This is still a better launch than WoW ever dreamed of.

[Kyonika]

Do you have the Steam version? There is a CD Key, it's the second one (for pre order bonus). You plug that in on Mog Station.

If you've tried all that already, I apologize.

Thanks... PS3 for me, so it is all automatic. I'm not a high-level raider, and don't have everything cleared to 2.55, so that's why...

Even though both the Play Store and official Heavensward site make no (or very vague) mention of main quest restrictions, I bought it believing I could at least get into Ishgard town area, and take in the sights, and get the new jobs.

Nope. I was wrong.

After exhaustive forum searching, and input from other players (only after I pre-ordered ofc) was I finally made aware that the devs changed their minds, and completely closed off Ishgard behind completion of all high-level main quest content to 2.55.

If I knew this beforehand (if SE said on their official page that Heavensward was only for end-game achievers who've completed 2.55 all the way through), I would've never bought (much less pre-ordered) this expansion.

[djruden]

Better launch than WoW? Maybe you weren't around in 2010 when the game actually launched ...

[Sikkun]

Are we really having a discussion about 3 day early access being better than an expansion release day. (That had over 10 million players).

Though if you want to compare:
WoD launch: 3am lag fest, crash meh I'll go to bed. 8am 0 problems for me after that first night.

Heavensward:
Friday night: can't create new character.
Saturday night: can't create new character.
Sunday morning: can't crest new character, (refresh for 3 hours). New character created.

I'd probably wait until Tue if you really want to brag.

[Miitan]

Are we really having a discussion about 3 day early access being better than an expansion release day. (That had over 10 million players).

Though if you want to compare:
WoD launch: 3am lag fest, crash meh I'll go to bed. 8am 0 problems for me after that first night.

Heavensward:
Friday night: can't create new character.
Saturday night: can't create new character.
Sunday morning: can't crest new character, (refresh for 3 hours). New character created.

I'd probably wait until Tue if you really want to brag.

Why do you need to create a new character? Don't you already have one?

[Kietsu]

The WoD launch was abysmal. This is impossible to argue.
It was, however, a fascinating insight into what playing an MMO at 900,000 ping feels like.

[Sikkun]

Why do you need to create a new character? Don't you already have one?

Heavensward had a new race, so I wanted a new character.

[Saerydoth]

The WoD launch was abysmal. This is impossible to argue.
It was, however, a fascinating insight into what playing an MMO at 900,000 ping feels like.

Me, everyone in my guild, and everyone in a EU friend's guild all got stuck in their garrison, floating in the air. Then the servers crashed, and the game was not playable at all (as in, could not log in at all), for almost 3 days. And I was on a medium/low pop server, not a full one. From what I heard, the full ones had enough lag to make them unplayable for almost 5 days. Blizzard also doesn't do early access so it opened to everyone at once. Prior to the crash, everyone was forced into one location at the dark portal (so lots more lag). Of course, WOW has no problems now because they've lost over half their playerbase since the expansion, people are quitting in droves and they are down under 5 million subs, and even the formerly full servers are reporting issues finding guilds and raids.

At least in this game I can get in after retrying a few times, and once I'm in everything is fine (since I'm not on a full server here).

[DragonFlyy]

This is still a better launch than WoW ever dreamed of.

Depends. WoW 1.0, yes this is better, though WoW 1.0 was better than FFXIV 2.0. As for the expansions after WoW 1.0, most were smoother launch then FFXIV 3.0. Honestly though, FFXIV 3.0 isn't that bad. Just takes a few tries to get to the character select screen, then about 30 minutes in queue to play. After that it's been pretty smooth, and I'm on Balmung.

[Socomlord]

You didn't look very well. The devs have said for over 3 months the requirements to enter ishgard. As have many topics on these forums the requirements to enter. Sorry about your experience, finish the story. New area's are awesome.

[Whiteroom]

Thanks... PS3 for me, so it is all automatic.

After exhaustive forum searching, and input from other players (only after I pre-ordered ofc) was I finally made aware that the devs changed their minds, and completely closed off Ishgard behind completion of all high-level main quest content to 2.55.

If I knew this beforehand (if SE said on their official page that Heavensward was only for end-game achievers who've completed 2.55 all the way through), I would've never bought (much less pre-ordered) this expansion.

Access restrictions to Ishgard info was everywhere for months.

It was a pretty hot topic among people with crafting bots and those who created alts to bypass things like desynth restrictions. There has been at least one thread on the first page of New Posts cosistantly for the last month. Even if it was only one troll bumping it.