PS2: Seekers of Adoulin

[animeregion]

I'm mostly a PlayStation 2/3 US player of FFXI this will so suck for me and the other players that play on the PlayStation 2/3 systems out there. There is no way im going to rebuy this game for the Xbox 360 or PC. (Dont have a Xbox 360 and im sure my PC cant handle the PC ver.) Well good luck, but you guys lost my vote for this new expansion pack.

[joker_balade]

this game only need a pentium III
pretty sure you have something better than pentium III

[Krashport]

I'm mostly a PlayStation 2/3 US player of FFXI this will so suck for me and the other players that play on the PlayStation 2/3 systems out there. There is no way im going to rebuy this game for the Xbox 360 or PC. (Dont have a Xbox 360 and im sure my PC cant handle the PC ver.) Well good luck, but you guys lost my vote for this new expansion pack.

http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4948666424426790&pid=15.1

[odericko]

Think of it as tough love from SE. Upgrade to a 360 or PC and help FFXI move along to greener pastures. I know you don't like it, but it has to be done eventually.

[Limecat]

I have a run-of-the-mill 2004 laptop that ran the game just fine as of a year ago.

[Camiie]

Think of it as tough love from SE. Upgrade to a 360 or PC and help FFXI move along to greener pastures. I know you don't like it, but it has to be done eventually.

You need to go to the JP forums and spread this message. If any group besides the devs are holding us back from technological advancement it's the JP player base.

[Sarick]

You need to go to the JP forums and spread this message. If any group besides the devs are holding us back from technological advancement it's the JP player base.

You post that on the JP forums and they'll do something like this t('~')t. Yea they love their PS2's that much. I wanted to stick with mine but it was the blundering of PS2 code that forced my hand.

As for re-buying the game LOL, I bought it on black Friday on amazon.com for <$5 ($4.99) for every expansion code + the deserters hat. They're practically GIVING AWAY the PC client. Sure its a downloaded copy by what person doesn't have at least a 1mbps internet connection these days?

[MarkovChain]

I'm mostly a PlayStation 2/3 US player of FFXI this will so suck for me and the other players that play on the PlayStation 2/3 systems out there. There is no way im going to rebuy this game for the Xbox 360 or PC. (Dont have a Xbox 360 and im sure my PC cant handle the PC ver.) Well good luck, but you guys lost my vote for this new expansion pack.
It costs like 5€, idk if you can pay for the monthly fee you can do this lol.

[Venat]

Get a Job and pay for a PC. Omg rebuy the game its 10 bucks on Steam....

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

I'm not entirely sure Sony would grant S-E a license to publish a PS2 game in a market where the PS2 is no longer for sale.

But then the question is why S-E wouldn't publicly shift blame to Sony by this point.

[Camiie]

I'm not entirely sure Sony would grant S-E a license to publish a PS2 game in a market where the PS2 is no longer for sale.

But then the question is why S-E wouldn't publicly shift blame to Sony by this point.

That's what I assumed the real issue was. If it were just up to SE they'd probably find some way to distribute it, but you can't do that without Sony's involvement. They have to license the game for the region and press the discs. If they don't want to play ball then that's the end of it.

[Rustic]

It's about time. I was running this game on a 2004-era Gateway PC. It's 2013. I've upgraded twice with stock-from-store PC's that were inexpensive.

My girlfriend runs it on a modern laptop without trouble. Think about it- FFXI was originally for a Windows XP chassis, and we've gone through Vista,Win 7, and now Win 8 OS. That's a lot of upgraded capacity. Anyone who can't run this on their PC now has a really, REALLY, REALLY horrid piece of obsolete junk on their desk.

[Alhanelem]

I'm mostly a PlayStation 2/3 US player of FFXI this will so suck for me and the other players that play on the PlayStation 2/3 systems out there. There is no way im going to rebuy this game for the Xbox 360 or PC. (Dont have a Xbox 360 and im sure my PC cant handle the PC ver.) Well good luck, but you guys lost my vote for this new expansion pack.
see ya, and sayanora (how the hell do you spell that) to inferior hardware.

You won't have to rebuy the game (not that it costs much to begin with) if you find the software somwh*cough cough*- what you're really paying for is the registration code, but you don't need another one if you already play...

[Volkai]

I'm mostly a PlayStation 2/3 US player of FFXI this will so suck for me and the other players that play on the PlayStation 2/3 systems out there. There is no way im going to rebuy this game for the Xbox 360 or PC. (Dont have a Xbox 360 and im sure my PC cant handle the PC ver.) Well good luck, but you guys lost my vote for this new expansion pack.

You, uh, you realize that PS2 game AND system production has pretty much ceased worldwide, don't you?

Adoulin's PS2 JP release will probably be the last active PS2 support for XI there is, save continued access to the servers until Sony shuts down DNAS.

[Afania]

I'm mostly a PlayStation 2/3 US player of FFXI this will so suck for me and the other players that play on the PlayStation 2/3 systems out there. There is no way im going to rebuy this game for the Xbox 360 or PC. (Dont have a Xbox 360 and im sure my PC cant handle the PC ver.) Well good luck, but you guys lost my vote for this new expansion pack.

Borrow a PC version disk from a friend, install it, return the disk to him, you don't have to pay a buck that way.

Edit: Or maybe you can download it, since they have trial version no?

[zataz]

>.>i can hook u up with a install set for pc and if need be ill dig out one of my old graphics cards and hook ya up (im not a total jerk! just most of the time =P)

[oliveira]

Original base specs for PC FFXI was Windows 98 with DirectX 8. ;)

And non Japanese Windows 98 screwing up with programs that had IME support installed was the main reason why NA PC client can't have IME enabled. NA PS2 had ATOK disabled version to keep in line with the Windows version and save a buck on ATOK licensing ... lol

FF XIV for PC never had to deal with Win 98 so it has IME support on all versions regardless of region. I bet PS3 version may have no issues with it either as SONY offers ATOK for all developers of PS3 software (It's part of the console OS and SONY has it's own deal with Justsystems, the Japanese company which developed ATOK) ...


Edit: At this point I am worried about how the Japanese PS2 version of Adoulin will be like ... lol

[animeregion]

Did they even think about upgreading the PS2 Ver. to the PS3 fully? Nope didn't think so... My PS3 can play it just fine and I got lots of space left. It would be nice if they can do an update to play it in HD tho. Like I said before i'm not going to rebuy FFXI for my PC they want $60 for it + new PC parts no thanks. I'll just go and play something else maybe with no monthly fees aswell. (Thats one thing what I like about PS3 Online games.)

[Alhanelem]

Did they even think about upgreading the PS2 Ver. to the PS3 fully? Nope didn't think so... My PS3 can play it just fine and I got lots of space left. It would be nice if they can do an update to play it in HD tho. Like I said before i'm not going to rebuy FFXI for my PC they want $60 for it + new PC parts no thanks. I'll just go and play something else maybe with no monthly fees aswell. (Thats one thing what I like about PS3 Online games.)
You can't just "upgrade it" to PS3. It is basically like making the whole game engine over again. FFXI can be played on backward compatible PS3s, but this does not resolve "ps2 limitations" because the game can't access hardware that the PS2 didn't have.

Also, FFXI is not $60. The expansion is $29.99, and the full pack including *everything* is $39.99. Also, unless your PC is like 15 years old, you won't need "new parts" to play the game.

[Fusionx]

Did they even think about upgreading the PS2 Ver. to the PS3 fully? Nope didn't think so...
Actually, SE was in talks with a person at Sony regarding this. But that person quit and SE didn't pursue it any further. Laughable yes, but 100% true.

[Tickmeoff]

Did they even think about upgreading the PS2 Ver. to the PS3 fully? Nope didn't think so... My PS3 can play it just fine and I got lots of space left. It would be nice if they can do an update to play it in HD tho. Like I said before i'm not going to rebuy FFXI for my PC they want $60 for it + new PC parts no thanks. I'll just go and play something else maybe with no monthly fees aswell. (Thats one thing what I like about PS3 Online games.)


Why do you think you have to buy the game again? You realize you're only buying a registration code, right? You already have an account, all you need to do is install the game and log in with the same account info you are already using. The only thing you need to buy is the expansion pack when it comes out, which you would have to do on PS2 anyway.

You also clearly have a PC capable of running an internet browser and posting on a forum, and that probably requires twice as much power as an 11 year old MMO designed for a console. You have no excuse.

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

Like I said before i'm not going to rebuy FFXI for my PC they want $60 for it + new PC parts no thanks.

I too am pissed about the lack of Adoulinon PS2. However, "Ultimate Collection Seekters Edition" for PC (the entire game including Seekers of Adoulin) will have an MSRP of $39.99 (and can only go down; "Ultimate Collection Abyssea Edition" is often currently available for as low as $5), and you will get exclusive perks you missed out on along the way, like the Destrier Beret (assuming the distribution got fixed...). Keep in mind that this is only $10 more than the expansion pack by itself.

As for what kind of new hardware you'd need for PC, that's what benchmarks are for:

http://www.playonline.com/ff11eu/download/media/benchmark01.html

I don't know why this is only available from the EU site, but whatever. Run the benchmark, see where the score puts you, and then decide whether you need to /panic about upgrades.

But yeah, why they can't do a limited release, making the PS2 version only available for purchase from S-E's own online store, is beyond me. If Nintendo can sell stuff like Pokemon Box and Electroplankton that way, why not S-E?

[Mayoyama]

But yeah, why they can't do a limited release, making the PS2 version only available for purchase from S-E's own online store, is beyond me. If Nintendo can sell stuff like Pokemon Box and Electroplankton that way, why not S-E?

As its been stated many many times.. its not financially feasible for SE to continue PS2 disc distribution outside Japan... and even then Sony has announced the end of support for PS2 officially.. so even JP players on PS2 have their days numbered

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

As its been stated many many times.. its not financially feasible for SE to continue PS2 disc distribution outside Japan...

1.) Pure speculation.
2.) I'm not talking about putting it on store shelves. If they can get away with Tidal Talismans and soundtrack packs sold exclusively through their online store, why not an expansion pack?


and even then Sony has announced the end of support for PS2 officially

Link? After all, it's still listed here. (http://us.playstation.com/othersystems/)

[Fusionx]

Link? After all, it's still listed here. (http://us.playstation.com/othersystems/)
The googling is weak in this one.
http://gamerescape.com/2013/01/08/end-of-a-generation-playstation-2-production-comes-to-a-halt/


Love that the same page you linked shows the PSP Go... you know that's been out of production for awhile now already?

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

The googling is weak in this one.
http://gamerescape.com/2013/01/08/end-of-a-generation-playstation-2-production-comes-to-a-halt/

As opposed to reading comprehension? "Stop producing" is not the same as "stop supporting."


Love that the same page you linked shows the PSP Go... you know that's been out of production for awhile now already?

You know you can still buy games for it?

[Fusionx]

You know you can still buy games for it?
Yes, PSP games are still available on PSN... your point? PSP Go isn't the only product that can play PSP games digitally.

Re: support vs producing that was my bad. Naturally they'll support the system for a few years after production ceases, however, now that production has indeed stopped, you won't be seeing many more games releasing on the platform as companies will shy away from it.

SQUARE ENIX is in an interesting position and it's clear that the PS2 playerbase is decreasing quite a bit. They said they would always support PS2 players, but by not releasing a PS2 Adoulin disc it tells me that the next expansion that releases will probably be unavailable on PS2 at all.

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

They said they would always support PS2 players, but by not releasing a PS2 Adoulin disc it tells me that the next expansion that releases will probably be unavailable on PS2 at all.

That should be dealt with when that time comes. But this old "no export for you!" nonsense is a slap to the face that, if nothing else, discourages me from getting on this merry-go-round again when XIV is released for the PS3.

The coding will already be done, as can be seen by the PS2 version in Japan. The translation will already be done, as can be seen by PC and Xbox 360 versions in English. If they can scrape together the coin to repeatedly press out limited runs of soundtrack discs sold exclusively on their website, why can't they do the same with this disc?

Hell, it'd be an incentive to visit their online store to begin with, much moreso than random musical Mog House furnishings.

I've gotten PlayStation 2 (demo) game discs mailed to me for free in the past, it can't cost that much. This too can be packaged in a cardboard sleeve! I mean, if AOL can do it...

[Winrie]

I dont know why people whine about playstation 2 for ffxi anymore, seriously xboxs are moderately priced and a crap pc can run ffxi at good settings, upgrade and be done with it.

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

I dont know why people whine about playstation 2 for ffxi anymore, seriously xboxs are moderately priced and a crap pc can run ffxi at good settings, upgrade and be done with it.

Buy me one.

[Demon6324236]

Thats your job, part of the point of their cheap price that people often bring up is that if you can afford the game every month for years, you should be able to afford one of those other things to play it on.

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

Thats your job

If something becomes a "big deal" when your money is involved, then it's not "no big deal."

[Carth]

Buy me one.

A new PC or FFXI for the PC?

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

A new PC or FFXI for the PC?

The person I was responding to was saying new hardware was "no big deal," it sounds like new hardware.

Because everyone buying new hardware is somehow more efficient than S-E pressing some damned discs!

[Demon6324236]

If something becomes a "big deal" when your money is involved, then it's not "no big deal."I am a console gamer and a PC gamer, every few years I am told I must toss out my console I currently own for the new one, this is coming up in the next year even, my Xbox-360 is going to be left behind for something greater so I have to upgrade. This is me spending my money on something for me, and Ill do it. Your saying to buy you, someone else, a PC or Xbox for you, not me, to play the game. This is why its a different story about involving my money. If it were me on PS2 and I was told to upgrade, I would probably do it if I wanted to keep playing the game.

I hate SE's tendency to keep certain things in Japan only, it pisses me off, off the top of my head there are FFX and X-2 which have international versions Ill never play, KH Final Mix and Final Mix+ which I desperately wanna play, and yet never will. Difference here is no one is asking you to go out and buy a JP PS2 to keep playing, and import it from another country, they are sayin go out and get a PC, something that is easy to find, and good to have around anyways, and tada, you can keep on playin. To me, it sounds like a good idea with or without this game involved, this is just extra incentive.

[Alhanelem]

I hate SE's tendency to keep certain things in Japan only,It's japan only because there is no/minimal market for it here. It is simple business, nothing more or less. It is not worth the investment for them to make and ship 5000 or however many discs over from japan for however many remaining ps2 customers exist in the US, when the vast majority of all north american players are on the PC or xbox.

The PS2 is soon to end sales in Japan, and the PS2 is no longer sold in the US, and fat PS2s have been gone for even longer. Even if SE made it available in the US, no store would sell it. Even in Japan, the plug is soon to be pulled on the ps2 as far as sales and support. Even in Japan, they're probably lucky to be getting a disc for the PS2. Accept it, suck it up, deal with it. Times change, hardware changes. Support for any hardware or software doesnt last forever. Microsoft no longer supports windows 9x, me, 2k or 3.11, new software that works properly on really old versions of windows is rare.

It's time to move on, people. Upgrade from the PS2 or accept you're not playing the expansion. If you're too cheap to buy a used xbox, backwards compatible ps2 or a cheap PC, then I'm not sure how you're paying the subscription fee.

What you're complaining about is like complaining that music distributors don't sell audio cassettes in the US anymore. MY TAPE DECK STILL WORKS GOD DANGIT SELL ME MY HAMMERFALL ALBUM ON CASSETTE!

[Demon6324236]

It's japan only because there is no/minimal market for it here. It is simple business, nothing more or less. It is not worth the investment for them to make and ship 5000 or however many discs over from japan for however many remaining ps2 customers exist in the US, when the vast majority of all north american players are on the PC or xbox.I understand the reasoning behind it and I also think you have attempted to explain a few times. My point in that entire part was that I understand why it would upset someone and annoy them, I have went through the same thing with SE but in this case we are not being told that NA is not getting the expansion at all, its just not on the PS2. For me to play those games I listed I would have had to get a Japan PS2 and have the game imported for me to be able to play them, I would lose anything I have done on my normal editions of those games too. In this case hes being asked to change to a different platform, keep everything he has, and he can continue playing with his normal NA stuff and setup. Thats a great deal different, especially seeing as this is a MMO where the game will last much longer than in my case.

Basically I can relate to his problem, however whats being asked of him is not unreasonable nor impossible, and I think hes complaining to much about the situation, even if I understand why it angers him.

[JackDaniels]

http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4948666424426790&pid=15.1

This is pretty much where the thread should have ended.

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

It is not worth the investment for them to make and ship 5000 or however many discs over from japan

And that's why nobody outside Japan can buy soundtrack discs. Oh, wait...


Even if SE made it available in the US, no store would sell it.

One would. (http://store.na.square-enix.com/store/sqenixus/en_US/list/ThemeID.29853700/categoryID.16256700/size.10/startIndex.0/) I note I can even buy the PS2 games advertised in the PlayOnline Viewer here.


Even in Japan, they're probably lucky to be getting a disc for the PS2.

But the Japanese version shows they can easily provide a PS2 version, if only they could be bothered to type the letters "gcc." Neither the extra cost of programming nor translation can be used as an excuse not to in this case because both have already been done. This is purely a matter of pressing data to DVD's, which is hardly some lost, ancient art in 2013.

And even if it would be more expensive per disc, that can be easily be resolved by raising the price. But we're not discussing why S-E is charging $5 more for the PS2 export, we're discussing why there is no PS2 export at all.


If you're too cheap to buy a used xbox, backwards compatible ps2 or a cheap PC, then I'm not sure how you're paying the subscription fee.

That wouldn't be your problem, would it? (And you're posting in this thread because...?) It would be Square-Enix's problem, where forcing customers into an either/or proposition risks them losing them paying customers, customers who by definition have been paying them for at least the past four years.


What you're complaining about is like complaining that music distributors don't sell audio cassettes in the US anymore.

No, we're talking about a data DVD, the medium that most software is sold on today. Windows 8 comes on DVD. WoW comes on DVD. The Xbox 360 version of Seekers of Adoulin will be on DVD. But a PS2 version on DVD, that suddenly becomes an 8-track?

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

Something else that should be noted: the Japanese price list. (http://www.playonline.com/ff11/adoulin/index.html)

Unlike the NA and EU markets, the Xbox 360 in Japan doesn't get (the equivalent of) Ultimate Collection Seekers Edition, which means that S-E isn't even bothering to try to get new FFXI players on the 360 in that market.

And yet they're still releasing Adoulin for the 360 over there as a standalone disc, to at least take care of their current 360 subscribers in Japan.

That's all anybody is asking S-E to do in North America.

[Mefuki]

...off the top of my head there are FFX and X-2 which have international versions Ill never play, KH Final Mix and Final Mix+ which I desperately wanna play, and yet never will.

Off-topic but, MAN are you ever right about this. Those versions are the far superior ones with tons of new and desired content and we never got to play them. Still bugs me...

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

Off-topic but, MAN are you ever right about this. Those versions are the far superior ones with tons of new and desired content and we never got to play them. Still bugs me...

Hell might freeze over; it may be a part of the PS3 re-release of X.

[Demon6324236]

I rather the KH ones more than the FFX ones, FFX ones had good additions, however KH had alot more to offer in my opinion, such as RE:Chain of Memories, and the area where you could fight Xemnas before KH2, or the area where you could fight all of the 13 Org members, and the 13 Mushrooms, oh how I want that game... ;;

[StingRay104]

All this nonsense against the game is just that, nonsense. JP is getting the ps2 version, they already have the translations for the pc and xbox versions, they can easily make it down load only with the code, sure it would take ps2 users longer to download but then they could enjoy the game they've been playing. Or how about the ps3 upgrade. This shouldn't be an issue SE, if you have the game already set up for 3 systems, and plan on releasing it to the states, then it should be released on all 3 systems in the states, THIS ISN'T ROCKET SCIENCE!!!!

[Alhanelem]

All this nonsense against the game is just that, nonsense. JP is getting the ps2 version, they already have the translations for the pc and xbox versions, they can easily make it down load only with the code, sure it would take ps2 users longer to download but then they could enjoy the game they've been playing. Or how about the ps3 upgrade. This shouldn't be an issue SE, if you have the game already set up for 3 systems, and plan on releasing it to the states, then it should be released on all 3 systems in the states, THIS ISN'T ROCKET SCIENCE!!!!
apparently it is, because you don't seem to understand that it is purely a business decision. Very few people play on the PS2 in the US, and it is no longer being sold in the US, and no major stores in the US still carry playstation 2 games (used doesn't count). Even if SE did want to bring it here, no store would sell it. It has nothing to do with code, translations or anything else. It's purely about business. They can't just "upgrade" it to the PS3, either. The playerbase is not growing, it makes no sense for them to officially expand onto a new platform.

THE PS2 IS (ALL BUT) DEAD IN THE STATES. GET OVER IT. Get an xbox or get a PC, and deal with it.
The ONLY reason it's coming out on the ps2 in Japan is because they still sell the ps2 there (not for long though) and they still sell ps2 games there, and a much larger portion of Japanese players are still on the ps2. It's not like they didn't do a survey a while back to figure out how many people were still on the PS2 and where. This decision is likely in large part based on that survey.

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

Even if SE did want to bring it here, no store would sell it.

One would. (http://store.na.square-enix.com/store/sqenixus/en_US/list/ThemeID.29853700/categoryID.16256700/size.10/startIndex.0/) I note I can even buy the PS2 games advertised in the PlayOnline Viewer here.



They can't just "upgrade" it to the PS3, either.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_downloadable_PlayStation_3_games#PlayStation_2_classics


THE PS2 IS (ALL BUT) DEAD IN THE STATES. GET OVER IT. Get an xbox or get a PC, and deal with it.



(And you're posting in this thread because...?)

[Alhanelem]

(And you're posting in this thread because...?)Because, people don't get it, and I'm making an apparently futile effort to help them get it?

What business is it of yours why I post in any particular thread. I post in a thread because for some reason or another, I see something in it I want to comment on or the subject interests me.


PlayStation 2 Classics are in their original form. These aren’t remasters, and therefore don’t have Trophy supportPS2 classics are not "upgrades." Also, maybe I'm wrong here, but the original game probably has to have sold X number of copies to be considered for it (like Greatest Hits, Nintendo Selects, etc).

In the end, it doesn't matter how much the remaining PS2 players in the US kick and scream, it's not coming. I really don't know why you all aren't suprised this didn't happen sooner.


And that's why nobody outside Japan can buy soundtrack discs. Oh, wait...How many people out here would buy those soundtrack discs? I'm sure a few would (I would!) but their marketing directors and business people with black suits and ties probably don't think it will sell well enough to be worth doing. It's the same reason as any game and any piece of merchandise that doesn't get brought over here- They don't think it will sell well enough. It's as simple as that. There is no other reason. They don't hate us, they just don't think we'll buy it.

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

How many people out here would buy those soundtrack discs? I'm sure a few would (I would!) but their marketing directors and business people with black suits and ties probably don't think it will sell well enough to be worth doing.

http://store.na.square-enix.com/store/sqenixus/en_US/pd/ThemeID.29853700/productID.122590000/categoryId.16257200/parentCategoryID.#.UO8-JKPGOM8
http://store.na.square-enix.com/store/sqenixus/en_US/pd/ThemeID.29853700/productID.122589900/categoryId.16257200/parentCategoryID.#.UO8-KqPGOM8
http://store.na.square-enix.com/store/sqenixus/en_US/pd/ThemeID.29853700/productID.122589800/categoryId.16257200/parentCategoryID.#.UO8-LaPGOM8

If you want to stop humiliating yourself and/or sounding like a troll, you might want to consider reading more and posting less.

[Alhanelem]

What are those links supposed to tell me?

Linking me to things that ARE being sold doesn't tell me anything. I'm not humiliating myself. Your post implied you were talking about something that isn't being sold here- yet they are. The only reason to do that would be to troll me. (this is exacerbated by your setting a level 1 mule as your "main job" - done by everyone who wants to hide so they can troll with no repercussions)

May I ask what soundtrack CDs, which can easily be enjoyed by non-players, have to do with releasing an expansion on a defunct-in-the-US console? I hope I'm not "humiliating" myself too much by asking this.

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

What are those links supposed to tell me?

To recognize sarcasm? To pay more attention to news updates on playonline.com? To do a little research before shooting off your mouth? To not shoot your mouth off on topics that have zero impact on your life to begin with? Where this teachable moment takes you is truly up to you.


(this is exacerbated by your setting a level 1 mule as your "main job")

Yes, because I take all my mules to 30 just to unlock summoner.

Excuse me, I forgot your difficulties with sarcasm. But this brings me back to my earlier point: think before you write.


May I ask what soundtrack CDs, which can easily be enjoyed by non-players, have to do with releasing an expansion on a defunct-in-the-US console?

The CDs are digital optical media, in an industry-standard size and format, that were pressed in a limited run, and yet somehow, somehow managed to at least break even.

Consoles based on optical media didn't beat out cartridge-based consoles because everyone loved load times. Optical media consoles dominate because optical media is cheap

[Sp1cyryan]

I'm mostly a PlayStation 2/3 US player of FFXI this will so suck for me and the other players that play on the PlayStation 2/3 systems out there. There is no way im going to rebuy this game for the Xbox 360 or PC. (Dont have a Xbox 360 and im sure my PC cant handle the PC ver.) Well good luck, but you guys lost my vote for this new expansion pack.

Oh please, if you could afford a PS3 then chances are you have paid for a computer that can run this game better than a lolPS2. This game came was released compatible with Windows 2000. I am sure you bought a new computer in the last 13 years. If you want to run at 2048x2048 then just go get a $50 graphics card.

This game has (as recently as December to a week or so ago) been ~$10-15 for the entire add on and the hat and that nonsense. If you need to, cancel for a month, and there you just saved enough money for the game on PC without actually doing anything.

Since SE benefits from your monthly payments more than buying the discs you should have no moral quandary just pirating the game and putting it on your PC if you rather go that route.

PS2 users should have either migrated to Xbox 360 or put a USB controller on their PC YEARS ago. Sony just killed the PS2 a few days ago as it is. It is time to move on.

[Alhanelem]

The CDs are digital optical media, in an industry-standard size and format, that were pressed in a limited run, and yet somehow, somehow managed to at least break even.

Consoles based on optical media didn't beat out cartridge-based consoles because everyone loved load times. Optical media consoles dominate because optical media is cheapLast I checked, the optical media wasn't the sole cost involved with publishing a physical product in the United States from Japan. But I don't claim to be an expert on the publishing process. no matter how cheap the media is, you don't launch a product in a particular region if you don't expect at least X amount of sales to come out of it.

[Aldersyde]

Last I checked, the optical media wasn't the sole cost involved with publishing a physical product in the United States from Japan. But I don't claim to be an expert on the publishing process. no matter how cheap the media is, you don't launch a product in a particular region if you don't expect at least X amount of sales to come out of it.

The thing is, consideration of more than sales and costs should go into deciding whether a product should be distributed in a particular region. In most large corporations, there is continual tug-of-war between accounting-types and marketing-types, because the latter knows that that if they let the accountants control these decisions, short-term numbers look good but ultimately it ends with lower sales and angry customers. Goodwill counts for a lot in business. That's why most companies show losses in certain facets of their operations and profits in others; smart companies are willing to, and do, take losses to keep their base happy because loyal customers will come back and purchase products that are highly profitable.

And really, given some of SE's massive losses last year (at least the latter half) and layoffs in their NA branch just this past December, SE is no expert in making good decisions about what products to make and distribute in particular regions. Making a particular business decision doesn't necessarily mean making a correct business decision. Sure, they'll save some money on distribution but they'll squander a lot of intangible value by telling formerly loyal customers to get lost. SE built its name on the backs of console gamers and it should remember that. It's never a good business model when you start telling people you don't want their money, especially when it will halt the flow of monthly payments. But hey, this is the same company that just a little over a year ago that decided it didn't want to take credit card payments from their NA clientele (while continuing to take JP CC payments) and then completely underestimated the angry, vociferous response the decision would get from its playerbase.

Yup, SE sure does understand its NA market.

[StingRay104]

Alhanelem,

Did you miss the part where i mentioned the game can be easily purchased as a digital download? Ya it is time to stop the "open mouth, insert foot" mentality. I know ps2 games don't sell in stores because it's dead, thats why i said digital download like the mini expansions.

[Alhanelem]

Yup, SE sure does understand its NA market. Well, about as well as CAPCOM or any other JP publisher understands it (which isn't much).

We've had to wait about a year and a half for Monster Hunter Tri Ultimate, which until not too long ago we didn't think was going to come at all, and don't get me started on Mega Man lol...


Did you miss the part where i mentioned the game can be easily purchased as a digital download? Ya it is time to stop the "open mouth, insert foot" mentality. I know ps2 games don't sell in stores because it's dead, thats why i said digital download like the mini expansions. except those add-ons were contained completely within patches- they contained a minimal amount of new art assets (no new areas), so it was easy to do. So without developing a new means of doing so, to release the expansion digitally on the PS2 would mean releasing a several-gigabyte version update. Then there wouldn't even be any point to releasing a disc anywhere because the version update would have all the data.

So yes, they could do a digital release for the ps2 but it would be a nightmare to obtain.

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

Something interesting came up while I was talking with a new player in my LS: people who came to FFXI recently got here by buying UCAE for $5-$10 online, and they're not all that eager to spend several times more than that on just a single expansion. If Ultimate Collection players do get into Seekers of Adoulin, many will probably wait for price drops.

The players more likely to drop the full MSRP on (or before) launch day are the die-hards that have been around for years already. This especially describes PS2 players.

[Alhanelem]

Something interesting came up while I was talking with a new player in my LS: people who came to FFXI recently got here by buying UCAE for $5-$10 online, and they're not all that eager to spend several times more than that on just a single expansion. If Ultimate Collection players do get into Seekers of Adoulin, many will probably wait for price drops.

The players more likely to drop the full MSRP on (or before) launch day are the die-hards that have been around for years already. This especially describes PS2 players.$29.99 is really not that bad. I'm sure if they get the game from steam or something that they can catch a discount on a sale, but during the holiday sale just now, all SE games except XI were discounted...

[bungiefanNA]

Off-topic but, MAN are you ever right about this. Those versions are the far superior ones with tons of new and desired content and we never got to play them. Still bugs me...

A fairly mid-range current computer can play PS2 games via emulation, there are PS2-style PC controllers, and there are translation patches that are complete or near completion for almost all of those games, and many other Japan-only games. Front Mission 5 and Namco X Capcom being on the list of completed translations, and several of the Tales games in progress.

As for stores not spending the shelf space to carry the discs... SquareEnix has their own online store, and I bet Amazon and Ebay sellers would also bother to carry it. Shopping online is becoming very common now. Even better would just be pushing out a POL update that allows expansions to be installed without a disc, so you only need the core game to have it install the rest of the expansions.

Oh, and there is one more production cost of an NA release you guys aren't considering, which XSeed recently mentioned as why some games weren't being released in Australia. Getting a rating from the ESRB, CERO, PEGI, or whichever rating system, costs money. They need to recoup that cost from the game sales (well maybe not with the subscription fee for this game, but they still ideally want to). Each platform it is released on has to be rated seperately, with a seperate fee.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/918340-playstation-portable/65087776

[CrimsonHarvest]

This is all nonsense. Square-Enix made a deal with SCEJ to publish the expansion in Japan, and they couldn't make that same deal with SCEA. Or didn't bother because of the survey etc. The licensing and Sony's QA fee probably amount to more than would be earned by any potential sales. It's not like you can publish a game for free and without the platform-holder's consent.

[Kagetachi]

SE is not releasing a PS2 version because in the US because of 2 reasons. 1) The hardware is not officially available for sale at the moment. Meaning they don't want people buying a game in the store that can't be used by a new ps2 or compatible ps3 owner.
I'm not sure about this second part, but if your register the code for the expansion, does it download the content to the ps2 anyways?

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

Getting a rating from the ESRB, CERO, PEGI, or whichever rating system, costs money. They need to recoup that cost from the game sales (well maybe not with the subscription fee for this game, but they still ideally want to). Each platform it is released on has to be rated seperately, with a seperate fee.

If indie developers can scrape together enough money to pay this fee for their $2 DSiWare download, I'm pretty sure multinational Square-Enix can pay that fee for their $30 expansion pack.

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

SE is not releasing a PS2 version because in the US because of 2 reasons. 1) The hardware is not officially available for sale at the moment.

http://us.playstation.com/ps2/systems/ps2black.html


I'm not sure about this second part, but if your register the code for the expansion, does it download the content to the ps2 anyways?

No. Just as with prior expansions, you are expected to buy a separate disc for each platform you play on, hence PS2/3 player rage.

[Sarick]

http://us.playstation.com/ps2/systems/ps2black.html



No. Just as with prior expansions, you are expected to buy a separate disc for each platform you play on, hence PS2/3 player rage.

Although I agree that PS2 should be moved to PS3 or at least remastered for it, your PS2 link shows a version that is INCOMPATIBLE with FFXI. That PS2 lacks a HDD and can't be upgraded to support one. So technically PS2 support isn't happening. The PS2 software for FFXI crashes all the time anyway. I have my assumptions that this is on purpose but there is no proof.

As for it being supported in one region and not the others is wrong. Even on a busyness level it should continue to be done in all regions or NONE at all! Everyone who bought the original hardware should be considered.

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

Although I agree that PS2 should be moved to PS3 or at least remastered for it, your PS2 link shows a version that is INCOMPATIBLE with FFXI.

The instruction manuals for Treasures of Aht Urhgan, Wings of the Goddess and Vana'diel Collection 2008 all show the PS2 Slim. They were released (on PS2) after the Slim was.

A lack of compatible models did not stop S-E from publishing stand-alone expansion packs for existing PS2 customers in the past.

[SNK]

http://us.playstation.com/ps2/systems/ps2black.html

As much as I agree with a lot of what you're saying and please don't take any offense to this but she's right in the aspect that Sony hasn't produced any older "Fat" PS2s which allow you to install the Hard drive into the system which is the main reason people were able to play FFXI on the PS2 to begin with. The slims sadly can't do this. :(

You have to understand, FFXI is a big fucking game in the sense that it needs a hardrive to store the huge amount of fucking data the PS2 needs to access. If you even attempt to make FFXI run off the disc only, you're going to choke the shit out of the system.

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

Sony hasn't produced any older "Fat" PS2s which allow you to install the Hard drive into the system which is the main reason people were able to play FFXI on the PS2 to begin with.

That's an argument for a lack of a "Vana'diel/Ultimate Collection." Expansion discs by definition are only used by preexisting players.

The PS2 Slim generally became available in 2004, about a week or so before the release of Chains of Promathia. Treasures of Aht Urhgan and Wings of the Goddess were released in 2006 and 2007 respectively. As I noted in the post just above yours, the instruction manuals for those two expansions even use images of the Slim in their respective "Getting Started" chapters.

If this was about "can't get new customers," PS2 discs would have stopped at Chains of Promathia. But while not even Japan is getting a PlayStation 2 version of Ultimate Collection Seekers Edition, they're still getting Seekers of Adoulin on its own disc. I'm not.


You have to understand, FFXI is a big fucking game in the sense that it needs a hardrive to store the huge amount of fucking data the PS2 needs to access.

I know, I have one. But I will not be able to access Seekers of Adoulin content on it for lack of a pressed NA installation disc.

[SNK]

I know, I have one. But I will not be able to access Seekers of Adoulin content on it for lack of a pressed NA installation disc.

You know there are ways around this right? You could easily get the JP disc and have the software be installed on your U.S. System. The code is excatly the same so with a bootloader you could probably just install it anyways.

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

You know there are ways around this right?

Hardware/software/network-level regional lock-outs, lack of knowledge of kanji, etc.

[Alhanelem]

Hardware/software/network-level regional lock-outs, lack of knowledge of kanji, etc.
you don't need to know kanji... the data itself isn't language specific- all four languages are contained within the dats.

[wildsprite]

It's about time. I was running this game on a 2004-era Gateway PC. It's 2013. I've upgraded twice with stock-from-store PC's that were inexpensive.

My girlfriend runs it on a modern laptop without trouble. Think about it- FFXI was originally for a Windows XP chassis, and we've gone through Vista,Win 7, and now Win 8 OS. That's a lot of upgraded capacity. Anyone who can't run this on their PC now has a really, REALLY, REALLY horrid piece of obsolete junk on their desk.

actually, FFXI ran on windows 98SE, think about that part for a bit, it did run it, it didn't run it well but it did run it
then when XP came out they migrated and toward the end of the life of 98 they changed the minimum to XP

[Fusionx]

Old, but relevant:


GE- In North America Seekers of Adoulin will not be available for the PlayStation 2. Can you tell us what lead to this decision? It seems a bit odd to increase HDD capacity for the game on the console then only release the expansion in one territory. Why not release the expansion digitally?

SE (Answered by Square Enix, Inc.)- In evaluating the North American release of the expansion across all platforms, we needed to consider multiple factors, including the number of players exclusively on the system, and the costs associated with publishing or developing a stand-alone download. Regrettably, these two factors greatly determined our final decision to support the PC and Xbox platforms exclusively. However, we remain committed to supporting FINAL FANTASY XI on the PlayStation 2 platform for the foreseeable future.
http://gamerescape.com/2012/07/25/gamer-escape-interview-post-vanafest-2012/#more-3967

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

Again: this makes me wonder what S-E's "commitment to support" XIV on the aging PS3 will look like.

[Alhanelem]

Again: this makes me wonder what S-E's "commitment to support" XIV on the aging PS3 will look like.
The game is being ported to the ps3 instead of the other way around. The UI and other components are going to be different both to better accomodate the PS3 controller and to reduce the memory requirements. But the PS4 had better have full compatibility.

[wildsprite]

if it doesn't have full PS4 support, you can blame sony for that, sony is the reason FFXI isn't on the PS3

[Dagin]

I myself have an Xbox and PC I play on. But two of my friends play on a BC ps3 and a ps2. They were excited when I told them of the new expansion, then I found out they wern't releasing for ps2, and they were ticked off. They are not coming back to the game. They have played on ps2 since the game came out, and got it on its release date. Even when I told them I'd chip in $50 bucks a piece to get them an Xbox, they said that wasn't the point. I think its mostly nostalgic for them. I guarantee this is going to loose SE long term monthly customers. Also it would be a great idea for SE to expand the game to other platforms, I've heard talk of PS vita, but that's all it is with SE, just talk. We are just as hardcore nostalgic as Japanese customers SE, so, please, for the love of the goddess, release this for ps2. Fix this crap, or you are going to loose your customer base one by one

[wildsprite]

do your friends have a PC? is it older than 2002 if they do? if it isnt it will likely play FFXI, I don't think SE cares about losing a few players that have been absent from the game if they are refusing to upgrade to a PC or XB360, and yes that is the point, the PS2 is an old system, it is showing signs of age, and if they have a PC that is around the same age as the PS2 it can likely run this game, you bringing that argument back is beating a dead horse, I assure you it wont work, on the other hand if you want your argument to work come up with 100k players on the PS2 that will buy it and return, you can't because the likelyhood that there are 100k players in the US that still have a working PS2 fat that have interest in this game is very low

[Dagin]

do your friends have a PC? is it older than 2002 if they do? if it isnt it will likely play FFXI, I don't think SE cares about losing a few players that have been absent from the game if they are refusing to upgrade to a PC or XB360, and yes that is the point, the PS2 is an old system, it is showing signs of age, and if they have a PC that is around the same age as the PS2 it can likely run this game, you bringing that argument back is beating a dead horse, I assure you it wont work, on the other hand if you want your argument to work come up with 100k players on the PS2 that will buy it and return, you can't because the likelyhood that there are 100k players in the US that still have a working PS2 fat that have interest in this game is very low
That was quite the run on sentence there. I wasn't sure if I was reading a paragraph or a sentence, I had to stop to breathe half way through it. I GET YOUR POINT. I'm just ticked my friends who originally brought me to the game, will not be coming back. I think it's stupid my friends think that way too. But SE makes their money off of monthly subscription fees. And if I know 2 people that are quitting over this, I'm sure others are too. I'll miss you Zarr and Xavious, we had some fun times together on the game.

[Mookies75]

I'm mostly a PlayStation 2/3 US player of FFXI this will so suck for me and the other players that play on the PlayStation 2/3 systems out there. There is no way im going to rebuy this game for the Xbox 360 or PC. (Dont have a Xbox 360 and im sure my PC cant handle the PC ver.) Well good luck, but you guys lost my vote for this new expansion pack.

I'm sure the rest of the game's population loves the fact that the game is hobbled because it has to also run on 10 year old hardware. Seriously... you can build (or buy) a decent pc for like 400 bux. I don't feel bad for you guys at all.

[Camiie]

I'm sure the rest of the game's population loves the fact that the game is hobbled because it has to also run on 10 year old hardware. Seriously... you can build (or buy) a decent pc for like 400 bux. I don't feel bad for you guys at all.

It's the ever venerated Japanese player base that's truly the problem here, but I don't see you guys going off on them like you do the handful of US players who are still on PS2.

[wildsprite]

That was quite the run on sentence there. I wasn't sure if I was reading a paragraph or a sentence, I had to stop to breathe half way through it.

yeah sorry about that, my grammar is pretty bad in that way :/



I'm just ticked my friends who originally brought me to the game, will not be coming back. I think it's stupid my friends think that way too. But SE makes their money off of monthly subscription fees. And if I know 2 people that are quitting over this, I'm sure others are too. I'll miss you Zarr and Xavious, we had some fun times together on the game.

I understand this too, but getting a cheap PC that will run FFXI isnt really that terrible, I know a lot of people who did it, and you know why?

they saw me playing FFXI on my PC with superior looking graphics and smoother looking gameplay, and with a game controller, and on top of that they were able to get a better PC than I had for a lot less money

if you consider the prices of the game originally when buying it separately paying $40 for the ultimate seekers edition for the PC or XB360 isnt that bad.

the stubborn people holding onto their PS2 for FFXI are truly being stubborn not nostalgic, nostalgic would be taking out one of the original RPGs for the PS2, or an action game for any older console.

upgrading to a machine that can handle this game better than the PS2 is just smart, and you don't have to spend a lot to do it