Alpha First Look: Video 4 - The Black Shroud II

Is that an Ochu at 1:22 ;o?

Edit: I'm loving the new art style, and the mix of different types of terrain. (Marsh, Forest, some Tall Grass)

There isn't really much I can add to what other posters have said, but I'm here anyway, just to show support for what I see, because I love it! Particularly the music; what a fantastic organic score we seem to have this time around! The variation and attention to detail in the map is brilliant also. Keep up the wonderful work, guys! /happy

So when will we start seeing the clock/daytime/night time start going into motion?

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Originally Posted by Venat

So when will we start seeing the clock/daytime/night time start going into motion?

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From Beta per YoshiP
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...036#post909036

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Originally Posted by Mudd

Is that an Ochu at 1:22 ;o?

Edit: I'm loving the new art style, and the mix of different types of terrain. (Marsh, Forest, some Tall Grass)

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Its from FFXI WoTG. They are like Ochu's but there smaller but there called Rafflesia. Heres FFXI image.

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__...Kirtimukha.JPG

Looks great! I'm REALLY enjoying the new music.

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Originally Posted by Jamison

Not an attack on you, just a jumping-off point for my post.

Alpha is *not* for pointing out problems, it's for testing the server structure and limitations. It's for putting load on the entire system looking for points of failure. These alpha client/servers branched off from the main code some 2-3 months ago and are not reflective of where the team is today -- let alone when beta starts.

That being said, the MMO world is unlikely to ever see another alpha that looks as polished as ARR does.

Beta will be the time to offer constructive feedback on all aspects of gameplay and design.

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Not sure if we need to split hairs this much. I appreciate what you are trying to say here, but my general point is that the earlier problems are addressed the cheaper and easier it is to fix them. This is a basic tenant of software engineering.

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Originally Posted by Nox

There may not be such a constraint, but it makes no sense for them to include music in this video that isn't from the zone's they are showcasing.

I would appreciate it if the devs would clarify this for us. Is the music playing on these videos the actual zone music of the zone showed?

as per you not being impressed by the music, that is purely personal taste and completely subjective. I personally find it fits the zone very well, and all the tidbits I have heard so far are composed very well.

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I offered my opinion on the music as a way to help explain why I'm probably a bit biased in my premise that the music might not be music for the shroud.

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Originally Posted by Tupster

I offered my opinion on the music as a way to help explain why I'm probably a bit biased in my premise that the music might not be music for the shroud.

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I hope it is. The music just flows and feels more natural than what we have now, in my opinion.

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Originally Posted by Bowen

I hope it is. The music just flows and feels more natural than what we have now, in my opinion.

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Oh yes, it is far better than the shrouds original music. I'm just not feeling the same feels everybody else seems to have though.

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Originally Posted by Thebard

My only issue is with the map, the writing is in Eorzean, thats good but I'd like to be able to have it in English as well. It can't be hard to make that stuff toggleable surely.

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The localized area names appear on the map next to the Eorzean text -- so don't worry. English text appears right next to the Eorzean!

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Originally Posted by Mudd

Is that an Ochu at 1:22 ;o?

Edit: I'm loving the new art style, and the mix of different types of terrain. (Marsh, Forest, some Tall Grass)

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Yes it is an Ochu. A certain someone told me that that is how their name is displayed in game.

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Originally Posted by Venat

So when will we start seeing the clock/daytime/night time start going into motion?

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As mentioned recently by Yoshida, the Alpha Test has the time locked at 11:00am. Time changes and such will be implemented in the Beta!

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Originally Posted by Tupster

I don't think the music is the music for the shroud, it is just music they are playing over the video.

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Actually, in general, this is the music you'll hear in these areas. However, since it is cut together as a trailer and to flow easily, some of it has been moved around a bit. But yep, what you hear is pretty close to how these areas will be! Soken and his team have worked hard to make sure the ambient sounds used also fit the areas they're in too! We hope you enjoy all of the sounds mixed together! :)

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Originally Posted by Bayohne

Actually, in general, this is the music you'll hear in these areas. However, since it is cut together as a trailer and to flow easily, some of it has been moved around a bit. But yep, what you hear is pretty close to how these areas will be! Soken and his team have worked hard to make sure the ambient sounds used also fit the areas they're in too! We hope you enjoy all of the sounds mixed together! :)

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That's cool. People seem so thrilled with the music I was worried they might be disappointed if it turned out differently. I have a question. Will we will be hearing all of Uematsu's music from version 1 or will some of it be missing from the version 2? Although I won't really miss the music from the shroud there are many pieces I actually would miss.

damned...now I must consider to buy a decent headphone....

wow another video :D thats always a plus :D for us :D thank you again for this great video

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Originally Posted by Bayohne

Actually, in general, this is the music you'll hear in these areas. However, since it is cut together as a trailer and to flow easily, some of it has been moved around a bit. But yep, what you hear is pretty close to how these areas will be! Soken and his team have worked hard to make sure the ambient sounds used also fit the areas they're in too! We hope you enjoy all of the sounds mixed together! :)

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Just as I thought, thank you very much for clarifying that.

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Originally Posted by Tupster

That's cool. People seem so thrilled with the music I was worried they might be disappointed if it turned out differently. I have a question. Will we will be hearing all of Uematsu's music from version 1 or will some of it be missing from the version 2? Although I won't really miss the music from the shroud there are many pieces I actually would miss.

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Soken already confirmed that they've cut some of the 1.0 music, but he never said exactly how much is gone. Based on these alpha videos, I'm guessing there's not going to be much of the old music left.

I love how when you look far into the forest it actually looks like a forest and how buildings are actually built into the forest instead of it looking like the forest was built around it. I love it!

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Originally Posted by Bayohne

Actually, in general, this is the music you'll hear in these areas. However, since it is cut together as a trailer and to flow easily, some of it has been moved around a bit. But yep, what you hear is pretty close to how these areas will be! Soken and his team have worked hard to make sure the ambient sounds used also fit the areas they're in too! We hope you enjoy all of the sounds mixed together! :)

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Bayohne, I feel that it has a "classical" music touch to it. I mean, it is orchestrated, right? In any case, it makes me feel like it's more immersive and I could get lost in the game. It's just like what Nintendo did with Zelda: Skyward Sword, by making the music more orchestrated, it gave it a more epic feel and immersion to the game :) I'd say Soken did a VERY outstanding job at this, and I really wish he could keep going with that route! :D

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Originally Posted by Aion

damned...now I must consider to buy a decent headphone....

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When I played Version 1, I got the new EarPhones from Apple (they can be bought for $30 here in the US and they come with the new iDevices). They are so awesome. When I played the game at the final event with those headphones plugged into my laptop, the "Answers" song echoing with the destruction of the skies sounded sweet. It felt so creepy. The headphones have incredible bass qualities in which you can hear it, even though I did not put the volume up high. I'd recommend those. They sound just as good as the Bose headphones but cheaper.

O_O; this is 100 times better then other vid's they showed.. OMG CANT WAIT i dont wanna play anything else lol, ARR needs to come out sooner!@!!

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Originally Posted by Naraku_Diabolos

Bayohne, I feel that it has a "classical" music touch to it. I mean, it is orchestrated, right? In any case, it makes me feel like it's more immersive and I could get lost in the game. It's just like what Nintendo did with Zelda: Skyward Sword, by making the music more orchestrated, it gave it a more epic feel and immersion to the game :) I'd say Soken did a VERY outstanding job at this, and I really wish he could keep going with that route! :D



When I played Version 1, I got the new EarPhones from Apple (they can be bought for $30 here in the US and they come with the new iDevices). They are so awesome. When I played the game at the final event with those headphones plugged into my laptop, the "Answers" song echoing with the destruction of the skies sounded sweet. It felt so creepy. The headphones have incredible bass qualities in which you can hear it, even though I did not put the volume up high. I'd recommend those. They sound just as good as the Bose headphones but cheaper.

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thanks for the recommendation! I will look on to it

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Originally Posted by Bayohne

Actually, in general, this is the music you'll hear in these areas. However, since it is cut together as a trailer and to flow easily, some of it has been moved around a bit. But yep, what you hear is pretty close to how these areas will be! Soken and his team have worked hard to make sure the ambient sounds used also fit the areas they're in too! We hope you enjoy all of the sounds mixed together! :)

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Good thing! I like the music we have been hearing so far and the all the sounds of the world from the buzzing of insects to the chirping of birds in the trees really make the world come to life.

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Originally Posted by Bayohne

Actually, in general, this is the music you'll hear in these areas. However, since it is cut together as a trailer and to flow easily, some of it has been moved around a bit. But yep, what you hear is pretty close to how these areas will be! Soken and his team have worked hard to make sure the ambient sounds used also fit the areas they're in too! We hope you enjoy all of the sounds mixed together! :)

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I very much enjoyed what I've heard so far. Including the ambient sounds, its all great. Could you comment on the battle music? I'm curious if its changed.

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Originally Posted by IloveYouPumpkin

I very much enjoyed what I've heard so far. Including the ambient sounds, its all great. Could you comment on the battle music? I'm curious if its changed.

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I think they might have took out most of the battle themes by Uematsu, they wouldn't fit with the BGM right now.

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Originally Posted by Aion

thanks for the recommendation! I will look on to it

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Here's another one: roccat's kave headphones might be a bit bulky, but they're true 5.1! Coupled with a great sound, I really don't need anything else. 1.0 made full use of directional sound, so I can see them doing the same with 2.0. The immersion is worlds better than stereo, and you don't even have to rearrange your room to set it up properly <3

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Originally Posted by Vydos

Simply amazing. From the music to the scenery, I can feel the final fantasy feeling from it. Although not necessarily just "final fantasy" but the simple fantasy feeling I used to have when playing rpg's back in the days. And that made me want to explore their world. Now I know why I always stuck to final fantasy as an mmorpg.

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Yes. The Final Fantasy traditional feel is much more apparent in this clip. I missed that feel in FFXIV-1. I like the music.... kind of retro.... obviously not the music in ARR but I hope it is in there somewhere. :)

Very nice. BTW ... were those our tree houses? Or a hotel?

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Originally Posted by hrdndv

Yes. The Final Fantasy traditional feel is much more apparent in this clip. I missed that feel in FFXIV-1. I like the music.... kind of retro.... obviously not the music in ARR but I hope it is in there somewhere. :)

Very nice. BTW ... were those our tree houses? Or a hotel?

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I'm pretty sure they confirmed in this very thread that that is the music for some of the grid area

On this page alone a see the confirmation 3 times

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Originally Posted by Tupster

Not sure if we need to split hairs this much. I appreciate what you are trying to say here, but my general point is that the earlier problems are addressed the cheaper and easier it is to fix them. This is a basic tenant of software engineering.

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As a software engineer... hogwash. Every program is different. For example, testing servers does not use the program that will be implemented. Not the same program. So making it look like Beta is only a flourish.... it is still NOT Beta. You will get a chance to nitpick Beta when it is up and running. In the meantime... just cool your heels and wait.

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Originally Posted by Naraku_Diabolos

When I played Version 1, I got the new EarPhones from Apple (they can be bought for $30 here in the US and they come with the new iDevices). They are so awesome. When I played the game at the final event with those headphones plugged into my laptop, the "Answers" song echoing with the destruction of the skies sounded sweet. It felt so creepy. The headphones have incredible bass qualities in which you can hear it, even though I did not put the volume up high. I'd recommend those. They sound just as good as the Bose headphones but cheaper.

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I use, and like, Turtlebeach Earforce X41 digital surround sound headphones for those who do not like earphones. Unfortunately they are pretty expensive.

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Originally Posted by syntaxlies

I'm pretty sure they confirmed in this very thread that that is the music for some of the grid area

On this page alone a see the confirmation 3 times

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Oooo.... I didn't mean it wasn't music from ARR... just that the scenes changed and the music didn't.

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Originally Posted by hrdndv

I use, and like, Turtlebeach Earforce X41 digital surround sound headphones for those who do not like earphones. Unfortunately they are pretty expensive.

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Considering those only emulate surround (they only have two physical speakers), they're too expensive. We're getting off-topic though...

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Originally Posted by hrdndv

As a software engineer... hogwash. Every program is different. For example, testing servers does not use the program that will be implemented. Not the same program. So making it look like Beta is only a flourish.... it is still NOT Beta. You will get a chance to nitpick Beta when it is up and running. In the meantime... just cool your heels and wait.

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I'm a PhD candidate in computer science (if we are going to compare careers). You know very well if you are a software engineer that finding and fixing problems early in development saves money and time. If I was going to pick one thing from a software engineering class that a student should learn it is that.

They have said that alpha is actually running a months old branch of the code, but obviously anything about alpha that is the same in beta can be "nitpicked". YoshiP has already said they have incorporated feedback from alpha players (or elsewhere, the translation didn't say exactly). If he had his fingers in his ears and was only testing server load then he just needs to go over the server logs and observe lag in the game himself (so I don't think that is what he means by incorporating player feedback.) The only problem would be if what we are nitpicking has already changed, but I see no reason to assume any particular thing has already been fixed until we see it.

You seem to be saying that because they have disabled or missing features that we cannot comment on features that clearly present. Maybe you are implying that they completely made up a fake client that is unrelated to beta at all.

In short, I do not think YoshiP would be having conversations with players in alpha about the game and incorporating user feedback that he gets if he was only looking for alpha to test the server load. That is the official goal of alpha, but obviously not the only one.

Looking neat :) can't wait to explore the world!

I believe you are both right, and talking cross-purposes. There is no point in fixing things in the alpha. But there is a point to commenting on things in the alpha for modification in the primary branch (be that Beta or release version). Catching things early on is important (though I would argue that at this point in development of an MMO specifically, the structure is probably already so monstrously complex the gains are minimal).

Edit: Oh... This is my first post in this thread isn't it, well, in that case: absolutely spectacular job guys. Besides the animation thing, which has already been addressed, I am extremely happy. Keep up the great work.

These teasers a hella sweet i like the bubble chat and the scenery and the waterfall at the end thats bad@$$ . all i can say is im liking all the changes they are putting into this game i cant wait to play :)

http://i.imgur.com/NmzaI.png

Not sure if anyone pointed this out yet, but in the background while he's at Camp Tranquil you can see a whole lot of warped terrain jutting out - probably the result of Dalamud's crash. Is it the Crystal Tower maybe?

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Originally Posted by Celia

http://i.imgur.com/NmzaI.png

Not sure if anyone pointed this out yet, but in the background while he's at Camp Tranquil you can see a whole lot of warped terrain jutting out - probably the result of Dalamud's crash. Is it the Crystal Tower maybe?

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Hope not, iwas expecting it to be morecrystaly and towerery

@_@ I am sparkling with joy SE. My spirit of exploration ignites with the anticipation of traversing this brave new world.