Expansions and Beating Dead Horses

[CrystalWeapon]

When people say "drop ps2 support" it doesn't necessarily mean that SE has to make every ps2 suddenly unable to log in, just add new stuff on the platforms that can handle it and encourage some migration to newer platforms. The client is horribly outdated anyways. Look at older MMO's; many of them have updated client engines with servers that support both the new and old clients. For example: http://webcache.googleusercontent.co...www.google.com

Agree with you there and would love to see it, but it would still alienate the ps2 players. I wish we had a census on how many people still played on the ps2, I want to know how true the mass jp ps2 player base rumor is. Not to be racist but it doesn't seem to add up that a country like japan that's so ahead in computing technology would have a mass playerbase of people still using an 11 year old system.

[NrvnqsrKhaos]

When people say "drop ps2 support" it doesn't necessarily mean that SE has to make every ps2 suddenly unable to log in, just add new stuff on the platforms that can handle it and encourage some migration to newer platforms. The client is horribly outdated anyways. Look at older MMO's; many of them have updated client engines with servers that support both the new and old clients. For example: http://webcache.googleusercontent.co...www.google.com

What you are basically suggesting is taking the early adopters of the game and making them into second-class players.

This does not make sense. The benfits (financially) do not outweigh the costs (Playerbase, reputation). Sure, it would make the game better. That's obvious. But it's a non-issue, cause it's not something SE should consider.

Kinda sucks, but it's not as easy as "Just don't let the PS2 users get this cool stuff!"

[Starcade]

What you are basically suggesting is taking the early adopters of the game and making them into second-class players.

This is where I disagree with GlobalVariable: I think a lot of people ARE asking, for the survival of the game, for the removal of all PS2 players. Not even to second-class -- to GONE.

[GlobalVariable]

What you are basically suggesting is taking the early adopters of the game and making them into second-class players.

This does not make sense. The benfits (financially) do not outweigh the costs (Playerbase, reputation). Sure, it would make the game better. That's obvious. But it's a non-issue, cause it's not something SE should consider.

Kinda sucks, but it's not as easy as "Just don't let the PS2 users get this cool stuff!"

Not at all. Technology marches on, todays new platforms will eventually be just as outdated. Do you still use Windows95 for web browsing or gaming? Of coarse not. That's like saying we shouldn't have new OS's for our new computers. Old operating systems and old hardware (anyone remember coax networking?) get phased out over time. Eventually old ps2's break down. New discs aren't even being stamped.

The real reason it won't happen is cost. SE would rather make new games.

[MrWigglles]

One of the issues SE laid forth in thier aprehention of implementing any new expansions is our favorite "dead horse," the Play Station 2. True, on the American side, this would be a bigger issue due to Sony NA's general lazzyness/want of/lack of desire to allow their long term devotees to have a backwards compatable system.
But SE needs to just let go of the PS2 in this issue. It's an outdate concept to try to hold onto it. It would be "simple," although a logistical nightmare, to retool the game so that even people without one of those rare backward compatable PS2s could load and play the game on all PS3s. Yes I realize that this result in losing players in the imediate, but you have to concider that the continued lack of content/expansions will eventualy result in the loss of the game. You do also have to take into account the number of players that the new PS3 market will generate offsetting what you'll lose int he PS2 market.

There is a free download on PSN that allows you to install the PS2 version of FFXI on any PS3.

[NrvnqsrKhaos]

Not at all. Technology marches on, todays new platforms will eventually be just as outdated. Do you still use Windows95 for web browsing or gaming? Of coarse not. That's like saying we shouldn't have new OS's for our new computers.

The real reaosn it won't happen is cost. SE would rather make new games.

Consoles are not computers. I play my PS2 quite often, even though I own a PS3.

I don't use my old 1998 laptop. I use my newer one.

Consoles are a lot more common than PCs in Japan, from what I've seen. Most people do their day-to-day internet on phones. And if they do have a PC, it's most likely a netbook. Granted, this is a view biased to those who go to college, but I've asked quite a few people about it, and they tend to think that serious gaming is something for the consoles, while casual gaming is for the PCs.

That's a completely arbitrary point that I can't back up with any evidence beyond "I talked to people", so feel free to ignore it. But it's certainly congruent to what people say about the Japanese players of the game.

[GlobalVariable]

Consoles are not computers. I play my PS2 quite often, even though I own a PS3.

Where did I say you can't use your ps2? My whole point was to leave it so ps2 users don't lose anything, but it's not everyone elses problem that your ps2 can't handle (actually I have doubts that the ps2 is more than just an excuse - I believe the real issue is lost programming staff) newer features. The windows verison itself is outdated and badly in need of upgrades..Directx7 is long gone. In another thread I said if they want to continue supporting the ps2, I want new collection discs for it. I have the ps2 version myself. If they aren't going to REALLY support it, they should at least enable my upgrade dangit.

Gradually phasing something out usually takes years btw. Like it or not the ps2 version eventually dies on its own with no action form SE at all. So will the old directx windowsXP (and its vistapatch'd exe sidekick) and xbox360 versions. All I'm asking for is to eventually add newer tech versions so the servers don't die with it.

[Wenceslao]

thay can start supporting the newers consoles, and pc and left ps2 back, eventually those players (including me) will migrate to the other sistems, i have pc and ps2 version, i use ps2 above pc because i like the ps2 controller, but if it is stoping me from getting better improvements on gameplay im more than willing to stop using my console and start using the pc again

[Rambus]

Would like SE to talk about this more, about dropping the PS2 and just let it be put on the ps3, see if the real reason is cost or what not.

[Wenceslao]

Would like SE to talk about this more, about dropping the PS2 and just let it be put on the ps3, see if the real reason is cost or what not.

i think many of us are waiting for it to happen