In 2008, Square Enix held VanaFest at Tokyo's Kourakuen Hall.  It was a smaller, more exclusive event compared to the festivals of year's past, but Corinth, working on JP Button at the time, managed to win us tickets through the lottery.  Armed with only a notepad and an iPhone, we relayed small, text updates throughout the day and the even itself.  Not even two years later, we know see multiple live blogs, streaming video and countless Twitter feeds all focused on Seinenkan Grand Hall.  It's amazing how much technology and the Internet have evolved in such a short time.

However, those are not the only things that have improved.  Through the efforts of the Community Team, players were treated to a direct play-by-play of the event this year in Tokyo.  Leading up to the big day, we also got pictures and video showing the preparation that went into VanaFest.  The developers also got in on the fun, with Hiromichi Tanaka and Sage Sundi in particular posing for some playful shots.  The connection between the Square Enix staff and the Final Fantasy XI players is also getting progressively stronger and more beneficial towards both sides.

VanaFest 2010 brought many surprises both during and around the actual event.  Let's take a look at what went on!

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Arriving at the event hall around 3:30 pm, there were already many people lined up along the sidewalk.  It was not quite as large and winding as the previous VanaFest, but this time they limited the event to 1,114 people plus media.  Ticket holders stood on line while invited guests waited off to the right side of the steps.  They had a little smoking area partitioned off for people in the media as well.  Once the doors opened, both sets of attendees would ascend their respective side of the steps and into the lobby.

Before showtime, the Community Team came out to greet some of the press and take pictures for the VanaFest2010 Facebook page.  Devin and Matt were wearing the Moogle bandanas, but all three had special badges that said 主催者 (shusaisha) Event Organizer.  While we did not get the badges, everyone at the event received the Moogle bandana, a code for the Chocobo Beret that transforms you into a Young Chocobo, a Lord of Vermillion 2 starter pack and some advertisements from various sponsors and affiliates.

The show began with the audience being encouraged to raise their fists in the air and shout 全員集合 (zen in shuu gou) on cue.  The phrase is the Japanese subtitle for VanaFest2010 and means "A gathering of all members," so it was essentially a call for everyone to assemble on stage.  A giant timer counted down above the stage, everyone shouted, and the developers ran up and were introduced one by one.

Just as they did at VanaFest 2008, the development team put together a clever parody of popular Japanese comedy.  In this case, they were performing a send-up to The Drifters, a famous group of musicians and comedians.  In fact, their top show was called 8時だョ！全員集合！ (hachi ji da yo! zen in shuu gou!) roughly, "It's 8 o'clock! Everyone Assemble!"  The complete VanaFest2010 title was ８周年だョ！全員集合！ (hasshuu nen da yo! zen in shuu gou!) "It's the 8th Anniversary! Everyone Assemble!"

Beyond simply paying homage with the title, the entire event was modeled after the structure of The Drifters' popular program.  The comedic group would often perform sketches and intersperse them with musical guests.  In this way, the opening Talk Section was like an opening sketch and the Mini Onions provided the musical interlude.  Even Nobuo Uematsu played the part of a "special guest," appearing on stage for a bonus mini-concert.  All in all, it was a much more detailed and thoroughly crafted event, and the fans seemed to appreciate every moment -- probably much more so than us foreign attendees who did not grow up watching these shows on TV.

The Talk Section took place in a school classroom and was divided into two parts.  While Mocchi of the Japanese Community Team acted as the instructor, the developers sat as students and eagerly raised their hands for the chance to give each successive announcement.  The set contained a number of neat little easter eggs for fans.  On the right wall, there were cubby holes that contained some recognizable pieces of FFXI equipment.  On top were a Black Mage hat, Samurai kabuto and Chocobo cap.  Underneath was not as clear, but it looks like there is a Corsair Tricorne, Dragoon helmet and some Monk equipment.

On the wall were some pieces of calligraphy with common themes found in the Japanese classroom, such as 絆 (kizuna) bonds and 友情 (yuu jou) friendship.  ãƒ´ã‚¡ãƒŠãƒ‡ã‚£ãƒ¼ãƒ« "Vana'diel" is also written on the far left.  Many schools encourage students to work hard and succeed together with such phrases.  One school in my area asks all students to "shine together as one brilliant light."  Further to the left, on the side of the locker was a little graffiti consisting of a heart with two names: 河西 Kawanishi & 武田 Takeda.  These are two of the planners for FFXI, whose full names are 河西 雄一郎 Yuichiro Kawanishi & 武田 謙三 Kenzou Takeda.

The left side of the classroom has a couple more pieces of eye candy.  Underneath the date, the last names of the two instructors are written: 小西 克幸 Tatsuyuki Konishi & 望月 Mochidzuki (Mocchi).  Beside the blackboard is a map of Vana'diel featuring the central continents.  On the back wall, there is also an eraser stuck up in the door.  Since doors slide back and forth instead of swinging, this was a little prank to punish a tardy classmate.  They would rush to class and open the door, only to have a chalky eraser plop down on their head.  This particular one was just a picture though, so Tanaka never felt its dusty reprisal once he sauntered on stage a few moments late.

Once the first Talk Section was completed, the school began to catch fire and the developers ran for their lives.  At this point, we transfered to the Special Bonus Stage for Final Fantasy XIV.  This included a brand new movie and a special appearance by Nobuo Uematsu.  Unfortunately, we were told that no FFXIV-related sections could be photographed or described.  The idea was that these parts were a special gift to those lucky enough to win a ticket.  Supposedly, the movie will be the opening for Final Fantasy XIV once the game is released.  There do not appear to be any plans to show it before then.  Also, as many are aware, every attendee was said to be selected for the beta test.  There was no other information given on the beta, and with invites being sent out to other applicants around the world, you probably know more than us by now.

Another highly anticipated part of the event was the Nomad Mog Bonanza.  There were some incredible prizes up for grabs, including Relic Weapons and drops from Pandemonium Warden.  The Rank 4 and Rank 5 prizes were also revealed to be statues of Alexander and Odin, which also were the two brand new Avatars for Summoners.  Tanaka stood at a podium and selected each digit one-by-one with a button.  The results were written up by Mocchi on a whiteboard to the left.  When "7" came up for Rank 5 there were a lot of "Awww"s from the crowd, but all the way through Rank 1 there wasn't a single cheer of joy.  If anyone at home won something big, be sure to tell us in the forums!

The final section of the show was reserved for the Mini Onions concert.  The stage slowly faded into view as Kumi Tanioka played the Final Fantasy "Prelude" on the piano, who was joined for subsequent songs by Naoshi Mizuta on bass and Aya Yoda on violin.  The concert consisted of Ronfaure, Faded Memories - Promyvion and Rolanberry Fields.  After leaving the stage, fans continued to cheer until the group finally obliged them with an encore: a spirited rendition of Ru'Lude Gardens.

With the concert complete, everyone returned to the stage to take their final bow.  The entire crowd cheered, and paper stars printed with the VanaFest2010 logo shot down from above.  Afterward, there was a brief drawing for attendees to win special prizes, like Logitech equipment, a motherboard and a new gaming PC.  Upon leaving the building, I saw one lucky Japanese man carrying two massive boxes for a computer and monitor, but didn't feel the need to shove a camera in his face.  Though maybe I could have blinded him with the flash and taken his prize.  Still, the excitement of the event and all the great FFXI announcements left me in a good enough mood already.

Speaking of which, we still need to go over all the amazing information!  That's coming next...