Why did you start playing FFXI?

[Harmless]

Ah this thread brings back some memories... I started playing FFXI in I think 2003? Not sure exactly of the year but I do remember the release of Chains of Promathia (2004?) Anyways, I was like 21-22 working full time at Philips Electronics factory. We would all get off work around 11 PM and then go to the bar, get drunk chat some shit and then go home. This is the part where I become unpopular on the forums...

I had about 3 friends at work that talked about FFXI all the time. I had never played through a FF game (though I remember playing VII or VIII for all of 5 minutes) so I would give my buddies a hard time about playing it. I thought they sounded like nerds being so "obsessed" with a video game. Well eventually they tried to get me to play it and although I resisted, I'll admit I was a little curious about what made this game so great. One night at the bar one of the guys made an offer that made me laugh. He said "Tell ya what, you go buy the game and try it for a week. If you don't like it I'll give you the money the game costs". I said ya sure but had no intention of taking up his offer. That weekend I was at Walmart (Inorite?) looking for new game to feed my addiction. At the time I played a lot of GTA, MGS, The Getaway... stuff like that, and spotted a copy of FFXI for PC in a box that looked as if it had bought, torn open and returned to the store (not very inspiring). It was only $20 so I said F it and bought it. This is the part where I redeem myself slightly...

Fast forward 8-9 years... I'm 10x more addicted to the game than they ever were. Of the 3 friends that got me started, 1 has quit but plays 14 a little bit, 1 only logs on to chat with his LS and the other thinks that Campaign is the only event in all of Vanadiel. The factory we worked at has since been sent to Mexico, I've started and finished college, now have 3 kids and own a Dj company. Everything in my life has changed except my love of this game. Since then I have bought every FF title that has been released (with the exception of 14) and while they were all great games, none of them have been finished thanks to FFXI lol. I even went back and bought as many of the older titles as I could find. Needless to say, my friend never had to pay me that $20 although he stops by every now and again to have a beer and chat about the game.


TL;DR
The "nerds" that got me started on FFXI have been surpassed in "nerd-dome"... by the guy "too cool for FFXI"

[Tim]

I started playing this game in december of 05 and it was a christmas gift from my baby brother. I joined the military in 04 and he missed hanging out so he got me FF11 so we could play together. What sucks is that about 1 month into me playing my father made him quit because his grades were suffering lol. So I kept playing and am still addicted to this game.

[Mezzopiano]

I like FF games, and I wanted a game that I could play for a really long time. This seemed like a perfect fit.

[annewandering]

My son wanted to chat with me sometimes without having to call so he installed the game on my computer. I did not want to play at all but thought the little taru character was cute, met a couple of very nice people on game who had just started and six years later I am playing and he is not.
At least he understands unlike most other people. ^^

[Linh]

In January of 2004 I was deciding between Star Wars Galaxies or Dark Age of Camelot to try out as my first MMO.

Then I somehow wound up with FF11 instead of the first two *shrugs*

[Tsukino_Kaji]

In January of 2004 I was deciding between Star Wars Galaxies or Dark Age of Camelot to try out as my first MMO.

Then I somehow wound up with FF11 instead of the first two *shrugs*

Lucky you.

[Nu-Hir]

Is this a good reason to start?

[Arconis]

I have played every Final Fantasy there is from launch and FFXI was just the next one in series.

[Tsukino_Kaji]

I have played every Final Fantasy there is from launch and FFXI was just the next one in series.

Wow that makes you old like me. lol

[Arconis]

lmao just had to point that out didn't ya was hoping I might be able to slip that by I noticed after I posted that I just showed my true age old ;; lol