Classic Server

[PlumbGame]

You really think Square Enix is keeping backups of 6+ year old game data for no reason other than possibly appeasing some handful of people who can't stop living in the past?

You really assume people just throw away stuff like this? You seriously think a professional company like SE wouldn't have back ups of EVERYTHING they have? How do you think ports for other devices happen so easily? You think stuff like Chrono Trigger was rebuilt from the ground up? Even more, do you know anything about programming, or any profession at all? Give examples I gave earlier, people don't just call it a day and throw out anything old or not relevant to current projects.

[Zarchery]

You really assume people just throw away stuff like this? You seriously think a professional company like SE wouldn't have back ups of EVERYTHING they have? How do you think ports for other devices happen so easily? You think stuff like Chrono Trigger was rebuilt from the ground up? Even more, do you know anything about programming, or any profession at all? Give examples I gave earlier, people don't just call it a day and throw out anything old or not relevant to current projects.

Chrono Trigger was a static RPG. When it was released on SNES, there was one version. FFXI is a dynamic MMORPG with dozens and dozens of versions over 10+ years. My assumption is that server space is finite and they wouldn't hoard every version of every update forever.

[Spectreman]

You really think Square Enix is keeping backups of 6+ year old game data for no reason other than possibly appeasing some handful of people who can't stop living in the past?

These people have this naive feeling that the old Valkrum Dunes and Yhoator Jungle will be filled with noobs again waiting to be MPKed. That they would find constatly people to play with for a whole day in those areas to get 5-10 levels or maybe even delevel at the end of the day.

[mattkoko]

It's no problem. I am not going to claim myself as Mr. Innocent. I have been guilty in the past myself. Not everyone realizes what they are saying or doing until it is pointed out to them. I know I have needed people to point stuff out to me too lol.

[Yadam]

this is a great idea and i don't see why people are arguing it, we don't want their current servers to go away...well we do but we're not asking for that, we're asking to make everyone happy

[mattkoko]

I understand this. My point is why risk losing money when they are already making a steady income from the current game. I am not trying to read SE's mind or anything. Just making a point. It is impossible to make an informed decision with out weighing both the risks and the benefits. First comes weighing the risks with the benefits, then comes deciding whether it is worth the risk. There is no way you can possibly say this can be a complete success. I already admit I think it is a cool idea. And I am all for making everyone happy. But if it doesn't work and it does fail and it kills FFXI all together, then no one is happy. I can see SE being worried about something like this.

[Natasha]

They can't use a current build, as they'd have to modify it to turn off a bunch of things (Abyssea, Adoulin, the QoL improvements in the past year, new job traits and abilities, NPCs related to level 76+ content), which would make a new build, which would have new bugs. Old builds have bugs they've fixed with more recent patches. Reverting to a previous build would reintroduce those bugs.

Also, the game client and server need to identify as matching versions. Notice that the test server required a seperate install.

Note again that this has been done with games in a similar situation (everquest is even older than ffxi) so its definitely possible. Further, please stop speaking as to the developers limitations as I highly doubt you or anyone in here knows the details of them. If you're wrong about the developers limitations then you are just spreading useless misinformation, if you are right about them then we still end up with nothing because it is unconfirmed. Let the devs speak for themselves should they choose to, its not your responsibility as a member of the community to do so.

[PlumbGame]

It won't split the community, in fact, most CURRENT players are perfectly content with the CURRENT game. This is more of an opportunity to bring back players. If Everquest is any example to use, a time-locked/progression server is very successful. In fact, most the players that came back played on both the specific server type AND the normal servers. So it can actually grab more attention towards what SE is doing with the game. I also think "splitting" the currennt population is irrelevant considering content now and days is only done with 6 people. Anyways, the idea of a server like this is great, one issue with receiving feedback for it though is the people who would love this server aren't around these forums. Which actually leads into another issue, SE would have to do some type of promotion to "experience FFXI during it's pinnacle" and crap like that.

The real issue is the money. If they invested time to do something like this, would they make a profit? From 2 different experiences, I personally believe so, RO's progression server, and EQs progression server were both examples of success. Do I think it could work for FFXI? Definitely, matter of fact, I'm willing to bet with the current state of a lot of the players in FFXIV feel like they have nothing to do, might jump at the opportunity to play FFXI during the beginning eras again during their downtime in 14 (promotion example).

Ultimately, I would love a server like this. I feel SE could make it a success. Will they do it though? Really hard to say, maybe they have something in the works. I mean look at all the campaigning they do to bring back players already, what's to say something like this isn't already on the agenda?

[Ris]

I don't know, I would prefer the devs' limited time and resources be put into the mainstream FFXI.

They probably do have the old versions' archives but it's not as simple as just throwing it on some server somewhere. People will still expect support, and if it catches on they'll want seasonal events and other content ported to it... And isn't there a lot of long term progression goals in FFXI right now for people that want to do that kind of thing?

[Natasha]

I don't know, I would prefer the devs' limited time and resources be put into the mainstream FFXI.

They probably do have the old versions' archives but it's not as simple as just throwing it on some server somewhere. People will still expect support, and if it catches on they'll want seasonal events and other content ported to it... And isn't there a lot of long term progression goals in FFXI right now for people that want to do that kind of thing?

As stated above, refrain from assuming the devs do not have the resources for the project as none of us know exactly what resources they have available. It would probably be better to state something like "I'm not against it as long as it doesn't interfere with the main version of the game." as that states your position while still holding the provision of 'don't do it if the cost is too great'.

As for the second statement, FFXI right now is a very different kind of game from the final fantasy of old. Long term progression or not it isn't offering the experience that I expect from FFXI, and there are others who share this view. Not to condemn current FFXI if you like it, but its not the game I loved for many years.