Why didn't they wait until 2.0 was ready to shut down 1.0?

[Rex]

I love Yoshi-P.

[Syrokko]

They shut it down "early" because they need the actual physical servers to test 2.0 and host the alpha / beta tests.
It's not exactly "cheap" to host, administer, and maintain an MMORPG.

[Kraggy]

They shut it down "early" because they need the actual physical servers to test 2.0 and host the alpha / beta tests.
It's not exactly "cheap" to host, administer, and maintain an MMORPG.

Given they said some weeks ago they'll be re-opening the V1 servers on a 'absolutely no support' basis for as long as enough people (Yoshi mention 30%) want to play, then your suggested reason clearly doesn't come into it.

[Neptune]

Months ago, I envisioned this topic. I've watched the days crawl by until you Uriah, rose to your destiny and typed out your post. It was like watching gravity slowly pull a piece of space debris down to the Earth in a fiery crash. Carry on.

[Dannythm]

I think they also didn't want EVERY old player having all maxed out and running around in 7/7 relics with only triple melded / darklight gear, because that's what would have happened if the servers kept online for 4+ months with no updates.

[Cegiana]

Ummm, FFXI usually goes MONTHS and MONTHS without content update and it doesnt seem to be an issue over there, so why would that be an issue over here? That answer seems like a politician answer, he just made a bad call and doesnt want to admit it.

[Saiph]

Because FFXi has 10 years worth of content.....

[Uriahnool]

Months ago, I envisioned this topic. I've watched the days crawl by until you Uriah, rose to your destiny and typed out your post. It was like watching gravity slowly pull a piece of space debris down to the Earth in a fiery crash. Carry on.

So, I'm a hero? A Lalafell hero? /cheer

[Virtuso]

Ummm, FFXI usually goes MONTHS and MONTHS without content update and it doesnt seem to be an issue over there, so why would that be an issue over here? That answer seems like a politician answer, he just made a bad call and doesnt want to admit it.

I had the same thought and the answer that came to my mind was that Yoshi-P simply has a different standard for how to run an MMO. Since day one he's been a very different kind of director from Tanaka. Makes sense to me that some things the old XI team under Tanaka felt was "Acceptable" Yoshi-P refuses to even consider.

[Vilhem]

Different teams, obviously. Also XI has a lot more to do.

I have a feeling that if Yoshi-p somehow did leave the servers until the end people would be bitching all the same about lack of content lack of updates etc. It's a damned-if-he-does damned-if-he-doesn't situation

And of course porting character data takes time, so either way, we'd be off the game for awhile.