FFXIV Box Art

Hello Everyone!

Well at first we were all wondering if that could be a rumor, but after hearing it from Square Enix, yea it’s pretty official. (We wanted to ensure it is the real stuff before posting )

Again, the game will come with 30 days of free game time and a monthly fee of 12.95 with each character of 3 dollars (I have to say, this model might make more per customer than other MMO models). AND, retainers ?!??!?!?! (yes, I guess basically, a character that is still logged in when you are logged out, not playable but sells/bazaars!)

This is a new one, collector’s edition which cost $25 more will have a week earlier of access. I’m sure most of us will fall in that category and buy the collector’s edition. You also get another token, if you did not get one already, a code to get the Onion Helm, Early Access to the game (8 days!), Behind the Scenes DVD, Travel Journal with art, and a cover for the game done by Yoshitaka Amano!

I think it’s a good compensation :O. I’m thinking about collector edition (I just hate to think its a steal!) but… its hard to resist -_-”

Also, I think its also quite a big gap to see PS3 version to be at least 6 months later. I would hate to be the PS3 player. Though, I’m sure the PC industry would be thanking FFXIV for releasing it 6 months later so desperate player will most definitely be buying a PC… I mean… how can you wait 6 months? lol!

One more thing, is it me or does everyone think its beyond early for a release I just hope it’s not a Microsoft Vista, a half complete Windows 7 for sale…

Source: Andriasang

Final Fantasy XIV Official Benchmark Download

Note: If it says you’re missing some dll files, or need to reinstall because it can’t run, try obtaining the latest driver from ATI or nVidia before you uninstall your Windows!!

For most people, we are still using our FFXI rig, which is possibly a Pentium 4, Core 2 if you upgraded in the meantime. When you finish that benchmark, it’d probably be like, 600 and 1000 if you really squeeze it.

If your PC is aorund 2-3 years old, you’d probably have a Core 2 Duo etc, which will probably score something between 1000-2500.

I happen to just build a new rig for my other game titles that I intend to play this year. Lets see…

Female Lalafella in FFXIV Benchmark

That got me 4000 in High-Res and 5500 in Low Res. (Be warned, I didn’t resize this picture! I didn’t cheat )

Obviously, FFXIV also supports other platforms including PS3. If you are just building a rig for PS3, you are better off using PS3. PS3 is like… cheap and easy to carry around (Remember, it’s also less likely to get a keylogger )

Now if you have other use of your PC than FFXIV (I hope you all do, like play other games etc), then a PC does seem like an okay idea. But at the price of $1400, it’s rather hard to justify (and my PC is… just an okay build, not even bleeding edge technology). PC are so cheap, blowing $1400 just doesn’t seem worth it.

Some might argue… why doesn’t Square Enix make something that is less demanding. Well, with Crysis and other very realistic looking game, Square Enix can’t really drop the balls and go with something lower. Although, scaling would be nice, such as if you have a not-so-good PC, then render the polygons like FFXI. But I guess they don’t want to have “PS2 limitations” again by lowering the specification

Well, I’m already set for FFXIV (just need a Beta Invite, common Square Enix!), but I’m sure a lot of people are still thinking if they should buy a new rig for this MMO. My advice is, PS3 is the way to go unless you can list yourself 10 reasons you need a good PC.

For those that got the cutting edge technology, what score did you get and what’s the spec? Post a screenshot too. I’m sure a lot of other readers would find the comments beneficial, for money spent vs benchmark results

As promised, here it is. The brand new Final Fantasy XIV trailer debuted today at E3 2010! Enjoy!

Along with the new trailer, we’ve got two new videos straight from Square Enix at E3. The first shows off the newly revamped battle system which will be implemented for the beta phase of the game and beyond. From the looks of it, it’s a lot faster and more robust than the system that was in place for alpha. The second video is a tech demo of FFXIV running with some sort of 3D setup.

My own personal predictions for what we may see during the week:

- New playable demo, probably from the newest beta version of the game, which would include our first peek into the revamped battle system.
- A finalized release date? {Yes, please!}. Let’s put all these delay rumors to bed once and for all SE!

Probably the best part of the clip was in the creation of the Miqote and hearing the female spy talk about sexy irises… and talking about other features being sexy. See if you can count how many and which parts they are when watching the video!

To view this and more Final Fantasy XIV clips released by Square-Enix, visit their official YouTube channel here!

However, contrary to the rumors being spread, seems that the powers that be over at Square-Enix are still confident in the 2010 release time frame, especially CEO Yoichi Wada via both a Japanese fan site, and his own Twitter page. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see how it all turns out.

Personally though, I’ve always thought of the 2010 release to be an ambitious target date. And frankly, if the game does get delayed back to 2011 so they can hammer it out perfectly, then that’s fine with me. I’d rather have a game that’s had the care taken to make it the best it can be rather than try to rush it prematurely onto the market.

• Server load and code problems contributed to alpha test problems; have done their best to remedy them.
• Plan is to get one world server stabilized, add enough people to test the stability of that server, then increase the number of servers.  Goal is to have about 50,000 testers total.
• Heavy server load appears to have contributed to players’ inability to see aetherite and odd timing of character motion and attack.
• More players were added for alpha 2.   (Note from Xari:  Invitations went out yesterday, make sure you check your e-mail!).
• Beta testers will be able to play without time limits.
• A completely different battle system will be in place for beta, addressing tempo issues.  The current (alpha) system was never intended to be used, but needed to have something in place for alpha.
• Graphics will change drastically for beta.
• Guildleves are the best way to earn money, but server issues were making it difficult for testers to finish them.  Developers are thinking of solutions to the gil-earning problem such as adding a way to retry failed guildleves and rewarding party members for completion (and not just the person who initiated the guildleve).
• All races destined for inclusion in the final version will be playable in the beta.  (Note from Xari:  Yes, this includes Miqo’te!)
• The play area of the beta will not be extended, but changes will be implemented to encourage testers to play in other locations including dungeons.  Monsters may start to agro in beta.
• The chat and battle log shows all things within a player’s viewable range, with the focus on things happening related to your party.  Developers are planning on allowing players to have control over what information is shown to other players (such as whether others can see the monsters for your guildleve).  The chat filters will also be implemented.
• A mog house won’t be needed because players can carry a much larger number of items than in FFXI.  However, there are plans to make some sort of a large-scale house in the future.
• Developers wanted to have something different from a standardized auction system, so are trying to make a bazaar system that will work even when players are logged off.

The interview then continued with FFXIV Planner Kenichi Iwao:

• Players will be able to choose which guild they want to belong to from the beginning (as opposed to belonging to and having to work for a starting nation).
• Everything in Hydaelyn (the FFXIV world) is made of different balances of the six elemental aethers.  Crystals are pure manifestations of one element.
• The history of the world is split into alternating eras of stability (astral eras) and turmoil (name not yet localized).  The current era in the game is the Sixth Astral Era.
• Eorzean mythology includes “The Twelve,” 12 guardian deities of the city-states and players.  Each of The Twelve has their own personality; some are easily angered, some are more caring.  Each deity is related to an element.  It has not yet been revealed whether or not you’ll be able to meet the deities.  The Garlean Empire does not believe in The Twelve.
• You will select a guardian deity during character creation but will likely be able to change it during the game, with a penalty attached.
• FFXIV is currently set only in Eorzea but other lands and worlds may be made available later.
• The war with the Garlean Empire, seen in trailers and the opening movie, affects a lot of things in the story of the game.  PvP content may wind up being related to the story of this war.
• Eorzea resembles ancient Greece or medieval Italy in that many large, independent cities grew together and thrived.  Some of the cities in Eorzea had problems with each other in the past and still do, but generally the citizens get along with each other and some organizations manage to exist outside of city-state relations (the guilds).
• Some city-states have fallen since the map was made, and others have come into being.  The game map still shows the old city states.  The significance of the two flags on the bottom left of the map is a secret.
• When asked if city-state territories will change over the course of the game, the planner noted that they would like to do that, but it would present complications such as players new to the game not having the same starting experience as other players.  They do plan to implement some “social changes” at some point, however.
• Limsa Lominsa is the marine capital.  Ul’dah is a hub city like an oasis.  Gridania is surrounded by forests similar to a Mayan city.  There will not be drastic differences between the cities since they are all part of the same “cultural sphere.”
• Each guild has a city that houses its base of operations, but still maintains a presence, like a branch office, in each of the cities.
• They are planning on allowing players to play in the gambling and fighting arenas of Ul’dah.
• Chocobo, horse-drawn carriages, ships, and airships are all in the game.  It is still secret for how long they may be used and what experience level is needed to use them.
• There are NPCs in race/gender combinations that you can’t choose as a player (male Miqo’te and female highlanders).  He cannot declare that players will be forever unable to play as them.
• Monsters having something to do with FFXI will appear in the game, especially those from ToAU onward.  Qiqirn and Apkallu will appear in the game and can communicate with players.  They may appear in towns or in fields, too.
• The beast tribes have their own skills and there are things you can learn from them.  They also have their own opinions and sense of individuality.  Iwao thinks it would be fun if players can make and equip weapons which are influenced by their culture.  There will likley be more communication between humans and humanoids in FFXIV.
• The plan is to have outfits that deviate from the typical style of games.  Iwao cites sorcerers in heavy armor as one example.  The emphasis is on customization, including the ability to choose the color of your equipment.  The appearance of an item will match the components it is crafted from (e.g., if a hat looks leather-like, then leather is likely one of the synth ingredients).
• Players will likely be able to inscribe items they craft.
• Some NPCs are not named and instead show their direct impression, like “exhausted adventurer.”  These NPCs will be those that “don’t really do anything.”

This confirms a lot of what we previously mentioned as rumors.  I found the insight into the game lore provided by the Planner particularly interesting.  What piqued your interest?

Full text of the translated articles can be found on FFXIVCore here and here.

Beta-related:

• The system will be changed so it is easier to string together attacks
• The “tempo” of battle has been adjusted/increased
• The beta shadowing system has been updated, which accounts for the different appearance of screenshots taken in alpha vs. beta
• A “robust” chat log filter will be in place for the next round of beta
• More alpha testers will be added; participants have already been selected via drawing

Beyond beta:

• Limsa Lominsa will have two levels
• Gil will be easier to come by
• A “large scale” home is being worked on, similar to FFXI’s mog house
• You will be able to change the god you choose for your character
• Chocobo, horse-drawn carriage, boats, and airships will be used for transportation
• You will be able to choose different colors for your equipment

Additionally, the folks at Eorzeapedia did some additional digging and found a few other tidbits in the original leaked article (from Game Jouhou).  The  information was gleaned from Google Translate, so its truth may be a bit more uncertain.  These items are :

• Players may be able to bazaar goods while logged out
• Players can participate in Ul’dah’s fighting arena and gambling halls
• Items may be inscribed like in FFXI

Which bit of  information are you most excited about?  Discuss below!

Header image background courtesy flickr user hattie.stroud.

Check it out here in HD! http://www.youtube.com/finalfantasyxiv#p/u/0/n-vjy97RuoA