Zoning/PS2/3 Freeze Issues

[Nadeu]

Gropitou,

We can offer a few suggestions if you are experiencing any of the following:
• Have difficulty connecting to or staying connected to the PlayOnline Viewer or FINAL FANTASY XI
• Crash, receive a black screen error, or get stuck at the downloading data screen upon clicking your character handle or character select button
• See your the lag meter turn red
• Encounter increased lag or connection problems near crowed areas
• Have trouble accessing specific zone(s)
• Have trouble logging in with specific character(s)
• Receive any of these errors: 3113, 3100, 4001, 1160

Suggestions:
10. Check to make sure you have properly configured or turned off any of the following: Routers, Proxy Servers, NAT Servers, Internet Connection Sharing services.
11. If you are using any kind of software/hardware Internet Sharing service/device the following ports need INCOMING access to your PC: TCP 1024 - 65535, UDP 53, and 50000 - 65535. Also, check to make sure that the ports mentioned are not blocked by your ISP for INCOMING access. Proper configuration of any of the above items mentioned should be done by following the instructions in the software/hardware manual or calling the manufacturer's technical support.
12. If you are using a router, and have configured that router for port forwarding, temporarily bypass that router and connect directly to the modem.

Please take note of the following:
• Proxy servers, and satellite connections are not supported and do not work correctly with FINAL FANTASY XI.
• Your router may require that you use a PC to configure your network settings. For more information about how to configure your network settings, please refer to the instruction manual that came with your router or contact the manufacturer directly.
• If your Internet Service Provider (ISP) specifies a DNS server, you need to make sure to configure your settings to allow packets to pass through UDP Port 53 as well. For more information, please refer to the instruction manual for your router or the information provided by your ISP.

[Gropitou]

Nadeu,

All the suggestions you have put forward have been tried and failed. My problem is not with the game in general or with internet connections, my (all most PS2/3 users) problem is with specific areas inside the game that cause either intermittent or full time problems.

For a long time, the Whitegate NPC selling coins used to cause a freeze everytime we started the dialogue, this was so widespread a fix was done and publicize and that situation was permanently resolved.

Now my/our problem is zoning thru a Cavernous Maw or Runic Portal. Nearly 50% or more of the time, once the animation begins we either stay frozen in it or the screen goes black. Similar zoning problems occur when going into past Windy while doing WotG missions where the CS occurs in that zoning effect. Since this problem is very specific to the zoning process in very specific locations, how about looking at your code and seeing how it is different there versus all the other areas of the game where no problems currently are reported occurring, this may offer some insight.

[Sarick]

Gropitou,

We can offer a few suggestions if you are experiencing any of the following:
• Have difficulty connecting to or staying connected to the PlayOnline Viewer or FINAL FANTASY XI
• Crash, receive a black screen error, or get stuck at the downloading data screen upon clicking your character handle or character select button~~~~~~

Nadeu, hello..

I've already explained the cause of the PS2 black screens in CS's. If you truly can contact the developers directly ask them this. If you increase the size of the client features does this not consume more resources? With this knowledge do you think maybe that the extra features added are consuming memory resources that are conflicting with older cut scenes that worked perfectly in the past? I would assume that by the extra data being loaded in the game engine older large cut scenes can no longer LOAD fully with the finite memory resources available to the consoles. This is not a connection issue if the game stops receiving after it's already crashed AKA BSOD. (black screen of death) It wouldn't matter if the client had a direct ethernet connection to the server the system would still crash or lock up.

Tell them to please check the resources when loading those CS with the PS2 DEV KIT.

It's like a bag that holds four regular hamburgers and two drinks. If those hamburgers start getting cheese, bacon, tomato, lettuce, onions and pickles the two drinks can no longer fit in the bag without ripping it.

With the broad range of cut scenes crashing it's apparent that the problem is getting worse as more cut scenes are being affected after each update.

Not sure about the ones below >>

When entering maws and zoning with PS3s this issue is probability a result of memory violations also where the system isn't able to fully load the next zone and the download is halted. (Not a connection issue if the game stops receiving because it's already crashed.)

No idea what could be causing the NPC's to halt unless they are stuck in a loop.

[IBHalliwell]

If you are using any kind of software/hardware Internet Sharing service/device the following ports need INCOMING access to your PC: TCP 1024 - 65535, UDP 53, and 50000 - 65535. Also, check to make sure that the ports mentioned are not blocked by your ISP for INCOMING access. Proper configuration of any of the above items mentioned should be done by following the instructions in the software/hardware manual or calling the manufacturer's technical support..

Hello,

I'm not sure how to implement the above request / requirement given:

1) My ISP (Comcast) only give me one (1) IP address.
2) We have two Windows machines, two PS/2, and one PS3 machine that runs FFXI
3) We have three acounts and use all three accounts at the same time.

If I redirect port 53 to say machine 190, what about the other two machines and their need for port 53?

Given what you say, how can anyone have more than one person play FFXI at the same time?

One of the benefits for us is FFXI is a FAMILY game. If only one person can play at a time, then it is no longer a FAMILY game. We can't even belong to the same Dynamis LS or other adventuring LS that require people to show up at the same time!!!

This isn't right!

[IBHalliwell]

Hello,

I have a slightly different perspective on this issue and it might HELP the developers find the route cause and a solution.

We have three (3) accounts and over 30 or so different characters. Of all these 30 or so characters ONLY one of them has this PS2/PS3 FREEZE with NPC issue. The other 29 (or so) do NOT have the FREEZE when talking to NPCs in the Bastok Mines.

My thought is there is something unique about this character. I'm not sure what it might be and these suggestions are simply shots in the dark and many won't be anywhere near. What makes characters unique .. the "guy" could be on a quest, have a rank, etc that causes the incoming port issue (or whatever it might be).

Bottom line is out of all of our character only one -- turns out to be my Son's character that he's been using for years (we've been playing since 2004)). It might be worth having the developers see if there is something common with the characters having the issue.

My Son's character is RAMRAT on Ragnarok (was on Caitsith).

He keeps pointing out to me one question: Why is it that only his character has this issue. All the other characters on the three accounts we own never have this freeze issue. They can go up to the Bastok Mine NPCs all day long and talk to them without any issues.

Honestly, I can't tell him why his character has the problem on the PS2 / PS3 systems and none of the others do ....

SUGGESTION for other players: Maybe we should compare our characters and see there is something in common. Should there be one or more common items, we could try changing them (e.g. complete the quest, rank up, etc) to make them no longer common and see if the issue goes away.

Any thoughts on this perspective and/or comment to my Son on why its just his character and not the other 29 or so characters we created.

Thanks!! :-)