For years now, the countries of the world that use PAL, or Phase Alternating Line, standard have been somewhat overlooked in the video game world. However, in that last few years, that has been changing. Much in the same way that the market had grown in North America in the mid- to late-ninties, the video game market has become much more solid in PAL areas like Europe and Australia. Nnow the next step in the evolution of the PAL game market is taking place, as the world's most powerful role-playing game-making corporation has taken note and has decided to finally give the PAL countries exactly what they have been asking for.

Square, the makers of Final Fantasy among other awesome games, has announced a partnership with SVG Distribution to publish their RPGs in Europe and other countries that use the PAL standard. The first title will be Front Mission 3 this Spring, then other high profile games will come after that. Parasite Eve 2, Vagrant Story, and Final Fantasy IX have all been confirmed, and most likely at least Chrono Cross and Legend of Mana will make it as well. No actual release dates have even been hinted at for any of these games besides Front Mission 3.

Perhaps the best news for some players is that even if these games are not released in your area, you can now import them without having to worry about a PAL conversion. Hopefully you will not have to worry about that, as Square seems to be ready to deliver these hit games all around the globe. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come, and more developers will realize that there is an entire market they have been ignoring, or at least neglecting , and there are eager fans all over the world who want to get their hands on their games. Well, at least Square has heard the call, and now, they're going to deliver.