Ten Ton Hammer - Taking MMO Gamers to the Next Level!

Anyone who knows the Final Fantasy franchise understands that Square Enix doesn't do anything halfway. Not surprisingly, when Square Enix announced three forthcoming episodic expansions to Final Fantasy XI, the team had some top-notch artwork to accompany the announcement. Ten Ton Hammer was able to get digital copies of the art for you to enjoy (towel for wiping drool off of your shirt not included).

A Crystalline Prophecy™ - Ode of Life Bestowing
Planned for release in the spring, the first expansion focuses on the events that occur after a mysterious giant crystal appears in the skies above Jeuno. The crystal is said to hold the secrets of Vana'diel's past.

©SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved. Illustration: Katsuya Terada
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A Moogle Kupo d’Etat™ - Evil in Small Doses
Information on the second episode is scarce at this time, but the title reveals that the story will involve Moogles. The artwork presents dark imagery that contrasts with the usual whimsy of Moogles. The result should be as entertaining as Tim Burton's The Corpse Bride.

©SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved. Illustration: Jun Suemi
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A Shantotto Ascension™ - The Legend Torn, Her Empire Born
The final expansion sends adventurers on a quest to discover the reason behind the drastic shift in disposition for Professor Shantotto. Though Shantotto had always been eccentric, her sudden proclamation of herself as ruler of a personal empire after an unexplained absence leaves folks wondering what's going on behind the megalomania.

©SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved. Illustration: Fumio Minagawa
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Word on the street is that the new content will be available as early as level 30 but require full parties of level 75 characters to reach the end of the story. One final bit of good news is that Masato Kato, who was involved with the original plot of FFXI is back to provide expert advice on the story lines for these three expansions. The new content will be available only through digital download and will cost $10 per episode. In light of all the negative news in the MMOG industry right now, it is refreshing to hear about a company enjoying success and continuing to build onto game that has been on the market for a while.