via IGN


Square Enix certainly didn't wait long to get the downloadable content train running following its first foray into downloadable gaming last week with the start of the Japanese WiiWare service. First stop: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King.

The company made available today the first wave of paid download content for the simulation/RPG, which launched with the service last week. Owners of the game (which, we'll remind you, is only available in Japan at the moment) now have access to eight items.

The main attractions for this first content update are three new character races: Lilty, Yuke, and Selkie. The original title shipped with just one class, Clavat. Each new race costs 300 Wii Points a piece, or you can get all three together for 800 Wii Points.

The new content also includes a couple of new buildings, each 200 Wii Points. With the Seinaru Hokora building, you can raise your adventurer's stats temporarily by having your king pray at the building. The change apparently occurs in real time, as your king prays (which we presume will keep you busy when your adventurers are out during the day). Also available is the Mansion, a large house that's populated by a family of 8. As usual, only one of these is an adventurer, but because the family is so big, you'll get a boost in taxes over a standard house.

The above items initially appear in the game in the form of dungeons. Once you've cleared the dungeons, you gain the ability to build the new building types and the homes that will house adventurers of the new race types. You're limited to making five of each of the race houses. The other two houses are limited to three each.

Other updates include new clothing for your King and for your support character, Chime. Each of these items cost 100 Wii Points. Unlike the other items, you're able to use these immediately upon making your download. Simply head to your castle and go into your closet to change.

Items, at least for Crystal Chronicles, are purchased exclusively from the game's title screen or your in-game castle menu. They cannot be purchased from the Wii Shopping Channel.

Before getting access to the downloads, though, players will have to update their copy of the game by re-downloading it through the Wii Shopping Channel. This update is, of course, free. This whole re-download business will presumably not be needed for the international versions of the games.

The downloadable content doesn't end here. Square Enix made mention today of future download content that includes a library, which will let you learn the unique abilities of the various races; the Unlimited Tower, a dungeon that can be played through over and over again; and the ability to change your adventurer's names. Specifics for these future downloads were not revealed.