Letter from the Producer XLII

[Altena]

Its possible youll need to login to the benchmark and it will provide results to SE.

That makes pretty solid sense.

[Tonkra]

As for the neck, yes a little too long.

the neck of an elvaan in FFXI was also always "too long"... is that anything new, really?!

elvaan always did not have the best "proportions"

[hrdndv]

imho Beta starts on the 25th

- 10th Feb: Yoshi leaves;
- 16-17th Feb: Yoshi might be back (assuming from the destinations he has to reach);
- 18th Feb: Live letter, Beta announcement and benchmark release;
- 20th Feb Beta forums live;
- 25th: test starts (almost in time).

What Yoshi-P said in the forty-second Letter from the Producer-

"We have been working to meet our deadlines for the upcoming beta test... doing our best to stay on track" (Which means the mid-Feb date for release.)

"Starting February 10, I'll be away from the office on a media tour that will pave the way for the beta test. I'll be traveling around the world, stopping in..." Estimated dates based on other press conference tours:
11th Los Angeles
12th San Francisco
14th London

"All regions will be receiving information at the same time, so be sure to keep an eye out!"

15th Return to Japan
16th "Oh, before I forget, Letter from the Producer LIVE Part V is planned for the day after I return from the tour. After aerial adventures, strenuous schedules, and jarring jetlag, what will become of the broadcast? You'll find out when details are posted on the Lodestone."

Clearly these details on Lodestone are going to be posted before the Live Letter, so expect "in my next letter you can expect an announcement for the starting date." to be posted just before, or at the same time as the Live Letter. So probably on Saturday the 16th?

If they meet their deadline of mid-Feb, then, by Monday the 18th we should have the actual Beta Test.

BTW I agree with others that mid-Feb SE-time means 10th-20th. So Wednesday the 20th could still be "meet our deadlines".

[3Jane]

the neck of an elvaan in FFXI was also always "too long"... is that anything new, really?!

elvaan always did not have the best "proportions"

Probably, I just haven't noticed.

[Exn]

TBH I think the main point of the live letter was to show that they made hairstyles cross-race..

And to give a heads up that Beta likely isn't starting mid-Feb. Benchmark might make it by mid-Feb, and Beta prolly start by the end of Feb (my guess is on or around the 25th).

[Radacci]

And to give a heads up that Beta likely isn't starting mid-Feb. Benchmark might make it by mid-Feb, and Beta prolly start by the end of Feb (my guess is on or around the 25th).

he stated he made final checks, and now they are just doing some last tweeks. by the time he comes back at the latest, Beta will be finished already. So i don't see any reason for beta to start later than 18th. That's almost 2 weeks for last tweeks, which is more than enough. Or maybe he's just trolling, and beta starts when he comes back

[RowanLauron]

It's worth your time. lol

My eyes and mind = BLOWN!!!!

[Biggs]

Is that last screen shot taken outside Uldah legit!? If it is in game, I can't possibly see how it wouldn't shut up just about every person (including myself) that was/is concerned about the new graphics system. Thats the sickest thing I have ever seen in an MMO and its just a bunch of people standing around camp watching a caravan go by! Please tell me this is what the game can look like with a high end rig!?

[Katsaurs]

imho Beta starts on the 25th

- 10th Feb: Yoshi leaves;
- 16-17th Feb: Yoshi might be back (assuming from the destinations he has to reach);
- 18th Feb: Live letter, Beta announcement and benchmark release;
- 20th Feb Beta forums live;
- 25th: test starts (almost in time).

I'm with this to a degree, given the travel times and the such this seems to be the more sensible option. Though I'd say if not the 25th, then the 22nd to allow people to play over the weekend.

[Hulan]

but cant wait to jump back into FFXIV, from the small pics looks like the cleaned up graphics alot.

I was thinking that they seem to have greatly improved the skin shaders. Also, is that self shading I see? Honestly, though, it looks like the indoor shaders could still use some work.