PS2 and Xbox 360 FFXI shutdown

[Isal]

Show me a mobile or tablet game (they are the same because devs dont' split them) that is even 1/2 of the complexity of a real mmorpg.

Hearthstone released on Android/iOS tablets first, and then phones on the same platforms a few months later, and Hearthstone is a card game, not an MMORPG, so tablets and phones have indeed been split for the same game before.

I'm fairly sure if I even went to the trouble of finding an MMORPG to show you, you would nitpick it apart. They're F2P MMORPGs by no-name companies, so of course none of them are going to hold a candle to a 13 year old MMORPG that's maintained its subscription system to this day.

Again, you're entitled to your opinion just as much as I am to mine, but from where I'm standing, it just seems like you're trying to use the past to -prove- the future before it comes to pass. I never said "FFXI Mobile will be a perfect replacement", there's no way for me to know; however, you're essentially saying "FFXI Mobile WILL be utter garbage".

"All the games I've seen on mobile platforms did not meet my personal standards, therefore, NO mobile platform games will EVER meet my standards." That's a pretty limiting view, and perhaps explains why you're so vehemently trying to avoid any form of change with this game outside of the subscription system. There's other games out there, life goes on. Your point of view doesn't overwrite the views of those who disagree with you any more than theirs overwrites yours. No wake-up call is necessary, I haven't seen anyone state that they expect the game to last indefinitely as it is now after November comes to pass. Putting 5-10 years into a game shouldn't somehow mean you're honor-bound to fight tooth and nail to keep the game going as-is until you die...

[Stompa]

However at the end of the day unless ffxi changes it will go the way of pso, in that it will no longer exist in a pretty short amount of time.

I wish I had the confidence to make those kind of predictions. I played PSO quite a lot, it was fun in a casual pew-pew-pew kind of way, annoying with the linear stuff and some very tedious puzzle assignments. But I enjoyed playing it, in short bursts. I felt immensely unconnected to my character, there was no roleplaying bond between me and my pew-pew-pew arcade puppet as we went obediently marching on through the linear progression systems. I know that PSO had a big following and many people loved it, and thats cool. I just didn't find that it had the staying power to hold me for more than a few weeks at a time.

So I see zero similarity between PSO and FFXI, seriously. FFXI has a lot of classic RPG elements, and I feel a deep bond with my character. The game world is not linear, any time I log into FFXI, I have this huge long list of possiblities open to me, it is the opposite of linear gaming.

So I think it is a mistake to say that FFXI will inevitably share the same fate as PSO. Thats like saying Pulp Fiction shared the same fate as The Postman. After all, they are both Hollywood movies, they both had their heyday moment at the Cinema a long time ago, they're both really ancient now. But one of them is a Cult Classic, with millions of fans worldwide, merchandise, re-screenings etc. And the other one was just forgotten as quickly as possible. So it would be wrong to say that all products aimed at certain groups, or available on certain media, will age the same way or command the same cult following years later.

[Castanica]

I wish I had the confidence to make those kind of predictions. I played PSO quite a lot, it was fun in a casual pew-pew-pew kind of way, annoying with the linear stuff and some very tedious puzzle assignments. But I enjoyed playing it, in short bursts. I felt immensely unconnected to my character, there was no roleplaying bond between me and my pew-pew-pew arcade puppet as we went obediently marching on through the linear progression systems. I know that PSO had a big following and many people loved it, and thats cool. I just didn't find that it had the staying power to hold me for more than a few weeks at a time.

So I see zero similarity between PSO and FFXI, seriously. FFXI has a lot of classic RPG elements, and I feel a deep bond with my character. The game world is not linear, any time I log into FFXI, I have this huge long list of possiblities open to me, it is the opposite of linear gaming.

So I think it is a mistake to say that FFXI will inevitably share the same fate as PSO. Thats like saying Pulp Fiction shared the same fate as The Postman. After all, they are both Hollywood movies, they both had their heyday moment at the Cinema a long time ago, they're both really ancient now. But one of them is a Cult Classic, with millions of fans worldwide, merchandise, re-screenings etc. And the other one was just forgotten as quickly as possible. So it would be wrong to say that all products aimed at certain groups, or available on certain media, will age the same way or command the same cult following years later.

The point was, PSO was killed by Sonic Team because they don't care about anything other than money. You think Square couldn't program up a new dev system for continuing to add content to FFXI if they wanted to? It's not anywhere near as big a project as they would make you think. If you want to play PSO now, you can't because it's gone.

Same will happen to FFXI in a couple of years, all because players are too short sighted and the developers (who could probably be persuaded) don't care enough to worry about it.

In a couple of years when FFXI no longer exists players will probably wished they would of done what Everquest fans did and accepted f2p so that their game was still around, by then it will be too late.

All we will have is a p2w phone app with annoying popup ads by one of the worst phone app companies in existence, running a mockery of a once amazing one of a kind mmorpg.

Sad days.

[Ritsuka]

Actually the portion of players on consoles (the ps2 much more so than the xbox) is much smaller than the PC population- Even in Japan at this point most likely. Either they're on PC or on a backwards compatible PS3 since it's hard to even find a fully functional PS2 with hard drive anymore. Pulling the plug on PS2 specifically probably results from earlier surveys they did gauging how many players are on PC vs PS2.

Also your assertion that Japanese gamers are all console or nothing is not nearly as true as you think it is. There are a number of popular MMOs and online games on PC that are successful over there. Probably most notable being Monster Hunter Frontier which has had something like 20 expansions over the years.

It's more likely there was just not enough interest in the game itself.

Maybe hee in the U.S yes but not in Japan you can still buy nintendo games from a store in japan >.>

[Shirai]

Maybe hee in the U.S yes but not in Japan you can still buy nintendo games from a store in japan >.>

Only in very specialized stores, mind you.
It's not like you can find stores that sell those ancient games and consoles can be found on every street corner either, most of them are either tucked away in the obscure corners of Akihabara and Den Den town if not on the outskirts of town.
Apart from that, keep in mind that all that equipment is second/third/fourth/etc. hand and that waranty expires at the cash register.

[Stompa]

The point was, PSO was killed by Sonic Team because they don't care about anything other than money. You think Square couldn't program up a new dev system for continuing to add content to FFXI if they wanted to? It's not anywhere near as big a project as they would make you think. If you want to play PSO now, you can't because it's gone.

Same will happen to FFXI in a couple of years, all because players are too short sighted and the developers (who could probably be persuaded) don't care enough to worry about it.

In a couple of years when FFXI no longer exists players will probably wished they would of done what Everquest fans did and accepted f2p so that their game was still around, by then it will be too late.

All we will have is a p2w phone app with annoying popup ads by one of the worst phone app companies in existence, running a mockery of a once amazing one of a kind mmorpg.

Sad days.

But SE have quite clearly stated that they will keep FFXI running indefinitely, minus updates. So it is a simple matter of players keeping the game online by subbing to it and playing it. Which is not a problem for me, I love Vanadiel and I never get bored of adventuring in it with my friends. So I'm paying my subs, and so are many other fans. So long as enough of us are paying for FFXI, it will stay online. The truth is we don't know how many people will do that in the long term, but I believe it will be more than enough to finance basic online FFXI, without all the added expense of expansions/updates etc.

On the whole Xbox PS2 thing, there are these PC things which are not very expensive really. I am from England and have a home there, but I work around the world, including Asia. I have worked in Asia for about 17 years, on and off. I know how popular consoles are here, of course. But PCs are really cheap in Asia, so I don't see a problem for die-hard FFXI fans here to switch from console, if they so wished. Even in US/EU, it isn't a huge investment to buy a basic PC that runs this game, and thousands of other cool games too.

[Isal]

But SE have quite clearly stated that they will keep FFXI running indefinitely, minus updates. So it is a simple matter of players keeping the game online by subbing to it and playing it. Which is not a problem for me, I love Vanadiel and I never get bored of adventuring in it with my friends. So I'm paying my subs, and so are many other fans. So long as enough of us are paying for FFXI, it will stay online. The truth is we don't know how many people will do that in the long term, but I believe it will be more than enough to finance basic online FFXI, without all the added expense of expansions/updates etc.

On the whole Xbox PS2 thing, there are these PC things which are not very expensive really. I am from England and have a home there, but I work around the world, including Asia. I have worked in Asia for about 17 years, on and off. I know how popular consoles are here, of course. But PCs are really cheap in Asia, so I don't see a problem for die-hard FFXI fans here to switch from console, if they so wished. Even in US/EU, it isn't a huge investment to buy a basic PC that runs this game, and thousands of other cool games too.

Castanica will reply (again) that after 2 years, there -won't- be enough people staying subbed. Apparently though, Castanica is the only one who sees this, and is certain that everyone will be crying tears when the game's population dwindles to the point that SE shuts it down.

I'm still not turned off by the idea of F2P, but, the way I see it: FFXI as it is right now is already a bit of a patchwork frankenstein of an MMO that far outlived its expected lifespan and given the change in creative teams, is arguably no longer what the original team envisioned. At this point it's a bit of an undead horse that's been beaten well past its prime. Given the other thread clamoring for a classic server that plays like it's 2008 or earlier, it could be argued that the original FFXI was "shut down" years ago.

There's no way to shut off an MMORPG for good without upsetting someone, but I think the majority of those still around when it happens will likely see it coming in advance and make their peace with it and move on in one way or another.

[bungiefanNA]

It's Final Fantasy Curiosity Rover edition, running years past anticipated design.

[Ritsuka]

Only in very specialized stores, mind you.
It's not like you can find stores that sell those ancient games and consoles can be found on every street corner either, most of them are either tucked away in the obscure corners of Akihabara and Den Den town if not on the outskirts of town.
Apart from that, keep in mind that all that equipment is second/third/fourth/etc. hand and that waranty expires at the cash register.

They have a whole district Shirai not a few stores. its called Akihabara its in the chiyoda area

[Billnes]

"If you love something let it go." I am not a fan of f2p or Pay to Win games. The thing that makes this game amazing is that the field starts steep, but eventually levels out as you grow. I buy a game to play it, not be nickled and dimed at content that should be included - I.E.: EA Sports and Ubisoft. Preserving something as a complete entity versus raping and whoring it out, is a far greater love and respect for the game.

Dear Friends,

I'm sorry. As much as I hate admitting this, I like the idea of at least some elements of FFXI being placed on the Pay-to-Win model... By my own admission, guilty as charged (and I've made this *painfully* clear to Square-Enix both via phone calls and on the forums): I am a tard video game player. As much as nobody wants to hear this: I've been learning disabled all my life and I find some elements of video game culture extremely frustrating. I find this especially true of FFXI.... Things like the FFXI Wiki and Order of the Blue Gatr are very nice and they've been helpful to me, to an extent. However, there are a few small things in FFXI where you really can't "work around" or say "I'll go back to it later". "For example", you ask? I don't remember the exact name, but there's a quest that requires a fish that's rare/Ex and must be fished up by the player and not someone in the player's party. If I knew that Square-Enix only wanted US $7.99, for that fish, I'd wouldn't hesitate to charge that to a credit card. Really there Bill?? By by own admission, the answer simply is "yes".

I really wish I had some way if getting it into people a real understanding of what it is to be me. Being me is not easy. In terms of my video game playing skills, here are a few examples: I purchased my very first used PS1 in 2001. I would have never purchased it without scouring both the Chinatowns in Manhattan & Queens for a third-party Golden Finger and the matching door-latch spring first... As much as I don't want to admit this: I would have never finished the game "Eternal Eyes" if I didn't have access to the XXX-XX-XXX-XXXX (Gameshark compatible?) codes that the Golden Finger uses. Sad but true......

Again, I purchased an old console late-in-the-game: My very first used Sega Saturn in 2008. There isn't a day that goes buy that I don't thank G-d that I was able to get both the console & the matching code cartridge together at New York Comicon. The first game for the Saturn that I ever enjoyed without using the cartridge was "Lupin III: Sage of the Pyramid". And again, by my own admission, guilty as charged: Sad but true.

I know many here are going to be unhappy with this posting. I figured it would be better to tell the truth rather than to be silent or blow sunshine up people's noses. I thank you all very much for your understanding in this matter.

Best regards,
William N.
Long Island, New York