Final Fantasy XI

[SoulBlazer]

Okay, whose bright idea was it to make this one a online game? LOL

I went ahead and picked the game up today, since I had some money from selling extra stuff on EBay and the reviews were postive. I have a little experience with online MMOG's -- Everquest for a few weeks, World War II Online now and then, and Earth and Beyond for about a year. So I thought I knew what was going on.

After finishing my work for the day, I had about three hours to be able to play the game. No problem, I thought, and started to install the game.

First I needed to install and set up the PlayOnline program, which took about a half hour. Then came the instalation from the first three CD's and then the expansion on the forth CD, which took about another half hour. After that I went through the mail program protcals on PlayOnline (which is even better then most e-mail programs!) and setting up a profile, plus punching in the access codes I needed to register everything, which took about another half hour. After that, came two updates for the FFXI update, which took about a hour. Finally, reading the in game newspaper, creating the character, and then launching it into the world. All of that used my last half hour.

Three hours and all I had a chance to do was look around and then logoff! x_x

Now I know why I don't usually play online games. :) But for Final Fantasy, I'll make a exception.

Well, no more time to play tonight -- I'll have to try after work tommorow or Thursday night.

But from what little I've seen, I'm impressed. It's a hassle to set up but PlayOnline is very easy to use and has some powerfull features. TetraMaster allows another game to play besides FFXI. The intro movie for the game is stunning, reminding me of Lords of the Rings, and the graphics are all very slick and nice on my modern system, along with very good music. The main menu of the FFXI game has the old 'Crystal Theme' playing during it -- I can only hope that the game has other music from the past games.

And it's really cool that we can play with the Japanese players. 8-) Plus, I imagine, with the PS2 version when that comes out next year.

I got this game being told that it was very fun even to people who don't normaly play or like online games, like myself. First impressions looks like it's allright. Too bad it took so damn long to get up. :D

[Starcade]

EQOA>FF11

Hoppin 36 Ranger

[WiseSalesman]

I haven't played FFXI, but I played EQ to level 15 on one character and to level 10 on another, and yet I can still, even without experience, state that FFXI is better. Funny, isn't it?

[AB Positive]

I need to get a second copy of FFXI so I can play with my fiancee, she sorta hijacked my account. She's playing it right now in fact.

I love it tho. I just wish I didn't have to make a new char. Still, I'm only lvl 4, heh.

-AG

[whoisKeel]

this is a dumb question probably...but do you have to pay a monthly fee to play that game?

[WiseSalesman]

hell yes. What is it, like, $11 i think?

[whoisKeel]

:eek 2:

ok then forget that game...i can buy a 6 pack and some smokes for that ;)

[SoulBlazer]

Why do you think I debated getting this game? I'm not used to paying $13 a month either! :) But the first month is free and I think it comes down to if you play and enjoy the game enough, and online games do have some adventages.

My modem was down today, so no chance to try it before work. Still have'nt had a chance to actually DO anything yet except figure out the controls with my GamePad. :roll:

[BHvrd]

I'm kinda curious what the system requirements are for this game. Can someone answer?

Also what kinda system you run SoulBlazer, and does it run really smooth on your setup?

[Raedon]

someone always has to be a dick and bring up Everquest whenever a MMORPG is mentioned.. :roll:

.. and I'm one of them.. F$@K this kiddie game.. I want Everquest 2! I am glad that it is out before EQ2 as it will take a great chunk of 10-18 year old players with it and OUT of EQ2 (which is one thing that ruined EQ later on..)

From what I've heard this game has little in the way of high end gaming.. I hear there isn't much to do once you are at a high level beyond 300 hours played.

[Nick Goracke]

From what I've heard this game has little in the way of high end gaming.. I hear there isn't much to do once you are at a high level beyond 300 hours played.

Thankfully you heard wrong. ;)

The nice thing I've noticed the year and a half it's been out is that even outside of the expansion pack, they continually add new quests and balance the game. Not sure how it works with other games, but they take a lot of feedback and put a lot of work into improving the experience...

[Nick Goracke]

And it's really cool that we can play with the Japanese players. 8-) Plus, I imagine, with the PS2 version when that comes out next year.

I got this game being told that it was very fun even to people who don't normaly play or like online games, like myself. First impressions looks like it's allright.

I'm playing with the PS2 right now (along with all the PC players), so no worries there...

I agree with it being fun for those who don't normally play this type of game - not sure why, but the type of players that I've encountered can't hurt. I'm just curious to see how long Square sticks with this game (in terms of regular updates or even possible expansions)...

[GaijinPunch]

I didn't know that the game was still going. You know a game isn't doing so well when it's showcased at the TGS *TWICE*... (Ie two consecutive years).

[Blackjax]

I was a beta tester....

I want my LVL 21 Hume WAR back.... :angry:

I finally got the chocobo license right before they shut down the beta :(

[AB Positive]

I didn't know that the game was still going. You know a game isn't doing so well when it's showcased at the TGS *TWICE*... (Ie two consecutive years).

I don't know about where you're at but I've sold out of three shipments at my store.

We're primarily a used console plan Gamestop, we aren't really meant to sell PC. When I saw we got 30 copies in I freaked out 'cause I was thinking "We'll never sell these, we'll be stuck with them for weeks"

We sold out of the first box that day. Second box came 4 days later and sold out too. Third box only has 4 copies left from it. Wait, 3 as I had to buy a second account.

It's odd because I've heard nothing but rabid fanatacism from the Americans about this. Perhaps this is one time where America becomes the big boom market for a FF game rather than Japan.

-AG

[Stamp Mcfury]

someone always has to be a dick and bring up Everquest whenever a MMORPG is mentioned.. :roll:

.. and I'm one of them.. F$@K this kiddie game.. I want Everquest 2! I am glad that it is out before EQ2 as it will take a great chunk of 10-18 year old players with it and OUT of EQ2 (which is one thing that ruined EQ later on..)

From what I've heard this game has little in the way of high end gaming.. I hear there isn't much to do once you are at a high level beyond 300 hours played.

Well EQ seems to be the yardstick that every game gets judged by

Is FFXI better than EQ?

Everquest has a better Hud to it. The controlls on the FFXI feel to much like a Port from a console. The pointer seems to get lost in the background at higher resolutions to me on FFXI. Everquest has a lot more content than FFXI does now. Everquest still has better models than most of the FFXI. Both games have zones.

FFXI charges you more money to have an alt :angry: . You can't choose your server. Everquests Guild and chat options are much more robust (and you don't have to use an item slot to have a chat channel)

FFXI does have a lot to do though once you maxx your class out you can change your job, and start over. You can make your old job your subjob, so you don't lose all that work when you do. They have hidden jobs that sound pretty cool.

I do have to say that the Final Fantasy XI Quests that I have played have been MUCH better than the EQ Quests, and the missions just blow EQ away in that department. Doing a dungeon crawl complete with its own mini cut scenes.

Is FFXI better than EQOLA?

FFXI is a billion times better than anything I've seen in the PS2 EQ. I don't think FFXI will do anything to PC EQ but it does have a chance at being really the EQ for the PS2 owners its a good MMORPG that looks and feels like a console game.

[Lady Jaye]

Sorry, but no positive criticism of FF XI will make me change my mind. I'm just not into online gaming, and I'm not crazy about the fact that:

1) the game costs the same as any regularly released, offline game
2) there's a monthly fee to play online
3) worst of all, there's no offline play whatsoever, making the game useless years down the road, when the servers become offline.

So, a combination of all these factors just don't make it interesting for me. That's okay, though. I still have all the other games in the series to amuse myself with, so I won't miss it.

[Stamp Mcfury]

Sorry, but no positive criticism of FF XI will make me change my mind. I'm just not into online gaming, and I'm not crazy about the fact that:

1) the game costs the same as any regularly released, offline game
2) there's a monthly fee to play online
3) worst of all, there's no offline play whatsoever, making the game useless years down the road, when the servers become offline.

So, a combination of all these factors just don't make it interesting for me. That's okay, though. I still have all the other games in the series to amuse myself with, so I won't miss it.

Most MMORPS actually do have a long running sure UO and EQ have been around for a long time. but even games like Meridian 59 (http://meridian59.neardeathstudios.com/) are still alive and kicking.

[Lady Jaye]

True, true, but still there's just something fundamental about MMORPGs that don't appeal to me. I guess I'm too much of a loner to truly appreciate multiplayer gaming...

[SoulBlazer]

Somebody asked about system specs -- from the box:

Min requirements:
Windows 98 or better
P3 800 Mhz or faster
128 RAM
NVidia GeForce or ATI Raedon card
DirectX 8.1 compatiable sound card
6 GB free HD space
4 speed CD drive
56k Modem or better
Keyboard and Mouse

Recommended:
Pent 4 or equiv processor, Windows XP, 256 RAM, A video card with 64MB of VRAM.

Ir runs VERY well and smooth on my system. I have a custon built system with a AMD Athlon processor running at 2.06 Ghz, 1028 of RAM, a Nvidia GeForce 3 Ti 200, a 19 inch monitor, a GamePad Pro controller to play the game on, a Herculus sound system with 4.1 speakers, and about 200 GB in hard drive space. (A really uber system. 8-) )

Just got home from work so I'll see if I can play it a little before bed. I doubt I can play more then 5-6 hours a week, though.....

[Dragoon]

[quote="Stamp Mcfury"][quote="Raedon"] You can't choose your server.
[quote]

Do you remember a thread like this, I read somewhere you can have the server you want access to by a trick with previewing the character before confirming that you want to select a character that was just built. Anyone else since tried?

[AB Positive]

That was me who started it, and me who confirmed it. For those who don't want to search the trick:


Go through character creation process as normal. When the game asks you to assign your character a handle, hit ESC. You go right back to the main menu. Go to the Delete Character option and look at the character you just made. It will show you what server it's on. Delete if it's not the right server.

Best part is when you go to remake the character, every option you chose the first time around is the default setting this time. So you simply hit enter about twelve times and then hit ESC when you get to the handle screen again. The entire process takes about 5 seconds per shot and you will end up hitting every server available over the course of 3 minutes.

Consider that to find out which server you're on the old fashioned way -takes- 3 minutes anyway, it's a snazzy little trick.





Sorry, but no positive criticism of FF XI will make me change my mind. I'm just not into online gaming, and I'm not crazy about the fact that:

1) the game costs the same as any regularly released, offline game
2) there's a monthly fee to play online
3) worst of all, there's no offline play whatsoever, making the game useless years down the road, when the servers become offline.

So, a combination of all these factors just don't make it interesting for me. That's okay, though. I still have all the other games in the series to amuse myself with, so I won't miss it.

If you have no desire to ever play a game online, there will be no desire to play this game. As fun and good as it is, it does basically require the ability to enjoy the social aspect of the game. I don't blame you for not getting it.

If anything, give it a try about six months down the road, whenever the first American expansion comes out. The price (like most MMOs) will have dropped to about $20 and still include the free month. It's a bit more palatable a price shot then and if you don't like it, you still only payed $20. You could probably find someone online to buy your Content ID alone for an extra account for $10.

-AG

[SoulBlazer]

See, that's what I'm not sure you're allowed to do. Everything included with the game makes it crystal clear that you are NOT to sell the game used to anyone else. It says on the bottom of the box "Not for sale by original owner." And you can only use the registration codes included in the manual once.

So I don't even think you can transfer the game to someone else. Unless I'm missing something? :hmm:

[SpasticFuctard]

MMORPG's always make me want to kick the people on the other side till they're dead. Man, I'm misanthropic IRL, why the hell do I need 1500 people I don't like trying to play with me?

'k lts go kll te ice flan?'

'Learn to type you retard.'

'lol. im 14/m. als'

'Remember kid, fist can be a verb.'

Thanks, if I'm suddenly possessed by a desire to engage in endlessly repetitive mindless tasks, I'll launch my free telnet client and log on to one of 20893220393832093 totally free muds.

SF

[AB Positive]

See, that's what I'm not sure you're allowed to do. Everything included with the game makes it crystal clear that you are NOT to sell the game used to anyone else. It says on the bottom of the box "Not for sale by original owner." And you can only use the registration codes included in the manual once.

So I don't even think you can transfer the game to someone else. Unless I'm missing something? :hmm:

I transfered my game to my fiancee's computer. Your PlayOnline ID and password are transferable and that's all you actually need to play on any installation. You don't have to use the manual's passcodes if you already have the Playonline ID and pass.

Therefore it might actually be the easiest MMO to sell an account on.

-AG

[SoulBlazer]

Okay, that covers the account -- but what about the game itself? Say person A buys the game, sets it up, plays the free month, decides he does'nt like it, and sells it on Amazon to person B. What does person B have to do to PLAY the game? I'm just not sure it's possible, either techincaly or leagaly, from what I can see here.

[Stamp Mcfury]

Okay, that covers the account -- but what about the game itself? Say person A buys the game, sets it up, plays the free month, decides he does'nt like it, and sells it on Amazon to person B. What does person B have to do to PLAY the game? I'm just not sure it's possible, either techincaly or leagaly, from what I can see here.

I have noticed people selling there FFXI chars on Ebay allready. All that would be involved is Emailing the person you content ID an passwords. Then they would have to set up the payments through there own Credit card. Square might be cracking down on Ebay auctions (I for one hope they do since they ruin the game)

[AB Positive]

yep, if you have the game and install it, all you need, regardless of reg. codes is to be able to install it, and then have a valid ID/password.

-AG


edit: I just checked and yes, eBay/Square is cracking down hard on the selling of accounts. However in game items and money seem to make it just fine. I doubt eBay will be able to keep up with it as they're notoriously lax once it gets too hard to get all offenders at once.

[SoulBlazer]

I still would'nt take the risk of selling my game, though, since it says several times, including right on the box, that the original owner is NOT to re-sell the game.

Every time I think I have time to play this game, I get sidetracked into something else. LOL Last night I decided to play Fire Emblem instead. Today I had to go food shopping. Tonight I ended up chatting with a friend. Well, maybe tommorow. :D