Why PlayStation 2

[Llana_Virren]

Well if a certain company didn't region lock the PS2 / PS3 to begin with, this wouldn't be an issue. Since they could put all versions on the same DVD's and you could import them if you wished to have the expansion. Blame Sony, not SE.

Region lock is profitable, ironically.

[Teraniku]

Region lock is profitable, ironically.

Unfortunately, yes it is.

[Eric]

I can always dream of this game getting the 2.0 treatment. I think if they remarketed FFXI now with an engine overhaul and versions available on current generation consoles it would be quite successful compared the original PS2 release. People back then were put off by the HDD's price tag, plus how difficult and slow the gameplay was. I enjoyed the game but it was next to impossible to make any progress solo.
I suppose the PS3 release of FFXIV would be a good measure of how an FFXI upgrade would fair.

The problem here is that if FFXI were completely redone and then ported to PS3*, it would become competition for FFXIV, which is the last thing they need, considering that they're relying on a lot of the current FFXI players to join FFXIV once FFXIV-2 comes out.

[Daniel_Hatcher]

You have no idea the exact amount of people who play on consoles or otherwise, because SE has never released this information. If you think they have, prove it and post a link. Just because you believe it, doesn't make it true. Don't tell me to look for it myself, if you're making an argument the onus is on you to back it up.

I have no need to back it up with anything, you only need to look at the evidence. It's been said time and time again that JP players play it mostly on PS2, clearly that is true hence the PS2 version of the EP, NA/EU play it mostly on the PC, XBOX 360 then the remaining on PS2/3. Clearly as there is no EP for PS2/3 it has the SMALLEST number of players and NOT deemed cost effective to cater for them.

If you genuinely believe there is enough NA players on the PS2/3 then that is your prerogative, SE clearly don't see it as so thus they are NOT making the EP for PS2/3.

And yet they have no trouble porting over old games like GoW and Tomb Raider, and hell there making FFX in HD.. Its not that they cant they just won't because of laziness.

It's NOT laziness, it's smart Business. You have to remember games like the PSOne games are tiny in size, and ridiculously easy to port, almost like just uploading the ISO. PS2 games are not the same.

FFX HD has a big enough player base so therefore they are upgrading (yeah right, barely noticeable) safe in the knowledge it'll make the money back it cost easily. FFXI will NOT.

The problem here is that if FFXI were completely redone and then ported to PS2, it would become competition for FFXIV, which is the last thing they need, considering that they're relying on a lot of the current FFXI players to join FFXIV once FFXIV-2 comes out.

The problem is, if it was completely redone it'd probably cost more than making a brand new game and really wouldn't get that many new players. FFXIV 2.0 is a massive update, with a lot of Shops looking to market it as a new game, and game reviewers willing to class it as one. It has the potential to sell and get a huge playerbase. FFXI will never achieve that now not unless they made it F2P.

[Avina]

I think it is fair for people to complain about it. This SE is a business and this is a product they pay for, and if it is taking the direction its consumers don't want, the consumers should be able to complain.

That being said, I agree with the statement that SE has made this move because of it just not being profitable enough. I think that survey we filled out a year or so ago where we indicated our system preference has a lot to do with this. Not enough people indicated the PS2 as their preferred system in NA/EU to make it a profitable venture. Its not racism,its that the money is not there.

As its been noted, in Japan the PS2 still lives. I can't think of a store here that still sells,much less markets PS2 games anymore.

[Gilraen]

Talk of upgrading FFXI isn't new and has been met with the argument of being too costly to be feasible. This is why the game still looks the way it does. The GUI update isn't really an overhaul, just a touch-up with new code introduced from XIV (ironic, that). Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to inquire of they will make the Japanese PS2 disk region-free.

[Kitheren]

I've played on PC, PS2 and XBOX 360. Here's my opinion.

The PS2 ran fast, I had minimal lag, rarely disconnected, no discs. But the graphics omfg. There's other downsides, I'm sure. I only played on PS2 for a short time.

The XBOX 360 has pretty graphics, pull it out of the box and install the game (no additional equipment or setup required, aside from a sufficient amount of memory). But I lag so bad in congested areas and if I get disconnected while playing, my disc and I get to play the "haha, you can't read me" dance. Yes, this is usually corrected by playing music while starting the game. But not always.

The PC is only limited by your pocketbook. If you can afford all the best stuff and install it, you're fine playing on that platform. But even a most basic computer can run FFXI these days. I got a cheap one at Best Buy (no, not a great idea but I needed a computer for other reasons and I was limited on money) and with just a bit of help from a great LS mate, I was able to make my game run. Heck, even my crappy laptop can (and does!) run FFXI. I always assumed it would blow up if I ever tried.

But you need to know what you're doing. I had no idea how to set it up and while I was assured my computer would run FFXI, it kept having errors. My LS mate put a weird little clock widget on my desktop and boom, it works. I am not a computer expert by any stretch. I lag only in REALLY REALLY congested zones/areas/JP Primetime in those zones (doesn't really happen often, only if I'm running tons of crap on my PC too) and at crystals. I ALWAYS have lag at crystals and maws. But it's a nice balance between PS2 and XBOX.

PS2 will die off and become nothing more than a memory. If you can save up and afford a decent computer, do it. Otherwise, the XBOX has improved greatly in the last few updates. I just prefer PC.

[Ragmar]

I keep seeing people say no NA stores sell PS2 games anymore ... Walmart does and its one of the biggest nationwide retailers so um yeah. I play on both PC and PS2 and IF SE were actually going to give the game an overhaul I would support dropping PS2 support but fact is they aren't. You are flat dreaming if you think FFXI is getting the FFXIV 2.0 treatment lol.

[Insaniac]

So this guy is raging because he tried to play FFXI on a net book...

[Llana_Virren]

I keep seeing people say no NA stores sell PS2 games anymore ... Walmart does and its one of the biggest nationwide retailers so um yeah. I play on both PC and PS2 and IF SE were actually going to give the game an overhaul I would support dropping PS2 support but fact is they aren't. You are flat dreaming if you think FFXI is getting the FFXIV 2.0 treatment lol.

People are saying that you will have a hard time finding a store that is selling new releases for PS2.