The inability to change your country, and the end of my time with Square-Enix

[Pawkeshup]

Edit: I've since found a solution to keep playing, though it likely won't work for all, as it's directly related to how GlobalConnect processes payments.
You can read about it here: http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...=1#post2502467

SE should still take a serious look at allowing region/country changes, but at least this will allow me to keep playing. Original post follows.

This is not a post I wanted to make.

Since I was a teenager, I have been a fan of the work of SquareSoft and Enix. I have loved their immersive worlds, their wondrous characters, and often insightful stories. Over the years, they have lost their shine, true. Not every game can be a masterpiece, and one can argue that in trying to recreate, they've lost what made them special. But I will always have fond memories of Cecil and his journey, of Vivi, and of so many other amazing moments.

I also have a great love for their online creations. FFXI was my one and only game for almost 6 full years, absorbing most of my playtime, and even as I slowly fell off over the next 4, it was still a special place to visit. FFXIV showed a promise to do the same, though my playtime is much more sporadic due to not having landed in with any one group for long enough.

When I moved from Canada to the US, I wanted to continue playing FFXIV, and perhaps even return to FFXI for a bit. Today, I found that would not happen. Sadly, when they attempt to charge my card next, my address and country won't match up. And why?
Well, there really is no reason why. The call center just said "It's hard coded that way". Now, being an IT guy, I know that's just as good as saying "We don't want to be bothered to." It's a database, and databases can be changed.

So, in essence, SE has said that either I buy their time cards (which, I believe, are only for FFXIV), or, and I kid you not, "Find someone back home who can pay for it for me." These are my options, and of course that precludes me ever playing FFXI again.

In a connected world, having this be my only option is ridiculous. But, I guess SE has told me that no, we don't care how long you have been with us, how many products you've bought. We have your money, now go away.