Been reading over on a couple FFXI blogs that a rumor has been going about that the first batch of FFXIV beta testers would be drawn from various HNM linkshells on FFXI. First off, let’s make one thing very clear. Until such time as an official announcement from Square-Enix comes regarding the beta test, this should be construed as rumor mongering at best. Personally the chances of anything along these lines being implemented is, in my opinion almost nil. Frankly, this would be a PR fiasco for SE should restrict entry to a beta test to certain in-game groupings.
Dispel Confusion – HNMLS and FFXIV Beta
Published: November 20, 2009Posted in: Analysis/Opinion
About the Author
Kimiko loves pina coladas and getting caught in the rain. On her free time, she wrestles Bogies by moonlight. She also spends 3 years of her life writing literature on Panic Motion, a Final Fantasy XI Blog. 
Wow.. I can’t believe that people honestly think that XD That’s a horrible idea, not to mention it would actually require effort on the side of Square Enix to hunt down members of said shells.
Part of me isn’t the least bit surprised people would think this to be true. But really /facepalm. Thank god SE isn’t that stupid.
Actually, it makes sense to me that some (not all) of the testers would be drawn from a group known to play well together. Anything which requires an organized team will be handled very differently with an established group than a “PUG”. And if everyone in your testing group is random, all you have to test against is PUGs. And while you might get better organization with an in-house team, there is a lot of bias in how a challenge is approached by people who helped create it.
And it would be easy for a GM to contact a linkshell in game, to offer the opportunity.
That said, you would certainly not want ALL of your testers selected like this. A very small number (maybe 5-ish groups, of whatever the game is allowing as maximum group sizes) of your testers would be selected this way, and for a very specific phase of development testing.
There is zero chance of this happening. This rumor never had a source and was most likely started as a prank to rile up players that don’t like the “elitist” FFXI HNMLSs.
The only thing that could possibly tether this to any semblance of reality is the idea that Square Enix may give beta access to Linkshells that work together and write for major Japanese gaming magazines. For example, the Lightning Brigade from Dengeki PlayStation, or perhaps even Suteki and some of his crew who do articles for Connect!On. I would make sense since they would need game access write articles on the beta.
Definitely not true. But if it were!!! I would hope they looked/knew the HNMLS from the entire span that FFXI has been out. Considering the best HNMLS are long gone these due to FFXI being so repetitive after 3yrs of hunting the same HNMs and then quitting due to the new content being horrible.
Not sure where to put this but thought it might be an interesting tidbit. I contacted Nvidia and had some questions about an idea I had and if it was worth the money. Below is the original e-mail I sent followed by the answers.
I’m interested in doing a SLI + dedicated physx set up in my system. I have searched the forums but it is filled with opinions and preferences but I would like facts please.
1). I read an 8-9 series is good enough to run physx but is bigger better? Would I get better performance from a 200 series and up?
2). If I’m playing a game in DirectX 11 do I need my dedicated card running only physx to be DirectX 11 as well?
3). Would I benefit from a dedicated physx card if I’m using SLI with 200 series or higher? (This question may depend on the game and also refers back to question 1.)
4). If a game runs physics on the cpu can the gpu take over and run physx itself instead?
Bonus questions (Please ignore if you like)
*1).Will Nvidia be supporting the game Final Fantasy XIV? Physx, optimized for SLI etc?
*2). When can I get my hands on a Geforce Fermi so that I may bow before it?
Hello Gokuboo,
Thank you for contacting NVIDIA Customer care.
This is Shailendra, assisting you in this query.
I understand that you would like to have information regarding SLI configuration and PhysX card setup in a computer.
I will answer your questions.
1) I read an 8-9 series is good enough to run PhysX but is bigger better? Would I get better performance from a 200 series and up?
Yes, you can use GeForce 8 or 9 series but note that GeForce 200 series is best because you will get the dedicated PhysX processor in GeForce 200 series but you can use the dedicated PhysX card with GeForce 8 or 9 series.
2). If I’m playing a game in DirectX 11 do I need my dedicated card running only PhysX to be DirectX 11 as well?
We are not able to comment on Direct X 11.0 support because it is not released by Microsoft and we don’t have information about the future releases.
3) Would I benefit from a dedicated PhysX card if I’m using SLI with 200 series or higher? (This question may depend on the game and also refers back to question 1.)
GeForce 200 series of graphics card already support PhysX processor therefore, it will be not that much helpful using PhysX card with GeForce 200 series of graphics card in SLI.
4). If a game runs physics on the cpu can the gpu take over and run PhysX itself instead?
In this question I would like to inform you that this depends on the application or game you are using, if a application or game is CPU specific then it is from CPU and if it is GPU specific then PhysX from GPU.
*1).Will NVIDIA be supporting the game Final Fantasy XIV? PhysX, optimized for SLI etc?
Yes, it will work with PhysX and in SLI.
*2). When can I get my hands on a GeForce Fermi so that I may bow before it?
The next generation CUDA architecture, code named “Fermi”, is the most advanced GPU computing architecture ever built. With over three billion transistors and featuring up to 512 CUDA cores, Fermi delivers supercomputing features and performance at 1/10th the cost and 1/20th the power of traditional CPU-only servers.
For more information regarding Fermi please visit the website given below:
http://www.nvidia.com/object/fermi_architecture.html
Please let me know if you have any other query.
Regards,
Shailendra
NVIDIA Customer Care
Interesting to say the least. So the first hints of high-end system reqs?
I really wish it isn’t the case. The last thing I thought was they were promoting casual gaming. Giving codes to HNMLS for FFXIV Beta just didn’t make sense.
Also, from a business sense, they are the people who will most likely play anyway regardless of if they have beta keys or not.
Just my 2c.
Actually, this is quite plausible. The purpose of beta testing is for users reporting any bugs, glitches, areas that needs fixing. Who best fit the role to discover these things? Dedicated, knowledgeable, experienced FFXI players, and where can be find them? One area would be players involved in LS that requires experience…etc (HNM) so it is possible for SE to invite players from FFXI community as the beta testers. Of course in terms of promotional wise this is not the best, but maybe they will invite some ppl from existing FFXI players
i think it would be a great idea actually, better to invite a groupd of dedicated FFXI players than a bunch of WoW-kids who just wanna play an MMO for free and have no interest in the final product.
hopefully there is no open beta, those things are horrible for MMOs imo.
this would make total sense, as there is a favoured class in game, just try to get a GM to come out to handle a rules violation in HNM areas.
We’re all customers. If SE wants people with extensive XI knowledge to beta XIV, that’s what a dev team is for.
I think it “might” happen but i would/should be LS that have discovered glitches before. Like ones with AV and what not.
I dont think that will be an issue. One of the questions asked on the app was whether you have played FFXI,participated in beta testing and if you play other mmorpgs. If they choose people that play other ffxi and other mmorpgs that require teamwork,then taking into account the extended beta testing time they say they will be doing,there will be cohesive groups soon enough.
For those who think this will never happen. When I played WoW most of our guild along with a few other higher end PvE guilds on our server got invites to the WotLK beta in the same invite wave.
What SE and their great infinite wisdom does is far beyond me but don’t think something like this never happened before for an MMO beta.