Global Alpha Test Start Date

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Originally Posted by Tiago

What does PR stands for?

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Did you really have to quote all that just for that? <_<a

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Originally Posted by Bayohne

Greetings everyone,

I know the alpha tester selection process is a hot topic, and while I cannot disclose the selection process, I do want to pass on some additional details to help you better understand the situation. To ensure a broad scope of testing for the Alpha Test, we did accept users with specific types of machines, setups, connection types, ISPs, geographical locations and other configurations that we need to test that may, or may not, meet every requirement on the application. Alpha is an important first step for testing and we need to make sure we have a wide breadth of users testing it.

We appreciate your understanding, and we look forward to further expanding our selection in the future. In fact, there are a few Yoshida posts that we're working on today that go into further detail on this.

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Thank you for telling us the very thing the rational people already knew :)

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Originally Posted by Majidah

I fully upgraded my pc since I applied >_>

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I don't think the PC will be the problem for us. I upgrated the PC on 2010 to play this game and the spec is I7, 6 GB and a Geforce 480 OC, but still can't find anyone from south america that got an alpha invite.

Copy/paste from my translation thread.

Just wait for the official one if you want the correct/accurate translation.


From thread post - http://goo.gl/wKq7y
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Since it seems like there is going to be official translation... basically.... blame alpha version of the game being so damn good and people not wanting to leave to open more slots for others to come in... lol

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Originally Posted by Naoki_Yoshida

プロデューサ/ディレクタの吉田です。

皆さんとても悲観されているようですので、本日夜中には今後のαテスター追加について、
このスレッドに状況や意図をポストします。もう少々お待ちください！
（グローバルにお知らせするために、フォーラムだけにではなく、数日後にレターも出しますね）。
Producer/Director Yoshida here,

Since many are disappointed, I would like to post in this thread the current situation and the goals future of adding new testers to alpha. Please wait just a little more!
(Need to explain this globaly so not only on the forums but in few days will put it in the letter as well) [most likely meaning producer letter]

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Originally Posted by Naoki_Yoshida

プロデューサ/ディレクタの吉田です。
Producer/Director Yoshida here,

お待たせしました。今後の新生FFXIVαテストの予定について、ご報告させて頂きます。
ただし、そもそものαテストの中身について説明がないと、
正しく意図が伝わらないと思いますので、以下ご一読ください（すみません長文です）。
Sorry for the wait, I would like to report regarding future plans of ARR FFXIV Alpha test.
However I believe that if there isn't the details about alpha test the message won't get delivered correctly so please read below (Sorry it's long)

以前のプロデューサーレターでもご報告している通り、MMORPGのαテストとは、
開発/運営サイドだけでは不可能なサーバの「負荷試験」が目的となります。
ただ、負荷試験自体がどんなものなのか、イメージが湧かないと思いますので、
次項で簡単にご説明させて頂きますね。
As I mentioned in the previous producer letter, alpha test for MMORPG is to test the server load which is not possible to do just from the development/operation side. However I believe saying that alone won't give clear image to what the server load test itself is so I would like to explain this one briefly.

■新生FFXIVのサーバ構成概要と負荷試験■
ARR FFXIV Sever structure summary and server load test

新生FFXIVは1ワールド辺り、同時接続者数5000を平均ピークとして設計されています。
同時接続者数ですので、当然そのワールドにはそれ以上のキャラクターを作成可能です。
プレイのピークタイムには同時に5000人強が、1ワールドに収容される最大人数、
と覚えて頂ければよいかと思います。
In ARR FFXIV we have structured 1 world to have about 5000 people online simultaneously at an average peak. It's number of people online simultaneously so of course it is possible to create more characters that this number for that world. Just remember it where at peak time there are about 5000 players in one world.

ただ、これは1ワールド当たりの「全体同時収容人数」ですので、
新生FFXIVの1ワールドは約40ゾーンで構成されるており、
各ゾーンにプレイヤーの皆さんが、分散してログインしていることが前提となります。
However, this number is total number of players in all the zones for that one world; in ARR FFXIV one world is made up of about 40 zones and all the players are logged throughout these zones.

つまり40のゾーンサーバで5000人を収容するので、
1ゾーンサーバの収容人数は、5000を大きく下回ることになります。
キャラクタレベルのバラつき、コンテンツへの分散、プレイスタイルの幅から、
1ゾーンに全プレイヤーが集結することは、事実上あり得ないためです。
（故意にその状況を作ろうと思えば可能ではありますが……）
So with 40 zone servers to handle 5000 players each zone server's wthin each zone will be a lot less than 5000 due to character level differences, separation due to the content [people doing content in different zones], or due to players play style in reality it's not possible to have the entire player base to concentrate on just 1 zone.
(but if we tried to make that type of situation it is possible....)

新生FFXIVでは、それでも1ゾーンに対して1000人の収容が可能なよう設計されており、
簡単に言えば「1ゾーンに1000人入っても大丈夫！」をテストするために、
αテストを実施している、とも言いかえることができます。
（また導線やコンテンツ上、1000以上のキャラクターが集まりそうかどうかも確認しています。
その場合には、ゾーンごとインスタンス化することも視野に入れています）
Still in ARR FFXIV, it is structured to be able to handle 1000 players in 1 zone, so basically it can be said that we are running the alpha test to test "it's ok to have 1000 players in 1 zone!". (Also we are checking to see if more than 1000 characters will gather when they follow the storyline or following the content, in that case we are even thinking of making the individual zones instance based as well.)

またこの負荷検証は、バトルが同時にいくつ行われているか、
採集が同時にいくつ行われているか、クエストの監視はいくつ動いているかなど、
単にゾーンサーバに人がたくさんいる、という状況だけでは検証になりません。
Also this server load test will include those currently engaging in battle simultaneously, gathering simultaneously, also observing how many of the quest is running. The test isn't just where it's checking where many players are in zone server.

当然他にも……
Also we got the following major scale checks going with support of the testers.

・ゾーン間移動が300人/400人で同時に行われても問題がないか
・パッチサーバへのアクセス集中時に問題は発生しないか
・特定のハードウェアでのクライアントクラッシュはないか
・高負荷発生時にモンスターのPOP/DEPOP制御は正常に動作するか

• Will there be a problem when 300/400 people move between zones
• Will any problems occur when there is many access to the patch server
• Will there be any client crashes for specific hardware
• Will the monsters pop/depop control work fine when there is heavy server load.
  

など、テスターの皆さんにご協力頂いて大規模な検証を行っています。

■なぜ沢山の人がαテストに参加できないのか？■
Why many players can't participate in alpha test?

αテストはサーバ負荷試験が前提となるため、プレイヤーの皆さんから見た場合、
製品版と比べてプレイ可能な範囲が極端に狭くなります。
通常の場合グラフィックスは荒く、UIも仮実装が多数存在し、
クエストもシナリオも存在せず、バトルのみを同時多数行って頂くケースが多いです。
The main goal of alpha test is to test the server load, so when looking from players point of view, compared to product version there is not much to play.
Even at regular the graphics is rough, and the there are serveral UI which is just temporary release and there isn't much quest or scenarios. In most case we would just ask to go through battles simultaneously.

新生FFXIVのαテストも以下のようにプレイ範囲が制限されています。
Also in ARR FFXIV alpha test we have following restrictions on what you can play as following:

・使用できる種族はヒューラン/ミッドランダー男とミコッテ/サンシーカー女のみ
・全員新規キャラクタ作成にのみ対応
・各クラスレベル20でキャップとなる
・スタートできる国はグリダニアのみ
・バトルクラスは槍術士、弓術士、幻術士のみ
・クラフター/ギャザラーは木工師、革細工師、園芸師のみ
・オープニングはαテスト専用の仮のもの
・カットシーンは未実装（黒マスク表示されます）
・ダンジョンはタムタラ霊廟のみ（Lv15-Lv20向け）
・導線クエストはLv1～Lv10まで（Lv10以降も存在しますが実装途中のもの）
・ギルドリーヴはLv15まで（製作リーヴはLv20まで）

• You can only use Hyur/Midlander Male or Miqo'te/SunSeeker Female only
• Everyone has to create a new character
• Each class is capped at level 20
• You can only start from Gridania
• For battle class there is only Lancer, Archer, and Conjurer
• For crafter/gatherer there is only Carpenter, Leather worker, Botanist
• The Opening is temporary one just for alpha test
• Cut scene's aren't released yet (displays black masked screen)
• Only dungeon available is Tam-tara Deepcroft Mausoleum[Thanks for pointing the name out, didn't know NA version name :) ] (Aimed toward Lv15-20)
• Only Lv1-10 chained [continuing] quests (There are other quests post Lv10 but it's only half way released)
• For Guildleve it only goes up to Lv15 (For crafting leve up to Lv20)

αテストの割には結構プレイ可能とは思いますが、主にプレイするゾーンは、
4ゾーン程度に絞られます（公開範囲は8ゾーン）。
For an alpha tests I think you can play as much but for the most part you will be playing in about 4 zones (We have 8 zones released)

新生FFXIVは初期導線をかなり拘って作成したため、
1都市スタートで数千人が同時ログインし、プレイを開始すると、
レベルアップと共に、常に同ゾーンに高負荷がかかるようになっています。
また、他のエリアにコンテンツがないため、Lv20キャップに到達しても、
どうしても初期ゾーンに溜まってしまう傾向にあります。
In ARR FFXIV the starting line is created so it it's all connected so when few thousand players start in one city simulatneously and level up it will put a lot of stress at all times on the same zone. Also there isn't any content in other areas so even if you reach the Lv20 cap it tends to be where everyone gathers in the starting zone.

本来の目的はサーバ負荷試験ですので、負荷をかけて頂くために、
ゾーンを絞っていることから、αテストとしては、これで正しいことになります。
Our main goal this time is the servers load test, and to we have narrowed down the number of zones so for an alpha test this is the correct thing to do.

ですが、先ほども述べた通り1ゾーン辺りの最大負荷は1000で計算しているため、
単純にプレイヤー数を増やしていくと、延々同じゾーンに留まるプレイヤーが増え、
通常では起こり得ない負荷により、まともにプレイできなくなってしまいます。
Howerver, like I mentioned earlier we have calculated the maximum load for each zones to about 1000 players so just by simply increasing number of players it will just increase more players in the same zone and will end up in a situation where the load will go over the cap which will never happen in real sitaution and end up where you can't play normally.

せっかくαテストに当選して頂いても、これでは満足にプレイもできません。
唯一の解決策は、αテストワールド数を増やすしかない、ということになります。
Even if you were selected for the alpha test you won't be able to play satisfied.
To solve this sitaution we would need to increase the amount of alpha test worlds

また、従来ですとαテストはプレイ範囲が狭く、キャラクターデータも、
αテスト終了時にワイプ（消去）されるため、ログイン率は低下する傾向にあります。
ですので、順次アカウントを配布して、新たなテスターの方にログインして頂き、
検証を続行するのが通例となります。
Also up until now for traditional alpha testing the playability is really narrow and at the time of alpha test is finished the character data will be wiped so it will lower the rate of players logging in so with that we distribute accounts to the next to have new testers to log in and continue the testing.

新生運営側でもそれを見込んでおり、アカウント配布数に対して、ログイン率は20%程度になるだろうと、
予測していたのですが、現状でもまだログイン率は40%-50%弱で推移しているため、
負荷を計算しつつ、順次テストアカウントを増加させている状況です。
For ARR operation we were looking at it same way and we were expecting the login rate will drop to around 20% for those accounts distributed, but, currently the login rate is still around 40-50% and we are in a situation where we are calculating the load the increasing the test accounts gradualy

■αテストの進捗
Progress of alpha test■

新生FFXIVのαテストは明日より全4フェーズのうちの3フェーズ目に入ります。
Starting tomorrow ARR FFXIV alpha test is going into the 3rd phase out of the total 4 phases.

1フェーズ目は1ワールド運用での基礎負荷試験。
負荷試験はテスター皆さんのおかげで非常に順調に進み、
この時点で1ゾーン当たりの同時接続850、バトル270-280同時発生程度で、
クリティカルな負荷バグ等を発見することができ、即時修正することができました。
また、続いて行ったテストにより、同時起動されると高負荷を生みやすい処理を
リストアップすることができ、細かく処理の高速化を図ってきました。
The 1st phase was base load test operating 1 world.
Thanks to all the testers the load test went smoothly and at this time we had about 850 simulaneous connections with about 270-290 battles going at same time and finding a critical bug for load and address the issue right away. Also with continuing tests we were able to list up those tasks which will cause heavy loads when conducting at same time and we have been working on close details to increase the speed.

αテストフェーズ2では、2ワールド目をオープンしてテスターの方を増加、
複数ワールド同時運用のテストを行いました。
幸いにも目立ったトラブルは殆どなく、この間に処理高速化の対応と、
英独仏のグローバルテストスタートの最終チェックを並行しました。
2nd phase of the alpha test we opened the 2nd world and increased the amount of testers to test operation of several worlds running simultaneously.
Luckily there wasn't any troubles that stood out and in this time we were able to work on increasing the processing speed and work on the final checks for the global test start.

明日からフェーズ3となり、グローバル運用テスト+長時間運営の耐久試験が始まります。
また11/26には、フェーズ3にあわせて、全リージョンにテストアカウントを追加配布しています。
Starting tomorrow we are going into phase 3 where we are going to test the operation globally and endurance test for long hour operations

以降フェーズ4は、ワールド統合試験などを行う予定となっており、
こちらのスケジュールはフェーズ3の状態を見ながら、決めていくつもりです。
ただし、皆さんのご要望が強いことから、可能な限り年末近くまでは、
αテストワールドを解放しておくことを検討しています（もはやαテストとは呼べませんが……）。
For phase 4 we are planning to test stuff like world integration tests and for this schedule we will decide after looking at the situation of phase 3. However since many are requesting we are looking into releasing the alpha test worlds as much as possible to be available till near end of the year. (We can't call it alpha test by then.....)

■αテストアカウント配布数と今後の配布予定
Amount of alpha test accounts distributed and future plans for distribution■

現状のαテストアカウント配布数は、正確な数字を公表できませんのでご了承ください。
ただし、割合としては日本の場合、11/27現在で応募総数の1/4に配布済み、
北米はグローバルテスト第一弾なので総数の1/6、EU圏は元の総数が少ないので、
おおよそ1/3となっています。
Please understand we cannot release the accurate number for the current alpha test accounts. However for ration for Japan's case at timing of 11/27 for the total number of applications 1/4th has been distributed and for NA it will be first test for global so from total it is about 1/6th and for EU region the total amount is not much so it's about 1/3rd.

今後の追加予定ですが、12/2まではフェーズ3の安定性テストとなり、
12/3よりさらにテスターの方を追加させて頂きます。
また、テスター追加の負荷に対応するため、当初計画にはありませんでしたが、
12/3からαテスト用に3ワールド目をオープンさせて頂きます。
For future plans on increasing, up till 12/2 it will be phase 3's stability test and from 12/3 we will increase more testers. Also to address the load issue from adding additional testers we haven't had this in our official plan but fom 12/3 we would like to open a 3rd world for the alpha test.

12/3以降は概ね2日に1度、ログイン率を見ながら、随時テスターの方を追加させて頂きます。
追加数は週単位で数千を追加していきますが、どこまで足せるかは、
負荷の状況を見ながらの判断となります。ご了承ください。
Post 12/3 once every two days we will look at the rate of login and will add more testers from there.
We will add few thousand per week but how much we can add will depend on the situation of the server load so please understand that.

■αテストアカウントの増加割合についてお願い
Our request for increasing alpha test accounts■

新生FFXIVチームとしても、皆さんのご要望が強く、かつ現行運営が終了したことから、
ご応募頂いた方、一人でも多くアカウントをお渡ししたいと考えています。
For us ARR FFXIV team, we have strong demand from everyone and sicne the current version operation finished, we would like to give as much accounts out as possible for many of you that applied.

そこでテストに当選した方にお願いなのですが、できうる限り、
αテストにご参加の際には、2ワールド目、3ワールド目でのプレイを
お願いできたらと思います。
So this is a request for those that got selected for the test, when participating in the alpha test please play on the 2nd world, 3rd world.

前述したようにαテストの公開範囲の都合上、特定ワールドにプレイヤーが集中すると、
通常運営ではあり得ない負荷となってしまい、テストアカウント増加計算に、
慎重にならざるを得なくなってしまいます。
As mentioned earlier due to the amount of content released for alpha test if many players concentrate on specific world it will cause a server load which is unusual in normal operations and will require us to make more careful decisions to planning the test account increase.

現在は「Chocobo」「Moogle」という二つのワールドで運営を行っていますが、
可能な限りまずは「Moogle」の方でキャラ作成/プレイして頂ければと思います。
また12/3以降にαテストへご参加いただく方は、
どうぞ追加された3ワールド目を選択頂けますと、大変助かります。
Currently we have two worlds operating under 'Chocobo' and 'Moogle' world but as much as possible please start by creating character and playing on 'Moogle' world. Also for those of you participating in the alpha test post 12/3 please select the 3rd world. This will help us a lot.

以上になります！（レター状態になってしまったので、翻訳でき次第、急いでレターにも上げます！）
That's it! (It ended up like a letter but once the translations is up will put it up in the letter!)

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More replies from YoshiP to players on that same JP thread.

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Originally Posted by Naoki_Yoshida

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Originally Posted by WhiteCate

クローズまで残り1週間強でα稼動は5日間（予想）ってとこでしょうか？
当選しても日程的にα触れないかたも結構発生しそうな気もします。
So for close it's about 1 week and alpha to run about 5 days (guess)?
Even if we get selected it would seem there will be many that wont be able to touch alpha.

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フォーラムにポストした通り、できるだけαテストオープン期間は粘ります。
また明日より長時間稼働テストになりますので、初期のデイリー2時間程度のメンテナンスチェック以外、
αテストワールドは開きっぱなしで、常時プレイ可能になります。
Just as I posted on the forums we will try to extend the alpha test duration.
Also starting tomorrow we will start the extended operation test so aside form teh daily maintenance checks for about 2 hours we will keep the alpha test world open and it will be possible to play normally

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Originally Posted by Naoki_Yoshida

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Originally Posted by Nutrocker

現αプレイヤーのβテスト優先採用についてはスルー？
No information on priority status for current alpha players to get selected for beta test?

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まだ検討中ですので、正式回答ができない状態です。
また、βテストはそもそも、αテスト負荷試験後の実施となり、
αテストよりアカウント配布数は多くなりますので、十分にカバー可能範囲と思います。
We are still looking into this one so currently we can't give any official answers yet.
Also the beta test is released after server load test in alpha test so the amount of accounts distributed will be much more than alpha test, pretty sure it will be enough to cover as much.

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Originally Posted by Naoki_Yoshida

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Originally Posted by looser

αテストを無駄に延長する意味はあるのでしょうか？
延長した分、βや正式サービスも将棋倒しの如く遅れるということにはなりませんか？
順調に進んでいるなら、計画を前倒しするべきではないでしょうか。
Is there any meaning to leave the extend the alpha test?
By extending would it delays the beta or official service?
If it's going smoothly I think it will be better to follow the plan.

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開発はブランチと呼ぶ開発進行を分割する手法で進めているので、
既にβテストはαとは別のブランチでガリガリ作業が進んでいます。
αテストを延長するのは、あくまでテストとしてではなく、αワールドを開けておく期間だけ延長になります。
（それもβ用のワールド構築にハードウェア的な支障がないところで閉じます）
よってαテストは順調ですが、βテストが前倒しできるかと言えば、それは別問題なのです。
In the development we are taking steps called branching so the work for beta test is already being worked on aside form alpha. To extend the alpha test is not mainly for test but just to extend the timing on how long the apha worlds are open. (Even that will will close once there is no hardware issue for the beta world structures) So alpha test is going smoothly but when saying that will affect beta test, that's a different issue.

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OK that's it for today's YoshiP posts~
Looks like Bay and them working on the official translations on these quickly too :)

I'm usually more of a lurker on here, but just wanted to say thanks Reinheart for the quick translation. Hopefully that helps people cope with not being selected. :)

Greetings!

Below is a message from Yoshi-P in regards to the Alpha Test. When you have a moment be sure to check it out (it's quite long!) :)

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Originally Posted by Naoki_Yoshida

Hello,

This is Producer/Director Yoshida.

I would like to update you on the plans for the FFXIV: ARR Alpha Test moving forward. However, without an explanation of the Alpha Test content, I don't believe I will be able to properly convey the intentions, so please read the below (sorry that it's really long).

As I mentioned in a previous Letter from the Producer, an MMORPG Alpha Test's goal is for server stress tests, which cannot be accomplished on the development and operations side alone. However, I believe that the image of what a stress test consists of is not really being conveyed. With that said, I'd like to briefly explain below.

FFXIV: ARR Server Construction Overview and Stress Testing

For FFXIV: ARR we have constructed the servers so that each world will have an average peak of 5,000 concurrent users. Since we're only talking concurrent users, it is of course possible to create a number of characters that exceed this number on the same world. Think of 5,000 concurrent players as the maximum number of players on a single world playing during peak time.

However, this is only the concurrency capacity for each world, and in ARR, a world is composed of roughly 40 areas. The basis of this is that players will be dispersed and logging into each of the areas.

In other words, a 40 area server will hold 5,000 players, so a single area server's user capacity would be far below 5,000. Since there is a large range of play styles, varying player levels, and distribution of players among different content, it's highly unlikely that every player is going to concentrate in a single zone. (Though this would be possible if we intentionally wanted to create this condition…)

In FFXIV: ARR the servers were constructed to make it possible to hold 1,000 players per zone, so to put a finer point on it, the reason why we have implemented the Alpha Test is to test if 1,000 players can enter a single zone safely. (Also we're confirming whether it seems like more than 1,000 characters will gather for content and such. If that is the case, we are considering instancing each zone.)

Also this stress test cannot verify how many concurrent battles are taking place, how much gathering is being performed concurrently, how many quests are being worked on, and other aspects by merely only having a lot of people on the zone server.

Naturally there we are performing large scale tests through all of the testers' cooperation:

-Any problems if 300-400 people are moving between areas at the same time?
-Any problems when a lot of users are downloading from the patch server?
-Any client crashes with specific hardware?
-Are monsters' pop/depop systems functioning properly during times of heavy lag?

Why can't a large number of people participate in the Alpha Test?

Due to the fact that the basis of the Alpha Test is for stress testing, the playable content is severely limited when compared to the official release version. The graphics are rough, there are a lot of placeholder UI elements, there are no quest and storylines, and there are a lot of cases where we just have huge numbers of battles going on.

The FFXIV: ARR Alpha Test is limited to the below playable content:

-Only male Hyur Midlanders and female Miqo’te Seekers of the Sun can be used
-Everyone has to make new characters
-Each class level is capped at 20
-Gridania is the only starting city-state
-Disciples of War/Magic classes are limited to lancer, archer, and conjurer
-Disciples of Land/Hand classes are limited to carpenter, leatherworker, and botanist
-The opening is a placeholder specific to the Alpha Test
-Cutscenes have not been implemented (masked with black display)
-TamTara Deepcroft is the only dungeon (for levels 15-20)
-Progression quests are from level 1-10 (There are quests after level 10, but they have not been implemented)
-Guildleves go up to level 15 (crafting leves to 20)

Despite it being an Alpha Test I believe there is quite a bit that is playable, but essentially there are only 4 areas to play in (8 areas included).

We made FFXIV: ARR with extreme fixation on the beginning levels, so with a single starting city, when thousands of people log in at the same time and begin to play, they will level up together and the same zone will always have a high concentration of players. Also, since there is no content in other areas, even when reaching the level 20 cap, players will have to remain in the starting areas.

Since the objective is stress testing, limiting the areas in the Alpha Test to stress test them is the correct approach.

However, as I mentioned before, since we've calculated the maximum stress for each zone to be 1,000 users, by simply increasing the number of players, the number of players in the same zone will increase, which will then make it impossible to play properly due to lag that would not normally occur.

Despite being selected for the Alpha Test, you cannot play satisfactorily like this. The only solution would be to increase the number of Alpha Test worlds.

Also, since playable content is limited in the Alpha Test and character data will be wiped once the Alpha Test concludes, there will be a trend where less users will return and continue logging in. With that said, the general rule is to then sequentially distribute additional accounts and have new testers log in to continue the testing.

Operations is expecting this and estimated that the log in rate would eventually become about 20% in proportion to the number of accounts distributed, but we are currently still maintaining a log in rate of 40%-50%, so the test accounts will be increasing as we continue calculating stress.

Alpha Test Progress

Starting tomorrow, the FFXIV: ARR Alpha Test will enter phase 3 of the 4 total phases.

The first phase was a basic stress test for a single world's operation. The stress test went extremely well thanks to all of the testers, and at this point we were able to eliminate critical stress bugs that were discovered with approximately 850 concurrent users in each zone and 270-280 battles occurring simultaneously. Also, through subsequent tests, we were able to list out all of the processes that make it easy for lag to develop, and smoothed out the processes making it faster.

In Alpha Test phase 2, we opened up the second world, added testers, and conducted tests while simultaneously operating multiple worlds. Luckily there were barely any outstanding problems and in that time we optimized processes and made our final checks for global testing to begin.

Starting tomorrow, we will enter phase 3 and begin global operation testing as well as age testing with long operation hours. To coincide with phase 3, test accounts were distributed to all regions on November 26.

From phase 4 we plan on conducting world merge testing, and we will decide on the schedule as we monitor the conditions of phase 3. However, since everyone's requests are so strong, we are looking into opening the Alpha Test worlds as close to the end of the year as possible. (We can’t really call it an Alpha Test then, but…)

After Alpha Test Account Distribution and Future Distribution Plans

We are unable to publicly announce the exact number of Alpha Test accounts that have been distributed, and we appreciate your understanding. However, percentage wise, as of November 27, 1/4 of the total number of entrants in Japan have been given accounts, this is North America’s first round and 1/6 of their total have been given accounts, and Europe's total was originally small so they have been given around 1/3 of their total.

In regards to future additions, we will be testing phase 3 stability until December 2, and would like to add testers from December 3. Also, in order to address stress created from adding testers, we will be opening the third Alpha Test world on December 3, even though this was not the original plan.

From December 3 we will watch the log in rates once every two days and continue to add users as necessary. We will be adding thousands per week; however, the decision of how many we can add will boil down to stress conditions, so we appreciate your understanding.

A Request Regarding Alpha Test Account Increase Percentages

Everyone on the team would like to hand out a lot of accounts to those who applied -- especially since everyone's demands are so strong and also since the current version is no longer in service.

With that said I have a request to those players selected for the test. If at all possible, please play on the second or third world when participating in the Alpha Test.

As stated above, due to the Alpha Test content released, if players focus on one world the stress would become unbelievable and we would have to then be extremely careful calculating test account additions.

Currently, we have two worlds in operation, Chocobo and Moogle. Please do your best to create characters and play on Moogle. Also, for those players that join the Alpha Test from December 3, it would help out a great deal if you could select the third world to play on.

That's all for now! (This pretty much became a Letter from the Producer, but once the letter has been translated we will post it up!)

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Great info, marking 12/3 on my calendar. Thanks a lot!

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Originally Posted by Camate

Greetings!

Below is a message from Yoshi-P in regards to the Alpha Test. When you have a moment be sure to check it out (it's quite long!) :)

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I have a very important question...

Will there be a snurble mount? Every time I see your avatar I think lala + snurble = my wife wanting to play FFXIV . .. XD lol

Thanks for the speedy translation!

OMG! SO much info!!! Good job Yoshi!

I really admire the patience of Yoshi... I really hope ARR is successful and all this hard work pays off for him and the dev team.

Sometimes I understand why Tanaka refused to have communication with the player base.

Yoshida-san,

You are a CHAMP for responding to so many petulant players who are sour that they did not get an invite, YET. And if those same individuals never get an invite of any kind in this testing phase?...may the Twelve have mercy on your soul.

The level of involvement you and your team have had with the FFXIV community has been incredibly gracious, and I hope that players can take at least a few words from their ceaseless ranting about what they didn't get, what they think you all are doing poorly, and appreciate what you're attempting to do better with 2.0.

Cheers to re-launch and the crafting a legendary Final Fantasy experience in A Realm Reborn!

(My only selfish request is that I get my Gun-Arm back and my Final Limit "Catastrophe" unlocked...That is all, sir.

AVALANCHE!

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Originally Posted by Camate

Greetings!

Below is a message from Yoshi-P in regards to the Alpha Test. When you have a moment be sure to check it out (it's quite long!) :)

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Thanks for the info Camate. Hopefully with the further rounds of invites SE will keep to the rules they set themselves, and let in people that had an active account before those that just signed out for the alpha after quitting the game on the first month.

If you don't want to follow a criteria, don't publicly set it. And if you find yourself in the position to have to change your mind, communicate it promptly. Transparency and communication are always the key.

Looking at the opposite side of the issue, I have friends that tried to sign up to the alpha as soon as the form was up and were denied. Of course they didn't retry later, because they had no idea that they had been allowed to in the meanwhile.

That said, I'll always be amazed to see those that are so eager and ready to antagonize those that have issues with how this has been handled, second guessing their motives and personally attacking them.

Actually, scratch that. I'm not really amazed, nor I am surprised, as it always happens when alphas/betas are concerned.
People are always ready to unduly paint others as "whiners" and such when their position is secure.

It's funny, because it's almost guaranteed that if they didn't receive an invite, they'd be raging just as much (or more) themselves.

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Originally Posted by Abriael

That said, I'll always be amazed to see those that are so eager and ready to antagonize those that have issues with how this has been handled, second guessing their motives and personally attacking them.

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People love to personally attack anyone and anything they post for any reason, even if they claim they don't do as such.

12/3 ? Too much far.

I want it all, i want it all, i want it all, and i want it now~

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Originally Posted by Dannythm

I really admire the patience of Yoshi... I really hope ARR is successful and all this hard work pays off for him and the dev team.

Sometimes I understand why Tanaka refused to have communication with the player base.

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Yeah, I suspect they're just as tired of all the crying over alpha invites as we are. You know, it's always been my dream to work for Squeenix and make games for them, yet I almost dread what will come if my dream were ever to come true. I have terrible babysitting skills. I haven't the patience for whining kids, lol.

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Originally Posted by SkyeWindbinder

Yeah, I suspect they're just as tired of all the crying over alpha invites as we are. You know, it's always been my dream to work for Squeenix and make games for them, yet I almost dread what will come if my dream were ever to come true. I have terrible babysitting skills. I haven't the patience for whining kids, lol.

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If you want to make games, you may want to know what the role of those that make games entails. It normally doesn't include any babysitting. That's the job of community managers, and occasionally of the Game Director/Producer, if he so wishes.

Participation by developers to forum discussions and similar is normally not part of their job description. If they do it, it is because they want to.

And yet again another that second guesses other people's motives, and insults them because they dare to be disappointed.

The internet is truly a wonderful place.

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Originally Posted by SkyeWindbinder

Yeah, I suspect they're just as tired of all the crying over alpha invites as we are. You know, it's always been my dream to work for Squeenix and make games for them, yet I almost dread what will come if my dream were ever to come true. I have terrible babysitting skills. I haven't the patience for whining kids, lol.

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Well becoming director takes a long way up, and I hope you don't want to get on the PR team, because as awesome as they are, I guess it's one of the hardest jobs, to deal with all the forums. Not just the whiny people now with the alpha, but the grass, the animations, or whatever... We all know FFXIV got to a bad start, so we should show support and respect for the devs, instead of whining so much, as a community.

It's OK to pinpoint what we don't like in the game, and I see lots of constructive criticism threads, but there are way too many of the others.

Still good luck in joining Square! I hope I can join too and meet you at the devs cafeteria =P

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Originally Posted by Abriael

If you want to make games, you may want to know what the role of those that make games entails. It normally doesn't include any babysitting. That's the job of community managers, and occasionally of the Game Director/Producer, if he so wishes.

Participation by developers to forum discussions and similar is normally not part of their job description. If they do it, it is because they want to.

And yet again another that second guesses other people's motives, and insults them because they dare to be disappointed.

The internet is truly a wonderful place.

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lol I'm aware of what jobs are out there as far as making games. And to tell you the truth, I've always wanted to be a writer/level designer for games. My statement was simply that it would get a bit annoying to have to do PR and deal with a bunch of crybabies that are simply angry that they didn't get what they wanted and are throwing tantrums on forums because of it. I'm sure Yoshi could be doing something better besides soothing a bunch of crybabies, like maybe working on the game. But, you do what you have to do for PR, I guess.

And really, you need to lighten up. You took my post a bit too much to heart. Me thinks you doth protest too much... hmm...

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Originally Posted by Dannythm

Well becoming director takes a long way up, and I hope you don't want to get on the PR team, because as awesome as they are, I guess it's one of the hardest jobs, to deal with all the forums. Not just the whiny people now with the alpha, but the grass, the animations, or whatever... We all know FFXIV got to a bad start, so we should show support and respect for the devs, instead of whining so much, as a community.

It's OK to pinpoint what we don't like in the game, and I see lots of constructive criticism threads, but there are way too many of the others.

Still good luck in joining Square! I hope I can join too and meet you at the devs cafeteria =P

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Here's hoping, lol. And yeah, to be fair, there are some threads with very constructive criticism. It's just the whiny entitlement threads that have gotten old, and they're posted over and over and over... Oy vey. -_-

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Originally Posted by Dannythm

Still good luck in joining Square! I hope I can join too and meet you at the devs cafeteria =P

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Originally Posted by SkyeWindbinder

You know, it's always been my dream to work for Squeenix

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Race you guys... :P

But I dont see whats the problem with being PR. You learn the problem you see if you can fix it or if it deserves squelching - and then you follow through. Certainty not a job that brings much praise but I dont think people without patience dare apply lol (of course the above is an over simplification of the processes/job... :P)

Not saying butterflies and rainbows but its just another type of work.

Wow, that's great news! Yoshi-P has shown far more respect for the players than players have for each other. lol

He never ceases to amaze.

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Originally Posted by SkyeWindbinder

lol I'm aware of what jobs are out there as far as making games. And to tell you the truth, I've always wanted to be a writer/level designer for games. My statement was simply that it would get a bit annoying to have to do PR and deal with a bunch of crybabies that are simply angry that they didn't get what they wanted and are throwing tantrums on forums because of it. I'm sure Yoshi could be doing something better besides soothing a bunch of crybabies, like maybe working on the game. But, you do what you have to do for PR, I guess.

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Yoshi's a smart man. I'm quite sure that if he could do something better, he'd be doing it. He does what he does exactly because he knows that a certain degree of discontent is not unjustified.

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And really, you need to lighten up. You took my post a bit too much to heart. Me thinks you doth protest too much... hmm...

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if people didn't "protest", we wouldn't have ARR.

I do pinpoint serious PR troubles, because at the moment the game isn't under too much of a spotlight. If something like this big lapse in communication happened nearer to release, when the eye of the media will be aimed at SE for every little mistake, this would be all over the net already, with the potential of doing serious damage.

People like Brian Ashcraft from Kotaku and many others would jump on the chance to throw some more mud at the Final Fantasy franchise like a bear throws himself at a pot of honey.

It's not like a lot of the gaming media doesn't already look at SE with a certain amount of negative bias. Can they really afford to take chances and give them ammo on a silver platter?

Nice I look forward to testing alpha out soon hopefully ^^

http://preview.images.memegenerator....&text2=&text3=

:D

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Originally Posted by Abriael

Yoshi's a smart man. I'm quite sure that if he could do something better, he'd be doing it. He does what he does exactly because he knows that a certain degree of discontent is not unjustified.

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I'm aware of that. Doesn't mean he doesn't get tired with all the whining every now and then from entitled malcontents, but he does have a lot of patience. Have to admite that.

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Originally Posted by Abriael

if people didn't "protest", we wouldn't have ARR.

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I was actually referring to the way you immediately went on the attack after my first post, almost as if you thought I was directly talking about you. Which if you weren't one of the people whining about not getting an alpha invite, it really shouldn't have concerned you so much...

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Originally Posted by Abriael

I do pinpoint serious PR troubles, because at the moment the game isn't under too much of a spotlight. If something like this big lapse in communication happened nearer to release, when the eye of the media will be aimed at SE for every little mistake, this would be all over the net already, with the potential of doing serious damage.

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lol I think you're blowing things a bit out of proportion. This is about alpha and people not being happy that they were not selected to get in. That's what it will always boil down to. I know, because I have not read one post from a person who has gotten into alpha that has "concerns with lack of communication". Abd regardless of what communication there is or isn't, there's always going to be someone who's going to complain and whine, like those who believe that being long-time players of FF14 should get them access to alpha alone.

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Originally Posted by Abriael

It's not like a lot of the gaming media doesn't already look at SE with a certain amount of negative bias. Can they really afford to take chance and give them ammo on a silver platter?

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The media is going to try to trash FFXIV at every given turn anyway. How alpha is done really doesn't matter. In the end, what matters is if the product is good. And trust me, Yoshi is already working on that end.

I have to commend Yoshida for being so transparent when it comes to alpha/beta testing this game. The fact that he explains even to non-testers how the process works, not to mention that we've been getting weekly alpha-videos is pretty amazing to me. I've gotten the impression from other games that alpha and even beta is very hush hush.

Also, it's quite clear that he understands how much we're all dying to try it out, and that he's doing his best to get as many of us in the alpha/beta as possible. It makes me feel very good about the whole deal, even if I might never get an invite.

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Originally Posted by SkyeWindbinder

I'm aware of that. Doesn't mean he doesn't get tired with all the whining every now and then from entitled malcontents, but he does have a lot of patience. Have to admite that.

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When you do his kind of job, you take the good with the bad. He has to face criticism, but also a lot of praise. It's not all that bad.

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I was actually referring to the way you immediately went on the attack after my first post, almost as if you thought I was directly talking about you. Which if you weren't one of the people whining about not getting an alpha invite, it really shouldn't have concerned you so much...

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If you weren't intent on calling people "crybabies", "whiny" and all that, without knowing them or their motives, I wouldn't have chided you. Maybe you didn't notice that your choice of words was confrontational to begin with.

And being confrontational against people that are already discontent does nothing else than making the situation worse. It does SE or Yoshi no favors when they try to douse the flames and those that think they are on their side throw more fuel on them instead.

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lol I think you're blowing things a bit out of proportion. This is about alpha and people not being happy that they were not selected to get in. That's what it will always boil down to. I know, because I have not read one post from a person who has gotten into alpha that has "concerns with lack of communication". Abd regardless of what communication there is or isn't, there's always going to be someone who's going to complain and whine, like those who believe that being long-time players of FF14 should get them access to alpha alone.

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The problem isn't just that people didn't get access to the Alpha. I couldn't care the less about that.
It's that people that had active accounts got passed in favor of people that didn't, while the form clearly stated in all available languages that only those with an active account were eligible.

This is a serious lapse in communication and a potential big PR blunder. People that are discontent about it have a degree of justification in that. It's also the kind of thing the press LOVES to cover, if given the chance. An off-hand accusation of false publicity is great to drive the controversy and the hits on the many websites that don't have journalistic integrity as their most prominent value. And there are many of those and, unfortunately, they're popular.

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The media is going to try to trash FFXIV at every given turn anyway. How alpha is done really doesn't matter. In the end, what matters is if the product is good. And trust me, Yoshi is already working on that end.

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The fact that they already do it isn't really a good reason to provide them with more ammo, isn't it?

I have looked around the forums and couldn't find anything on this,so here is my question.

Will the alpha testers be able to post videos on gameplay/content of ARR?

Of course i most likely wont get accepted to the alpha , because there are more experienced people in this game than me.However if i do i would like to advertise and show people how good its got since it last released.
Feedback please,
~Klyde

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Originally Posted by Klyde

Will the alpha testers be able to post videos on gameplay/content of ARR?

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No. There's a strict NDA in place. Alpha testers aren't even allowed to disclose that they have been accepted.

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Originally Posted by Klyde

I have looked around the forums and couldn't find anything on this,so here is my question.

Will the alpha testers be able to post videos on gameplay/content of ARR?

Of course i most likely wont get accepted to the alpha , because there are more experienced people in this game than me.However if i do i would like to advertise and show people how good its got since it last released.
Feedback please,
~Klyde

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When you signed up for the alpha invite / joined through the invite (if you did) you are agreeing to an NDA (non-disclosure agreement). You may not release - anything - that you derive from the alpha unless SE excuses you from the NDA (which they probably wont).

So best bet is not to unless you want to risk SE banning your account :(.

Edit: What Abrieal said :P

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Originally Posted by Abriael

No. There's a strict NDA in place. Alpha testers aren't even allowed to disclose that they have been accepted.

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New invites on 12/3 (I think)? That's right on my birthday xD
/hope

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Originally Posted by Abriael

No. There's a strict NDA in place. Alpha testers aren't even allowed to disclose that they have been accepted.

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Oh ok, thanks. I just didnt want to get in trouble or something :/

wow thank you soooo much for this great information u the best :)

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Originally Posted by Abriael

When you do his kind of job, you take the good with the bad. He has to face criticism, but also a lot of praise. It's not all that bad.

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Again, I already know this. But even Yoshi is human. I'm sure the whining can at least get to be annoying. But as I said, he does have a lot of patience. And as you said, it's really not always bad.

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Originally Posted by Abriael

If you weren't intent on calling people "crybabies", "whiny" and all that, without knowing them or their motives, I wouldn't have chided you. Maybe you didn't notice that your choice of words was confrontational to begin with.

And being confrontational against people that are already discontent does nothing else than making the situation worse. It does SE or Yoshi no favors when they try to douse the flames and those that think they are on their side throw more fuel on them.

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The fact that I made my statement against people who's motives are more than clear when they're whining tells me that you obviously are the one who doesn't understand motives. And you're quick to jump the gun, which can land you with egg on you face really fast. People whining about not getting an alpha invite and how they should have one because they have been long-time subscribers of FF14 have motives that are not only transparent, but they literally STATED THEIR MOTIVES right there!! lol So really, I have no idea what you are even trying to get across.

It's THOSE types of people that I was speaking of. The entitled whiners who cry about not getting an alpha invite for reasons that make sense only to them in their little world. And I'm not trying to help Yoshi or anyone else. I'm merely stating how annoying those kinds of people are with their consistent QQing. And you got ticked off real quick. Which you really shouldn't have, unless... you're one of said people...

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Originally Posted by Abriael

The problem isn't just that people didn't get access to the Alpha. I couldn't care the less about that.
It's that people that had active accounts got passed in favor of people that didn't, while the form clearly stated in all available languages that only those with an active account were eligible.

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And THOSE posts I have absolutely no problem with whatsoever. Legit concerns, yeah, I can get behind those. It's complainers, whiners, and QQers who are simply butthurt they didn't get into alpha that are getting sickeningly repetitive.

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Originally Posted by Abriael

This is a serious lapse in communication, and people that are discontent about it have a degree of justification in that. It's also the kind of thing the press LOVES to cover, if given the chance. An off-hand accusation of false publicity is great to drive the controversy and the hits on websites.

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Again, you are making it out to be more serious that it really is, lol. It's only really that serious to people who are merely angry that they didn't get into alpha. The worst that happened is that a few people didn't get in to test, which includes me, by the way. And again, sites are going to trash FFXIV, no matter what. Yoshi sneezing the wrong way will bring about harsh criticism for this game. So, really, people not getting into alpha is just getting stretched out of proportion.

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Originally Posted by Abriael

The fact that they already do it isn't really a good reason to provide them with more ammo, isn't it?

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Actually, if you're going to make a game, you can't tread on eggshells about what a few reviewers might say. Especially sine you know they're waiting to trash the game anyway. These people already have their ammo. They're loaded, and ready to shoot. All Yoshi and his team can do is do what they plan to with the game, how they plan to do it.

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Originally Posted by SkyeWindbinder

Actually, if you're going to make a game, you can't tread on eggshells about what a few reviewers might say. Especially sine you know they're waiting to trash the game anyway. These people already have their ammo. They're loaded, and ready to shoot. All Yoshi and his team can do is do what they plan to with the game, how they plan to do it.

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I'm not in the game review industry (actually you are talking to someone who is.. *pokes Abriael*) but I highly doubt they purposely attempt to trash games. Having read a lot of reviews they more often then not give games better credits they they deserve (opinion). That isnt to say a game never gets a bad review and you thought it was excellent but that makes sense because of course its still opinion.. But game review sites attempt to capture the essence and importantly what their audience will find useful reading.

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Originally Posted by Shougun

I'm not in the game review industry (actually you are talking to someone who is.. *pokes Abriael*) but I highly doubt they purposely attempt to trash games. Having read a lot of reviews they more often then not give games better credits they they deserve (opinion). That isnt to say a game gets a bad review and you loved it because of course its still opinion but again.. game review sites attempt to capture the essence and importantly what their audience will find useful reading.

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Perhaps,vbut I have read more than my fair share of highly questionable reviews by some of these reviewer sites (cough, IGN, cough). And it's cool that Abriel is into that kind of profession, but he seems to have hair-trigger judgment that can be hazardous in his line of work. lol

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Originally Posted by SkyeWindbinder

The fact that I made my statement against people who's motives are more than clear when they're whining tells me that you obviously are the one who doesn't understand motives.

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Quite the contrary. Having been in basically every major MMORPG beta since Ultima Online (and many minor ones), I understand people's motives very well. They're hardly as easy to identify and as black and white as you believe.

Some people are just butthurt. Some people are disappointed because they genuinely want to contribute to the development of the game, some people simply air their frustration not because they have some kind of grudge or because they feel entitled, but because as part of a community, they think in a rather naive way that other people will express their support instead of shooting them down. There are a lot of different motives and a lot of shades of grey.

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People whining about not getting an alpha invite and how they should have one because they have been long-time subscribers of FF14 have motives that are not only transparent, but they literally STATED THEIR MOTIVES right there!! lol So really, I have no idea what you are even trying to get across.

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Nope. That isn't stating a motive. That's stating a belief. And that belief has been created by Square Enix themselves, as the fact that active subscribers were the only ones eligible to the alpha was clearly stated in the application form. When a developer tells paying customers A and then does B, it's not unjustified for the paying customer to be disappointed and voice that disappointment.

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And you got ticked off real quick. Which you really shouldn't have, unless... you're one of said people...

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See what I mean, you're doing it again. You're second guessing my motives without knowing anything about me.

I got ticked off because I know that a certain amount of disappointment is quite justified in this situation, given the communication blunder, and I find people so ready to jump to the throat of people that are already (rightfully) disappointed rather distasteful.

It happens with every testing. People are always very ready to attack those that are already disappointed, making everyone's disappointment worse. It's bad and it really paints the community in a sad light.

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And THOSE posts I have absolutely no problem with whatsoever. Legit concerns, yeah, I can get behind those. It's complainers, whiners, and QQers who are simply butthurt they didn't get into alpha that are getting sickeningly repetitive.

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I'm sure there are people that are just "butthurt", but I don't know their percentage, nor you do. So I don't necessarily assume that everyone that complains belongs to that group like many here are doing, nor I go ahead and second guess their motives.

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Again, you are making it out to be more serious that it really is, lol. It's only really that serious to people who are merely angry that they didn't get into alpha. The worst that happened is that a few people didn't get in to test, which includes me, by the way.

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Nope. It's serious to anyone that knows that a company giving their customers wrong information often can lead to serious issues.

[quioe]And again, sites are going to trash FFXIV, no matter what. Yoshi sneezing the wrong way will bring about harsh criticism for this game. So, really, people not getting into alpha is just getting stretched out of proportion.[/quote]

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Actually, if you're going to make a game, you can't tread on eggshells about what a few reviewers might say. Especially sine you know they're waiting to trash the game anyway. These people already have their ammo. They're loaded, and ready to shoot. All Yoshi and his team can do is do what they plan to with the game, how they plan to do it.

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When you have a loaded rifle pointed at your face, encouraging the killer to shoot isn't exactly a sensible course of action.

Yoshi-p is always on the first line and among the players to respond to everyone, like a father that shows and explains things to his sons. For that reason, he's a great director.

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Originally Posted by Shougun

I'm not in the game review industry (actually you are talking to someone who is.. *pokes Abriael*) but I highly doubt they purposely attempt to trash games. Having read a lot of reviews they more often then not give games better credits they they deserve (opinion). That isnt to say a game never gets a bad review and you thought it was excellent but that makes sense because of course its still opinion.. But game review sites attempt to capture the essence and importantly what their audience will find useful reading.

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Oh, some do, believe me. No one that I would bear working with, of course (if any of my writers did something of the sort in any way that I could detect, I'd have a serious talk with them and the rest of the editorial team, and it could easily lead to termination), but I could name a large number of people that openly think that Square Enix deserves a "lesson", and that spare no chance in trying to administer it.

of course Square Enix isn't alone there. Electronic Arts is another good example. Many journos, even highly respected ones, have this warped idea that they're the vigilantes of the industry, and they need to "punish" the evil corporation of their choice with their almighty pen, instead of dedicating themselves to actual reporting.

Of course there are a whole lot of fair, intelligent and relatively unbiased (relatively because absolute lack of bias doesn't exist in any form of journalism. Anyone that tells you he's unbiased lies, and he knows it) ones, but if you look attentively, you'll easily be able to spot the rotten apples.

LOL you two need a room... good read though with good facts