Single Player Future

[Elemmire]

Hey,

Would really love if, in the future when the servers fully offline (I know development is going to stop, but I imagine servers will stay on for awhile after as long as it makes money), I'd really love it if there's some kinda support to change the game to run offline and transfer our characters to a single player means (and obviously rebalance some things to be solo-able).

That's a lot of work, I know, but I'd hate for a future where I can't play FFXI at all if I have the urge cause the company no longer supports it :( be nice to still have the option for a single player version.

[Alhanelem]

That would require a colossal mountain of develpment work. As you noted, development of new content will stop, so it's extremely doubtful that they'd spend the time and resources on that. When it dies, it's just goint to die, like every other online game whose support ends.

(Doesn't mean i don't want it, of course. I'm just being realistic)

[machini]

That would require a colossal mountain of develpment work. As you noted, development of new content will stop, so it's extremely doubtful that they'd spend the time and resources on that. When it dies, it's just goint to die, like every other online game whose support ends.

(Doesn't mean i don't want it, of course. I'm just being realistic)

No, actually, it wouldn't. All they'd have to do is either release the server software, or straight up release the source for it. It's not that much work. There are plenty of other online games which are still going on long after the official servers closed thanks to fans.

[evanwimbish]

Search" ffxi 2015" ,a few well published, have mentioned in 2016 single player mode will be released with the mobile version,

From what I've gathered; the jpn vanadiel digest was discussed a few days ago as well;

I imagine at the "PRESS release". The press (@the event) asked questions after the interview we all watched , so their comments should trickle through their magazines thru the next few months , which is how IGN's statements are validated

There are a few sites saying it's a free to play in 2016 but will have to pay for items, which should bring back all the players banned from RMT , can't complain though if it draws in more players however I haven't logged in for 2 weeks now ;( but I do still read the forums from my iphone which still reassures me of the optismism of ffxi mobile !

I'm kinda excited to see the mobile app in 2016 but sad because I won't need to trio box which was fun

[evanwimbish]

But imagine.... Game of war and aFew other mobile apps have very loyal fan bases, ffxi will be ALL OVeR the media when it's released on mobile app, we will see so much Facebook spam when it's released which Is gonna be cool, but I'm kinda worried about what that will do to players which have already invested soooooo much time and money Into the game.

I would be satisfied when ffxi mobile reaches 1million new players this time around , all the old players that had to pay get 1 free relic or empy, because those zones will be outta control (which is why is no server merge and expect ability to change servers temporarily)

Literally now is the time to tell all your friends you played this game first! Because the new free ffxi pay for items will be like all the other FarmVille games , only this time you won't get banned for spending money.and we will have Tons more people to play with.

I honestly think this is a step in the right direction and will put brosale out of business! And we won't have to add more spam blocker tabs !

[Alhanelem]

No, actually, it wouldn't. All they'd have to do is either release the server software, or straight up release the source for it. It's not that much work. There are plenty of other online games which are still going on long after the official servers closed thanks to fans.

There is no way in the world they'd ever release the server software, because that would allow other people to profit off their work. Also, LOL at the thought of releasing the source code. Even if they did, it would likely take years for anyone not already familiar with the project to understand it.

In most cases, private servers result in C&Ds or lawsuits.

[vienne]

Single player ffxi sounds like the most boring game ever.

[Elemmire]

I dunno if it'd require a TON of work, it would require a fair deal, but it's ahrd to say without fully knowing the way the code works myself (I've never looked at it or tried to find anyone who has lol).

As for it being boring? Eh, not to me. I like the world, the characters, just derping around solo anyways. I play the game more solo than with people as is so it'd still be fun to me, but to each their own.

[machini]

There is no way in the world they'd ever release the server software, because that would allow other people to profit off their work. Also, LOL at the thought of releasing the source code. Even if they did, it would likely take years for anyone not already familiar with the project to understand it.

In most cases, private servers result in C&Ds or lawsuits.

I think you grossly underestimate the love some people have for this game.

[Zarchery]

I think you grossly underestimate the love some people have for this game.

I don't think Alhanelem made any mention of the playerbase's love of the game. He was talking about the business and legal implications.

Why would you even want a single player offline version of an MMORPG? Isn't that what every other category of game is for?

[madmartin]

Search" ffxi 2015" ,a few well published, have mentioned in 2016 single player mode will be released with the mobile version,

From what I've gathered; the jpn vanadiel digest was discussed a few days ago as well;

I imagine at the "PRESS release". The press (@the event) asked questions after the interview we all watched , so their comments should trickle through their magazines thru the next few months , which is how IGN's statements are validated

There are a few sites saying it's a free to play in 2016 but will have to pay for items, which should bring back all the players banned from RMT , can't complain though if it draws in more players however I haven't logged in for 2 weeks now ;( but I do still read the forums from my iphone which still reassures me of the optismism of ffxi mobile !

I'm kinda excited to see the mobile app in 2016 but sad because I won't need to trio box which was fun

ill reserve judgement until the "freshly picked" summary is up but all this really is putting me off spending any more time in this game, single player mode/ paying for items - no thanks!

[dasva]

I don't think Alhanelem made any mention of the playerbase's love of the game. He was talking about the business and legal implications.

Why would you even want a single player offline version of an MMORPG? Isn't that what every other category of game is for?

Because this particular one has had one of the best stories of an RPG out there. To get all those little things you never had time before to do. Like there is so much in all those random sidequests

[machini]

I don't think Alhanelem made any mention of the playerbase's love of the game. He was talking about the business and legal implications.

Why would you even want a single player offline version of an MMORPG? Isn't that what every other category of game is for?

I had a very quick reply that got eaten 'cause I said the wrong thing.

The tl;dr version is that it is actually not illegal to reverse engineer server functionality for ANYTHING. The courts have been VERY explicit on this. If you can do it without any actual appropriation of the source material, solely as a work of deduction based on client-server communication, then it's perfectly legal. There has been an EverQuest emulator project for ever 10 years, and it's still going strong, and they have not been shut down. There was an attempt, once, long ago, as I remember, and they fought it and won. Just like there is a WoW emulator project with has been going for years now, and is still going -- it's perfectly legal.

It would not be difficult for SE to package, and sell a trimmed down version of the POL server that can only handle up to 18 players, along with a POL client designed to connect to a specific IP address, along with a version of the FFXI client capable of receiving said address from the POL Client, and server binary/executable and server database information. That would seriously be a week's work, or less, for one competent programmer to do. The only possible issue is that the server software is designed for a *nix platform, in which case you'd need to be running a *nix VM or have a machine dedicated to running it. The fact that I can run, off my desktop, a WoW server that is capable of handling hundreds of simultaneous players shows that it does not take a powerful PC to do this sort of thing (this is while running the client, too, which is far more intensive than FFXI's client).

In addition, I would be willing to pay an awful lot of money for this. I'd throw down a hundred dollars if they sold such a thing when the game ended. I know other friends who would do it to. Hell, I'd buy MULTIPLE COPIES of it so other people could try it. If you're going to end a game anyway, and it would be rather minimal effort to do so, why not? How many of the maybe 250k subscribers to this game do you think would be willing to slap down 100 dollars to have a copy they could play a decade from now for nostalgia's sake? 10%? 5%? Even if only 1% of the playerbase did so, they'd be looking at pulling in a quarter of a million dollars for maybe a week's worth for one or two guys who probably don't make more than 40 or 50 thousand dollars a year. That's a big profit off of such little work. And if it's higher, as I think it would be, 10% of that playerbase forking over 100 dollars would get them 2.5 million dollars off of maybe a 80 hours of work.

I really don't think you understand exactly how much it would be in SE's monetary interest to do that. Firstly, they would make a good deal of money for next to no work -- remember, they're already getting ready to switch to PC-only development, which would greatly simply an awful lot of things that have needed fixing for a while due to PS2 limitations. Secondly, it would please a lot of hardcore, diehard fans who absolutely love this game. Thirdly, it would let them be able to say "None of our Final Fantasy games have ever died. They all live on, for their fans to be able to play them." It would show a staggering level of commitment to their fan base, a large portion of which -- not just XI players -- is starting to become very disenchanted with the franchise.

[machini]

There is another game, named Haven and Hearth, that I really love, except for the fact that it has PvP, and like EVE Online, you are hopelessly behind people who started before you (since gaining stats and abilities is partly time-spent based), and it involves permadeath. These problems are exacerbated the fact the client is opensource java, and people have fiddled with it to let them do a lot of things they couldn't normally, because the client is trusted with more information than it should be.

The creators of it are currently working on a "Haven and Hearth 2.0", which I think they are calling Hafen. It is basically a better version of their game, that seems to be fixing pretty much every problem that the first one had. Except it's still going to have PvP where some jerk who has been playing two months longer than you can murder you and no one cares you just lost 500 hours of work, 'cause lol that's part of the game.

I would seriously be willing to fork over money, when their new game comes out, for a version of the old game I could play with a couple of friends. I'd seriously be willing to pay 50 bucks a copy, and they've been told this by myself and others before. As far as I can tell they don't actually make any money off their game, as they have no advertising or anything anywhere. It's just something they do because they like it.

There are a lot of games out there that I would absolutely love if it weren't for the mandatory PvP and people whose entire goal in life is to ruin the fun of others.

This got a little off topic.

Point is, they'd make a lot of money off a little work.

[Bluestar2kx]

There are a few sites saying it's a free to play in 2016 but will have to pay for items,

Sites have been saying FFXI should/will go F2P as sub numbers have dropped since F2P became a thing.
Personally, I hope it never turns into a cash shop, I'd rather pay a higher subscription rate then deal with that stuff, if it turns into farmville pay/play model, I'm gone. Hell with that crap.
Sure it brings in people, because anyone can play, but it brings in the worst people and it's the worst for the people (you'd pay far more then if SE upped the sub price to 16$ base with 1 character +2$ per mule), and I don't think it would do any favors for FFXI's community. Plus if you think the nerfs they do now are bad, wait until those people start up a ruckus....

I do think there's a chance FFXI mobile might bring in a fair sum of new players. And it could be SE is banking on that to revive FFXI without putting a ton of money into it without knowing if they'll get it back. We'll have to wait and see, I'm here to stay otherwise^^



There is no way in the world they'd ever release the server software, because that would allow other people to profit off their work.

I imagine they'd release a software kit you could purchase, containing everything needed to run a FFXI server with as easy setup/installation for as many people as you can afford to fit. Sure, likely would be pirates, there's pirates for everything though, it's hard to avoid that, and players already have been making their own kits the last, like 7 years. I'm not saying I'm approving of the latter, but people are doing it. Imo, it would make sense for SE to profit off that at sunset (whenever that is) and sell their own. I'd buy that if FFXI officially shut down.

But no matter what the outcome is, long as I can enjoy FFXI as it is now (or like it), I'm happy.

[Zarchery]

Sites have been saying FFXI should/will go F2P as sub numbers have dropped since F2P became a thing.
Personally, I hope it never turns into a cash shop, I'd rather pay a higher subscription rate then deal with that stuff, if it turns into farmville pay/play model, I'm gone. Hell with that crap.
Sure it brings in people, because anyone can play, but it brings in the worst people and it's the worst for the people (you'd pay far more then if SE upped the sub price to 16$ base with 1 character +2$ per mule), and I don't think it would do any favors for FFXI's community. Plus if you think the nerfs they do now are bad, wait until those people start up a ruckus....

Ugh. I know. I hate Freemium. I play Simpsons Tapped Out on my mobile and it was awful. I thought to myself "this is kind of a fun game, sort of Simpsons flavored Simcity. I would pay a decent price, say $30-$50, to have a version of this where I could build everything". But it's nearly impossible to do that with just the free version. You need to buy donuts to get a lot of things. I did eventually find a hacked copy that let me cook up about 80,000 donuts and millions of in game currency, so I enjoy it as is.

[Alhanelem]

Point is, they'd make a lot of money off a little work. It's a lot more work than you think it is; FFXI just doesn't have a big enough playerbase that would likely buy into this sort of thing for them to even consider it. I mean really guys, stop kidding yourselves, this will never happen.

As for the legal stuff- reverse engineering is specifically allowed for personal purposes or for interoperability, but you're still in violation of copyright law if you distribute or make money off it.


I really don't think you understand exactly how much it would be in SE's monetary interest to do thatIt really wouldn't be in their monetary interest at all, it would be a considerable expense for them to rework the game to be offline (and disconnect pol from it) for a very small number of people that would be playing it.


Ugh. I know. I hate FreemiumThat's not freemium. Freemium is like when an MMO goes free to play but keeps the subscription as an option with extra perks, while the free player has to either buy, or grind to earn, most of the content.

[Elemmire]

I don't think Alhanelem made any mention of the playerbase's love of the game. He was talking about the business and legal implications.

Why would you even want a single player offline version of an MMORPG? Isn't that what every other category of game is for?

Well FFXII was basically offline FFXI with shittier everything (story, characters, music, etc). People apparently love that game soooo I imagine an offline FFXI would work fine.

[bungiefanNA]

The thing with an offline version of the game is how much they would have to transfer into the client, and take so many things off the real-world clock. You have Conquest, Beseiged, Campaign, Colonization, weather, the calendar, and so much more tied to the server. All monsters are controlled by the server, eeven when not observed by the players, their spawn timers and movement are still managed by the server, across every zone. As it stands, taking control of a region or fighting off the beastmen army in any of those systems isn't balanced toward one player being able to do so, and they'd have to be recoded to work solo (and how would you manage all of the systems at once in single-player The AH would have to be redone, as well as the crafting system, because of how long it takes to build skill to make other items, and how many people with various skills you need to do things like Synergy The game was not designed for one person to be able to get by alone in the economy. It is a gigantic amount of work to do, for a risk of a small payout if they sold an offline version, not even factoring in how few of SE's staff can understand the whole batch of programming code that has been built up over the past 13 years. Releasing the server software is the most likely (though even the chances of that are really low) solution for SE if they decide to shut the game down while still making it playable in some form, the most likely thing being it just dying completely.

[Elemmire]

As someone already said (and you mentioned), they don't even have to do anything to the client too much really, but they could provide the server code and a means to run it on your computer and invite friends into your world or whatnot. Let it be tied to the system clock. If people want to cheat then, whatever, their world at that point. As I said, I'm really only hoping they'll consider/do this when they ultimately do take the servers down.

I think that's the best means as well. And if their programmers can't ultimately create a means for people to run their own servers and transfer their character data over to it, well, SE might want to find new programmers. It's work, no doubt, but it is their job.

[Tanitha]

I have played this game solo for 8 days and 9 hours (in my /playtime) on and off for years. It was not really that fun at all until trusts got introduced, just to damn hard. I mean I tried to get somewhere but realized at a point it was impossible, not worth the time.. fast forward to all the new things added in the last couple years; Now I have beat the Shadow Lord, about to take on Maat for my limit break,have checked out every expansion a little, got my relic armor.. I feel more accomplished then most games I play even though I am not *That* far. .... I love this game, music, story etc etc.. I have probably partied with random people for about 8 hours total of my play time and I sill love this game. I still love exploring, questing, auction housing etc... I guess I may be a mega dork but its still really fun single player.. I think the realize the demand for it as well when the introduced the trust system... Anyways, I like the idea of playing with people but not many are doing the stuff from 10 years ago like me haha.. Unless I x-fer my character to the Asura server and play on there... this game is better then MOST single player rpg's as it is..

[Bluestar2kx]

Since we already have a thread for it, i'l post here^^


(0:38:58～)
Q: Is there any possibility to release an offline version of the game?

A: We have talked about plans for an offline version several times; however, every time we start looking into the cost it is too high and we end up dropping the plan. We do want to make it available, but it is impossible to make the entire FFXI game something that is playable by one person, so we would have to take away specific parts. For these reasons we currently have no specific projects for this.

I can understand this to a degree.

But might I make a suggestion:

Take the server data, and create multiplayer internet/lan kit out of it, and sell it to us to cover creation costs. I don't know about anyone else, but if FFXI truly sunsets, I would definitely pay for that kind of access. And don't forget crowdfunding for titles and development can be huge, fans will pay to fund beloved titles, just look at what Star citizen has made from it's following, they've made 77 million dollars for that game.

Compile all the needed data into an easy to setup program the user can run at will, if possible allow game master settings like: player restrictions to stats, amount of players, level, drop %'s (such as a direct multiplier, say x2, x4, x10), items, or other things like atma's and such, set it up as a dedicated personal server like you would for any other game, and this way, you reduce the cost of making a true single player game, and let friends play together, because, isn't that why we all play FFXI?

In addition to that, see if it's possible to allow trust NPC's to form alliances with players.
Say one player in each alliance able to summon trust NPCs to fill it as needed (since your already trying to see if they can fill a whole party before development ends), each controlled as they are now, by the summoning player in that party.

It's set atm so only party leaders can, but each party has an independent leader in an alliance.
This would allow small groups of friends to do all of the game, even content requiring 18 members.
And if the game master could set say a level max, people could also get their current request for a lv 75 server, because you could artificially limit it. Sure, adoulin is set for lv 95+, but this would be by player choice, and easily adjusted at the reset of the server if they wanted to move up.

It creates a lot of possibilities, and it keeps FFXI alive for decades.
There's a lot of games players have kept alive for sooo long. This could be one.

If it becomes possible to rebuild the FFXI developer kit for PC and sell it, players could create an enormous amount of mods for FFXI while giving Square enix funds for further development, or to put into other titles (FFXI-2? ^.~), and modded games live for AGES, that kind of thing could be huge for Square enix and FFXI.

Just look at all the Elder scrolls and fallout games by Bethesda, Dragon Age by Bioware, look at more simpler games as old as total annihilation which still has a community patching the game themselves, and creating huge total conversion packs.

No Final Fantasy game has ever died.
I don't want FFXI to be the first for any reason, and I'll do what little I can to help, but i'm sure I'm not alone.

Square enix is working to help indie developers get off the ground. Why not let your fans help keep something alive even longer, or even breathe new life into it? Something that's been a centerpiece for tens of thousands of players (if not a lot more), and I'm sure, is at the heart of all the staff at Square enix who's worked on FFXI.

[Alhanelem]

No Final Fantasy game has ever died.
I don't want FFXI to be the first for any reason, and I'll do what little I can to help, but i'm sure I'm not alone.It's not going to die, but it is going to reinvent itself. I'm still not clear what the deal is with the mobile version though. It sounds like its going to be the same game, but a seperate entity (not connected to the PC servers)?

So according to them, the primary reason for current events is a lack of functional development tools/kits (Because the game's codebase is on the PS2) and that they can't get new ones because the hardware is no longer supported by sony. That's understandable, but I think this goes to show why MMOs should not be based on fixed hardware systems. FFXIV has gotten around this problem by basing the game on PC and branching out to other platforms, which they can and are prepared to drop if they can no longer keep up with the game's requirements or if the development hardware no longer exists.

The reason this is going to be hard for many people to accept is simply because it's been around so long. I've had a subscription to this game for nearly half my life now. I now also play FFXIV and it has a lot going for it, but FFXI has a sort of old school charm that just can't be matched by anything else.

[Draylo-]

Those answers are all BS, it all boils down to dollar bills or yen or whatever. I find it highly unbelievable they couldn't redo the game just like they did for XIV, it the cost that stopped them and potential profits weren't there.

[Alhanelem]

Those answers are all BS, it all boils down to dollar bills or yen or whatever. I find it highly unbelievable they couldn't redo the game just like they did for XIV, it the cost that stopped them and potential profits weren't there.
Dollar bills are what makes any business go round, so how is that BS? It's just the way things work.

They could redo the game, but it would cost just as much as making a brand new game, and there's no guarantee that would get them enough players to be worth it. What FFXIV pulled off is extraordinarily rare for the industry.

While they may be stopping major development next year, they're not shutting the game down. And especially for people who have not played the full span of the game's life, there is more than enough content in the game to keep someone playing for a very long time. FFXI has more distinct areas and peices of content than just about any game I know to date.

[Draylo-]

I meant the answer of "we can't continue updates due to PS2 limitations" is BS. The real answer is "we don't see any profit so we are winding things down"

[Bluestar2kx]

I meant the answer of "we can't continue updates due to PS2 limitations" is BS. The real answer is "we don't see any profit so we are winding things down"

Well of course, they could likely redesign the code to run off a PC development kit, but that too takes A LOT of money, and isn't feasible for FFXI or SE without a promise of funds to do so. If players helped pitch in, then maybe they could get it done.

At that point, FFXI development could continue, and perhaps even ported to PC like platforms like the PS4 to increase the playerbase with much smaller development costs.

But like any business, they need a strong knowledge that it won't be a money sink.

FFXIV is an example of SE not letting a FF title die, and is further proof of my requests validity.
But they also did so by revamping it into a more casual friendly title to sell to a wide audience, and it got lucky and worked well, but that kind of casual play that XIV uses is something that would utterly kill FFXI, so SE has to be more careful with plans for FFXI, that's why they said themselves they weren't taking that route in their digest.

We have a devoted fan base, but it's not a massive one.



It's not going to die, but it is going to reinvent itself. I'm still not clear what the deal is with the mobile version though. It sounds like its going to be the same game, but a seperate entity (not connected to the PC servers)?


Well, I didn't mean die anytime soon.
But we all know it will happen someday. There just won't be enough players to fund servers, and staff to keep going. Esp if the mobile version is similar but separate from PC.
That day is likely years off, but, if FFXI took a turn at it's worst point then, it could become highly profitable for SE again, and fund other developments, esp if players helped do so.

I really don't understand the mobile version, and I get that phone/tablet games are hot these days, but it's not something I want to play to replace FFXI, I like my PC for gaming mostly, my phone barely sees me ever even turn on angry birds. So I'm offering suggestions and plans to help fund those worst case scenarios for the PC version.

[Alhanelem]

I meant the answer of "we can't continue updates due to PS2 limitations" is BS. The real answer is "we don't see any profit so we are winding things down"
If you don't have access to the development hardware, how are you supposed to change anything that requires a code change? Granted, things like balance tweaks, items, etc can be changed by merely updating datafiles, but they explained that they are inposession of many of the development machines that remain, and when they fail, they can't work on it anymore (I suppose they could use an emulator/virtual machine if one exists but agreements with Sony might not allow that)

[madmartin]

It's not going to die, but it is going to reinvent itself. I'm still not clear what the deal is with the mobile version though. It sounds like its going to be the same game, but a seperate entity (not connected to the PC servers)?


pretty much yeah, they gave it away when they said the mobile version would likely start with promathia content and eventually have the new rhapsodies content. They also said it will probably have exclusive content down the line, obviously some things will be a bit different to suit the mobile platform.

[bungiefanNA]

I meant the answer of "we can't continue updates due to PS2 limitations" is BS. The real answer is "we don't see any profit so we are winding things down"

PS2 development kit limitations, they say they're down to about a dozen left, and that's after acquiring every dev kit they could get their hands on from around the world, Sony doesn't make them anymore. The gist of their explanation is that the resources like graphics, music, sounds, zones, etc, are made on PS2 dev kits, and then ostensibly converted to DirectX-compatible data from there. They don't have tools to just make such content for PC, it has to be converted. making new tools or overhauling the engine, they say is as expensive as making a game like FFXIV from scratch.

I do find it weird the DAT-modding community has been so easily able to make new models (but then not so much in the way of new animations), while SE says it would be hard to do themselves. Still, when the last dev kit dies, they lose the ability to make new content. They might as well draw a line in the sand while they still have working units, rather than have them fail in mid-development and release of an expansion.

[Draylo-]

For a company like SE, again that just sounds like BS. They don't wanna pursue the costs yet they keep pumping out games left and right. There are profits from FFXI they just don't wanna invest in it. How many times have they told us x only to do y? We never even imagined a new expansion would come out with how often they threw around "PS2 limitations" and Adoulin was made anyway. I'm not doubting there are some limitations as I don't fully understand the dev kit thing. I am just doubting its impossible to do it. Anyways its a moot point as we aren't changing their minds at this point. I just hope we get to keep our characters for a while. To a previous poster, if I had the money I would. I am that crazy about XI but I'm not a millionaire or anything to donate a substantial amount lol.

[Alhanelem]

PS2 development kit limitations, they say they're down to about a dozen left, and that's after acquiring every dev kit they could get their hands on from around the world, Sony doesn't make them anymore. The gist of their explanation is that the resources like graphics, music, sounds, zones, etc, are made on PS2 dev kits, and then ostensibly converted to DirectX-compatible data from there. They don't have tools to just make such content for PC, it has to be converted. making new tools or overhauling the engine, they say is as expensive as making a game like FFXIV from scratch.

I do find it weird the DAT-modding community has been so easily able to make new models (but then not so much in the way of new animations), while SE says it would be hard to do themselves. Still, when the last dev kit dies, they lose the ability to make new content. They might as well draw a line in the sand while they still have working units, rather than have them fail in mid-development and release of an expansion.This, it's just an unfortunate reality of developing the game for console first. Today I don't think it's as big of an issue since I"m pretty sure both PS4 and Xbox One use an x64-based CPU and thus software for them can easily be developed on a PC, but from the ps3 era and prior, you needed dedicated dev hardware.


For a company like SE, again that just sounds like BS.It's really a reasonable, plausible explanation. It's also hard to argue SE can't get more bang for its buck on a new game than it can get for searching the entire world to find working ps2 dev kits to keep updating this game. It's not bullshit, it's just business. It sounded to me like they genuinely wanted to keep going but found it impractical to do so.

[Stompa]

I play FFXI because I like seeing my friends, and watching them play their favourite jobs in their own unique ways, and chatting with them and stuff.

Quite honestly I already know how I play games, I know all my responses etc. I like to see other FF fans, I like to watch them play, check their responses, and chat together about our favourite FF7/FF8 moments lol.

Actually when FFXI came out, it was like some giant Global Gathering, all these FF fans around the world, who had all played the old FF games on solo, were suddenly able to meet and play in this beautiful virtual world together. That was magic. To suddenly be united as FF fans, it was really special after all those years sitting alone replaying FF7/8 etc. over and over again on our Playstations lol.

[Zarchery]

I love that even when the man in charge of development for this game said "we can't make a single player version" and gave detailed reasons why, fans are still "That's nonsense! A single player version would be easy!"

[Bluestar2kx]

I love that even when the man in charge of development for this game said "we can't make a single player version" and gave detailed reasons why, fans are still "That's nonsense! A single player version would be easy!"

Because he focused on single player, as in no internet or lan requirement, playing by yourself.

Some of us aren't asking for that, we're asking for what's already there, the only thing I mentioned as being outside that is about game master controls, but I don't know if that could be done with the way the game was written, but maybe. Me at least, am also offering to pay a fair market price for buying such a kit to alleviate costs. (As I think selling it to players is perfectly reasonable for unlimited access to such a wonderful game, as an MMO.)

[steellords]

I love that even when the man in charge of development for this game said "we can't make a single player version" and gave detailed reasons why, fans are still "That's nonsense! A single player version would be easy!"

Because it's complete crap. Just give me the ability to make as many characters as i want and alt tab, and i can probably solo just about anything in the game now.

Of course, soloing is not what 11 was made for. Imagine trying that on dynamis when it was new. People are just fearing the servers will be shutdown entirely within a couple years and want a way to keep playing.

[steellords]

It's not going to die, but it is going to reinvent itself. I'm still not clear what the deal is with the mobile version though. It sounds like its going to be the same game, but a seperate entity (not connected to the PC servers)?

So according to them, the primary reason for current events is a lack of functional development tools/kits (Because the game's codebase is on the PS2) and that they can't get new ones because the hardware is no longer supported by sony. That's understandable, but I think this goes to show why MMOs should not be based on fixed hardware systems. FFXIV has gotten around this problem by basing the game on PC and branching out to other platforms, which they can and are prepared to drop if they can no longer keep up with the game's requirements or if the development hardware no longer exists.

The reason this is going to be hard for many people to accept is simply because it's been around so long. I've had a subscription to this game for nearly half my life now. I now also play FFXIV and it has a lot going for it, but FFXI has a sort of old school charm that just can't be matched by anything else.

Yeah the ps2 really did kill this game in the end. Others like everquest are still around and getting updates. This game was made for the japanese market from the start, and they were overwhelmingly ps2. We just had to accept from the start we were "guests" in their game.

But now that i'm not a naive teenager and realize all this, there's no chance i'm getting hooked on 14 to deal with ps3 limitations and "jp onry"

[steellords]

Those answers are all BS, it all boils down to dollar bills or yen or whatever. I find it highly unbelievable they couldn't redo the game just like they did for XIV, it the cost that stopped them and potential profits weren't there.

Well what pisses me off is that during that complete manure expansion WoTG, they decided to make a new mmo, then using subs from this game to keep it afloat

Now they are shuttering this game and to add insult, keeping full monthly fee instead of divert some miniscule funds from 14 to make this FTP come november

I'm sure in 2019 they'll give 14 the same treatment and blame ps3 limitations, which is their own fault for using a console again. Yeah i'm done with this company after the "finale"

[Bluestar2kx]

Well what pisses me off is that during that complete manure expansion WoTG, they decided to make a new mmo, then using subs from this game to keep it afloat

Now they are shuttering this game and to add insult, keeping full monthly fee instead of divert some miniscule funds from 14 to make this FTP come november

I'm sure in 2019 they'll give 14 the same treatment and blame ps3 limitations, which is their own fault for using a console again. Yeah i'm done with this company after the "finale"

What was wrong with wings of the goddess?
About a thousand times better then abby that came out not too long later.

I'm sure they did use funds from XI to keep XIV going (Even though money is money to them for use no matter its origin), companies don't like losing money, and just think what could have happened in worst case.... FFXI could have been shut down with XIV 1.0, and SE discontinued major games and just focused on re-releases and small mobile titles to cut costs as profits plummeted.

It could have been a lot worse then it was for both us and them.

Personally, I'll keep paying my fee (at the current price), I'd rather pay that and support FFXI and get what we can and show continued interest and dedication to XI, then leech off XIV like you just complained XIV did to XI (an eye for an eye isn't the best solution here), and potentially watch it die faster.

Assuming XIV makes it to 2019, no, they'll just cut off the PS3.
XIV was made for PC first so it's development kit is windows based, it's support will be much easier then XI's is, and if the PS3 becomes a problem, just turn it off and focus on the PS4 and PC, which both use the same architecture. If by some miracle it makes it to end of life for the PS4, it will still be easy to end it and run on the PS5 (assuming it also uses x64 instruction sets).

[Elemmire]

Pretty sure SE has the money where they could spend the time/energy to get the game to work in a "single player" way. I'm not quite sure what they think would have to be removed if so. If they release the server code in a such a way to run your own private server (with perhaps ToS stating it can't be for profit or make money off it) and change the client so you can choose to connect to your private server, well, I don't see what would need be lost. But it's hard to say without reading the code myself. If it's programmed well, it should be doable though.

The only thing then would be having to balance group content to be doable with trusts + the character, but even then maybe not, could just have it so friends can connect to your server/world and help.

[bungiefanNA]

They have the money, but the idea is to spend that money in ways that returns more money for the investment. How would overhauling the game at such a cost give them more money?

[machini]

They have the money, but the idea is to spend that money in ways that returns more money for the investment. How would overhauling the game at such a cost give them more money?

I have several friends who like the gameplay of FFXI, but are too used to fancy graphics to stand to play it. A FFXI 2.0, with updated graphics and interface, PC only, could bring in new players.

[Meyi]

Honestly, I'd pay $100 for a Single Player version of FFXI. To have access to all the storylines, quests, battle content, and zones I've grown up loving would be worth it. Unfortunately, I believe they said somewhere that it would cost too much money and since they're getting rid of resources rather than replenishing them, I think this is very unlikely to happen. :( Unfortunately.

And while they are releasing the app version of the game, I don't have a phone fancy enough to run it.

Edit:


I have several friends who like the gameplay of FFXI, but are too used to fancy graphics to stand to play it. A FFXI 2.0, with updated graphics and interface, PC only, could bring in new players.

Hmm, well, they did revamp FFXIV... who's to say FFXI couldn't have a rehaul? And since they're discontinuing PS2 support, they'll have much more leeway for graphics and everything. Since FFXI has such a strong playerbase as is, a complex world with intricate lore already crafted, and has been one of their biggest profiting games, I think a revamp would be a brilliant idea. Really the only things stopping newer players from trying the game are the graphics and the UI.

I fear we won't see a 2.0. Just hopeful dreaming. But how cool would it be if they were stopping the development of FFXI... because they had something better planned?

[chiefhunglo]

Because some people put their heart's and soul's into their character.

[Laughlyn]

release this on PS4 , i'd buy & pay for monthly sub yo!

- a single player /standalone offline version of this would be cool too. :D

[madmartin]

I wouldnt want a single player version of ffxi, that would be really boring, ffxi has always been more fun with other players, even today. Plus i dont think it's possible as most of the code outside of assets is server side so converting that to single player would be pretty tough and offer little return for se.

The monthly sub is continuing as reducing it will not bring in enough players to gain more money for se, and the game isn't really set up for things like micro transactions and that will provbably lose them more players at this point when the focus is keeping the old player base.

In a perfect world when FFXI dies they will release the code or at least make some kind of toolkit to allow people to make there own servers but i don't see how se would make money off that so realistically it wont happen.

What is the most likely scenario is the mobile version will get released at some point, and SE will hope everyone will go play that and eventually release the mobile version on other platforms like the Switch, at that point the original ffxi shuts down and SE still has a numbered ff title still around. But that's a way off, FFXI in it's current form has at least another 5 years left i would say.

[Nyarlko]

I wouldnt want a single player version of ffxi, that would be really boring, ffxi has always been more fun with other players, even today. Plus i dont think it's possible as most of the code outside of assets is server side so converting that to single player would be pretty tough and offer little return for se.

The monthly sub is continuing as reducing it will not bring in enough players to gain more money for se, and the game isn't really set up for things like micro transactions and that will provbably lose them more players at this point when the focus is keeping the old player base.

In a perfect world when FFXI dies they will release the code or at least make some kind of toolkit to allow people to make there own servers but i don't see how se would make money off that so realistically it wont happen.

What is the most likely scenario is the mobile version will get released at some point, and SE will hope everyone will go play that and eventually release the mobile version on other platforms like the Switch, at that point the original ffxi shuts down and SE still has a numbered ff title still around. But that's a way off, FFXI in it's current form has at least another 5 years left i would say.

Last I heard, SE itself has no involvement with development of FFXI Mobile, which was supposed to be for Android/iOS, which wouldn't necessarily port well to something like the Switch. We'd be better off looking for a way to run the current client thru Android than waiting for that thing to get released given the absolute utter lack of info since it was announced and way past initial launch date. FFXIV:ARR is a numbered online title and is also doing better than XI financially, so that's not likely anything that matters either.

They'll keep FFXI servers up as long as it is not impossible to do so financially or technologically due to customer loyalty still carrying meaning for SE as a company.

[BurnNotice]

A single player mode is not realistic (unless you look at using Alter Egos to conquer story content, then I understand and totally fine). The game is built on multiplayer interaction and open environment. Besides, even mobile games are moving into the mmo realm, having folks meet their friends in arenas or fighting tough monsters in larger groups. If anything, I would like to see FFXI take a page from some of the most popular mobile games (including their own like FFBE, FFRK, Opera Omnia, ect) and hold some weekly events for people to solo AND work in groups to get some awesome gear/weapons/items and to get people to revisit some old content...not to mention to see some more collaborations with other games. This will definitely keep FFXI alive and popular for a long time. Just imagine how cool it would be to do Raids in abyssea or shadowreign areas.

[madmartin]

Last I heard, SE itself has no involvement with development of FFXI Mobile, which was supposed to be for Android/iOS, which wouldn't necessarily port well to something like the Switch. We'd be better off looking for a way to run the current client thru Android than waiting for that thing to get released given the absolute utter lack of info since it was announced and way past initial launch date. FFXIV:ARR is a numbered online title and is also doing better than XI financially, so that's not likely anything that matters either.

They'll keep FFXI servers up as long as it is not impossible to do so financially or technologically due to customer loyalty still carrying meaning for SE as a company.

They will have some involvement, it would be rediculouse not too as its se's property.

There was an update late last year from Naoki Yoshida in some interview, saying something along the lines of them refining the battle system and they will soon be ready for an official announcement.

It would likely be ported quite easily to the switch as it uses a Nvidia tegra arm chipset used in android devices.

As for the numbered ff thing, i meant I've read it's a big deal to SE not to lose a numbered Final fantasy game so they will not shut ffxi down without some kind of remake hence the mobile version.

Also yeah i agree customer loyalty also means a lot to SE which is a big reason FFXI is still going. At least they didn't do what ncsoft did with city of heroes!

[Justuas]

release this on PS4 , i'd buy & pay for monthly sub yo!

- a single player /standalone offline version of this would be cool too. :D

You know a potato pc can run this game? No need for consoles at all.