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

[Economizer]

Solution: Add a new expansion. PS2 users cannot get it. Expansion adds areas that PS2 users cannot access, but X360/PC can. PS2 users still have access to everything that's already out.

BAM! The game continues to grow without locking PS2 users out of the game entirely. A solution is found.

I already knew this is exactly what would be said. It was very predictable.

That's why I wrote my example exactly the way I did. I did not say new areas - which would be what an expansion gets too - but new spells, gear, and abilities. And heavens forbid that SE ever wants to add another job, weapon class, or anything that can be taken to older areas. New anything will have to be in the RAM/Hard drive of older systems for various reasons.

Although I suppose you could get around it by not letting PS2 users buy any of the gear, see and of the gear, or log in if they own the new expansion. Except that isn't a solution. Basically, we will eventually hit this wall.

I only state that we should plan ahead for this in a slow manner that gives plenty of advanced notice and warnings, of about 1-2 years, and that anyone who opposes this wants FFXI not to get things, which spells death for an MMO.

Again, even if SE announced the PS2 would be dropped, it will take a lot of time. Legacy users will have plenty of time to upgrade or drop the platform over a lengthy transition period. There is no need to fear a transition, and anyone who takes the time to understand what a successful transition would entail and still opposes it is someone who wants the consequences - eventual death for FFXI.

I say that anyone who understands those consequences and accepts them has no place here.

[Minkaa]

Solution: Add a new expansion. PS2 users cannot get it. Expansion adds areas that PS2 users cannot access, but X360/PC can. PS2 users still have access to everything that's already out.

BAM! The game continues to grow without locking PS2 users out of the game entirely. A solution is found.

I like this idea. That also creates incentives for PS2 users to seriously consider upgrading so they can access the new content. Eventually, the ever-increasing amount of content only available to non-PS2 users would dwindle the PS2 population down to nothing, making this entire discussion moot.

[Vold]

They probably aren't looking to dump PS2 anyways. The more logical reasoning is that they are seeing if it's viable to further enhance this game on the PC. Like, whether or not a graphical upgrade is worth the effort. With the failure of FFXIV(thus far) I'm sure they are reconsidering their stance to some kind of an extent to toy around with 11 to gain customers sooner than later.

It's also possible they are looking into moving PS2/PC/360 users onto their own servers so that they can enhance the PC version without restriction with the ultimate goal of having everyone move on from the PS2 in time. In either case the last thing they are thinking is kicking PS2 users, imho.

[Eric]

All I see from this thread is PS2 users complaining about how poor they are.

Be better at life and then maybe when you can afford a worthwhile computer you will see why playing FFXI on PC is the superior experience.

Again: If you're worried about paying $60-$120 for a new computer ($120 includes the monitor), then you have bigger problems to deal with. Stop being terrible at life.

EDIT: As a university student with absolutely no financial support from my parents, I have managed to study full-time, and work enough so that I can start paying my student loans while I am still in school, and still have the spare money to spend on things like an iPhone(which includes the $80 per month cellphone bill). You're obviously not trying hard enough.

[Volkai]

I already knew this is exactly what would be said. It was very predictable.

That's why I wrote my example exactly the way I did. I did not say new areas - which would be what an expansion gets too - but new spells, gear, and abilities. And heavens forbid that SE ever wants to add another job, weapon class, or anything that can be taken to older areas. New anything will have to be in the RAM/Hard drive of older systems for various reasons.

Although I suppose you could get around it by not letting PS2 users buy any of the gear, see and of the gear, or log in if they own the new expansion. Except that isn't a solution. Basically, we will eventually hit this wall.

I only state that we should plan ahead for this in a slow manner that gives plenty of advanced notice and warnings, of about 1-2 years, and that anyone who opposes this wants FFXI not to get things, which spells death for an MMO.

Again, even if SE announced the PS2 would be dropped, it will take a lot of time. Legacy users will have plenty of time to upgrade or drop the platform over a lengthy transition period. There is no need to fear a transition, and anyone who takes the time to understand what a successful transition would entail and still opposes it is someone who wants the consequences - eventual death for FFXI.

I say that anyone who understands those consequences and accepts them has no place here.

By my understanding, it's possible to set different .dat IDs for gear on different platforms. That's part of what having a different client for PC/X360 than for PS2 would allow to be done. Thus, PS2 can still handle new spells, abilities, gear, monsters by using old .dats where other clients would use new .dat files.

[Volkai]

All I see from this thread is PS2 users complaining about how poor they are.

Be better at life and then maybe when you can afford a worthwhile computer you will see why playing FFXI on PC is the superior experience.

Again: If you're worried about paying $60-$120 for a new computer ($120 includes the monitor), then you have bigger problems to deal with. Stop being terrible at life.

EDIT: As a university student with absolutely no financial support from my parents, I have managed to study full-time, and work enough so that I can start paying my student loans while I am still in school, and still have the spare money to spend on things like an iPhone(which includes the $80 per month cellphone bill). You're obviously not trying hard enough.

Because clearly anybody not doing as well as you are must be a terrible person who does not deserve to play FFXI.

Your total lack of empathy for your fellow players should be shocking, but is depressingly unsurprising.

[Solonuke]

Being an European, I've always felt the PS2 excuse was dragged over my head as "Why we can't have nice things". I really wonder however how much the engine would have been improved if they dropped the PS2 support. These days the PC version is running like an old car, you're afraid of it to break down every second. Accidentally launching other full screen applications crashes it, ctrl+alt+delete on win 7 and vista crashes it (use ctrl+shift+delete instead), changing from 32 bit colors to 16 crashes it, alt tabbing during full screen crashes it, looking at it crashes it and so on. If all of these issues could be solved by nuking the PS2 into oblivion I'm all for that really.

Eventually PS2s will stop reading your discs and the HDD will stop storing data. I've replaced several PC HDDs over the years either because of they break or they're just outdated. Consoles break down over time which is normal for any console unless its an Atari 2600 which is built for lasting centuries which is not the case for the PS2 as it has moving parts inside. From what I have read buying an old PS2 new plus all the items you need in order to play FFXI are as expensive as a new TV and a computer good enough to run FFXI with everything maxed out.

[Volkai]

I'm gonna laugh if you fanatical PC-only people get your way and drive off all the PS2 players and the end result is FFXI no longer brings in enough money to justify keeping it up and running. FFXI dead at the hands of those who thought they were trying to save it from death.

Then I'll be sad because you killed FFXI for all of us.

Think on that.

[Teraniku]

Better for the game to die , then to live on in stagnation then.

[Volkai]

Better for the game to die , then to live on in stagnation then.

Okay, you go ahead and quit when they stop updating. I'm not done with FFXI until I've completed every level and merit of every job, finished every mission and quest, completed every side event, killed every NM, gotten every drop (even if I don't keep it), fully leveled every craft, acquired and fully upgraded every Artifact, Relic, Mythic, Empyrean and future strata of every armor and weapon and other item there is.

That's going to take a while. Even if they stopped updating FFXI today I probably wouldn't be done with it for at least five more years.



What? I don't have the time to devote to FFXI that I used to.