64-Bit and DirectX 11

[Laraul]

I suppose there are advantages to 64bit versus 32bit... and it would be nice to have a 64bit version, I can't say I've noticed a substantial difference in regards to other 3D apps that have both 32bit and 64bit binaries. Most notably the 3DMark benchmark application, which consists of both. There isn't all that much a substantial difference for me. Never the less I do would probably use a 64bit version of this game if both existed.

As for a DX11, it's difficult for me to speculate at all on this. I've noticed that I've seen a lot of requests for improvements that make use of higher end hardware. The issue I see is how much would be necessary and at what cost? I could see a higher end client with modest visual improvements running considerably slower. I could also see it running about the same (or maybe better) but this is usually not the case when a DX11 version versus a DX9 version both exist. But since it's impossible for me to say so in regards to this game, I can't say how an update to the DX version would impact performance and/or visuals. I do fear what people are asking for is a bit too much though.

There is a fine line at which point performance moves from acceptable to "awful" at which point such a client is regarded largely in disdain. Should such a client cross this line, it will go ignored and unused, with the only request to "fix" it so it can be run on maximum settings and still deliver acceptable performance. I can use the original version (aka 1.0) of this game as evidence of said behavior. Through out it's lifetime, there we're questions about why it originally possible to run it on maximum settings, and towards the end of it's life why running it on maximum settings performed so badly compared to other games.

[Edli]

I can't say I've noticed a substantial difference in regards to other 3D apps that have both 32bit and 64bit binaries.

It all comes down to amount of RAM an application can use. When I use photoshop for work sometimes it will eat up 4 to 5 GB of RAM because I work with huge files and multiple layers. The 32 bit version allows only 3.3 GB of RAM or something like that. The 64 bit version has no such limitation and for that reason the 32bit one is completely useless for me.

FFXIV in its current form wouldn't gain much from it because the game is designed around the lowest common denominator which is 512 MB RAM of PS3. Even a city is separated in two parts with loading screens so the game doesn't throw a lot of resources on RAM in big chunks.