ePassporte and Square Enix Ltd. Announce Co-Promotional Agreement for FINAL FANTASY® XI
January 10th 2005 - ePassporte, the world-leading provider of prepaid Visa cards sold online, has entered into a co-promotional agreement with Square Enix Ltd, developer and publisher of the FINAL FANTASY® franchise, to facilitate players' online experience with FINAL FANTASY XI and allow them to make purchases on the Internet. ePassporte is a prepaid re-loadable Visa account that FINAL FANTASY XI players will be able to fund with a bank-to-bank transfer, a credit card, or from other ePassporte account holders. The agreement eliminates the problems caused for people who wish to play online but do not own a personal credit card.
"We are very excited about this co-promotional opportunity with Square Enix and we look forward to enhancing the online experience of FINAL FANTASY XI players all over Europe," said Chris Mallick, CEO of ePassporte. "ePassporte provides players the ability to make Final Fantasy purchases over the Internet in a safe, seamless and secure manner."
Consumers use ePassporte to instantly create an identity-protected Virtual Visa online, make Internet purchases and transfer money between ePassporte accounts anywhere in the world instantly. In addition to the Virtual Visa account, which is used for online purchases, consumers may add a physical ePassporte Visa card which can be used to shop with merchants all over the world and retrieve funds from ATMs.
Created by expert e-commerce professionals, ePassporte is a payment system that protects your identity and cash while providing Visa's worldwide recognition and acceptance.
For more information visit https://www.epassporte.com/secure/finalfantasy.cgi
About ePassporte
ePassporte is the world's leading online prepaid payment card, branded by the world's leading payment system - Visa. ePassporte allows consumers to use a Virtual Visa to shop online securely and privately wherever Visa is accepted, and send and receive funds instantly worldwide. ePassporte account holders can also use the ePassporte Visa Electron card at millions of Visa merchant locations or withdraw cash at Plus/ATMs around the world. Those features, combined with ePassporte's innovative mobile payment solutions, have made ePassporte the premier pre-paid Visa payment card in the world.
For more information E-mail jeff.thaler@epassporte.com or visit: http://www.epassporte.com
About FINAL FANTASY® XI
FINAL FANTASY®XI gives PC owners the rich gaming experience that Square Enix has been bringing to game consoles for years. Published by Square Enix Ltd, FINAL FANTASY®XI includes both the previously released Rise of the ZilartTM and the Chains of PromathiaTM expansion packs, as well as Tetra Master®, the wildly popular and addictive mini-game from FINAL FANTASY®IX.
In FINAL FANTASY®XI, players undertake multiple adventures through vast environments in the world of Vana'diel, which has more than 100 areas to explore, including mountains, forests, glaciers, deserts, oceans, rivers, castles and dungeons. Players travel through these areas using various modes of transportation including chocobos, ferries and airships. Incorporating time and climate changes, ranging from daytime to evening, blazing sunshine to dense fog and thunderstorms to heavy snow, Vana'diel's persistent world is comprised of unique nations: the Republic of Bastok, known for industry and might; the Kingdom of San d'Oria, a proverbial city within a fortress, and the Federation of Windurst, founded on the fruits of knowledge. While these nations enjoy a friendly relationship on the surface, territorial expansion is a constant and natural desire for their leaders, causing an underlying antagonistic tone. Players must choose one of these nations as their home and carry out quests and missions not only to benefit their nation but also uncover the past, present and future of Vana'diel.
The game allows players to create an alter ego who will exist in the world of Vana'diel, choosing from a variety of races, facial features and hairstyles. Gamers can play at their own pace and form parties by utilizing the various communication tools that have been incorporated into FINAL FANTASY® XI, including easy-to-use chat and messaging systems. Players will become immersed in an expansive, original story that not only includes fighting for the glory of their nation, but also non-battle related skills such as alchemy, leathercraft, goldsmithing and fishing. While players may start out on their own, as they advance, they will realize the advantages and enjoyment found in joining parties. Communication and interaction with other characters and the environment are key as gamers create a new fate for the world of Vana'diel.
About Square Enix Co., Ltd.
Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix) develops, publishes and distributes entertainment content including interactive entertainment software and publications in Japan, North America, Europe and Asia. Square Enix brings two of Japan's best-selling franchises - FINAL FANTASY, which has sold over 60 million units worldwide, and DRAGON QUESTTM, which has sold over 35 million units worldwide - under one roof. Square Enix is one of the most influential providers of digital entertainment content in the world and continues to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation. More information on Square Enix can be found on the Internet at http://www.square-enix.co.jp.
About Square Enix Ltd.
Located in London, Square Enix Ltd. handles operations in Europe and other PAL territories including sales, marketing and publishing of Square Enix titles. More information on Square Enix Ltd. can be found on the Internet at http://www.square-enix-europe.com.