808080">“And the award for most Square Enix games purchased in a year goes too…”

Following Club Nintendo’s example of an annual reward program, Square Enix has brought their own version of it stateside at long last. I’ve been an enormous Square Enix fan for nearly fifteen years now, and I wish more companies would follow their example of rewarding loyal customers who support their development teams.  After compiling codes throughout the year, I was extremely excited to reach Ultimate Member status, and found myself not only surprised but impressed by what Square Enix was rewarding us with, depending on your tier.

808080">I can haz Christmas in August?

With four tiers in total; Ultimate, Gold, Silver and Bronze, even those who only registered a few games would still get a nominal reward. The higher tiers also collect the reward for the tier below them as well. So Ultimate Members collect the full set, while Gold collect Gold, Silver and Bronze, and son on. That being said, while Nintendo’s Platinum reward for the year is a collectible figure, Square Enix really went above and beyond fo their US fanbase. Ultimate Members received a specially engraved 8 GIG iPod Touch.

808080">I’ve spent thousands of dollars on Square Enix games since the mid 1990′s. I would say an iPod Touch is a fair reward, haha.

The Collector’s box the Gold and lower rewards came in also completely beautiful. And of a higher quality than the boxes of most Collector’s Editions of games you’ll buy, interestingly.

808080">Cue the Zelda treasure chest opening sound effect.

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808080">The gold coin in the center has a sensor in it designed to cast Firaga on anyone who doesn’t rightfully own this Collector’s box.  I swear.

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808080">Aww, I wanted a pre-recorded song by Nobuo Uematsu personally serenading me to play as I opened it. Perhaps next year!

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808080">As someone who was miffed that the US didn’t get a sound track bundled with a Collector’s Edition for FF13 like Japan and Europe did, this is at least some compensation, right?

808080">Yes, I opened to the Star Ocean page. Because I’m not completely in love with that game or anything.

The CD actually came with a neat little insert that includes not only a track listing, but full color art from Square Enix’s better known games over the past couple years (that includes the amazing The World Ends With You, despite the game did not contain a product registration code.)

808080">This packing sure likes to remind me at every possible interval that I’m a Square Enix Member.

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808080">No, I didn’t intentionally choose pages of the calender in this photo to represent games I’m looking the most forward too or anything. Why would I do something silly like that!?

The Silver Member reward was a neat little Desktop calender (complete with plastic frame) depicting Square Enix’s up and coming games for the rest of the year, and into 2011.

808080">I’m not really trying to reccomend Square Enix games I enjoy the most or anything, honest! No really, they just happened to pick the three Square Enix games I enjoyed the most this year, muaha.

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The Bronze Member rewards are a trio of glossy finish postcards. The best part of that being that you still have plenty of unregistered games from the previous year to put toward the 2011 reward. So start saving those product codes! Fans who have never visited Square Enix Members definitely should, as they have some interesting mini games to play, also do monthly sweepstakes, and you can even build yourself a cute avatar. (If you do, add me; my handle is Vespaa!)

Square Enix will releasing Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep on September 7th, and FFXIV on PC will be released on September 22nd or September 30th for Collector’s and Regular’s respectively.

Check out http://member.square-enix.com/na/ for more information or to start participating.