Initially it will affect the pc sales ofc. however, this is for the best as now the games graphics won't age so quickly. In 2 years time most gamers will have the power to play this on the pc. And if not, at least the ps3 version will be out in march. I'll be playing the ps3 version too and at least this gives me a few months to see how the game is going. I'm never buying an mmo at launch again. I've been hurt waaay too many times

Originally posted by Lexin

Originally posted by GazMc

Yeah, Windower really changes the game for the better. Just don't go blabbing that you use it ingame because it's kinda illegal. I still do not know why square didn't just allow Windower to be used.

Anyway, when you've got Windower installed, hit the "Insert" key on your keyboard. Then type   .drawdistance set 20  and it will make the game look much better. Hope this helps ;)

From my understanding there are some scripts on it that will give an advantage over those not using it. Heard something like a counter that will give you the ToD/time when an NM will spawn. Not going to lie would be nice to use something like that on JoyToy NM but yeah I never used windower.

Really? I wasn't aware of that. Only thing I ever use it for is for the drawdistance and to make the mouse cursor more visible ;) Things SE should have done themselves anyway

Yeah, Windower really changes the game for the better. Just don't go blabbing that you use it ingame because it's kinda illegal. I still do not know why square didn't just allow Windower to be used.

Anyway, when you've got Windower installed, hit the "Insert" key on your keyboard. Then type   .drawdistance set 20  and it will make the game look much better. Hope this helps ;)

Yeah I'm on Asura too. That server is rediculously populated. Never goes below 2k and goes up to 4k every day at some stage. No trouble finding parties. Can be a bitch camping NMs though. I've given up on getting an Empress Hairpin at this stage. Still, maybe you should consider moving to a more populated server? I think its €20 to move a char.

Well if WoW is the only other MMO you've played then you might be in for a bit of a shock. Its really nothing like WoW. It's quite difficult at first (and can seem a bit tedious) but once you get to know all the easier ways of doing things this game becomes great. Also, if you like the WoW kind of playstyle (casual) then maybe you should wait for FF XIV because this will be more casual than FFXI.

Originally posted by WSIMike

So, two good friends of mine decided they want to go back and give WoW another whirl, especially in anticipation of Cataclysm coming out (which, I'll admit does look rather nice). Talking with them about it, it occurred to me that it'd be fun to play to with friends again, and lo and behold there was a free "come back and see what we've been up to" 7 day trial awaiting me. Perfect! It turns out my friends can't come back yet due to an unexpected rl situation that has their funds rather tied up (hand surgery, casts, time out of work w/out pay and high hospital bills...hooray!), so I figure "well, let me give the game a look and I can just resub at the end if it's looking good.

Well, I have to thank Blizzard for the free 7 days, really, because they saved me money that would have led to nothing but profuse face-palming.

Seems that since last time I played, Blizzard has done the seemingly impossible and made playing WoW, particularly questing in this case, even more brain-dead, by adding a built-in quest tracker that shows you exactly where you have to go for each quest, exactly where the spots are where you have to kill mobs... etc. etc.

I mean... seriously? How much  hand-holding to people really need? Are people becoming *that* lazy? Well.. that's a rhetorical question, I guess.

I looked for a way to disable all that but nothing I found seemed to work. I'd really rather just, you know, play the game and figure things out on my own withou being shown exactly where I need to go. Seems Blizzard's determined to make sure they leave out all sense of exploration or "figuring it out for myself"... heaven forbid I have to use any critical thinking skills in their game.

... relevant detour...

I mean, I had gotten a great indication of this during the 'outcry' about the Mankirk's Wife quest some time back. A large group of players responded to that quest with a chorus of, "What? We have to read and pay attention to the quest dialog to get an idea of where we have to go? BLASPHEMY!! You effed this one up, Blizzard!!".

I remember it being a joke of how much Blizzard "botched" that quest. Turns out, when I came around to doing it... it was freaking *easy*. Right in the quest text it says they were attacked on the Southern Golden Road... HINT ALERT! HINT ALERT!

Seemed to me that might just be the place to start looking... so I did. Lo and behold... found Mankirk's wife's lifeless body a mere 10 minutes after starting the quest from Crossroads. Yeah... Blizzard *really* botched that up by expecting players to - gasp - use elementary school reading skills to complete it.

It's not like I'm some brainiac with a PHD in Everything. I used basic common sense and about 20 seconds of effort to actually read the quest dialog. Apparently that's just far too much to ask for some. So in no way is this about me patting myself on the back for being "super intelligent". It's more about how damn lazy so many others are.

... end relevant detour ...

Anyway... back to my point.

So... at this point, it seems to me the only step left to take for Blizzard is to implement an "Autoplay" function, where you queue up the quests you want to do, hit "go" and your character will automatically go to each spot, complete each objective - fighting and all - and go back to turn the quests in... While you watch, like it's some kind of TV show where you're merely a passive spectator rather than an active participant.

Not sure that would work, though.. It might offend some people's frail sensitivities that they have to do "all that clicking" to queue up the quests they need to do. For them, Blizzard could just implement a checkbox that says "Complete All Active Quests" and, bingo. They've got potentially hours of passive entertainment where they don't need to do a thing. I get the impression that would be heaven for some.

Seriously, though... how much more brain-dead can Blizzard possibly make this game?

Anyways... again, I realize the game obviously still applies to millions so, yes, no one needs to remind me. It just astounds me that there are those who think being led by the nose to such a degree, so all they're doing is going through the motions is "fun". My sister, sadly, is one of them. I was talking to her about it last night and she was all "Oh isn't that awesome!! Now I know exactly where to go and dont' have to spend all that time running around with no idea what to do. That annoys the hell out of me". When I told her the quest dialog tells you what to do, she says "Yeah, but I don't bother reading all that". So... there you go...

Then again... perhaps it's a reason why people are becoming more and more bored with the so-called "casual MMO"... and don't even realize it.

I agree with everything you just said mate. I got the exact same feeling. Thankfully I have FFXI to play which still offers a proper challenge ;)

I think the graphics are fine. They're certainly not bad (especially for its age!) and FFXI has many aspects that make up for any dated graphics it may have.

Also, Agreed! Come to Asura! ;)

Oh and check out www.ffxiclopedia.com as it will help you so much if you're having problems or any questions

Originally posted by Akaie

Hello all, going to be coming back to FFXI at the start of next month.  WoW just isn't doing it for me.  I love FFXI and I'll miss not being able to PvP but FFXI is a more imersive game.  Damn square and their billing cycle!  Anyway, I'm on the Titan server.  Can anyone tell me how the population is there or where I can find it.  I keep hearing that Asura is the server to play on.

I'm not opposed to starting over as I never had a character past level 10 due to only being able to try the game for a brief period my first go round.  But I do have a friend on Titan so I'd play there if the population is good.  Otherwise I'd try to get them to server transfer to Asura.

Thanks in advance!

Well I just restarted on Asura recently and i found that the population was really good. around 1900-2000 when I'm on (EU) and i think it gets higher during region overlap times. There was a good few people in the starting areas and i had no prob getting parties or a LS. I don't know anything about titan unfortunately though mate so can't help you there. Have fun!

Originally posted by TsukieU

Originally posted by ic0n67

Originally posted by TsukieU

I'm not sure I get why everyone hates SE's billing cycle.

 

It isn't bad the first time through since you get a free month then the prorate the additional time. If you resub in the middle of the month you end up being charged for two months next month.

 

 

Huh I've never had this issue...I've always had them prorate my sub whenever I resubbed to the time of the next cycle.

Then i guess your the only one mate. Squares billing cycle is terrible if you decide to resub at any time other than the start of a month. Game is worth it though imo

Originally posted by ic0n67

oh no ... sorry I didn't get to you sooner ... Asura is the shithole of the game. Avoid at all costs.

Not sure about the validity of this comment.

But i just migrated to Asura yesterday and it seems fine. The population dropped to 1700 for a bit but stayed mostly at 2100 (which is perfect) for the day. Maybe this was just the times i played though so not sure. Anyway i got into a linkshell on my 1st day and the guys are really into helping us get the stuff we need. I did a search of Qufim at one stage and 66 people were there. About 7 people were flagged for party also at any one time in qufim. Dunno if this helps any but just thought i'd let u know. Cya in game!

Originally posted by raystantz

Why?

Do you really want to play more race to level cap, solo questing games?

Do you really want that easy of a game?

Do you want adventure?

Do you want the feeling of actually accomplishing something?

Do you want social interaction?

Do you want crafting that is a challenge not just a means to and end?

FFXI isn't going anywhere. FFXIV is going to be a different game, more than likely alot like the current flavor of MMOs. FFXI needs people like you. The MMO player who is lost without a game, or just can't bear to kill 10 more kobolds should be playing FFXI. Forget about what will happen when FFXIV comes out and worry about what your doing now. There's a long gap until it comes out, and even if it does.. How many of you already play more than one mmo.. especially when they are vastly different games.

If you've never played FFXI and you enjoy rich storylines with a deep "rpg" feel.. FFXI has been there all along waiting for you.

Participate in..

Epic quests

Nation rank missions that progress the story. These are very long and involved sometimes.

Armor set quests

Garrison

Ballista

Brenner

The ability to play all jobs with ONE character.

The ability to be in more than one guild at a time.

Mog Housing/Gardening

Chocobo breeding/Racing

Chocobo mounts

Burning Circle Notorious Monsters

Kindred Seal Notorious Monsters

Besieged

Campaign

Fields of  Valor

Moblin Maze Mongers

Pankration

Mercenary missions

Salvage

Dynamis/Sea/Sky/Limbus etc.

Zilart Missions

Chains of Promathia Missions

Treasures of Aht Urgan Missions

Wings of the Goddess Missions

3 Mini expansions

I could keep going.......

Instead of a game where everyone is at level cap, and everything below the level cap is OBSOLETE. Play a game where most everything is still viable today. Great group fun! I'm on Asura, and I urge you to join me. We can create a static group/linkshell and complete all the content from level 1 on!

I know this is a FFXI related post, but this goes out to anyone who has no idea what to play, but knows they do not want to play another "wowclone" this is for you!

 

You know what? I've been thinking about coming back recently. Just reading this post has pushed me to resubscribe. Unfortunately my char is on Remora, but i think i will get a transfer to Asura. What results does /sea bring up there nowadays?

Well i do believe that all new MMO's need to be aware of upcoming WoW expansions and their release dates because, whether we like it or not, it does make a huge impact on the market.

That being said, if FFXIV holds onto the same ideals and directions that FFXI has, then it will pull in a completely different crowd to the WoW crowd. Many people just prefer a more challenging game. And other people (that played WoW and quit) might like the opportunity to play something with more depth. I myself loved WoW (vanilla) and moved onto FFXI afterwards and really appreciated it for how great it is. So i do think there will be a wealth of people who will play FFXIV anyways even if Cataclysm is released around the same time as it. Don't underestimate the power of WoWBurnout...

Originally posted by impri

I love to solo and attempt to make it through all of the game play solo. If I have to group I just don't do that portion. Guess I am just anti-social. The single player games on the market just aren't as interesting as trying to solo content in a MMORPG.

Every game I have played where I joined a guild I left within 3 months. Every game where I attempted to group to play it the way the developers meant it to be played I left. Grouping and joining Guilds just ruined the fun of it for me. Maybe I am alone but I have played EQ, EQ2, Vanguard, DAOC, and a few others. Currently I am playing LOTRO while waiting to see how FFXIV turns out. I hope there is the ability to solo most of the content. I think there should be content that can not be soloed and it never has bothered me in any game that I could not solo ALL of it.

I made it to pretty high levels in EQ2, Vanguard, FFXI and DAOC but moved on because the end game was group only. If there was a game that would allow me to solo end content I would play it for quite a while.

I don't think I am the only one that believes that way either but it is how I think.

 

 

 

I just don't get this at all. Why are you playing mmorpgs? If you want to solo, play a single player rpg. Many of us play mmos for the group/social factor and it's people like you that are ruining it imo. Sorry if thats harsh but it's true.

Originally posted by ic0n67

Originally posted by GazMc

Hey guys

I'm really excited for this game as i loved FFXI. I'd actually love if FFXI was just being released now and i'd never played it. ;)

What I'm worried about is that this game will try to be too casual and turn into another 'one of those games'.

 

Now, I'm all for a bit more soloability being available than there was in FFXI, but i really feel that the group factor of FFXI was what made the game great and this should be the main focus. Every battle seemed like a challenge as every member had to work for the kill. I'd hate to see this game lose out on that as it made for a great community.

Anyways, I'm only worried because of a few comments that have come from the SE guys. We all know that they have mentioned WoW as a game they want to learn from which makes me think the worst unfortunately. I also read somewhere (FFXIVcore i think?) that square mentioned that a good way to tackle gilsellers is to make gil not that valuable. That just gave me a feeling of an easy-mode game where you don't have to work for what you want.

Now, I really hope I'm just being paranoid (the last few MMOs have been awful letdowns) and I would love for this game to be as great as XI was. What do you think? Are you having any doubts?

 

P.S I know we just need to wait for a bit more info from SE, but lets just speculate for now ;)

 

You want a tip to alleviate the doubts? Believe in nothing ....

....

....

....

No really ... not trying to get to philosophical on you here, but don't believe. Come into this game and accept if for what it is. Don't go around looking for every piece of information out there and conjuring up your own ideas about how that information is going to play out. If you get an idea that something could work one way and you end up seeing in actuallty that it is quite different you are more than likely going to get disappointed. The more you get disappointed the less you will enjoy the game and honestly you'd only have yourself to blame if you took a great game and didn't give it a chance.

How much hype was around WAR? A whole lot. I played it, i didn't dislike it, it just wouldn't run on my antiquated desktop. I also didn't overtly hype myself up over it and just was able to take it for what it is and not what I thought it would be.

Remember going in tabula rasa is the best thing when trying out a new game ... ... less that game is tabula rasa in which case ... sorry ...

This is a solid bit of advice actually and i may just take it. Cheers mate ;)

Originally posted by trepo

Doubts about what ? Lack of information, gameplay showing, 50% finished game still in alpha stage ? At this point, i'd have more doubts about my sexual orientation...

About it being a more mainstream, wow-like game. In terms of difficulty and input required for advancement. Just hoping that they still keep the group aspect because if they make soloing viable then everyone will do it. And thats boring imo.

And in regards to your sexual orientation, doubt no more! Take the test! 

www.gay-test.com

yay!

Hey guys

I'm really excited for this game as i loved FFXI. I'd actually love if FFXI was just being released now and i'd never played it. ;)

What I'm worried about is that this game will try to be too casual and turn into another 'one of those games'.

Now, I'm all for a bit more soloability being available than there was in FFXI, but i really feel that the group factor of FFXI was what made the game great and this should be the main focus. Every battle seemed like a challenge as every member had to work for the kill. I'd hate to see this game lose out on that as it made for a great community.

Anyways, I'm only worried because of a few comments that have come from the SE guys. We all know that they have mentioned WoW as a game they want to learn from which makes me think the worst unfortunately. I also read somewhere (FFXIVcore i think?) that square mentioned that a good way to tackle gilsellers is to make gil not that valuable. That just gave me a feeling of an easy-mode game where you don't have to work for what you want.

Now, I really hope I'm just being paranoid (the last few MMOs have been awful letdowns) and I would love for this game to be as great as XI was. What do you think? Are you having any doubts?

P.S I know we just need to wait for a bit more info from SE, but lets just speculate for now ;)

I'm glad you have ANOTHER solo orientated game. Genuinely i am. I just hate when soloists come to the very few games that are group orientated and bitch that theres not enough solo content

The BEST BEST BEST thing about FFXI is the community. I'm gonna try to keep that spirit alive and be friendly and respectable to everyone (even the WoWheads). Many people who play mmos now have never experienced a friendly community so it would be nice to show them that it exists.

And if the WoW people are dicks? Hey, its a group orientated game (mostly), I'll know not to group with em again ;) ;). They'll learn the hard way...

Really enjoying the game myself. I'm thinking that people who have played games like FFXI or L2 will continue to love this game. Its challenging and nothing is handed to you. People who have only enjoyed games like WoW / LOTRO / WAR might find this game unappealing because of the grind factor.

Aion will continue to do well though, which is great for the mmorpg genre.

Originally posted by Stratford

Originally posted by Ozmodan

"Rigid Classes"  Yep that is Aion.  That is the problem with this game, few choices.  Why is it players flock to games where they don't have to make choices?  Where is the challenge?  Seems to be the norm when it comes to games coming out of Asia.

 

Yep.  Asia has yet to produce a fun MMORPG.  I'm always amazed how people keep flocking to them, and then leaving in hordes.  You'd think they'd learn a lesson, but nope, they just keep banging their heads against the wall.

Hmmm wish I'd known this earlier. Why oh why did i waste all that time with FFXI? I really wish you'd informed me that it wasn't fun before. /sarcasm off. Fun is subjective. Clearly you have simpler tastes. Thats not a bad thing, but please don't go bashing games that require a bit of skill and actual input to play....damn, i fed the troll didn't i?