Important Announcement from the Devs!!

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Originally Posted by Bahn

What I'm worried about is if Square-Enix will be working "backwards" by using a PS3 optimized engine and backporting it to PC. I would HATE to be playing a console port MMO. I've already dealt with that playing Phantasy Star Online Blue Burst and Phantasy Star Universe. FFXI also was designed with the consoles in mind with some afterthought for the PC. I hope with the use of their new engine the graphics won't be downscaled/lowered to accommodate for the PS3 and not keep PCs in mind. They need to properly optimize for PC and keep the graphics looking good while also downscaling for the PS3 and keep that end of the population happy.

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As much as I love FFXIV's graphics detail, there is an issue with it.

Everything is clean, everything is perfect. Hopefully the new system will introduce some DIRT.

bump for initial reaction thread lol

I just had to send an email to all my friends who've ever showed any interest in this game jut to show them all the epic changes!

The changes have been good so far, but the stuff in those PDFs is simply epic!

It's a little tough to find the most appropriate place to put this comment from Yoshida, so I'll take the easy way out and put it here. :) Yoshida made this post fairly soon after the announcement first hit and I want to make sure everyone sees it here, too.

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Originally Posted by Naoki_Yoshida

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Looking over the concept art and what not, I get the feeling the new FINAL FANTASY XIV will be completely different compared to the game now. Should we continue to provide feedback?

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The new FFXIV is an extension of the current FFXIV.
We will continue to work hard and update the game, so it would be great if you would continue to provide feedback!

The feedback that the community provides will help build the new FFXIV! :D

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Another thing I wanted to remind everyone, we created a sticky thread to gather all of your questions regarding the announcement, that we will use in the next Letter from the Producer LIVE! So if you want to make sure your question is seen (amongst the sea of new threads being created...) make sure you ask it there! :)

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Originally Posted by Bayohne

It's a little tough to find the most appropriate place to put this comment from Yoshida, so I'll take the easy way out

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See this is why we got mad at you in the FFXI forum over the Scholar misspelling and leaving it there :P

J/k Bayo :3

I was wondering about this comment when I seen it since I figured it would be like the whole "Alpha > Beta Metamorphosis" that happened before.

Thank you Bayohne. As one of the very few who are super excited about the changes coming up, but also super worried at what will be lost (character looks, possible fishing changes, etc.) this puts my heart at ease. You have no idea how much I needed that.

Bayohne for PM (of Canada) :D.

Another major post from Yoshida popped up over the weekend (and we apologize for the time it took to get translated for all of you, but accuracy is important!). Take a look!

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Originally Posted by Naoki_Yoshida

Hi everyone, Producer/Director Yoshida here.

The document I created for version 2.0 was huge and parts of it may have seemed vague and caused some confusion. I would like to provide some further details on FFXIV version 2.0, such as the transfer of character data and the decision to start billing before the next Letter from the Producer LIVE. I also intend to further explain things to you directly on the day of the LIVE broadcast as well.
(I’ll try to keep my answers on each topic as brief as possible)

FFXIV Version 2.0
The general outline for FFXIV version 2.0 is as follows:

Rebuild: Level/Map Design
Rebuild: Graphics Engine
Reboot: Server System Re-design (including layout)
Rebuild: UI System Reboot + 'Add-on' support
Reboot: Expanding the Player Community

These five points provide the driving force behind the next stage of FFXIV.
As I’ve been insisting, we’re “in the middle of overhauling the game” and I’ve been working to provide clear explanations and updates about what we have achieved so far, I’d like you to take this as an official announcement that FFXIV 2.0 is on the way.

Due to way that our servers currently operate, it has been difficult to implement and adjust these things.

Opening new servers
Setting up dedicated language-specific servers (to have language specific/global parallel worlds)
World transfer service (Limited window to move to a new server)

However, here is what the development team has managed to implement and adjust based on your feedback:

The introduction of new recipes
The Dzemael Darkhold and other new content
The introduction of personal and rental chocobos
UI Overhaul
The rebuilding of the battle system
The introduction of the Grand Company system
Quest continuation implementation
Adjusting and enhancing the beginning of the game
Continuous server adjustments

Which also define what "version 2.0" will be and will be incorporated as they are when the game relaunches.
(Working from the feedback you have given us, we’ll be switching to the brand new server and UI in the final stage).

However, after version 2.0 launches, some content will be removed or changed for quests related to "The Seventh Umbral Era" as well as new Primal content. Expect this new content to introduce items and achievements that otherwise can’t be obtained in version 2.0 (or after).

Furthermore, we’ll be implementing the following in patch 1.20 and beyond:

Improving markets
⇒Purchase directly from the item search feature
⇒Transaction history of the 20 most recent items (to gauge the current market rate)
⇒Custom searches for specific item details


Implementation of a Player Search function
⇒Search for class, job, level, language, PT request, etc.

• Overhaul of class actions
• Primal Dark Moogle battle
• Implementation of achievement system
• Implementation of job system
• Addition of various instanced raids
• Primal Garuda battle
• Empire battle content
• Continuing to tweak the UI
• Crafting and gathering system adjustments
• New recipes and materials

We have many other tasks planned but please remember that everything here, every feature will become part of making version 2.0 what it is.

This essentially means that FFXIV in its current state and future versions will continue to evolve, and the Eorzea we have now and the Eorzea in version 2.0 will continue to grow and expand.

Between now and until version 2.0 arrives will be the only period when The Seventh Umbral Era-related stories and battle content will be available to play. I hope you enjoy experiencing firsthand the drastic changes to the world of Eorzea.

Character Data Transfer
When we port a player’s character data over, you can rest assured that NOTHING WILL BE WIPED, which means you can continue playing as normal, just as we promised.

Experience points, levels, gil, items in your inventory, completed quests - these will all be dealt with by the development team and will be converted automatically to the version 2.0 data plan.
You don’t have to worry about anything - all you have to do is continue playing as normal.
(However, when data is being transferred, there is a possibility that quests that are in-progress may be reset back to the acceptance stage. This will not happen for already completed quests, only for ones that are not yet finished).

As long as you have an FFXIV account and have created a character, your character will be transferred.

When the batches of data are converted, there is a possibility that the dev. team will utilize specialized NPCs to look after your items, in which case you will be able to retrieve them after the move. Note this will only apply to those users that have an extensive collection of items. As we won’t be deleting anything, we will be sure to make further announcements as we get closer to the transfer period.
(If we don’t convert them then we won’t be able to carry out the input inscriptions)

We are working on producing many systems that utilize gil (i.e. housing, systems to change gear color, salons, etc. Gil will be also be ported over as is.)

Our new world will also start with the economy slate wiped clean.

The start of FFXIV Billing
I answered a question from our recent Letter from the Producer LIVE session from the community saying that for current generation MMOs and the FINAL FANTASY name, we’re at about 50% of being where we want to be. This was a direct response to how I felt at the time before the release of patch 1.19. I realize that patch 1.20 and onwards have yet to be implemented but how I feel now won’t change…

As I said when I answered this question during the live show, if the game is in a state where there isn’t a player search or market search feature available, say, in comparison to other MMORPGS, then this is a huge problem (there is no point being able to search just for the sake of it).

At the same time, I also said there are FINAL FANTASY-like things that can only be experienced in FINAL FANTASY XIV – being absorbed in the world, characters, stories, content, sound, and the exchanges between the players and the development team on the forums. I feel that the game starts to feel like a FINAL FANTASY in 1.19 and in the future this will continue to become even more apparent.

On this basis, we would like billing to start after patch 1.20 has been released, around the beginning of December.

One of the big talking points in 1.20 is the implementation of “Player Character Search” and “Market Search” functions. For markets in particular, it will be a tough challenge to implement the auction house system as this will be done before the server revamp is completed. (I plan to change the appearance of the market again in version 2.0) In regards to having a minimum expectation for an MMORPG, I think there is a significant difference between having these two functions or not.

So without changing our plans we will continue to forge ahead and implement the Primal battles, instanced raids, job systems, Imperial battle content and other large scale content from version 2.0 onward. Furthermore, we are offering a play experience unlike any other MMORPG by providing content that is only available to enjoy now.

For all of our players who play our game and who have purchased FFXIV, bringing the best possible service to everyone involves numerous expenses no matter what (whether it’s ongoing server maintenance, 24-hour GM support, etc.) and that’s even if we were to leave out our development costs!

Therefore, please don’t limit yourself to the latest 1.20 version; try out 1.21 and 1.22, and by all means make up your own mind about the billing based on whether you like the game by then.

The dev. team and I have developed FFXIV from the minimum building blocks and we have set our goal to keep on raising the game to new heights to become the number one MMORPG.

So that is the direction version 2.0 is steering towards. In order to realize 2.0, we have a number of fundamental elements to redesign and rebuild.

Why make the billing announcement now?
This is an issue that we spent a lot of time discussing. If we had made the announcement any later, the announcement would have been made close to the release of patch 1.20. We wanted to give customers enough time in between the announcement and the start of billing, and by making the announcement now we were able to provide an additional 2-month free to play period.

As you all know, you will not be able to play FFXIV if you don’t agree to the automatic renewal for billing, even during the free to play period. There is a possibility that players who have stopped playing will not be aware of the billing announcement. As such, there may be players worried that they will be billed without their consent, even though they no longer play the game.

With that in mind, as we stated in our announcement, we decided to stop automatic renewals before we begin billing, and players will have to agree to the terms of automatic renewal again in order to begin billing. However, this does not mean that we thought it would be OK to not make an effort to publicize our announcement because we are stopping automatic renewals.

We knew we would make a big impact with the announcement of the game’s rebirth, so we thought it was a good time to announce the beginning of billing as well. We wanted the players to be able to experience patches 1.19 and 1.20 while the game was still free to play.

We will continue to do everything we can to keep the content interesting.

Improving Service and Game Quality

• Content Finder
• Language Servers (language servers and global servers)
• Housing
• PvP/Large Scale PvP
• Free Company
• Primal Summoning
• Crystal Tower

Including the above, there are many things we would like to add to the game. This includes things that are a part of other MMOs and other unique ideas.

The MMORPG is a genre that will continue to evolve without limits. Once an idea is implemented, it will lead to additional demands and avenues to explore. This is what makes developing an MMORPG so interesting.

In order for players to continue to enjoy playing, we will continue operations and development with our best efforts. I believe it is my responsibility to elevate the game to a higher level for the players to enjoy.

I’m sorry that I have rambled on for so long…

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Originally Posted by Bayohne

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Setting up dedicated language-specific servers (to have language specific/global parallel worlds)

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Sorry Bayohne.. thanks for the official version, but could you please clarify this part?

Being segregated away with people speaking only my native language feels.. uncomfortable. Is that really how it will be?

Or does that in fact mean that servers will be opened both for those who want only to play with people who speak their own language, and there will be servers for those of us would much rather be exposed to people who from all over the world, as it is now?

Thank you for all this information

So my question if i read this correctly is that the new job system will be introduced in the next patch 1.20? or was part of this referring to 1.21 and 1.22?

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Or does that in fact mean that servers will be opened both for those who want only to play with people who speak their own language, and there will be servers for those of us would much rather be exposed to people who from all over the world, as it is now?

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I think we'll have both. In any case i don't like the language-specific servers idea.. :/

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Originally Posted by Fensfield

Or does that in fact mean that servers will be opened both for those who want only to play with people who speak their own language, and there will be servers for those of us would much rather be exposed to people who from all over the world, as it is now?

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This. I can say this with 100% confidence.

Is it just me or does this suggest that the following:-

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So without changing our plans we will continue to forge ahead and implement the Primal battles, instanced raids, job systems, Imperial battle content and other large scale content from version 2.0 onward.

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Won't be added to the game til after 2.0, if thats the case what are we supposed to play in the next year ?

Bayohne can I make a suggestion that you make a sticky thread at the top of the general discussion to put translated post from Yoshi-p in specifically, that way it would be easy to view them all in one place.

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Furthermore, we’ll be implementing the following in patch 1.20:

Improving markets
⇒Purchase directly from the item search feature
⇒Transaction history of the 20 most recent items (to gauge the current market rate)
⇒Custom searches for specific item details


Implementation of a Player Search function
⇒Search for class, job, level, language, PT request, etc.

• Overhaul of class actions
• Primal Dark Moogle battle
• Implementation of achievement system
• Implementation of job system ***
  
• Addition of various instanced raids
• Primal Garuda battle
• Empire battle content
• Continuing to tweak the UI
• Crafting and gathering system adjustments
• New recipes and materials

We have many other tasks planned but please remember that everything here, every feature will become part of making version 2.0 what it is.

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Has the Job System been moved up to v1.20 ?

Or is that a list of upcoming features that will be implemented by v2.0 (1.21, 1.22, etc.)?

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Originally Posted by Jinko

Is it just me or does this suggest that the following:-


Won't be added to the game til after 2.0, if thats the case what are we supposed to play in the next year ?

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looking at the road map it very honestly doesnt look like the game is getting very much over the next year. i guess were getting jobs and magic reworking as well as couple battles, but a year is a long time and im not sure thats interesting enough.

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Originally Posted by Davorok

Has the Job System been moved up to v1.20 ?

Or is that a list of upcoming features that will be implemented by v2.0 (1.21, 1.22, etc.)?

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Answered this in the other thread for you, but just in case you missed it:

The original Japanese text reads as "これからパッチ1.20以降で行う", which I would translate as "Patches 1.20 and beyond", so I think that's an outline of plans for things they will implement in both 1.20 AND patches beyond that.

So no, I don't think the Job System has been moved up to patch 1.20. It is stated in the interview Yoshi-P gave in this thread (click for link), which, translated, says:

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Originally Posted by Yoshi-P

In addition to further revisions to actions, we will implement the Job system in patch 1.21.

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Also, to answer this question here:

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Originally Posted by Jinko

Is it just me or does this suggest that the following:-

"So without changing our plans we will continue to forge ahead and implement the Primal battles, instanced raids, job systems, Imperial battle content and other large scale content from version 2.0 onward. "

Won't be added to the game til after 2.0, if thats the case what are we supposed to play in the next year ?

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Reading over Bayohne's official translation and comparing it with Yoshi-P's original post, I believe that's a typo. I think he meant to say "from version (patch) 1.20 onward". Misplaced a period and forgot to type a 1. =P

PLEASE DO NOT MAKE SEGREGATED SERVERS. I didn't need it for ffxi, i don't nee it here. Being able to play with people all over the world is an awsome feature, that really makes for a cool 24/7 in-game economy.

why have auto-transate function? I know the segregated server is an option, but ff is better with a multi-cultural experience.

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Originally Posted by Atomisk

PLEASE DO NOT MAKE SEGREGATED SERVERS. I didn't need it for ffxi, i don't nee it here. Being able to play with people all over the world is an awsome feature, that really makes for a cool 24/7 in-game economy.

why have auto-transate function? I know the segregated server is an option, but ff is better with a multi-cultural experience.

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You can still play with people all over the world. On the global servers where people who volunteer to do so play. The people who would migrate to language specific servers don't play with you now, I assure you. Don't make a mountain out of a mole hill.

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Originally Posted by Wynn

You can still play with people all over the world. On the global servers where people who volunteer to do so play. The people who would migrate to language specific servers don't play with you now, I assure you. Don't make a mountain out of a mole hill.

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This.

The people who want to be on a specific regional server aren't doing anything with you now anyways. You'll not even notice them missing.

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Originally Posted by Alerith

This.

The people who want to be on a specific regional server aren't doing anything with you now anyways. You'll not even notice them missing.

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Except.. you know, being there.

The beauty of this genre is the fact that everyone, everyone is a part of your experience.. even if the only role they play in your experience is to make your backdrop all the more alive. Given the majority will, likely, choose not to be on the global servers, I think that benefit will be impacted - unless, perhaps, there are proportionally less global ones I suppose.

Sure, having the choice to only play with people can understand you might outweigh that benefit.. but all the same, I think I'd notice they were missing, for my part and were I to go to a segregated server, especially if I opted to play during off-peak hours.

... Now, if they were to link day-night cycles to the server's language's native region's, that might result in the world getting quieter during its night. Which.. might actually be kind of cool. Of course as much as I favour a 23 hour day/night cycle (so the time in game is always different but the sun doesn't rocket through the sky like it does now), that's probably really, really unlikely.

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Originally Posted by Atomisk

PLEASE DO NOT MAKE SEGREGATED SERVERS. I didn't need it for ffxi, i don't nee it here. Being able to play with people all over the world is an awsome feature, that really makes for a cool 24/7 in-game economy.

why have auto-transate function? I know the segregated server is an option, but ff is better with a multi-cultural experience.

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They said there would be all types of servers. Global, regional, and language-specific. Most likely you would choose which language/region you prefer and you would go along with that. That said you would still have the option of joining the global server.

It's dramatically harder for some groups of players to get together, because there is such a small number of them and they are spread out between all the servers. Why is it so bad to allow the option for players to group up in this manner?

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Originally Posted by Fensfield

Except.. you know, being there.

The beauty of this genre is the fact that everyone, everyone is a part of your experience.. even if the only role they play in your experience is to make your backdrop all the more alive. Given the majority will, likely, choose not to be on the global servers, I think that benefit will be impacted - unless, perhaps, there are proportionally less global ones I suppose.

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I guess they should only have one server. You know, so that way everyone is there and you aren't missing out on their presence.

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Originally Posted by Wynn

I guess they should only have one server. You know, so that way everyone is there and you aren't missing out on their presence.

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Sarcasm aside, that would be pretty nice. Assuming the lag wouldn't be so thick you could taste it and the game would run just as smooth, I'd be all for this.

That being said, it's not gonna happen for many years to come, and probably not in this game.

My main concern is Economy. If all of japan goes to japanese server, who will make all my endgame items? :P Will the game cater to people who work 3rd shift? Majorly the population differences during certain times of the day/night when i need someone to repair my gear? Finding parties at off hours? I play with a Portuguese ls and an English ls. I don't speak Portuguese one bit, but we could still manage to do darkhold together. Having a world where people from all over log on enhances the chance of finding people to do content with, whenever you log on. I also have a feeling if they offer segregated worlds, the global worlds will become empty. and some of the races that do play don't have a strong enough following for their own world to be sustainable successfully (i.e i don't see alot of french or german players.) You are going to spread your player base thin, and will become even harder to find people to do content with. Hence will i be forced to go to a regional server even though i don't want to, just to find a player base?

can please have an age based server? i don't want to play with immature teens or kids. 25+ verified only?

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Originally Posted by Wynn

I guess they should only have one server. You know, so that way everyone is there and you aren't missing out on their presence.

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... Yes?

Ideally speaking, they should. Sharding isn't a feature; it's a consequence of the limitations of modern server technology. Being able to dedicate blade servers to individual star systems and subsequently have everyone on the same 'world' is one of the things makes EVE Online so special (and something CCP tout regularly and enthusiastically, and consider one of the game's a big selling points).

I'd consider a working, single-shard fantasy MMO on Final Fantasy XIV's intended scale an amazing, wonderful feat in and of itself and a draw in its own right - although for everyone's sanity it would require realistically sized cities and spaces between them, probably. Then again by the time server tech's on a level could make a standard-form fantasy MMORPG work with a shard-less setup, that probably won't be terribly difficult.

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Originally Posted by Alerith

Sarcasm aside, that would be pretty nice. Assuming the lag wouldn't be so thick you could taste it and the game would run just as smooth, I'd be all for this.

That being said, it's not gonna happen for many years to come, and probably not in this game.

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Exactly, thank you.

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Originally Posted by Davorok

Has the Job System been moved up to v1.20 ?

Or is that a list of upcoming features that will be implemented by v2.0 (1.21, 1.22, etc.)?

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Sorry about that, there indeed was a typo that has since been corrected. "1.20 and beyond" has been corrected. Sorry, everyone!

Personally a bit sad about allowing people to segregate themselves to specific servers. Japanese population on Global servers will be sparse at best I bet.

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Originally Posted by Bayohne

Sorry about that, there indeed was a typo that has since been corrected. "1.20 and beyond" has been corrected. Sorry, everyone!

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Booooo! I mean thanks for the clarification Bayohne. ;>)

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Originally Posted by Atomisk

can please have an age based server? i don't want to play with immature teens or kids. 25+ verified only?

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No. Because there are very mature 15 year olds and extremely immature 30 year olds.

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Originally Posted by Bayohne

Sorry about that, there indeed was a typo that has since been corrected. "1.20 and beyond" has been corrected. Sorry, everyone!

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Thank you very much Bayohne for the translations and for the hard work.

Is there any way for SE to start distribuiting the information they provide to JP magazines to the rest of the community?.

I was being sarcastic about world segregation option Alerith. Sorry.

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Personally a bit sad about allowing people to segregate themselves to specific servers. Japanese population on Global servers will be sparse at best I bet.

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Another Yoshida post addressed a question about being unable to move to language-specific servers as they might be locked for existing players.

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Originally Posted by Naoki_Yoshida

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Does this mean that the current servers will become global servers? I’m assuming that the language servers will be considered new worlds, so players in the current server will have to wait a while to join the language servers. I believe that players will want to join the language servers with their friends as soon as they are implemented, so could you please keep that in mind.

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Yes, we have already considered this scenario. We will not be treating the language servers as new worlds, so there is no need to worry.

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Please no language specific servers.

I also don't understand what he's trying to say in the quote above. Not treating the language servers as new worlds? I'm confused. They shouldn't exist in the first place, but what exactly does this mean?

also how about xbox? no support for that?

Xbox support was never planned and hopefully never will be. One console is problematic enough.

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Originally Posted by neorei

also how about xbox? no support for that?

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Originally Posted by Alhanelem

Xbox support was never planned and hopefully never will be. One console is problematic enough.

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Actually, it was.

Microsoft wouldn't play cross-platform ball, as ever. XBox live has very restrictive policies with regard to patching and subscriptions, especially cross platform, largely with regard to the XBox version's patches having to go through Microsoft QA, their getting a cut of the subs as well as their Live subscription fees, and insistence the other versions get nothing the XBL version doesn't. Square-Enix simply couldn't persuade them to allow them to cross-platform, and weren't willing to maintain separate servers for an XBL version.

Exactly the same story as with CCP's Dust 514, and the same reasons as why the 360 version of Phantasy Star Universe didn't share servers with the PC/PS2 version. Microsoft generally only ever make exceptions to that policy when they want a developer in their pocket, or want to break another company's monopoly on a profitable franchise - IE: Squaresoft at the time of Final Fantasy XI.

Technically, Square-Enix' stance has never changed from the 'Development of the XBox 360 version of Final Fantasy XIV is paused, as we are having difficulty securing an agreement with Microsoft with which we feel comfortable' comment they gave shortly after the game was announced.

Here, old news piece:
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/cl...-blocked-ffxiv

I dislike the official translation even more.

All it says to me is "We've decided to throw out 90% of what is to be an FF game and instead opted to copy WoW. Oh, and by the way you're paying for all of these things before they're implemented. What? The flop that was FFXIV a year ago? Don't worry about it! You can trust us. This will be awesome!!"

....
lamesauce SE...

did you know is a direct scam of EQ? or most MMO players forgot about that?

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Originally Posted by Bayohne

Another Yoshida post addressed a question about being unable to move to language-specific servers as they might be locked for existing players.

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Originally Posted by Naoki_Yoshida

Yes, we have already considered this scenario. We will not be treating the language servers as new worlds, so there is no need to worry.

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.. Please clarify again? ^^;

What does this mean? They're going to make the current servers the language specific ones and players will be forced to either play on servers different from their own language or move to one of the others? Surely that's a bit..

I'm really having a hard time understanding what Naoki Yoshida is saying there. I there really no way to make it any clearer?

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Originally Posted by Anapingofness

I dislike the official translation even more.

All it says to me is "We've decided to throw out 90% of what is to be an FF game and instead opted to copy WoW. Oh, and by the way you're paying for all of these things before they're implemented. What? The flop that was FFXIV a year ago? Don't worry about it! You can trust us. This will be awesome!!"

....
lamesauce SE...

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztVMib1T4T4