Letter from the Producer, XXXVII (10/26/2012)

Hello again to all you FFXIVers out there, and to all of you eagerly awaiting FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn. Yoshi-P here, bringing you the thirty-seventh Letter from the Producer.

I know you’ve all been on pins and needles wondering when they would come, but as we recently announced in a Topics article, acceptance notifications for the alpha test of A Realm Reborn have finally been sent out!

So long as we don’t feel the bite of any deadly bugs while we finish preparations, the alpha test will begin on October 29, 2012. We’ve prepared a forum exclusively for alpha testers which includes schedule details, so be sure to check it out and ready yourselves for a whole new chapter in the history of Eorzea.

Also, we’re going to continue adding testers with each phase, so if you weren’t selected the first time around, you may still have a chance to lend your talents to the cause.

Though there are plans to release even more new info regarding ARR over the next few weeks, I know you guys don’t like to wait, so I snuck in a few screenshots of our stress testing the servers for your viewing pleasure. :p

<center><a href="http://static.finalfantasyxiv.com/topics/images/0e/35/7523_4.jpg"><img src="http://static.finalfantasyxiv.com/topics/images/0e/35/7523_0.jpg"></a>

Adventurers turned up in droves to put one of the new instanced dungeons, Tam-Tara Deepcroft, through its paces.</center>

<center><a href="http://static.finalfantasyxiv.com/topics/images/0e/35/7523_5.jpg"><img src="http://static.finalfantasyxiv.com/topics/images/0e/35/7523_1.jpg"></a>

As you can see, the new engine can handle a <i>lot</i> of characters at once, and I even had the settings set to high. (In case you’re wondering, everyone is sporting exclusive alpha gear for the dungeon.)</center>

<center><a href="http://static.finalfantasyxiv.com/topics/images/0e/35/7523_6.jpg"><img src="http://static.finalfantasyxiv.com/topics/images/0e/35/7523_2.jpg"></a>

In preparation for the beta and official release versions, we’ve also been testing new content that pits large groups against enormous foes. There’s some chatting going on in the log, but the content name is wrong. (lol)</center>

<center><a href="http://static.finalfantasyxiv.com/topics/images/0e/35/7523_7.jpg"><img src="http://static.finalfantasyxiv.com/topics/images/0e/35/7523_3.jpg"></a>

One of our staff members took a widescreen snap while we were trading blows with the mighty adamantoise.</center>

So, um, I haven’t actually told the marketing team about these screenshots yet, so they’re probably going to get mad. At any rate, our internal testing is over, and we’re bracing ourselves for the actual alpha.

Of course, the grand finale for the current version of the game is almost here as well. You won’t want to miss it, so be sure to glue yourselves to your monitors come November 11!

I know this letter was short, but it’s time for me to get back to working on the alpha test. Catch you all again soon! :)