So 1.0 owners have to start paying the monthly fee immediately?

[Anumariku]

Edit: Yeah, idk why I would put my neck on the line for something as dumb as this lol.

[Abriael]

I didn't write this, it is a quote. It references demos as synonymous with both trials and open beta.

And it proves that your definition is not the only definition, which means SE's definition of trial remains valid even if it is labled as beta or as a demo.

First of all, wikipedia proves nothing. I can go there and change it at will, like everyone out there. Hell, I'm quoted on Wikipedia on numerous issues (including FFXIV), like I was some sort of authority lol.

Secondly it just uses the term "trial" generically. It doesn't in any shape or form say that "demo" is a synonim of "free trial".

As a matter of fact the term "demo" does not apply to MMORPGs.

[Alhanelem]

First of all, wikipedia proves nothing. I can go there and change it at will, like everyone out there. Hell, I'm quoted on Wikipedia on numerous issues (including FFXIV), like I was some sort of authority lol.

Secondly it just uses the term "trial" generically. It doesn't in any shape or form say that "demo" is a synonim of "free trial".

As a matter of fact the term "demo" does not apply to MMORPGs.

if you change an article to something stupid or something obviously wrong, it will get changed back quickly. While citing wikipedia as a primary source by itself is not ideal, that doesn't mean that wikipedia is always wrong or isn't a good place to start for a preliminary information probe. I challenge you to find a print encylopedia or dictionary that differs drastically from what Wikipedia defines those terms to be.

[Abriael]

What lack of a free trial? Pretty much everyone here that already played 1.0 is already going to be playing.

Keyword: Everyone here. The people here are an extremely overwhelmed minority compared to the 800,000 that purchased 1.0.

A free trial would have brought back a lot more of those that aren't here.

Wrong. It does constitute a way to ascertain the quality of a game. You're kidding yourself if you think people don't play betas to preview a game and ascertain the quality they think it will have. How many games radically change from a late term beta to a launch a few weeks later? None that I know of. It is ridiculous to suggest that people can't get a good idea of what the game will be like or its level of quality at the final phase of the beta.

Many games even go from being in beta to being "launched" with little more than ceremonial patch. The difference between launch day and the day before is often minimal- and such was the case with FFXIV 1.0.

Most games in open beta are still riddled with bugs, they may have nearly full features, but they have plenty problems that can undermine a player's enjoyment of the game, not last server issues, that are still extremely common even in open betas.

That's the same reasons why you don't see decent journalists review games on their beta (and when some get caught doing that, they get rightfully slammed by their readers). It's not a fair assessment of a game's final quality.

if you change an article to something stupid or something obviously wrong, it will get changed back quickly. While citing wikipedia as a primary source by itself is not ideal, that doesn't mean that wikipedia is always wrong or isn't a good place to start for a preliminary information probe. I challenge you to find a print encylopedia or dictionary that differs drastically from what Wikipedia defines those terms to be.

It's definitely not an authoritative source for synonyms, and especially technical ones. Even without considering the fact that that article doesn't state anywhere that "demo" and "free trial" are synonyms as the term "trial" is used in a completely generic way.

Add to that the fact that the terminology used for MMORPGs is normally slightly different than what is used in general gaming and you get the picture.

Ultimately what we have is the definition Square Enix always used for free trial in their official communication, which is the free period of gameplay after the launch of the full game.

They never used the definition of free trial for betas or for early access.

[Aldora]

Yes they did.

I quote from this document:

"Reinstate limited free trial period for PC version"

and then two to three months later:

"Free trial period ends"

There aren't any other ways you can interpret that.

Well, i might be wrong, but the Free Trail period of the PC version coincided with the Beta period for the Playstation 3 version. The Beta for the Playstation 3 version would take approximately 1 to 2 months and during that time, the PC version would be active and playable for free. Although, i can't find a reference within that Outline document indicating who would be able to play with the PC version during that specified period. Would it be the players which owned the 1.0 version and got the 2.0 client as a free download a few months before the official release? Would it be the players who have been accepted to the Beta (including new players who haven't purchased and played 1.0)? To be completely honest, i don't even see a reference to the Beta within the Comprehensive Roadmap of the 2.0 Outline document at all.

The page itself contained the following info:

The Road to Version 2.0

• Late November to Early December – Monthly subscription fees begin (PC)
• Late November to Early December – Patch 1.20
• Early February 2012 – Patch 1.21
• February 2012 – Development test server reconstruction complete
• Mid April 2012 – Patch 1.22
• April 2012 – Version 2.0 client system complete

  - Commence porting of current game content to version 2.0 client

• June 2012 – Worldwide launch of new promotion trailer at E3
• Early to Mid July 2012 – Patch 1.23
• September to October 2012

  – Begin distribution of version 2.0 software for PC
  - Begin distribution of PlayStation®3 system beta version

• October to November 2012

  – Reinstate limited free trial period for PC version
  - Commence PlayStation®3 system closed beta test

• Post-January 2013

  – Version 2.0 client (PC and PlayStation®3 system) goes on sale
  - Free trial period ends

*The aforementioned dates are subject to change.

When the Beta schedule was officially announced, the schedule changed where the Playstation 3 Beta would commence at the start of the 4th Beta Phase (mentioned in the current beta roadmap). Next to that, the Beta test for the Playstation 3 version was now scheduled to be executed within a timespan between 1 to 2 weeks (rather then the aforementioned 1 to 2 months).

Wouldn't it be "safe" to assume that the original 2 to 3 month period (September to October for distributing the 2.0 clients and October to November) would be considered the initial Beta period for 2.0? Instead of going for this particular structure/timespan, they've decided to split the beta into 4 phases spanning a period of approximately 7 to 8 months.

Like i said, the above was an assumption on my part.

On the other hand, i'm fine with having to pay for ARR the day it hits the selves. I've purchased my 1.0 CE edition with a 30-day trail which changed into 1+ years of free play while SE was working on fixing the game through 1.xx patches and developing 2.0 at the same time. Next to that, i've obtained the Legacy status which gives me a permanent discount on my monthly fees. And last but not least, i will receive the digital 2.0 CE items without having to purchase a new copy of the game.

Personally, i'm a satisfied customer and player having witnessed the 1.0 release, its transformation /evolution into ARR and receiving this amount of "appreciation" from SE.

[Abriael]

Wouldn't it be "safe" to assume that the original 2 to 3 month period (September to October for distributing the 2.0 clients and October to November) would be considered the initial Beta period for 2.0?

Nope, one because the timeline changed all over the place, so the particular timings are irrelevant, two because when Square Enix referred to "Free trial" in official communication, they always indicated a period of free gameplay after the launch of the full game.

Thirdly, if the PS3 is in beta, and the PC is in beta, it doesn't make the slightest sense to define one a "beta" and the other a "free trial".

If the PC version was a beta, why not call it beta? and if it was a free trial, why not call the PS3 beta a free trial as well? It simply doesn't add up at all.

If both versions are betas, why didn't they call both the same thing?

[Duuude007]

Again, in every instance of communication from Square Enix, "Free trial period" refers to a free period of gameplay. Not my personal definition of a beta.

As a matter of my opinion the term "demo" does not apply to MMORPGs.

Oh you have something there... fixed it.

Sure, you can choose to vandalize the articles by PoV pushing, but editors are quick to revert falsehoods, and these facts are further given weight by citing outside sources.

All you have is your individual opinion, no citations showing that these contradict industry standards, nor hundreds of folks checking on the accuracy of your assertions about "industry standards" or whatever.

I wonder which ends up more accurate?

The answer is the site. The question wasn't meant to be rhetorical.

[SkyeWindbinder]

Ugh, I've just been posting here while I played candy crush saga and uploading a video to youtube, all the while waiting for someone to give some definitive answers. All I got back was a bunch of speculation and half-baked theories, it seems. The only thing that has been said about PC users of the game and a free trial is that we're not getting one. And people have gone to lengths to try to convince me that one or more of the beta versions for the PC are to be considered the free trial stage for the PC, yet there's clearly no evidence of that either.

This has gotten boring now. Tell you what, I'm going to ask Hvinire or another of the reps. They can surely give a clear answer instead of just theories pulled out of a chocobo's rear end. Whether we get one or not, it really doesn't matter to me in the long run. I've already saved up cash for paying subscription fees for this game. I'm going to play, free trial or no. I just want some clarification, and that's not going to happen from anyone except someone working at SE. (yawn) Well, goodnight everyone. I have to get up early in the morn, and if I stay here I'm gonna wind up making hitting the cold air outside my bed sheet all the more unbearable. L8r!

[Nix]

*Snip*

You're awesome, thank you for trying to help

[Abriael]

Sure, you can choose to vandalize the articles by PoV pushing, but editors are quick to revert falsehoods, and these facts are further given weight by citing outside sources.

In this case "trial" is used as a completely generic term, so I could easily change the term with another and no one would sneeze over it. It's not indicated as a specific synonym of "free trial".

A change of the term would not be seen as PoV pushing or "vandalizing", despite the fact that you like to use strong terms to try and make it look like something preposterous.

All you have is your individual opinion, no citations showing that these contradict industry standards, nor hundreds of folks checking on the accuracy of your assertions about "industry standards" or whatever.

I don't have just my individual opinion. I have Square Enix's own definition of "free trial", taken from their prior official communication and linked for your perusal. Here's two instances of many, again:

http://lodestone.finalfantasyxiv.com...41f0d8c4e88994
http://lodestone.finalfantasyxiv.com...574cb9c3991c9f

In all the official communication from Square Enix "free trial" always indicates the period of free gameplay after the launch of the game. In no instance it indicates betas or early access periods. Feel free to check. The lodestone is all yours.

Of course you'll very conveniently ignore the point as you did until now.