final Fantasy IX (ファイナルファンタジーIX, Fainaru Fantajī Nain?) is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square (now Square Enix) for the Sony PlayStation video game console. Originally released in 2000, it is the ninth title in the Final Fantasy series and last to debut on the PlayStation. In 2010 it was re-released as a PSone Classics title on the PlayStation Network. The game introduced new features to the series like the 'Active Time Event', where players can see what the characters they are not controlling are doing; 'Mognet', where players can send a receive letters with non-playable characters; and a unique equipment and skill system.
The game's plot centers on a war between nations. Players follow a young thief named Zidane Tribal, who joins with others to defeat Queen Brahne of Alexandria, the one responsible for starting the war. The plot shifts, however, when the characters realize that Brahne is working with an even more threatening person called Kuja, who has further aims than conquering other countries.
Final Fantasy IX was developed alongside Final Fantasy VIII, but took a different approach by returning to the more traditional style of the early Final Fantasy games. Consequently, Final Fantasy IX was influenced significantly by the original Final Fantasy game, and features allusions to other titles in the series and a more "fantasy"-oriented design aesthetic as opposed to the more modern designs of its predecessor. Development began in 1998, and the game was directed by Hiroyuki Ito and produced by Hironobu Sakaguchi and Shinji Hashimoto. Series veteran Nobuo Uematsu returned to compose the music of the game, and like the previous title, it features a vocal theme song, "Melodies of Life". The game was released to critical acclaim and holds the highest Metacritic score of all Final Fantasy installments. In 2006 it was voted the 24th-best game of all time by readers of the Japanese magazine Famitsu. Final Fantasy IX was commercially successful, selling 5.30 million units worldwide as of March 31, 2003.
Square was a Japanese video game development and publishing company founded in September 1983 by Masafumi Miyamoto. It began as a computer game software division of Den-Yu-Sha, a power line construction company owned by Miyamoto's father. Square's first titles were The Death Trap and its sequel Will: The Death Trap II; they sold over 100,000 copies, a major success for the time. In September 1986, Square spun off from Den-Yu-Sha and became an independent company officially named Square Co., Ltd. While its next few games sold poorly, 1987's Final Fantasy sold over 500,000 copies, sparking the company's flagship series and the best selling component of Square's catalog of video games.
Square was best known for its role-playing video game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series. Of its properties, this franchise is the best-selling, with total worldwide sales of over 100 million units. During its existence, the company developed or published dozens of titles in various video game franchises on numerous gaming systems. On April 1, 2003, Square merged with video game publisher Enix to form Square Enix. The final game that Square released was Final Fantasy X-2, and Final Fantasy games, re-releases, and spin-offs made up 45 of the 145 game releases that Square developed or published. This list includes retail games developed or published by Square during its existence.
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