[Dev] PS2 and the new expansion

[Tsuneo]

I like XIV, but I don't know if it can ever be great after its launch. It can definitely be moderately successful, but I doubt it will reach greatness after that launch.

[oliveira]

No, XIV is still their idea of the next great MMO given how much work they're still pointing into it. XI's still around because if it's raw staying power and loyal fanbase in Japan. Playing XIV myself I have to say that it stands to gain just as much staying power with it's still unrivaled writing and decent game mechanics (now that they're no longer kowtowing to the old director).

When I said "was" I referenced how they intended to scrap FFXI and force everyone on going to FFXIV. Now they know if they scrap XI, they will even finish killing XIV and putting to waste all time and money they put on both games, not to mention both SquareSoft and Enix legacy.

[Gingerhurricane]

The migration has to happen naturally from 11 to 14. Someone has to go out and buy the pc version or play the ps3, and when they are bored of 11 will be play 14 and vice versa. Without a successful launch that i believe is the only option of where 14 will get most of their players. A decent influx of people wanting a mmo and only having a ps3 will give it a shot when it comes around, and people who play on pc will follow friends over. Otherwise, you have another couple of years of content from 14 if they release the expansion and don't give everyone everything in one shot. CoP was done well in my opinion of gradually working itself up to sea, with limbus being tossed in as a side event for those who had access. People screwed around in miseraux coast and lufaise for a long time before they were able to get further, then people camped and did events in riverne, ect... It will be well worth the wait if they put the time an effort into any expansion they put out minus WoTG but even then, that expansion opened doors to a way of solo leveling not seen before. especially blm since the melee burns.

[Laraul]

I only have a PS2 to play FFXI, is there no possible way for PS2 users outside of Japan to access the new expansion comming in 2013? I have no choice but to get a pc or im lrft out? Really hope to get an official response.

If they are supporting the Japanese PS2 platform, i would assume the NA version would also be supported. There aren't many Japanese players still using the PS2 client. Possibly the same percentage of NA players still using the PS2. If it's not going to be supported outside Japan, then that client probably best avoided regardless which region you play in.

[Laraul]

The problem is that the PS2 is simply extremely dated hardware, using extremely dated software/firmware. Eventually it simply becomes too much trouble with the legacy code to be worth supporting it anymore compared to the more efficient way of supporting it on newer platforms. If they are to keep this game alive and well for the future, they may very well one day have to scrap some of that problematic code and do some recompiling to keep it stable on the newer platforms. We've already begun to see problem with Win7 and video card driver support issues. There are some older i486 based games (written in the Win3.x and Win95 era) that throw up on themselves when you try to run them on today's systems. The same can potentially happen with the legacy coding/emulation going on with FFXI---eventually, it just isn't worth it to try to support that older code in newer environments, and some of it simply has to go.

But today's PCs are completely compatible with Windows 3.1 and earlier. Intel CPUs now support 64bit and have twice the number of registers but completely backward compatible with any PC that conforms to IBM's original specs for it's PS/2 line. And the PS2 CPU is quite a bit more sophisticated than Intel's processors.

[Zerich]

I'm a PC player, and I can say it how it is. There's just nothing to be gained from dropping PS2. Whether people can move to another platform is irrelevant.

lol, no you aren't. good try though.

[RAIST]

But today's PCs are completely compatible with Windows 3.1 and earlier. Intel CPUs now support 64bit and have twice the number of registers but completely backward compatible with any PC that conforms to IBM's original specs for it's PS/2 line. And the PS2 CPU is quite a bit more sophisticated than Intel's processors.

Selective reading?

Knowing of this pending obsolescence for the PS2, the sooner they can start preparing a migration path off the dated platform and into a Windows centered environment, the better. Remember, PS2 is 12 years old...hard to find a high percentage of home users still running ME/W2K, and the XB360 is a Microsoft product and does incorporate some Windows components into it's development and such. It would greatly benefit them for future survival of the franchise to take steps as soon as possible to encourage users to migrate away from the PS2 so that when it does finally slope off the radar, they can have a smooth transition.

The older OS's from the 80's/90's are no longer mainstream for some specific reasons.....PS2 suffers in the same way. You can't find win 3.x drivers for newer hardware. Aside from maybe recovery and a short list of various maintenance utilities, you'd be hard pressed to find practical use software or games that boot into a DOS environment and use VESA graphics (think the last game I had that did that was Wing Commander, Heart of the Tiger or something like that). There are simply other platforms that superceed the PS2 much in the same way newer OS's superceded Win3.x and Win9x.

[Shotaro1]

Find a 360 on craigslist or something that is RRoD or something for like 10 dollars. Look on youtube for fix solutions. You dont need an electronics degree to do this. Fix the problem. Move to 360 if you are on ps2. Simple.

Or get with the times and get a PC for like 50 bucks and be pro.

[Tsuneo]

lol, no you aren't. good try though.

I'm not a PC player? You're an idiot if you think PS2 holds the game back.

[Wolfjorg]

It all comes down to JP onry.