Seekers trial version - not working?

[Ghuda]

Hello,


Yesterday i downloaded the trial version of seekers through the playonline site. Installed an updated but the Seekers banner at the log in screen is still greyed out.

I closed down FF and POL, restarted and nothing. I checked out my account seeing if i had to register somewhere in the management system and nothing.


I downloaded the EU version in line with my current game and details too.


Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Aprian]

same thing happened to me

[Alhanelem]

It's probably grayed out because you don't actually own it- since it's just a trial, did you try to actually access any expansion content?

[Manque]

I also downloaded the files SE posted and installed everything fresh. Restarted. Looked in my SquareEnix account page and found nothing odd there. The appropriate NPC still won't give me the quest for SOA.

Perhaps their wording was off and plan to activate it at the same time as the return campaign (the dates for the SOA portion being only for the download)?

[bungiefanNA]

The trial is downloadable, but isn't actually enabled until the 11th. The event starts once the patch goes live. They gave the download ahead of time so people can take care of the install and patching before the patch date, to distribute load on the patch servers. You know how it is when a new expansion launches? On top of everyone patching at once, you get the flood of new players with fresh installs downloading the huge initial patch, and it can take a few days.

From the event details:

Any currently inactive player that has ever subscribed to FINAL FANTASY XI in the past will be able to play free for a limited time and experience all the changes!

Campaign Schedule:
Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at around 7:00 a.m. (PST)
to Monday, December 23, 2013 at 6:59 a.m. (PST)

It's only Sunday. Adoulin won't activate until Tuesday morning, unless you buy it.

[Lexin]

Well if Seekers is any good I plan on returning after nearly 2 years absent since XIV is boring.

[Mordian]

Is it working for anyone yet?

Still grayd out for me and the NPC to start mission wont work.
I assumed SE was going to let us try Adoulin content for two weeks as trial basis.

[Cof]

That was just for downloading the game data, unfortunately. None of the expansions are unlocked without buying them.

It's understandable that they don't have a system in place to test an expansion, but a lot of recent content is unavailable without Adoulin. People without Abyssea are really out of luck. It would be nice if they would at least put expansions on sale during the free period. I don't think very many people are going to bite $30 for 13 days of play time, let alone resubscribe.

[bupon]

So existing players coming back during the Vana'diel Experience Campaign will not be getting access to SoA? Can anyone confirm this?

[Dsherman]

I don't really know, but my expectation would be that the return campaign free access is just waving the subscription fee for the 2 weeks it runs (the 9th to the 23rd). The software download is available to help people that have previously subscribed, but have uninstalled whatever they had before, and don't have the install discs any more. It does not provide access to anything for anything that you have not previously registered. There are no registration codes provided.

You can still use the software download to get on, but you will only have access to expansions and add-ons that have registrations in place on your POL account. Only the subscription fee is being set aside, and only for those who do not currently have an active subscription.

The presentations given by SE about this are quite poor.

[Hulkamania]

Having the same issue, except now I'm stuck in the Mog Garden and can't exit. Hopefully they still have GMs that can warp you... Think I'm going to try that next

[Bethor]

You can play w/o buying a month. But in order to get access to SoA content you need to get the 14-days free trail here http://www.ff11europe.com/freetrial/

The return home campain is not stating that cleary as I've thought. I thought download the whole Seekers Version under the provided link and happy gaming then. Ah well having a chitchat with a GM now.

The free trail period is overrun at the moment though. So we need to wait a few days.

[Dragoy]

Bethor,

That site has been saying that for months, definitely closer to years, I'm pretty sure. The American version actually still lets one to input email and stuff, but I don't know if it works either.

Moreover, I sort of doubt, but can't be certain, that even if it did work, it would not give the correct client, since that trial includes no expansions whatsoever.


I have not been able to test it, yet, but I believe the data available via the current campaign site should be the working installation, and should include access to the expansion areas, including Adōulin, as it says on the tin.

[Mordian]

You can play w/o buying a month. But in order to get access to SoA content you need to get the 14-days free trail here http://www.ff11europe.com/freetrial/

The return home campain is not stating that cleary as I've thought. I thought download the whole Seekers Version under the provided link and happy gaming then. Ah well having a chitchat with a GM now.

The free trail period is overrun at the moment though. So we need to wait a few days.

14 day trial has no expansions available, not even Zilart. You're severely limited to what you can do, cannot even use AH, or gain exp past level 30.

Please dont post such misinformation.

[Dragoy]

Upon further thinking about it, and looking into it, it could have been worded better fer sure.

Firstly, as it is, one might imagine that they get to test the game from clean table even, that is, as a new player. The trial does not, however, provide a PlayOnline registration code, and I don't imagine it would work with the trial codes via the old site(s) even if they were still functional.

Even if it was possible to log-in using such an account, one could probably access the original areas only, as per usual.

I certainly got the feeling that it's supposed to give access to Adōulin to at least returning players, who have an account from before, but I'm now guessing that Dsherman is correct in that one needs to have purchased the registration codes for any content they wish to access.
This would fit in with the “explore the latest changes” notion of the campaign, which it probably is meant to be (in other words, not a free trial in the sense the previous free trials have been, which is for new players without former accounts).

I figured it would have been a nice thing for those who are active but not yet purchased certain expansions, but I guess that might be kind of difficult to set up even.


If nothing else, it provides a download for those who have lost their installation medium in a way or another, which looks like being its main purpose.

With that in mind, it seems like a weird thing to call a free trial, as it could just be a subscription for a couple of weeks, fer free!

I know I could have used a freebie like that, but alas, I've been paying all along! :|

[Lexin]

So guess I left before doing the last LB and my choices to do them are DRK and PLD... Now I need to get a seasoning stone and my drk dies too quickly and my PLD takes too long to kill mobs that drop it and it would appear everyone I knew no longer play and highly doubt I can get people to help so I really don't see me retuning now after the 23rd.

[Dragoy]

Lexin,

That, I think, should be the least of reasons to not play!

The quest you mention is easier than ever to tackle, and the items required for the Olde Rarab Tail (excluding the Seasoning Stone) can be traded amongst players. Don't give up that easily, I'd say!


As for the “free trial”, I contacted the eMail support for some form of elaboration since we have not had any official comment here yet; it seems to be as I suspected, and I quote:



Thank you for contacting the Square Enix Support Centre.


We are sorry for any confusion caused by the free trial version of the FINAL FANTASY XI: Ultimate Collection Seekers Edition.

The promotion gives access to the full download files to the game for free, whereas previously if installation discs were lost for example a new copy of the game would need to have been purchased.

Unfortunately, if you have not purchased any expansions previously, you would not be able to enter these areas within the game, however you can still download this version of the game.

We once again apologise for any confusion and we will pass on your feedback.


Kind regards,

The Square Enix Support Centre team



I do have to mention that they can be speedy with replies there! I've been getting eMails back within minutes it seemed, even though they still apologised for the delay, heh.

[Hulkamania]

Lexin,

That, I think, should be the least of reasons to not play!

The quest you mention is easier than ever to tackle, and the items required for the Olde Rarab Tail (excluding the Seasoning Stone) can be traded amongst players. Don't give up that easily, I'd say!


As for the “free trial”, I contacted the eMail support for some form of elaboration since we have not had any official comment here yet; it seems to be as I suspected, and I quote:



Thank you for contacting the Square Enix Support Centre.


We are sorry for any confusion caused by the free trial version of the FINAL FANTASY XI: Ultimate Collection Seekers Edition.

The promotion gives access to the full download files to the game for free, whereas previously if installation discs were lost for example a new copy of the game would need to have been purchased.

Unfortunately, if you have not purchased any expansions previously, you would not be able to enter these areas within the game, however you can still download this version of the game.

We once again apologise for any confusion and we will pass on your feedback.


Kind regards,

The Square Enix Support Centre team



I do have to mention that they can be speedy with replies there! I've been getting eMails back within minutes it seemed, even though they still apologised for the delay, heh.

Funny.... when a GM had to rescue me from the Mog Garden, he told me the opposite of the email you got. I was told we would have access to all areas... Also during a Live chat session, the rep there assured me of the same .... I'm severely displeased at the lack of clarity surrounding this issue and the arbitrary nature of the information being shared. I've sent two requests for email support and haven't gotten one back yet. I did receive a request to respond to a survey, boy are they going to hear it from me in that one...

[Dragoy]

Hulkamania,

Sadly, I am not surprised to read that.

It's definitely not the first time that there seem to be communication difficulties within the support, developers, et al., and it's no doubt stemming from the several different regions they have divided their services to, which I guess they felt necessary to be able to act across the world.

Or so I imagine.


These are the reasons for which I am hoping that a Community Representative can, and will soon clarify things around here, as they usually have it right, or will correct it later. It's especially unfortunate when these things happen during limited-time campaigns and such, but it is what it is, and I do still appreciate the effort they at least try to put it.

[Mordian]

So guess I left before doing the last LB and my choices to do them are DRK and PLD... Now I need to get a seasoning stone and my drk dies too quickly and my PLD takes too long to kill mobs that drop it and it would appear everyone I knew no longer play and highly doubt I can get people to help so I really don't see me retuning now after the 23rd.

Lexin, they introduced Trust magic in this update. It's available for everyone, you dont need Seekers of Adoulin. With it you can summon up to three NPCs to fight alongside you. They will match your level. I'm positive you will have absolutely no issues killing the mobs.

[Alhanelem]

Lexin, they introduced Trust magic in this update. It's available for everyone, you dont need Seekers of Adoulin. With it you can summon up to three NPCs to fight alongside you. They will match your level. I'm positive you will have absolutely no issues killing the mobs.
You can't use them in the BC fight, but yes, they make huting for items like this so much easier.

[Lexin]

I was able to find help for it and finished it. Still have 11 days left and while I have small issues that are not new I more then likely will buy the Seekers collection and start playing again. A lot has changed in 2 years so I just need to figure the game out again.

[Olor]

this is confusing...