"PS3 Limitations"

[Toodles]

Please delete. People are right, pointless discussion.

[Crimen]

I'm starting to wonder how seriously PS3 is holding back the game's development.

It's getting concerning... I may be wrong as it's very hard to figure just how much or how little it affects things, but I can't tell!

I'm curious how much it'll hinder the Expansion or Golden Saucer?

In either case, my personal opinion is SE should cut support by end of Q2 2015 at the latest.

Discuss please.

SE, a response would be much appreciated as well!

I know it was mentioned that they won't cut support until after the first expansion. I'll give it another whole year.

[Gextiv]

Bad enough for them to consider dropping support for the PS3.

[Tashigi]

Bad enough for them to consider dropping support for the PS3.

You mean that they even bothered to release it on the PS3.
This game barely runs on that toaster, TBH.

[reality_check]

1. There are a significant amount of players who play on PS3 in Japan.

2. They will not be dropping PS3 support any time soon.

3. This game would not be "better" without PS3. This game would not exist without PS3, as a very large chunk of the revenue comes from PS3 subscriptions.

[Shioban]

Bad enough for them to consider dropping support for the PS3.

Not really. It's a very intelligent decision, currently it's still a financial benefit to continue support (but not forever).


The reason that support for the PS3 is VERY difficult to maintain is the memory restrictions imposed upon it.
I could go into extraneous detail on this (If anyone wants me to I can) but essentially;

The PS3 is old hardware, very-very old hardware by todays standards sporting a combined total of 512MB of memory to work with.

256MB System-Based RAM / 256MB GPU-Based RAM


"I'm not a nerd, what does that mean?"

Almost everything has to be 'housed' in memory, think of it like a brain.
Every time a 3D Model, Sound, Quest Test, Damage Calculations, Chat Log, Animations (etc.) is needed, it's housed in 'temporary-memory' where the game-recalls information stored on the drive to use in the game.

Memory is limited, you can only use what you have, and the PS3 doesn't have a lot of this. As a matter of fact, it doesn't really have enough to run the game technically, but the game has been beaten down to fit into this very small amount of memory, and as the game expands in the future it'll only become more and more difficult to maintain, which is why they want to drop support for it ASAP.

"Why does this matter?"

This is VERY restrictive, and has taken a lot of work for SE and Sony themselves to adjust and adapt these restrictions to work with an MMO client.
Most MMOs require and use up a monstrous amount of memory.

The reason they want to drop support, is that they can't expand on current systems in the game due to the limitations they've imposed on the UI, Level Design, Fight Designs, Gear-Designs.
Pretty much every aspect of the game is scrutinized as to whether it can be changed or adjusted to suit the PS3s memory limitations (as you can't leave the PS3 users out)


"Lots of other games do well with lots of stuff happening, like GTA V?"

These are completely different games, with completely different components and building blocks that make-up the game.

MMOs require almost double the memory of that of an average game. Considering each component on top of the UI (UI's eat up a fair bit)


"Well, I guess that makes sense, but I don't want to upgrade!!"

Enjoy not playing the game when they drop support then.

In all seriousness, it may be a hard-hit to those who simply can't purchase a PS3 or a PC capable of playing FFXIV, but the game will simply get stuck in a rut and restrict the development teams ambitions on expanding the game not just visually but also mechanically.


The enjoyment and maintenance of the vast majority will always be more important, especially on expanding game-content.
The PS3 is safe for at least another year, but if the number dwindle, they'll definitely consider it.

3. This game would not be "better" without PS3. This game would not exist without PS3, as a very large chunk of the revenue comes from PS3 subscriptions.

The development team disagrees and think it's holding the game back quite a lot as well as holding back implementing new systems.

As for dropping support it's only safe until the expansion.

[Yamimarik]

Yoshi-P already stated the expansion was made with the PS3 in mind, and it would receive the first expansion for sure. The only way for the PS3's support to be dropped is when they look into how many people still use them to play, that's when they'll make a definitive decision after the expansion is released. I'm sure they'll take a look at how many PS3 users still exist, and if there is still enough worth justifying keeping up with content for the PS3 you can bet they'll keep it b/c more subs(even PS3 ones)=Profit for them.

[Lyrinn]

If they drop PS3 support, then what would we blame everything on?

... nevermind, I guess we have "server limitations."

[Khyra]

Unless the PS4 starts selling better in Japan, it will be a while before the PS3 gets dropped. Vita and 3DS outsell PS4, and its numbers have been shrinking. It was even outsold by Wii U for many weeks recently. (The only thing its beating in Japan is XB1, and Microsoft has never had any success in Japan).

[Toodles]

I personally think end of 2015 is an unreasonable amount of time to continue support as the system is already quite outdated (PS4's been out quite a while now...) but perhaps that's just me.

Regardless, I think it's a worthy discussion.