Single Player Future

[Alhanelem]

PS2 development kit limitations, they say they're down to about a dozen left, and that's after acquiring every dev kit they could get their hands on from around the world, Sony doesn't make them anymore. The gist of their explanation is that the resources like graphics, music, sounds, zones, etc, are made on PS2 dev kits, and then ostensibly converted to DirectX-compatible data from there. They don't have tools to just make such content for PC, it has to be converted. making new tools or overhauling the engine, they say is as expensive as making a game like FFXIV from scratch.

I do find it weird the DAT-modding community has been so easily able to make new models (but then not so much in the way of new animations), while SE says it would be hard to do themselves. Still, when the last dev kit dies, they lose the ability to make new content. They might as well draw a line in the sand while they still have working units, rather than have them fail in mid-development and release of an expansion.

This, it's just an unfortunate reality of developing the game for console first. Today I don't think it's as big of an issue since I"m pretty sure both PS4 and Xbox One use an x64-based CPU and thus software for them can easily be developed on a PC, but from the ps3 era and prior, you needed dedicated dev hardware.

For a company like SE, again that just sounds like BS.

It's really a reasonable, plausible explanation. It's also hard to argue SE can't get more bang for its buck on a new game than it can get for searching the entire world to find working ps2 dev kits to keep updating this game. It's not bullshit, it's just business. It sounded to me like they genuinely wanted to keep going but found it impractical to do so.

[Draylo-]

For a company like SE, again that just sounds like BS. They don't wanna pursue the costs yet they keep pumping out games left and right. There are profits from FFXI they just don't wanna invest in it. How many times have they told us x only to do y? We never even imagined a new expansion would come out with how often they threw around "PS2 limitations" and Adoulin was made anyway. I'm not doubting there are some limitations as I don't fully understand the dev kit thing. I am just doubting its impossible to do it. Anyways its a moot point as we aren't changing their minds at this point. I just hope we get to keep our characters for a while. To a previous poster, if I had the money I would. I am that crazy about XI but I'm not a millionaire or anything to donate a substantial amount lol.

[Stompa]

I play FFXI because I like seeing my friends, and watching them play their favourite jobs in their own unique ways, and chatting with them and stuff.

Quite honestly I already know how I play games, I know all my responses etc. I like to see other FF fans, I like to watch them play, check their responses, and chat together about our favourite FF7/FF8 moments lol.

Actually when FFXI came out, it was like some giant Global Gathering, all these FF fans around the world, who had all played the old FF games on solo, were suddenly able to meet and play in this beautiful virtual world together. That was magic. To suddenly be united as FF fans, it was really special after all those years sitting alone replaying FF7/8 etc. over and over again on our Playstations lol.

[Zarchery]

I love that even when the man in charge of development for this game said "we can't make a single player version" and gave detailed reasons why, fans are still "That's nonsense! A single player version would be easy!"

[Bluestar2kx]

I love that even when the man in charge of development for this game said "we can't make a single player version" and gave detailed reasons why, fans are still "That's nonsense! A single player version would be easy!"

Because he focused on single player, as in no internet or lan requirement, playing by yourself.

Some of us aren't asking for that, we're asking for what's already there, the only thing I mentioned as being outside that is about game master controls, but I don't know if that could be done with the way the game was written, but maybe. Me at least, am also offering to pay a fair market price for buying such a kit to alleviate costs. (As I think selling it to players is perfectly reasonable for unlimited access to such a wonderful game, as an MMO.)

[steellords]

I love that even when the man in charge of development for this game said "we can't make a single player version" and gave detailed reasons why, fans are still "That's nonsense! A single player version would be easy!"

Because it's complete crap. Just give me the ability to make as many characters as i want and alt tab, and i can probably solo just about anything in the game now.

Of course, soloing is not what 11 was made for. Imagine trying that on dynamis when it was new. People are just fearing the servers will be shutdown entirely within a couple years and want a way to keep playing.

[Elemmire]

Pretty sure SE has the money where they could spend the time/energy to get the game to work in a "single player" way. I'm not quite sure what they think would have to be removed if so. If they release the server code in a such a way to run your own private server (with perhaps ToS stating it can't be for profit or make money off it) and change the client so you can choose to connect to your private server, well, I don't see what would need be lost. But it's hard to say without reading the code myself. If it's programmed well, it should be doable though.

The only thing then would be having to balance group content to be doable with trusts + the character, but even then maybe not, could just have it so friends can connect to your server/world and help.

[bungiefanNA]

They have the money, but the idea is to spend that money in ways that returns more money for the investment. How would overhauling the game at such a cost give them more money?

[machini]

They have the money, but the idea is to spend that money in ways that returns more money for the investment. How would overhauling the game at such a cost give them more money?

I have several friends who like the gameplay of FFXI, but are too used to fancy graphics to stand to play it. A FFXI 2.0, with updated graphics and interface, PC only, could bring in new players.