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[Lucifon]

Figure this is the best place to ask:

If I pre-order the game from Amazon/GMG do they send you a code for the early access?

I preordered from GMG with the deal in the OP earlier today and got the early access code straight away. They haven't opened up the page to register it yet though.

I'd say it's probably worth giving it a shot for the first month. The combat and questing feels very very been-there-done-that but the game's presentation is great. The choice to go pay-to-play especially after 1 failed launch seems like a terrible move to me, but I guess we'll see.

 

[Sorian]

So, can someone explain something to me? I bought the collector's edition when the original game came out and stopped playing after a month or two. I know I won't have very many legacy type things since I didn't do much in the original game but it is my understanding that because I bought the collector's edition of the first game that I get the second game and some extra stuff for free this go around? How do I access those things once the full game goes live? Also, I was invited to the beta and never got around to logging in because I realized that I had a security key attached to my login and that key is long gone now, I'm assuming I'll have to call CS to remove it?

 

[fluffydelusions]

I think it's so-so. If you enjoyed wow, swtor, or FFXI then you will probably enjoy it. But I don't think it is going to set the world on fire either.

Yeah you know I purchased swtor and gw2 at launch and even though I dropped both shortly after I beat main quest and got to max lvl I got my moneys worth compared to most games (60+ hrs at least).

 

[Varna]

Yeah I dont think end game is everything either. The journey there counts too. At any rate, I think the scenario quests could stand to be a little more interesting right off the bat, but then again i'm not sure when the major story events really start to happen.

I really do hope the scenario quest get as interesting and challenging as the stuff in FFXI. What FFXI player doesn't remember Castle Zvahl and the Shadowlord battle? Just getting to the boss fight is some survival horror shit and you gotta defeat this ridiculous multi form boss. This is all with a group that has to be fairly coordinated because any one person could just wreck the entire thing.

 

[QisTopTier]

So, can someone explain something to me? I bought the collector's edition when the original game came out and stopped playing after a month or two. I know I won't have very many legacy type things since I didn't do much in the original game but it is my understanding that because I bought the collector's edition of the first game that I get the second game and some extra stuff for free this go around? How do I access those things once the full game goes live? Also, I was invited to the beta and never got around to logging in because I realized that I had a security key attached to my login and that key is long gone now, I'm assuming I'll have to call CS to remove it?

Yes to everything, you will get the CE 2.0 items in the in game mail

 

[TheSeks]

It's nice, but it isn't really worth a sub fee, IMO.

If it was F2P with story expansion content being charged, I'd think about playing it. As it is, when it launches I'll stop playing it. I can't justify a monthly fee with my slightly busy schedule for an MMO.

 

[Teknoman]

I like it better on a console, it's a more relaxed experience playing from the living room or bedroom and using a controller. Not many MMOs are console-capable, so might as well take advantage.

PC + Controller works pretty nicely too. I wish they would enable you to adjust the UI on PC or just general font outside of chat. Looks pretty small when I connected my PC to TV @ 1080p.

 

[Sorian]

Yes to everything, you will the CE 2.0 items in the in game mail

Another question as well, is this game using the same client/patcher to start the game or will there be (or is there already) a new client to download?

 

[QisTopTier]

Another question as well, is this game using the same client/patcher to start the game or will there be (or is there already) a new client to download?

There is a new client now, all data from the old version of the game is obsolete

 

[Darryl]

if walking around and looking at pretty scenery is enough to satisfy you, then go for it. it has that for sure. i'd take a wait and see approach as an outsider myself. lots of stuff is still up in the air.

 

[Ploid 3.0]

Once you clear the Ifrit fight, the game pretty much shows you how you can expect to make progress through it. It's also why Yoshi said that Fates will be perfect for parties that want to grind out open world stuff.

I was talking with someone that did endgame ffxi stuff about FFXIV and particularly Fates. He wondered if Fates would be the endgame content like ffxi's Kings. I did a few fates where it was a big monster but there were 0 drops so I figured it was just a taste of what's to come for endgame. The only thing is anyone can join in on Fates, making the loot drop, and fight strategy a bit weird. I just figured it would be like besieged when the big monsters show up.

FFXI besieged hydra (turn music off if you click)
http://youtu.be/4xdWtIo3ans

 

[Teknoman]

I really do hope the scenario quest get as interesting and challenging as the stuff in FFXI. What FFXI player doesn't remember Castle Zvahl and the Shadowlord battle? Just getting to the boss fight is some survival horror shit and you gotta defeat this ridiculous multi form boss. This is all with a group that has to be fairly coordinated because any one person could just wreck the entire thing.

Well the boss fights will be right up there with Shadowlord if the battles in 1.0 were any indication. I think the problem is, the majority of main scenario quests so far dont need a party. Grand Company scenario quests probably do ( they all tie in at some point).

EDIT: Alot of end game will be here I think:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uXn9hw7Cvg

And in the Great Labyrinth of Bahamut...however crazy that'll end up looking. Assaulting Garlean and Beast tribe strongholds should be cool too. Then there is however the Titan, Odin, Ramuh, Shiva, and Leviathan fights will go.

 

[QisTopTier]

I was talking with someone that did endgame ffxi stuff about FFXIV and particularly Fates. He wondered if Fates would be the endgame content like ffxi's Kings. I did a few fates where it was a big monster but there were 0 drops so I figured it was just a taste of what's to come for endgame. The only thing is anyone can join in on Fates, making the loot drop, and fight strategy a bit weird. I just figured it would be like besieged when the big monsters show up.

FFXI besieged hydra (turn music off if you click)
http://youtu.be/4xdWtIo3ans

Idk about NM's that drop gear, but you gain rep for doing fates that you can use to rank up with the grand companies and buy gear *battle, gathering, or crafting*

For example, you need 1000 tokens to buy a chocobo, then there is a level 20 gear set you need about 2,3k to buy, then a level 22 weapon for 900, then in order to get rank 2 you need to speed 2000 tokens and that unlocks new gear to buy from that point. At about level 20 you get about 250 per fate if you get gold, and it scales up with every level.

This is why I said this is good for open world party stuff.

 

[Ploid 3.0]

Idk about NM's that drop gear, but you gain rep for doing fates that you can use to rank up with the grand companies and buy gear *battle, gathering, or crafting*

Ok that sound very good. It's seems like SE really did learn from the pain of FFXI. Points to buy gear was great (Limbus). If you can't solo the events that have the type of points you need try duo and if it's stable duo, Win!

 

[SnakeLinkSonic]

Sounds like a good value for what you're actually buying here, but like the general sentiment of the thread will most likely turn out, many will just drop after the sub fee kicks in which is fine and somewhat expected. Heck even if the game went above and beyond being a solid MMO experience, most people wouldn't stick around because they either don't have the time to play long-term anyway or they can't justify $13-15 a month for one reason or another.

The real question is what do you want from the game?

Absolutely nobody should be expecting this game or any other mass market MMO to just come roaring out of the gate to change all paradigms in the most positive ways. At best XIV: ARR has laid a pretty sound foundation to build on and that's what people are paying for at this point. Naoki Yoshida has earned their trust. At worst it's another GW2 that people will play along with the hype wave until the next distraction comes along.

 

[Ploid 3.0]

Sounds like a good value for what you're actually buying here, but like the general sentiment of the thread will most likely turn out, many will just drop after the sub fee kicks in which is fine and somewhat expected. Heck even if the game went above and beyond being a solid MMO experience, most people wouldn't stick around because they either don't have the time to play long-term anyway or they can't justify $13-15 a month for one reason or another.

The real question is what do you want from the game?

Absolutely nobody should be expecting this game or any other mass market MMO to just come roaring out of the gate to change all paradigms in the most positive ways. At best XIV: ARR has laid a pretty sound foundation to build on and that's what people are paying for at this point. Naoki Yoshida has earned their trust. At worst it's another GW2 that people will play along with the hype wave until the next distraction comes along.

The good thing about GW2 is it's probably best to play it and stop for a while. I just went back to GW2 and one particular recent patch between had me all giddy. That's another thing I miss from FFXI, patch days that effect my character. Oh man, when Thief got Assassin, it changed everything. For GW2 all classes got a huge list of changes, and since there is no subscription I can jump in whenever.

FFXIV AAR is like one jinormous patch I bet. Launch will be like Christmas for old FFXIV players. I will keep my eye on FFXIV. I'm sure phase 4, and post launch discoveries will show more interesting aspects of the game. I think this is my first mmo beta. I suppose it's not meant to be a demo, no one needs help killing Zi'Gi Widowmaker in the Icelands.

So yeah, just get it. Maybe hold on to it and not activate it until you see what people are thinking about the content that's beyond the beta. When you see something you like plug in that code and start running.

 

[Eusis]

I like it better on a console, it's a more relaxed experience playing from the living room or bedroom and using a controller. Not many MMOs are console-capable, so might as well take advantage.

Yeah, it's part of why I've been playing on PS3 over PC (the other parts being that the PC has some bigger graphical bugs to iron out still and the fact it's VERY hot so I'd rather not stress my PC for now), I just have to hope the PS4 client's free or discounted to PS3 purchasers so that I can get the best of both worlds... without hauling the PC to the TV and setting it up of course.

 

[fvng]

love FF14 on PC.. the ps3 version seems to have a shit frame rate though.

 

[Tevious]

IMO, this game won't make it. Its better than 1.0 for sure, but it still has many problems. Everyone will be dropping like flies when SE tries to charge a subscription and it'll go free to play before long. I don't expect SE to ever recoup their loss on this mess.

Anyway, where was this well written story some of you were mentioning? I'm level 16 now and just finished up the Gridania story stuff and was sent to Limsa Lominsa. I was telling my friend today (who quit at level 12) how awful the story has been and that Brannon and Braga could write a better plot and characters. It was all completely forgettable.

 

[Kokonoe]

It's a completely different game than 1.0, which was a very boring game.

2.0 is is truly great.

 

[gribbles]

From someone who's being playing beta, I would say a very emphatic NO. It might be an improvement over 1.0, but that's really not saying much. The gameplay is still incredibly stale and tedious where you just stand there and hit numbered keys, rinse and repeat ad nauseum. Now some of you may be ok with that sort of gameplay, but for me, someone who's been spoiled by the more action-oriented systems of Tera Online and Neverwinter, FF14 leaves a lot to be desired in terms of fun. Besides, even a game like SWTOR, which has a similar combat system to ARR, is nowhere near as sleep-inducing in its combat system and is actually quite fun by comparison.

My main problem with the game though is the excessive amount of unskippable cutscenes that you're forced to suffer through. It literally took me between 30-45 minutes just to start playing from loading up the game to finally actually getting control of my character in the game itself because of the endless cutscenes I had to sit through. It's ridiculous. Even after making the abomination that was FF13, Squeenix still hasn't learnt that they should be focusing on making a good game instead of trying to wow players with interminably long cutscenes which dont add to the gameplay at all.

The only good thing I can say about the game is the graphics, but even those aren't anything to write home about. I fully predict this game to go F2P within 6 months, there's no way they're going to be able to keep a decent subscriber base with the game's current quality as it is.

 

[jim2point0]

I try to like it, but the game is just so ugly and it runs like shit on my computer, even though my comp aint that bad (gtx 580 1,5gb, i7 3,4 ghz). I don't know what's up.

Weird. You hear from so many people that it's a good looking game. And the benchmark was pretty. Was the benchmark just a bunch of BS?

 

[Lain]

The beta has some UI annoyances, but the game as a whole is worth the 22 for sure imho. It's fun despite the stuff they need to improve.

 

[Teletraan1]

For that price you get a month for free as well.

Dont listen to the people who played the intro levels which amounts for a few hours of content and only serves as a tutorial and write the game off. They found it boring cause the content has to be simple since you only get a few skills at the beginning.

Even if you only play for that month it is probably worth the price of admission imo.

 

[Pie and Beans]

The gameplay is so-so but writing is great, and crossposting from the beta thread, it really tickles my inner graphics whore. (proto?)Luminous is a sexy thing:

 

[cutmeamango]

I played for 20-ish hours this weekend, and I'll say it is fun and better than the 1.0 beta.
The controller scheme works really well and the PS3 version looks great, much better than I expected even.
I'll buy and sub for at least 3 months, depending on their payment plans.

 

[TranceKuja]

I'm not even sure if I can pay the monthly fee as a european with no easy access to a creditcard. The payment options confuse me. I wonder if there will be some kind of game time card option. It's the only thing that's holding me back from that GMG deal at the moment.

But to answer OP's question, from my time in the beta: the solo content can get kind of boring but the group dungeons are actually kind of tricky and a lot of fun. Graphics and artstyle combined with the music make for a really compelling world to explore.

 

[SnakeLinkSonic]

For that price you get a month for free as well.

Dont listen to the people who played the intro levels which amounts for a few hours of content and only serves as a tutorial and write the game off. They found it boring cause the content has to be simple since you only get a few skills at the beginning.

Even if you only play for that month it is probably worth the price of admission imo.

This complaint is about to magnify x10 with the open beta.

Prepare yourself.

 

[Exodist]

If you like World of Warcraft then sure. From what I played of the beta, which was enough, but probably not as much as a lot of other people, it's basically World of Warcraft. You run around, do quests, kill monsters, level up for ages and then finally get to do some good stuff when you're a higher level, like dungeons and proper bosses. The end-game is always the best part. Just make sure you have a few friends to level up and get there with.

edit - forgot to say though, A Realm Reborn is an absolutely massive improvement over the original XIV.

 

[Zakkath]

22$ ? Yes.
A monthly subscription ? Nope.

They definetly improved the game a lot, but still, they've barely managed to make it an average MMO.... if you compare it to others that came out 10 years ago.

 

[throwawayname]

I'm not even sure if I can pay the monthly fee as a european with no easy access to a creditcard. The payment options confuse me. I wonder if there will be some kind of game time card option. It's the only thing that's holding me back from that GMG deal at the moment.

Same here, would give it a try for 1 month otherwise.

 

[fvng]

Luminous is a sexy thing:

FF14 doesn't use Luminous, as confirmed by Yoshida.

 

[gribbles]

Dont listen to the people who played the intro levels which amounts for a few hours of content and only serves as a tutorial and write the game off. They found it boring cause the content has to be simple since you only get a few skills at the beginning.

You know, this sounds eerily like the arguments of one of those people who defended FF13 by saying, "Oh! But it gets good about 10 hours in! Just keep playing and it'll get better!" How, pray tell, is this a good thing? Why would I waste time grinding through hours and hours of the most boring, uninspired and sleep-inducing gameplay just to start having fun many hours in, when I could very easily load up one of the many other MMOs in existence, create a new character, and start having fun right from the get-go?

 

[Pie and Beans]

FF14 doesn't use Luminous, as confirmed by Yoshida.

Aye, but I assume both it and Lightning Returns are using some prototype form of it where they've just ripped out the snazzy lighting or something.

 

[darksunpr]

Bought! thx

 

[JudgeB]

Not for that price, no.

 

[Relaxed Muscle]

You know, this sounds eerily like the arguments of one of those people who defended FF13 by saying, "Oh! But it gets good about 10 hours in! Just keep playing and it'll get better!" How, pray tell, is this a good thing? Why would I waste time grinding through hours and hours of the most boring, uninspired and sleep-inducing gameplay just to start having fun many hours in, when I could very easily load up one of the many other MMOs in existence, create a new character, and start having fun right from the get-go?

Whose are those awesome other MMOs that are fun from lvl 1?.

 

[Liquid_Bike]

Whose are those awesome other MMOs that are fun from lvl 1?.

I'd say the first 15-25 levels of swtor were excellent. To bad it was all down hill from there.

Wow also has a lot of charm(and probably nostalgia too) but I've always liked loved the starting zones.

 

[aliencowz7]

I'd say the first 15-25 levels of swtor were excellent. To bad it was all down hill from there.

Wow also has a lot of charm(and probably nostalgia too) but I've always liked loved the starting zones.

I would say that TOR and WoW were just as boring if not more so in the early levels from a pure combat / gameplay perspective. I also will never understand why people are so in love with Tera, that game was painful to play and the encounter design was downright awful to the point that no amount of action gameplay could make it a fun experience for me. I think eventually people will come to terms with the fact that mmorpgs have and always will have a very slow start compared to the same game later on.

 

[Mr. Bubble]

So far, FFXIV offers nothing innovative. It has the best aesthetics out of all the MMOs out there, but it's not enough to make up for the standard MMO faire.

Yes. It is. It's fantastic.

Believe in him:

I gotta say, I do like his game design philosophy and passion. I just wish his talent wasn't wasted on an MMO.

 

[shoes]

Sometimes I really have to wonder why so many people are jumping into this beta with some seriously weird opinions.

It'd almost be like me complaining about a lack of an isometric view in an FPS.

 

[fluffydelusions]

After finally getting to play this weekend I wish I jumped on this deal now. I rather enjoyed my time spent playing. Hopefully GMG has this deal again before launch