What happens if you don't transfer your character before the deadline?

[Rhianu]

The opportunity to transfer your FINAL FANTASY XI character will end Wednesday, August 31, so we encourage you to act without delay.

I've already transferred my account and characters, but I have a friend who's account is inactive and who hasn't played the game for a while. What will happen to his characters if he doesn't transfer his account before the August 31st deadline? Will they be permanently locked/deleted, or what?

[Eadieni]

Of course they won't delete them but he probably won't be able to play anymore until the transfer is complete. They won't delete your characters because then you'd never come back.

[Rhianu]

he probably won't be able to play anymore until the transfer is complete.

Yes, but according to the article, players will no longer be able to even preform the transfer after the deadline has passed, which is the issue I'm concerned about.

After August 31st, my friend would essentially be running into the following paradox:

Cannot play until transfer is complete.
Cannot complete transfer because deadline has passed.

I'm sure you can see how this would create a problem.

[Maacha]

You can transfer after the Aug 31st deadline, you just won't get the in-game item.

[RAIST]

Cannot play until transfer is complete.
Cannot complete transfer because deadline has passed.

I hope that isn't true... or SE is going to have a lot of money walk out of the door from players that haven't been actively logging in but are still paying for their access. Not too mention players that took a break and canceled billing until the next level cap increase....

Guess we need to go through the announcements again to double check...and start sending some emails if you have them for these friends.

[RAIST]

think I may have found the source of the confusion. The initial posting made it sound like you would loose access:

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/th...count-Transfer

Please note that all users will have to log in and agree to the transfer by August 31, 2011, or they will lose access to PlayOnline and FINAL FANTASY XI.

But the official FAQ they put up later tells it a little differently:


http://support.na.square-enix.com/fa...527&id=20&la=1

* Transfer Period:

The transfer process will be available starting at the end of July, 2011 and is scheduled to last until August 31, 2011. After August 31, 2011, however, access to PlayOnline and FINAL FANTASY XI will not be possible until the transfer process is completed.

Note the bolded clause at the end. So, apparently the POL data will still be online so you will be able to do the transfer after 8/31. It's just that you will have to do it before you can get to any part of the game--probly won't be able to sign into the POL viewer and all that jazz...just keep getting an error message everytime you try to log in until you go to the website and do the transfer.

[Runespider]

Sadly nothing Square does anymore suprises me, so although everything will probaby be fine in regards OP's concerns it would in no way suprise me if they locked out a large number of players if they didn't transfer before the deadline.

The company has gone down so far in my estimations it's not even funny, whoever is in charge is just plumb crazy.

Anyone that would play another Square MMO after seeing how badly they treated us on this one would be nuts. I find it really amusing they are trying to break into the multiple MMO field and make it a big source of income while totally dragging their name through the mud with mmo players.

[Rosina]

the transfer are for active accounts. pretty much they want ppl to xfer now. so it eases the force trasnfering of all accounts.

[RAIST]

the transfer are for active accounts. pretty much they want ppl to xfer now. so it eases the force trasnfering of all accounts.

According to the FAQ posting it is for both active and idle accounts, as they stated you'll HAVE to do the transfer after 8/31 to access content--which will be AFTER they've been forced to go idle.

If there's anything specifically motivating them to get us to register prior to 8/31, I'd expect it's for balancing server loads and/or just basic economics. More inclined to think it's more the latter--so they can keep collecting money (in some cases more than they would normally collect).

[Kraggy]

How about there's no ulterior motive at all /rolleyes.

How about it's simply SE trying to ensure there's no last minute rush with the inevitable whining and crying from people who leave everything till the last minute and then moan when they run into the huge herd they're a part of congesting the service?