dump the PS2...

[Zatias]

No the child is the one who is so dense that she believes she is always right and covers her mistakes with post edits. When people disagree with her, they are "children".

Please help me understand this.

[RAIST]

OMG... not another one. We probly have 2 dozen or more of these threads.

Essentially what has to happen when shooting for multi-platform compatibility, the foundation of your programming has to be restricted to the lowest level of hardware you intend to support so it will always run on all the platforms you expect to run it on.

FFXI was built in a specific environment (PS2) and has hard-coded limitations embedded in it's core to communicate with the firmware/BIOS of a PS2. That is why you need a BIOS file from a PS2 to make a PS2 emulator work--it has to be able to run the compiled code, and an x86 system cannot read that assembly language natively. This has not changed. PS2 assembly is still used in the Windows and 360 versions, they just have a "wrapper" to run that code. A large portion of that core code has remained the same as it was 10 years ago.

So essentially all you get with dropping the PS2 is a game with embedded limitations from a platform no longer officially supported that still has the same restrictions on it as if that platform was still officially supported.

Unless you are willing to go back to the drawing board and rewrite the core of the game, and recompile it for a higher level platform to take advantage of the more robust features in that environment, there is no point in just arbitrarily dropping the PS2 from the list of supported platforms. If you're gonna rebuild like that, the market would also likely compel updated assets to provide HD quality textures, text, etc. Essentially, writing a new game.... FFXI-2?

Enter FFXIV... they goofed and built it with a pc environment in mind first, only to realize later the PS3 didn't have the resources to run it properly and are having to strip it down for PS3 version.

[Modoru]

It is just a prefernce since most of their jobs require long hours infront of a PC. Plus their econamy isn't the greatest and most can't afford a good pc to play games with.

Wait what? Since when does that stop people from PC gaming. More so, since when has Japan's economy been in such a state that people can't afford PC gaming? Especially a game that even a netbook can run?

But even still, to dump the ps2 one would need to remake ffxi from stratch. And resell it as ffxi v2.

Not really. They can still upgrade from the core code and maybe rewrite certain things, but it wouldn't require starting all over.

[Reiterpallasch]

Plus their econamy isn't the greatest and most can't afford a good pc to play games with.

Well for what it's worth, you can get a PC that plays the game better than on a console, for cheaper than a console. I can't imagine PS2 parts are cheap/easy to come by since they don't make them anymore.

Though I could be wrong and they are cheap, and japan still makes JP onry PS2 hard drives.

[Octaviane]

Rosina, please show concrete evidence that Japanese players prefer consoles, thank you. Just asking since you are demanding proof of account transfer and payment problems people are having.

Oh and where did you learn that their economy isn't the greatest? Yes, they suffered a horrendous natural disaster, but in case you aren't aware of it, the Japanese are far more resourceful than you could ever imagine. Wow! They even build and export PC's........................and have running water and electricity.

[Xellith]

Keep the game the way it is. Merge a few servers. Allow some servers for FFXI+ with updates we have been asking for.

Non-compulsory move to the new server/s. The PS2 gamers can stay where they are if they want to and so can the PC and 360 gamers. People can migrate to an updated game if they so choose.

[Avidon]

SE already answered your requests to update XI. That answer was XIV. And though many people dont like XIV, it gives you a better understanding of the saying, "becareful what you ask for." XI isn't going to change. There won't be a version 2. The playerbase isn't big enough to support that. And with how XIV tanked, I i would think they are done taking risks ffor the time being.
Personally, I would love to see XI get a make over. But the side of me that thinks once in awhile tells me that the chances aren't good. But yeah keep making the same thread over and over and arguing over the most pointless topic.

[Inafking]

Okie dokey, if they're not gonna dump the PS2 they need to start making PS2 disks again and make software that will support a USB/Firewire HDD that US PS2s can use.

[Gropitou]

As my signature says....

[Tezz]

SE has slowly been remaking/re-imagining the series, they have to get to FF7 before they get back to FF11. I'd honestly they rather make a mini-series out of it before a full on remake.

It would be nice to have something for the non-MMO players out there.