Concerning the "Windows XP Support Information" threads that were made

[SE_Chris]

With the release of Seekers of Adoulin, we will be fully providing support for Windows 8 systems. This is also the reason that support for Windows XP is ending, as the new expansion will not be supported under it. There has not been any game client updates announced as of yet but more information will be released as we approach the release of the new expansion.

[RAIST]

With the release of Seekers of Adoulin, we will be fully providing support for Windows 8 systems. This is also the reason that support for Windows XP is ending, as the new expansion will not be supported under it. There has not been any game client updates announced as of yet but more information will be released as we approach the release of the new expansion.

Thanks for the reply, but I think we may need a little more clarification on this new policy concerning XP. Has there been any testing to see if there will be issues running SoA under XP SP3? This may actually be a bit of a roadblock for some. For example, I do not intend to purchase a new OS just to be able to continue playing one game if I get the expansion.

FFXI is the only game I play on PC anymore (might do FFXIV, not sure), and it is GROSSLY overpowered for FFXI (played the FFXIV beta with no issues as well)....so no, not really in the market for a new PC, nor a new OS on my current one. I don't browse the web on it (well, I do pay bills with it, the only time I go to any websites with it). The PC is for FFXI, CD/DVD/BluRay creation, Photo Editing/Printing, and managing my finances--I don't browse on it to keep it clean. I do all my trashy browsing, youtube, downloads, etc. on the trashable laptop--I can move files between them via an assortment of methods. Nothing important is kept on the laptop, so if it gets buggered with a virus, I just wipe it. I am considering a new laptop in the next year, which will come with Win7/8 on it....but I'm not a fan of gaming on a laptop....mainly because I don't see the point in spending an absurd amount for a gaming class laptop that MIGHT match the power of my PC. And let's face it, the touchpads on those things are not the best for some games (another reason I prefer gaming on an actual PC or a console--better controls).

Back to the point....there seems to be some mixed messaging out there. For example, at Amazon, the full version lists XP as a minimum requirement, while other sites (Gamestop, SE) are listing Win7 as a minimum requirement. You guys seem to be hinting that it might run OK in XP, but if it doesn't....<shrug>, not supported anymore.

It should also be noted that in all places I've looked, the specs list DX 8.1 or higher as a requirement....which predates even Vista as the minimum intall level of DirectX. That is an XP specific level of DirectX support (actually, I think it goes back to 98SE IIRC). Past XP, anything PRE-DirectX 10 is thunked and run via an emulation layer of sorts, and not run natively in the newer DirectX API's (not in the normal sense of "native support", but as a legacy protocol). From Vista forward, all legacy DirectX runs through DX9 DLL's (d3dx9_xx.dll, to be specific)--d3dx8.dll was not even installed by default on Vista boxes, leading to lots of support issues upon it's release. Basically, if DX8.1 is indeed still the minimum level requirement for the graphics/sound API's, then XP SHOULD be viable, yet it sounds more and more like it will be a risk to run it with SOA.

So, has there been any reasonable testing on an up to date XP box (SP3, IE8, .Net up through v4, plus critical updates and such) with properly supported Vid/sound hardware/drivers to verify there are no expected problems, or are you guys giving XP the cold shoulder because you have in fact found issues with SOA in the XP environment? If those issues were specific to newer hardware/drivers (ie, anything newer then the currently listed supported hardware)---could we perhaps have such a distinction made so we can make a more informed decision about it?

[Tohihroyu]

So...this mean the plug is going to be pulled on all XP players once Seekers is out? it mean that anyone who is still on XP is screwed and wont be able to play with the new expansion until they get a new OS?

And from lurking here I see so many posts about ppl having issues with the game on Windows 8 that are un answered. Yes XP is going obsolete, but its not going to be until next year.

And why is XIV's alpha testing min specs XP but not a 10+ year old game's new expansion? something funny is going on...

[Sarick]

With the release of Seekers of Adoulin, we will be fully providing support for Windows 8 systems. This is also the reason that support for Windows XP is ending, as the new expansion will not be supported under it. There has not been any game client updates announced as of yet but more information will be released as we approach the release of the new expansion.

SERIOUSLY you got to be kidding that the new expansion won't support it! I hope you just mean you won't take calls not the new expansion won't install at all. Also, Windows XP SP3 hasn't had Microsoft drop support yet.

I paid for the software before this so, if that's the case it's classic deceptive switch. I run on XP because the systems were setup to run ONLY to run FFXI. So, The new expansion is only being added to windows 7+ even though the client was designed for XP and you plan on breaking XP compatibility and or making the expansion not run it?

If you announced something was being sold pre-order with customers having a compatible OS then make an after sale announcement that breaks that compatibility you've tricked the customer into making a pre-purchase.

Time to be sending out several refunds because the sales announcements failed to mention the game expansion wasn't compatible with all current setups. It's a bad deceptive move on the part of SE to sell a product without mentioning they was making it incompatible with current systems and their OS after the pre-orders where already sold.

[Sarick]

So...this mean the plug is going to be pulled on all XP players once Seekers is out? it mean that anyone who is still on XP is screwed and wont be able to play with the new expansion until they get a new OS?

And from lurking here I see so many posts about ppl having issues with the game on Windows 8 that are un answered. Yes XP is going obsolete, but its not going to be until next year.

And why is XIV's alpha testing min specs XP but not a 10+ year old game's new expansion? something funny is going on...

Obviously, I'm getting the impression the game is being made incompatible through modifications to the new areas. Not only that but the windows 7 will machines will need reinstalled and another 100+ $$ in time and money. It's on the backs of XP players to update not so we're talking several hundreds of dollors. Even then it will be a massive under taking to rebuild and setup everything.

The below info predates my FFXI install. It also predates the Windows 8 launch date so the "As of Feb. 15 2011" web info must have been altered recently.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_8

PlayOnline & FINAL FANTASY XI for Windows® System requirements (as of Feb. 15, 2011)

Operating System: Windows® Vista / 7 / 8
CPU: Intel® Pentium®III 800Mhz or faster processor
Memory: 128 MB RAM
Graphics Card: NVIDIA® GeForce™ series with 32 MB or ATI® RADEON™ 9000 series
Sound Card: DirectX®8.1 compatible sound card
Hard Drive Space: 9.5 GB free hard disk space
Other: Keyboard, mouse, DirectX8.1 (included with install disc),
CD-ROM drive (used only when installing)

They need to look at what they're doing because this seriously is some bad management if they continue to throw away customers. After reading the specs I think they just have a bean counter looking at a map and deciding lets just say this is the minimum. Can Windows Vista/7 even run on 128 MB of ram pentium III?

Windows 8 SUCKS bad, at the rate things are headed down hill for FFXI I don't think the Windows 8 support will be worth the effort. It's also noted that they'll still be supporting PS2 in Japan. I guess the Amarcian technology isn't good enough.

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

I hope you just mean you won't take calls not the new expansion won't install at all.

Translation from corporate-speak: "Maybe it will, and maybe it won't. It probably will, but it's officially Not Our Problem."

Also, Windows XP SP3 hasn't had Microsoft drop support yet.

For a limited definition of "support." Try finding IE9+ for XP.

I paid for the software before this

And it worked before this. The game is over ten years old. At what point is it OK to drop a particular OS? Why aren't you screaming bloody murder about support for Windows 98?

I run on XP because the systems were setup to run ONLY to run FFXI.

It was set up to run on a PlayStation 2 and ported to Windows 98; XP was less than two weeks old when the PC version hit the streets. Does the system you play on even have published drivers for Windows 98?

Why do you think the game comes with DirectX 8 installation media?

you plan on breaking XP compatibility and or making the expansion not run it?

No, they plan on not testing updates on XP before pushing them, just as they no longer test updates on 98 before pushing them. "Not Our Problem" means exactly that, no more and no less.

If you announced something was being sold pre-order with customers having a compatible OS then make an after sale announcement that breaks that compatibility you've tricked the customer into making a pre-purchase.

S-E never claimed Seekers of Adoulin would run on XP. The published minimum specs in their own store and on Amazon clearly state "Windows Vista, 7, 8."

Time to be sending out several refunds

Because they failed to abide by terms you just made up, rather than the terms you neglected to read at the point of sale?

Seriously, where was your internet raeg over the lack of an NA version of the PS2 release? You'd have more of a leg to stand on there.

[RAIST]

S-E never claimed Seekers of Adoulin would run on XP. The published minimum specs in their own store and on Amazon clearly state "Windows Vista, 7, 8."

Actually, there is a discrepency on the Amazon site, at the link I provided in my previous post:

System Requirements
Minimum Specifications:
OS: Win XP
Processor: Pentium III 800Mhz or faster processor
RAM: 128 MB RAM
Hard Drive: 12 GB
Video Card: GeForce series with 32 MB or RADEON 9000 series
Additional Info: Unknown

Should also note that I think they only recently updated the requirements at POL, basically coinciding with the announcement to drop XP support. If I remember correctly, it was originally posted at the SoA site that it would run on XP as well.

[Tohihroyu]

I guess I and the rest of the XP players are SoL on SoA.

Its almost like they are trying to force everyone to just go on XIV and let FFXI die, but thats been said for years now.

Edit: Can someone from SE please answer this clearly! are you pulling the plug on all XP players once Seekers comes out? even denying XP users from downloading the expansion too? if you really are why is XIV compatable?

You seen what people have posted here, how XP has run much better and how much problems 8 is causing (problems that are *still* un answered/un solved!) if its true its 100% not playable on XP you might loose a decent chunk of subscribers...but that wont matter if they just mosey on over to XIV, right?

[Sarick]

Translation from corporate-speak: "Maybe it will, and maybe it won't. It probably will, but it's officially Not Our Problem."

Why are you even replying to me about this? It seems you're displaced. Are you defending these actions or just attempting to upset me? I seem to have read you saying that windows XP ran better then 7, followed by something about Windows 7 being damned.

I don't think you understand what's really happening. It's not what you think it's about bean counters and cut backs. FFXI isn't what it used to be it is better in some ways but it's superficial in comparison to resources invested in the past.

I don't think you realize how many mistakes have already been made. These compound the reasoning behind the announcement. Do you realize how hard it is to even start a new account these days much less get any useful support at all? If everyone was to upgrade to a new OS etc. do you think they'd assist everyone in these upgrades? The answer is hell no, it's not their problem to keep customers. You see, they've already blindly abandon some customers when they made that announcement.

The American offices are probably running on life support as we speak. The terms I pointed out show a lack of respect on both ends simply because the reasoning behind them aren't promoting good will towards the customers. It might be a mistranslation but it comes down to reckless abandonment.

Saying and doing are two separate things However, if the reasons behind doing things can cause harm to both busyness and customer relationship they're not doing their best. The PS2 is still being supported in Japan because it's favored. If it's not clear already they seem listen to the Japanese more then Americans. Do you seriously think cutting corners and abandoning existing customers is going to increase the value of this game world?

I sincerely think this expansion is a faux to lore in people for a quick buck. It's not like the clients are going to have resources invested to bring it up to 2015 standards. This is what FULLY supporting windows 8 truly means. If this game is that old and they aren't expanding the new user base then whats the point?

My point is this game is running off legacy players that have invested a lot of time in their accounts. Throwing away a single customer even for petty a issue isn't wise management. With the existing completion in the MMO market it''ll cost a lot to recover the losses through promotion and/or new development. Just look at FFXIV that game flopped so bad they had to completely pull it! This was a result of mistakes and bad production choices even with all the promotional publicity.

I can assume the English PS2 software hasn't been tested fully for a long time even though the game still claim to support it. This is probably deeply rooted to an agreement with Sony long ago that would cause legal implications if they was to officially announce dropping PS2 support with original expansions. I assume the clause here was to limit the expansion in some areas to non-sony consoles and no longer invest in any real PS2 testing or development. The OS wouldn't have this legality so they could obviously be more open about how they would abandon it.

Most players simply can't grasp whats truly going on here. This is how stock animals get led to the slaughter house blindly following their supposed masters. The only difference here is there are animals blindly paying money in this case while the herd follows the Shepperd. Sorry, the smart people aren't sheep and shouldn't be treated as such because they have negative foresight. It should be the other way around. Trimming the fat should be done without making the food taste bad.

I doubt if anyone really cares if the game world ended tomorrow. Does it really matter anyway I guess not. After all the game survived the Japanese earthquake and was taken down for I think two weeks. I guess as long as people feel good about how things might not affect them they're content with moving on.

It's just anti-productive to throw away good things if things can be done to work around them.

[Sarick]

Should also note that I think they only recently updated the requirements at POL, basically coinciding with the announcement to drop XP support. If I remember correctly, it was originally posted at the SoA site that it would run on XP as well.

So, you see the reason behind my statement about offering refunds to some customers?