I tried FFXI at launch but could not get into it, that and I was skint.

Years later thinking of trying it at, I am bored wth every MMO and tried them all.  I still play LOTRO only with the Wife though.

Was thinking of getting FFXI with all expansions, am I little too late? is it too hard as a casual gamer? will I struggle to find groups?

Or is this a dieing game?

One thing about ffxi,is it is its own game ,it is not a copycat game.By playinmg FFXI you wil lat least have experienced a whole new ball game.It is never too late to join a game,if you do not care about rushing forward and just want to enjoy the game.I would say in your case,you are better off with your wife or having friends join youbecause FFXI is a true party game not a solo game.

It is possible to go through to the end game with just 3 players,but FFXI is not just about end game ,there is all sorts of stuff to do.

The game's fine. If you were to play it, I'd suggest doing so with your wife. It would make things a lot more fun. The good thing about this game is that it's not about just getting to endgame. There is plenty to do along the way.

If you happen to start on my server Kujata, later me know and I'll help you out.

Like the others have said, definitely give it a try, but unless you already have a group of friends to play with or an LS to join right away then I's also suggest you convince your wife to play as well!

Just a suggestion, but click on my signature below, I recently started a new LS for FFXIV, but 6-7 of us have decided to return to FFXI from scratch on July 1st.  We'll already have an LS going and the forums are alive and getting plenty of attention.  Most of us are experience but havn't played in years, others never, but its always a good time to try FFXI if you havn't done so before.

Well, I hope you consider FFXI again no matter what server you end up on...

Originally posted by Khrymson

Like the others have said, definitely give it a try, but unless you already have a group of friends to play with or an LS to join right away then I's also suggest you convince your wife to play as well!

 

Just a suggestion, but click on my signature below, I recently started a new LS for FFXIV, but 6-7 of us have decided to return to FFXI from scratch on July 1st.  We'll already have an LS going and the forums are alive and getting plenty of attention.  Most of us are experience but havn't played in years, others never, but its always a good time to try FFXI if you havn't done so before.

 

Well, I hope you consider FFXI again no matter what server you end up on...

I tried Final Fantasy XI about 2 years ago but did not stay because I was addicted to Lineage 2. I am going to join your site and would love to be in your guild.

 Yes, the game is still worth playing. There are still plenty of new players coming and going. Have a look at my recent blog post to see a cursory description of the most populated servers plus Kujata.  I spent a couple of hours looking at the number of players on each individual server.  It's safe to assume that if a server is healthy in Valkurm Dunes that the higher level hunting parties will be just as healthy.  At least that's what I've noticed.

Basically, if you're looking for the most logical extremes of the spectrum:

• Kujata has a lot of players from here... I'm not sure how it became a popular server here, but several people have joined it in the past week or so.
• Fenrir is more populated and myself and Khrymson are on there.  I tend to be active on the forums here whenever I'm able to login here.
• Phoenix is the most populated server still accessible since Odin and Bahamut closed to new players.

Overall, there are plenty of new players still going through the quests in the game, and there should be no problem getting help to complete the quests and going on up through the levels.  As far as I can tell, the population is no different than it was when I first started playing at launch.  

Since then I've cancelled a couple times, but right now I'm in it for the long haul.  My most recent reroll was March 2008.  I had no problem playing the game.  In fact, it was just like it was when the game first launched... just a lot more high level players than there were back then.

So, my biggest recommendation if you do decide to join FFXI... get a controller.  Logitech joypads, Xbox 360 controllers, and PS2 Controllers (with a USB adapter) work great.  I recommend a controller because the controls are so totally different from your standard PC MMORPG and many people have difficulty becoming accustomed to the new control scheme.

Originally posted by WazMeister

I tried FFXI at launch but could not get into it, that and I was skint.

 

Years later thinking of trying it at, I am bored wth every MMO and tried them all.  I still play LOTRO only with the Wife though.

 

Was thinking of getting FFXI with all expansions, am I little too late? is it too hard as a casual gamer? will I struggle to find groups?

Or is this a dieing game?

I would honestly say now is not a good time to get started with FFXI. In 2010 FFXIV will be coming out and it is no secret that it will more than likely dominate the FFXI community. 

FFXI is a great game and it is very unique. It has a core base of subscribers that aren't going to be quitting until maybe FFXIV. I just wouldn't start the game now... it is a pretty hardcore game and by the time you get a good grasp on it the new MMO will be out.

Originally posted by Rajen

Originally posted by WazMeister

I tried FFXI at launch but could not get into it, that and I was skint.

 

Years later thinking of trying it at, I am bored wth every MMO and tried them all.  I still play LOTRO only with the Wife though.

 

Was thinking of getting FFXI with all expansions, am I little too late? is it too hard as a casual gamer? will I struggle to find groups?

Or is this a dieing game?

 

I would honestly say now is not a good time to get started with FFXI. In 2010 FFXIV will be coming out and it is no secret that it will more than likely dominate the FFXI community. 

 

FFXI is a great game and it is very unique. It has a core base of subscribers that aren't going to be quitting until maybe FFXIV. I just wouldn't start the game now... it is a pretty hardcore game and by the time you get a good grasp on it the new MMO will be out.

http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=18313 - Press Conference with SE June 3rd.  Pretty sure this is the most recent one they state that they still have at least 1 year worth of content to be released for FFXI AFTER FFXIV is released.  So FFXI will still be alive and kicking at least until 2012 (FFXIV release 2010, More content released in 2011, get bored with content in 2012).  Its definatly NOT WORTH NOT PLAYING.  I wouldn't not play FFXI because two years from now you will start playing FFXIV.  In other words... You might as well play FFXI and be happy while you wait 2 years to start playing FFXIV>

Yeah I probably wouldn't bother at this point. It's def an amazing game in my opinion but with FFXIV coming along. You don't want to get invested in the game and then have to switch over. Everything is a tad out dated as well... again, in my opinion.  Plus if you didn't like it at launch, you aren't going to like it now.

But as others have said, it's very different from what has become the common MMO experience and for that it's worth checking out.

 In other words... You might as well play FFXI and be happy while you wait 2 years to start playing FFXIV>

You do know it is 2009 right? it will be out next year not in 2011.

But yeah like the poster above me said the game is great but it is a huge time investment, it is not as easy to get into like WoW ir is a great game but it is very difficult and time consuming.

FFXI was the best MMO I ever played but i would seriously not recommend starting it now

Seems i am disagreeing with people again on here.  The game is 14.99.  You get 30 days free and if you get the trial first you get 44 days for 14.99.  You can still get a lot of enjoyment out of the game and not everyone is going to jump to XIV.  I know i won't play just XIV.  I'll still be playing XI along with it and some won't play at all.  I think it'll still go pretty strong even after XIV is released.

Originally posted by Rajen

 In other words... You might as well play FFXI and be happy while you wait 2 years to start playing FFXIV>

 

You do know it is 2009 right? it will be out next year not in 2011.

 

But yeah like the poster above me said the game is great but it is a huge time investment, it is not as easy to get into like WoW ir is a great game but it is very difficult and time consuming.

 

FFXI was the best MMO I ever played but i would seriously not recommend starting it now

Yes I pointed that out that it will be out next year in 2010, and SE said they still have another year of content lined up for another year AFTER FFXIV is released, 2011 and then another year after that to get bored with the new content so it will still be doing well until 2012.  After re-reading my earlier post i do realize i was confusing as heck.  I apologize as I am running on no sleep... lol

 I don't understand why you're trying to turn him away from play FFXI now.  I don't see FFXIV as a reason to stop playing or not join FFXI.  The announcement of Asheron's Call 2 didn't turn people away from Asheron's Call.  Nor did EverQuest 2, and EverQuest 1 is still populated.  So, a sequel doesn't kill a game.

Plus, every MMO you play is a time investment.  Whether you start FFXI or some other MMO, most players who've played every MMO out there are already going to be looking for that next "big" MMO to try out.

Originally posted by Rajen

 In other words... You might as well play FFXI and be happy while you wait 2 years to start playing FFXIV>

 

You do know it is 2009 right? it will be out next year not in 2011.

 

But yeah like the poster above me said the game is great but it is a huge time investment, it is not as easy to get into like WoW ir is a great game but it is very difficult and time consuming.

 

FFXI was the best MMO I ever played but i would seriously not recommend starting it now

I just started playing a week ago. And I would recommend it to anyone who wants to play it.