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FFXI beta at Xbox 360 launch

thorns

Banned
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/621/621159p1.html

June 1, 2005 - Development on the Xbox 360 version of Final Fantasy XI seems to be coming along nicely. Recent reports from Japan suggest that the game is currently 55% complete. It's so far along, in fact, that Square Enix plans to begin a beta test at the Xbox 360's lanch.

This suggests that FFXI fans will be able to play a next generation console version of the Online RPG in the not-so-distant future.

Stay tuned for more as we learn it.
 
I'd like to think this will be fantastic but fear a straight port.
 
Khalid-S said:
Then how are you supposed to join the PC and PS2 players of the game online?

The same way people who never bought COP can play with people who have the expansion.

PC/PS2 owners just wouldn't have access to any of the new content unless they released it for those platforms.

If they upgraded the graphics at all, it wouldn't affect anything. It'd be just like when they upgrade EQ1's graphics - it's only displayed on your system.
 
Doom_Bringer said:
Port of the PC version not the PS2. It looks good IMO.
...And the PC version is a straight port of the PS2 original.

Each version of the game uses the PS2 original's assets. The only perks you'll get with the PC & 360 releases will be support for higher resolutions (great thing, considering the HUD on PS2 can sometimes take up 3/4 of the screen), better anti-aliasing, and a somewhat smoother framerate (though still locked at 30fps, and still a stutter-fest in Jeuno). That's it.
 
they could at least throw in some shader effects or something I would hope?

Im thinking of getting this, but I hesitate to get into a MMORPG so late.
 
With games that aren't a pain in the ass and are actually fun to play like WOW around, why would anyone want to play FFXI? Wait for PSU or for Blizzard to port WOW to the consoles or something. Forget about FFXI.
 
Oni Link 666 said:
With games that aren't a pain in the ass and are actually fun to play like WOW around, why would anyone want to play FFXI? Wait for PSU or for Blizzard to port WOW to the consoles or something. Forget about FFXI.
have fun waiting...tell me how it works out for ya
 
Oni Link 666 said:
With games that aren't a pain in the ass and are actually fun to play like WOW around, why would anyone want to play FFXI? Wait for PSU or for Blizzard to port WOW to the consoles or something. Forget about FFXI.

WoW is going to succeed in a different way than FFXI - FFXI has high player retention, WoW will have high turnover but also have high numbers of newbies. Being level 75 in FFXI, especially in multiple jobs, MEANS SOMETHING. Being level 60 in WoW means you're a Blizzard kid.
 
daegan said:
WoW is going to succeed in a different way than FFXI - FFXI has high player retention, WoW will have high turnover but also have high numbers of newbies. Being level 75 in FFXI, especially in multiple jobs, MEANS SOMETHING. Being level 60 in WoW means you're a Blizzard kid.

Means something... means you've wasted a huge amount of time playing a trashy game.
 
Yeah, it means you have no social life, don't play any other games, and have a high threshold of pain. I am no Blizzard fanboy. In fact, WOW is the first Blizzard game I've ever played. WOW is just better than FFXI in every way. IMO of course.
 
Scott said:
...And the PC version is a straight port of the PS2 original.

Untrue. PS2 and PC animations differ in a lot of ways. Many other subtle differences as well beyond upgrading textures, etc. Animations for weapon skills, effects, and so on. Not always improved either.

At any rate, lets not have this thread turn into another bash fest that goes around and around making everyone look stupid shall we?
 
According to the Square Q+A on the day followng their E3 press conference, this is a straight port. That question was asked many times.
 
Why do they still need to beta test a game that's been out for years on two different platforms already? A release of FFXI at Xbox 360's launch seems reasonable but a BETA test at launch? Come on.
 
Hournda said:
Why do they still need to beta test a game that's been out for years on two different platforms already? A release of FFXI at Xbox 360's launch seems reasonable but a BETA test at launch? Come on.

Who knows? New platform, new host of problems I guess.
 
Why do they still need to beta test a game that's been out for years on two different platforms already?
Cuz Xbox 360 is essentially another platform. There's all sorts of possible, strange timing issue for multiplatform games that could occur just because it's running on a different platform. Being a massive multilplayer game just worsen the fact. They are being cautious, nothong wrong with it.
 
Kintaro said:
Untrue. PS2 and PC animations differ in a lot of ways. Many other subtle differences as well beyond upgrading textures, etc. Animations for weapon skills, effects, and so on. Not always improved either.

At any rate, lets not have this thread turn into another bash fest that goes around and around making everyone look stupid shall we?

Untrue. I own both versions (PC and PS2) and have played both versions.

It's the same exact thing, except better resolutions and texture smoothing and such.

The XBox360 version will be like playing on the top of the line PC, that's all.
 
There is one thing to consider that hasn't been mentioned yet, though.
If Square does the cheap thing, and continues to support FFXI for years instead of making a new MMORPG (or indeed while they make a new MMORPG), there might be a point where PS2 users dwindle so much that they only need to provide new content to PC and 360. They also said that they're not completely against improving graphics for 360 (better textures, models and effects), but they need to bring it into their patch cycle carefully and it would be a long time in the future.
 
Well currently, PS2 still has the larger share of the FFXI userbase if you include all regions.

I believe PC has the larger share in NA, and has the entire share of the PAL market.
 
Tabris said:
Well currently, PS2 still has the larger share of the FFXI userbase if you include all regions.

I believe PC has the larger share in NA, and has the entire share of the PAL market.

Care to back this up?
 
Tabris said:
Untrue. I own both versions (PC and PS2) and have played both versions.

It's the same exact thing, except better resolutions and texture smoothing and such.

The XBox360 version will be like playing on the top of the line PC, that's all.

Sorry, but animations for many job abilities and effects are different between the versions. Not TONS different, but they're there.
 
Kintaro said:
Sorry, but animations for many job abilities and effects are different between the versions. Not TONS different, but they're there.
Can you cite some examples? I'm not trying to disprove you at all, I've just never seen the PS2 version myself, so I'm curious.

EDIT: That and I also like seeing FFXI mumbo jumbo on the forums. "I love BRDs, Ballads and the Minuet/Madrigal songs are so great. I really prefer them in a PT over RDM when there's a NIN. Their versatility and efficiency is second to none." Okay I don't actually agree with that, I just made it up on the spot so don't shoot me for it. Though I am a BRD so my example does come out a tad biased. :P :lol
 
DarthWufei said:
Can you cite some examples? I'm not trying to disprove you at all, I've just never seen the PS2 version myself, so I'm curious.

EDIT: That and I also like seeing FFXI mumbo jumbo on the forums. "I love BRDs, Ballads and the Minuet/Madrigal songs are so great. I really prefer them in a PT over RDM when there's a NIN. Their versatility and efficiency is second to none." Okay I don't actually agree with that, I just made it up on the spot so don't shoot me for it. Though I am a BRD so my example does come out a tad biased. :P :lol

The animation for Meditate for one. Or actually, the effects shown when meditate is used. A lot of the skillchain colors/animations are subtly different too. It's not huge, just subtle things. People who my different linkshells notice differences as well.

I'm in the middle of my second character right now, getting all possible melee subjobs done before concentrating on main jobs to focus on... I am so fucking tired of lowbie lvls and players... ><
 
Kintaro said:
The animation for Meditate for one. Or actually, the effects shown when meditate is used. A lot of the skillchain colors/animations are subtly different too. It's not huge, just subtle things. People who my different linkshells notice differences as well.
Ah, well that's interesting. Is there really any reason for that?

I'm in the middle of my second character right now, getting all possible melee subjobs done before concentrating on main jobs to focus on... I am so fucking tired of lowbie lvls and players... ><
Oh I hear you, I've totally quit on leveling SMN for the time being as I'm at Qufim and I just don't feel up for it. I want to level RDM as well, but the lovely 14 leaves me stuck. I don't feel like walking to Valkurm, parties in Maze take forever to get going now (Why's it so dead anyway, it used to be a prime leveling spot for Windurstians), and I really just don't want to deal with it entirely.

Actually I've been stuck playing nothing but Ballista. Once you hit 60 it's really worth it, even as BRD. Nothing better than sleeping 10-12 enemies just so your team can get the first hit, or to save a gang bang on a teammate.

Jonnyram said:
RDM > BRD :P
>:( I honestly don't like grouping them, they're really for two different party set ups entirely. Ever time I end up in a party with a PLD I always leave wishing I was a RDM, but usually that's not the case. But anyways, they're so vastly different I truly wouldn't want to rate them. It all depends on the situation, set up, and overall goal. Though I'm sorry to turn my response into something more serious. I know you were just joking around.
 
DarthWufei said:
Wow, I didn't think people were serious. Are you rating them from a party member stand point or an overall class standpoint? I'm REALLY hoping for the latter.
From a biased RDM standpoint.

I'm not a stickler for maintaining status quo party lineups, anyway. :P Either one is fine as long as they know what they're doing.
 
Yeah, player skill is the important thing in the end. I know (knew) lots of bards that used to watch the telly when they were playing, and were even proud of the fact! RDMs are busy as fuck usually (after lv 41), so there is a little resentment... especially when BRD and RDM let off their dispel shit at the same time ;)
 
Rorschach said:
From a biased RDM standpoint.

I'm not a stickler for maintaining status quo party lineups, anyway. :P Either one is fine as long as they know what they're doing.
Oh okay, then I retain my original position. You had me scared there for a moment. :( Then again I think it was the drama queen inside my little BRD heart that got fed up.

EDIT: I would really like to meet the BRD that watches television while partying. They really should be as busy, if not more so, than any RDM. The only problem BRDs have though is the job can be far more monotonous than any of the other jobs. Little ever changes unless there's a link, for that I cherish links really, due to how rare they occur, it's quite a nice change of pace. :lol
 
The animation for Meditate for one. Or actually, the effects shown when meditate is used. A lot of the skillchain colors/animations are subtly different too. It's not huge, just subtle things. People who my different linkshells notice differences as well.
Those aren't intentional differences. It's just a result of different rendering technique on PC and PS2. There're a lot of differences when it comes to like color and special effects because of the differences in hardware rendering things - I have noticed it in the environment as well as things you mentioned. I wouldn't count those as something SE intentionally did to "improve" PC version. :p


EDIT: I would really like to meet the BRD that watches television while partying. They really should be as busy, if not more so, than any RDM
Brd has to run around a bit more than Rdm; Rdm has to remember refresh order and press that god damn refresh button every 2 min 30 seconds or read the log and make sure you don't miss it. Either job, you have to pay attention or xp will suffer. But really it doesn't stop people from watching TV while playing and you can tell. :p
 
RuGalz said:
Those aren't intentional differences. It's just a result of different rendering technique on PC and PS2. There're a lot of differences when it comes to like color and special effects because of the differences in hardware rendering things - I have noticed it in the environment as well as things you mentioned. I wouldn't count those as something SE intentionally did to "improve" PC version. :p

I never said it was something intentional. =) Just said it was there. =D
 
In case anyone was wondering about this (and hoping it's not common knowladge already :P) the 360 version of FFXI will somehow "bypass" Xbox Live and support PlayOnline. The "bypass" part is my guess, but the full PlayOnline support was confirmed to me by Sage Sundi (or was him Hiromichi Tanaka? Damn, mixed the business cards :P)

Anyway, it was this guy



(yep, thats FFXI running on 360 on the BG)
 
That's Tanaka :)
They have to beta test it to check the network code.
It's guess it can't bypass Xbox Live 100% or you won't show up on friendlists, but it'll probably be a very passive connection so it doesn't affect time-critical in-game stuff.
 
In case anyone was wondering about this (and hoping it's not common knowladge already :P) the 360 version of FFXI will somehow "bypass" Xbox Live and support PlayOnline. The "bypass" part is my guess, but the full PlayOnline support was confirmed to me by Sage Sundi (or was him Hiromichi Tanaka? Damn, mixed the business cards :P)

Wada said at the MS press conference that they would be modifying PlayOnline to work with Xbox Live and not "bypassing" anything.
 
SpiderJerusalem said:
Brd get to pull too. :lol
Ugh, I actually tried a manaburn party once, in freaking Onzozo of all places, fighting Toramas of course. Pulling there is NOT fun. Let's just say I had to quit quite early. Then again it was also my first manaburn party, and first time pulling as BRD, and the place was overcamped (4-5 parties). :lol Not a fun experience.
 
I remember my days with FFXI (Spoony was my character)

and going to a party and hearing:

"w00t! BRD! Go pull!"

......sigh....
 
Those goddamn acronyms are gonna fuck me in the ass if i ever get around to playing FFXI*. I can't help reading BRD as Blackrock Depths >_<


* very likely if it's the first MMO to hit 360, and since i'll have a pc capable of running it soon, i might well decide to get into it before then... although i suspect juggling it with WoW would be bad for both my mental health and my wallet.
 
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