Au Ra Character Creation Benchmark

[Zetsumei_Tsunarashi]

Q17: Can you tell us the status on add-ons and DirectX 11?

A17: We’ve finished implementing the basic add-on system and we’re currently preparing the API. Internally the test code is running. However, there may be bugs with the add-ons we distribute when they are modified and due to this we are proceeding carefully with legal checks and such. At the the moment we do not have an official release date that we can mention.

In regards to DirectX 11, we will be addressing this along with the release of the expansion. We’d like to show off a side-by-side comparison video of DirectX 9 and DirectX 11 at the Fan Festival in Tokyo. Additionally, we’re also preparing a benchmark before launch.

On the Mac front, progress is continuing and we are planning for a late-March/April release.

I was wondering if a dev can respond as to whether or not this new benchmark that is being prepared will include a character creation tool as the previous benchmark program did. If so, will we be able to make an Au Ra character in this new benchmark ?

I'm sure lots of people (myself included) would like to be able to play with the Au Ra character creation options and decide on our appearance ahead of time if possible.

[Terrini]

Also do we have to purchase the expansion early (I totally want to!) and if we do, might we get access to Au Ra early? I'm even thinking of starting an alt before 3.0 to fantasia into an Au Ra. I really want one.

[SolarMisae]

I'm pretty sure it will be, I mean new hairstyles can't be the only reason to add a whole new benchmark, eh? That said Dev confirmation would be awesome.

[Squa11_Leonhart]

Also do we have to purchase the expansion early (I totally want to!) and if we do, might we get access to Au Ra early? I'm even thinking of starting an alt before 3.0 to fantasia into an Au Ra. I really want one.

um..........

[Ametrine]

I'm aching to play as them as well, and was planning to get the Collector's Edition for the expansion, and the option to play with the new race via Benchmark like it was done for 2.0 would be wonderful!

[Shioban]

Also do we have to purchase the expansion early (I totally want to!) and if we do, might we get access to Au Ra early? I'm even thinking of starting an alt before 3.0 to fantasia into an Au Ra. I really want one.

You don't have to ever buy the expansion if you don't want to.

Certain content might be locked until you purchase the expansion though. (Jobs/Areas/Race).

But obviously if you want the expansion before the day it launches you're going to have to pre-order it.

[LunarEmerald]

The benchmark is so you can test dx11 on your computer.

[Squa11_Leonhart]

lets face it, the original benchmark wasn't a bloody representation of the actual games performance (as there was no ai, or mass amounts of player characters to saturate the cpu).

[NozomiKei]

I would love to be able to check out the Au Ra ahead of time. I don't currently plan to switch to it, but perhaps that would change my mind.

[Laerune]

It could be SE is still not done with the Au Ra, so I dont think we will see them in the character creation (even though I would love to try and play around with the character creation system).