Final Fantasy XIII is a science fiction role-playing video game, initially released by Square Enix for PlayStation 3 on December 17, 2009, and later for Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, and mobile devices. This edition in the series includes a new character-development system, as well as the return of summoned monsters, the chocobo race, and airships. The former soldier Lightning begins her fight along with a band of allies to save her sister from both the government and a deadly fate as an unwilling servant to a god-like being. Final Fantasy XIII is the first game to use Square Enix's Crystal Tools engine and is the flagship title of the Fabula Nova Crystallis collection of games. It received mostly positive reviews from video game publications for its graphics, presentation, and battle system. The game's story received a mixed response, and its linearity was criticized. Selling 1.7 million copies in Japan in 2009, Final Fantasy XIII became the fastest-selling title in the history of the series. It sold over 7 million copies overall and led to two sequel games.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_Fantasy_XIII

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1583:

Cologne War: Forces under Ernest of Bavaria defeated the troops under Gebhard Truchsess von Waldburg at the Siege of Godesberg (pictured). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Godesberg

1862:

American Civil War: Union General Ulysses S. Grant issued General Order No. 11, expelling Jews from Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Order_No._11_(1862)

1907:

Ugyen Wangchuck was crowned the first King of Bhutan. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ugyen_Wangchuck

1926:

A coup d'état by the Lithuanian military replaced the democratically elected President Kazys Grinius with Antanas Smetona. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1926_Lithuanian_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat

2010:

Tunisian street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire in protest to police harassment, triggering the Tunisian Revolution. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohamed_Bouazizi

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

keelhaul: 1. (transitive, nautical) To punish by dragging under the keel of a ship. 2. (transitive) To rebuke harshly. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/keelhaul

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

God's ways seem dark, but, soon or late, They touch the shining hills of day; The evil cannot brook delay, The good can well afford to wait.   --John Greenleaf Whittier https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Greenleaf_Whittier