For those of us who still support the PS2 version of FFXI

[Odintius]

Im pretty sure it the system not the HDD for the limitation's. Can have all the memory in the world but if the system can't support the upgrade they have in mind well...______________

[Ilax]

It's 2011! I don't know how it is in Japan, but here in California everyone has a computer (mac,pc, laptop, whatever). And since it is 2011, every modern computer in existence can run FFXI flawlessly. SE could easily pull this off as long as they offer a transition with minimal cost for the few remaining PS2 players.

And guess what!!! lmao, almost all these mac, computer etc come from japan >< ironic.

You can already download FFXI for free on PC, i can't see any cost.

[PizzaTheHut]

So defensive..
And since 2009 i've been on FFXI and by the way, the second thing you mentioned is absolutely hilarious. I take it you're a PS2 player.

It's quite hilarious to see how childish people can be on a forum, everyone seems so nice in-game..

Crushed your research huh? Actually I play on PC also I just prefer PS2. I'm also tired of the "drop PS2" replies just because you think you'll get a better game from it. Give it up already you know it's not going anywhere and try contributing a reply/topic worthwhile for the game.

[Juri_Licious]

Crushed your reserch huh? Actually I play on PC also I just prefer PS2. I'm also tired of the "drop PS2" replies just because you think you'll get a better game from it. Give it up already you know it's not going anywhere and try contributing a reply/topic worthwhile for the game.

Research? It wasn't research it was my experience in FFXI and, I was sharing that experience in this thread.

If Square-Enix has constantly said they couldn't do certain updates because of the PS2 Hardware limitation. I'm pretty sure that means the PS2 is holding us back.

[Mirage]

I bet they're spending countless man-hours just trying to figure out how to get even the smallest new feature to fit into the PS2's 32 MB of RAM.

[bungiefan]

I think SE should reevaluate it's PS2 userbase and think about moving them to their own dedicated servers then. It seems IMHO, XI is doing better than XIV atm. I logged into XIV yesterday during XI maintenance to find 3ppl in Gridana. I understand they are working on a new battle system for Spring. However if XIV continues the way it is, they might be better off using its resources for a XI 2.0 while keeping a XI 1.0 server(s) for PS2 userbase.

Doing this can break these so called limitations and keep it's stronger userbase going with new content and jobs while keeping the PS2 userbase happy.

They can't do that because some people play the same character on multiple platforms. I play on PC when I need to, but PS2 primarily. Also, if your console dies and you switch to PC or Xbox 360, you'd lose access to your character. The whole point of the system they did is interoperability between multiple platforms. There is no country or platform discrimination on the servers, from the point of the software.

[bungiefan]

The HDD is 40 GB, FF11 including all expansions isn't above 20 GB.

FFXI's partition is 8 GB, and the data files for the game use a bit over 4 GB of that. However, temporary patch files aren't always deleted, and you have to use homebrew on the PS2 to manually delete them. This led to the patch error saying there wasn't enough free hard drive space (meaning on the FFXI partition). FFXI's original partition size at JP launch was 5 GB, and they increased it to 8 GB when Zilart released. They could increase it again unless: 1) the PS2's file systemhas a limitation of 8 GB (no idea, haven't tried to create a larger partition); or 2) there have been so many changes in the development staff that nobody remembers how to change the partition size anymore.

If 1 is the problem, they could try to change the game to use a seperate partition for each expansion, thus bypassing the limit, but they'd have to have the updater create new partitions and copy files, which may not be possible inside POL. That could also possibly fix situation 2, but the current dev staff may not know much about the PS2 file system at all to do this.

After 9 years since JP PS2 beta, there's probably no original development programmers on the staff anymore.

[PizzaTheHut]

Research? It wasn't research it was my experience in FFXI and, I was sharing that experience in this thread.

If Square-Enix has constantly said they couldn't do certain updates because of the PS2 Hardware limitation. I'm pretty sure that means the PS2 is holding us back.

That's great, and as someone who's been playing since release my experience has met with lots of friends including Japanese ones who still prefer PS2 today and would rather use PC for something better. Just lay off the PS2 flames.

Also "couldn't" can also translate to "we're just lazy" or "it's not cost effective" excuse.

The only way I'd support a terminated PS2 service would be a graphics(at least FF13 level) over haul and release for PS3(I'd pay as much as $5 to download it to!)

[bungiefan]

Perhaps by setting a timeline, say a year, for a planned drop of PS2 support along with an offering of a free digital download of the PC version of FFXI to any and all players with valid registration codes would set up a proper standing for being able to truly increase the content and capabilities of Final Fantasy XI. Without a doubt, both from a visual standpoint and a content standpoint leaving behind the PS2 would open many many doors of expansion potential. Of course, with this change should also come about greater marketing to renew people's interest in FFXI.

It's not a problem of giving the PC client away, it's easy enough to find the installer for free, as there's no copy protection on the PC version. The problem is having the hardware to run the game. I don't have a 360, and a new computer is something I don't have the money for all at once very often. I generally go 8 years between computers. I don't know a lot of Japanese people with gaming computers, they don't update unless they have to, and consoles are more popular for gaming.

They could easily start an official torrent for the PC version installer, and let people download it, then just start paying the fee to get a registration code and an account. Giving every PS2 user a computer capable of the game is a more expensive issue. Paying the monthly fee for a year is less expensive than getting a new machine. We may be able to pay to play the game, but not to get a current computer.

[bungiefan]

As for borrowing an install disc from a ps2 player sure that would be easy if said ppl existed or werent rare.. i mean if you got a ps2 CoP disc (or collection 2008 ps2 disc) I can borrow and you wanna mail it to me so I can reinstall Id very much be greatful

My issue with that would be wanting a deposit, to be returned upon return of the disc. The last person I loaned a disc to for research purposes (my PSBBN install disc and a few games with HDD support before NA PS2 HDD release), cut off communication with me and posted my items up for auction on another site. One of the discs I didn't get back because he sold it. With me being in Alaska, I couldn't just drive to the address I mailed it to, so I made our chat logs public (including the mailing instructions he gave me) after finding out he blocked my IM accounts from seeing him online and he refused communication with me. I don't want to have to try to repeat that again if someone pulls that on me.