Black screen insta-boot after completing a cut scene from zoning.

[Bamboozal]

1. On Bastok Wings of the Goddess quest "Fire in the Hole" on main character. Zoned from North Gustaburg [S] to Bastok Markets [S] for cut scene. Received part of cut scene, then got black screen insta-boot. No error message given.
2. Restarted, main character logged in, Bastok Markets [S] zone in process of downloading, black screen insta-boot approx. 10-15 seconds later (no cut scene). No error message given.
3. Logged onto mule/secondary character with no issues.
4. Reattempted to log onto main character in Bastok Markets [S], black screen insta-boot (no cut scene). No error message given.
5. Restarted both dsl modem and router, made 3 attempts to log back in to game on main character, but the results were the same. However, mule/secondary character can continue to log in with no issues.
6. My main character is now trapped in an endless cycle of downloading Bastok Markets [S] zone/quest cutscene, and black screen insta-boot seconds later. My main character never loads, so I have zero control over entering/not entering the zone. As such, my main character is completely trapped and unusable until this issue is resolved. Please help.

Date & Time: August 22, 2011 at 5:30pm-6pmEST
Frequency: Always (with main character)
Platform: PlayStation 2
PC: N/A
OS: N/A
Graphics Card: N/A
ISP: JAS Networks
Type of Internet Connection: DSL

[Bamboozal]

/wave

Hi! Just an update...my main character is still trapped in zone/cut scene limbo for the last 6 days. Seeing as no dev has responded to my initial post, I sent an email to SE Support. I got a response in the 2 days as promised, with the following:

"If you are experiencing or seeing any of the following issues at any point we do have a few suggestions. Connecting to/staying connected to the PlayOnline Viewer, FINAL FANTASY XI or Tetra Master, click on your character handle and crash/black screen or get stuck at downloading data screen, click on the character select button crash/black screen or get stuck at downloading data screen, randomly getting kicked out of game, or seeing the lag meter go red, seeing more chop/lag/disconnects around crowed areas, having trouble accessing only a specific zone/zones, having trouble logging in only a specific character/characters, or getting any of these errors; 3113, 3100, 4001, 1160.

Suggestions we have:
1. Check to make sure you have properly configured or turned off any of the following: Routers, Proxy Servers, NAT Servers, Internet Connection Sharing services.
2. If you are using any kind of software/hardware Internet Sharing service/device the following ports need INCOMING access to your PC. TCP 1024 - 65535, UDP 53, and 50000 - 65535, also check to make sure that the ports mentioned are not blocked by your ISP for INCOMING access. Proper configuration of any of the above items mentioned should be done by following the instructions in the software /hardware manual or calling the manufacturer's technical support.
3. If you are using a router, and have configured that router for port forwarding, temporarily bypass that router and connect directly to the modem."

Sadly, these suggestions have done nothing, nor addressed the issue of how my mule/secondary character can still log on with no issues, while my main character remains perpetually trapped. One might think that because of this, it may be a Playstation 2/FFXI issue, and not a "it could be your modem/router/cables/ports/etc". Please help, SE. Not just me, but other Playstation 2 users who get locked/booted in cut scenes. Thank you.

[Bamboozal]

/wave

'Just a final wrap-up regarding my situation and almost 2 weeks of being in perpetual cut scene/zone loading Limbo. After posting here in the Technical Issues forum with no tech response and exchanging two more emails with SE, I called them directly. The tech suggested I go to Protocol TCP and open ports 25, 80, 110, 443 and adjust the UDP range between 50,000-6355. When I asked why this was needed when I had no log-in issues with my mule and only with my main, the tech said that cut scenes were "from a different server" and sometimes ports had to be adjusted for it. I shrugged my shoulders, hung up, and followed the suggestions...with no change.

Out of sheer frustration, I decided to download FFXI Abyssea Edition from Amazon for $14.99 onto my laptop. After install and updates were done, logged onto my main character, and the quest-related cutscene continued where it left off. After the cutscene, my character was free.

So, what was learned from this? As suspected and mentioned several times before, this is a Playstation 2/FFXI issue. Not ports/cables/modems/routers etc. that SE techs seem to love to blame. My situation is not a first time anomaly; this has happened to other PS2 users before, it has been mentioned to SE before, and it will be a constant, reoccurring issue for other PS2 users until SE FINALLY addresses this issue. It would be refreshing to see SE at least acknowledge this as a known issue, and that they're going to work on solving this.

[Feynman]

Hi Bamboozal. You're right. This has been reported countless times now and all PS2 users ever get is "it's a connection problem, contact you ISP". As you have found out, this is total BS. I played on a PS2 for years and started having this problem with MANY CS in the game. Got the same reply you did about 10 times over several months. I just bought a new laptop, downloaded FFXI...runs perfect! Surprise! It's not a connection issue! My PC is running this game on the same connection that my PS2 can't, even using the same ethernet cable. Only difference? My router is port forwarded for my PS2 and not the laptop!