Sooo SE actually wants to know the numbers of PS2 users eh?

[FrankReynolds]

The people in this thread don't speak for everyone who wants to see the PS2 dropped. There are other forums out there that SE does pay attention to, and I have seen requests for updated graphics, instanced content, and all kind of things that would require a new client.




Reread what you replied to here. What I said was, even though they have 11-12 million players, Blizzard still responds that they don't have the resources to do certain things their players ask for. Also, even though they have a purely PC-based game there are still changes they can't make without serious changes to the client. An example to that would be the size of a character's starting backpack.

Cut off all the PS2 support tomorrow, and it doesn't necessarily make it easy or feasible for SE to recode the inventory aspect of the game. It doesn't magically give them the financial resources to create and ship out new expansions with all new zones/storylines/etc.





Again, reread... For some of the changes people want, they may well have to rework or rebuild the client, even for some of the "simple" changes. We're playing a PS2 game ported to PC and 360. The "PS2 limitations" are built into those versions as well. Now, it's fine if someone wants to come along and tell me that all they have to do is replace a few .dat files and all the limits are gone. I'd love to be proven wrong on this, but I just don't think it's that simple.

Besides, as I've alluded to, there are more than PS2 limitations at work here which is why we're getting this survey. There are monetary limitations, manpower limitations, and corporate politics limitations as well. It'd be great if one of the devs could just take a day or two to change a few files and give us everything we want. I just don't think it works that way. There's more to it than we all realize.

Your just making broad generalizations about people wanting impossible things when the fact is that most things mentioned here are very humble and quite doable. I'm not going to reread every other fan site because I have read them in the past and never seen anyone with arguments much different from here. As for monetary limitations, Killing support for PS2 frees up a lot of Development, personnel and testing staff. People who could be figuring out how to do cool new things instead of how to make current things work on old shitty hardware. There are some things (ie. inventory) that they have all ready acknowledged knowing how to do, but have been unable to implement due to PS2 crap.

[Camiie]

What base engine? How is it PS2? The upgrades most people are asking for (inventory space) is changing a number. Despite all their (many) shortcomings, I think the dev team should still be able to do that... maybe... actually... nvm.

You know how when you log-in or zone, your inventory isn't necessarily available instantly? And when you're DC-ing you can't move things from or to your inventory? What's my point? Obviously our inventory is dependent on our connection to the server. What is increasing our inventory going to do to server load and bandwidth? That's another thing SE is going to have to think about before they start making a bunch of changes.

[Camiie]

Your just making broad generalizations about people wanting impossible things when the fact is that most things mentioned here are very humble and quite doable.

Proof that they're so easily doable? I'm not being sarcastic, I'd honestly like to see it if you have it.

I'm not going to reread every other fan site because I have read them in the past and never seen anyone with arguments much different from here. As for monetary limitations, Killing support for PS2 frees up a lot of Development, personnel and testing staff. People who could be figuring out how to do cool new things instead of how to make current things work on old shitty hardware. There are some things (ie. inventory) that they have all ready acknowledged knowing how to do, but have been unable to implement due to PS2 crap.

I never asked you to reread anything but what I wrote, but to be honest I don't think you really read my initial post or my reply. What's your proof that dropping PS2 support will really free up those resources (money and manpower) for FFXI development? They SHOULD, but that doesn't mean that they will. It'd be great if it was all as simple as you think it is. Trust me, I have a list of changes I'd love to see myself. I just don't believe that dropping PS2 is going to make all our dreams come true just like that.

[TetsujinX]

Acron you missed my point. I no longer have a PC.. my current laptop no longer works, meaning I do all of my work at the library. Earlier in this thread it was suggested that a PC could be gotten for free to 100$ in cost. at that low a price it would have just enough room to run the gam and only the game hence that comment. The second bibt you replied to was solely to show how far the current logic could take you. It was not meant to imply that was exactly what you are saying. I can't speak fo others that play on PS2, but I do so out of nessacity . The 360 version just flat out freezes too much to make reinstalling worth the time it takes. That is 4 hours I could have used playing other games or watching netflix or something. PC's are prohibitively expensive right now, and buying one just to play one game is a waste of money. That is my point. I honestly prefer the ps2 version as it is easier to work with for me, and is far more reliable than the 360 version. After having played with all 3 versions, the only complaint I can find between three is that the game causes 360's to freeze at the worst possible moment.

[zanlabik]

As for monetary limitations, Killing support for PS2 frees up a lot of Development, personnel and testing staff. People who could be figuring out how to do cool new things instead of how to make current things work on old shitty hardware. There are some things (ie. inventory) that they have all ready acknowledged knowing how to do, but have been unable to implement due to PS2 crap.

Using this logic, why not kill all support for anything not PC. This will free up all kinds of money. Hell, why stop with console platforms. Lets just kill all support and use that money for development.

[FrankReynolds]

Proof that they're so easily doable? I'm not being sarcastic, I'd honestly like to see it if you have it.

They already said that they could.

I never asked you to reread anything but what I wrote, but to be honest I don't think you really read my initial post or my reply. What's your proof that dropping PS2 support will really free up those resources (money and manpower) for FFXI development? They SHOULD, but that doesn't mean that they will. It'd be great if it was all as simple as you think it is. Trust me, I have a list of changes I'd love to see myself. I just don't believe that dropping PS2 is going to make all our dreams come true just like that.

Well at the very minimum they could fire all those people, but that still frees up money. Do you suppose they would discontinue support, send everyone home and just keep paying all the payroll and facility expenses for that department anyways just to prove a point for you?

[FrankReynolds]

You know how when you log-in or zone, your inventory isn't necessarily available instantly? And when you're DC-ing you can't move things from or to your inventory? What's my point? Obviously our inventory is dependent on our connection to the server. What is increasing our inventory going to do to server load and bandwidth? That's another thing SE is going to have to think about before they start making a bunch of changes.

Considering the dwindling player base, it is highly unlikely that bandwidth is going to ruin things.

[TetsujinX]

You guys do realize that in a year or so, maybe less, we will be having this same discussion but for 360 instead right? Dropping PS2 will lose them customers. That fact cannot be disputed. Assuming they do cut PS2 they will find other new content that developing for 360 will prevent them from implementing. At this point the PC users, wanting the new content, will push for cutting ties with the 360. They then will have lost at least half of their subscriptions at that point. Botttom line is Squenix is too shrewd a company (Or at least i would like to think so...) to lose subscriptions over platfrom choice. I don't see them cutting support for Sony.

[FrankReynolds]

You guys do realize that in a year or so, maybe less, we will be having this same discussion but for 360 instead right? Dropping PS2 will lose them customers. That fact cannot be disputed. Assuming they do cut PS2 they will find other new content that developing for 360 will prevent them from implementing. At this point the PC users, wanting the new content, will push for cutting ties with the 360. They then will have lost at least half of their subscriptions at that point. Botttom line is Squenix is too shrewd a company (Or at least i would like to think so...) to lose subscriptions over platfrom choice. I don't see them cutting support for Sony.

Maybe, I doubt it though, being as the 360 is basically a windows PC, it is a very easy port. The 360 is also still in production, and one of the most popular gaming systems available, where as the PS2......

No, I see them putting all of the responsibility on Sony to create a PS2 emulator. They made a 360 version because it was super easy. They haven't made a PS3 version because it's not easy. I'm sure it pissed Sony off a little.

[Teraniku]

One thing your forgeting is that the base engine for ffxi is ps2. They would have to rewrite the whole game to take ps2 out of the game. The upgrades you think you'll get from elimateing ps2 system, will only happen if they redo the whole game and include a new engine based on another base system, like ps3. Do you think they would redo the whole game?

They don't have to rewrite the whole game.

They can tweak the code to allow some of the PS2 limitations to go away. Redo the DirectX Wrapper to 9+. Then you'd be good for new areas and Graphics upgrades etc. Granted it's still a lot of work.