With the PS4 more than likely being announced this year

[Kagetachi]

the best chances for a new game engine for FFXI is higher dependent on the success of ARR. The easiest way SE can bring this game to PS3 or PS4 at this point is to take the new ARR engine, make it play as close to 11 does and port content over to the engine. That's my opinion.

[Arcon]

It's not about the PS2 (specifically) or margins. No matter how powerful a platform is, fixed hardware is fixed hardware, and MMOs released on that fixed hardware can and do eventually grow into the limits of that hardware, limiting the game's growth potential. This would be true of any MMO released on a console, not just FFXI and not just on the PS2.

Of course you're right. There is a chance that FFXI might outgrow the PS4 at some point before the heat death of the universe. Realistically speaking, though (and even unrealistically, for the most part), that is not an issue at all. That alone should not be used as a reason not to release it on a system.

Not that it matters anyway, because, as I pointed out before, there are plenty of other reasons against it.

[Alhanelem]

But a game can only grow if the developers are willing to make it grow. It really doesn't matter how powerful a system is or isn't or for that matter what type of system it is on, it is truly up to the makers of the game that decide how far they wish to push. I don't base that lack of original content on what system it's on, I base it on the lack of the developers keeping the game balanced and interesting.

I do. There easily would have been a lot less recycled areas and content if they planned ahead for the game's space requirements on the PS2 or just didn't release it on that platform in the first place.

Console limitations are console limitations. Yes, it's up to the developers to test those limits, but they always do test them eventually.

Consoles are bad platforms for MMOs in general, period. There is no getting raound that short of purposely building your game far below the specifications of the hardware.

There is a chance that FFXI might outgrow the PS4 at some point before the heat death of the universe.

Would FFXI in its current state test the limits of the PS4/5/6/12? Not in its current state of course not. But it would be stupid to bring the game to those platforms without upgrading it in some way- higher resolution textures, higher poly models, better lighting, etc.

Besides, I was and am speaking in general terms- Not specifically just FFXI. For the same reasons, FFXIV shouldn't be released on the PS3, and DQO really shouldn't be released on the Wii/Wii U. Consoles are bad for MMOs. An expandable, upgradable game should only be released on an expandable, upgradable platform.

[Yrusama]

I won't expect an HD revamp. There are too many items and areas, so it would take years to update all of this game's content with HD graphics. A simple port, on the other hand, would be nice. My FFXI ran fine on my backwards-compatible PS3 (albeit with some lag). I don't see why a downloadable port for PS4 would be out of the question.