With the PS4 more than likely being announced this year

[Teraniku]

Arguments for / Against an FFXI PS4 version?

For:

-Since the PS2 has finally ceased production worldwide, there needs to be a new console version of the game.

-XBox successor will be announced and considering how quickly Microsoft dropped support for the original Xbox, once the 360 was in use, it may be a good idea, also the deal that got XI on the 360 won't fly with Microsoft's current attitude about MMO's on the system.

-Being able to use the PSVita as the game's controller and keyboard, with the potential to be able to touch activate macro's on the Vita's screen. Do Equipment swaps etc.

-Since the system is rumored to be using an AMD / ATI solution for Processor / Graphics, shouldn't be too difficult to port to.

-Getting the game advertised and out there with a new version.

Against:

-Games too old, too top heavy etc.

-Might not be worth the investment to release a new version, which, would need to have a new expansion pack released along with it.

[Jackstin]

I'm hoping for a Steambox version personally.

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

-Since the PS2 has finally ceased production worldwide, there needs to be a new console version of the game.


Not holding my breath, but the PS4 may have the PS2 backwards-compatibility that the PS3 lost. By the accounts I've heard so far, it's easier to make the PS4 play PS2 games than it is to make the PS4 play PS3 games.


-XBox successor will be announced and considering how quickly Microsoft dropped support for the original Xbox, once the 360 was in use, it may be a good idea, also the deal that got XI on the 360 won't fly with Microsoft's current attitude about MMO's on the system.

We also don't know how/if backwards compatibility will be handled by the next Microsoft console. The patchy backwards compatibility of the 360 is more a factor of Microsoft changing hardware vendors than anything else, I believe.


-Being able to use the PSVita as the game's controller and keyboard,

Thank you for the offer, but I'll have to pass. Touch screens and touch-typing are mutually exclusive, and MMOs are still all about the CLI.

[Alhanelem]

Pros:

- None. It's a console. MMOs should never be on consoles, period.

Cons:

- Everything already named.

[Arcon]

Pros:

- None. It's a console. MMOs should never be on consoles, period.

Many of the anti-PS2 arguments do not even apply to the PS3 anymore, let alone the PS4 or future consoles, especially in regards to FFXI. The pros the OP mentioned are completely valid.

They are, however, nowhere near enough to justify the cons, the most important of which have not even been mentioned, such as effort spent on it, versus the effort that should be focused on producing new content. It's a horrible idea to waste months and potentially years worth of manpower on something that's relevant to few while many get shafted in the meantime, hoping for new content and fixes to the myriad of issues that currently plague the game. The main effect would be that even more people quit of boredom, making the console port even more meaningless.

[Alhanelem]

Many of the anti-PS2 arguments do not even apply to the PS3 anymore,This isn't about the PS2. It's about all home consoles, all devices with fixed hardware. Games built to grow, expand and develop should never be released on hardware that can not grow, expand, and develop with it.

[Teraniku]

This isn't about the PS2. It's about all home consoles, all devices with fixed hardware. Games built to grow, expand and develop should never be released on hardware that can not grow, expand, and develop with it.

Even I can't argue with that :p

[Arcon]

This isn't about the PS2. It's about all home consoles, all devices with fixed hardware. Games built to grow, expand and develop should never be released on hardware that can not grow, expand, and develop with it.

It is about the PS2. It's about margins. The PS2's margin was extremely low, that was the problem. If it could handle twice of what it can it would have never been a problem at all and you wouldn't be saying anything now, because it would have never instilled this anti-console mindset in the community that permeates it today.

MMOGs expand in various ways, but they don't expand infinitely and never will. FFXI has expanded in hard disc space and memory usage, but not in graphics requirements. And if graphics ever would improve, it can be done PC exclusively without any problems (it would even be easier than developing technical upgrades for two systems). That way the PS2 could keep using shitty graphics and the people who signed up for it can't complain because that was what they paid for, while PC users could use better graphics and be happier for it. The only reason PC users now don't get better graphics has nothing to do with SE clinging to the PS2 or not wanting to leave the PS2 userbase behind, but simply because they are too lazy for it.

One of the few technical issues the PS2 brought to FFXI that I can think of are memory limitations, and that has always been an issue on the PS2. This should have been an entirely predictable problem since day one. With even twice the memory, which is nothing compared to today's standards, FFXI would be set on all currently supported platforms for the foreseeable future. If FFXI was released on PS3 hardware, it would be good until it dies.

[Alhanelem]

It is about the PS2. It's about margins.It's not about the PS2 (specifically) or margins. No matter how powerful a platform is, fixed hardware is fixed hardware, and MMOs released on that fixed hardware can and do eventually grow into the limits of that hardware, limiting the game's growth potential. This would be true of any MMO released on a console, not just FFXI and not just on the PS2.

Honestly, FFXIV should not be released on the PS3- it has taken the ARR redesign of the client in order to overcome *PS3* limitations- FFXIV is sure to test those limits in the same amount of time or less as FFXI tested the PS2's limits.

As I said: Releasing a game that was made to go on for years and years, and grow and expand over time should never be released on a platform that is incapable of growing with it.

[Joslyn]

As I said: Releasing a game that was made to go on for years and years, and grow and expand over time should never be released on a platform that is incapable of growing with it.

But a game can only grow if the developers are willing to make it grow. It really doesn't matter how powerful a system is or isn't or for that matter what type of system it is on, it is truly up to the makers of the game that decide how far they wish to push. I don't base that lack of original content on what system it's on, I base it on the lack of the developers keeping the game balanced and interesting.

[Kagetachi]

the best chances for a new game engine for FFXI is higher dependent on the success of ARR. The easiest way SE can bring this game to PS3 or PS4 at this point is to take the new ARR engine, make it play as close to 11 does and port content over to the engine. That's my opinion.

[Arcon]

It's not about the PS2 (specifically) or margins. No matter how powerful a platform is, fixed hardware is fixed hardware, and MMOs released on that fixed hardware can and do eventually grow into the limits of that hardware, limiting the game's growth potential. This would be true of any MMO released on a console, not just FFXI and not just on the PS2.

Of course you're right. There is a chance that FFXI might outgrow the PS4 at some point before the heat death of the universe. Realistically speaking, though (and even unrealistically, for the most part), that is not an issue at all. That alone should not be used as a reason not to release it on a system.

Not that it matters anyway, because, as I pointed out before, there are plenty of other reasons against it.

[Alhanelem]

But a game can only grow if the developers are willing to make it grow. It really doesn't matter how powerful a system is or isn't or for that matter what type of system it is on, it is truly up to the makers of the game that decide how far they wish to push. I don't base that lack of original content on what system it's on, I base it on the lack of the developers keeping the game balanced and interesting.
I do. There easily would have been a lot less recycled areas and content if they planned ahead for the game's space requirements on the PS2 or just didn't release it on that platform in the first place.

Console limitations are console limitations. Yes, it's up to the developers to test those limits, but they always do test them eventually.

Consoles are bad platforms for MMOs in general, period. There is no getting raound that short of purposely building your game far below the specifications of the hardware.


There is a chance that FFXI might outgrow the PS4 at some point before the heat death of the universe. Would FFXI in its current state test the limits of the PS4/5/6/12? Not in its current state of course not. But it would be stupid to bring the game to those platforms without upgrading it in some way- higher resolution textures, higher poly models, better lighting, etc.

Besides, I was and am speaking in general terms- Not specifically just FFXI. For the same reasons, FFXIV shouldn't be released on the PS3, and DQO really shouldn't be released on the Wii/Wii U. Consoles are bad for MMOs. An expandable, upgradable game should only be released on an expandable, upgradable platform.

[Yrusama]

I won't expect an HD revamp. There are too many items and areas, so it would take years to update all of this game's content with HD graphics. A simple port, on the other hand, would be nice. My FFXI ran fine on my backwards-compatible PS3 (albeit with some lag). I don't see why a downloadable port for PS4 would be out of the question.