Seekers of Adoulin PS2 Question!

[scaevola]

A lot of people are either intimidated by rather simple things that just seem like they should be difficult (updating graphic card, etc) or aren't sure of what to get. Having a system that you can literally put the disk into, install and update is pretty convenient if you don't know what you're doing with a computer.

Unfortunately for them, computers are pretty easy to upgrade and also consider that this is a pretty old game so any computer you buy at say, Best Buy will likely run it decently. You can pretty much pull it out of the box, play with it for a few minutes and get the game to run.

But if you really don't want to do the work or research, buying a console is a decent option (but really, who doesn't have a computer these days?).

Yeah, this is actually a totally valid reason to be skeptical of PC gaming in general but I'm pretty sure my Keurig coffee maker could run FFXI.

[Teraniku]

No idea how you didn't know about changing the registry to upgrade the PC graphics.
http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Graphics

They've updated the configuration tool Background resolution to a max of 2048x2048 so no registry tweaking necessary.

[oliveira]

One of the few things that hurt the sight on the PC version are the "dirty textures" problem. I'll try to illustrate it on this post...

Since a lot of the graphic data for this game were originally made for the PS2 (low resolution textures) when they made the PC version of the client they had to use automated tools to convert the data and because of that several errors were induced on the said data (3D meshes with wrong poligons and textures with slight color errors due re-compression just to mention some of the problems) and while they're just cosmetic issues, they do bother a few players, like myself.

Another thing, most players can't tell (or don't want to/don't care about) the difference from nice synthesized music (real PS2) from the crappy out of tune noises the emulated PS2 makes while playing some Square Enix games. The PC version uses digitized soundtracks (like MP3 music) which while sounds as intended(better than a PS2 emulation on a PS3), takes more space on disc and are basically compressed music data with lower quality than music being played in real time by the synthesizer on the PS2.

Well, most of you play with music off at this point anyway, no ? lol

Well for example:


And:



Resolution is 2048x2048 (super sampled) scaled back to 1024x768.

The PS2 version do not have that glitch on the exact pieces of gear but actually have glitches on some other gear which makes me wonder if half of the team making the gear is making it on a PS2 and the other half is making it on a PC then converting their work to the other platform when needed. Is it worth gimping quality ? Do they think we no longer care about the dedication they put on their products ?

I do care.

This is no longer a rant about PS2 being or not being supported. It's a rant about Square-Enix not putting enough effort on their long standing products.

P.S.: I did take screenshots of the PS2 version with these characters on the exact same place and position, but they're simply a lower resolution version of these shots (but without the JPG-like color smearing from texture data re-compression).

[bungiefanNA]

PS2 games must be set to a region, and the JP region code is different than the NA and EU/PAL region codes. PS2 only has English and JP releases, the French and German releases were PC and Xbox 360 only, due to Europe not getting the PS2 HDD.

Even if you have a modded system that can load imported discs, DNAS gets in the way, which is an online console authentication. Since you have to load the installer via the hard drive, you can't bypass DNAS for FFXI.

They'd have to make the expansion installable via patch, or someone has to make an unofficial install method. They've said they're not doing the former, so some PS2 hacker is going to have to come up with the latter. DNAS complicates that issue, and that means they'll probably have to wait until the expansion comes out to work around it.

[Modoru]

Also, if you're going to waste the extra cash importing/updating to adoulin, you might as well just play on your PC in the end. It's MUCH less of a complication.

[oliveira]

They'd have to make the expansion installable via patch, or someone has to make an unofficial install method. They've said they're not doing the former, so some PS2 hacker is going to have to come up with the latter. DNAS complicates that issue, and that means they'll probably have to wait until the expansion comes out to work around it.

That's not possible ... You'd get a DNAS error at the time you start FFXI. There's offline DNAS checks when you start POL by clicking the icon on the SONY OSD or PSBBN. There's online DNAS checks when you log into the PlayOnline service and there's DNAS checks when you start a content (such as FFXI, or former/deactivated stuff like JongHoLow, TetraMaster, FFVII Dirge of Cerberus or Front Mission Online). Having not authorized data on your hard drive would get you a RED DNAS logo and a error message. Simply there's no way around HDD DNAS because it's impossible to modify the contents and bypass the checks like people did with the games on disc.

I have faith on SE having an alternative solution for this problem. Please don't despair yet. I think the expansion will be available for sale through the website as downloadable content.

[oliveira]

Also, if you're going to waste the extra cash importing/updating to adoulin, you might as well just play on your PC in the end. It's MUCH less of a complication.

I already play on the PC. The screen shots are from my PC, with my characters on the screen. I still like to play on the PS2 and I play on the PS2 because I like it.

I wanted to display one of the reasons I bear with the low resolutions and jagged edges of PS2 graphics and even "enjoy" playing in it even though it has such a low resolution. If I am cornered and there's no other option I can "fall back to the PC" as I already own a PC version of FFXI.

[Cljader1]

I also like to play on ps2, and don't want to be forced to play on PC just to enjoy new content

[Mayoyama]

I also like to play on ps2, and don't want to be forced to play on PC just to enjoy new content

Well unfortunately its not financially feasible for SE to release SoA on a hard medium (ie PS2 disc) outside JP.. that and the fact that PS2 HDDs are already phased out of all non-JP markets (and even then theyre going to be phased out soon)

[Elphy]

The only qualm I ever had with console versions is that all the menus and everything are so large. I played on 360 for a spell and I couldnt get over how big the menus were, they took up most the screen. There perhaps is a fix for it but I didnt wanna bother with it so I switched back to pc which is my preferred gaming method anyway.

When I watch vids or see pics that are captured from consoles I just cant believe how anyone can play with 50% of their screen being a menu or chat log.

That being said if ppl still wanna play on an ancient and outdated system they should have some sort of option, at least give a ps3 version. But I guess mostly it comes down to numbers and if they saw on their census that there wasnt enough ps2/3 players to make it profitable to make a NA version, they wont.