Two incomplete cutscene issues, possibly related. (CoP)

[Etrien]

I was going back through the Chains of Promathia cutscenes, but when I try to rewatch the cutscene, "The Rites of Life(pt.2)" in Upper Jeuno, the cutscene ends when the screen goes white while zooming into the "Mysterious Boy's" face. It should, instead, be transitioning into a glimpse of Al'Taieu, followed by a scene outside the clinic. There are no freezes or crashes, it just ends prematurely at the scene transition. (And there are no additional parts to this scene (EG, a "pt.3") to choose, so I am currently unable to rewatch this entire scene.)

Additionally, when I try to view the very first cutscene for CoP, ("The Rites of Life" in Delkfutt's Tower), the goblin has the scene broken into 5 parts (pt.1 ~ pt.5). In the past when I have rewatched this (years ago, admittedly), it was all one long cutscene. Furthermore, every listing I can find online still lists that there should only be one cutscene for Rites of Life in Delkfutt's. (I have found several videos online of people who have recorded this scene, and the Goblin seems to offer all of them the single, complete cutscene, as well)

The 5 different parts for me are divided at the points where they transition between areas (EG, outside delkfutt's -> inside delkfutt's -> Bahamut, etc.), and the other cutscene is ending prematurely at the same sort of transition, which leads me to think they are probably connected...

I've tried checking the POL and FFXI files, I've also messed with all the settings I could think of. Since the game itself is giving me the options of "The Rites of Life(pt.1~5)", clearly there is something going on game-side here...


Date & Time: 11/9/2011
Frequency: Repeatedly
Platform: OC
PC Manufacturer & Model Number: Custom
OS: Windows 7
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460
ISP: Yahoo
Type of Internet Connection: Cable

[SE_James]

Etrien,

Problems with cutscenes can be caused by connection difficulties, especially during the transition, as your system awaits data from the servers in Japan. If that data is being blocked somewhere along the way, it can result in what you are describing. We do have a few suggestions to resolve this, provided below:

Suggestions:
1. Check to make sure you have properly configured or turned off any of the following: Routers, Proxy Servers, NAT Servers, Internet Connection Sharing services.
2. If you are using any kind of software/hardware Internet Sharing service/device the following ports need INCOMING access to your PC: TCP 1024 - 65535, UDP 53, and 50000 - 65535. Also, check to make sure that the ports mentioned are not blocked by your ISP for INCOMING access. Proper configuration of any of the above items mentioned should be done by following the instructions in the software/hardware manual or calling the manufacturer's technical support.
3. If you are using a router, and have configured that router for port forwarding, temporarily bypass that router and connect directly to the modem.

Please take note of the following:
• Proxy servers, and satellite connections are not supported and do not work correctly with FINAL FANTASY XI.
• Your router may require that you use a PC to configure your network settings. For more information about how to configure your network settings, please refer to the instruction manual that came with your router or contact the manufacturer directly.
• If your Internet Service Provider (ISP) specifies a DNS server, you need to make sure to configure your settings to allow packets to pass through UDP Port 53 as well. For more information, please refer to the instruction manual for your router or the information provided by your ISP.

[Etrien]

Unfortunately, due to some annoying and complicated issues, I do not have immediate access to my router's settings. But, I've tried playing around with it the best I can, as well as bypassing it entirely and going straight through the modem, but nothing is changing the situation. I also tried uninstalling and reinstalling everything.

I do have a different suspicion, though.

I've tested other scenes I could remember that have transitions in them, such as from WotG or RotZ, and I am NOT running into any issues with them. So far, the only problems are with the scenes I mentioned before, both from CoP.

However, the number one peculiarity is the fact that the scene in Delkfutt's Tower, which is supposed to be a single long cutscene according to every source I can find, is divided into five separate parts for me. Since the game itself is giving me the scripted choices of parts 1 -5, there must be SOMETHING game-side related to at least this issue, and not purely my PC/connection, right...?

On the Jeuno cutscene where I said it ends prematurely, I should clarify that it doesn't show any signs of lag or anything obvious that indicates a drop. When the screen goes white, the Jeuno music fades back in and it returns to my character as though that was the correct place to end. This is exactly how each of the 5 scenes in the tower end, as well.

So my idea is this: since my Delkfutt's Tower scenes are strangely broken into separate chunks based on when they transition between scenes... Could my Upper Jeuno scene also, instead of cutting off completely, be strangely broken into subsequent parts as well, with the remaining portions maybe being offered by some other Bard NPC?


I feel like if I understood the answer to why my Delkfutt's Tower Goblin Footprint list is abnormal, it would shed some light on the cutscene I'm trying to finish. The most recent video evidence I could find online of the scene being listed as one big scene (instead of parts 1-5) was dated April of this year, which isn't very long ago...