Square has announced Final Fantasy VIII had over 500,000 pre-orders in the first week of presells in Japan, placing it well on the way to shattering the record recently set by Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

    Also announced was the "goodie" to be given to those who pre-ordered. Described as "The FF8 Strap", it is strap hung around the neck with a metal FF8 Logo on it. It is apparently designed to hold small objects, such as the PocketStation or a Cell Phone.