¿Goodbye, Vanadiel? Please, tell me not!!

I returned to the game a month ago and I 'm really enjoying all changes. But Square- Enix has announced a press conference and people talk about closing servers . It is true that there is much less active people, but are so few that kill Vanadiel?

As far as I know FFXI still turns a major profit for Square-Enix so I don't think FFXI shutting down will be the main talk.
At least, not for the next couple of years.

The main theories among both the English speaking and Japanese communities are indeed a reduction in the number of servers (Merging of worlds) and the end of FFXI support for the Playstation 2.

Hopefully you're right :)

Id also guess quarterly updates instead of monthly

Press Conference could be good or bad, depending on how you look at it. If they were going into maintenance mode or server merging, why hold a big press conference?, they'd just issue an announcement on the website like they always do.

The only reason for a big press conference, yeah they could be sunsetting FFXI, or they could be going free to play, they could be announcing a new expansion or dropping PS2 support, we won't know until Thursday so let's not worry about it, until we know what they are doing.

You are missing the point...theres nothing else to talk about in these forums, so why not talk about what might be!

Earlier this year SE posted an ad in game informer about how much money ffxi still makes after 12 years of online gaming , they won't be closing the game any time soon, they are most likely going to address the game balance as they did pre-seekers (meaning the plans for new expansion, or how they intended ffxi to be played in short amounts of time, but recieve large benefits (skirmish)

I wonder if the english digest translations will be made during the live broadcast. Though I wouldn't be surprised if its whenever the community reps get to translate it like how freshly pick is done.

Would be about time they dropped PS2 support, it's a 15 year old console, I'd slap someone for using a 15 year old PC. That or I'd be shocked it's still working.

hmm probly possbile would like see add new Expansion in Far Eastern?

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Originally Posted by Daray

I returned to the game a month ago and I 'm really enjoying all changes. But Square- Enix has announced a press conference and people talk about closing servers . It is true that there is much less active people, but are so few that kill Vanadiel?

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They're making some sort of announcement, people are just letting their imaginations run wild. I don't think they're shutting the game down. They wouldn't still be posting news about version updates if that were the case. There COULD be a server merge but it seems odd that they would do a big announcement for that.

It could be just about anything: Dropping PS2 support, a new expansion, server merges, going free to play, some sort of special event, putting the game on a new platform in an effort to boost subs, whatever. Nobody knows what it's actually going to be about.

But I really don't think they'd do a live stream on youtube with a translation digest to announce something bad.

One thought I had was announcing FFXI's updating to a new engine^^
Unlikely. But who knows, their updating the UI slowly, maybe a new engine is coming, Not likely FFXIV's engine, tho that might be easier as some of XIV's assets could likely be used, but maybe something a bit :nicer: and more modern but cheaper to run then XIV, like a modified XII/XIII engine?

Either would likely mean end mainstream support for PS2 either way, but it could also mean opening it up for PS4 support.
A new engine, and PS4 support could open the game up a bit more. I know a lot of people these days who've not played XI, don't want to because of the engines dated look.

But at the same time, that could end up being too costly for XI by raising the costs of upkeep on the title.

A graphical overhaul, a new expansion (how about one that fits both the 50's and 60's levels, there's only a few good choices for the 50's), and one for 99+?), I hope something really nice is coming for FFXI^^
I also hope FFXI isn't in danger. That would be scary ;;
FFXI is one of like, 4 titles I can say I've played fairly consistently for so many years (I think i'm on a decade now of FFXI), that's a pretty exclusive club to be in.

Press conferences are held to get news media's attention. Whatever news they have is not something that is just for current players; it's something they want people to notice (i.e., game websites). Drawing attention to the discontinuation of PS2 support would not be good for SE's public image. That would be a simple news update on the POL feed, like the discontinuation of technical support for Windows XP and the retiring of the German and French clients were.

This has to be something financially beneficial to SE, such as one or more of the following:

• Subscription cost reduction
• Massive game engine update / "Vana'diel Reborn"
• New platform support (Vita, etc.)
• New expansion
• Offline FFXI
• Free-to-play FFXI

Other things may be announced for current players too, like Monstrosity Strikes Back, server consolidation, major in-game changes for the better, etc.

I don't quite see how free-to-play can be even imagined as a possibility, considering how much the game is making money with subscriptions, as well as the lack of micro-transactions (or any other way of making the clink-clink).

I imagine cease of service a more plausible occurrence than that, but let's hope that's not it (and I don't see why they would stop something that is likely to be profitable still).

I'd imagine server merges could be one of the things talked about, but doubtful about PS2 going away. I do think getting rid of the PS2 would be for the best to allow development of things further than currently possible. Yes, it will suck for those still using the system, but they'll have the option to upgrade, too!

Meh, I'm not one to speculate. We'll soon enough know!

(Hello!)
My thoughts:
I don't think they would have a press conference with a live video if they were to deliver bad news. A couple of items worth noting:
Masters of the Masks is a trademark that Square Enix registered in 2014 that has yet to be used... and it follows the same naming scheme as things like:
Wings OF the Goddess
Seekers OF Adoulin
Rise OF the Zilart
Chains OF Promathia... etc.

Additionally, Project Flare aka "Dive In" is SE's new streaming service for mobile devices that let users play games like FF7, and FF13 by streaming the gaming content from the cloud. FFXI was demonstrated using this tech.

I think on Thursday that we'll find out that either:
- A new expansion is in the works
- PS2 support will be dropped and replaced with mobile streaming
- Server Merges will be happening
- Pricing adjustments/Free to Play

Or more unlikely:
- End of service/offline single player mode
- Reset button (FFXIV ARR), new graphics engine, deletion of old content etc
- new console support (ps4, xb1)
- HD remaster upgrade

No matter what, I think we're in for some good news, otherwise a live video stream wouldn't be hyped in advance.

I really hoping this is an announcement for an expansion AND the drop of PS2 support with focus on PC improvements going forward.

Hey, one can dream.

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Originally Posted by Vivivivi

(Hello!)
No matter what, I think we're in for some good news, otherwise a live video stream wouldn't be hyped in advance.

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If they wanted publicity, they would have announced this conference with a lot more than 2 days notice. This tells me they don't want the entire gaming press section present - and only want to hit the players.

If they were announcing an expansion; or something equally exciting - the news wouldn't contain wording like ... "we'll be talking about the future of FFXI", but rather "we're announcing something big!" -- plus, we'd have known about it a long time ago (or at least more than 48 hours notice)

Those of you that think this is going to be completely positive (which is subjective) I fear are really misguided, or being naive.

Still - we can hope. I still call that they're going to put the game in auto-pilot/maintenance mode, reduce or cease content updates, and merge servers so there is less to manage.

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Drawing attention to the discontinuation of PS2 support would not be good for SE's public image.

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How would it not be good for their image? Especially if they announced a new platform in its place (pipe dream, I know) Even people not playing that game would expect it since the ps2 is no longer in any way supported by Sony, and it wouldn't be bad news.

But I have to agree, they wouldn't likely do a live youtube stream to deliver bad news.

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If they were announcing an expansion; or something equally exciting - the news wouldn't contain wording like ... "we'll be talking about the future of FFXI", but rather "we're announcing something big!" -- plus, we'd have known about it a long time ago (or at least more than 48 hours notice)

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But didn't they use this kind of wording prior to audolin's announcement? I'm pretty sure they said something like that when they changed directors/producers (whichever it was).

I think it very likely this is an announcement of server merges.

I don't think it'll be announcing server mergers. They've been merged before, and there was no press event, just an announcement on the playonline site.

They usually do press events for major things, such as Xbox 360 release or a new expansion.

The thing is, though, that the announcement has the same tone as someone saying "We need to talk". As in, "we need to talk, you're being let go" or "we need to talk, we're breaking up" or "we need to talk, you have polio".

Needless to say, I've got a bad feeling about this...

One small seed of comfort maybe--

We're told we'll get a digest here in the forums. If it was something as dramatic as termination of service, I imagine that would be like--an e-mail, a post on the main site... not something that is just covered here, in the forums. That's a major announcement.

So maybe it is really just the closing of the PS2 service (which is largely irrelevant to us over here).

I don't think we have much to worry about.
Who makes a broadcast event for worse case scenarios?
Even the government will lie to your face on national TV.

That's like, making a live event on CNN of you shooting yourself in the foot with a shotgun.
SE already has bad publicity going around, esp since the failure of FFXIV 1.0, publicizing bad news on one of their most profitable titles (And imo, and perhaps some those here: one of the most beloved) in the companies final fantasy history would amount to near suicide in gaming circles.

Remember, (in no directly quoted way)
The world ends, not with a bang, but a whimper.

p.s. also take note, it's called a live presentation event. When are presentations ever doom and gloom?

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Originally Posted by Bluestar2kx

One thought I had was announcing FFXI's updating to a new engine^^
Unlikely. But who knows, their updating the UI slowly, maybe a new engine is coming, Not likely FFXIV's engine, tho that might be easier as some of XIV's assets could likely be used, but maybe something a bit :nicer: and more modern but cheaper to run then XIV, like a modified XII/XIII engine?

Either would likely mean end mainstream support for PS2 either way, but it could also mean opening it up for PS4 support.
A new engine, and PS4 support could open the game up a bit more. I know a lot of people these days who've not played XI, don't want to because of the engines dated look.

But at the same time, that could end up being too costly for XI by raising the costs of upkeep on the title.

A graphical overhaul, a new expansion (how about one that fits both the 50's and 60's levels, there's only a few good choices for the 50's), and one for 99+?), I hope something really nice is coming for FFXI^^
I also hope FFXI isn't in danger. That would be scary ;;
FFXI is one of like, 4 titles I can say I've played fairly consistently for so many years (I think i'm on a decade now of FFXI), that's a pretty exclusive club to be in.

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As someone else who has subscribed continuously for the last 10 years , I tend to hope along the same lines as you. :D

I don't think its time for ffxi to end by any means , its population is far far from what it used to be but there are enough still interested to keep it going for a while yet I think.

FTP would not be worth anything to se, they have nothing to offer cash shop wise, which is the bread and butter of any ftp game. ffxi is too limited in that way to ever be ftp. (no vanity system , no pets, no mounts, no character customization changes, no dyes, no exp pots etc..nothing to ever sustain a ftp design)

Hope it is good news at any rate, I will complain about parts of the game or some decisions made of course!.., but, I'm still subscribed lol

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Originally Posted by Allestra

FTP would not be worth anything to se, they have nothing to offer cash shop wise, which is the bread and butter of any ftp game. ffxi is too limited in that way to ever be ftp. (no vanity system , no pets, no mounts, no character customization changes, no dyes, no exp pots etc..nothing to ever sustain a ftp design)l

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I'm going to keep the optimism train going. Even though I would hate for the game to become F2P, a micro transaction store isn't completely out of the cards. Buying days at a time of double exp., exclusive Trusts, all the exclusive items from the login campaigns can become exclusive to the new store, the items that were released only during events or with the purchase of another item (Tidal Talisman, Gobbie Gavel, Shell Scepter), holiday equipment, Dynamis currency, Alexandrites, Seals from Abyssea, exp. rings, Primeval Brews, a new storage system, exclusive monstrosity monsters. As much as I'd hate microtransactions, it certainly is possible.

Also, I'd like to point out that FFXI does a vanity system. While it is limited, there definitely is one that we can use to equip our favorite armor while maintaining our stats. from our gear.

In the same vein as Chilloa, you could also potentially buy things like Bounding Boots (which are r/e and nobody really cares about anymore) in regards to new players. Quite a lot of gear falls into that category of "just until you hit 99" as it is. Personally, I'm really hoping it's an expansion, and that that expansion covers a new continent in any direction. Their exact wording is "Live presentation event" and "our plans for FFXI going forward" not "the future of ffxi." This usually amounts to "New expansion" not "we're terminating." You bid your players farewell on the mainpage and give a notice of the final day of active service if you're going to terminate.
Besides, with Masters of the Masks being trademarked and attached to the ffxi support page, and with every expansion having their own mini-site, the odds are in our favor. They're probably just switching the links around and uploading the page.

In FFII the white mask and dark mask are used to acquire the crystal rod, which is necessary to enter the mysidian tower.

/crosses fingers for new server that starts from beginning announced.

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Originally Posted by Bluestar2kx

I don't think we have much to worry about.
Who makes a broadcast event for worse case scenarios?
Even the government will lie to your face on national TV.

That's like, making a live event on CNN of you shooting yourself in the foot with a shotgun.
SE already has bad publicity going around, esp since the failure of FFXIV 1.0, publicizing bad news on one of their most profitable titles (And imo, and perhaps some those here: one of the most beloved) in the companies final fantasy history would amount to near suicide in gaming circles.

Remember, (in no directly quoted way)
The world ends, not with a bang, but a whimper.

p.s. also take note, it's called a live presentation event. When are presentations ever doom and gloom?

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If it were an NA company i'd agree, but there is the whole "honor" element that would prevent SE from just dropping a bombshell in a blurb on pol. This same reason might dissuade them from ditching PS2 support, even if it means no more new content, since so many JP still use it

It's not really a PR disaster either, since they've got two other MMOs and 13 years or whatever is quite an accomplishment. Look at the graveyard of MMOs including "star wars" in the title that have not survived nearly as long. Nothing lasts forever and indeed, WoW is hemorrhaging subs too

It at first blew my mind to see people in the very same post speculate "end of ff11" or "new expansion + graphics overhaul" How in the world can both be possible? Not only is this game not the company's only revenue source (800k-1.2 mil a month is nothing), but i really feel it's a pipe dream to expect expansion + V2 graphics. The last expansion led to *fewer* subs, abyssea too. I also think, unlike others, the mass bans and respectably frequent updates (skirmish, CP, empy reforged) is a sign they are tying up loose ends on content, and they don't care about lost subs from here on

"plans for the future" also sounds long term beyond any 'road map' they've done

So i predict a hefty server merge, continued ps2 support, end of updates in near future, *maybe* lower sub fee or f2p (this would reduce the hostility at least). But no, i don't believe it will be endtimes so soon after these bans and updates, certainly not end of june as one site predicted

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Originally Posted by Rubeus

In the same vein as Chilloa, you could also potentially buy things like Bounding Boots (which are r/e and nobody really cares about anymore) in regards to new players. Quite a lot of gear falls into that category of "just until you hit 99" as it is.

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The point of a cash shop is to make money. If there were one from which you could buy actual gear/loot, aiming it towards new players would be the worst way to do it.

If FFXI were to include one that sold stuff beyond cosmetics/boosts, the first thing up there would be RME currency. Anyone with the means to pay $300 for a Cat's Eye would be a fool not to, after all.

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Originally Posted by Daray

I returned to the game a month ago and I 'm really enjoying all changes. But Square- Enix has announced a press conference and people talk about closing servers . It is true that there is much less active people, but are so few that kill Vanadiel?

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It's very unlikely for SE to shut down FFXI servers due to the lack of active players in the near future. FFXI is an FF MMO, SE seems to manage FF MMO titles differently from how western/Asian game companies treat their MMO titles.

Remember how SE kept FFXIV 1.0 servers up for entire year and remade the entire game just because....it's an FF MMO. This is something Western/Asian game companies usually won't do, since other companies often treat their MMO titles like money generator.

I bet FFXI would get a PS3/PS4 or Vita port(Like Nobunga's ambition online, which is almost as old as FFXI) before server shuts down.

Just my 2 cents, I could be wrong :cool:

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Originally Posted by Afania

It's very unlikely for SE to shut down FFXI servers due to the lack of active players in the near future. FFXI is an FF MMO, SE seems to manage FF MMO titles differently from how western/Asian game companies treat their MMO titles.

Remember how SE kept FFXIV 1.0 servers up for entire year and remade the entire game just because....it's an FF MMO. This is something Western/Asian game companies usually won't do, since other companies often treat their MMO titles like money generator.

I bet FFXI would get a PS3/PS4 or Vita port(Like Nobunga's ambition online, which is almost as old as FFXI) before server shuts down.

Just my 2 cents, I may be wrong completely :cool:

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FFXI is as most of us understand, pretty cheap to maintain, so I agree, unlikely we'll see a shutdown threat until server populations hit critical levels. (i.e. like less then 100 players each, which none of them are close to even now.)

SE definitely does handle it's MMO's very differently.
FFXIV 1.0 would have shut down completely in the first year of operation if almost any other company was running it, they would not have in a million years spent the money to remake it. That was a brave and dedicated move by SE, and it turns out to have worked, XIV is more popular then most MMO's on the market. Plus, how many other MMO's run their games with populations so low and not shut them down? FFXI is a profit machine still, it's future is safe for awhile yet.

I think, they'll take big steps to try and breath life back into FFXI, now that XIV is launched and set, long before they'd ever consider a shut down.
This means: ports to new systems (PS4 would be ideal, and easy to port to and highest install base of this generation, vita would give nice mobile capability but low population, 3DS or Wii U would be neat for dual screens and space saving, and esp with SE ammibos!!! I'll take prishe^^), graphic overhauls to appeal to wider audiences, and new expansions.

I don't think F2P is in the cards, SE has said not a chance several times, and even avoided it with XIV, I don't think for a moment it would, esp not still turning a profit. Plus a cash shop would take more work to implement then it would give back and have limited options due to the engines limitations, and buying currency as some mentioned would be pay to win and that never goes well, because as was said, who wouldn't just buy a cat's eye, or ampules or tokens and skip all the hard stuff?

Whatever happens, I just hope FFXI's core stays as it was designed to be.
That's why we are all here, and not in XIV.

Plus...
FFXI is my home^^
And I know it's the same for many others who keep coming back, or keep playing, several of my friends, and my partner included. And I'd bet it means a lot to a lot of the staff at SE too, esp those who worked/work on it.

to be honest it's been over 2 years since SoA roll-out, given their history I would expect that they are working on the next FFXI expansion pack which I would peg for a fall-likely November-release combined with a server merge. but ending PS2 support is just a pipe dream.

note, I have nothing to base any of this on but the intervals on previous expansions and how stubbornly they have clung to PS2.

either that or they'll be announcing mobile support, the game is small enough to fit in a smartphone or handheld and has been for years, why not? ok, the chat window might be a little small...

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Originally Posted by Glamdring

either that or they'll be announcing mobile support, the game is small enough to fit in a smartphone or handheld and has been for years, why not? ok, the chat window might be a little small...

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Handheld it would fit on, maybe. Idk how big the vita and 3DS carts are (tho they both have SDHC slots), but they're definitely strong enough (hell, almost anything is now)
Smartphones are strong enough to run it, but space might be an issue, most smartphones typically have limited storage space these days, and more phones, are removing microSD slots even tho they increase internal storage, only top end phones typically have that, with FFXI being 12.4Gb that could be an issue for some people, esp since a lot of people take video and pictures a lot, space could run tight without microSD slots, even with it really.

But the chat window and typing is the biggest issue I see with portable devices (After touch being awful for most games not built for touch by default), except maybe the 3DS as someone was kind enough to make a photo up in another thread (likewise, the wii u).

Cash shop for missed trusts would be great. Koru-Moru anyone?

Also, some people might not agree, but spending cash for something like Skirmish Stones or Refractive Crystals just might work.

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Originally Posted by Afania

Remember how SE kept FFXIV 1.0 servers up for entire year and remade the entire game just because....it's an FF MMO.

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They kept FFXIV alive because they didn't want any Final Fantasy te be remembered as a failure.

Whatever they say in their conference, FFXI had a great success, and lived a long and "happy" life.

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Originally Posted by detlef

Cash shop for missed trusts would be great. Koru-Moru anyone?

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Kind of off-topic here, but I recommend that you work your way through the Adoulin storyline because Koru-Moru is nothing compared to Arciela.

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Originally Posted by Shirai

Kind of off-topic here, but I recommend that you work your way through the Adoulin storyline because Koru-Moru is nothing compared to Arciela.

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I haven't missed a trust but I know enough people who don't have him that I think his cipher should be made widely available... But you gotta pay!

They've been researching how much real money people are willing to spend on in-game items for quite a while with their login campaigns, and what kind of (exp, cap, bayld, etc.) multipliers people would be willing to pay for with all of their bonus campaigns. F2P is entirely in the realm of possibility.

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Originally Posted by Shirai

Kind of off-topic here, but I recommend that you work your way through the Adoulin storyline because Koru-Moru is nothing compared to Arciela.

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Arciela will not heal or buff anyone else but you so she's actually a lot less useful than Koru-Moru.

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Originally Posted by Catmato

They've been researching how much real money people are willing to spend on in-game items for quite a while with their login campaigns, and what kind of (exp, cap, bayld, etc.) multipliers people would be willing to pay for with all of their bonus campaigns. F2P is entirely in the realm of possibility.

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Yeah and mog bonanza would provide data too. I didn't think of it that way, but i'm surprised they haven't done actual surveys like "How much would you pay for a cat's eye or 10,000 byne bill?"

Then again, i guess they could just take a gander at rmt sites to get a baseline and add say 20% for those unwilling to risk getting caught