New interview from Famitsu Connect-On Magazine Aug.2011

[Shura]

No, my original translation is not word-to-word, and you clarified one thing:
The weapons and armors coming from crafting, with FULLY FUSED MATERIA, will perform better than those looted from NM.

But it doesn't say what if equipment looted from NM are fully fused (as rep commented before, some equipment cannot be fused).

BTW, allow me to point out one more thing: it is known to be hard to get a fully fused equipment because the ability to fuse 2nd materia is described as "very risky" by reps.

So, as a result, the crafted equipment, fully fused with materia, will somewhat as rare as similar one looted from NM.
It sounds reasonable from the view of balancer, to keep both fighters and crafters busy.

Indeed, having the options between the two is great, in FFXI none of the crafted gear came close to HNM gear till later expansions. And you bring up a good point, the way you fuse Materia between NM and Crafted gear might be different in order to balance the system. I should start leveling some gathering and crafting classes^^ If the chance of success is very very high, then i think Materia might be used as a money sink since right now there is nothing to use gil for.

[Vackashken]

Thank you for your hard work translating it.

[Kilta_Firelotus]

Sweets. Ps3 release date can i have it? just hope with ps3 launch ffxiv will get more social.

[viion]

This is the first time I am actually excited, a lot of stuff I was not expecting, especially not in 1.19, Airships, maybe mounts and ifrit battle? I honestly predicted they'd be pushed until 1.20 @ September.

I have a little more confidence restored.

Thank you OP for translation!

[iniside]

I'm sad there is no necromancer ;(

[AdvancedWind]

Quickly, someone make a character named Spoony Bard!

[ViceVersa]

Flayer > Bard, yes please! xD Also thanks to those who posted/translated the info.

[Nick1982]

Excellent Read, Thank You

[DurtiMonkeyToe]

This is the first time I am actually excited, a lot of stuff I was not expecting, especially not in 1.19, Airships, maybe mounts and ifrit battle? I honestly predicted they'd be pushed until 1.20 @ September.

I have a little more confidence restored.

Thank you OP for translation!

O.O You know it's going to be a crazy week when you jump on the forums and even Viion is in a positive mood!

[Zeno]

AGA Spells! I sure do miss them....