FFXI: what about an offline version?

[Themailman]

So due to me being on xbox, and almost a decade into this, I want to keep playing after next March 2016. What about making an offline version of this? I mean honestly, it could be done right.....Dynamis u can solo and make relics, there are a lot of quests to do. I would still enjoy camping and killing NM's. I've play the other FF's, like all of them and they are just as fun offline as this online one. Some content on FFXI u cant solo, but honestly they have adjusted level content before. Why not come up with an offline version cause I'd gladly pay 60 bucks to be able to continue playing my characters on my own little offline world. Thoughts?

[Draylo-]

Get a PC man, you can get a cheap one for 200 bucks or less probably to run this game.

[Themailman]

Yeah I like my console, I know I could get a PC of course.....this is just a thought.

[Alhanelem]

You can probably get a used PC from some tech company's boneyard for free that could run the game to be honest. There's never going to be an offline version. The closest we'll get to that is Grandmasters but that's a spinoff based on FFXI and it's only going to be available in Japan.

Because the client doesn't have any code to control all the stuff processed and calculated by the server, it would actually be a LOT of work to make an offline version; Also it would be highly probable that people could then reverse engineer the code and use it to create exploits for the live game. They could only even consider doing this after shutting down the servers, which isn't currently on the table.

[Zarchery]

What is it with XBox players who act like a computer is some rare and exotic piece of technology reserved for the wealthy? I've probably spoken to about half a dozen XBox players by now who think the game is going to be completely dead a year from now because they, personally, won't be playing. My LS leader changed the ls message to something asinine like "358 days left! Enjoy it while you can!"

So the original poster wants Square Enix to undertake a big development project to produce essentially an entirely new game, just because he doesn't want to change platforms?

[Alhanelem]

Console loyalty is a powerful thing man.

That said, while I'm a pretty fierce Nintendo fan, I still own a PC and I still play games on it. You could have bought a PC anytime in the last 10+ years for the sole purpose of web browsing and email and it would probably run this game just fine. Cant udnerstand people able to spend $500+ on an xbox but don't own a PC when a basic one is cheaper than that and does more.

[Zarchery]

Console loyalty is a powerful thing man.

That said, while I'm a pretty fierce Nintendo fan, I still own a PC and I still play games on it. You could have bought a PC anytime in the last 10+ years for the sole purpose of web browsing and email and it would probably run this game just fine. Cant udnerstand people able to spend $500+ on an xbox but don't own a PC when a basic one is cheaper than that and does more.

I'm skeptical about the statement "any old laptop can run this game". I bought a used laptop at a pawn shop in 2012. I ran the benchmark on it a few months ago and it ran pretty poorly.

Still, I'll follow the hardware updates if I like a game. I've bought every Mario Party game in the series, ever since the N64 days, and over time that has enticed me to buy a Game Cube, Wii, and soon a Wii U.

[Alhanelem]

I'm skeptical about the statement "any old laptop can run this game". I bought a used laptop at a pawn shop in 2012. I ran the benchmark on it a few months ago and it ran pretty poorly.

Still, I'll follow the hardware updates if I like a game. I've bought every Mario Party game in the series, ever since the N64 days, and over time that has enticed me to buy a Game Cube, Wii, and soon a Wii U.
All you need is enough CPU and memory. Graphics card is mostly irrelevant as are pretty much any other bells and whistles.
Anything you get from a pawn shop is going to be pretty dodgy (and if they didn't wipe it clean it probably has naughty/illegal stuff on it).

[Zeargi]

What is it with XBox players who act like a computer is some rare and exotic piece of technology reserved for the wealthy? I've probably spoken to about half a dozen XBox players by now who think the game is going to be completely dead a year from now because they, personally, won't be playing. My LS leader changed the ls message to something asinine like "358 days left! Enjoy it while you can!"

So the original poster wants Square Enix to undertake a big development project to produce essentially an entirely new game, just because he doesn't want to change platforms?


It's a preference. I enjoy gaming on a console way more than I do on PC. I have a gaming setup for my consoles, and my Desk is designed for drawing not for gaming. The Keyboard stays hidden while I draw. But let's be honest, even if they don't have a PC that can run the game, having spend an addition 100+ of anything when you already have something that could do it is frustrating. An additional cost for things that could be otherwise spent else where is not something that should sit well with ANYONE. I understand the this is more a Microsoft thing when it comes to the Xbox service, but don't berate people for wanting to play a game on a console. Will I move to the PC, maybe, but I don't know if I'll stay loyal to the game knowing that there's nothing new to come after November.

[jbtexan]

What is it with XBox players who act like a computer is some rare and exotic piece of technology reserved for the wealthy? I've probably spoken to about half a dozen XBox players by now who think the game is going to be completely dead a year from now because they, personally, won't be playing. My LS leader changed the ls message to something asinine like "358 days left! Enjoy it while you can!"

So the original poster wants Square Enix to undertake a big development project to produce essentially an entirely new game, just because he doesn't want to change platforms?


what is it about PC gamers that like to hate on consoles? i play XI on both xbox and pc, but i prefer xbox. somebody in this thread said all you need is enuff cpu and memory. well, xbox has that. plus there is xbox live, where i can talk to my friends on xbox, and i can look stuff up on pc at the same time or watch a movie, ect. a lot of people out there pay their monthly dues so they can play on xbox. not sure about ps2, never played it on a PS. i love my xbox, and i sincerely hope that SE reconsiders dropping xbox. another thing, if im taking a vacation and i know that i will have internet access, i can always take my xbox with me and play there. hard to do that with a pc unless u have a laptop. my xbox can prolly do almost anything a laptop can do for sure. so what is with the "haha you cant play on xbox anymore" attitude that i have seen from so many ppl? you like your PC. fair enuff. to each their own, but dont belittle players who choose to remail loyal to their console instead of taking the path of the pc. consoles are made for the sole purpose of gaming, with a few extras thrown in. not so for pc, unless you happen to be one of those "wealthy" ppl that can afford to make their own setup.

[Olor]

... having spend an addition 100+ of anything when you already have something that could do it is frustrating. An additional cost for things that could be otherwise spent else where is not something that should sit well with ANYONE.

Well, it's not like the only thing a PC can do is play FFXI. Honestly anyone who wants to say, get a job, should own a PC at this point. I can't imagine trying to get a job without a PC or at the very least a smartphone - but lots of websites don't play nice with smartphones and you can't write resumes on them.

[Zeargi]

Well, it's not like the only thing a PC can do is play FFXI. Honestly anyone who wants to say, get a job, should own a PC at this point. I can't imagine trying to get a job without a PC or at the very least a smartphone - but lots of websites don't play nice with smartphones and you can't write resumes on them.

Absolutely, I agree that people should have a PC of some sort in today's global connected society, but I don't believe that they are the end all be all for gaming. A vast majority of people believe that games have to have 1080p+ with 100% realistic graphics, but after a certain point the human eyes can't perceive that difference. I've played games since the Atari and my Mom swears I came out of the womb with a controller in hand. But I play games for the enjoyment of it. It doesn't always have to look the super best. A friend of mine refuses to play or even try games like Terraria or Minecaft, simply because of the looks. If the game is good, like this one, people should be happy that people would try/do everything they can to play it. It's the biggest compliment a Developer could receive.

[Alhanelem]

what is it about PC gamers that like to hate on consoles?What is it about people that like to turn things around on others? He wasn't hating on consoles. At the same time, I'm confused at platform preference between those who claim they play both. It's the same game on either platform, so what makes you prefer one over the other? I know some people who say they prefer the console version because they can play it on the TV and sit on the couch, but that's a dubious statement because you can do that with any PC as well. Any modern TV has pretty much every kind of hookup used today. If your PC doesnt have HDMI out, many modern TVs also include RGB in. The ONE sticky issue with the PC is controller support, since FFXI on PC can't recognize analog triggers as digital buttons. But you CAN use your controller with it. In games that don't require detailed communication with other users, I lean towards consoles, but for this type of game that typically benefits from a lot of buttons and text chat, the PC works better. It's largely a matter of the type of game for me.


I've played games since the Atari and my Mom swears I came out of the womb with a controller in hand. But I play games for the enjoyment of it. It doesn't always have to look the super best.I don't think anyone here has argued that playing on PC is about having the best graphics, the most frames, bla bla bla. That's icing. It's nice to have, of course, but it's not a requirement. For me the best benefit of playing on the PC has little to do with hardware or the games themselves: multitasking.

As far as consoles, as I've mentioned before, I've always been a bit of a nintendo fanboy, so I have a Wii U to play many of the titles that will never see the light of day on any other platform (it's a love hate relationship as I love their franchises but hate exclusivity)

[Roja323]

Irrelevant argument is irrelevant. When microsoft stops supporting xbox/360 for online, you wont have a choice anyways. When they wont allow you to go online, you wont be playing any online games, regardless of if SE supports them or not.

[Zarchery]

what is it about PC gamers that like to hate on consoles? i play XI on both xbox and pc, but i prefer xbox. somebody in this thread said all you need is enuff cpu and memory. well, xbox has that. plus there is xbox live, where i can talk to my friends on xbox, and i can look stuff up on pc at the same time or watch a movie, ect. a lot of people out there pay their monthly dues so they can play on xbox. not sure about ps2, never played it on a PS. i love my xbox, and i sincerely hope that SE reconsiders dropping xbox. another thing, if im taking a vacation and i know that i will have internet access, i can always take my xbox with me and play there. hard to do that with a pc unless u have a laptop. my xbox can prolly do almost anything a laptop can do for sure. so what is with the "haha you cant play on xbox anymore" attitude that i have seen from so many ppl? you like your PC. fair enuff. to each their own, but dont belittle players who choose to remail loyal to their console instead of taking the path of the pc. consoles are made for the sole purpose of gaming, with a few extras thrown in. not so for pc, unless you happen to be one of those "wealthy" ppl that can afford to make their own setup.

I don't hate on consoles at all. If I'm hating on anything, it's this weird attitude that console players have that Square Enix has put up some insurmountable obstacle to them playing the game. When really the only obstacle is your own stubbornness. There's also this arrogant assumption by some that they make up such a huge swath of the playerbase that they're the only thing keeping the game alive. You sound like someone who refuses to buy a DVD player, then complains that you can't get home movies any more because people stopped making VHS tapes over a decade ago.

[Themailman]

Getting a PC to continue to play this is an obvious solution, I own a laptop already but I enjoy my xbox features like xbox live chat. I can talk to my friends who play other games on Xbox. It can do everything a PC can, I just prefer console. This wasn't even the point of the thread. Maybe it would be a big undertaking but there are enough players out there than would net SE a good profit for the work they would do to make it offline. PC players I'm glad u enjoy playing on that platform and it's great that they are keeping ffxi going for you!

[Zarchery]

The ONE sticky issue with the PC is controller support, since FFXI on PC can't recognize analog triggers as digital buttons. But you CAN use your controller with it.

Controller support isn't so bad. I've had mixed luck with wireless controllers, but right now I'm using a regular Playstation controller. I bought an adapter for a couple bucks (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000YMQGWU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) and it's been working fine. Plugs right into the USB port.

[jbtexan]

I don't hate on consoles at all. If I'm hating on anything, it's this weird attitude that console players have that Square Enix has put up some insurmountable obstacle to them playing the game. When really the only obstacle is your own stubbornness. There's also this arrogant assumption by some that they make up such a huge swath of the playerbase that they're the only thing keeping the game alive. You sound like someone who refuses to buy a DVD player, then complains that you can't get home movies any more because people stopped making VHS tapes over a decade ago.


take a look at my post again. i already "bought the DVD player". choose your words with a bit more wisdom next time. and as for that assumption, as soon as that announcement hit the public, numbers started dropping significantly from the playerbase. server populations back that up. hopefully the numbers will pick back up with the new content, once the kneejerk reaction is passed. im not blaming SE, although undoubtedly there are ppl doing just that. i think its sad. even you, captain assumption, would agree that consoles do represent a significant portion of the playerbase. i dont think that console users would be out of line to suggest offline play. while it is true that PCs are the solution to continued online play, not everybody wants to get a pc just for that purpose. im so used to my xbox that when i play on pc i have to remember what key does what. that is simply the way things are with a lot of ppl.

[Sayomi]

I've sold used shoelaces on ebay for money, just sell your console for a pc!

[jbtexan]

I've sold used shoelaces on ebay for money, just sell your console for a pc!


lol i play a lot of other games besides ffxi on my xbox. why would i sell it?

[Zarchery]

take a look at my post again. i already "bought the DVD player". choose your words with a bit more wisdom next time. and as for that assumption, as soon as that announcement hit the public, numbers started dropping significantly from the playerbase. server populations back that up. hopefully the numbers will pick back up with the new content, once the kneejerk reaction is passed. im not blaming SE, although undoubtedly there are ppl doing just that. i think its sad. even you, captain assumption, would agree that consoles do represent a significant portion of the playerbase. i dont think that console users would be out of line to suggest offline play. while it is true that PCs are the solution to continued online play, not everybody wants to get a pc just for that purpose. im so used to my xbox that when i play on pc i have to remember what key does what. that is simply the way things are with a lot of ppl.

1) I do frequent searches. Population on Carbuncle is about the same as it was a month ago. I assume your statement numbers started dropping significantly from the playerbase. server populations back that up. was just something you made up, or picked up from someone else, and expected I'd accept uncritically.
2) I made no assumption about your ownership. The second sentence was a reference to the collective "you" of Xbox players who won't get a computer or have one and refuse to use it.
3) Console users are very much out of line to suggest offline play. They are asking Square Enix to essentially design an entirely new game just because they don't feel like migrating to PC. I never asked Nintendo to create a Game Cube version of Mario Party 8 or 9. I got a Wii. Of course my other option was to stop buying Mario Party games, though I did not elect that.

So I guess here are the options for Xbox 360 players:

1) Ask that Square Enix spend a huge amount of time and manpower to design a brand new game for them.
2) Spend like $229 (http://www.dell.com/us/p/inspiron-3647-small-desktop/pd?ref=PD_OC) a year from now for a brand new PC.
3) Use their existing PC to play this.
4) Quit playing Final Fantasy 11.

[steellords]

what is it about PC gamers that like to hate on consoles? i play XI on both xbox and pc, but i prefer xbox. somebody in this thread said all you need is enuff cpu and memory. well, xbox has that. plus there is xbox live, where i can talk to my friends on xbox, and i can look stuff up on pc at the same time or watch a movie, ect. a lot of people out there pay their monthly dues so they can play on xbox. not sure about ps2, never played it on a PS. i love my xbox, and i sincerely hope that SE reconsiders dropping xbox. another thing, if im taking a vacation and i know that i will have internet access, i can always take my xbox with me and play there. hard to do that with a pc unless u have a laptop. my xbox can prolly do almost anything a laptop can do for sure. so what is with the "haha you cant play on xbox anymore" attitude that i have seen from so many ppl? you like your PC. fair enuff. to each their own, but dont belittle players who choose to remail loyal to their console instead of taking the path of the pc. consoles are made for the sole purpose of gaming, with a few extras thrown in. not so for pc, unless you happen to be one of those "wealthy" ppl that can afford to make their own setup.

No one has to "hate on consoles" to point out that the experience of playing on PC can be pretty damn similar. You can use a controller, AVI port to your tv screen, voila!

I mean i started way back on ps2 and i found the transition seamless. Yeah i get it, extra expense, but the consoles frankly have held this game back for years. Just be grateful it lasted this long

[Roja323]

No one has to "hate on consoles" to point out that the experience of playing on PC can be pretty damn similar. You can use a controller, AVI port to your tv screen, voila!

I mean i started way back on ps2 and i found the transition seamless. Yeah i get it, extra expense, but the consoles frankly have held this game back for years. Just be grateful it lasted this long

I have consoles and a desktop, and a laptop. I have to say my favorite is my laptop. I love my ps4, but having to be in 1 room next to a tv can cause issues, and prevents the wife from being in the room with me if she cant have the tv on. Desktops are pretty much the same, only instead of just a tv, you need a desk, chair, and speakers to go with it.

I know ill never have the best graphics on the games i play, but i can play them in any room of my house. And for FFXI, my desktop and laptop have the same graphics, the desktop is about 2-3x as powerful, but the game is so old eventually you will plateau where no matter how much new hardware you throw at it, it will never look better/load faster/lag less.

I genuinely feel however, that tieing an mmo to a console AND a pc hurts more than it helps. I will bet in the end, PS3 for FF14 will hurt and turn into the 'ps2 limitations' meme it is now. Even one day the ps4 will limit ff14, maybe 2-3 expansions down the road. Having to maintain support for 10+ year old technology, and expecting modern graphics/lots of updates is just unrealistic.

[Bluestar2kx]

I'm skeptical about the statement "any old laptop can run this game". I bought a used laptop at a pawn shop in 2012. I ran the benchmark on it a few months ago and it ran pretty poorly.


You must have been to a pretty shoddy pawn shop.
I went there looking for laptops a few years ago, most of them we're built in the last 4 years (at the time) and costed several hundred.
I went to amazon and bought a used HP Nc6230 for just over 100$, ran FFXI fine (not awesome like modern PC's but playable), and it only has a 64mb radeon x300 with a 1.8ghz Pentium M. If it can run FFXI, anything you find at a pawn shop should be able to unless they just buy broken garbage. Most modern laptops run at least 2ghz dual core, and usually an intel GMA card, which is more powerful (though lacking some hardware features, not many of which FFXI uses though) then the radeon x300 and often runs up to 1.5-2gb of vram, not that FFXI needs that much heh.



what is it about PC gamers that like to hate on consoles?

i love my xbox, and i sincerely hope that SE reconsiders dropping xbox.


Likely the same thing about console gamers acting like using the PC is a sin and full of a******** and can't do what their console does.
I don't know where it started. I use both (tho not for FFXI, but i have) and am happy with the blend, so I don't get the hate bashing that goes back and forth, but it's definitely a 2 way street.

I love my 360 too, but I don't think this decision is up to SE. Or it would happen a lot sooner usually and not a year from now. I think this is a microsoft decision, likely something with XBL service on the 360 switching to bare minimum function only at that point. Microsoft isn't known for leaving support going for any longer then they have too, so by then it will be like, 3 years right, Since XB1 launched? That's about microsofts story. So I think next march the 360 will not be able to use XBL anymore except for being able to download old purchases and buy already available content, all other services will be ended.

So this decision is likely waaay out of SE's hands.
Can't say for the PS2, maybe the same way, plus how hard it is to work with the PS2 now. They have to do quite a bit to keep FFXI going on it, esp with all the graphics reductions it now uses, that can consume a fair bit of money, same with the 360 support, so this actually saves them a fair sum. We have yet to see if this will affect FFXI further.