Ok, so I had no idea where to post this without getting flamed for a number of reasons. I have a guestion to ask the MMO community. First off, I played FFXI for awhile. I loved it. I loved how you were drawn into the story, and werent forced to just run around and get stuff for the lazy NPCs. You didnt have to go out and kill 10 of this mob and 10 of that mob just to gain some money and items. Ive been on this quest to find another MMO that can live up to the great FFXI and I have not yet found anything else that comes close.
 
IMO WoW is a great game. All of the other MMOs seem to be following the interface. (I.E. Vanguard, Warhammer, and too many others to name). It is a great interface, but it seems like every game out there is WoW with a different skin. Tabula Rasa tried to break this mold and everyone just shot it down because it was people wanted either FPS or RPG, the whole mix of the two kinda of gamers just kinda broke down to the fact that they just dont get along and they never will. The FPS guys wanted to jump straight into action, and the RPGers wanted never to see a targeting radical on their screen.

So aside from games trying to break the mold and other games just falling into the mold, FFXI was its own engine. There was nothing about FFXI that any other game ever had to offer. It is, regrettably, dead now. The wait time for a group is so far beyond anything I have ever seen. Spend nearly days trying to find something to do the last time that I was online.

I have found myself on a new quest to find a good MMORPG to play now. Im not done with WoW, the story is just starting to interest me with the WotLK expansion, but there is just still something missing.

I am an avid gamer in the MMORPG world and I just want some advice as to where I should go for that adventure now. I know not if there is another suggestion thread anywhere on here so Im making one now. Let the games begin.

Unfortunately there is nothing like FFXI out there. I played FFXI for 2 years and had a blast before I moved on to Guild Wars. The best thing about FFXI was the community, which honestly was the best community I ever gamed with. Right now I don't think there is a mmo out there that have gamers really excited about mmos right now.

From my experiance with FFXI, it felt like any other grinder game I've played. Perhaps you could try The Saga of Ryzom or one of those F2P games.

It's a reticule not radical lol but don't worry I'm not making fun of you, the other day I asked my friend if he had any of "soddering" stuff left he had on spool (to fix my windshield wipers) and he asked me, "You mean soldering?"

 FFXI was the last major 'old school' MMO released, with games like WoW being 'new school'. FFXI was my first MMO, and is still my favorite, and most peoples' first MMO is their favorite, so if you talk to them, they'll usually say their first was the best. If you're looking for games similar to FFXI, you should try EQ, or any of the older games. Sure, they're dated, and the population is low, but if you like it, you like it. If you're looking for a game like WoW, you could try WAR, AoC, LotRO, or most of the newer games. I, myself am not currently playing a MMO, because nothing out interests me right now, but 2009 has the potential to be the year of the MMO, with games like Aion, (possibly)Star Wars, Jumpgate, Earthrise, Fallen Earth, Mortal Online, Global Agenda, Darkfall, and many more, and I'm waiting for one of those.

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Originally posted by SaintViktor
Unfortunately there is nothing like FFXI out there. I played FFXI for 2 years and had a blast before I moved on to Guild Wars. The best thing about FFXI was the community, which honestly was the best community I ever gamed with. Right now I don't think there is a mmo out there that have gamers really excited about mmos right now.

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This is about as truthful as it gets. Everyone is attached to their "own" MMO and everyone usually thinks that one is the best ever.

But I can tell you this right now, if you are looking for a PURE PvE game where you will experience the type of community and grouping you did in FFXI again, your options are extremely slim. The only thing that I've come close to community wise was LOTRO, but the game itself while visually good, is pretty bland as far as grouping goes. There is always the option to solo the content, so people do not LFG as in FFXI for long. Where in FFXI you needed a group daily to level unless you were a Beastmaster or Puppetmaster type class, every other PvE MMO can be completed by soloing, and its not difficult doing it at all. They usually only group for a end quest, or a dungeon here and there, but most gamers nowadays don't worry about the grouping while leveling up. It's all about the endgame so they rush to that.

But as far as PvE challenge, there's nothing out here now for that. It's all going light on the PvE and much heavier on the PvP.

The only thing anyone really can hope for is that SquareEnix decides to make another PvE critical game and not be swayed by the lure of easy bucks of the PvP sirens.

I played FFXI for 4 years (from NA launch) I left because one can only play a game for so long. For 3 years I have been looking for a new MMO that captured my attention like FFXI did.

I have some good news and bad news:

Bad news: I can tell you there is absolutely nothing out there remotely close to FFXI or anything that will keep a former hardcore FFXI player entertained. All of them fall short leaving you wanting more.

Good new: Square Enix is working on a new MMO.  To be more specific the team that made FFXI is doing the new on. SE is suposed to reveal it this year at E3 in june. There is virtually no information on it SE keeps all their games on the down low. With how SE works I could see them release the new mmo in Q4 o9. It has been in development since 05 so 4-5 years is suffecient time to get it out.

The new MMO is my last hope for a challenging new MMO.

I have to agree with everything said so far. I have played/tried just about every MMO since i left FFXI and i agree that there is a huge cloning conspiracy going on. SWG was my only fix til they jacked that up with the NGE.   Anyway

As stated above there is a new MMO by SE coming out and they think it will be for all platforms. If your alittle curious about the game or even thier new engine.  This is the code name (Rapture) and the new engine the game uses is thier new Crystal Tools. 

GL finding something to hold you over.

Just go back to single player rpgs until a good mmo comes out. I have a long backlog of those that I haven't really made a dent in XD

I have looked into the new SE game coming out. Its a huge secret in the SE world right now. FF XIII looks pretty cool though. Im still on my search. I have WoW I guess. Its just not the same when you are fighting PvPvE all the time. Im not all for the soloing though. I came from FF XI, I love grouping. I loved the long hours out and about trying to find new things to lvl on. I have thought about going back. I hear that the economy has changed alot and stuff doesnt take forever to attain.

I have tried the other "WoW" engine games. Like I said, they are all WoW with a different skin really. Same interface and what not. I guess it is true what all my olf FFXI friends are saying about it being old skool and such. I will take the advice to play some F2P games and maybe even a console RPG lol.

My only hope is that either Darkfall or the new SE game will completely blow "WoW" engines out the window. Some people said that about Vanguard lol. That was a hoot. no offense to those who played it. It just seemed like hey didnt know what they were doing with the graphics engine in that one.

DC Universe might save me as well.

 I played that two dollar demo from Electronics Boutique, and I can say I was blown away by the game. 

I considered buying it but decided against it thanks to lack of funds. I already have enough monthly subscriptions to various other services (Stephcast, etc), I don't need another 15 a month.

Definitely more worth it than WoW or EQ.

Originally posted by mrcalhou

It's a reticule not radical lol but don't worry I'm not making fun of you, the other day I asked my friend if he had any of "soddering" stuff left he had on spool (to fix my windshield wipers) and he asked me, "You mean soldering?"

Confirming that Wisconsin electectricians don't use the "l" sound in soldering but it acttually sounds like SA-Der-ing. 

Maybe EQ2.

Originally posted by Zeino

So aside from games trying to break the mold and other games just falling into the mold, FFXI was its own engine. There was nothing about FFXI that any other game ever had to offer. It is, regrettably, dead now. The wait time for a group is so far beyond anything I have ever seen. Spend nearly days trying to find something to do the last time that I was online.

Where are you waiting and which server? It is probably easier to find groups with level sync or get into a shell and ask people to sync with you and do some fields of valor. I see people out at the outposts all the time.

Unless you are high level and looking for a merit party? I don't know anything about that. I know there's more then a few options of things to partake in at higher levels. /shrug

About the economy I just bought a scroll of erase for 2K and I was going to sell a stack of silk but they only sold for 10K. What does that tell you? :0) he he

For those that don't know  those items were very expensive in the day, and I mean very expensive especially the erase scroll.

Originally posted by Cynthe

Originally posted by Zeino

So aside from games trying to break the mold and other games just falling into the mold, FFXI was its own engine. There was nothing about FFXI that any other game ever had to offer. It is, regrettably, dead now. The wait time for a group is so far beyond anything I have ever seen. Spend nearly days trying to find something to do the last time that I was online.

 

Where are you waiting and which server? It is probably easier to find groups with level sync or get into a shell and ask people to sync with you and do some fields of valor. I see people out at the outposts all the time.

Unless you are high level and looking for a merit party? I don't know anything about that. I know there's more then a few options of things to partake in at higher levels. /shrug

About the economy I just bought a scroll of erase for 2K and I was going to sell a stack of silk but they only sold for 10K. What does that tell you? :0) he he

For those that don't know  those items were very expensive in the day, and I mean very expensive especially the erase scroll.

There may be a couple dead servers... but during NA prime time, doing a /sea all will show that Fairy/Asura have ~2500-3000 players... doing a /sea all invite will show HUNDREDS of players looking for group... level sync changed a lot.

Originally posted by Zeino

I have looked into the new SE game coming out. Its a huge secret in the SE world right now. FF XIII looks pretty cool though. Im still on my search. I have WoW I guess. Its just not the same when you are fighting PvPvE all the time. Im not all for the soloing though. I came from FF XI, I love grouping. I loved the long hours out and about trying to find new things to lvl on. I have thought about going back. I hear that the economy has changed alot and stuff doesnt take forever to attain.

I have tried the other "WoW" engine games. Like I said, they are all WoW with a different skin really. Same interface and what not. I guess it is true what all my olf FFXI friends are saying about it being old skool and such. I will take the advice to play some F2P games and maybe even a console RPG lol.

My only hope is that either Darkfall or the new SE game will completely blow "WoW" engines out the window. Some people said that about Vanguard lol. That was a hoot. no offense to those who played it. It just seemed like hey didnt know what they were doing with the graphics engine in that one.

DC Universe might save me as well.

For a F2P Id say hands down Runes of magic is the best way to go. Its not close to what ffxi was execpt the dual class system. I am having fun in it. And its very much comparabale to the P2P wow clones.

Whats the best/easiest USB controller to use with this game? I tried with a keyboard/mouse and it felt too weird.

Well..have you tried PSOBB? You can find it if you just google it its still up.

Also a game like FFXI there is none, I am still playing FFXI but I play on and off, (on 3 months off 2 months). Been playing since 2004 and still love it.

I also think Guild wars would be a good choice. Its community is much more immature than FFXI however its got some nice storywork and visuals as well as some skill based game play.

I feel just like the OP.

I played FFXI for nearly 2 years then stopped.

Then I tried pretty much everything else.

Then I decided I wanted another game just like FFXI but new.

Then I realised there is nothing new like FFXI.

Then I returned to FFXI.

A year has passed and I'm still happy. There is simply no MMO like it in my opinion. I'll probably play it until they close the servers.

The Population is not really a problem and the new level-sync system is superb and means people can level with people from all levels. The game has really improved and it was already superb.

(No I don't work for Square Enix - I just love their game)

Originally posted by Briansho

Whats the best/easiest USB controller to use with this game? I tried with a keyboard/mouse and it felt too weird.

I used the Logitech dual action controller. It worked just like the PS2 controls.

Im trying out some F2P games right now. Nothing is the same. I think I will just have to deal with it lol. Or go back. Thanks for all of the advice guys, I really appreciate it. Any other input works though.