Final Fantasy XIII will include virtual online shops

Final Fantasy, one of the most acclaimed role-playing game series, is gearing up to debut its latest installment with Final Fantasy XIII. This long awaited sequel will feature innovations in different areas of the game as well as some impressive visuals.

One of the main areas getting a revamp is the battle system which has been reworked in favor of a more interactive gameplay, including combos and an all new summon system.

Another area that will include some innovations is the store system. Final Fantasy XIII is introducing something that resembles an online marketplace. Players will be able to buy and sell weapons and equipment in an in-game virtual store. These virtual stores only provide access to a fictional “internet” of sorts and will not involve actual transactions between different players. The stores will be available at all save points where players will be able to access the system and trade their stuff.

I guess this means there’s going to be some interaction with in-game characters through this system. I imagine certain characters will offer better weapons or discounts if you talk to them in the game world. Maybe some special items will only be available through online interactions like chats, forums or social networking sites.

This sounds like a nice twist on the good ‘ol town store found in most role-playing games. The online store format offers room for different kinds of new gameplay mechanics and it can act as a hub for other in-game content. I hope they still include “regular” stores, though. I think it’s part of the appeal of a game to be able to explore every town and find different items and weapons every time.

Final Fantasy XIII will be available on March 9, 2010, for the Xbox 360 and the PS3. It is rated “Teen” by the ESRB.

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