Any new players playing FFXI?

[Lisotte]

I'm just wondering... are there any new players to FFXI? I'm not exactly a new player; I've played more or less on and off for several years. But I'm wondering, are we getting to a point where everyone who plays has played for a while?

[Arcon]

I still see new players signing on all the time, both on my server as well as on these forums. It's hard to eyeball, but I'm pretty sure it's nowhere near what it used to be, but still surprisingly much, at least to me.

[Gilraen]

If naming conventions are any clue, then new players are joining all the time. I've seen many players sporting names that could have only been inspired recently due to their inspirations being only so old in the public eye, anime-inspired being the most prevalent. You just can't tell they're new at first sight cause of Abyssea...

[Hostee]

I am a brand spanking new player who just bought FFXI and all the expansions for the Xbox 360 version. So far I have to say that this game is RUTHLESS to the new player who has NO IDEA what's going on....LOL....

[nishnosh]

it is ruthless to the new players but when you get into it its like a drug >.> i used to play a good few years ago but today i am returning as i have always had that itch to come back so thought hey might aswel

[Reiterpallasch]

I don't know how many stay, but I've seen a fair number of trial accounts running about in starter zones. If SE does this next expansion right and actually advertises for it, we'll likely see a whole bunch more of them too.

[wish12oz]

I am a brand spanking new player who just bought FFXI and all the expansions for the Xbox 360 version. So far I have to say that this game is RUTHLESS to the new player who has NO IDEA what's going on....LOL....

PROTIP: Get off that xbox and get the game for your PC.

[Luvbunny]

The game is not ruthless, it's the players mentality, some select few elitist who look down to newbie. The good thing for new players these days, you have FFXI wiki, FFXI AH, and BluGrtrWiki, which all three combined are quite comprehensive in letting you learn a lot about the game and the various jobs. All you need is a good LS that are newbie friendly.

[Tsukino_Kaji]

Just got like 6 of them into the LS over the last month.

[Lisotte]

I guess I brought this up because of a discussion with a friend I had a day or two ago. He played back shortly after it came out on 360, when there were many more new people playing. Back then you could play with other new people, be leveling for the first time, exploring for the first time and figuring things out for the first time (also many more places to level; you wouldn't spend 20 levels in gusgen for example).
His major complaint with the game at this point is that progressing in this game is essentially due to progression is paced by you being helped by someone much more experienced at the game. It's very difficult to get through all the lb quests and all the other stuff without high-level help, and no one's going through the stuff for the first time.

Sure there's new people at lvl 99, but my friend wants to be new at a low level, not max level. Most new people will probably end up spend waaaaaaayyy more time in aby and the other end-game areas. That's not what my friend wants to play, he wants to play the game in a more or less normal linear manner.

Any thoughts?