[PS3] Error loops, Patcher issues.

[Mirili]

All right, so, I got my hands on a (Used) PS3, and a new copy of FFXIV roughly four or five days ago. My limited in-game experience has been great! But the effort required to get there has been steep, and incredibly unreliable. I'm a little unsure where to start, or what the most relevant details are, so please forgive any rambling. I'm just stumped.

My first attempt at installing the game, despite following the instructions to the letter, was just a series of unexplainable, inconsistent system errors. I tried installing off of the disc first, but was met with some strange behavior in the patcher. There was a download of some 3.8k MB, where the displayed MBPS were lowering in increments of 0.01 until it reached 0, and the estimated length of the update would simply keep climbing indefinitely until a crash. Invariably followed by an "Unable to download patch files" error and error code.

I moved over to the PSN and downloaded the game directly from there after entering the registration code (first time I was even prompted for it). Completed the download with no problems, fired up the launcher. I was met with a patcher download of the same 3.8k MBs, and encountering the same issue. Same error, same code. I simply restarted my system until it didn't give me the error anymore! Lost count of the attempts, or the time wasted just doing that. Anywho, I made it in. Made a character. Played for decent chunks of time.

In-between these chunks of time, damn near every time I fired up XIV, I'd get trapped in loops of system errors saying something about me not entering my Promotion code. Eventually, I would get in regardless of what the errors told me, but that was only once in a blue moon. When I didn't make it in, it would start up the patcher again and then hit me with an error. Over and over. No pattern of any kind, that I could make out.

Today I got sick of playing the error loop game and System Restored my PS3 to completely wipe it, in hopes that I could re-install fresh and do it right this time. (Assuming I'd done a clumsy job the first time.) This time I went straight to PSN, downloaded it with no issue again, and fired up the launcher. Went through all the prompts without a hitch. Got to the patcher, and there's the familiar 3.8k MB download, and the exact same issue I was having before. "Unable to download patch files." After watching the download speed gradually drop to zero. I've reset the system several times since, and still encountering the same problem. Can't finish the patch. Can hardly get 10 MB in before it crashes.

I don't think it's outside the realm of possibilities that it's something on my end, being completely new to XIV and to the PS3. I also don't know the history of this particular PS3, how old it is, what problems of its own it might have. It *is* the only device of mine showcasing any problems. In-built adapter could be fried... But I can't help but think that's not the case when the PSN download is larger than the patch that's giving me so much trouble, and I've gotten through it before and played for several hours at a time.

I guess I'm just hoping someone can shed some light, tell me my PS3 is borked and to get a refund. Maybe a "Cool yer shit, they're working on it." Or see a pattern where I'm not seeing one. I just can't keep playing like this. Even if I make it through this patch, if I get stuck with the Promotion code error loops again... I'm going to have to throw in the towel. Shouldn't be this stressful just to get in to the game.

Appreciate anyone weighing in, and sorry for flinging bricks of text around.

Gawd I hope I haven't hit a character limit of some kind. I'll be so embarrassed.

-Mirili

[Mirili]

I should mention that it's the error code loops involving the Promotion code that have most actively kept me out of the game. They'll simply repeat indefinitely until... they don't anymore, and the signature FF music starts. I'll return with error code strings, and the actual messages left for me when I get them next.

Ah! Something else worth mentioning! After I merged my Sony/Square accounts as prompted, I selected an ancient service account I had active briefly for the computer version, dating back to the Betas before 1.0 (I think, anyway.) Mayhap that was a mistake?

Error codes since posting:

"Unable to download patch files. [20512][10009][19900][-2140076253]"

All right, well, apparently the patcher error is very common, and something you just have to power through until it works. I still have no clue what causes the Promotion Code error. I've started getting it again, after Patch 2.15. I'm not sure I even know what a Promotion code is. Neither of the codes that came with my copy of XIV are labeled promotion codes.