Over the weekend, Square Enix treated the media to its annual press event, showcasing its upcoming releases. The publisher took the opportunity to announce that its bringing the next installments of the vaunted Dragon Quest franchise and the all-new Ivalice Alliance to North America. This translates to four new related titles that are set for release on the DS, Wii, and PSP before the end of the year.

Having sold more than 41 million units worldwide, Dragon Quest has been the premiere RPG franchise that has captivated audiences around the world for more than 20 years. Combining ingenious gameplay elements from series creator Yuji Horii, character designs from famed artist Akira Toriyama, and music from renowned composer Koichi Sugiyama, the "golden trio" of game designers has delivered a timeless franchise that continues to reinvent itself in new and exciting ways. For 2007 and 2008, Square Enix will expand the franchise with the release of Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker, an addictive handheld monster collection RPG, and Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors, an intuitive action RPG for the Wii.

Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker is the latest installment in the venerable RPG franchise that has sold more than 41 million units worldwide. Developed exclusively for the Nintendo DS, Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker is scheduled to arrive in North America in the fourth quarter of 2007. Players will assume the role of a monster hunter as they capture, train, and breed a powerful army from more than 200 classic Dragon Quest creatures in order to become the world's greatest monster trainer. Already achieving sales of more than 1 million units in Japan, Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker is a breakout title that combines the depth of a classic Dragon Quest RPG with the addictiveness of a monster catching adventure.

Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors is an exclusive Wii title designed to utilize the system's motion sensing controls, allowing players to use the Wii remote to slash, parry, and slice their way through a land filled with trademark Dragon Quest foes. Developed with both longtime fans and casual audiences in mind, Square Enix is hoping that Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors will take video gaming to an entirely new level of fun and interaction.

Ten years after Final Fantasy Tactics gave birth to the world of Ivalice, Square Enix introduces Ivalice Alliance, a cachet of titles set in the game world that has served as the backdrop for classic titles such as Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, and Final Fantasy XII.

First up in the Ivalice lineup is Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions . Originally released in 1997, Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions is a portable update on the classic turn-based strategy game that first introduced gamers to the world of Ivalice. In development exclusively for the PSP system, Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions features PSP system exclusive content not found on the original classic, including all-new CG sequences, new jobs, a new 16:9 widescreen presentation, new head-to-head multiplayer, and new storyline elements that refine the genesis of the Ivalice Alliance. Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions will be released simultaneously in North American and European territories.

Continuing the story of the Final Fantasy XII, Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings for the DS progresses the tale that won numerous accolades from the industry's top publications. Featuring full Touch Screen functionality, Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings allows players to control massive armies, utilize special moves, and activate Gambits, all with the use of the stylus. The world of Ivalice comes alive through the classic musical composition of Hitoshi Sakimoto and the direction of Motomu Toriyama, the director of Final Fantasy X-2 and the upcoming Final Fantasy XIII.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions is scheduled to hit store shelves this October, followed closely behind by Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings this Winter. There are no firm release dates for Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker or Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors, but Square Enix expects to have both available before year's end.