I started in 2002, while taking college Japanese classes. I thought it would be a practical way to practice the language, and there were a bunch of importers that spoke English organizing to all be on the Ragnarok server. Homework and work kept me too busy to play as often as I wanted though, and I didn't get above level 12 before American release of the game.

I also got it because it was the only way to play an MMO, since all I had were game consoles and a Macintosh from 1995. I wouldn't have played any MMO if FFXI hadn't have been released on PS2.