Why PlayStation 2

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

Make of this what you will.

• Better colors--It may be possible to fix this by mucking about in settings, but the default settings for both the PC and Xbox 360 versions have colors that are very washed out. After getting accustomed to playing on the PlayStation 2 for a while, on other platforms it will become difficult to see the difference between the white text of /say and the red of /shout.
• Better 2D--With this game being so menu-heavy, it doesn't take long to notice how well the PS2 renders them as compared to other platforms. Even fonts and icon and item art look better, most visibly because of the lack of the thick, black borders on everything on the PC and Xbox versions. Granted, the PS2 is probably the reason why it looks like the art on other platforms look drawn with a Sharpie, but the end result is the same.
• No mucking about with gamma--This deserves to stand apart from the first "better colors" point above. It "just works," in contrast to the other two platforms. Most damningly, as the original update notes themselve state, gamma settings on the PC version need to be changed between full-screen and windowed modes.
• Smoother framerate--Your mileage will obviously vary on the PC, but the framerate on the PS2 is typically higher than the Xbox 360 in the same situations, and I don't pretend to know why. And I'm not even talking about using the Xbox in HD mode.
• Smooth docking--This is a graphical glitch that has plagued the PC version since launch, and was ported over to the Xbox 360. Docking ships and airships aren't actually supposed to suddenly jump to the right during docking scenes. PlayStation 2 players know this.
• Different clipping algorithm--This is most noticeable walking along Drogaroga's Spine in Meriphataud Mountains, but can be seen anyplace where a mountain can suddenly snap into existence on the horizon as the camera moves. The PS2 instead will draw any surface closer than the clipping plane, even if it's only part of a complete object.
• No grids in the sky--This is most noticeable in overcast skies, as is usually the case in Xarcabard.
• No "Xbox Camera Disease"--Most noticeable in a Mog House, where moving the camera in third-person can cause sudden seizures.
• No ATI or nVidia video drivers--Self explanatory.
• No zoning lag--As just about every Xbox player knows, there is a ~1 s hang soon after changing areas, each and every time. You may get desensitized to it over time, but you will notice it if you change platforms and come back, and it will drive you crazy.
• Discless play--For a few fleeting days, it was possible to play the Xbox 360 version without having a disc in the drive. No more. Meanwhile, launching the PlayStation 2 version from the HDD was originally the only option. Booting with a CoP or later disc is simply a luxury that allows for faster startup times.
• No disc read errors--Not only are discs not required, they've yet to actually become a problem on the PS2, in stark contrast to the Xbox 360.
• Full sound during character creation--Hear the running Tarutaru gasp to catch her breath while dancing! Hear the Galka scream to the heavens as he pounds his fists on the ground! Wonder why you can't hear these things on the PC or Xbox. Also wonder what other sounds may be missing from gameplay itself.
• PlayOnline yell--Every time you start.
• /shutdown does what it says--There is no need to hold your breath while signing off, hoping the Xbox Dashboard loads successfully; this command actually shuts down the PS2.

[Arcon]

Make of this what you will.

Here's what I make of it (please keep in mind that I know next to nothing about the 360 version, so all of this considers the PS2 vs PC comparison):

• Better colors
• Better 2D
• Smoother framerate
• No grids in the sky
• No "Xbox Camera Disease"
• No zoning lag
• Discless play
• No disc read errors

These either only apply to the Xbox 360 or are wrong, but none of this applies to the PC version.

• No mucking about with gamma
• No ATI or nVidia video drivers

Both these points are configuration issues and require only a one-time adjustment (and not to everyone either, as most people using a PC will already have their appropriate video card drivers installed, and Windower takes care of the gamma settings).

• PlayOnline yell

No idea what that is.

• Smooth docking
• Different clipping algorithm
• Full sound during character creation
• /shutdown does what it says

This is what remains of the pro-PS2 argument to me. In addition to that I believe characters load faster on the screen.

Now the different clipping algorithm thing is a matter of preference. Some people may not prefer their landscape being shredded because some surfaces of objects are before and others behind the clipping plane, but instead display only objects once they can be rendered properly. In addition to that, this can be completely enhanced with a purely cosmetic Windower plugin.

Sound during character creation, while nice (I guess), is also a one-time thing (or a finite-time thing). It's some overhead you'll deal with once or twice, and if you can't live without environmental sounds during that period, then I guess PS2 wins in that regard.

So the only things remaining are smooth airship docking, shutdown working properly and characters loading faster. Of those three, with only the last one being of any importance to me personally, but overall, I guess that leaves 4~5 arguments for the PS2 for other people.

And just to be clear, I'm not trying to discredit you or anything like that, this is just my take on the issue. Informative posts showing only one side of an argument can be considered propaganda, even if presented in a neutral way, so I wanted to make sure to give some commentary on those topics.

[Daniel_Hatcher]

90% of the OP is BULL.

[sc4500]

As a person that has played on ps2 and 360 (played with launch 360 locked ups, rrod fixed xbox and a elite xbox)and had duel boxed both them at the same time at one time and currently on the xbox 360 the slim version most thing op has said is wrong the only thing right is the gamma and that just the emulater that there using to run the game since game coded to run a dial up game when xbox was design run on a high speed connection.

Yes older xbox hardware has a hard time with some of the stuff op has said he was right but outdated, but most new version of the xbox 360 hardware side has fixed it might be some the software updates microsoft done or square done over the yrs or just the hardware on the newer systems running the emulater program better.

Most of the issues with game is the game was programmed to run a dial-up speed and a xbox hardware was design to run high speeds connection reason there are a few issues with xbox version if they fixed the game and drop all the old dial up code then xbox and pc version game would be insane.

[Camiie]

that just the emulater that there using to run the game since game coded to run a dial up game when xbox was design run on a high speed connection.

Dude... wait... what?

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

PC:
ATI Radeon HD 4600 series
driver version 8.17.10.1059

All FFXI Config and in-game settings are default, with the exception of being in windowed mode, and config and in-game gamma settings are set as per the November 2007 update notes.

PS2 captured using s-video. Results will be better with component video or (with a PS3) HDMI (and not going through a capture card to begin with).

Joytoy on a PS2:


Joytoy on PC:


Note the thick black line around the edge of the blade. Also note that the transparency behind the sword itself is less than impressive.

Konschtat Highlands, thunderstorm, PC:


Note the dot grid in the clouds.

Konschtat Highlands, thunderstorm, PS2:


No discernible pattern.

The sharper text colors aren't as pronounced on s-video and/or this tuner card's capture hardware and/or WinTV 7. I'll see what I can do with software configuration settings later.

S-video is all I can capture and I lack an s-video cable for my Xbox 360, so side-by-side framerate comparisons of (e. g.) running through Windurst will have to be done by someone else.

[saevel]

The "PC" version comes set to 640x480 default resolution and a 256x256 rendering target. It's beyond crap, and you can set it to 1920x1080 with a 2048x2048 rendering target inside FFXI's own config program. 360 will render either 720p or 1080p depending on what your screen is set to, background appears to be 1024x1024.

The OS is trolling everyone here in an attempt to stir up angry comments. Promptly ignore him.

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

you can set it to 1920x1080 with a 2048x2048 rendering target inside FFXI's own config program.

Done and done. All other settings the same, except for the in-game aspect ratio setting, which was changed to 16:9. Thankfully, there was another thunderstorm in Konschtat Highlands.



Higher resolutions actually make these flaws more pronounced. I wasn't using the PC's default settings only for their own sake.

[Twille]

You can play on the PS2 all you want, you just can't play the new content. PS2 is outdated. Let the past stay in the past.

[Dazusu]

Unsure what you hope to achieve with this post. People to run out in their thousands, bang on Sony HQ's doors and cry for them to make more PS2 sporting hard drives? Not going to happen.

Sadly the days of PS2 for this game are numbered. Time to accept it and move on.