What's With the No Future Expansion or Addons?

[Gwynplaine]

I'm having a hard time being inspired looking at what's in store for FFXI up until 2012. The planned content looks all right, but not interesting enough to justify a full year of subscription. And so I expect I'll probably be dipping in and out; subscribing to check out new stuff for updates, and then unsubscribing during the in-between. 2011 feels to me like it's preparing to be another 2009 (read: dull and drawn-out).

I guess what I'm mostly wondering is why Square is so steadfastly resistant to giving players what they so obviously want, a regular expansion or series of add-ons in a new region of Vana'diel. The lore within the game itself fuels frustration by dropping teasing lines about how interesting foreign continents are. And then instead of following some kind of logical routine that logically extends after Aht Urghan we keep getting this bewildering content based upon other times and dimensions.

I mean, I guess I don't really know where I'm going with this. I think to most long-time players it feels like the most obvious thing, but nonetheless one that simply aint happening year after year. I could tell you that many players, such as myself, are virtually waving their dollars in the air asking to be spent on something like this. So why so resistant? Most people (or at least I) would probably speculate that:

-FFXI is too old and doesn't generate enough profit to justify a legit new expansion. (However if this were true wouldn't you want to give players what they're demanding to make more profit?)

-The team that works on FFXI is too small and not capable of creating an entire new expansion.

-Square is putting all their focus right now on saving their years of work put into FFXIV.

-PS2 limitations. Maybe there really is something to it we don't know about, but actually PS2 limitations are mostly imagined or overstated by players. I really don't want to go there yet again.

-Paying programmers to work on the clunky old PS2 spaghetti code is difficult and painful to subject a human being to and could potentially be raised as cruel and inhumane. (Just kidding... I hope)

This is what many players are thinking and wondering about. It feels a little like Square is just sick and tired of FFXI and just quietly pampering it as it declines. But we don't have any real info to go on except that every year brings renewed hopes, followed by disappointment. But if the team at Square would want to supply us with any, even vague, info then that'd be interesting for sure.

TL;DR Wtf y no espansion?

[Vold]

I always did have a very bad feeling that WotG was going to be the last of the expansions. The timing and what it is(essentially the perfect "ending" to expansions. A go back in time storyline where we see the crystal war firsthand etc etc etc. Such a storyline is typically saved for when you run out of ideas. It just spoke volumes to me that they were expecting it to be the end of their FFXI work by going that route over the other options, not to mention the fact that they spread it out over THREE YEARS ugh)was a little too perfect with FFXIV on the horizon. They probably figured FFXI would be dropped like a hot potato by us for it. Then it didn't happen and they're like... oh... crap... noooo.

I really will be amazed if we ever see another expansion again, and until I see it I'll remain confident that they are content with giving us bread crumb add ons and the like as a replacement for expansions while they try to save their other game from extinction. They could do the expansion thing and have it download only and all that jazz at some point. But now any expansions after WotG would just seem awkward to me.

It's all a damn shame, really. But you got to look at it from my point of view - I damn well know I won't be playing this game to my death(at least old age wise, 50 years down the road...) Whatever time I have here I know it's limited. All I can do is take it one day at a time and make the best of it, and hope there's something after it that's as worthy as FFXI to take up my time. I'm not going to get all depressed and leave because I know the future isn't bliss. I know better than to expect whatever I'm playing will last forever. If I want something to last forever I'll stop playing video games and start playing real life because THAT will last until I die without question. It's the ultimate challenge to boot. But I'm content with the standard dull and boring normal life for the time being...

[Fiarlia]

You know what really grinds my gears?

No new expansions. I'd gladly pay $50 bucks for a new expansion. >_>

Just don't take forever like with WotG.

[Arcon]

I believe there will be at least one last expansion. However, it may take a while. there's been lots of mini expansions lately, to hold us over, I believe SE still has one big release in the works. Something that will be hard and lots of effort, to keep people playing for as long as possible. I just don't expect it to be anytime soon, I never believed it would be released this year, maybe by summer next year or something, quite possibly later. Or they do it like WotG and release it in increments. We'll see what to do until then.

[Alhanelem]

There's not going to be another expansion disc anywhere. If they can do something about the space limitations, then there may be more add ons. With the current population, the add-on structure makes more sense as they don't have to produce discs or anything associated with that. All abyssea add-ons put together are more or less an expansion as a whole.

SE isn't "steadfastly resistant" to giving us stuff. They are simply more limited in what they are able to do at this point due to the age of the game, console limitations (mostly but not just PS2), etc.

[Runespider]

I believe there will be at least one last expansion. However, it may take a while. there's been lots of mini expansions lately, to hold us over, I believe SE still has one big release in the works.

If they were going to why would they not tell us? They don't even say they have any more "abyssea style addons" to give us in the future, if they do have such things coming they should put out a teaser now while a lot have returned and are slowly getting bored of Abyssea. I like the roadmap but they really do need to state if they have any plans for any kind of expansions/addons now before people lose intrest again.

Right now it looks like there will be no more expansions ever and no addons either, if there were there would be no reason not to say so. It's not hard to say "we do have plans to release more expansions/addons in the future" to keep intrest there.

[Karbuncle]

This thread needs to get at least 50+ Pages. I'm throwing my word in.

I really want a new Box Expansion that Visits another Continent, The Far East, the Northern Gigas homeland, the Western lands, or the Southern, I really don't care. Completely NEW and refreshing zones like Whitegate was.

Does anyone remember the super-long Boat ride? how exciting it was to be going to the new place? your first steps into Whitegate? I do, And it was worth the money.

Anyone remember looking at Teaser photos for ToAU? looking at Arrapago Reef? the glowing mist and the ghost-ships? yah, I do. And i want that feeling again, not "oh, Its this zone again... okay"

The thrill of an entirely new unexplored world... I want it back :(

I'd gladly, gladly pay full price for a box-expansion. Its obvious the vast Majority of your playerbase wants a new expansion. This game can live for several more years... please consider the please from us...

It doesn't even need to contain new jobs, We just want new worlds to explore, the ones we repeatedly hear about. (the Far west wouldn't really offer more jobs, SAM/NIN come from there, The North i could only Imagine Vikings, but thats WAR, and The West could lend to some new jobs, but i think the south is mostly RNG/THF/etc, the typical Mithran jobs shown in WoTG)

[Seha]

I'd love to see a new expansion as much as you, but we have to look at the truth. WotG was finished few months ago(sucks I know, but that's how it went), I doubt we can expect a new one before 2012(remember the time gap between ToAU and WotG? Gonna be the same). I'm impatient of seeing new stories as well, but I'm also dealing with accepting that it can't be soon.

[Karbuncle]

I'd love to see a new expansion as much as you, but we have to look at the truth. WotG was finished few months ago(sucks I know, but that's how it went), I doubt we can expect a new one before 2012(remember the time gap between ToAU and WotG? Gonna be the same). I'm impatient of seeing new stories as well, but I'm also dealing with accepting that it can't be soon.

I Don't expect one anytime soon either. I can realize that.

My Only fear is that they may think it wouldn't be worth the Effort, Maybe not enough people would buy it, etc. I just want to let them know they have heavy support and want for one :(

[Venrymel]

I guess what I'm mostly wondering is why Square is so steadfastly resistant to giving players what they so obviously want, a regular expansion or series of add-ons in a new region of Vana'diel. The lore within the game itself fuels frustration by dropping teasing lines about how interesting foreign continents are. And then instead of following some kind of logical routine that logically extends after Aht Urghan we keep getting this bewildering content based upon other times and dimensions.Apologies, I haven't read the rest, I just wanted to respond to this:

Beginning with ファイナルファンタジーＸ, we have not seen a map of the entire planet. As with many of the other entries, we do see some strange other dimension, however.

XI did what I think would be neat for sequels to XII and XIII to do, which is suddenly have reason to visit new areas after a particular story line has been resolved, while maintaining game mechanics (the way X-2 did not). I don't want to get into this point, despite having more to say about it, because it's beyond the reason for this post. lol

[Runespider]

Abyssea expansions must of sold amazingly well and for honestly little dev time, I can't believe they wouldn't release more tbh. Maybe they will but they don't want to put out too many to ruin it, whatever the case they should at least tell us what the future plans are for expansions/addons.

[Teraniku]

I'd like to see a new Expansion, but being realistic, I know they may think that it may not be worth the effort at the moment.

As for new areas for an Expansion, in order of preference:
-Mithra Homeland
-Far East

These are the only 2 I'd like to see. To be clear, I want a kick butt story to go with it as well. (CoP and WotG, are both Excellent, RotZ and ToAU, were ok)

-Storylines could revolve around the emptiness that appeared in the Far East (mentioned by Tenzen in CoP) and they've requested help investigating it from the Empire. As far as the Mithra Homeland is concerned, it could resolve around Perih Vashai sending you and Semih LeFinah to the Mithra Homeland to have her take a series of trials to determine if she could be the next Mithra Chieftaness of Windurst. (This could be an actual solo or with Fellow NPC mission set)

[Elexia]

You know what really grinds my gears?

No new expansions. I'd gladly pay $50 bucks for a new expansion. >_>

Just don't take forever like with WotG.

Pretty sure WoTG was spread over 3 years because of XIV's development, ToAU was shorter in terms of completion cycle since it was mostly end-game system additions anyway.

[sruon]

PS2 and 160k players.

[katiekat]

i think there will be a expansion but i honestly think there wating for vanafest or a NA player fest to tell us. All the expansions have been presented at vanafest if i remember right it would just seam right. its not on the time line to make it a shock when it is finely presented .

[Gwynplaine]

To me, the year-long timeline makes a pretty big statement about Square's attitude toward FFXI. And what it says is that it's not deserving of any significant new development. I don't want to sound insulting as I'm sure the current dev team puts a lot of hard work into all the things that will be coming out. But it's still short from what you'd expect from the usual.

Right now I feel as though my monthly subscription is going toward keeping FFXIV on life-support, while the game I actually support dwindles. And that's another reason why my subscription this year will probably be on-and-off.

[Runespider]

PS2 and 160k players.

PS2 is no excuse, they can make an expansion for the other platforms and leave ps2 as it is. People WILL upgrade if it's important enough to them (which it is even if they say otherwise). And 160k is way low, I hope you didn't get that number from FFXIAH cause that is no indication since Abyssea, the AH is nowhere near as important and used as it used to be.

Also I don't know if you know this but 200-300k players is a very respectable playerbase for an MMO(with no chinese etc playerbases), especially one that has fully paid for itself. Don't put wow as the bar here, thats a freak in the MMO world. No other MMO has ever or will ever come close to that again.


To me, the year-long timeline makes a pretty big statement about Square's attitude toward FFXI. And what it says is that it's not deserving of any significant new development. I don't want to sound insulting as I'm sure the current dev team puts a lot of hard work into all the things that will be coming out. But it's still short from what you'd expect from the usual.

This. I find it really annoying they are reading this and ingoring it, it's not hard to give a simply "yes we plan to produce more expansions/addons", throw us a bone already.


Right now I feel as though my monthly subscription is going toward keeping FFXIV on life-support, while the game I actually support dwindles. And that's another reason why my subscription this year will probably be on-and-off.

This riles me up too, feels like i'm feeding the lion that is going to one day kill me. I used to have 5 accounts and 40 gardening mules, since I got the impression I was paying to develop FFXIV I canceled 3 accounts and all the gardening mules. Only have my own and pay for my sisters account now, hell I even paid when I was away for months. I loved FFXI so much I wanted to support it to the full and have never let my subs drop once in 7 years. That's quickly changing.

[Tamoa]

I would also love to see an expansion in the future, with brand new zones and mobs, and storyline(s). To be honest I don't have much hope that there will be one, but you never know, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[Unaisis]

SE wont make one cuz people will just say SE is selling gear via Expansions~

[Sasukeuchiha]

A new expantion new zones story lines everthing would be awsome. NO more copy pasted areas like wotg or abyssea actual new zones.

[Alhanelem]

PS2 is no excuse, they can make an expansion for the other platforms and leave ps2 as it is. People who only played on the PS2 and may not have a PC (I know a few myself) would be more likely to quit than go out and buy a PC or an xbox if forced to upgrade.

[Runespider]

People who only played on the PS2 and may not have a PC (I know a few myself) would be more likely to quit than go out and buy a PC or an xbox if forced to upgrade

Really? I don't know anyone that plays that has no access to either a PC, xbox or ps3 even if they mainly use ps2. All the other 3 options are cheap now too..can even buy them 2nd hand on ebay, I highly doubt there are many people that are so poor they can't buy one of these cheap options for a better experience. If they are why are they paying for a monthly sub for an MMO.

Anyway I never said not to carry on supporting PS2, I said to give expansions for everyone else. No matter which way they went PS2 players won't get the expansions anyway so it's no loss to them at all either way.

The small number that would genuinly not upgrade, ever, under any circunstances after playing for years and the prospect of a massive boost to the game is so small it's insignificant.

[sruon]

PS2 is no excuse, they can make an expansion for the other platforms and leave ps2 as it is. People WILL upgrade if it's important enough to them (which it is even if they say otherwise). And 160k is way low, I hope you didn't get that number from FFXIAH cause that is no indication since Abyssea, the AH is nowhere near as important and used as it used to be.

Also I don't know if you know this but 200-300k players is a very respectable playerbase for an MMO(with no chinese etc playerbases), especially one that has fully paid for itself. Don't put wow as the bar here, thats a freak in the MMO world. No other MMO has ever or will ever come close to that again.



I never compared it to WoW. No one is going to green-lit an expansion when the PS2 isn't even really supported anymore by Sony. Right, they could drop the PS2... except a large majority of the JP playerbase supposedly plays on PS2, that'd be shooting themselves in the foot on the long run.

Also I doubt a large majority of the popular goes 90 days without buying anything on the Auction House (that's FFXIAH definition of an active character) and we're not even counting the mules included in the numbers, the real number is probably much lower than SE care to admit.

[Alhanelem]

Really? I don't know anyone that plays that has no access to either a PCThere are a lot. I personally know people who literally bought a PS2 and got internet access just for this game.

[Runespider]

Right, they could drop the PS2... except a large majority of the JP playerbase supposedly plays on PS2, that'd be shooting themselves in the foot on the long run.

Considering FFXIV at best will only really appeal to FFXI gamers if this is true they will have no audience to sell the game to on PS3.

Sometimes you have to make the hard decisions, lose a few thousand players or lose them all, no more expansions or a stagnant game when there are very strong competitors coming out is not a good thing.


Also I doubt a large majority of the popular goes 90 days without buying anything on the Auction House (that's FFXIAH definition of an active character) and we're not even counting the mules included in the numbers, the real number is probably much lower than SE care to admit.

I had 5 accounts and many jeuno mules, I only ever bought shihei on 1 mule and never anything else. Even that was so infrequent that even that single "active" char now and then had a red X on it. Lots also have alts for Abyssea soloing now and as I said unless you buy shihei there is very little reason to buy anything on the AH at all so yeah many players will appear inactive but still play since they just don't have a reason to use the AH.

[Karbuncle]

There are a lot. I personally know people who literally bought a PS2 and got internet access just for this game.

But you have to admit, That Situation is incredibly limited, probably less than 1% of the FFXI population Owns nothing but a PS2 to play it on. I wouldn't say "Theres a lot", Cause I have not met a single one outside of the people you've mentioned.

A lot of them probably bought it for the PS2 to begin with for whatever reason, and just don't wanna pay for the expansions on their PC (Even though its like, 5$ now). Who can blame em.

[Zaknafein]

Is this schedule of updates not the exact same or almost at least schedule they gave us at the beginning of Abyssea? People acting like "OMG! Oh noes!!! this is the end of updates 4EVARRRRRR" Seriously chill out. The have a decent amount of things for us to do coming up soon. What with dynamis revamp, and this new battle content we've yet to experience.

I know as a long time player. One who was in a balls to the wall End game linkshell for almost 2 years prior to Abyssea doing events 6 out of 7 days. I have a few things I still need from dynamis, and there's plenty of -1's I still need. Being able to low man some dynamis, tackle this new battle system coming, and finishing up a few things here, and there in Abyssea will satisfy even a hard core type such as myself. Not indefinitely sure, but with summer around the corner it should last till the cap goes up.

Best thing we can do to show SE we want a full sized expansion is too show your support on here. Let em know you are down to drop $40-50 on a full expansion. Idk what the costs involved are exactly, but most expansions in the past were 25ish iirc. If we're willing to go almost or double that, and take into account it can be downloaded now which saves costs. I would think there might be a shot at it if enough people voice their support!

[macbain]

I'd gladly, gladly pay full price for a box-expansion. Its obvious the vast Majority of your playerbase wants a new expansion. This game can live for several more years... please consider the please from us...

completely agree.

[Chronofantasy]

As some mentioned about Abyssea with 3 add-ons. I always considered Abyssea almost like a full expansion, although it was small. You pay $30 if you want the entire thing, and you got your storyline there with all the jazz, and several bosses that must be defeated. I know there is only 10 zones to explore (Empyreal Paradox being one of them) and they all look similar, but so did most zones in WotG anyways.

I believe SE will make a new full or parts of a huge expansion in the future where we can explore new lands and continents. Maybe they are in the works of one right now. Right now I think the lvl cap increase is a lot of work for them to make sure job abilities, skills, and spells are balanced and not over powered. It seems like they also want to tweak any other issues players had in the past since there's a pile of those fixes/changes players been demanding. I can see us having a great new expansion sometime after we reach lvl 99.

[Alhanelem]

I wouldn't say "Theres a lot", Cause I have not met a single one outside of the people you've mentioned. That's true to an extent, but I don't "know" a lot of people- so if I know multiple people who are in this situation, it stands to reason there are other people that do too. In japan, with the game being released for PS2 first, there are many more PS2 users there.

[Karbuncle]

That's true to an extent, but I don't "know" a lot of people- so if I know multiple people who are in this situation, it stands to reason there are other people that do too. In japan, with the game being released for PS2 first, there are many more PS2 users there.

I know a lot of JP play on the PS2, But thats not what i was addressing :X, I was addressing that You mentioned some people "Only owning a PS2" for FFXI, no computer, Xbox, nothing.

i said "There's probably not more than 1% of the FFXI population who only owns a PS2 to play FFXI".

I can't prove it but I'd stand by it. In this day and age theres very few households that don't own at least 1 Computer. I know some people obviously don't for financial reasons...

[Miiyo]

I'm all for exploration, but I think people want something engaging to do, over exploration. When WOTG did come out, I explored just enough to get all the campaign battle areas, and I was satisfied with what I saw along the way. All the while, I was a bit irritated and ready to get to the fighting. If people truly wanted content(story) and exploration, questing would be more requested.

The world of FFXI is already huge. Why not put more time into making those "engaging things to do" instead of wasting time building newer places that will lose it's "wow" factor within days. FFXIV is pretty as hell with all the new lands you can ask for, but it was rejected for a good reason.

/wave Krabnuckle I like Krabnuckle. That's a good person right there. When Krabnuckle speaks, you guys should pay attention.

[Karbuncle]

I'm all for exploration, but I think people want something engaging to do, over exploration. When WOTG did come out, I explored just enough to get all the campaign battle areas, and I was satisfied with what I saw along the way. All the while, I was a bit irritated and ready to get to the fighting. If people truly wanted content(story) and exploration, questing would be more requested.

The world of FFXI is already huge. Why not put more time into making those "engaging things to do" instead of wasting time building newer places that will lose it's "wow" factor within days. FFXIV is pretty as hell with all the new lands you can ask for, but it was rejected for a good reason.

/wave Krabnuckle I like Krabnuckle. That's a good person right there. When Krabnuckle speaks, you guys should pay attention.

Exactly!

Also, One thing, The reason you probably didn't bother exploring WoTG Areas is probably because they were all (but 3) Just rehased zoned you've been in a thousand times :P

If you're like me, The second i got to Whitegate, It felt like a whole new game. The music, the scenery, I kinda want that feeling again :)

And content. Definitely Content.

[Zumi]

PS2 a problem for releasing a new box expansion you got to remember the PS2 HDD partition is almost full in fact if you remember awhile back the PS2 versions stopped working due to too many temp files making people reinstall so now SE has to be really careful to avoid that.

2nd Sony doesn't even support new PS2 games being released in US and in Europe. So given all that its just a big logistical nightmare to release a new boxed expansion.

Now they could release a the new expansion as an download, or a new addon but then we have that PS2 HDD being at almost capacity again. I doubt SE wants to leave out that 1/3 of the player base in Japan and like 5% in the US that still uses a PS2. They would have an issue with some users having this new content PC and Xbox360 players while PS2 players can't have it due to the hard drive being very full.

[Drivont]

This thread needs to get at least 50+ Pages. I'm throwing my word in.

I really want a new Box Expansion that Visits another Continent, The Far East, the Northern Gigas homeland, the Western lands, or the Southern, I really don't care. Completely NEW and refreshing zones like Whitegate was.

Does anyone remember the super-long Boat ride? how exciting it was to be going to the new place? your first steps into Whitegate? I do, And it was worth the money.

Anyone remember looking at Teaser photos for ToAU? looking at Arrapago Reef? the glowing mist and the ghost-ships? yah, I do. And i want that feeling again, not "oh, Its this zone again... okay"

The thrill of an entirely new unexplored world... I want it back :(

I'd gladly, gladly pay full price for a box-expansion. Its obvious the vast Majority of your playerbase wants a new expansion. This game can live for several more years... please consider the please from us...


It doesn't even need to contain new jobs, We just want new worlds to explore, the ones we repeatedly hear about. (the Far west wouldn't really offer more jobs, SAM/NIN come from there, The North i could only Imagine Vikings, but thats WAR, and The West could lend to some new jobs, but i think the south is mostly RNG/THF/etc, the typical Mithran jobs shown in WoTG)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 aaaaand 10!

[Miiyo]

I'd gladly, gladly pay full price for a box-expansion.
Set and point. Who wouldn't? I guess a really big thing preventing this is the unknown, would it be worthwhile to do so? I say put up a poll (ooooo. that's a good suggestion for a website feature) on POL for all to do, and see who would pay and how much they would pay. Let the numbers do the deciding.

[Karbuncle]

Set and point. Who wouldn't? I guess a really big thing preventing this is the unknown, would it be worthwhile to do so? I say put up a poll (ooooo. that's a good suggestion for a website feature) on POL for all to do, and see who would pay and how much they would pay. Let the numbers do the deciding.

Needs to be done!

[Linny]

maybe they want to wait the 10th anniversary to release new add-on box, and the major updates will be the preview for this new areas.

[Karbuncle]

You know thats a brilliant plan. They should release a Brand New Box expansion to commemorate the 10th Anniversary.

Also, I said 50+ Pages, And we're on page 4. GET WORKING D:

[Drivont]

Make it happen, Krabknuckle!
:P

[Pofo]

As of recently, Sega had the balls to tell PS2/PC players of Phantasy Star Universe that they were no longer supporting those servers and shutting them down (Xbox servers will continue). SE needs to grow the same balls and just let go of the PS2, I'm sure one way or another all these PS2 players can come up with $200 to get a PC that will run the game just fine. If they drop PS2 support, they will lose some players, but I believe a majority of them will merely upgrade to a better console. As mentioned earlier, if they drop the PS2, they will lose some people, if they don't, they'll eventually lose everyone. I'm sure a majority of the player base feels the same every time we see a reskinned zone or recycled piece of equipment we want to kill a kitten. When i saw the most recent screenshots of Voidwatch, and I saw a Genie weskit reskinned with some feathers, a single tear fell from my eye.

P.s. 45 more pages to go.

[Zumi]

As of recently, Sega had the balls to tell PS2/PC players of Phantasy Star Universe that they were no longer supporting those servers and shutting them down (Xbox servers will continue). SE needs to grow the same balls and just let go of the PS2, I'm sure one way or another all these PS2 players can come up with $200 to get a PC that will run the game just fine. If they drop PS2 support, they will lose some players, but I believe a majority of them will merely upgrade to a better console. As mentioned earlier, if they drop the PS2, they will lose some people, if they don't, they'll eventually lose everyone. I'm sure a majority of the player base feels the same every time we see a reskinned zone or recycled piece of equipment we want to kill a kitten. When i saw the most recent screenshots of Voidwatch, and I saw a Genie weskit reskinned with some feathers, a single tear fell from my eye.

P.s. 45 more pages to go.

Your comparing Sega who wanted to shut down their game because they weren't making money off of it to square enix and FFXI. Microsoft provides their own servers for games. Its not really the same thing at all.

[Joslyn]

After reading everything being said there is one thing I haven't seen anyone ask or even think might be possible, When the HDD came out for ps2 Square and Sony contracted that as long as the game is still in service that they will not drop support, It might be a possibility that Squaresoft( yes to me it'll always be squaresoft) might have to support the system till they decide to shutdown the servers forever, Its just a thought that keeps crossing my mind. Oh and for Square to say it would be to hard to code the game for ps3, they need to call Ubisoft, Capcom, hell even there crew at Crystal Dynamics on how to code the game, Its not that they can't they just wont.

[Pofo]

Your comparing Sega who wanted to shut down their game because they weren't making money off of it to square enix and FFXI. Microsoft provides their own servers for games. Its not really the same thing at all.

Microsoft does not provide the 360 servers for PSU, and granted while PSU was a dying game, that's not what I'm pointing out here. I'm merely stating the fact that under certain circumstances, companies have to make hard choices like this. You can't please everyone, the fact remains that if this game stays on it's current track it's not going to last much longer without another expansion.

[Joslyn]

Microsoft does not provide the 360 servers for PSU, and granted while PSU was a dying game, that's not what I'm pointing out here. I'm merely stating the fact that under certain circumstances, companies have to make hard choices like this. You can't please everyone, the fact remains that if this game stays on it's current track it's not going to last much longer without another expansion.

or they could make a new exp and it would kill it, look at WoW, since cataclysm alot of the long time players left cause the game was no longer the way they remember it with the long grinding, raid parties they enjoyed, now they make the game for the more casual player and thats sending the longtime ones away.

[Seriha]

As long as the game is getting new content, it's technically being expanded. Demanding discs or boxes does not make this data any better or worse, it's merely a delivery medium. When you consider production, transportation, and all that jazz in today's economy, future updates remaining digital seems far more sensible and likely.

Meanwhile, all we've seen of the year plan is things that have pretty much been confirmed. The last thing SE wants to do is promise something, only to have to postpone it for whatever reason. Now and then you'll still see people grumbling about the Arena in Whitegate, for example, or how the new avatars panned out when were teased that they would play differently.

Personally, I have never been fond of how CoP, ToAU, and WotG progressed as partially finished products slowly bled out to us over time. It's still very much possible to portray a plot without an overarching banner, while at the same time still interconnecting various tidbits of the game world. Though, as I stated in the recent topic regarding Magian Trials and "holding back" on them, story is and should be secondary to actual content we interact with and control, and that will always be the case until decisions in telling tales affect outcomes in the long term. Sadly, that storytelling style is very risky, especially if leads to player segregation or imbalance in end rewards where a "wrong" choice is unknowingly made.

[Karbuncle]

As long as the game is getting new content, it's technically being expanded. Demanding discs or boxes does not make this data any better or worse, it's merely a delivery medium. When you consider production, transportation, and all that jazz in today's economy, future updates remaining digital seems far more sensible and likely.

Meanwhile, all we've seen of the year plan is things that have pretty much been confirmed. The last thing SE wants to do is promise something, only to have to postpone it for whatever reason. Now and then you'll still see people grumbling about the Arena in Whitegate, for example, or how the new avatars panned out when were teased that they would play differently.

Personally, I have never been fond of how CoP, ToAU, and WotG progressed as partially finished products slowly bled out to us over time. It's still very much possible to portray a plot without an overarching banner, while at the same time still interconnecting various tidbits of the game world. Though, as I stated in the recent topic regarding Magian Trials and "holding back" on them, story is and should be secondary to actual content we interact with and control, and that will always be the case until decisions in telling tales affect outcomes in the long term. Sadly, that storytelling style is very risky, especially if leads to player segregation or imbalance in end rewards where a "wrong" choice is unknowingly made.

Only touching on one aspect. One misconception, We're not "Demanding" anything, Demanding sounds like a forceful word. We're all expressing our interest in the idea of a completely new world to explore.

People are asking for a new Box expansion cause a Box-Expansion is the most likely source of us getting Brand-New Zones/etc To explore. Abyssea gave us new zones, But they were just rehashes of current zone.

Most people want Brand-new Areas to explore, Like the Southern Continent, Western, Far East, etc. We are far less likely (if its even possible?) to see those types of things without a CD.

If they offered us a Add-on Expansion that gave us access to the Mithra Homeworld, or the Far Eastern Continent, I'd Fking download it in a heartbeat.

Its just as it stands in FFXI, When people think of New Jobs, Brand-New Zones, a new experience, they think "Box Expansion", because so far Add-on Scenarios have been nothing but either Small Quests in existing zones, Or rehashes zones with a twist.

We all just want the possibility that some day, SOME DAY, we will be able to explore the Far east, Or Explore the Mithra Homeland. To take that long boat ride to a new world (like with ToAU) and feel the thrill of exploring completely unknown territory.

We of course will all be happy with new content, However we're trying to express our combined interest in seeing more of our Precious Vana'Diel. and that we are willing to pay Box-price (~30/50$) to get it, instead of the ~10 our Mini-add-ons have costed.

It doesn't necessarily need new jobs, It was just something suggested, Since im 99% sure Every Box expansion has offered new jobs (Except CoP...)

Edit: Fixed some spelling errors, I swear to god my Keyboard screws with me :|

[Gwynplaine]

As long as the game is getting new content, it's technically being expanded. Demanding discs or boxes does not make this data any better or worse, it's merely a delivery medium. When you consider production, transportation, and all that jazz in today's economy, future updates remaining digital seems far more sensible and likely.


It's not that. I'm all for quality and fun over quantity. It's that every new development cycle is like a massive tease with Lucy setting up the phantom football for us to kick. "Someeeee dayyyyy there will be all this cool unknown stuff to see in foreign lands!" the game keeps telling us. And then doesn't put out. So like either they need to just stop referencing stuff like that or do it. Cockteasing is lame.

And I swear to god all this new gross Voidwatch gear looks like it will probably reference those same things. I can see it now: "tailored in the far west with the frumpiest of bland white fabric is the Foofoo gown". Yeah whatever. Cold comfort is what that is Square. Cold comfort.

[Seriha]

I'm just wondering what you actually expect, though? Environmentally, the game encompasses a wide variety of habitats ranging from plains, to swamps, to jungles, to deserts, to floating islands linked by little portals. I can understand being angry over reskins akin to [S] zones and Abyssea, but a zone is only as useful as players find it, and very rarely that long-term application actually involves a story. Instead, people flock to easy EXP, good loot, and I guess an okay place to grind out trials.

But let's say they did churn out the Mithran homeland. Okay, we see a few more male mithra, maybe learn a bit more about the culture, and then get exposed to some kind of threat or political situation via associated quests/missions. We'll have that new car smell for a bit, romping around and figuring out various this and thats while avoiding the next equivalent to soulflayers that'll be in the most inconvenient places possible. After? It's back to the treadmill, and this is where I reiterate the "where" of what players do doesn't matter as much as what they're getting from it. Meanwhile, I see plenty of currently existing zones often considered useless and vacant, a problem one might say SE recognizes with the pending adjustments to some older content, mob redistribution, and so on. I would expect quests to follow, as they often do with each update.

[Gwynplaine]

I don't advocate egalitarianism. I don't care if some zones/gear/content is better and less useless than others. Mucking out to freaking Dangruf Wadi because some whiney snot thinks its unfair that some zones are less used is just lame. I want something new to see and new places to do it in, that's the point. I don't know about you but I done played out that there FFXI game. Voidwatch could be fun and interesting, but so far it looks like the thrown bone among a bunch of remaking.

[Seyomeyo]

I'd have no issues buying a full price expnsion at least twice (once for a friend who sometimes can't afford things right away)

[Elexia]

I don't advocate egalitarianism. I don't care if some zones/gear/content is better and less useless than others. Mucking out to freaking Dangruf Wadi because some whiney snot thinks its unfair that some zones are less used is just lame. I want something new to see and new places to do it in, that's the point. I don't know about you but I done played out that there FFXI game. Voidwatch could be fun and interesting, but so far it looks like the thrown bone among a bunch of remaking.

You know, browsing plenty of forms I see people complain about c/p and remaking...almost every MMORPG does this lol, the main culprit is enemies..so you get a ton of new zones...with the same basic enemy group with a different feature, e.g birds with spikes instead of the same birds with a vibrant plume.

All in all, it's how it is and quite honestly, most of XI is barren now since Abyssea, and I can guarantee there will be more "whiny snot" complaining if SE completely removed said unused zones (out of the way zones obviously) than forcing us to you know, warp to a city and take a 2 minute trip to a zone you haven't been to in years.

[Seriha]

If you can tell me the difference between fighting a crawler in Sarutabaruta, Tahrongi, Buburimu, Shakhrami, Crawler's Nest, and so on beyond level/stats and TP move variance with some sub-families, I'll stop being a "whiny snot" about where a fight takes place actually mattering. I'd rather not sit here and waste potentially limited development resources on yet more busts when (long-time) needed fixes could be made to current areas. Sadly, the FFXI scale tends to hinge on whether or not something is the best or not. If a new zone or set of them is not good for EXP, gear, or gil, people will not want much to do with it after the newness passes. This was true before Abyssea, and it will remain so after.

[Runespider]

No matter how you want to cut it the main reason for a big expansion or triple addon set is to add a big amount of excitment, we pay a monthly fee for the game to be constantly updated but expansions are something extra and big to get excited about. Thats why they try to release them around the same time as other big releases (ie. abyssea came out around the time of cataclysm).

FFXI is still a good MMO and honestly still in very good shape playernumber wise, I'm sure all the expansions/addons (asside from the first 3 crappy addons) sold well so it makes no sense not to at least tell the players they do plan to add more extra buyable content to keep the game fresh. Abyssea for instance was so awesome literally everyone had to buy it, thats at least 150-200k sales for the 3.

Either expand beyond the PS2 or start removing some zones if thats the problem, not like 3 different promivion zones is needed for instance.

[Flunklesnarkin]

All games have to come to an end eventually ^^

I do hope they can come up with some new ideas and storylines to keep ffxi interesting though...

It will be interesting to see if they can steer the game away from abyssea... I think it's still possible...

Don't get me wrong abyssea is fun.. it just doesn't have the appeal to keep people playing the game.

[Runespider]

All games have to come to an end eventually ^^

Although true this only applies to games that run out of steam and lose their playerbase. FFXI has well over 200k players, any game with that number of players won't be shutting down anytime soon if the company behind it has any sense at all. It's an amazing cash cow, idk if you follow playernumbers on other MMO's but 200k is a huge number of players (even moreso considering they have been loyal for so long) for a game that's already paid for its dev costs (especially one that has no korean/chinese etc release). Don't ever count WoW when figuring playernumbers that game is a total freak and will probably never ever happen again, not even Blizzard know how they managed to get so many "normal" people to play it.

Age of conan tries to brag about having 100k players and nobody believes it, Star wars old republic is hoping for at around 500k players at the start to pay dev costs, once they do that you can bet they will be happy with a 200k playernumbers and that is a brand new MMO. 200k players all paying the full monthly fee and willing to pay out for new expansions is not something to scoff at.

I question Square's business sense on many things but allowing FFXI to fade due to no further expansions with such big playernumbers not only shows how stupid they could be but also would paint anything else they ever release in a horrible light, it would show no matter how popular their games got they would have no real value in them.

[Atomic_Skull]

Oh and for Square to say it would be to hard to code the game for ps3, they need to call Ubisoft, Capcom, hell even there crew at Crystal Dynamics on how to code the game, Its not that they can't they just wont.

Sony has a strict policy that PS2 games ported to the PS3 must have upgraded graphics. This is probably the real reason SE didn't want to port FFXI to the PS3. But they didn't want to say "we don't want to upgrade FFXI's graphics for the PS3" so instead they said "it would be too hard"

[Atomic_Skull]

All games have to come to an end eventually ^^


Tell that to CCP. EVE Online has increased it's subscribers over the years where most MMOs gradually loose subscribers.

Of course CCP is also committed to upgrading their game's technology periodically to keep it from stagnating.

[Flunklesnarkin]

My mistake.. ffxi will last forever @.@

although i do hope they decide to upgrade the graphics at some point in the next 20 or so years >_>

[Seha]

Just to tease everyone here, there's a thing called "The last stand" planned for the lv 99 cap which might very well be a new expansion! Just sayin' :p

[Karbuncle]

If you can tell me the difference between fighting a crawler in Sarutabaruta, Tahrongi, Buburimu, Shakhrami, Crawler's Nest, and so on beyond level/stats and TP move variance with some sub-families, I'll stop being a "whiny snot" about where a fight takes place actually mattering. I'd rather not sit here and waste potentially limited development resources on yet more busts when (long-time) needed fixes could be made to current areas. Sadly, the FFXI scale tends to hinge on whether or not something is the best or not. If a new zone or set of them is not good for EXP, gear, or gil, people will not want much to do with it after the newness passes. This was true before Abyssea, and it will remain so after.


Each expansion to date (boxed anyway) has brought about new content, and old fixes! Any Expansion will bring its share of new Enemies to take down, New areas to Explore, New monster Families to Defeat, New Armors to Obtain, and new Endgame Activities. Let me name a few!

RoTZ: New jobs, Added Multiple Brand-new Zones, Sky, Gods, Hecatomb/Shura/koenig, Sky gear (Kirin's Osode Set). Antica, Gigas. Absolutely BEAUTIFUL areas like Zi'tah. Expansive zones still in our memories today.

CoP: Added Multiple Brand-new Zones, Sea, Torques, Luminians, Absolute Virtue, Corses, Antlions, Sea-Capes. Added (AV) one of the most infamous monsters to date.

ToAU: New jobs, Added another Continent, Mamool Ja, Wamoura/Campa, Trolls, Lamia, Qutrub, Imps(Merit mobs!), Colibri, Salvage, Einherjar, Revolutionized Exp parties. the ZNM System with another Infamous Monster (PW).

WoTG: New jobs, Added 3 New Zones, Reused most, Slugs, Campaign, Ixion/SandwormBattlefields, Ruszor, Amphiter's(w/e!), Campaign-Armor, Sandworm-BF-Armor, Walk of Echoes. It was lesser of the expansion, But still managed to add a lot of content.

Every expansion too date has completely changed certain Aspects of the game rather it be Exp, How we play(New jobs), or certain NMs, and all while these were released, Old Problems were still fixed. This game has still come a VERY long way. There might be some old problems (I can't name any?), but as history has shown us, They can release expansions and Fix bugs, Problems, and still release meaningful and Enjoyable Content.

As Gwyn Said, We've all been Teased with talk about all these Wonderful worlds, "The Far East", the "Mithran Homeworld", etc, "The Western World". We're continually teased about these places. Players want to explore more. The above areas could very well have contained the Voidwatch System, instead of re-using places like Ranguemount Pass, Dangruf Wadi, and i can assume Horutoto Ruins.

We all want new exciting Content, but we want new exciting places to explore that content. Even if that thrill only lasts a short period, it would be worth it. I still haven't explored some places of ToAU.

We all also want fixes to old content as well, But again, As history has proven to us, They can release Grand expansions with new zones and still give us meaningful content and much needed fixes. Even the "old dev team" who usually fell on "PS2 Limitation" or "I can't do let you do that Starfox" managed to Release New expansions, and fix a lot of problems.

I'm sorry If i come off as greedy when i say, I want new Challenges yes, But i also want new places to Explore and experience these challenges. History has shown us it can be done, and that regardless of rather an expansion is coming out or not, Old problems will be fixed, and some will be overlooked. It happens.

I feel if we truly let the dev team know we will all fully support a new expansion, new zones, New areas, new mobs, new challenges... that maybe, just maybe, Some day down the line We'll be standing next to Tenzen in the Far East.

Or meeting with a Mithran Tribe leader.

Edit: Made it nicer :D
Edit2: Clearereded my points. I Hope you understand what I'm trying to convey.
Edit3: Fixed Spelling Errors, I'm 99% positive my Keyboard is Fking with me <________<

[Rambus]

I'm having a hard time being inspired looking at what's in store for FFXI up until 2012. The planned content looks all right, but not interesting enough to justify a full year of subscription. And so I expect I'll probably be dipping in and out; subscribing to check out new stuff for updates, and then unsubscribing during the in-between. 2011 feels to me like it's preparing to be another 2009 (read: dull and drawn-out).

I guess what I'm mostly wondering is why Square is so steadfastly resistant to giving players what they so obviously want, a regular expansion or series of add-ons in a new region of Vana'diel. The lore within the game itself fuels frustration by dropping teasing lines about how interesting foreign continents are. And then instead of following some kind of logical routine that logically extends after Aht Urghan we keep getting this bewildering content based upon other times and dimensions.

I mean, I guess I don't really know where I'm going with this. I think to most long-time players it feels like the most obvious thing, but nonetheless one that simply aint happening year after year. I could tell you that many players, such as myself, are virtually waving their dollars in the air asking to be spent on something like this. So why so resistant? Most people (or at least I) would probably speculate that:

-FFXI is too old and doesn't generate enough profit to justify a legit new expansion. (However if this were true wouldn't you want to give players what they're demanding to make more profit?)

-The team that works on FFXI is too small and not capable of creating an entire new expansion.

-Square is putting all their focus right now on saving their years of work put into FFXIV.

-PS2 limitations. Maybe there really is something to it we don't know about, but actually PS2 limitations are mostly imagined or overstated by players. I really don't want to go there yet again.

-Paying programmers to work on the clunky old PS2 spaghetti code is difficult and painful to subject a human being to and could potentially be raised as cruel and inhumane. (Just kidding... I hope)

This is what many players are thinking and wondering about. It feels a little like Square is just sick and tired of FFXI and just quietly pampering it as it declines. But we don't have any real info to go on except that every year brings renewed hopes, followed by disappointment. But if the team at Square would want to supply us with any, even vague, info then that'd be interesting for sure.

TL;DR Wtf y no espansion?

PS2 limitations, no one said this yet?



We all also want fixes to old content as well, But again, As history has proven to us, They can release Grand expansions with new zones and still give us meaningful content and much needed fixes. Even the "old dev team" who usually fell on "PS2 Limitation" or "I can't do let you do that Starfox" managed to Release New expansions, and fix a lot of problems.

I can not let you do that starfox?, I dont remeber that line lol

[Karbuncle]

PS2 limitations, no one said this yet?



I can not let you do that starfox?, I dont remeber that line lol

Lol. It was a joke on the fact that during interviews back in the day, we often got responses like "No, We can't do that" and "We can't tell you that", or "Impossible" rather than positive things about what they can do.

Where as now it feels completely different.

[Rambus]

Lol. It was a joke on the fact that during interviews back in the day, we often got responses like "No, We can't do that" and "We can't tell you that", or "Impossible" rather than positive things about what they can do.

Where as now it feels completely different.

Yeah i remember those just not sure where the reference is from, i mean i played the game, I just don't remember that

[Karbuncle]

Yeah i remember those just not sure where the reference is from, i mean i played the game, I just don't remember that

Pretty sure its more of an Internet Meme, not from the actually game. If anything it'd be from S.F64 of the "Adventures" one. I haven't completed Adventures.

[Runespider]

I hope this thread doesn't get ignored, this is a really big issue for a lot of players. I fully intend to play FFXI long term and with a statment that they will build on the world (expansions/addons) to cement my faith in it I and I'm sure many others will gladly stick with it as we all did with all the other MMO's that have come out over the years.

Not like they would make no profit from them either, makes no sense. FFXI has over 200k players, if only half of those bought a new expansion thats a nice amount of money..they could even sell it through playonline as they did with the keyfobs.

[Eeek]

Don't ya'll worry your pretty little heads off. I guarantee that there will be more downloadable addons and/or small expansions in the future (I see Abyssea as a small expansion in 3 parts).

I would not hold out hope for a boxed expansion, though. Digital distribution seemed to work just fine for the 2009 Addons-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named and the Abyssea addons. The production and distribution costs for a boxed expansion seem unnecessary for a legacy MMO, and let's not even start on the problem of getting the PS2 copies into stores (or even knowing how many PS2 copies to make in the first place!).

[Karbuncle]

Don't ya'll worry your pretty little heads off. I guarantee that there will be more downloadable addons and/or small expansions in the future (I see Abyssea as a small expansion in 3 parts).

I would not hold out hope for a boxed expansion, though. Digital distribution seemed to work just fine for the 2009 Addons-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named and the Abyssea addons. The production and distribution costs for a boxed expansion seem unnecessary for a legacy MMO, and let's not even start on the problem of getting the PS2 copies into stores (or even knowing how many PS2 copies to make in the first place!).

I mentioned this earlier, and i'll remention it for fun

I only use the expression "box Expansion" because when people think of the past BOx expansions, they think, New areas, New jobs, basically Epic Additions and Improvements.

When they think "Add-ons" they think. Rehashed areas, Rehashed Mobs, no new jobs, No new areas, etc etc.

If they offered a Digital Download with the amount of Content offered in ToAU, WoTG, ETC. I'd be okay with that. It doesn't need to be in a box, We only want the content that comes with a Box-Expansion.

thats what we're asking for :)

[Eeek]

I think it'll happen, too. The last Timeline had a definitive content endpoint in Heroes of Abyssea. I can't be the only one who did not see a 'definitive' endpoint in the most recent timeline. This current one feels like a short outline of an intermission. I don't believe that SE will usher in the (likely) final level cap increase with a whimper. They'll probably do it with a bang: something like a new expansion. It'll probably be split into several pieces as in the Abyssea 'expansion' model, though.

[Elexia]

Pretty sure they'll give us Conquest Point Brews for 20 points.

[Karbuncle]

I think it'll happen, too. The last Timeline had a definitive content endpoint in Heroes of Abyssea. I can't be the only one who did not see a 'definitive' endpoint in the most recent timeline. This current one feels like a short outline of an intermission. I don't believe that SE will usher in the (likely) final level cap increase with a whimper. They'll probably do it with a bang: something like a new expansion. It'll probably be split into several pieces as in the Abyssea 'expansion' model, though.

I wouldn't mind if it was split like the Abyssea Expansion. as long as it was large enough upon completion. If you look at RoTZ/ToAU/CoP they added large amounts of areas. WoTG... Just rehashed em, had 3 new zones though.

If we got another ~3 Add-ons that each unlocked Parts of the Far-East (i'd prefer Mithran Homeland myself though), Then I'd buy it, As long as it had multiple zones to explore, and a new "City".

There is so much potential behind Vana'diel, So many unexplored worlds, etc. We only hope they dig into those unexplored areas.

Truthfully, I think a big wet-dream for a lot of people is also Visiting Tavnazia, Give us an Add-On that takes us to Old-Tavnazia and i would Sh*t a Brick. Thats the biggest GD cocktease in the ENTIRE game. Its this Huge part of the Opening Movie, hell, it IS the opening movie, Then we get cockteased with visiting Tavnazia in CoP, only to get this scrawny ass Stronghold, and then a further cocktease is being able to actually SEE Tavnazia in Lu'faise Meadows.

I think they said one of the Aquaducts Connects to Tavnazia, Its how a lot of people Escaped. You could make a Zone in the Aquaducts that leads to the Plains right out-side Tavnazia. This area could have just more Gigas/Orcs/etc for the "feel" of it.

Inside Tavnazia could just be a huge Zone, the Ruins of Tavnazia, HNMs there writes itself, the Orc Commander who led the assault on Tavnazia(this could even have STORYLINE to it), the Gigas General Beastmaster who Tamed the Behemoth's (a BST Gigas who has a Behemoth Pet), etc. These things WRITE themselves. An Orcish Warmachine the size of Campaign ones.

Each one could be an Add-on Like Abyssea. give us access to Tavnazia's base/Outside fields in the First one, The Second Expansion could give us Access to the Upper Levels (the huge building up top the mountain could easily house the Orc Commander HNM), etc. A third one could be "Closure" for it all.

So Lookie there, They don't even have to give us a New Continent, give us Tavnazia, and i bet 99% of us will be happy. lol


Edit:


Pretty sure they'll give us Conquest Point Brews for 20 points.

... Wat? I hope thats a MT you meant to put in that "give us CP brews" and not just negative Sarcasm.

[Seriha]

Karb, I understand where you're coming from, but I'll just say that a lot of that isn't exclusive to an expansion. New enemies could be added to existing areas with quests explaining their sudden appearance. Current areas could also be altered literally to reflect some kind of influence. I know it might worsen the tease, but NPCs could also go on to further explain areas people clamor for just to help placate some.

Overall, I'm not against a new expansion or more add-ons. I'm just against it being a ho-hum, incomplete release like we saw with the earlier big three and needing a year or more to 'finish' when we already dropped our $50 on top of monthly fees. Most everything the concept of an expansion offers can be done individually. I just get the feeling it's somewhat under-appreciated without SE slapping a pretty bow on it with a sub-name like WotG, ToAU, etc..

[Karbuncle]

Karb, I understand where you're coming from, but I'll just say that a lot of that isn't exclusive to an expansion. New enemies could be added to existing areas with quests explaining their sudden appearance. Current areas could also be altered literally to reflect some kind of influence. I know it might worsen the tease, but NPCs could also go on to further explain areas people clamor for just to help placate some.

Overall, I'm not against a new expansion or more add-ons. I'm just against it being a ho-hum, incomplete release like we saw with the earlier big three and needing a year or more to 'finish' when we already dropped our $50 on top of monthly fees. Most everything the concept of an expansion offers can be done individually. I just get the feeling it's somewhat under-appreciated without SE slapping a pretty bow on it with a sub-name like WotG, ToAU, etc..


Maybe i should Reword my thoughts to be more clear. :x

I want to explore the Mithran Homeland, And i want to Explore the Far east. The "New monsters/jobs" Just were an Addendum to the fact these new zones should have new wonders.

It really just is not the same feeling see a new monster if its rotting in North Gustaberg or Rangemount pass, as opposed to how it was seeing Imps/Colibri in Caedarva Mire, a new zone, and a new mob. I mean its like seeing Ruszor in Beauc(S), Sure its neat, but its still less exciting. Same can be said for Gargouilles, they're nice to the scenery but its just not the same when its in the same spot you've been too 1000 times.

I'm sorry if I'm being confusing, But the gist of my, and i think the majority of the peoples feelings in this thread are...

We want to go to and Explore all those Wonderful places we keep getting repeatedly teased about in Cutscenes, Opening Movies, Quests, and Armor/Furnishing Descriptions.


Edit: Oh and trust me, None of us want a half-arsed Released Expansion. But I would gladly take a Incomplete Expansion that gives us Access to Tavnazia, or Mithran Homeworld, as opposed to a Complete "Add-on" that just rehashes the same watered-down over-played zones :\. << this Opinion, However, Might not reflect the Opinions of others in this thread, thats just my own.

[Zumi]

SE is not going to be able to have a larger then 10gb Partition for FFXI on PS2 unless they get some kind of fix from Sony, that rewrites the way PS2's HDD filesystem works. Since 10 gb is the max size that the PS2 will read. It's not like they can go in and just make the partition bigger like they could on PC.

So SE is going to run out of room eventually on PS2, limiting content by a lot. If they do hit a brick wall in terms of space either that have to work with Sony on a work around. Stop new content updates on the PS2 or may be time for the game to end.

[Glamdring]

If they were going to why would they not tell us? They don't even say they have any more "abyssea style addons" to give us in the future, if they do have such things coming they should put out a teaser now while a lot have returned and are slowly getting bored of Abyssea. I like the roadmap but they really do need to state if they have any plans for any kind of expansions/addons now before people lose intrest again.

Right now it looks like there will be no more expansions ever and no addons either, if there were there would be no reason not to say so. It's not hard to say "we do have plans to release more expansions/addons in the future" to keep intrest there.

Noone has said this is it, this is all you get. It's entirely possible that they are still brainstorming, or doing feasability study or the like. Maybe they actually started the forum in hopes of inspiration of a new add-on? In that vein, allow me to propose 90-99, a trip back in time to... the Kuluu/Zilart conflict! See: tonberry's before they all turned into Mr. Yuck! Watch Kamlanaut get his 1st face tattoo! Bahamut without such a bad disposition!

[Glamdring]

SE is not going to be able to have a larger then 10gb Partition for FFXI on PS2 unless they get some kind of fix from Sony, that rewrites the way PS2's HDD filesystem works. Since 10 gb is the max size that the PS2 will read. It's not like they can go in and just make the partition bigger like they could on PC.

So SE is going to run out of room eventually on PS2, limiting content by a lot. If they do hit a brick wall in terms of space either that have to work with Sony on a work around. Stop new content updates on the PS2 or may be time for the game to end.

Um... they could just not release the next update on the PS2 and see how long it takes PS2 players to take the hint that their gear is well past the point of an AARP membership for consoles. I loved my Atari system back in the day, but there came a day I wanted something more challenging than Ms. Pacman. Of course, instead of getting a new console I discoverred that I liked girls and they liked me, so I left off gaming for about... 16 years.

[Luvbunny]

Hah, why not just remaster the game and release it on HD for PS3 and Xbox (again) and add the new expansion as the bait. This way it will solve the PS2 problem, and it will generate another wave of cash infusion from PS2 + Xbox + PC players. Let's face it, FF14 is crashing and burning pretty fast... why not regenerate interest from FFXI cash cow.

[Ethereal]

I don't see any real difference between adding downloadable content for a fee VS creating content for PC/other capable platforms only.

One could easily say "I can't afford 15 bucks for the expansion just the same as saying I don't own any other system because i can't afford it".

Creating a new full expansion for "PC xbox/ps3" would leave ps2 people out of new content, BUT that would be the same for people that currently can't afford a few extra bucks for the downloads that already exist, they too would already be left out of content.

You get what your willing or capable to pay for.

[Olor]

People who say that there is not enough players to justify an expansion... could you explain how sony could put out an expansion for EQ1 which has way less players?

[Flunklesnarkin]

I don't think the old dev team had a plan for the game after wings of the goddess

hopefully the new dev team can come up with some new storylines...

but like others have said.. the only way that would be possible is to either not release the new expansion to ps2... or get sony to modify the playstation.. which i find unlikely...

Reskinning zones is ok... but it shouldn't be the *only* development tactic.

[Olor]

New jobs would be pretty cool

[Gwynplaine]

If you can tell me the difference between fighting a crawler in Sarutabaruta, Tahrongi, Buburimu, Shakhrami, Crawler's Nest, and so on beyond level/stats and TP move variance with some sub-families, I'll stop being a "whiny snot" about where a fight takes place actually mattering. I'd rather not sit here and waste potentially limited development resources on yet more busts when (long-time) needed fixes could be made to current areas. Sadly, the FFXI scale tends to hinge on whether or not something is the best or not. If a new zone or set of them is not good for EXP, gear, or gil, people will not want much to do with it after the newness passes. This was true before Abyssea, and it will remain so after.

Having the potential for something to turn out badly done isn't a reason to not do it. I might as well just say, well they should do it because it could turn out great. It's like saying someone shouldn't have children because they *could* potentially grow up to be murderers.

There's no way to make a poll on these threads is there?

[Orson]

I'd like to see in a new add-on or expansion is a continent or at least unexplored areas. I would pay pretty much anything to see an expansion/add-on to CoP that was the reclaiming of Tavnazia. That would easily be the best thing ever, imo. The introduction cinematic shows us adventurers marching on it to reclaim it. I WANT SEE THAT IN GAME SO BAD!!! Also it would be the best time to add Meteor/Comet to Blm, lol.

[Karbuncle]

I'd like to see in a new add-on or expansion is a continent or at least unexplored areas. I would pay pretty much anything to see an expansion/add-on to CoP that was the reclaiming of Tavnazia. That would easily be the best thing ever, imo. The introduction cinematic shows us adventurers marching on it to reclaim it. I WANT SEE THAT IN GAME SO BAD!!! Also it would be the best time to add Meteor/Comet to Blm, lol.

Seriously the more i think about Reclaiming Tavnazia and visiting that Grand City, The more and more upset i get that I can't do it RIGHT NAO :O!

[Laurion]

I'd personally love to see another full expansion.

[Rambus]

Pretty sure its more of an Internet Meme, not from the actually game. If anything it'd be from S.F64 of the "Adventures" one. I haven't completed Adventures.

found it:
2:19
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3eiQr0uqwI
guess it wasi n 64.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCTYBKFXsyk


I think SE would minic this better though:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qnd-hdmgfk&NR=1

hmm this comment..:


red ring of death: CAN'T LET YOU PLAY THAT, XBOX!!!!!

Rambus: hey LS i am muling, give me a min.
STF: can't let you do that rambus *bans mule account*
Rambus: what the heck?
peppy: do a barrel roll
Rambus: I ....can't.... lose!

really need pm so off topic, i guess my point would be showing and making fun of how SE tells us they can't do that? XD

[Camate]

There have been a lot of threads and comments related to expansions and add-ons, so I'll shed some light on the current direction. The main focus for this year is to upgrade and expand content through version updates. For example, the current roadmap (http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/4937-The-FINAL-FANTASY-XI-roadmap-for-the-twelve-month-period-commencing-April-2011) is filled to the brim with what we feel are exciting and valuable updates. So for this year, we do not have plans at the current moment for expansions or add-ons.

[Karbuncle]

I died a little inside.

Is it possible we might see something Next year, Or some time down the line? Or is the idea completely out of the question and the Development team is never going to release another new-zone-giving Expansion?

Or is it too soon to tell? You can tell us :( We won't leave you.

Also the Roadmap is very exciting to a lot of us, We enjoy what is the works. I Hope you guys didn't get "We hate everything about the roadmap and want more zones QQ" from this thread D:. We're all excited for whats ahead, We just wanna look into the future of FFXI, and see if its going to ever Expand to new zones, Or to just expect all the current and future content to take place in already existing areas.

[Eeek]

There have been a lot of threads and comments related to expansions and add-ons, so I'll shed some light on the current direction. The main focus for this year is to upgrade and expand content through version updates. For example, the current roadmap (http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/4937-The-FINAL-FANTASY-XI-roadmap-for-the-twelve-month-period-commencing-April-2011) is filled to the brim with what we feel are exciting and valuable updates. So for this year, we do not have plans at the current moment for expansions or add-ons.

What about next year? Maybe a new downloadable expansion/add-on series with the final level cap increase?

Edit: Please don't take this to mean that I'm not interested in the upcoming content, because I'm certainly looking forward to it.

[Olor]

Yeah we all probably mostly are excited about the roadmap etc - but reworking old content or adding new content to old zones just isn't the same as actually providing a new continent to explore.

[Eeek]

Yeah we all probably mostly are excited about the roadmap etc - but reworking old content or adding new content to old zones just isn't the same as actually providing a new continent to explore.

To be perfectly honest, I don't give a rat's ass if zones are recycled and reskinned. I only care about whether or not the content within said zones is fun or not.

FFXI is fortunate to have the opposite problem of FFXIV. We have loads of fun content in reused/reskinned zones. FFXIV has stunningly beautiful zones and music, but there's little to no content. While I'd love to explore new zones as much as the next guy, it could be so much worse.

/point FFXIV

[Karbuncle]

Meh, I guess I'm a special kind of Adventurer. I like new content, But I Like new areas too.

I'll be okay if we never get to visit new zones, I'll leave the game dissapointed i never got to Explore the ruins of Tavnazia, or Visit the Mithran homeland, But at the same time, I'll leave happy with the experience i had in the game and what it had to offer.

I just, Like a lot of people, Hope and pray some day we'll be able to visit all the wonderful places we're teased about in Cutscenes, Opening Movies, and NPC Chat.

I won't quit if we never see another new zone, but i'll be sad about it. Even though I know i'll still enjoy the new content given too us :)

Because you're right. it could be worse.

[Eeek]

And I want to explore new places like you do, but if SE keeping cranking out new, fun content, I think I'll be OK with it.

I want to see the same places you do. :(

[Catsby]

I feel like I'm the only person here who DOESN'T want to see brand new content. Why waste so much time adding new systems and creating assets to go with them when so much of the game was tossed aside by the community for feeling incomplete or under developed?

[Karbuncle]

I feel like I'm the only person here who DOESN'T want to see brand new content. Why waste so much time adding new systems and creating assets to go with them when so much of the game was tossed aside by the community for feeling incomplete or under developed?

What has been tossed Aside or Under Developed in the eyes of the Community that Added new HNMs to it would fix? Cause thats all that seems to be forthcoming. The content planning on being added just seems to be "We're putting new HNMs in old areas so you use them more".

The Rep has already stated We won't see a new zone for at least a year, So whos to say a lot of those problems wouldn't be fixed by then?

We don't ask for the new expansion Right now, I think that right now it would be a bad time to implement, But a Year from now, or 2 years, It would be nice to see new zones.

Genuinely curious.

Edit: Afterthought Oh! I personally don't Consider Adding New Zones, New Enemies, New Battle-fields, New HNMs, New End-game Activites, And all that jazz that comes with an Expansion, a Waste of time :(

[Catsby]

Creating new content and assets to go along with it takes time.

Fine tuning pre existing content and the assets that went along with it also takes time.

Would you prefer new zones, quests and shiny new graphics if it meant you were going to be playing fields of valor v.3 and struggling with the UI? or would you like to see dramatic overhauls to the UIs and mechanics already in place if it meant you aren't going to see anything completely new and different? I'm arguing that development is breaking their backs to produce more game for players that don't realize why they are getting bored or frustrated in the first place.

[Karbuncle]

Creating new content and assets to go along with it takes time.

Fine tuning pre existing content and the assets that went along with it also takes time.

Would you prefer new zones, quests and shiny new graphics if it meant you were going to be playing fields of valor v.3 and struggling with the UI? or would you like to see dramatic overhauls to the UIs and mechanics already in place if it meant you aren't going to see anything completely new and different? I'm arguing that development is breaking their backs to produce more game for players that don't realize why they are getting bored or frustrated in the first place.

Well, I'm not upset my UI is a crowded mush-pot of useless Junk, I quite like and enjoy my Current UI, and if I ever think its too under-developed, Theres Windower, Why waste Quality Development time improving the UI, If Windower already has those improvements?

I don't know what Mechanics you find broken, But explain them to me. I actually might agree with you, but thats too vague for me to recall anything :|

Frankly, I have enough faith in SE based on Past experiences that if we got a New Expansion with new zones, It wouldn't be entire too half-assed. Even WoTG when initially Release had Camapaign, and Despite Mixed reviews, Was enjoyable and well done. Same with Campaign Ops. ToAU had a lot of Out-of-the-box Content, and was thoroughly Enjoyable while changing Meriting/Endgame for years to come. CoP was hailed as one of the best Expansions to date, and RoTZ changed the game completely.

I know a lot of your complaints are based on the here and now, My thought is that, ~1/2 Years down the road when they've fixed/Tweaked a lot, and we're settling into new content, If they could divert some Time/effort to creating New worlds to explore so when the old content becomes stale, We get not only Newer content, But more zones to explore and experience as a whole.

So i guess what i'm saying is, I'll take both options, Because both are absolutely possible given the allowed time.

Edit:And really, We as a community of nearly 200,000+ should never be forced to chose between "Meaningful Content" and "New zones", when games like Everquest can pump out Expansions with new zones and events with much less playerbase, and being a much older game.

Its because SE has diverted so much resources to reviving that dead flop of a failure that FFXI has gotten the Sh*t end of the stick in terms of Development Resources. My hope is that once that game finally dies, Or gets off its feet, Restrictions ease up and FFXI Gets more of its team back, and we can go back to having our cake, and eating it too.

[Gwynplaine]

Well it was nice of them to respond, at least it gives a definite answer eh. Devin is only lucky he's too cute to harangue.


To be perfectly honest, I don't give a rat's ass if zones are recycled and reskinned. I only care about whether or not the content within said zones is fun or not.

FFXI is fortunate to have the opposite problem of FFXIV. We have loads of fun content in reused/reskinned zones. FFXIV has stunningly beautiful zones and music, but there's little to no content. While I'd love to explore new zones as much as the next guy, it could be so much worse.
/point FFXIV

True enough... to a point. I'm a very patient person believe me. But it's been over 3 years now since around ToA was released and fleshed out. And that's far long enough. I expect them to use the money I pay them to make something that isn't fundamentally some alternate timeline/dimension crap recolored with the MS paint bucket tool or given some mood-lighting. I'm not paying them to focus on FFXIV while rehashing XI.


Creating new content and assets to go along with it takes time.
Fine tuning pre existing content and the assets that went along with it also takes time.

Would you prefer new zones, quests and shiny new graphics if it meant you were going to be playing fields of valor v.3 and struggling with the UI? or would you like to see dramatic overhauls to the UIs and mechanics already in place if it meant you aren't going to see anything completely new and different? I'm arguing that development is breaking their backs to produce more game for players that don't realize why they are getting bored or frustrated in the first place.

Same argument I replied to earlier. It doesn't follow that because something might turn out badly, you shouldn't do it. Maybe you shouldn't get out of bed in the morning, after all you might catch a cold. It's an arbitrary thing to say.

[Karbuncle]

Well it was nice of them to respond, at least it gives a definite answer eh. Devin is only lucky he's too cute to harangue.



True enough... to a point. I'm a very patient person believe me. But it's been over 3 years now since around ToA was released and fleshed out. And that's far long enough. I expect them to use the money I pay them to make something that isn't fundamentally some alternate timeline/dimension crap recolored with the MS paint bucket tool or given some mood-lighting. I'm not paying them to focus on FFXIV while rehashing XI.

See its ironic cause this is probably exactly whats happening >.>

[Jski]

It would be nice to see some sideways expansion of gear and weapons at the same power as the current top end gear with some "true" hnm level fights for 90+ that falls out side of abys. Make VNM worth going after out side of abys, make snm a bit more rewarding too. There a lot of old content they could easily add in level 90+ mobs and gear just as long as its not subjected to the atmas and staggers of aby i still think they comply messed up the job balancing and pacing of the game.

[Fusionx]

I wanna hope its a trick and they're planning something but it's coming out in 2012. I'm getting less hopeful about this game every time I see an update containing things we asked for years ago or more of the same content that already exists in the game (see VNM, magian, treasure caskets).

[Totema]

Personally, I'm okay with this. We have a lot coming our way already! We really only need new expansions when the stuff we're getting starts to stagnate.

I'm not a fan of add-ons, though. Moar expansions! When we get new content, I want to be SWAMPED in it!

[Karbuncle]

I wanna hope its a trick and they're planning something but it's coming out in 2012. I'm getting less hopeful about this game every time I see an update containing things we asked for years ago or more of the same content that already exists in the game (see VNM, magian, treasure caskets).

I'm actually kinda excited about all the planned updates, Especially caskets (and Fov!) in more areas.

Its just that i also hope we get to see more of our land :)

[Catsby]

Well, I'm not upset my UI is a crowded mush-pot of useless Junk, I quite like and enjoy my Current UI, and if I ever think its too under-developed, Theres Windower, Why waste Quality Development time improving the UI, If Windower already has those improvements?


You aren't taking every aspect of the UI into account. Go cast sleep on a monster that's right next to a similar monster. There isn't any way to distinguish the slept one from the non slept one unless one is non aggressive.

Bard songs in your enhancements section are non distinguishable from one another simply by looking at them.

Go into abyssea and try getting your atmas, like any menu prompt in the game the options are painfully limited when they don't need to be. these are just a couple examples of little things that could be improved to dramatically increase usability.


I don't know what Mechanics you find broken, But explain them to me. I actually might agree with you, but thats too vague for me to recall anything :|

oh really? have you played ranger or looked at your campaign map lately?



Frankly, I have enough faith in SE based on Past experiences that if we got a New Expansion with new zones, It wouldn't be entire too half-assed. Even WoTG when initially Release had Camapaign, and Despite Mixed reviews, Was enjoyable and well done. Same with Campaign Ops. ToAU had a lot of Out-of-the-box Content, and was thoroughly Enjoyable while changing Meriting/Endgame for years to come. CoP was hailed as one of the best Expansions to date, and RoTZ changed the game completely.

uh... WoTG took like 2 years to finish after it was released and not much has been done to maintain everything that introduced with it. evolith? left to rot. campaign ops? nothing new there. campaign battles? again look at your map.



I know a lot of your complaints are based on the here and now, My thought is that, ~1/2 Years down the road when they've fixed/Tweaked a lot, and we're settling into new content, If they could divert some Time/effort to creating New worlds to explore so when the old content becomes stale, We get not only Newer content, But more zones to explore and experience as a whole.

The recent updates/roadmap suggest a lot of new content, which I'm a bit upset with. The news surrounding dynamis makes it seem as if the only thing changing is entry requirements and monster spawn requirements. Hopefully there are new incentives and reasons to enter besides relic weapons.



So i guess what i'm saying is, I'll take both options, Because both are absolutely possible given the allowed time.


naturally.
unfortunately it doesn't seem like we have that option. resources etc. fortunately enough complaints seems to get people's attention here.



Edit:And really, We as a community of nearly 200,000+ should never be forced to chose between "Meaningful Content" and "New zones", when games like Everquest can pump out Expansions with new zones and events with much less playerbase, and being a much older game.


I agree we shouldn't have to choose but these things cost money to produce and there aren't many ways to support the game other than the subscription and add ons every now and then. There aren't any fun little things here and there to get via microtransaction so that hurts the situation a little more.

On the topic of Everquest go google "Fippy Darkpaw". I think you will like the results.



Its because SE has diverted so much resources to reviving that dead flop of a failure that FFXI has gotten the Sh*t end of the stick in terms of Development Resources. My hope is that once that game finally dies, Or gets off its feet, Restrictions ease up and FFXI Gets more of its team back, and we can go back to having our cake, and eating it too.

At the risk of sounding evil I would actually argue that FFXIV's failure was a good thing. The days of hiding your game like it's some sort of secret weapon or surprise until the last moment then expecting your audience like it are long, long over. Dramatic changes in FFXI's development from abyssea to twitter feeds to the opening of this forum are indications that SE finally understands that.

[Catsby]

Same argument I replied to earlier. It doesn't follow that because something might turn out badly, you shouldn't do it. Maybe you shouldn't get out of bed in the morning, after all you might catch a cold. It's an arbitrary thing to say.

I don't think you understand what I said. It's my opinion that we need less new content because too much old content is still broken or would benefit so much from updating that it would effectively become new content.

[Karbuncle]

Getting kinda bored of some of the unnecessary attitude, But i'll bite.


You aren't taking every aspect of the UI into account. Go cast sleep on a monster that's right next to a similar monster. There isn't any way to distinguish the slept one from the non slept one unless one is non aggressive.

the mobs name would immediately turn red and/or Purple. Plus the one thats slept won't be killing you. What do you want? "zzz's" coming off them? I mean, Technically it could be done, what with certain ToAU mobs having it. Still, Theres basic signs. One: Slept mobs don't hit you. (don't bring up bind, bind mobs still "Follow" You). I mean. If both mobs are slept, The one you cast ons name will immediately turn red/light-purple.

Would adding "zzz's" Or something to mobs be nice? yes sir, Would i object it? i don't remember every saying i wouldn't.


Bard songs in your enhancements section are non distinguishable from one another simply by looking at them.

I can give you this. Are they going to fix it? Probably not. Would i like them too? Yes. When did i say i wouldn't? If you had brought up that specifically i would have immediately agreed with you. You know, "Enthunder" and "Warcry" having the same model as every other Attack buff ever is annoying to me as it is to you. But again theres Windower-Mods and Texture mods for that :x


Go into abyssea and try getting your atmas, like any menu prompt in the game the options are painfully limited when they don't need to be. these are just a couple examples of little things that could be improved to dramatically increase usability.

Yes, Cycling through dozens of Atmas is annoying. However in another thread here they mentioned that improving these redundances Isn't possible right now. Its in the "General redundancies" thread.


oh really? have you played ranger or looked at your campaign map lately?

Oh Neat! no good argument so we resort to an attitude problem. Interesting idea. I Wasn't being Sarcastic. Seriously, I Genuinely Don't know what you meant by "Mechanics". Are you complaining Ranger has to hit "Ranged Attack" or make a macro with "/ra <t>" to attack with his bow instead of a Ranged Auto-Attack feature? I've looked at my Campaign Map Lately. It shows what zones are controlled by which, Where battles are, And current Influence. Its slow at updated just like everything else in the game (/sea function etc) Is that what you're talking about? Or do you mean like "Its Empty now". Cause if its "Its empty now" i'm sure i read somewhere they mentioned they were planning adjustments to campaign. I could be wrong.



uh... WoTG took like 2 years to finish after it was released and not much has been done to maintain everything that introduced with it. evolith? left to rot. campaign ops? nothing new there. campaign battles? again look at your map.

Firstly, I never said WoTG Was perfect on its release, I said it still had a lot to offer. Campaign was already in tact, Campaign Ops System was there, NMs were there. More Campaign Ops Were added when Beauc(S) and Xarc(S) were introduced. including the Shadow-Lord BCNM. Campaign Ops seem rather nice. I use them from time to time to get exp on low level jobs. Evolith System was let to rot because it was a bad idea. Theres a thread on it here I've already posted in, Want my opinion on it go there. Though it really had nothing to do with WoTG other than its release date.



The recent updates/roadmap suggest a lot of new content, which I'm a bit upset with. The news surrounding dynamis makes it seem as if the only thing changing is entry requirements and monster spawn requirements. Hopefully there are new incentives and reasons to enter besides relic weapons.

I think they're adjusting Dynamis Solely to make relic weapons easier to Obtain, But maybe they're going to add new incentives to return there. It seems logical.


naturally.
unfortunately it doesn't seem like we have that option. resources etc. fortunately enough complaints seems to get people's attention here.

I'm confused if you're saying the attention this thread is getting is good or bad. Cause if its good, why are we arguing?


I agree we shouldn't have to choose but these things cost money to produce and there aren't many ways to support the game other than the subscription and add ons every now and then. There aren't any fun little things here and there to get via microtransaction so that hurts the situation a little more.

Why are we arguing again?

I admit I don't know how much money it would cost to Develop another full blown Expansion, But if 200,000 people buy a 50$ Expansion I think they'd make their money back. I really feel this falls back on "FFXIV being a flop and most/all resources being devoted to making it not suck". Which is why I've mentioned I'm willing to wait ~2 Years for a new expansion. It'd just be the knowledge the Expansion was coming.


On the topic of Everquest go google "Fippy Darkpaw". I think you will like the results.

Entirely too afraid.


At the risk of sounding evil I would actually argue that FFXIV's failure was a good thing. The days of hiding your game like it's some sort of secret weapon or surprise until the last moment then expecting your audience like it are long, long over. Dramatic changes in FFXI's development from abyssea to twitter feeds to the opening of this forum are indications that SE finally understands that.

I know FFXIV Failure was a good thing, because if it was a hit from the Start FFXI would probably be in worse condition than it is now. But at the same time, the fact FFXIV tanked is also a problem, cause a lot of the Resources we could have are devoted to again, making it not suck :|

[Catsby]

I wasn't trying to offend or argue with you but trying to make my points in the most brutally honest way possible. If anything I'm arguing with the thread title since it's a complete disregard for the game in its current state.

[Karbuncle]

I wasn't trying to offend or argue with you but trying to make my points in the most brutally honest way possible. If anything I'm arguing with the thread title since it's a complete disregard for the game in its current state.

Meh, IF i had Created the Thread it would most certainly be called "Can we expect Full Expansions, Or New zones in the Future of FFXI?"

I'd have to paraphrase it cause i think thats too long.

[Runespider]

There have been a lot of threads and comments related to expansions and add-ons, so I'll shed some light on the current direction. The main focus for this year is to upgrade and expand content through version updates. For example, the current roadmap is filled to the brim with what we feel are exciting and valuable updates. So for this year, we do not have plans at the current moment for expansions or add-ons.

I think what isn't said is as important as what was.

No mention of any after this year either "no plans this year, but next year we have plans for a big expansion!" nope, not quite sure why it was represented as either/or, we get updates anyway since we pay a full price MMO monthly subscription, the expansions/addons are created by seperate inhouse teams. The fact we won't get one suggests they are busy on something else (so FFXI players aren't as important anymore?).

This really is quite sad, the roadmap isn't really that impressive either given we already have very little to do, now that SQUARE RUINED EVERY OTHER ENDGAME EVENT in the entire game with level increases and made everything else quick and easy to bring it's demise quicker. Oh well guess it's time to start looking for a new MMO once the new ones come out, aside from the fact Square are keeping FFXI on life support here and only doing the bare minimum I have zero intention of my money going to pay for another MMO which is exactly what the loyal XI userbase is being used for.

After reading the SE post I have to say it's absolutely obvious what they are doing when they increased the level cap, it was done purely to suck the life out of FFXI (ruining all existing content) and push us all onto FFXIV out of boredom. Sadly for them FFXIV is total suck and I hope when they finally do push us all off FFXI most of us move to a good MMO company. Tera, Star wars: old republic, Guild wars 2 etc, they don't deserve such a loyal userbase.

[Seha]

Had to read a few pages so I won't go quoting who said what, but I wanted to share my thoughts regardless.
Someone said that a new expansion would cause other content to be abandoned. No it wouldn't. Look at WotG. WotG brought 3 things into the game:
- 2 jobs
- A new storyline(though it sucks that took them 2 years to finish it)
- Campaign battles.
Nothing that the new expansion brought in the game killed the previous content as Ein, Dyna, Sea, Sky, Salvage and HNM grounds were still the endgame events. People bought wotg either to get the 2 jobs or to enjoy the story(a mix of both for me, the latter being a stronger reason). Campaign is dead now? Yeah, but because Aby came out, till then it was always packed, so it wasn't a system that sucked to begin with, just need adjustments now. What I'm saying is, does a new expansion means it has to kill previous content? Hell no, could just be something for a new storyline, a couple of HNM and throw in the new VW stuff or whatever new endgame is already planned.

That being said, in the answer from the mod is not the fact that it won't happen this year that bothers me(as I already said, I wasn't expecting to see it soon), but the fact that it seems that the devs are not even thinking about it for a time in the future. Which would really suck. I'm one who would quit if the only future is new battles. I like to experience them yes, but after a while that's it for me, I've had my share and can go on with my life without it.

[xbobx]

Wow people honestly thought there would be new expansions? Really? Then game has been on decline for the last few years, and will continue to do so. If FF14 wasnt such a failure, there most likely would have been no 12 month roadmap for even basic updates.
this is my last month anyways, game is beyond boring now because most people I know either quit or just stopped logging on after the 2 week break. All there is to do in my mind is farm seals. it gets old fast.

[Elexia]

Sadly the amount of people who care for story is far far FAR less than the amount of people who just want to get shit, Abyssea's popularity proves this. We don't need another Expansion or Addon realistically for XI, because the story is damn well complete . We learned about everything in XI's lore at this point since the only areas we didn't explore would just be areas to explore, nothing new to learn for example we know the far east was pretty much ravaged by war and emptiness, what would the storyline be that we don't already know?

If you release the far east in an expansion, the first thing most people would care about:

-HNM
-End Game system
-Gear
-If it will beat Abyssea

[Runespider]

Wow people honestly thought there would be new expansions? Really? Then game has been on decline for the last few years, and will continue to do so. If FF14 wasnt such a failure, there most likely would have been no 12 month roadmap for even basic updates.
this is my last month anyways, game is beyond boring now because most people I know either quit or just stopped logging on after the 2 week break. All there is to do in my mind is farm seals. it gets old fast.

Sadly I did, I've been playing for 7 solid years with FFXI and never had the urge to go anywhere else for my MMO fix. Since they demolished the whole endgame scene with the level increase I'm in exactly the same position you just mentioned..i'm bored to death and if I do log on I just sit in port same as a huge number of others (I didn't power through Abyssea either, but I had friends so we could do it at a steady pace, i'm still capped on that content now.). The 12 month thing they posted was honestly very minor stuff and certainly not enough to keep me and my shell intrested longer than a couple of weeks at best after the update. I can live with that IF there is stuff on the horizon but there isn't.

I'm sad that they basically destroyed FFXI, I would of played it a long time longer but all it is now is getting seals in Abyssea which I and everybody else I know is capped on. FFXI's player numbers will drop like a rock within the next year if this is the best they can do and the future looks so bleak.

The greatest enemy to an MMO is the people that run it I guess.

[Elexia]

The greatest enemy to an MMO is the people that run it I guess.

Nope, the greatest enemy is the players.

[Ravenmore]

Really the old endgame was beyond annoying and boring. Wasn't hard at 75 either and grinding it cause everyone else was after the same gear making the wait way longer then it shoulda been. I'll be happy if I never see kirin again and see all the ground kings up and wondering around.

[Runespider]

Nope, the greatest enemy is the players.

How so? All the players do is pay the subscription fee and play the content they give us. The company behind it are the one that make or break the game.

Do you think they would of increased the level cap to 99 invalidating all current content, made leveling really easy to the point people will have nothing to level soon, make merits easy to cap, and wipe 8 years of endgame content off the game if FFXIV had not been made?

[Karbuncle]

Sadly the amount of people who care for story is far far FAR less than the amount of people who just want to get shit, Abyssea's popularity proves this. We don't need another Expansion or Addon realistically for XI, because the story is damn well complete . We learned about everything in XI's lore at this point since the only areas we didn't explore would just be areas to explore, nothing new to learn for example we know the far east was pretty much ravaged by war and emptiness, what would the storyline be that we don't already know?

If you release the far east in an expansion, the first thing most people would care about:

-HNM
-End Game system
-Gear
-If it will beat Abyssea

I think the way i understand CoP is just because we defeat Promathia, doesn't mean that the Empyness is gone, and if you're going to use the "No one wants story they want content" argument despite the support here, I'll say this.

If we go to the far east, Why couldn't it be "Battle content". It could be Similar to Abyssea (Without the atma/cruor) where we go to the Far East, Speak with Refugee's, and fight the Empty to reclaim their Kingdom. They could add monsters (normal ones) who were "infected" by the Emptiness, Imagine a Giant Empty-Malboro boss? Or a large Empty-infected Mamool Ja, and so on.

Doesn't "need" a story outside of "Shits under attack, We need help from Adventurers". Since the plight as told by Tenzen is so great there.

Then again, Its been years since i beat CoP, Killing Promathia could have killed all the Emptiness but I don't recall that cutscene :(.

Lastly, There are, Despite apparent knowledge otherwise, People who loved ToAU/CoP Story-driven content as much as they loved Abyssea's content. not everyone would just open it up and say "WHEREZ FAFNIR BRO". Do i say don't add it? no.

You can have a compelling Story-driven Mission Chain, and still have plenty of HNM/new gear. WoTG had an amazing storyline/cutscenes if you stopped being nerd-spazz got past the whole time-paradox thing, and it had meaningful armor/upgrades. A lot of the Campaign armor was best in slow for some jobs (well, Mostly Iron Ram for Enmity/MDB). But also the low-level Campaign Armors (The "Conquest +1" armors if you will). and if i recall this was the first introduction of "Piece-by-piece Set Bonus" armor. Plus it had Sandworm, and Dark Ixion as HNMs. and Sandworm was like a 4-in-1 package deal.

ToAU Included Cerberus, Hydra, and Khimaira. each one dropped something useful, Even if it wasn't immediately or well known. Cerberus Dropped his Hide for Cerberus mantles, Khimaira dropped Seveneyes, and Hydra dropped that Torque that is basically a permanent "Poison Potion" macro piece. Theres also the 3-Beastmen Kings but they suck so ignore them. ToAU also ushered the era of Grips. Even some purchased through Imperial Standing.

CoP. I don't have to explain that.

Runespider said a lot of what i wanted, Just because we got new expansions, Doesn't mean Old content will be left to rot and/or die. And it doesn't mean this new expansion won't add something we did not expect that will completely change the game.

Abyssea - Made the game a lot more Casual Friendly, Armor was not about time not luck. mixed reviews though.
WoTG - Campaign, Made Solo-Leveling Miles easier for its time.
ToAU - Revolutionized Merits and a lot of End-game was focused here.
CoP - Hailed as one of the best Storylines to date, and as such was looked at surprisingly well by a community who care so little about Story(?). Also offered some of the most challenging and rewarding fights for its time.
RoTZ - Fixed a lot. new jobs, introduction of Sky. Etc.

The potential is there, Some say I'm being to optimistic, I say you're all being to pessimistic.

[Silvermane]

If you look at the roadmap it does seem something pretty substantial is slated for October 2011 -March 2012 maybe this will be some sort of Expansion or addon? They have simply exhausted options for increasing mob level and distribution.

You have to consider that they have said they will be moving from the Major/Minor update pattern to more frequent upates. Remember when ToAU and to a lesser extent WotG were realsed had updates rather more frequently then we do now, or even when they started this whole "addon" pattern. Personally I think its a shame they even did the whole addons route, they should of just finished WotG 2 years sooner and released a expansion in the place of Abyssea which could of still had the seals etc

March may see the storylines and New Zones/Monsters we all want to see, prehaps these will be designed to cater for 76-99 levels much like ToAU did for 55-75

[Ravenmore]

The worse things to do is not give the players what they want and at the same time giving the players what they want.

[Elexia]

Generally with MMOs you try to give players something to do correct? Lately the big thing is:

Players: "Listen to our demands and feedback!"

The designers do nothing but make the game, but the community can be much more detrimental to the game in more ways than 1 than the developers can, all they can do is hit shutdown if they want to end the MMO, because good MMO developers won't just throw in what they want without taking the players into consideration.

If XIV was never made, given the current route XI was going it would have ended up here regardless because ToAU brought in a lot of new systems, WoTG did as well, then came the forced augment add-ons which they mentioned would be basically the format for awhile instead of full blown expansions. Raising the level cap happens in every MMO, XI was one of the few to have a set cap for half of its life without even a raise of 1. They didn't have to invalidate all of the older work, but that's what happens with other MMOs so it's not that alien of a concept.

The only thing being made for them (developers) is the game to make money, in order to make money you have to make and keep the players happy, throw in the fact players don't know what they want for the good of the game and just themselves, well..the rest is post 2004 MMO history.

[Elexia]

The potential is there, Some say I'm being to optimistic, I say you're all being to pessimistic.

The potential is there, but when you complete WoTG and Abyssea's storyline, the game's story is damn well done since we saved the world what, 3 times now? Even started to "heal" Abyssea by rekilling Promathia so it won't need to be an expansion pack. All they have to do, much like Abyssea and the like, is just put new end-game stuff in version updates like every other MMO does.

So it's not optimism or pessimism, it's more that there really is no need for an expansion pack at this point in time given the current storyline.

[Karbuncle]

The potential is there, but when you complete WoTG and Abyssea's storyline, the game's story is damn well done since we saved the world what, 3 times now? Even started to "heal" Abyssea by rekilling Promathia so it won't need to be an expansion pack. All they have to do, much like Abyssea and the like, is just put new end-game stuff in version updates like every other MMO does.

So it's not optimism or pessimism, it's more that there really is no need for an expansion pack at this point in time given the current storyline.

I don't see you're logic, and I'm sorry for that.

We don't know whats going on in the North, the West, or the Far East (outside of Tenzens accounts). ToAU is completely (to an extent) independent of CoP/Saving-the-world-Abyssea-Storyline, yet it managed to get along fine. For all intents and purposes ToAU Was about difficulties between Family, a power-hungry Brother, Ghost Pirates, and Apocalyptic Deities.

The Southern Continents Storyline could very well be nothing more than revolving around the idea one Mithran Chieftaness is attempting to take over the other Tribes, Your goal is to stop the invasions. Later you find out the Chieftan is being influenced by an Inter-dimensional creature, and they start appearing to fight with her forces (Look! Voidwatch tie-in). New goal, Defeat said multidimensional mind-influencing creatures. Ta-da, story and HNMs.

Just because our current storylines are tied up in a nice bow, Doesn't mean there isn't room for more, and so say there isn't, Whats stopping them from making a Far-East or Southern Expansion based around the idea abyssea brought on? "Battle Add-Ons". Limited Story, maximum Endgame/Battle/HNMs/etc?

I know, what response i can expect, but honestly, i have to try~

[Runespider]

So it's not optimism or pessimism, it's more that there really is no need for an expansion pack at this point in time given the current storyline.

It's not just the fact there is no addons/expansions that bothers me the most, it's that they made FFXI a newly released game again, with very little content and the stuff they are adding over the next year looks really weak given what they just did to the game.

If you destroy everything in a game you need to put some serious new content in place that can last and the stuff they listed just ain't it. Abyssea was good I enjoyed it but I always said what they do after Abyssea was what counted and most of it from what I can see is honestly not good enough.

[Ravenmore]

What got me was the best body piece's for sam came from a HNM + crafted item or a lvl 59 +1 with everything else being side grades if that. I know one player that quit over the Nocturnus Mail being better then his hauby +1.

[Seha]

the story is damn well complete . We learned about everything in XI's lore at this point since the only areas we didn't explore would just be areas to explore, nothing new to learnNot true actually. About the Far East, we still don't know why it is at war with AU. Then there's the emptiness that surely caused many problems, and there are probably many aspects that could let us know yagudo better. Gha Naboh Matriarchate is no different. Lekho hints many times during WotG that the Mithran queen is a bitch, that she's plotting things, she's evil, etc. Sin Hunters are also sent many times during the game to try to get back the Bow of Light and god knows what the queen wants to do with it(I think slay AU, but that's just speculation for another thread eventually). Not much was said about Ubulka and Razowha. So yeah, there are still things to learn.
Just wanted to point out at those statements, I already said what I think about all of this at page 11.

[Zumi]

They pretty much have to have a new expansion even if it is dlc or some sort of addon for 2012 or FFXI will pretty much die off from lack of anything to do.

Lot of players already bored with Abyssea.

[Specie]

All these add on expansions are just rehasing old zones with a twist and we are tricked into paying for a full price expansion but its in three installments so I guess SE thinks we are too dumb to feel we are cheated. Abyssea expansion was good but the other three are a waste of time and money.

[Linh]

Holy sh*t man. When Anguis died today in Walk of Echoes, my group got thrown into a cutscene and a mob named Chaos pops up. YES, the same mofo from FF1/Dissidia! Like an idiot I forgot to record the beginning cutscene when he comes in, but at least I got the fight.

Chaos in Walk of Echoes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ)

[Chocobits]

I think of it this way:

Nobody knew what the cap for # of people in a zone at the same time was until ToAU. There was literally that much anticipation. It doesn't matter that a new zone is eventually a place to grind quests, NMs and exp in. It doesn't matter if new mobs are reskinned old mobs with new tp moves/behavior, or if they're completely new mobs with a completely different dynamic required to fight them.

What does matter is that there's a new zone. And new mobs. I want to be excited again. I wanna take a ferry/airship/flying chocobo to a new continent. I mainly just want to get away from Abyssea. I think everyone would love to take a break from spending a maximum of 2-3 hours obtaining the best armor imaginable from a Moogle, because the only places to "show off" or make/get any use of the uber gear is Abyssea. And the only content in Abyssea is seals (encompassing cards/coins/weapon upgrade items). Throw in new uber armor from NMs or whatever (not 72 hour respawn 3-5 hour window mobs).

Speaking of NM respawn etc: ZNM/SCNM were awesome systems I thought. One was completely competition free, you just farmed up Zeni and force popped NMs in succession. SCNM, there was competition for the "trigger" NMs but once you had the complete set, you had a battlefield all to yourself.

If the new content offers challenging, high level mobs, difficult BCNMS (which I'm not holding my breath for, the current trend is that if you can't enter a BCNM solo as a naked SMN with a permanent Mute status and win, it's too difficult), and a good story, I'll get excited again. If instead I'm told I can get uber gear that's ridiculously more powerful than the already ridiculously overpowered gear I already have, but I need to kill several thousand mobs and then get a group of friends to stay up all night grinding 3 of the most boring NMs imaginable about 100 times each so that a deformed albino midget with a very serious malignant growth on its head can shoot me with star lazerz and pull Lepicdary gear out of its "Mog Satchel" for me.. I'll pass.

Harpies in Dangruf Wadi =/= content.

[Harukusan]

For lack of better words, the current trend sucks. Abyssea is entirely too easy. Any herpderp player can pretend they are "amazing" thanks to the overpowering atmas, and anyone can just go in and get the best gear possible for their jobs in less than a weeks worth of work. I understand the idea to maintain casual player interest, but where is the self-satisfaction and the feeling of accomplishment? Good for you new guys to finally get something worthwhile. We want something better. Something that takes much more effort to achieve.

The thing I'm sick of the most, is all the rehashing of current zones. There's always been a reason why we didn't visit these areas, let's just keep it that way. I don't want to go out of my way to experience newly added bs nms that will likely only keep peoples' attention for about a month~ depending how good the drops are. Seriously this game could have be left to die after WotG, but no, they had to go and temp us with new content, which btw, ended in utter disappointment. Just give me one more reason to quit SE.

Oh wait. You already did! That ridiculous timeline you graphed out for us! On top of that, more server merging! Way to go! I'm about done with this crap. I'm so tired of paying for the same garbage over and over.

[RaenRyong]

anyone can just go in and get the best gear possible for their jobs in less than a weeks worth of work.

Lots of people say this; who does this?

[Arcon]

Lots of people say this; who does this?

The fact that it's even possible is a bit disappointing to me. I managed to get three +2 pieces in one day before (for the entire party, five people or so). And it didn't take us 24 hours, but more like six hours, and that was only due to competition. Thanks to red/blue/grellow weaknesses, which on the one hand I find a nice minigame, on the other hand it can be bothersome at times, drops are so easy to come by. Combined with very short respawn times and easy kills, you can almost guarantee a finished +2 item every day. Along with the occasional NM for accessories, you could easily get the best gear (or at least in the ballpark) in less than a week, and I'm pretty sure many people have done that too. I know people who finished entire level 90 Empyrean weapons in just over a week. And I have to admit, the fact that this is even possible bothers me quite a bit as well.

And since I mentioned it, competition is so hard in some places it's ridiculous. One of the most used arguments in favor of Abyssea was that you didn't have to compete with three other linkshells for a NM to get good gear. That's very wrong, some NMs are more crowded than I ever remember Dragon's Aery to be. Tunga makes old Arthro feel lonely in comparison. The only thing that makes it better is the short respawn time, which doesn't always help, since you still have to wait 15~20 minutes, which is a problem since time inside Abyssea is limited. Also, no matter what the respawn time is, if you're in a group of three and compete with three full linkshells, you'll just be outclaimed time after time.

[Ezekieal]

wow having to read all 14 pages has made my eyes bleed i swear lol

a new actual expansion would be awesome, as somoeone said earlier there has been areas of the world eluded to but not given zones, such as the far-east and west(this is personally where i would love to see an expansion placed, native american mobs go!).

having said that i doubt that we will get one. he population is slowly declining and took a pretty large tumble during the 2 week shutdown of the earthquake/tsunami, i personally know of 8 people who left cos of that, 4 of which was for WoW.

so with the income from ffxi growing smaller, i think the dev team is trying to give us stuff as efficiently as they can and unfortunately that means reskining and things that dont require millions of dev hrs to bring to fruition. so while i am sure we will see new mini add-ons in the future in the vain of ACP, ASA etc i really doubt a full exansion will see the light of day.

[Runespider]

having said that i doubt that we will get one. he population is slowly declining and took a pretty large tumble during the 2 week shutdown of the earthquake/tsunami, i personally know of 8 people who left cos of that, 4 of which was for WoW.

so with the income from ffxi growing smaller, i think the dev team is trying to give us stuff as efficiently as they can and unfortunately that means reskining and things that dont require millions of dev hrs to bring to fruition. so while i am sure we will see new mini add-ons in the future in the vain of ACP, ASA etc i really doubt a full exansion will see the light of day.

Not making any addons at the very least will bring it a lot sooner, out of sheer boredom of nothing to do.

[Harukusan]

Lots of people say this; who does this?

I do. Next question.


wow having to read all 14 pages has made my eyes bleed i swear lol

No one said you had to! But I bet it's been a fun ride :)


millions of dev hrs

We're over-exaggerating this a bit aren't we? Yes much of the actual expansions we originally received took much longer to develop than the small bogus add-ons they've been throwing at us lately, but what most of us are trying to say is that we have no problem waiting a little bit longer just for a real, full expansion. If they would just say "yes, we have intentions to release a new expansion in the future" the hype alone would keep peoples' attention for sure. I'm not impressed by what the dev team has in store for us now, and until it's actually released, you probably shouldn't be either.

[vileragnorok]

I agree lets face it ff14 is a bomb until fixed SE should stick with there bread and butter. New expantions,a new challenge,job ajustments is so needed,not this mnk whm can overrun crap.SE needs to really look into this before more players quit.People havent played this game for 10 years cause it was bad.ff14 should be put on the back burner till its really the new mmo rpg.Thats not gonna happen for a long time

[Defiledsickness]

If they drop PS2, upgrade the graphics, and announce game support (expansions) more people will join. A lot of people would join 'except'. And a ton of players who quit would come back for real changes. Everyone wanted to play FF14 until it sucked, but no one wanted to leave 11.

If they gave reason for NEW people to join the game, the game would be far more lively then it is now with PS2 players who never level any new job (cuz they're all at 75+ already!). No ps2 player would continue for a single new zone, but they'd probably buy a 360 (or add ps3 support!) if there was actual good content coming out.

I know people who still play with 1 or no Abyssea zones so anything is possible :P

[DoomLord]

I haven't read every post but I see alot of people seeing the upside and down side as an old FFXI player back when game just came to pc, I have seen lot's of changes some good tome OMG what was you thinking of..but to be honest it's not all about the game the commuity in ffxi makes me stay, i work i go out and I enjoy life away from the game but it's great to pick up the keyboard and chat and wonder around place's you never really going to see.
As for a new expansion there needs to be a Big one a real big one one that opens up the game once again to the old players none of this I'm lvl 30 now i'm lvl 90 i would like them fix this by at least making them do a fixed number of quest's to enter abyssea like we all did to enter Sea and sky areas.
completely new lands would make people leave abyssea and go inseach of them bosses again new end game maybe if they want people to start moving over to 14 (not that i will did hated wont return) maybe introduce areas that mimic 14 to make the change less of a shock.
a new undiscovered race would turn the game on it's head not only new jobs a race you got to unlock that would make them a small packet with the extra ID's brought just think of 3-4 new races added to the game that have race only jobs.
wont happen but that wouldn't just make people buy an expansion it would make them truely lvl once more.

[Akujima]

God this thread is so good.

I enjoyed The Rise of Zilart, New Area's and Storyline

I enjoyed Chains of Promathia, New Area's and Storyline

I enjoyed Treasures of Aht Urgan, New Area's and Storyline

I enjoyed Wings of the Goddess, New Area's and Storyline

Chances are...

I will enjoy (along with many others) [INSERT NEW EXPANSION HERE], New Area's and Storyline.


35.1 pages to go.

[Skyrocket]

I died a little inside.

Is it possible we might see something Next year, Or some time down the line? Or is the idea completely out of the question and the Development team is never going to release another new-zone-giving Expansion?

Or is it too soon to tell? You can tell us :( We won't leave you.

Also the Roadmap is very exciting to a lot of us, We enjoy what is the works. I Hope you guys didn't get "We hate everything about the roadmap and want more zones QQ" from this thread D:. We're all excited for whats ahead, We just wanna look into the future of FFXI, and see if its going to ever Expand to new zones, Or to just expect all the current and future content to take place in already existing areas.

I think i died a little inside too, I was hoping for new expanisons and new zones but its sounds like SE wasn't thinking about expainsions.

[Panthera]

They've referred to the last two collections as "Ultimate." Ultimate means "last." I know some would argue that Abyssea are new, but we all know they're the same old zones, just recycled. Wings did have a few new zones and areas, so at least that was something.

[Urteil]

There have been a lot of threads and comments related to expansions and add-ons, so I'll shed some light on the current direction. The main focus for this year is to upgrade and expand content through version updates. For example, the current roadmap (http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/4937-The-FINAL-FANTASY-XI-roadmap-for-the-twelve-month-period-commencing-April-2011) is filled to the brim with what we feel are exciting and valuable updates. So for this year, we do not have plans at the current moment for expansions or add-ons.

What the SE dev's feel is normally a disconnect from reality, possibly induced by heavy drugs.

Not you personally as your just a rep and parroting what they tell you to say.

[Romanova]

To lazy to read the whole thread,

But I'd imagine after this year and looking at that news related to how much SE lost on FFXIV, but gained on FFXI (well internet-related games, and I doubt most of that came from a facebook app). I'd imagine they'd be more willing to create another expansion because it's making money.

[Raxiaz]

They've referred to the last two collections as "Ultimate." Ultimate means "last." I know some would argue that Abyssea are new, but we all know they're the same old zones, just recycled. Wings did have a few new zones and areas, so at least that was something.

"last two collections", that's a plural, buddy! So they can add more if they want. Ultimate does not mean last in this sense.

[Tommykun]

It's all about PS2 support, when it comes to down to it. The PS2 is already practically full and unable to hand any more data. Here in the US, there is only a small handful of people who still play PS2. Many have moved on to 360 or PC. These two other formats allow for far more customization and additions. SE will have to make a choice between PS2 support or the life of the game. I say, chunk PS2 support, give JP PS2 players a free download of the PC client, and get cracking on a new expansion. After all, we'll be Lv99 in the next few months, so we really need something to test our new "uber powers."

[Netheos]

It's all about PS2 support, when it comes to down to it. The PS2 is already practically full and unable to hand any more data. Here in the US, there is only a small handful of people who still play PS2. Many have moved on to 360 or PC. These two other formats allow for far more customization and additions. SE will have to make a choice between PS2 support or the life of the game. I say, chunk PS2 support, give JP PS2 players a free download of the PC client, and get cracking on a new expansion. After all, we'll be Lv99 in the next few months, so we really need something to test our new "uber powers."


Like X10. Its time to let the PS2 go down in its blaze of glory. Offer them a chance to move to a new system through a 2-3 month period and then destroy the evidence of PS2 support all together.

[Durkan]

I have to agree with the posters above me. While the PS2 was a great system, it is old technology that is crippling the future success of Final Fantasy XI. I love this game, but for future expansions and add-ons to be possibly out of the question because of a small minority of PS2 users seems wrong. FFXI can have a much longer life ahead of it and some of the playerbase that has left can certainly come back with future expansions. Look at Everquest, for example, which came out in 1999. They still have 1-2 expansions that come out every year, breathing new life into an old game. FFXI can do the same, and I think with the developers in square enix, they could do even better if they honestly tried to.

[Tommykun]

Like X10. Its time to let the PS2 go down in its blaze of glory. Offer them a chance to move to a new system through a 2-3 month period and then destroy the evidence of PS2 support all together.

Exactly. Give a short window for transition and then punt it like a Taru. After that, focus resources on expansion and job balance adjustments. Abyssea and the upcoming 91-99 content will keep us satisfied for long enough to write a script and throw us a teaser trailer.

[Glamdring]

think they have most of their creative minds franticly working on making XIV interesting or replacing it with something that is, so they simply don't have enough creative people left to keep XI rolling in new content. I played the beta... for a week, then I deleted the entire thing, the entire playsystem sucked. And since that's the foundation of the game...

[Jamesruglia]

As much as I like full expansions, retailers seemed to be lacking in the FF11 department for most of the game's life anyway. And if it's true that they're neglecting 11 somehow in favor of 14, it's little difference to me; 14's a great game marred by nonsense accusations and a bandwagon of anti-hype.

[axlzero]

what i think is gonna happen is a graphics and battle system overhaul they problably shut down half the servers to overhaul the game and reskin it with new graphics thos that play on ps2 and xbox will problably be left behind or offered some other type of game content and they will let pc and ps3/xbox users move up to the next evolution in graphic and game play there is nothing really wrong with the story line or the endless possiblities for expantions and game content. what i think they will do is send all playstation 2 players to there own server free of charge and anyone that plays on a system that can support newer graphics and software will goto the servers that have been shut down after they get an overhaul in and that will be the future final fantasy xi my new I7 quadcore is waiting on it and i hope that is what SE is up to

[Runespider]

I really wish we could get even a hint at a new expansion or abyssea scale addon in the future, if it's coming out next year they will be working on it now. So if there are any plans at all it would be nice to have even a small hint of it, gives something awesome to look forward to.

I understand Square like to keep things secret but giving a heads up it's coming won't ruin that and it will let everyone knnow there is a good strong future ahead still.

[Kraggy]

I guess what I'm mostly wondering is why Square is so steadfastly resistant to giving players what they so obviously want, a regular expansion or series of add-ons in a new region of Vana'diel.
How about a combination of lack of resources (after they had to pile yet more devs into trying to keep the Titanic afloat) and lack of cash (caused by SE haemorrhaging cash due to the Titanic).

[katz]

I see alot of complaints about the ps2 not being able to manage the content of new stuff and thats why SE doesnt provide it for the rest of the community. I am old enough to remember the days for the eternal disk swopings for new areas, surely this is the solution for the ps2 community. Some games came with up 5 disks. Just get them to swop in the areas they need to zone into to do stuff, sure the downloads into zones will take longer but it wont exclude them from the new updates that everyone else can do without having to wait.

[Luvbunny]

I would be fine if they focus on fixing a lot of things that already in the game but have been neglected and not even touched. Campaign, Walk of Echoes, Nyzul, Einherjar, Limbus, etc... just to name a few. Adding +2 items to those events would revitalize it greatly. The same can be said to magian trial weapons items. There are so many things they could do with existing content and make it more convenient and enjoyable.

[Mokatu]

I'm with the rest of the people here. I would gladly buy another expansion pack for FFXI, boxed or digital expansion. I would love to explore the easternlands just as others have mentioned. When I was playing more consistently, I bought expansions for PC, XBOX360 and PS2.. SE, don't you want any more money?

[Dazusu]

come up with $200 to get a PC that will run the game just fine.

Don't know where you live, but here in the West, that's virtually impossible.

[Bumbeen]

Don't know where you live, but here in the West, that's virtually impossible.

Just get it for free then. Put an ad in craigslist for free pc wanted.
Specs desired:
Pentium 4 or athlon 64 cpu any speed
ati radeon 9800 pro or better video card
512mb ddr ram
40gb hdd

there you go!

[Dart]

there's still quite a bit of the ffxi world that we haven't explored/experienced yet. As long as they can continue to make money off it (and lol if ff14 flops AGAIN) i'm sure we'll see more content.

If not then oh well it was one hell of a ride since early 04 for me

[Tsukino_Kaji]

Don't know where you live, but here in the West, that's virtually impossible.Are you kidding me? You can get a $100 PC at any junk/recycle center that will run the game 10 times getter then any concole. Hell you can even buy one of those assinine infomercial PCs for less then $200.

[Cursed]

If I was anywhere in the hierarchy of PA and communications in this Company, this thread would have been put to rest and silenced forever with the announcement of an expansion within the next 18 months.

But SE is no longer a single company. The decision making process in SE has to go through so many approvals. They've gotten too big for their own good. Too much Chinese/EU/NA influences in the company now. Its lost its soul and sense of direction.

Have no doubt that FFXI isn't even ever discussed internally at the senior level, and if it is ever brought up, its in the past tense as a benchmarking tool/excercise.

I also have no doubt that it has come under review for termination in cost cutting reports. And the only reason it is floating is because of the long term damage an immediate death of the game would cause the bigger brand, and not because they care about FFXI.
Someone in that company has got to be kicking themselves in the head for ever thinking FFXIV was ready for release. The game has potential. But when it was released, and certainly not now, is it worthy of being called an MMO.

[HealingWind93]

I wish we could get a new full expansion. I wish SE could send everyone that still plays on ps2 a free pc with FFXI pre installed an a USB ps2 controller for the years of their dedication. But I don't see that happining sadly :( then the couldn't use "PS2 limitations" as an excuse but then it would be "360 limitations"

[Daniel_Hatcher]

I wish we could get a new full expansion. I wish SE could send everyone that still plays on ps2 a free pc with FFXI pre installed an a USB ps2 controller for the years of their dedication. But I don't see that happining sadly :( then the couldn't use "PS2 limitations" as an excuse but then it would be "360 limitations"

No it woudn't, it'd be Game Engine limitations, which is already the case just under the guise of PS2 Limitations....

And LOL at the free PC, it's not their problem if a console has now reached it's limits.

[wildsprite]

sorry to quote an older post but


anyone can just go in and get the best gear possible for their jobs in less than a weeks worth of work.
this here is a load of garbage if you have any life at all, it would take about a week of straight playing, and even then you might not have your best gear possible completed. possible? yeah I suppose it is
reality though? not likely unless you spend a full weak barely taking time to eat or sleep

don't let that discouraging banter from Harukusan decide what you think about FFXI, for a 10 year old game it still has teeth and that is saying something even if they are getting a little dull

[Spiritreaver]

No it woudn't, it'd be Game Engine limitations, which is already the case just under the guise of PS2 Limitations....

And LOL at the free PC, it's not their problem if a console has now reached it's limits.

My goodness, i wish more ppl would get the bolded bit into their minds. Instead of parroting that overplayed SE catchphrase ad infinitum.

[Dazusu]

I also have no doubt that it has come under review for termination in cost cutting reports.


If FFXI was not profitable, it would not be running - or would be sold off under a franchise license for another company to try make profit. Economics 101.

Sure as hell SE wouldn't keep a 10 year old MMO running if it wasn't profitable just for damage mitigation to the brands reputation which is already at an all time low.

As for people saying 'game engine limits', this pertains to certain things - but adding more Inventory slots or a new expansion consisting of a new continent isn't one of those limits.

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

Sure as hell SE wouldn't keep a 10 year old MMO running if it wasn't profitable just for damage mitigation to the brands reputation which is already at an all time low.

While I generally agree that the game is still profitable, we don't know in what way. So it's perfectly possible that, at the end of the day, it's the more intangible profits of "brand value" that keep the game going rather than going strictly by the balance sheet.

[Winrie]

sorry to quote an older post but


this here is a load of garbage if you have any life at all, it would take about a week of straight playing, and even then you might not have your best gear possible completed. possible? yeah I suppose it is
reality though? not likely unless you spend a full weak barely taking time to eat or sleep

don't let that discouraging banter from Harukusan decide what you think about FFXI, for a 10 year old game it still has teeth and that is saying something even if they are getting a little dull

Im sorry to burst your bubble but he's right, everything in this game is too easy to obtain now lol. A week for everything is a little pushing it, but the gist of what hes saying is correct. This game no has no effort involved anymore (inb4 abyssea setups for procs and farming) nor is anything at all hard, besides voidwatch, the drop rates, not the mobs.

[Anapingofness]

I'd love for a new expansion so as long as they don't go back to the pre-abyssea mire as far as gameplay and the length of time it took for things to be completed.

More importantly, what I'd really like in a new expansion other than world exploration is another epic adventure/storyline.

A few parting words,

1. It doesn't matter if an expansion happens or not. The people paying for this game are allowed to ask for one and are allowed to ask for a reason as to why there hasn't been one in such a long time.

2. Mudkips or Spikdum? It sounds kind of dirty when said out loud. D=