All the big changes in 2013???!!!!!

[Teth]

Someone should make clear here that no one in this thread has been able to correctly read the development timeline yet.

It's pretty clear in those PDFs the planned development and release schedule. The 2013 date quoted by the OP is the release of the 2.0 game client for PS3 to buy in shops.

The October 2012 Distribution of 2.0 client is the point where we PC players will get our new client download. That appears to be to give us a couple of weeks to get what will no doubt be a sizeable install.

Then we have the "Merging of version 2.0 and current client software" "Version 2.0 Free Trial Period for PC" and "Playstation 3 System Beta". That runs from November 2012 to Jan 2013.

Before November I would expect a V2.0 Beta for PC with a limited number of people on a test server with the new client software. Once server and client code is considered stable they will have an extended maintenance to convert all current FFXIV accounts and characters to the new 2.0 system. We players will have to have our new 2.0 client installed during that to be able to log in again after the maintenance.

At that point we will probably have a week or 2 of stress testing with some fire fighting patches and once they are happy with the stability of 2.0 for the paying subscribers they will open up the second free trial period for anyone who ever bought FFXIV. I would expect some time before that they will remove current copies of FFXIV from store shelves.

Aroudn this time PS3 betas will be issued and they will either have a test server for those players to play together or maybe a test server eve / wow style where PC players can choose to play with the PS3 people. It would be really nice if we got access to the PS3 client if we own a PS3 to help.

In Feb 2013 the PS3 client will be released in the shops along with a big marketing push and probably a new PC special edition.

In the mean time we players of FFXIV have several large updates to look forward to as well as an evolving story line leading to an event marking the "reinvention" of the world. A "Cataclysm" if you like

[Starlord]

Someone should make clear here that no one in this thread has been able to correctly read the development timeline yet.

It's pretty clear in those PDFs the planned development and release schedule. The 2013 date quoted by the OP is the release of the 2.0 game client for PS3 to buy in shops.

The October 2012 Distribution of 2.0 client is the point where we PC players will get our new client download. That appears to be to give us a couple of weeks to get what will no doubt be a sizeable install.

Then we have the "Merging of version 2.0 and current client software" "Version 2.0 Free Trial Period for PC" and "Playstation 3 System Beta". That runs from November 2012 to Jan 2013.

Before November I would expect a V2.0 Beta for PC with a limited number of people on a test server with the new client software. Once server and client code is considered stable they will have an extended maintenance to convert all current FFXIV accounts and characters to the new 2.0 system. We players will have to have our new 2.0 client installed during that to be able to log in again after the maintenance.

At that point we will probably have a week or 2 of stress testing with some fire fighting patches and once they are happy with the stability of 2.0 for the paying subscribers they will open up the second free trial period for anyone who ever bought FFXIV. I would expect some time before that they will remove current copies of FFXIV from store shelves.

Aroudn this time PS3 betas will be issued and they will either have a test server for those players to play together or maybe a test server eve / wow style where PC players can choose to play with the PS3 people. It would be really nice if we got access to the PS3 client if we own a PS3 to help.

In Feb 2013 the PS3 client will be released in the shops along with a big marketing push and probably a new PC special edition.

In the mean time we players of FFXIV have several large updates to look forward to as well as an evolving story line leading to an event marking the "reinvention" of the world. A "Cataclysm" if you like

*Please note that all I'm about to say is my opinion on how I'm reading the timeline.

All of what you said is Correct:

-Yes were Most likely Beta Testing in like September ( around that time frame I suppose)
-Yes They Distribute the Client in October
-Yes Game goes live somewhere for PC at that point of time in October

All of that I know of and read the time line Correctly of. However, we ARE getting things before the release date of the new FFXIV and they are as Followed in the order:

- Between now and the Release date of FFXIV Version 2.0 We are getting the basic systems and structures before the Version 2.0 Release date. Yoshi-p stated that they are implemented some ( maybe half?) of those systems into Version 1.0, then When Version 2.0 Comes on by, they will take All the Systems they been implementing into Version 1.0, and put them into Version 2.0. So in Essence were seeing a lot of that go into Fruition before 2.0 Lands.

・February 2012 – Development test server reconstruction complete

-At this point in time They have Finished the Test Servers (Since they are making brand new servers, This basically means to me they are 75-80% complete on getting us ported on the new servers)

The new server system is already up and running on internal development equipment, and we are in the process of finalizing general
search features, the party system, the friend system, and more. At the current pace, we hope to have all basic system features
completed by February 2012

・April 2012 – Version 2.0 client system complete

- Commence porting of current game content to version 2.0 client

-At this point in time They have Finished the Version 2.0 Client and they are now ready, and will Commence Ports us over to the 2.0 Client. (Not software there's is a MAJOR difference in that, in other words and how I interpret this is we will be in the new Servers then.) Also, to note the the Graphics Engine of the Timeline Will be done This December of 2011, so I'm assuming the 2.0 Client will have those Graphics as well.

・September to October 2012 – Begin distribution of version 2.0 software for PC

-At this point, the Game is Fully ready and sometime within Sept-Oct the PC version of 2.0, which the beta for the PC version will probably start at this point in time ( This doesn't seem to be the Launch Month considering all were seeing is Radical Changes and how the Cataclysm is happening. Which leads me to believe that Cataclysm of the Old Eorzea will Commence at this point of time ( During the in-game Radical Changes, which is why were getting the Software then or else how else would we see the radical Changes? :P)


- In November~January ( November probably meaning just the PC, the Client of 2.0 and the current game itself will Merge together, thus the Cataclysm Now Officially complete and welcome to Version 2.0 Beta test for the PS3, and the Limited Free Trial starts for PC)

This is how I interpret the Timeline, Of course I probably made little errors here and there but this is how I see the timeline. I hope you all enjoy your time in Old Eorzea as this is a once in a lifetime experience, Please enjoy it while it lasts.. .