High-res font = yay; Now, how about the title screen? [Archive]

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Alhanelem

06-16-2011, 12:14 PM

Now, a full high-res textuer pack would be nice, though I don't see that happening...

That being said, the title screen logo and the Select/Create/Delete Character/Exit buttons look positively nasty on high screen resolutions. It would be great it we could get those cleaned up to go with the font improvement (the buttons themselves seem to be full images, rather than images with the text on top; so even though we have the new font, it looks like the old one here).

I know it's not really important, but it's one of those things that has been bugging me.

Shadotter

06-16-2011, 03:01 PM

Would be awesome if the font upgrade was the start of a gradual upgrading of the game :D

Xerius

06-16-2011, 03:24 PM

Would be awesome if the font upgrade was the start of a gradual upgrading of the game :D

Holy god I would piss myself.

Camate

06-17-2011, 07:09 AM

Howdy!

While I can’t give a comment about your request for resolution improvements on the title screen (though I did pass on the info to the dev team ;) ), we are planning to enhance the resolution on icons in the next version update.

So without further ado…I give you…the new icons of Vana’diel!:

Brenner
207

AFK
208

Bazaar
209

LFP Flag
210

Linkshell
211

:cool:

Korpg

06-17-2011, 07:12 AM

Those all look neat and crisp.

Thanks Camate.

Neika

06-17-2011, 07:30 AM

Omg those look pretty! Especially the seek party icon! It looks so shiny! :D

Mirage

06-17-2011, 07:32 AM

Nice Camate, I hope you (as in the dev team) will continue to implement UI updates like that, and perhaps even bigger improvements too if you can justify the time required to do them.

Ezrin

06-17-2011, 07:51 AM

Looks good, can't wait for the next version update.

Invader

06-17-2011, 07:52 AM

Nice Camate, I hope you (as in the dev team) will continue to implement UI updates like that, and perhaps even bigger improvements too since the UI is horrible.

There, fixed.

Raxiaz

06-17-2011, 07:54 AM

Thanks Camate. Those look great. I had actually started to wonder if the icons next to player names had been amped a little bit last major update. But I guess that's coming.

Fusionx

06-17-2011, 08:11 AM

Chocobits

06-17-2011, 08:48 AM

Nice to see these changes being made. (though maybe not the best idea to show off new HQ changes in pixelated, compressed jpgs XD).

What are the odds that armor and area textures will receive a resolution tweak?

I would love to see texture improvements. Currently, Tarus don't have discernable fingers and toes. It looks like they got into a horrific accident involving candle wax. I've seen texture mods that fix this. Keeping my chubby, gnarled fingers crossed!

Rhianu

06-17-2011, 10:23 AM

Nice! :D

For the next UI enhancement, could we see resolution improvements to the icons used for status effects?

Krisan

06-17-2011, 10:30 AM

Howdy!

While I can’t give a comment about your request for resolution improvements on the title screen (though I did pass on the info to the dev team ;) ), we are planning to enhance the resolution on icons in the next version update.

:cool:
I don't suppose there's any chance at all of this including status effect icons? Or.. at least open the possibility of such? Because that would just be the best thing ever. Especially so if there's even a teensy tiny chance that we could get more detailed\unique SE icons for things..

Oh and on the subject of the titlescreen and charselect.. I'd just be satisfied if they made it possible to view those in widescreen mode. As it stands, they look really stretched out right now.

JiltedValkyrie

06-17-2011, 10:40 AM

Will we also be seeing more icons for specific spells and status effects? For example, each bard song being its own color or whatnot.

Coldbrand

06-17-2011, 10:50 AM

Excellent news, keep THESE kind of updates up and I'll start to feel better about being a PC user. Now you just gotta' get this game to use my graphics card.

Alhanelem

06-17-2011, 11:43 AM

Remastering the textures at a higher resolution (unless they were originally done in a high resolution) would be a massive undertaking. It would also drastically increase the hard disk space required, so they would need to find a way to have an optional hi-res client download or something, because some people might not have enough space for such a large update.

That said... the icons were probably #2 on the ugliest things in the game list, so I'm glad they're updating that :)

Can you clarify if this includes all icons, such as status icons? or just the icons beside people's names?

Buffing the GM icons too I hope XD

Supersun

06-17-2011, 02:15 PM

Please tell me you are fixing that annoying "gap" with the campaign icon.

BIG pet peeve of mine

Tagrineth

06-17-2011, 02:33 PM

God yes, hi-res status condition icons next please? Some of them are just incredibly painful to look at.

Bulrogg

06-17-2011, 02:37 PM

I just might have to level DRG and make some use of that pretty new LFP flag. <.<

....and so begins his plythe.

Mokatu

06-17-2011, 04:53 PM

I wouldn't mind if the status icons were a bit bigger even. Now that here we are 7 years later (at least as long as I have been playing), have upgraded to bigger and better monitors, so the 1080p on my 23" LEDLCD monitor they can be small.

Kaych

06-17-2011, 05:29 PM

I would love to see texture improvements. Currently, Tarus don't have discernable fingers and toes. It looks like they got into a horrific accident involving candle wax. I've seen texture mods that fix this. Keeping my chubby, gnarled fingers crossed!

Dont you mean "Hopes to be able to cross my fingers"? XD

Amanie

06-17-2011, 05:45 PM

a ballista update!!!! oh just the brenner icon, nvm.......................

Runespider

06-17-2011, 05:59 PM

we are planning to enhance the resolution on icons in the next version update.

Looks really awesome, little things that are so visual do make quite a big difference. Think I saw something about updating the FFXI config utility too? To allow oversampling, higher screens res etc by default in the program.

Ravenmore

06-17-2011, 06:10 PM

Did the devs find the mod postings or something. Really check out some of the screen shots of third party mods. Not complaining though just kinda funny. Any who heres to hopeing they keep it up.

Runespider

06-17-2011, 07:05 PM

If they do upgrade onscreen status icons I hope they make getting all curor buffs as one icon, getting them atm which most do, fills the entire screen making it hard to differentiate wtf you have on at all.

Unctgtg

06-17-2011, 09:33 PM

Its a start guys

Treasurehider

06-17-2011, 10:37 PM

I might have missed this in an update, but ... *brace yourself and sorry for bringing up this vile cuss word, please don't ban me for this* what about PS2?

As in, so these enhancements apply to NON-ps2 peeps only right? Since *cover your eyes here kids* PS2-limitations and such? *okay can uncover*

Would be nice to hear that PC peeps get the enhancements only so as to entice some these old fogeys still playing on PS2's to finally get on board with today's tech. Ug, it's like frickin IE 6, just won't die!

Anyways, I'm not interested in making this about PS2 vs PC junk as 50 other forums have done that all ready, I'm just curious to know if PS2 peeps received that last font update as well. Thank you.

Vivik

06-17-2011, 10:48 PM

Looks really awesome, little things that are so visual do make quite a big difference. Think I saw something about updating the FFXI config utility too? To allow oversampling, higher screens res etc by default in the program.

You can already do this through regedit. On my machine I run the foreground at 1920x1080 background set at 3840x2160.

Raxiaz

06-17-2011, 10:49 PM

No, they did not receive the font update. And they won't receive this update, either, I'm afraid.

Mirage

06-17-2011, 11:43 PM

You can already do this through regedit. On my machine I run the foreground at 1920x1080 background set at 3840x2160.

But still requires a disproportionate amount of processing power compared to the extra picture quality you'd get.

Alhanelem

06-18-2011, 01:03 AM

As in, so these enhancements apply to NON-ps2 peeps only right?Applies only to the PC. I'm not 100% certain but I think the Xbox doesn't get this either.

Honestly, I'm amazed there are still working original model PS2s in existence. Who still has no other game console than a PS2, and no PC on top of that? You are just going to have to accept that eventually, it WILL become difficult to impossible to support the PS2 eventually.

Even the cheapest budget PCs and netbooks today can run this game. Go get one.

Krisan

06-18-2011, 01:19 AM

Did the devs find the mod postings or something. Really check out some of the screen shots of third party mods. Not complaining though just kinda funny. Any who heres to hopeing they keep it up.
If they increase the resolution of status effect icons.. They actually opens new doors to modders. It means we can have custom icons to everything in crisp and clear resolutions. They don't actually have to change\add icons for it to benefit us at all, just have the client support it. (Modder's are currently limited to an incredibly small resolution for status effect icons.. it makes it difficult to produce something that doesn't look squished, fuzzy, or bland.)

Alhanelem

06-18-2011, 02:05 AM

If they increase the resolution of status effect icons.. They actually opens new doors to modders. It means we can have custom icons to everything in crisp and clear resolutions. They don't actually have to change\add icons for it to benefit us at all, just have the client support it. (Modder's are currently limited to an incredibly small resolution for status effect icons.. it makes it difficult to produce something that doesn't look squished, fuzzy, or bland.)
The game uses lower resolution textures than the engine is capable of using in general. Modders can already replace textures with ones of a higher resolution, but it's such a massive undertaking that it's never been done for more than single pieces of gear.

Miiyo

06-18-2011, 04:18 AM

One less thing for some of you to .dat mod lol =P
It's bad. It's really bad. Don't do it!

And i say "really?" to this post. Of all the things that could use improvement, you mention the title screen that you spam enter through and see for about 6 seconds. Give us HD-Gradient chat backgrounds before that. Even better, I'll make them myself so the dev team doesn't have to do a bit of work. Player contribution and appreciation hard at work. I need nothing in return for I am amazing like that. :D

Krisan

06-18-2011, 06:37 AM

The game uses lower resolution textures than the engine is capable of using in general. Modders can already replace textures with ones of a higher resolution, but it's such a massive undertaking that it's never been done for more than single pieces of gear.
I never spoke of gear once. Wasn't talking about gear at all.
Furthermore the icons can't be replaced with anything higher res than they currently are, ask any UI modder if you don't believe me.

Miiyo

06-18-2011, 07:33 AM

This door was open awhile ago. There's tons of hd mods out there.

Atomic_Skull

06-18-2011, 03:13 PM

You can already do this through regedit. On my machine I run the foreground at 1920x1080 background set at 3840x2160.

If what I made out with bablefish is correct the japanese thread on this subject seems to say that they are going to allow custom background resolutions and make the super sample trick officially supported by FFXI's config. Although it's bablefish so I might be wrong.

Alhanelem

06-18-2011, 05:02 PM

I never spoke of gear once. Wasn't talking about gear at all.
Furthermore the icons can't be replaced with anything higher res than they currently are, ask any UI modder if you don't believe me.
Please point out where I said YOU were talking about gear. I just listed one example of where modders have applied high-res textures. I was simply explaining to you the fact that the game is already fundamentally capable of using higher resolution textures than it actually uses. Certain textures, by their inherent design, of course, can prove to be exceptions, because the game operates under the assumption that certain textures are a certain size.

bungiefan

06-21-2011, 03:03 AM

Honestly, I'm amazed there are still working original model PS2s in existence. Who still has no other game console than a PS2, and no PC on top of that? You are just going to have to accept that eventually, it WILL become difficult to impossible to support the PS2 eventually.

I still have a working early model PS1. My PS2 is still working because I run most games from the HDD to save wear on the optical drive.

Alhanelem

06-21-2011, 03:18 AM

Of all the things that could use improvement, you mention the title screen that you spam enter through and see for about 6 seconds.it's the worst 6 seconds of the game's visuals, period. It's just nauseating to look at, and it's the first thing a new player will see when he starts the game up. It really doesn't help anything to have it look so bad.

I pointed this out simply because
1) It's pretty much the ugliest thing to look at in the whole game, and
2)I did not expect them to make any "rea" sweeping changes, so I limited myself to something small and simple in the hopes that it would get greater consideration.

Alhanelem

07-12-2011, 04:05 AM

Heh. Not only did they buff the icons, they implemented my request too :p

Title screen looks way better; though there's something a bit odd about the grayed out create character button.

Camate

11-08-2011, 04:46 AM

Camate here to bump this thread and bring you a message from Producer Tanaka :)

Along with the other high-res tweaks we’ve been making, we are currently looking into changing out the macro palettes to look like the below:

950

With this style you will be able to write longer titles.

Darkwizardzin

11-08-2011, 05:04 AM

Camate here to bump this thread and bring you a message from Producer Tanaka :)
Thank you.... Now my palettes's names will make more sence.

Avidon

11-08-2011, 05:19 AM

Thala

11-08-2011, 06:10 AM

I love everything that has come out of this topic, and the new macros look like another great UI change. The one UI change left I would like to see for the near future is better support for widescreen so that certain icons, particularly those next to floating character names, don't look awkwardly skewed.

Alhanelem

11-08-2011, 06:47 AM

I like the macro bar change (Note that the macro buttons seem to be semi-transparent in the example

Varazslo

11-08-2011, 07:18 AM

Can the macro bar be made to stop blinking when cycling through each line?

Daniel_Hatcher

11-08-2011, 08:25 AM

Atomic_Skull

11-08-2011, 09:05 AM

They should add support for a split chatbox on the PC and 360 versions with separate chat filters for both. This way you could have battle spam in one and important stuff in the other. It really doesn't make sense to have one chatbox spanning the entire screen in widescreen. Also, support for more chatbox lines.

MarkovChain

11-08-2011, 09:12 AM

Longer titles, yeah ? Longer macro too ?

Mirage

11-08-2011, 11:04 AM

Avidon

11-08-2011, 01:06 PM

The only time that'd get in the way is if you use third-party tools and there is a simple answer to that...

Kinda hard to use Third party tools when you play on Xbox my friend.

Alhanelem

11-08-2011, 02:42 PM

Kinda hard to use Third party tools when you play on Xbox my friend.
Don't play on xbox then. I dunno how anyone can even put up with it when I hear people talking about it freezing up all the time.

Babekeke

11-08-2011, 03:23 PM

Can there be a feature added where we can turn the help menu (Bar on top of the screen) on/off? It gets in the way of stuff sometimes. I can't recall what at this moment due to my brain being a zombie, but yeah!

When counting down your utsusemi shadows, waiting for the icon to disappear... hold your thumb on {Alt} in anticipation, and BAM! you can't see the icon anymore!

The only time that'd get in the way is if you use third-party tools and there is a simple answer to that...

Wrong, as I pointed out above.

Winrie

11-08-2011, 04:55 PM

I'd be thrilled if we could simply have more lines to use in a macro, at least one line per available equip slot, no one Rly needs more macro name space

hiko

11-08-2011, 05:12 PM

Atomic_Skull

11-08-2011, 07:09 PM

imo that is waste of dev time.
have played for years with maccro name no longer than 5letters, don't need to read names since i know what key is what macro (hit the right key before the bar pop)....
+ what Winrie says (more stuff inside the maccro)

They're not going to stop with just this, from the looks of it they are updating the UI in high res. The style of that macro bar does not match the existing UI and would look horribly out of place unless they update the rest of the UI with it.

Asymptotic

11-08-2011, 08:45 PM

Why is the dev team wasting time on useless macro palette aesthetic enhancements when they should be working on giving THFs something to do besides solemnly stand around in Port Jeuno in their Abyssea gear?

(Or really, anything more useful than this crap)

Ryce

11-08-2011, 10:25 PM

UI improvements are always welcome :)

To those complaining that this is a waste of time - ever think that the guy doing these little cosmetic tweaks is there for that reason only....? I highly doubt a programmer with experience creating battle systems in FFXI is playing with the size of macro buttons. Just be grateful that SE lets interns work on FFXI :P

Alhanelem

11-08-2011, 11:38 PM

When counting down your utsusemi shadows, waiting for the icon to disappear... hold your thumb on {Alt} in anticipation, and BAM! you can't see the icon anymore!Don't "hold the alt key in anticipation" then. Press them both at the same time.

Ziyyigo-Tipyigo

11-09-2011, 02:52 AM

Hey, four characters is enough to fit in "AMUT," what more do we need?

Babekeke

11-09-2011, 03:31 PM

Don't "hold the alt key in anticipation" then. Press them both at the same time.

I was just proving a point that it's not only 3rd party tools that get affected.

Lokithor

11-09-2011, 09:29 PM

I hope that while they're at it (making changes to the macro bar) they also change the intrusiveness of the spell casting progress indication. The spell cast progress now is always on the top viewable level, obscuring macros and item pick lists. The top viewable level should always be taken by the most recently requested interface. Either change the layering or use transparency in areas where they overlap or alter the position so that all active GUIs & indicators are visible when up.

Camate

11-18-2011, 04:39 AM

Just wanted to deliver this message from Producer Tanaka!

We’ve implemented the new macro palette onto the dev. server!

984

You can now enter up to 8 characters into the macro title box. We were unable to increase the max number of characters you can input in the macro editing menu. However, the title you input will be fully displayed now. If you are using a 1024x resolution or higher with the Windows version or using the HD mode for Xbox 360, these changes to the macro palette will be automatically switch over. If you are using a lower resolution, SD mode, or a PlayStation 2, the size of the macro palette will remain the original size. We weren’t able to launch this onto the Test Server this week, but we will be implementing it sometime next week. I hope you’re all looking forward to it!

Oh…did you notice the chat widget?
The developers have secretly been working on a new chat widget for Windows and Xbox 360 that will allow you to adjust the number of lines and width of the box. This will also be implemented onto the test server next week, so please try it out!

Alhanelem

11-18-2011, 05:24 AM

If you could give the option to remove the window background on the macro pallette, that would be pretty cool :D

the chat window adjustments are a very pleasant surprise indeed. Thanks for that :)

Sakima

11-18-2011, 05:34 AM

I was wondering if there is any plans to increase the command lines within each macro palette? I have seen comments imply there wasn't a a way due it having problems with the Playstation 2, is there in validity in these statements? If that's the case maybe something could be looked into for the PC/360 platform!?

Alhanelem

11-18-2011, 05:37 AM

I was wondering if there is any plans to increase the command lines within each macro palette?There's no plans for that, they've been asked this a million times.

Fusionx

11-18-2011, 05:55 AM

Never thought the macro changes were a big deal.. but the chat log is a nice surprise. Just need to add some options with things like transparency and it'd be perfect.

edit> Also font size options for chat log incoming? Would be nice with the changes being made to the size of the box.

SpankWustler

11-18-2011, 05:59 AM

The developers have secretly been working on a new chat widget for Windows and Xbox 360 that will allow you to adjust the number of lines and width of the box. This will also be implemented onto the test server next week, so please try it out!

I approve wholeheartedly of anything and everything that makes the interface more customizable. If only because I choose to hold tight to hope that it's an indication something I'd actually want to customize will be customizable in the future.

Daniel_Hatcher

11-18-2011, 06:03 AM

Chat log is too FFXIV and vile at that, even worse with FFXI's default backgrounds.

Fusionx

11-18-2011, 06:04 AM

Chat log is too FFXIV and vile at that, will be worse with FFXI's default backgrounds.

yes.. "too FFXIV" because no other MMO has a chat log that's smaller and tucked into the corner. Not a single one.

Daniel_Hatcher

11-18-2011, 06:17 AM

yes.. "too FFXIV" because no other MMO has a chat log that's smaller and tucked into the corner. Not a single one.

Erm... this is a Final Fantasy forum... Would you rather I went and named every MMO that does it, seriously!? Get over yourself!

Ophannus

11-18-2011, 06:18 AM

This is great, if it would have been implemented 9 years ago.

Rosalie

11-18-2011, 06:24 AM

Just wanted to deliver this message from Producer Tanaka!

This new widget box thing looks suspiciously like FFXIV...

I wouldn't call it "too" FFXIV, but I'm hoping we get the option to keep the old style boxes since that's what I'm used to at least. Even on FFXIV I dragged the chat box out to look like FFXI...

Dmer

11-18-2011, 06:36 AM

I really hope this chat log change will lead to us being able to move the party list to the other side of the screen so that it will be easier to keep an eye on party/alli member HP bars while reading the chat log.

Thala

11-18-2011, 06:38 AM

Oddly enough, I'm always trying to adjust other MMO UIs to be like FFXI :P

Still, nice feature to have.

Rakshaka

11-18-2011, 07:04 AM

Selzak

11-18-2011, 07:05 AM

I'm diggin' it, as long as we always have to option to revert back I don't see the problem.

Not sure if I'll be keeping the chatlog somewhere different, but I'll definitely play around with it given the option!

Varazslo

11-18-2011, 07:08 AM

Haven't played on the test server so I don't know if this is old news but I see that the macro bar was moved over so it doesn't overlap with the hp/mp/tp bar. nice. Any news on if the macro bar can be made to NOT flash when cycling through lines?

Alhanelem

11-18-2011, 07:30 AM

Chat log is too FFXIV and vile at that, even worse with FFXI's default backgrounds.

"too FFXIV"? Virtually every MMO chat log looks like that. Also, nobody said you HAD to make the log look like that. it's an option, not a requirement.

I've had some arguably silly reasons to object to some things- but this almost takes the cake- 'too ffxiv' ... :confused:

feel free to hate on ffxiv all you want, but don't use that as an excuse to hate on a good change for FFXI.

Daniel_Hatcher

11-18-2011, 07:37 AM

feel free to hate on ffxiv all you want, but don't use that as an excuse to hate on a good change for FFXI.

We'll agree to disagree.

Alhanelem

11-18-2011, 07:53 AM

We'll agree to disagree.
That's great, because it's only an option. you can keep your chat log, and those who want to adjust the size of their chat log will be able to.

Francisco

11-18-2011, 08:37 AM

The screenshot was just an example... you can make it wider and shorter... possibly taller and narrower, if you wish.

Personally, my preference would be to see the layout similar to this...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v285/MrBill82x/chatbox.jpg

SpankWustler

11-18-2011, 08:49 AM

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/8529/larryz.jpg

SMD111

11-18-2011, 08:55 AM

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/8529/larryz.jpg

perfect
just perfect
ROFLAO

Atomic_Skull

11-18-2011, 09:13 AM

Just wanted to deliver this message from Producer Tanaka!

Now just add an option for a second log window and it'll be perfect. Then you could have chat and important messages in one window and battle spam in the other.

Also, adjustable font size.

Amador

11-18-2011, 11:12 AM

I really don't like it. It looks horrible, and it looks like like clutter.

I really hope that just like the current system for PC, it allows your Macro Pallet to vanish if you're not using a macro. Having to stare at that the entire fight will be very lack luster especially fighting a bigger enemy.

Imagine how this will look on a big NM? It's bad enough we can't even see the monster when we're engaged. Now with this we won't even be able to see his chest. Just feet.

Atomic_Skull

11-18-2011, 12:09 PM

Alhanelem

11-18-2011, 01:42 PM

I really hope that just like the current system for PC, it allows your Macro Pallet to vanish if you're not using a macro. Where did anyone ever say the macro pallete will always be on screen?

Personally, my preference would be to see the layout similar to this... Personally, i'd prefer the log window not to cover up the entire bottom of the screen. Although your idea keeps the command menu out of the way, the command menu isn't always on screen.

Atomic_Skull

11-18-2011, 02:05 PM

Where did anyone ever say the macro pallete will always be on screen?

Personally, i'd prefer the log window not to cover up the entire bottom of the screen. Although your idea keeps the command menu out of the way, the command menu isn't always on screen.

What would be nice is if you could stick the party list to the right side of the log window. Instead of being stacked vertically at the edge of the screen they would be arranged horizontally next to it.

Having the command menu on the right side and everything else on the left side made sense at 640x480 but not at 1600x900. At higher resolutions it requires too much looking back and forth for information, especially in widescreen. Better to just have everything in one part of the screen. They could have an option to put everything (command menu, lists, inventory, equipment menu) on the right side or everything on the left side.

Vold

11-18-2011, 02:19 PM

new chat widgetBloody hell this is the best news in forever in my book. The one good thing about 14 makes it's way to 11. Personally I'm hoping that we can make multiple boxes for different uses like battle log in one, chat in another, etc. But that might be asking for too much. For now I'll gladly use just the one but I suspect I'll be getting my wish because I don't see a point otherwise in bothering. It seems trivial to do for the sake of a lil more free screen not being blocked by the log box but hey, I'll take it anyway I can.

And everybody ever that has ever said they would not do upgrades for other platforms because it would be of no use to all subscribers(aka PS2 users), you may now admit you were wrong.

Dazusu

11-18-2011, 05:04 PM

Chat log is too FFXIV and vile at that, even worse with FFXI's default backgrounds.

Let us be thankful that you're not making the decisions.

Runespider

11-18-2011, 08:25 PM

What is the point of the chat widget thing exactly? Unless there are plans to seperate battle text from chat windows it seems pointless...or is it to just get people used to how FFXIV looks? o.O

feel free to hate on ffxiv all you want, but don't use that as an excuse to hate on a good change for FFXI.

What's good about it, genuine question cause I must be missing how squishing the current chat box into something more stubby is a good thing.

Daniel_Hatcher

11-18-2011, 08:36 PM

Let us be thankful that you're not making the decisions.

Yeah, I'd focus on stuff needed. Much better to focus on pointless UI changes like this over fixing, I don't know, the jobs.

If I wanted pretty UI's above everything else I'd move to another game.

Runespider

11-18-2011, 08:48 PM

If I wanted pretty UI's above everything else I'd move to another game.

I don't mind UI changes (although given how few work on FFXI and how stuff like this means less actual content maybe not) if they help how anyone plays the game, on face value these are a complete waste of time though. Yay I can make my chatbox...stubby?

Even the macro change is a waste of time in reality since it offers no real change aside from being able to write longer descriptions, offers zero change to how anyone plays the game. The macro change shoudl of come with longer macro lines or another change that actually made playing the game slightly better.

Tagrineth

11-18-2011, 10:09 PM

If you don't like that particular position for the chatbox, don't use that particular position for the chatbox.

Did you read the info? That's not the "new position" - the 'chat widget' lets you set your own parameters for the chatbox's size and shape.

So your complaint is literally invalid. lol.

Ryce

11-19-2011, 01:01 AM

Yeah, I'd focus on stuff needed. Much better to focus on pointless UI changes like this over fixing, I don't know, the jobs.

If I wanted pretty UI's above everything else I'd move to another game.

Do you really think they have battle content designers working on UI adjustments? They're 2 completely different fields of development. I don't know the team personally, so forgive me if I'm mistaken, but I doubt the guy working on the new chat log could make adjustments to jobs if he was asked to...

Would you be upset if they added new music to an area? Should that musician have been focused on adjusting JA timers instead? I sure hope not. By that logic, Camate should stop posting on forums and get crackin' on making my 2-Hours suck less!

Mirage

11-19-2011, 01:55 AM

The UI in this game is pretty terrible, and I welcome every improvement to it, no matter how slight.

The ability to customize your chat log size and placement is a good start, but I would love it if we could also get the ability to add several chat logs, with different filters for each. That way, I could keep battle related info in one, and chat in another.

It would also be great if we could get an option to keep the macro bars visible without needing to keep alt/ctrl depressed, and also make the macro bars not appear on top of the status icons. Perhaps let us reconfigure the macro interface so that we could have one "default macro bar" that was accessible even without pressing alt or ctrl.

For example, keys 0-9 would activate the macros that currently are activated by alt+0-9, and we'd press ctrl to get to the second macro line. I don't know about you guys, but sometimes when I change up my macros, it takes a while before I learn the new layout by heart. It would be a lot better if I could make at least one of the two macro bars always visible, and be able to activate them directly with a single keystroke instead of having to use two.

Of course, because some people are really opposed to change, even for the better, there should probably an option to keep using the old setup.

Dragoy

11-19-2011, 04:03 AM

Could the devs got a step further and make it so that chat lines stay open during zoning so that we don't have to worry about missing important chat info while zoning? This mainly applies to linkshell chat. At least you get a message when your tells don't get to their recipient.
I haven't looked into it really, but I imagine it might be rather difficult to pull off due to how the server-system is laid out. You basically are disconnected from a server to connect another, which is why you would lose any messages sent during that time. Just an uneducated guess, though, as I said, I haven't investigated it really. ^^;

As for the upcoming changes, might look too weird for me to change the size even though most of the log width for me is ever only used by some NPC dialogue, but even so, if nothing else to put in its empty space, it is of no use really.
Also, I don't think you will be able to scale the size as freely as many think. I'm assuming certain set sizes, but well, maybe there's a lot of those. ^^

We shall see how the shall shell sees the sea shell at the sea sea sea · · ·

Mirage

11-19-2011, 05:16 AM

Dragoy

11-19-2011, 08:26 AM

I dunno, to me it makes sense that the chat servers are separated from zone servers. I have had odd disconnects where I get R0, mobs stop moving etc, but i still see LS and party chat continue as usual.
Well yeah, they aren't separate like that, as in, you already are able to message people that are on other areas obviously, but for some reason, the transition of a character to another area requires it to lose connection to the 'chat-server(s)'.

Heck, it could be a memory limitation issue of the PS2, that they have to 're-set' it all when changing area. ^^;

Rhianu

11-19-2011, 01:06 PM

Yeah, I'd focus on stuff needed. Much better to focus on pointless UI changes like this over fixing, I don't know, the jobs.

If I wanted pretty UI's above everything else I'd move to another game.

UI improvements are never pointless. The UI is one of the most important aspects of the game.

Honestly, I'm sick of people trying to claim that job balance is the only thing SE should ever spend any development time on. -.-

Even the macro change is a waste of time in reality since it offers no real change aside from being able to write longer descriptions, offers zero change to how anyone plays the game. The macro change shoudl of come with longer macro lines or another change that actually made playing the game slightly better.

The wider macro buttons make them more intuitive and user-friendly. Text no longer gets cut off because the buttons are too damn small (something that's always pissed me off about FFXI's macros). True, it doesn't change how you play, but it's not supposed to. It's supposed make it easier to do what you're already doing.

Having said that, I would really like it if we could assign icons to the macros in addition to text (like in FFXIV). :D

Also, if SE could figure out a way to display cool-down timers directly on the macro buttons (again, like in FFXIV), that would be awesome.

In fact, just replace the Macro Pallet with an Action Bar. :P

Mirage

11-19-2011, 07:15 PM

Cooldown timers directly on macro buttons would be difficult, seeing as you can have multiple abilities/spells in one macro. If anything, we'd have to be given a new sort of macro tag that we could use to tell the game which timer we wanted to be displayed. Something like "/macrotimer Provoke"

Rhianu

11-19-2011, 08:44 PM

Hmmm, that's a good point. Perhaps SE could modify the Macro Pallet so it doubles as an Action Bar? For example, they could make it so you can either make a button into a traditional macro with multiple lines, or you can set just one ability to that button but can't type any command lines into it. That would allow for cooldown timers on the buttons. :)

Mirage

11-19-2011, 09:17 PM

If anything, we should keep the macro panels, but have an action bar in addition that is directly activated by 0-9 without pressing alt or ctrl.

I dunno though, I would rather have a macro bar that was directly activated by 0-9 with a single keystroke, because macros are much more flexible than a regular action bar.

Instead, SE could make an UI addition that could show us ability/spell timers in real time.

Elexia

11-20-2011, 04:53 AM

yes.. "too FFXIV" because no other MMO has a chat log that's smaller and tucked into the corner. Not a single one.

What I find funny? If you so much as mention FFXI in the XIV forums they're ready to kill their first born, but if you mention something 'is too xiv' or 'resembles xiv' on XI boards no one goes into raged frenzy and try to vomit holy water on you for mentioning it, they just either correct you, like it, or hate it and move on lol.

I personally like the current UI much more since it was something different from other MMOs, sure it may be outdated by new kids standards, but it was fresh and actually shows they put more thought into it than ganking x mmo's template and slapping on custom graphics.

Mirage

11-20-2011, 04:57 AM

Just because something is different doesn't mean it's better.

Other than that, your post doesn't really make sense. You talk about it being "outdated by new kids standards" and then at the same time how it "didn't copy other MMOs". So you're saying it's outdated compared to the MMOs that existed when FF11 was released, and at the same time new and original?? Or what exactly are you saying?

Tarage

11-20-2011, 04:31 PM

I don't want my chat window changed. Leave it the hell alone.

Leonlionheart

11-20-2011, 04:32 PM

I don't want my chat window changed. Leave it the hell alone.

The special thing about customization, is you don't have to partake at all.

Atomic_Skull

11-20-2011, 05:17 PM

The special thing about customization, is you don't have to partake at all.

No it's not that. It's the knowledge that someone else might change it, that he might be looking at someone, partying with someone in game right now who has changed their chat window from it's rightful screen spanning appearance and confined it to a corner of the screen, which fills him with the incandescent rage of a thousand blazing suns.

Rhianu

11-20-2011, 06:02 PM

I personally like the current UI much more since it was something different from other MMOs, sure it may be outdated by new kids standards, but it was fresh and actually shows they put more thought into it than ganking x mmo's template and slapping on custom graphics.

You know why other MMOs share a standard interface? Because it works. FFXI has one of the worst interfaces in the entire MMO genre. Conforming to a good, solid standard is far better than creating a unique piece of crap. Deviating from the standard is only acceptable if what you're creating is better than the standard, and FFXI's UI simply isn't better. It's much worse.

Though FFXI was originally released in 2002, and the current MMO UI standard wasn't really established until 2004, but still, SE could have put a lot more thought and effort into it than they did. Some things in the UI are just inexcusably bad.

Honestly, I would say FFXI's UI is just as bad as FFXIV's UI, just in different ways. Thankfully, at least FFXIV is going to have its UI completely redone and brought up to modern standards. SE should get their UI team to give FFXI's UI the same kind of facelift that they're giving to FFXIV's UI with the coming Version 2.0.

Runespider

11-20-2011, 08:07 PM

You know why other MMOs share a standard interface? Because it works. FFXI has one of the worst interfaces in the entire MMO genre. Conforming to a good, solid standard is far better than creating a unique piece of crap. Deviating from the standard is only acceptable if what you're creating is better than the standard, and FFXI's UI simply isn't better. It's much worse.

A lot of us started our MMO career with FFXI and as such is the standard we are used to, when I play other MMOs I hate the chat window systems they use. I also get irritated if I can't use the control system I'm used to.

I guess the only reason I can think of for this change is for super high res/widescreen players to make the chatbox a normal size. That's honestly quite a small number of people but at least I can see a point to it now, if that is the case they probably need an option to change the font size too though maybe.

Rhianu

11-20-2011, 08:18 PM

Fun fact: other MMOs have configuration options and addons that allow you to change the chatlog and make it however you want. Don't like the default settings? Change them!

And actually, I think this change to the chatlog affects almost all PC players, and probably most Xbox 360 players as well. Hi-def computer monitors and TVs are very common these days.

Daniel_Hatcher

11-20-2011, 08:21 PM

Rhianu

11-20-2011, 08:25 PM

Active backgrounds? What do you mean?

LeaderofAtlantis

11-20-2011, 08:37 PM

Ok, I'm tired of hearing the whole "Drop the PS2" thing. Let me say this - I play on PS2 because of these reasons:

1) I first owned it on PS2, so I got the expansions for it and therefore, didn't feel like buying them all over again initially (yeah, they're ultra cheap for PC now, I know)...

2) I like the PS2 controller and using my TV screen. Yeah, I wish I could get some of the clutter of the screen at times and better resolution will do that, but I feel comfortable with it, so it's my choice to play this way.

3) It still works, I've been playing on it for 7 years, with a controller and USB Keyboard (for chatting) - why take the time to get used to everything all over again on PC?

4) I did the macro save and switch when I tried playing on my brother's laptop when we were all visiting my mom last Christmas. It didn't transfer my macros over properly and well, my time is limited sometimes and redoing all my macros manually just isn't appealing to me.

NOW, All that said, Square-Enix should work hard to bring an HD and possibly even 3D experience to players on PC an XBox360 if possible. There's no reason they shouldn't be able to since it appears we download all animations, zones, gear, character looks, monsters, etc. to our hard drives anyway for faster reaction times on showing them, so why not, instead of the current files, it grabs and displays new HD versions of these files instead? Maybe I'm missing something, but that shouldn't be too difficult.

Maybe Square-enix is already working on this but the character models, zones, animations and such are taking a longer time, so in the meantime, in order to give us a taste of FFXI in HD, they're doing these little things. For the sake of everyone who wants to continue playing, but with newer graphics and such, I hope this is the case.

Daniel_Hatcher

11-20-2011, 09:16 PM

Active backgrounds? What do you mean?

The backgrounds you can change under config > Windows (I think) they're horrible.

Rhianu

11-20-2011, 09:44 PM

Maybe Square-enix is already working on this but the character models, zones, animations and such are taking a longer time, so in the meantime, in order to give us a taste of FFXI in HD, they're doing these little things. For the sake of everyone who wants to continue playing, but with newer graphics and such, I hope this is the case.
Don't fool yourself. SE isn't working on redoing any of FFXI's graphics, no matter how much we would like them to. It's a nice thought, but it ain't happening.

The backgrounds you can change under config > Windows (I think) they're horrible.

Oh, you mean the menu textures? What does that have to do with the size of the chatlog?

Daniel_Hatcher

11-20-2011, 10:58 PM

Oh, you mean the menu textures? What does that have to do with the size of the chatlog?

So many games use different names for the same thing.

It effects it as the "textures" will look horrible with that style chat area.

Ziyyigo-Tipyigo

11-20-2011, 11:32 PM

4) I did the macro save and switch when I tried playing on my brother's laptop when we were all visiting my mom last Christmas. It didn't transfer my macros over properly and well, my time is limited sometimes and redoing all my macros manually just isn't appealing to me.

Log in on the PS2 and set yourself onto a blank macro page or, better yet, a blank book. Then back it up to the server.

I don't know why this works, it just does. Just another PS2 bug that will never get fixed.

Mirage

11-21-2011, 01:11 AM

So many games use different names for the same thing.

It effects it as the "textures" will look horrible with that style chat area.

Please explain why.

Greatguardian

11-21-2011, 01:15 AM

In This Thead: People don't seem to understand that adding a chat widget doesn't mean that everyone's chat log will be moved over to the side.

All it means is anyone will be able to resize and move their chat log however and wherever they want it, if they want to.

If you like it where it is, keep it there. If you don't, move it. Win-Win.

Daniel_Hatcher

11-21-2011, 03:10 AM

Please explain why.

They're ugly the normal way, uglier this new way.

Rhianu

11-21-2011, 07:10 AM

So many games use different names for the same thing.

It effects it as the "textures" will look horrible with that style chat area.
I don't see how they would look any different than they do now. >_>

They're ugly the normal way, uglier this new way.
But they look exactly the same either way!

Sappho

11-23-2011, 06:27 AM

woo!!!
chat box sizing!!!

Camate

11-29-2011, 07:27 AM

Camate here to deliver another message from Producer Hiromichi Tanaka!

I’d like to start out with some responses to feedback.

I think it would work well if we could adjust the width of the log window from both the right and left side. That way, for example, we could place them log window right in the bottom center of the screen.

Is it correct to assume, based on the original image, that it will be adjustable only from the right side? I’d really like it to be adjustable from the left as well.

We plan on closely monitoring the situation for a while with the current setup as a variety of problems could arise with the compass and action commands/other things that are constantly displayed above the log window, making the settings quite complex.

Along with the log window change, will there be additional log window backgrounds added? If adding new ones is difficult, I think it would be cool to customize the color just like you do when you select a color for your linkshell.

We won’t be increasing the variety, but we are thinking it might be good to switch some out. Perhaps we’ll have a survey asking which numbers you would like cut. For now, we will try to see if we can make number 5 a bit darker.

Personally, I welcome the log window change. Being able to change the number of text lines is helpful.

Will it be possible to add another log window in the space that resizing would create, so we can set up different logs? For example, it’d be really great if we could have one window as the battle log and another one for chat. I’d also really appreciate it if we could customize the size of the text in the log window.

We are not currently planning multiple windows for “the current system.”

As we are working within the limitations of the current UI, we are a bit limited with the things we can do.
While we are working on things that we can, like the Windows version resolution improvements, we have actually begun looking into completely revamping the entire UI. Of course this is going to take some time, so once I have more information, I will be sure to share it with you.

For our next step, we are planning to address higher resolution text fonts and separate resolution settings for the overlay graphics resolution and menus.

Daniel_Hatcher

11-29-2011, 07:40 AM

We won’t be increasing the variety, but we are thinking it might be good to switch some out. Perhaps we’ll have a survey asking which numbers you would like cut. For now, we will try to see if we can make number 5 a bit darker.

This!!!! The backgrounds are long overdue to be replaced.

Zhronne

11-29-2011, 08:36 AM

While we are working on things that we can, like the Windows version resolution improvements, we have actually begun looking into completely revamping the entire UI.
That's... that's...
I didn't really read that, did I?
Somebody pinch me please, need to see if I'm awake or dreaming.

Kaisha

11-29-2011, 08:55 AM

For our next step, we are planning to address higher resolution text fonts and separate resolution settings for the overlay graphics resolution and menus.
All I needed to hear.

No more tiny chat box at 1920x1200!

Eric

11-29-2011, 09:03 AM

I'm glad that they are deciding to do this. I think the UI is one of the most important parts of a game. It's the part of the game you stare at the most, and it's also how you make all of your interactions with it.

Francisco

11-29-2011, 09:07 AM

For chat backgrounds, I'd like to see some semi-transparent black or a Darkshade of blue.

Juilan

11-29-2011, 09:16 AM

Will it be possible to add another log window in the space that resizing would create, so we can set up different logs? For example, it’d be really great if we could have one window as the battle log and another one for chat. I’d also really appreciate it if we could customize the size of the text in the log window.
We are not currently planning multiple windows for “the current system.”

As we are working within the limitations of the current UI, we are a bit limited with the things we can do.
While we are working on things that we can, like the Windows version resolution improvements, we have actually begun looking into completely revamping the entire UI. Of course this is going to take some time, so once I have more information, I will be sure to share it with you.

For our next step, we are planning to address higher resolution text fonts and separate resolution settings for the overlay graphics resolution and menus.

I think this person is referring to what can be done with FFXIV, I enjoyed the battle and the talking windows... The issue with doing that on FFXI is : in FFXIV the text is on a different server port, the text log keeps working while dcing and you could in theory log in to the chat server remotely....
On FFXI the chat server is shared with the game connection... so that cannot be done on the same stream... oddly if ffxi had the same set up as FFXIV when it came to chatting we could have shouts that work in all cities without a lot of lag...

Kaisha

11-29-2011, 09:44 AM

For chat backgrounds, I'd like to see some semi-transparent black or a Darkshade of blue.
I don't know why they can't just give us another window slider for controlling transparency levels.

Ryce

11-29-2011, 09:57 AM

New UI <<Yes please.>> I love it ^^

FrankReynolds

11-29-2011, 10:03 AM

Being able to split chat and battle into 2 logs would be omfgamazing. Also, not squinting at my high res screen would be a nice change.

Dragoy

11-29-2011, 10:18 AM

2) I like the PS2 controller and using my TV screen. Yeah, I wish I could get some of the clutter of the screen at times and better resolution will do that, but I feel comfortable with it, so it's my choice to play this way.

3) It still works, I've been playing on it for 7 years, with a controller and USB Keyboard (for chatting) - why take the time to get used to everything all over again on PC?

You know it's possible to play with a controller on the PC as well? You can even use a Playstation controller if you have an adapter for it. ^^

All it means is anyone will be able to resize and move their chat log however and wherever they want it, if they want to.

It's not quite that freely adjustable. If you haven't tried it out on the test-server, it is just as I expected, stuck in the lower-left corner, and you can adjust the size between set steps similar to how you can set the maximum/minimum lines visible, only that you can do it more to the up than before, as well as to the left/right.

I tried playing with it a bit, still not sure if I can get used to it not filling the whole lower area lol.
It is good to see that they are playing around with the UI, and even considering further changes.

Keep it up!

Helel

11-29-2011, 12:17 PM

Revamping the UI almost makes me think they still care about this game. Makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.

Darkvalkyr

11-29-2011, 02:16 PM

Alhanelem

11-29-2011, 03:03 PM

The FFXIV team gave us a sneak peek of what the UI will look like a year from now. If it's going to undergo major changes, how about whetting our appetites with a sneak peek too? :p

I really really hope the change to the UI isn't going to be drastic.

I don't know why people complain about XI's UI, I've found it to be one of the most convenient, fastest UI in most areas bar certain parts. You probably haven't played many other MMOs. The only concieveable strong point of FFXI's UI system is how basic it is. It lacks in information given, lacks in intelligent design (e.x. UI widgets covering up other UI widgets when they shouldn't), is almost unusable with the mouse (which drives a lot of would-be PC players off), is barely customizable at all, doesn't allow you to directly hotkey spells and abilities or many other functions for that matter, and has stupid rules for when you can and can't use certain functions ("You must close the currently open window to use that command").

The biggest problem is inability to customize. The ability to resize the log window is the best little baby step in that direction in a very long time.

I agree drastic changes would be very jarring to long time players, but it will be no more difficult to adjust to than when you learned it for the first time.

FrankReynolds

11-29-2011, 04:01 PM

You probably haven't played many other MMOs. The only concieveable strong point of FFXI's UI system is how basic it is. It lacks in information given, lacks in intelligent design (e.x. UI widgets covering up other UI widgets when they shouldn't), is almost unusable with the mouse (which drives a lot of would-be PC players off), is barely customizable at all, doesn't allow you to directly hotkey spells and abilities or many other functions for that matter, and has stupid rules for when you can and can't use certain functions ("You must close the currently open window to use that command").

...

I agree drastic changes would be very jarring to long time players, but it will be no more difficult to adjust to than when you learned it for the first time.

I agree. After a few years of playing with a controller, and then having to play on PC with mouse when my console broke, I felt completely lost. The UI was so crappy without a controller it was almost unplayable. I mean just clicking on the menu item you want is often inaccurate or laggy, and navigating the menus is lame. It would make more sense if you could have macros up that you could click any time without having to push ctrl or alt. On a high res screen, I could probably fit 40 macros up on one side without even needing to hide them. Thank god for that JP guy who made drivers that turn the 360 triggers into buttons so that I can use my 360 wireless on my PC.

Darkvalkyr

11-29-2011, 07:19 PM

Actually, I'm surprised anyone plays XI with a mouse!

I find XI's UI one of the best, most unclunky out of all MMOs for a pure keyboard player. Having to move my hand to my mouse every now and then in some MMOs really is frustrating. The only thing I don't like is just how macros aren't as responsive as I would like to be.

Well, I don't mind a UI change as long as it's not so drastic *or* we have the option to keep the previous UI as well. Given XI's history though, I don't know how customisable it will be, if it will be at all.

Tagrineth

11-29-2011, 07:31 PM

yah if you play pure keyboard it's not a bad interface. Still pretty clunky yeah but not unmanageable.

Arcon

11-29-2011, 07:42 PM

I really really hope the change to the UI isn't going to be drastic.

I don't know why people complain about XI's UI, I've found it to be one of the most convenient, fastest UI in most areas bar certain parts.

I find XI's UI one of the best, most unclunky out of all MMOs for a pure keyboard player. Having to move my hand to my mouse every now and then in some MMOs really is frustrating. The only thing I don't like is just how macros aren't as responsive as I would like to be.

Well, I don't mind a UI change as long as it's not so drastic *or* we have the option to keep the previous UI as well. Given XI's history though, I don't know how customisable it will be, if it will be at all.

yah if you play pure keyboard it's not a bad interface. Still pretty clunky yeah but not unmanageable.

"User Interface" isn't just navigating the menu, it's everything that translates user actions into the game and vice versa translates game elements to the user. One of those things is displaying stats that currently aren't being displayed, like Accuracy, Evasion and as ranged and magic stats, as well as other screen elements, like displaying Party TP and Alliance MP/TP. Another would be allowing gear changes to take place when menus are open, something that bothers me gravely. Yet another thing that's an UI issue (that probably won't be fixed, though), is the disappearing of the menu one zoning, and consequently missing parts of the chat, and not being able to chat during that time. All of these things (and plenty more) bother the majority of people. And that's still not all, blinking and losing target on blinking, for example, could also be classed as interface flaws.

It's not just how well and fast the menus are to navigate with a keyboard. It's some inherent issues with the design and implementation of that into the game client, and SE can do a lot on that front.

Sappho

11-30-2011, 02:17 AM

It's not just how well and fast the menus are to navigate with a keyboard. It's some inherent issues with the design and implementation of that into the game client, and SE can do a lot on that front.

UI and usability are critically important aspects of any software development.

I'm just delighted to hear that FFXI will finally be getting some much needed UI upgrades.

Ryce

11-30-2011, 04:10 AM

The layout of FFXI's UI is not bad. I've used it for so long that I can't imagine using anything drastically different. The problems with the UI are 1.) It's ugly as #$^& and 2.) Useful info that other games put front and center are hidden in XI. I'm glad they are addressing point 1, and hope that this "overhaul", if it happens, addresses point 2.

Alhanelem

11-30-2011, 02:32 PM

Actually, I'm surprised anyone plays XI with a mouse!People would use the mouse if it wasn't so completely useless the way its controlls were designed. The lack of a hotbar doesn't help either.

I use the keyboard only, but I would use mouse + keyboard if the mouse was in some way functional.

Atomic_Skull

11-30-2011, 05:38 PM

The FFXIV team gave us a sneak peek of what the UI will look like a year from now. If it's going to undergo major changes, how about whetting our appetites with a sneak peek too? :p

You probably haven't played many other MMOs. The only concieveable strong point of FFXI's UI system is how basic it is. It lacks in information given, lacks in intelligent design (e.x. UI widgets covering up other UI widgets when they shouldn't), is almost unusable with the mouse (which drives a lot of would-be PC players off), is barely customizable at all, doesn't allow you to directly hotkey spells and abilities or many other functions for that matter, and has stupid rules for when you can and can't use certain functions ("You must close the currently open window to use that command").

The biggest problem is inability to customize. The ability to resize the log window is the best little baby step in that direction in a very long time.

I agree drastic changes would be very jarring to long time players, but it will be no more difficult to adjust to than when you learned it for the first time.

There's nothing wrong with keeping a UI basic. Complexity for complexity's sake is stupid design. Also whatever they do has to be usable with a controller so don't expect anything like a WoW style MMO. They're not going to put as much effort into FFXI as FFXIV, so we almost certainly won't get two separate UIs.

I use the keyboard only, but I would use mouse + keyboard if the mouse was in some way functional.

I use a controller and I like it that way. I don't want to be forced to use mouse+keyboard.

Kaisha

11-30-2011, 07:12 PM

Actually, I'm surprised anyone plays XI with a mouse!
I could go for an option to disable mouse input altogether.

I can't be the only one here who has instances where the mouse is overriding my keyboard input on the interface and requires me to move it around and click once before I regain control.

Arcon

11-30-2011, 07:15 PM

I could go for an option to disable mouse input altogether.

I can't be the only one here who has instances where the mouse is overriding my keyboard input on the interface and requires me to move it around and click once before I regain control.

Couldn't agree more. I want the mouse gone.

Dragoy

11-30-2011, 08:20 PM

I really really hope the change to the UI isn't going to be drastic.

I don't know why people complain about XI's UI, I've found it to be one of the most convenient, fastest UI in most areas bar certain parts.
I agree.

I have no real complaints I think, I always did sort of like it if we are not talking about the chat-system and logging and all that (I still dislike that part), but the UI in and as of itself without considering the channels I never had really any issues with. Then again, I am one of those that use the keyboard mainly. I use ctrl+m for Magic, ctrl+w for ws, and so on, occasionally even utilising the mouse a bit, or even a PS2-controller. That's when the issues come a bit more apparent if not using macros, but the battle-menu, which indeed is not the most comfortable to use.

As long as they do not touch the keyboard mappings (or as long as only adding options, not making it like XIV for example), I don't care I guess...

More options is always a welcome thing, as long as it doesn't hurt the others.

Juri_Licious

12-01-2011, 01:53 AM

There's nothing wrong with keeping a UI basic. Complexity for complexity's sake is stupid design. Also whatever they do has to be usable with a controller so don't expect anything like a WoW style MMO. They're not going to put as much effort into FFXI as FFXIV, so we almost certainly won't get two separate UIs.

I use a controller and I like it that way. I don't want to be forced to use mouse+keyboard.

You completely missed the point. Improving the UI doesn't mean it's going to be good for mouse only.

Atomic_Skull

12-01-2011, 09:00 AM

You completely missed the point. Improving the UI doesn't mean it's going to be good for mouse only.

It's basicly impossible to make a UI that works equally well with a controller or a mouse. They are two entirely different animals.

Alhanelem

12-01-2011, 09:20 AM

I use a controller and I like it that way. I don't want to be forced to use mouse+keyboard. Who said you'd be forced to use it?

A mouse+keyboard offers vastly superior control to a gamepad, but if you want to use a gamepad, no one's taking that away from you.

It's basicly impossible to make a UI that works equally well with a controller or a mouse. They are two entirely different animals. Not true at all. All you have to do is have options. FFXIV for instance plays just as well with a gamepad as the keyboard, and the mouse is also useable, since you have a hotbar (which can easily be utilized with the keyboard or gamepad as well)

Options are a good thing. You have options.

Daniel_Hatcher

12-01-2011, 09:23 AM

Who said you'd be forced to use it?

A mouse+keyboard offers vastly superior control to a gamepad, but if you want to use a gamepad, no one's taking that away from you.

While it does offer more control, I've always hated using mouses or keyboards to move characters on games. The keyboard specifically is just ridiculously stupid.

Alhanelem

12-01-2011, 09:59 AM

There's nothing wrong with keeping a UI basicIt's TOO basic. Information that really should be available (the client has this information) is not displayed. I specifically meant "basic" in a flawed way. Not in a positive way.

The keyboard specifically is just ridiculously stupid.What's ridiculously stupid about having 109 buttons at your disposal? What's ridiculously stupid about being able to customize any individual key on the keyboard to do whatever you want, like most modern games do?

It does take getting used to if you haven't used it before. I totally agree with it having a steeper learning curve. But it's just so much more powerful, so much more flexible that it's worth the time it takes to learn. Add in the mouse and you have much quicker, much more precise control than what an analog stick can offer.

BTW plural of mouse is mice.

Skie

12-01-2011, 12:08 PM

Personally, I have no issues with the UI in game except when it comes to sorting magic. I know there is a way to sort both black and white magic at the same time in the same list, but iirc, it was a /command and not a menu option. If something like that was available in the battle menu, that would be greatly appreciated.

Also, a great improvement would be a way to change the wind colors and transparencies themselves instead of just being able to change the text colors. The designs available now would are nice, but they do not go well with the default text color outside of the default dark blue lines, and maybe the gray metal theme. The somewhat clear glass theme would be a perfect example of what could be done if SE lets us do this.

As for having 109 buttons for 109 things, I still would prefer having 50 of them for starting a sentence over using a macro.

Atomic_Skull

12-01-2011, 02:46 PM

Also, a great improvement would be a way to change the wind colors and transparencies themselves instead of just being able to change the text colors. The designs available now would are nice, but they do not go well with the default text color outside of the default dark blue lines, and maybe the gray metal theme. The somewhat clear glass theme would be a perfect example of what could be done if SE lets us do this.

The problem with that is that window background transparency also makes text transparent. Compare the transparent window styles and you will see what I mean.

Vold

12-01-2011, 03:23 PM

Add in the mouse and you have much quicker, much more precise control than what an analog stick can offer.

My 7 and a half years of superiority over KB users at any and all NM camps says otherwise. But it's nothing new to hear a KB user dream that they aren't at an disadvantage with their slow KB control which I know is in fact a fact because I have one in front of me at all times and am no stranger to it's controls for FFXI. It offers far more options with a mouse combo, but never more control where it counts.

Raelia

12-01-2011, 03:49 PM

Oh look, it's this thread again.

Daniel_Hatcher

12-01-2011, 07:23 PM

What's ridiculously stupid about having 109 buttons at your disposal? What's ridiculously stupid about being able to customize any individual key on the keyboard to do whatever you want, like most modern games do?

It does take getting used to if you haven't used it before. I totally agree with it having a steeper learning curve. But it's just so much more powerful, so much more flexible that it's worth the time it takes to learn. Add in the mouse and you have much quicker, much more precise control than what an analog stick can offer.

BTW plural of mouse is mice.

Using W, A, D and S to move like most games do is a prime example. The mouse movement is alright but so many games do the movement so weird it just doesn't look natural. That said, I already stated you got more use out of a keyboard. Moving with a mouse or keyboard however is just not me.

BTW I know, don't ask me why I typed 'mouses' probably wasn't concentrating.

Finuve

12-01-2011, 11:32 PM

everyone playing with keyboard should be using compact keyboard mode, just throwing that out there

Juri_Licious

12-02-2011, 12:13 AM

People wonder why we don't get change when we have people who fight against said change.
This isn't a keyboard/mouse vs controller thread guys.

And try not to be so narrow-minded, that there can't be a UI in which can decent for both setups.

Dragoy

12-02-2011, 01:31 AM

everyone playing with keyboard should be using compact keyboard mode, just throwing that out there
Why? :S

I know I don't.

Mirage

12-21-2011, 07:35 PM

One thing that I look forwards to (hopefully) being changed is the location of important information. With the current layout, high resolutions cause a lot of unneccessary eye movements, such as having to move focus to the top left of the screen to check the macro panel, then all the way down to the bottom right to select the target for the spell. Same applies when using the spell/JA hotkey menus.

Camate

02-10-2012, 07:44 AM

Rewyen

02-10-2012, 08:16 AM

Any possibility of a full game overhaul? Lie to me. It's okay :P

Duzell

02-10-2012, 08:28 AM

How come that galka gets a brew outside abyssea/WoE, and why is he wasting it on Too Weak mobs?

Runespider

02-10-2012, 08:29 AM

Looks nice, as minor as it is. Nice to see changes made to the game that ignore ps2 limiations too.

saevel

02-10-2012, 08:58 AM

Vold

02-10-2012, 08:59 AM

How come that galka gets a brew outside abyssea/WoE, and why is he wasting it on Too Weak mobs?In Undine Orcish Trooper farms you. Therefore, brew.

Hercule

02-10-2012, 09:02 AM

Jamesy

02-10-2012, 10:18 AM

do i spy possible adjustments to chat box height width? please say its true for so long as a taru my chat box has covered a lot of the screen maybe we can finally see something

Seriha

02-10-2012, 10:39 AM

do i spy possible adjustments to chat box height width? please say its true for so long as a taru my chat box has covered a lot of the screen maybe we can finally see something

You can do that now, though it's still always anchored to the bottom left.

Alhanelem

02-10-2012, 12:09 PM

Tptn937

02-10-2012, 02:03 PM

I think this is a great direction for the game. New people don't want to jump into a game that looks and feels 10 years old. Graphics update is obviously still necessary to win more over.

SpankWustler

02-10-2012, 02:58 PM

He notes that it’s become quite easier to read, but there may be some cases where the numbers cover names making it difficult to see due to the display positioning when the font was smaller.

Ideally, shouldn't the numbers always obscure the names if anything is obscured?

I already know that the guy with a level 68 spear equipped on his level 99 Warrior is named Dankseffiroff, but while I can make estimates, I do not already know to what degree he will truly and thoroughly fail to damage anything.

Juilan

02-10-2012, 04:23 PM

Any possibility of a full game overhaul? Lie to me. It's okay :P

Tanaka doesn't see us as a pay check pit and will more then willingly devote team resources into fixing the interface so a computer 8yrs old cant play it... you'd have to goto a 5yr old one.

Zhronne

02-10-2012, 04:54 PM

I like Zeedof's HP! :D

Moink

02-10-2012, 05:37 PM

How come that galka gets a brew outside abyssea/WoE, and why is he wasting it on Too Weak mobs?

What is even more scary is the .4 skill up he is getting from what looks like the swing of the GK >.>;;

Arcon

02-10-2012, 09:50 PM

Nice to see changes made to the game that ignore ps2 limiations too.

That's the only reason I liked it. The more and more they phase out the PS2-changes from the regular lineup, they'll (hopefully) convince more people to switch over. Even starting with minor things like this.

Dragoy

02-10-2012, 11:28 PM

Greetings :)

Producer Hiromichi Tanaka announced earlier that during the next version update they will be upping the resolution for damage numbers/text

1312

He notes that it’s become quite easier to read, but there may be some cases where the numbers cover names making it difficult to see due to the display positioning when the font was smaller.

We plan to continue to adjust this in the future for the 360 version; however, since it is difficult to do this for the PlayStation2 version due to its resolution, we won’t be making any changes to that version.
Looks good.

I also would worry about the names getting over the numbers instead of the other way around, however.

How come that galka gets a brew outside abyssea/WoE, and why is he wasting it on Too Weak mobs?
What makes you think there is brew in use at all?
Firstly, there are no status icons (though they might be simply disabled/hidden).

If it's just the HP/MP, well, it is a Developer-Galga.
Simple as. ^^

Same reason for the 'uncapped' skill(s).

Who knows what those Orcs are capable of, too!

I wonder what you would say if you knew what I have been using the brew on (that is on the test-server as it costs too much for me on the regular one).

One might speculate that in the future the regular testers are able to use such options as well, to better test certain things.

Bulrogg

02-11-2012, 12:08 AM

Looks good.

Any more thought into making it so we can turn our player character name off while leaving the rest of the names on?

Yugl

02-12-2012, 02:04 PM

How come that galka gets a brew outside abyssea/WoE, and why is he wasting it on Too Weak mobs?

Galkas need all the help they can get.

Kaisha

02-13-2012, 09:15 PM

With all of those HUD tweaks over the pass 5 months, how long before we finally get a fix to this age-old problem?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/Genexi2/FFXI/whatisanicon.jpg

RagingAvatar

02-14-2012, 12:03 AM

Atomic_Skull

02-14-2012, 10:40 AM

With all of those HUD tweaks over the pass 5 months, how long before we finally get a fix to this age-old problem?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/Genexi2/FFXI/whatisanicon.jpg

Don't worry they are working hard on a way to remove them from the game.

Camate

02-24-2012, 04:55 AM

SpankWustler

02-24-2012, 05:07 AM

We’d especially like to apologize to Galkas…

For the pungent body odor, which required weeks of painstaking development time to be made just acrid enough?

Daniel_Hatcher

02-24-2012, 05:10 AM

Don't worry they are working hard on a way to remove them from the game.

lol, I see what you did there.

Cowardlybabooon

02-24-2012, 06:40 AM

Galka just do too much damage I guess.

Sappho

03-20-2012, 06:53 PM

Nothing like resurrecting a dead thread, but how does one go about configuring the ffxi game for the high resolution icons that have been mentioned. I looked through the ffxi config utility and didn't find anything. I'm definitely still seeing the same status icons that I have seen since 2003. I saw a screenshot of a player with some very pretty icons. I want those. How is it done?

Dragoy

03-20-2012, 08:25 PM

Sappho,

There is nothing to configure, as far as I remember. ^^;

If you indeed are playing the windows or the xbox360 version of the game, the icons should be 'high-res' very much by default, unless I missed something somewhere...

I do have a faint recollection of the resolution to possibly affect it, but I think that is not a memory that holds true, or it was regarding something else... but it's still there.

What are the 'Screen Size' resolutions you are using?

Guess it would make sense that it would be connected to the Fonts quality, but I don't think so, and can't test it right now. >:Ð

Kristal

03-20-2012, 08:49 PM

I'm definitely still seeing the same status icons that I have seen since 2003. I saw a screenshot of a player with some very pretty icons. I want those. How is it done?

PS2 by any chance? If so, no luck. PS2 is low-res only. Soon, PC and 360 with have shiny new reflective water surfaces! (Or not. It might spook the crabs.)

RAIST

03-20-2012, 10:16 PM

HD icons may be bound to the resolutions being set, kind of like how they were initially handling the macro pallet shift--have to be above 1024 settings or something like that.

Alhanelem

03-21-2012, 01:02 AM

During tomorrow’s test server update we will be changing the display position of damage values. However, due to display priority ordering there may be times when it is more difficult to see than currently.

We’d especially like to apologize to Galkas… We will continue to work on adjustments to this, but it will take a little bit of time.
I'll never forgive you all, Camate! It's the supreme insult to all of Galkadom!

I'm definitely still seeing the same status icons that I have seen since 2003. I saw a screenshot of a player with some very pretty icons. I want those. How is it done?Modified dat file for the status icons to replace them with new ones

Sappho

03-21-2012, 02:32 AM

RAIST

03-21-2012, 03:54 AM

Ok, presuming that the screen shot that I saw was not a modified dat file (as Tahngarthor suggested), then I will change my resolutions.

My previous resolutions were:
Overlay Graphics 1280x960
Background Res. 2048x2048
Menu Res. 1280x960

I will bump them all up one size category and see if:
1. my comp can handle that
2. i get the new shiny candy-like buttons.

It might still not trigger at 1368/1024. Might have to go to 1080, idk. That would put it at 1440/1080 I think.

You might find the system is a bit more responsive too if you run the background at a multiple (2x, 1x, etc.)of your foreground instead of the flat 2048/2048 (2560/1920 or 1280/960, 2736/2048 or 1368/1024, 2880/2160 or 1440/1080--could even try some 1.5x, but you may not notice any difference at 1.5x). Depending on the dot pitch/pixel size of your monitor, you may find you don't really need the forced 2x AA for a decent screen once you hit that 1080 level either. It's fairly sharp on my 23" Acer monitor at 1:1 1920/1080--and I only have a couple FPS dip at telepoints and such, nowhere near as bad as when I try to 2x the background. It still has a bit of that "shimmering" on the steps when the light changes and is a bit distracting, but other than that it looks decent for the most part. My main concern is usually smoother animation over eye candy.

Alhanelem

03-21-2012, 10:10 AM

I will bump them all up one size category and see if:
1. my comp can handle that
2. i get the new shiny candy-like buttons. You won't. The status icons do not change in any way based on screen resolution. Any screenshots you've seen where the status icons look significantly different is becasue of a dat-swap mod.

Dragoy

03-21-2012, 06:57 PM

If in doubt, check the fourth post of this thread for comparison of the old and the new, and how they should look like without any 'hacks'.

For a quickie, here's one of them examples:

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/attachment.php?attachmentid=210&d=130826191&thumb=1

Camate

04-06-2012, 02:59 AM

Time for me to bump this thread again to bring you some more awesome news from Producer Hiromichi Tanaka.

For the new UI that is currently in development for the Windows version, we will be enhancing the resolution and revamping icons for enhancements, abilities, magic, and other items. These new icons require resident memory, so unfortunately due to their being a lack of this for the PS2/360 we will not be able to implement the same icons for these versions of the game; however, we are planning to switch out the enhancement icons to be the same as the Windows version.

Below is an example of Regen and Refresh:

1841

And here are the two-hour abilities for each job:

1842

Can you tell which is which? These designs are still under-development.

We will be changing the graphics for other spells and abilities as much as we can. One of the objectives for this is to display the icons in the macro palette to make them clickable, as was requested in the past.

Also, in regards to the PC requirements to be able to easily play the updated Windows version, we expect it to be a bit higher than the requirements from ten years ago. However, I believe that recent PCs are at more than suitable level.

Once all the details are finalized I will let you know.

ThaiChi

04-06-2012, 03:05 AM

So, I'm a bit curious if these are for the Menus. They do seem like they're for the status bar, if so, why do instant abilities get an icon such as Benediction, Wild Card and Eagle Eye Shot?

RAIST

04-06-2012, 03:09 AM

I appreciate the new eye candy and all, but with all the other stuff being asked for in the game relating to gameplay mechanics and job adjustments, etc......

/facepalm

MarkovChain

04-06-2012, 03:27 AM

Good news.

Twille

04-06-2012, 03:31 AM

Time for me to bump this thread again to bring you some more awesome news from Producer Hiromichi Tanaka.

This is great news. A game's UI plays a huge roll in over-all customer satisfaction. I for one will be happy to see some UI improvements.

Vazerus

04-06-2012, 03:33 AM

I appreciate the new eye candy and all, but with all the other stuff being asked for in the game relating to gameplay mechanics and job adjustments, etc......

/facepalm
What? This is a VERY welcome adjustment. Hopefully this means abilities won't share the same icon, which can be very useful. inb4datpack

RAIST

04-06-2012, 03:40 AM

in the 7 or so years I've played this game, I've never had any trouble keeping up my 2-hour.

Camate

04-06-2012, 03:43 AM

So, I'm a bit curious if these are for the Menus. They do seem like they're for the status bar, if so, why do instant abilities get an icon such as Benediction, Wild Card and Eagle Eye Shot?

As was mentioned briefly in the post, one goal is to make it possible to incorporate these icons into your macro palette, so instead of writing "Benediction" out, you could just have the icon instead.

Zubis

04-06-2012, 03:45 AM

This is great news. A game's UI plays a huge roll in over-all customer satisfaction. I for one will be happy to see some UI improvements.

Yeah, definitely. All the content in the world isn't going to help if it isn't fun to use it. The App Store wouldn't be as popular if the iPhone UI was poor.

Septimus

04-06-2012, 03:57 AM

I appreciate the new eye candy and all, but with all the other stuff being asked for in the game relating to gameplay mechanics and job adjustments, etc......

/facepalm

Improving the status icons is one of the things that people have been asking about for, well, as long as the game has existed. As long as we are going to get a substantive change to distinguish the vast majority of icons, this is amazing news. Not to mention that the ones show look great.

The only possible complain is that Tabula Raza's icon doesn't involve a book. Other than that and making low-resolution versions of the icons for PS2/360, there is nothing to complain about with this.

Cowardlybabooon

04-06-2012, 04:05 AM

Who the Frick still uses a mouse to play rpgs?

not complaining, just commenting.

Arcon

04-06-2012, 04:14 AM

I appreciate the new eye candy and all, but with all the other stuff being asked for in the game relating to gameplay mechanics and job adjustments, etc......

While I can't say I know for a fact how things work at SE HQ I'm pretty sure the designers are not too closely related to the people working on gameplay issues. Seeing how this is mainly a design update, I don't think they expended too many valueable resources that could have been spent elsewhere on this.

Also, great job on the icons, they look nice.

Fusionx

04-06-2012, 05:40 AM

So will the macro bar be essentially turning into a modern day MMO action bar then?

VanaFest can't come soon enough. I'm curious to see more of these UI changes.
Needs more info regarding VanaFest NA coverage/NA event!

Wolfandre

04-06-2012, 05:58 AM

As a soloing RDM, the design boosts are a huge boon. Finally can distinguish between spells easier.

However...might I make a small suggestion?

Phalanx.

While I understand it works as all defensive bonuses do, I don't think it should look like one. When I'm in the groove and soloing and being a master of self-enhancement, all of my statuses look the same! :X

Regen, Refresh, Phalanx, Barelement, Barstatus (while they aren't all the same, they sure look similar). Even Temper and Enspells have the same icons!

This is great news; I suppose I shouldn't have ruined it with a small suggestion, but here's to being proactive about positive UI changes!

Merton9999

04-06-2012, 06:19 AM

Very nice. I'm all for gameplay changes too, but the UI quality is just as important to me.

After years of matching icons for different effects, I was happy to see composure and embrava, for example, using new icons upon introduction. I second the suggestion to update the status symbols for phalanx, barelement, barstatus and temper for uniqueness as well.

Karbuncle

04-06-2012, 07:55 AM

Time for me to bump this thread again to bring you some more awesome news from Producer Hiromichi Tanaka.

1) Mighty Strikes
2) Hundred Fists
3) Benediction
4) Manafont
5) Chainspell
6) Perfect Dodge
7)Invincible
8) Blood Weapon
9) ---
10) Soul Voice
11)

Yah i can't guess the rest, But i know them, After a while i Figured out they were in order of Job Listing lol. I know the one near he bottom is COR's.

Economizer

04-06-2012, 09:28 AM

As was mentioned briefly in the post, one goal is to make it possible to incorporate these icons into your macro palette, so instead of writing "Benediction" out, you could just have the icon instead.

I was hoping for a second that Benediction would have a residual effect... considering it can't even remove Doom with any more accuracy then mashing Cursna, and enemy Bard songs just seem to stay after you use the strongest form of removal possible, and a Curaga V casts nearly as fast and costs 0 MP in the right circumstances... it only seems fair.

Well, so much for a short residual defensive effect or some other effect that Benediction might get at high levels to make up for it being weak compared to other 2hours... NMs will continue to use it to negate thirty minutes of a fight in a second while White Mages will have a 2hour Curaga 5.1 they can cast that gets more hate.

But I guess the only way for a WHM's 2hour to be really useful is if there is a macro for it so you can press it slightly faster then macroing into a Curaga then removing a few ailments.

-

The new graphic improvements are very exciting, despite the icons not all being ideal for their particular 2hour ability, regardless of how useful/useless some 2hour abilities may be.

Tsukino_Kaji

04-06-2012, 11:08 AM

Krashport

04-06-2012, 01:15 PM

Left to right,

Mighty Strikes, Hundred Fists, Benediction, Manafont, Chainspell,
Perfect Dodge, Invincible, Blood Weapon, Familiar, Soul Voice,
Eagle shot, Meikyo Shisui, Mijin Gakure, Spirit Surge, Astral flow*,
Azure Lore, Wild Card, Over drive*, Trance, Tabula Rasa

aw Karbuncle, looking at that now you're right, they are in order... I came close though! Mistakes*

Seiowan

04-06-2012, 02:56 PM

I wonder if these changes mean we'll be seeing unique icons for the individual barspells (So we can tell at a glance we have Barfira up not Barstonra or something). That's something that would benefit all players, not just PC players.

Tsukino_Kaji

04-06-2012, 03:33 PM

They can spend time adding 2hr icons, but can't fix any of the existing ones.

Daniel_Hatcher

04-06-2012, 05:44 PM

Good icons, but pointless if you don't add a unique one for EVERY status effect.

Babekeke

04-06-2012, 06:36 PM

1) Mighty Strikes
2) Hundred Fists
3) Benediction
4) Manafont
5) Chainspell
6) Perfect Dodge
7)Invincible
8) Blood Weapon
9) ---
10) Soul Voice
11)

Yah i can't guess the rest, But i know them, After a while i Figured out they were in order of Job Listing lol. I know the one near he bottom is COR's.

Left to right,

Mighty Strikes, Hundred Fists, Benediction, Manafont, Chainspell,
Perfect Dodge, Invincible, Blood Weapon, Familiar, Soul Voice,
Eagle shot, Meikyo Shisui, Mijin Gakure, Spirit Surge, Astral flow*,
Azure Lore, Wild Card, Over drive*, Trance, Tabula Rasa

aw Karbuncle, looking at that now you're right, they are in order... I came close though! Mistakes*

When I spotted Benediction was 3rd, Soul Voice was in the middle and Wild Card was near the bottom it made me think that they were probably in order of job listings. I was going to log on so I could try and show off, but you have already beaten me to it.

Are all of the icons the same as the graphics when you use the JAs? The 3 I mentioned are obvious yes, but some of the others I never use, or never notice when I do use them. I know Hundred Fists is pink, but couldn't say for sure if it looks like the icon.

Alhanelem

04-07-2012, 02:41 AM

I'm really happy about this. now if only we could get a full high-res texture pack for the game, that would be DA SHIZNITZ!

Anapingofness

04-07-2012, 06:39 AM

I'm really happy about this. now if only we could get a full high-res texture pack for the game, that would be DA SHIZNITZ!

That would be... awesome. o.o!! I wish they would make a high-res texture pack for the game. Mind you, this game still looks good for how old it is but there is no reason it shouldn't receive some TLC!

Krashport

04-07-2012, 07:25 AM

When I spotted Benediction was 3rd, Soul Voice was in the middle and Wild Card was near the bottom it made me think that they were probably in order of job listings. I was going to log on so I could try and show off, but you have already beaten me to it.

Are all of the icons the same as the graphics when you use the JAs? The 3 I mentioned are obvious yes, but some of the others I never use, or never notice when I do use them. I know Hundred Fists is pink, but couldn't say for sure if it looks like the icon.

I logged in this morning, checked a few JAs. I found them very similar to the icons Camate shared with us. I'm also thinking there is plans? To tweaking the PC actual spells and abilities, Is what I'm understanding from Hiromichi Tanaka post, see bold.

We will be changing the graphics for other spells and abilities as much as we can. One of the objectives for this is to display the icons in the macro palette to make them clickable, as was requested in the past.

Also, in regards to the PC requirements to be able to easily play the updated Windows version, we expect it to be a bit higher than the requirements from ten years ago. However, I believe that recent PCs are at more than suitable level.

Once all the details are finalized I will let you know.

Kaych

04-07-2012, 02:32 PM

Can I just say, I love how they'r going to implement something, despite that PS2/360 can't handle it. It's a step in the right direction.

If possible, please do this to more things in the game ^_-

Arcon

04-07-2012, 04:34 PM

Can I just say, I love how they'r going to implement something, despite that PS2/360 can't handle it. It's a step in the right direction.

It's not the first time they're doing something like that, actually. And I approve of it as well. Time to slowly phase out the PS2. That poll a while ago was not just for show, apparently.

Duelle

04-08-2012, 06:26 AM

I agree with Raist's sentiments for the myriad of fixes FFXI needs fixed, but the icons will be a help in keeping track of things as they happen in combat.

Babekeke

04-09-2012, 03:50 AM

It's not the first time they're doing something like that, actually. And I approve of it as well. Time to slowly phase out the PS2. That poll a while ago was not just for show, apparently.

All that the poll was missing was a tick box after 'do you use PS2' to say 'after we phase out PS2, will you play on Xbox or PC instead?'

Cowardlybabooon

04-12-2012, 04:23 AM

Please add descriptions to sphere effects when they are on you thx.

Kristal

04-12-2012, 04:47 PM

Time for me to bump this thread again to bring you some more awesome news from Producer Hiromichi Tanaka.

Nice! Spiffy new icons! I don't think Overdrive (3R4D) is really working for me though... I'd expect a more.. overdrive-y.. icon... maybe something more like:
http://i43.servimg.com/u/f43/14/03/89/09/overdr10.png
In essence, it's a circle divided in 8 parts to match the 8 maneuvers, with a gauge-like redzone to indicate the meters are in the red for that 110% overcharging effect. I'm sure your graphics artists can do better then this ;)

Could you also find out if buffs with identical icons will get their own new icons, as some people already mentioned?

Seiowan

04-13-2012, 03:44 AM

Nice! Spiffy new icons! I don't think Overdrive (3R4D) is really working for me though... I'd expect a more.. overdrive-y.. icon... maybe something more like:
http://i43.servimg.com/u/f43/14/03/89/09/overdr10.png
In essence, it's a circle divided in 8 parts to match the 8 maneuvers, with a gauge-like redzone to indicate the meters are in the red for that 110% overcharging effect. I'm sure your graphics artists can do better then this ;)

Could you also find out if buffs with identical icons will get their own new icons, as some people already mentioned?
I'm sure you've already noticed, but the icons follow the same graphics as the animation displayed when you use the ability. Benediction is a halo emitting light, Invincible is a shield and crossed swords. It makes sense, therefore, that Overdrive would have the same icon as its in-game animation. It makes sense to keep things uniform across the board rather than mixing things up for only one icon.

Though, your icon idea was rather nice :)

Elliander

05-06-2012, 02:42 PM

Please tell me the UI changes won't be mandatory. I'm dreading this. I played Everquest before they updated the UI to allow for adjustable windows and transparency settings, and now it's such a jumbled headache! The main reason I will never play the new Final Fantasy online is the UI. (that, and I experienced the Beta)

I absolutely love the current FFXI UI. It's simple and easy to navigate. With a few button presses everything is gone and not obstructing my field of vision, and just as easily I can expand anything out. I can make the text fill the entire screen and change filters to view, say, only what has been said on the linkshell and then remove it all from my view in just a few button presses. It's all so perfect!

I don't want transparent windows. I don't want multiple chat windows either. I don't want to be buried under a mess of complicated windows. Please tell me this won't be a mandatory change! If they make this change so it resembles every other game out there it will be the death of the game for me.

Ziyyigo-Tipyigo

05-06-2012, 04:25 PM

I suspect the original UI will always be an option if only because they'll have to maintain it anyway for console players.

Alhanelem

05-06-2012, 05:52 PM

Please tell me the UI changes won't be mandatory. I'm dreading this.Why in the world would you be dreading improvements to functionality?? This is easily the best thing to happen to the game in a long time.

It's simple and easy to navigate.FFXI's UI is without a doubt one of the slowest, clunkiest UIs in the known MMO universe. Nothing is in plain sight- Fine if you're a minimalist, I guess, but for the player who needs information, having it all buried 1-3 levels deep in menus makes information a pain to acess, and drastically increases the number of button presses required to do anything. (I'd have fewer qualms with the current UI if I wasn't blocked from using 90% of text commands just because I have a window open- being able to do this would at least give me the freedom to use certain commands without having to leave the interface I'm on.

The main reason I will never play the new Final Fantasy online is the UI.You can make such UIs look and feel exactly how you want them to. I don't understand how you could possibly have an objection to this. If you don't like clutter, just shove what you don't want to see out of the way. The problems with FFXIV's ui are in the huge delays in response to input. Once those issues are fully resolved, the UI will be just fine. There's a reason why most MMOs have been gravitating to that type of UI- and it's certainly not because they want to aggravate some of their users.

Long story short: You're just used to the current system and have adapted to its crap factor, just like the rest of us. You just happen to be more resistant to change than the average person. A few months after these updates, you'll wonder how you ever managed without it. I've played FFXI for years like many of you and I can do anything quickly in it, but that's because i'm used to it after playing for so long- not because it's well designed.

It's not much different from the gamepad vs keyboard debate. For the most part, which one someone perfers is purely a matter of which one they're most used to (Often the first one they picked up), and it has very little to do with any true advantages or disadvantages of one or the other.

Finally, I think you're heaivly jumping to conclusions here. I don't think they're going to drastically alter the overall appearance of the UI itself (short of the addition of distinct icons for every ability instead of those generic "Ab" icons). I think they're just extending its functionality to lift some of the limitations and restrictions on it- e.g. improving it's useability, not its flashiness.

Making this part big because it's important.

More options and freedoms is a good thing, no matter what kind of UI you like.
If stuff becomes moveable on screen and you don't like that, then don't move stuff on the screen. If you don't like having icons to visually identify abilities, then don't use them.

I don't want transparent windows.Then don't make them transparent. You already have that choice.

I don't want multiple chat windows either.then don't use them. None of the games i know of that have this feature force you to have multiple chat windows if you don't want them.

I don't want to be buried under a mess of complicated windows.Then don't open a bunch of windows. You are in complete control of your own user experience. That being said, I highly doubt any of the UI windows themselves are being changed- they're just making it so you're not forced to close one window to open another if you don't want to.

Daniel_Hatcher

05-06-2012, 09:07 PM

Why in the world would you be dreading improvements to functionality?? This is easily the best thing to happen to the game in a long time.

FFXI's UI is without a doubt one of the slowest, clunkiest UIs in the known MMO universe. Nothing is in plain sight- Fine if you're a minimalist, I guess, but for the player who needs information, having it all buried 1-3 levels deep in menus makes information a pain to acess, and drastically increases the number of button presses required to do anything. (I'd have fewer qualms with the current UI if I wasn't blocked from using 90% of text commands just because I have a window open- being able to do this would at least give me the freedom to use certain commands without having to leave the interface I'm on.

You can make such UIs look and feel exactly how you want them to. I don't understand how you could possibly have an objection to this. If you don't like clutter, just shove what you don't want to see out of the way. The problems with FFXIV's ui are in the huge delays in response to input. Once those issues are fully resolved, the UI will be just fine. There's a reason why most MMOs have been gravitating to that type of UI- and it's certainly not because they want to aggravate some of their users.

Long story short: You're just used to the current system and have adapted to its crap factor, just like the rest of us. You just happen to be more resistant to change than the average person. A few months after these updates, you'll wonder how you ever managed without it. I've played FFXI for years like many of you and I can do anything quickly in it, but that's because i'm used to it after playing for so long- not because it's well designed.

It's not much different from the gamepad vs keyboard debate. For the most part, which one someone perfers is purely a matter of which one they're most used to (Often the first one they picked up), and it has very little to do with any true advantages or disadvantages of one or the other.

Finally, I think you're heaivly jumping to conclusions here. I don't think they're going to drastically alter the overall appearance of the UI itself (short of the addition of distinct icons for every ability instead of those generic "Ab" icons). I think they're just extending its functionality to lift some of the limitations and restrictions on it- e.g. improving it's useability, not its flashiness.

Making this part big because it's important.

More options and freedoms is a good thing, no matter what kind of UI you like.
If stuff becomes moveable on screen and you don't like that, then don't move stuff on the screen. If you don't like having icons to visually identify abilities, then don't use them.

Then don't make them transparent. You already have that choice.

then don't use them. None of the games i know of that have this feature force you to have multiple chat windows if you don't want them.
Then don't open a bunch of windows. You are in complete control of your own user experience. That being said, I highly doubt any of the UI windows themselves are being changed- they're just making it so you're not forced to close one window to open another if you don't want to.

I get the feeling the change will be quite minor in reality. (if that makes sense)

Don't get me wrong it'll take them a long time, I just mean they'll just make the framework, most the customization will come from users as opposed to SE.

The update could allow you to be even more minimalistic if that's what anyone wants.

Elliander

05-07-2012, 01:26 AM

Why in the world would you be dreading improvements to functionality?? This is easily the best thing to happen to the game in a long time.

I'm not dreading improvements. It's the idea that it may resemble every other MMO's UI. There is definately room for improvement in the resolution department. Macros, for example, look weird on my widescreen HDTV and text can be difficult to read from a distance, but these are still minor in comparison to the problems I would have if it even comes close to resembling the UI in any other MMO.

FFXI's UI is without a doubt one of the slowest, clunkiest UIs in the known MMO universe. Nothing is in plain sight- Fine if you're a minimalist, I guess, but for the player who needs information, having it all buried 1-3 levels deep in menus makes information a pain to acess, and drastically increases the number of button presses required to do anything. (I'd have fewer qualms with the current UI if I wasn't blocked from using 90% of text commands just because I have a window open- being able to do this would at least give me the freedom to use certain commands without having to leave the interface I'm on.

I strongly disagree with you there. It's one of the fastest, most elegant UIs in the known MMO universe. I am not a "minimalist", I just don't like clutter. If I had to choose because something requiring 2 extra button presses to access, and having half the screen covered in junk, I'd choose the extra button presses. I have seen what happens to an MMO when they make so-called "improvements".

You can make such UIs look and feel exactly how you want them to. I don't understand how you could possibly have an objection to this. If you don't like clutter, just shove what you don't want to see out of the way. The problems with FFXIV's ui are in the huge delays in response to input. Once those issues are fully resolved, the UI will be just fine. There's a reason why most MMOs have been gravitating to that type of UI- and it's certainly not because they want to aggravate some of their users.

Again, I disagree with you. You can't make UI's look the way you want them to unless they were programmed to allow it. Even in Everquest where they have support for community UI modifications it is impossible to go back to the simplicity it once had. The problem with allowing extra windows is that the windows have to go somewhere. With the current UI everything fades into the background after it's done being used, but if we get multiple windows there will be more - not less - button presses required to access such information.

Long story short: You're just used to the current system and have adapted to its crap factor, just like the rest of us. You just happen to be more resistant to change than the average person. A few months after these updates, you'll wonder how you ever managed without it. I've played FFXI for years like many of you and I can do anything quickly in it, but that's because i'm used to it after playing for so long- not because it's well designed.

Wrong again. I'm used to both systems. I have already gotten used to the "crap factor" of what I see in other MMOs. I have played MMO's since 1999. Most of that time I played Everquest, but a few months after it changed it's UI I quit and tried other games. I tried games like Rappelz and Flyff among others, but their UI was mouse click only which was really tedious. Then I tried FFXI and I found everything to be perfect. I don't understand - or really believe - how anyone can not do anything quickly on it. I can access my menus and make changes on a dime even while in combat. If I don't have a spell on macro I can easily access that as well just as quickly. I know crap when I see it, and the FFXI UI is certainly not crap.

I was also in the early Beta for the new Final Fantasy and I really didn't like the UI I saw. Actually, allot of people complained that it was completely different from the FFXI UI. It was so bad that I declined the several months of free play. I wouldn't have played it if they paid me to play it primarily because of the UI. The fact that they went in that direction with FFIV is partly why I am worried about FFXI.

"The game was such a failure that Square Enix issued an official apology, and in Japanese company style, got rid of the entire senior staff and replaced them. A PlayStation 3 version was set to be originally released in March of 2011, but that has been delayed indefinitely."

I have friends who don't even play other video games at all because of the complicated UI, but play FFXI because of the simplicity. They aren't used to any UI to begin with, but find the FFXI UI intuitive. When I tried to get them to play games like Everquest they hated it the first time they played it.

It's not much different from the gamepad vs keyboard debate. For the most part, which one someone perfers is purely a matter of which one they're most used to (Often the first one they picked up), and it has very little to do with any true advantages or disadvantages of one or the other.

Wrong again. While there is something to be said about what someone is used to, there is a huge difference between topics here. The difference being that you can do exactly the same thing in different ways between types of input, but when there is clutter on the screen it fundamentally changes the way the game feels.

Finally, I think you're heaivly jumping to conclusions here. I don't think they're going to drastically alter the overall appearance of the UI itself (short of the addition of distinct icons for every ability instead of those generic "Ab" icons). I think they're just extending its functionality to lift some of the limitations and restrictions on it- e.g. improving it's useability, not its flashiness.

You may be right on that one, but they make adjustments in respond to community input. They specifically mention in the road map multiple windows and the way they choose to implement it can make it identical to every other MMO out there, or make it a non-issue. I am voicing my concerns entirely because I hope that if they hear from people who don't want a mandatory change. Again, I have no problems with "improving it's usability", but we clearly have different ideas about "improvements".

When they said they wanted to improve the accounts, they meant requiring a computer instead of a console to handle all account activity, and now news and updates are not even in consoles anymore. There is just a long URL. I miss being able to sit back and read the updates in game with music playing and such. Change isn't always good, and many times change is mandatory.

Making this part big because it's important.

More options and freedoms is a good thing, no matter what kind of UI you like.

Agreed, but only if players are not forced to adopt a significant change.

If stuff becomes moveable on screen and you don't like that, then don't move stuff on the screen. If you don't like having icons to visually identify abilities, then don't use them.
Then don't make them transparent. You already have that choice.

I am calling BS on that one. I have played multiple games where that option is enabled, and it got to the point of having so many windows that you pretty much have to move them around once implemented. Again, it depends on how they implement it. If it's like every other MMO it will be crap, but if it's a simple global settings option it might not be bad.

then don't use them. None of the games i know of that have this feature force you to have multiple chat windows if you don't want them.
Then don't open a bunch of windows. You are in complete control of your own user experience. That being said, I highly doubt any of the UI windows themselves are being changed- they're just making it so you're not forced to close one window to open another if you don't want to.

I am calling BS on that one as well since the opposite is true. See, it isn't just chat buttons. Once you can move one things everything else get's movable as well. Then when you have the ability to move stuff around developers add new windows that are similarly movable. In Everquest it's not as simple as having multiple chat windows, it's all the other windows as well. There isn't even a reason for multiple chat windows in FFXI because you can easily - with either a keyboard or gamepad - change the focus through a set of tabs to look at only, say, your tells. In games that have multiple windows it's no where near that seamless. They also tend to add additional information that gets put into text as a result so that most of the people I know who play Everquest have 3 chat windows open at all times because if they don't they miss information, and any time they open menus it takes much MUCH longer than FFXI UI.

Case in point:

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/253/eq000038.jpg

Although FFXIV doesn't look that bad (most of the windows also disappear) it was the mess of detatched windows on opening things like equipment and such that resembled every other was was almost as bad.

http://gaming.icrontic.com/files/2010/05/FFXIV_Screenshot_01-630x354.jpg

I get the feeling the change will be quite minor in reality. (if that makes sense)

Don't get me wrong it'll take them a long time, I just mean they'll just make the framework, most the customization will come from users as opposed to SE.

The update could allow you to be even more minimalistic if that's what anyone wants.

As long as there isn't a heap of clutter, and windows are easily accessed from a simple drop down I'm sure I will be fine. I agree that it probably won't be as bad as I fear, but if I don't voice my concerns now I might regret it later.

Ziyyigo-Tipyigo

05-07-2012, 02:27 AM

Alhanelem

05-07-2012, 04:42 AM

It's the idea that it may resemble every other MMO's UI.i don't think it's going that far- I think it's just going to be options for various things like having the macro bar stay on screen as a solution to those who find it aggrivating waiting for it to pop up when they press ctrl or alt.

A UI that has a pile of crap on the screen and doesn't let you move/get rid of it is bad. A UI where everything is moveable and you can choose what to have displayed or not displayed is good. FFXIV's UI really is pretty decent. the 2.0 version seems a bit cluttered (Mainly the "micro" menu having 5 times as many buttons as it used to), but we already have the power to show/hide certain things and EVERYTHING is moveable and much of it is customizable to your individual tastes, and that's not likely to go away when 2.0 launches.

Aside from all of this, In XI UI scripting will finally become a reality, and if there's anything people don't like about the UI improvements, you can bet that someone will make a UI mod to put it back the way it was before- And this time, you won't have to worry about it being an illicit 3rd party program, as this feature is being specifically allowed by SE.

Once you can move one things everything else get's movable as well. Then when you have the ability to move stuff around developers add new windows that are similarly movable.I don't get what you're saying here. It sounds like a complaint, but this is a good thing.

In FFXIV, the seocnd chat window is totally optional- you can turn it off and it doesnt exist. You also have the option of using tabs instead (Similar to what XI gives you when you fullscreen the chat log). Literally every single piece of the UI is moveable (the sole exception being the NPC dialogue box at the moment) and if you don't want to see something, it can generally either be turned off at best or shoved off the screen at worst. I'm not sure why you'd complain about being given options and customizability. It seems like you'll be happy to know you can only have one UI window open at a time in XIV, in most cases. XIV's UI really isn't overwhelming at all.

lowest possible resolution in XIV is 1024x768Nearly every modern monitor and the majority of monitors made in like the last 5-10 years support 1280x1024, so I don't really see this as much of an issue.

Daniel_Hatcher

05-07-2012, 06:52 AM

I'd just like to point out that, currently, the lowest possible resolution in XIV is 1024x768, and at that setting, the default placement of elements ends up overlapping.

I'm assuming that will be fixed by the time they get PS3 support (as it will have to support down to 480i TVs), but I do hope they avoid that kind of sloppy work with the "new and improved" XI interface.

Most modern computers come set at 1920x1080 and even higher, games shouldn't be restricted based on previous dimensions. Personally I'd have set the default at higher.

Ziyyigo-Tipyigo

05-07-2012, 07:51 AM

Most modern computers come set at 1920x1080 and even higher, games shouldn't be restricted based on previous dimensions. Personally I'd have set the default at higher.
I'm not the one that included the option, S-E did. And then they apparently forgot about it.
If you'll continue reading into the second paragraph, you'll note that S-E will have to support down to ~640x480i for the PS3 release. No console game yet requires HD.

Elliander

05-07-2012, 10:34 AM

OK, to be fair, here's what I am afraid of. These are screen shots I took while I was in the beta. I guess I should ask if they changed the UI after the Beta ended, because I was under the impression that SE saw Final Fantasy XIV as the eventual replacement for Final Fantasy XI. With that impression in mind I have this mental image of Final Fantasy XI turning into it. The menu system was unmanageable, and the combat was a series of button clicks. Instead of a menu on the bottom left where I could click to use all my abilities it was a mess on the bottom for mouse clicks.

http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/1960/018bf.jpg

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/2927/00052.jpg

On the other hand I thought the graphics were simply beautiful. They looked even better in the early parts of the beta when there were several shades of every eye color, but with a large variety of graphics there came a large amount of lag. In any case, I thought they did an amazing job with the character models, but I'm still afraid that Final Fantasy XI will go in that direction... so can anyone at least tell me they changed Final Fantasy XIV?

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/1951/00054d.jpg

Ziyyigo-Tipyigo

05-07-2012, 11:14 AM

so can anyone at least tell me they changed Final Fantasy XIV?

Do you have any idea how many pages of patch notes you're talking about? XD

Auto-attack was added, but the "action bar" you refer to is still there. In addition, it sounds like it will be added to XI in the new PC UI updates.

Default log position is now in the bottom-left, as it is in XI. Default mini-map position is now upper-right.

When all is said and done though, they're saying 2.0 will have two completely separate user interfaces: one for keyboard/mouse, one for gamepad.

Daniel_Hatcher

05-07-2012, 08:44 PM

I'm not the one that included the option, S-E did. And then they apparently forgot about it.
If you'll continue reading into the second paragraph, you'll note that S-E will have to support down to ~640x480i for the PS3 release. No console game yet requires HD.

They could make it require HD. No game does yet, but the option to only play it at HD is set in the consoles.

Besides as another said, FFXIV will have two UI's, similar to how the PC will have one UI and XBOX and PS2 will have another for XI.

Ziyyigo-Tipyigo

05-08-2012, 12:00 AM

They could make it require HD. No game does yet, but the option to only play it at HD is set in the consoles.

Yeah... no. Fine print on the package and the technical literacy needed to read it is about the only remaining difference between console and PC games. Even if S-E wanted to go that route, Sony isn't likely to sign off on it (especially when they're still shipping consoles with only composite cables).

Besides, I'm not even sure that's possible from the software's viewpoint.

FFXIV will have two UI's

Then they'd best both fit in the lowest possible resolution, shouldn't they?

Alhanelem

05-08-2012, 04:26 AM

OK, to be fair, here's what I am afraid of. These are screen shots I took while I was in the beta. I guess I should ask if they changed the UI after the Beta endedTwo things:

1) the default UI configuration NEVER, EVER looked like that. If you took those shots yourself, you set it up that way yourself. Why would you configure the UI to be unpleasant for your own needs?
2) Yes, the UI has changed quite a bit since beta, largely because many battle mechanics have changed. Seriously. If you're judging the game from beta, you really need to take another look. The game is vastly different, a lot of things have already been totally redone and things like the areas are being redone for 2.0.

This is pretty close to the default UI, though I've made some adjustments (right click > view image to see bigger):
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b16/Tahngarthor/iusdygfoaisgd.jpg
I made the target display and EXP bar bigger, and put the combat information in a seperate log window instead of a tab. The current targeting mode(left of the aciton bar) isnt in the default location but I don't remember where it was before. Most of the context-sensitive things that you used to have to open the main menu for now have buttons that appear and disappear as needed on the micro menu in the lower right (e.g., you don't need to open the menu to operate lifts or use objects and whatnot anymore)
The stamina system was removed, so there is no stamina gauge anymore (And the casting bar is only visible while casting, but you can still move it anywhere and make it bigger or smaller), you don't have to be engaged to cast spells anymore, and prior to the introduction of Jobs, nearly every spell and action was totally redone- many obscure ones removed and replaced with more well-known final fantasy type things. All weapon skills used to have very generic effects, now they all have unique animations.

The game now has tooltips for virtually everything- Even tooltips explaining what purpose all your stats serve when you mouse over them. You can turn them off if you don't want them, and they work both with the mouse and with the keyboard/gamepad cursor.

For the targeting cursor, you now have a choice of the XI style cursor over the names of targets, XIV's original circular crosshair, or a combination of both (or nothing)

Yes, you can cast flare in the inn rooms (it doesn't require a target, it is centered on you and the damage varies depending on how close an enemy is to you) :p

Kaisha

05-08-2012, 05:03 AM

Alhanelem

05-08-2012, 05:41 AM

I don't get this clutter chat about other MMOs, when FFXI's own UI takes up a good 2/5th of the screen (3/5th in an alliance) at its native resolution, and doesn't provide remotely near the same level of information as modern MMOs.
That's really only because unless you scale it with the new option (which makes it look real nasty), the UI stays the same size in pixels regardless of the resolution. Thus when you're at a high resolution, the UI has the illusion of being neat and tidy, when the fact was when the game came out and high resolutions weren't as common, the clutter factor was much more obvious.

Ziyyigo-Tipyigo

05-08-2012, 09:52 AM

FFXI's own UI takes up a good 2/5th of the screen (3/5th in an alliance) at its native resolution

Because its default resolution was designed to be legible on a 30" SDTV from 10 feet away.