The GDC website reveals that four Square Enix staff members will be speaking at the Game Developers Conference 2008. The full list:
· Fumiaki Shiraishi and Toshiro Tsuchida will be presenting an in-depth look at the development process of Square Enix's Wii Ware launch title Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Young King and the Promised Land.
· Isamu Kamikokuryo, Final Fantasy XIII's art director, will touch upon the secret of Final Fantasy art, how he gets inspiration, how he was trained, how his concept art influence the game development, etc.
· Taku Murata, the head of Square Enix's R&D. In this talk, Taku will describe the whole process of the engine development; why now, why not third party engine, what is unique, how it is being developed, what were challenges, etc. You'll be able to see the technological essence of Final Fantasy development.
Taku Murata's page also confirms that a new MMORPG is in development:
"The new game engine will be used for FINAL FANTASY XIII, new MMORPG under development, and other titles in the future."
This pretty much confirms that "the new MMORPG", which might actually be Final Fantasy Haresis XIII, will be released for the PlayStation 3 as it will use the White Engine.
