More details about FFXI

[blizz]

http://www.geocities.com/chtang.geo/game040702a.htm

yup over at the magicbox, this is looking quite good.

[Eagle]

This game is gonna rock... I wish I could afford $10 a month to play it ???

[Cyberman]

Hmmm.. I think there will be some problems with the game...
A lot of problems..
I'll wait to actually play it .. if I decide I want to even.

Cyb

FFX is ok.. so far.

[blizz]

as i see it the engine they're using is ideal for the direction FF should move in, I do think however the game ought to contain a complete offline game as well otherwise Square is going to loose money on the game.

[Cyberman]

Originally posted by blizz
as i see it the engine they're using is ideal for the direction FF should move in, I do think however the game ought to contain a complete offline game as well otherwise Square is going to loose money on the game.
Well I See a lot of repetition in the FF games lately save FF Tactics (which I think was REALLY good). FF7 is considered one of the best of there work (introduced I think in 1997 in the US). Almost Ever game since FF7 has somewhat followed the same mold. FF8 was less so.. but I am a diehard advocate of FF8 (it has a really freaky ending I hear :). FF9 is FF7 part 2 in a way. It's just situated between two worlds instead. :) FF9 and FF the movie are almost Identical in philosophy too :P VERY disapointing. FF8 would have made a MUCH better premise for a movie than FF9 (FF9 is just fun except the damn card game is just too distractingly limited so I hated it.. just like FF10's anoying blitz ball game.)

What makes FF11 such a huge problem is TIME ZONES IE in the US and Canada you have 4 diffrent Time Zones. This isn't a big deal but .. if they plan on hosting it say in Japan.. this will be a problem. Also connections.. are they going to require DSL? ISP types? LAN connections (IE you share a local LAN with your PS2) etc.

These are just a FEW issues regarding the game, also expecting everyone to do things the way they square likes it is going to hurt the game, flexibility will be the key to playing it. If you buy the game and do not get what you are expecting.. this will generally lead to VERY BAD THINGS for Square Soft :)

I agree that they need to have a standalone version though. NOT everyone wants to be PKILLED online.. or have to group up with other people to win the game.. it's unrealistic to expect people to be glued to the damn TV early in the morning to get a particular thing.. Perhaps TZ thinking will help IE play based on TZ (you aren't playing against a 12 year old in japan who at 9 am at school :).

Cyb

[Eagle]

Well, basically it will be alot like other MMORPG games such as Everquest, Dark Age Of Camelot, or the upcoming Lineage 2 which looks awesome.

As for the servers, they will be mostly in three major areas. Square has divisions in Japan, United States, and Europe.

I'm not sure, I think the PS2 connects to the web using a modem device similar to a PCMCIA 56k modem that a laptop would use. For the PC version, I'd imagine you can connect through whatever you have available, but the slower the connection, the more lag there will be.

What I don't understand is why you think the time zones will be a problem. There are hundreds of multinational games available now that span time zones. Some MMORPG, others just multiplayer games like Blizzard or other such games.

[blizz]

Time Zone's shouldn't be a problem, it isn't for PSO, although thinking of PSO I'm wondering how Square are going to keep out cheating bastards with their Action replay, because that ruined PSO.

[Cyberman]

Originally posted by blizz
Time Zone's shouldn't be a problem, it isn't for PSO, although thinking of PSO I'm wondering how Square are going to keep out cheating bastards with their Action replay, because that ruined PSO.
They could store user information on the server, since it is a subscription service instead of a standalone game. Moving them from standalone to server probably would not be something to support. Also encrypting the data would help as well.
They have a lot of issues to resolve. Maybe I should get that Ultima Online clone and play on one of the free servers ;)

None of these issues are simple to solve sadly. I know because I am working with something like this. MMORPG's are difficult to manage. Everquest I never got into. I believe instead of 12 bucks a month (highly over priced) they should allow the first purchase with a years subscription to the service (this way they buy the game they get to play for a year). Then they renew for the same price yearly. A much more reasonable method of handling it.

I've played in RPG's online since 1992.. so I know a LOT about the issues of cheating and all that crap. :)

Cyb

[Eagle]

One thing that hacks me off is buying a game and then paying a subscription fee too. They should do one or the other. Subscription fee and a free download of the software (or order a cd for $5-$10). Or charge for the software and free servers (like Blizzard Entertainment.)

[blizz]

Originally posted by Eagle
One thing that hacks me off is buying a game and then paying a subscription fee too. They should do one or the other. Subscription fee and a free download of the software (or order a cd for $5-$10). Or charge for the software and free servers (like Blizzard Entertainment.)

yeah either of those methods is acceptable.

[Cyberman]

Originally posted by blizz


yeah either of those methods is acceptable.

Hmmm have they anounced how they plan on distributing it even yet?
I wonder if this will be another 'legend of mana' game :p :)

Cyb

[Eagle]

Of course I keep forgeting, this game is for PS2 as well. I don't know how they would offer a d/l for a PS2 game :/

[Cyberman]

Originally posted by Eagle
Of course I keep forgeting, this game is for PS2 as well. I don't know how they would offer a d/l for a PS2 game :/

It apparently requires the 'PS2' harddrive as well.. I think they may be bitting off more than they can chew.. we'll see.

Cyb

[blizz]

Originally posted by Cyberman


It apparently requires the 'PS2' harddrive as well.. I think they may be bitting off more than they can chew.. we'll see.

Cyb

from the look of the environments I think their using the hd mainly as a huge arse "cache" (I really doubt that's the right way to describe it) since the areas seem large enough for that, similar to how DOA3 did it on the X-Box

[Cyberman]

Originally posted by blizz


from the look of the environments I think their using the hd mainly as a huge arse "cache" (I really doubt that's the right way to describe it) since the areas seem large enough for that, similar to how DOA3 did it on the X-Box

Likely the case I'm sure it has a large texture base built in too (DVD can store considerable information). Like Quake3 arenas online data has to be downloaded and then use it. I'm not sure what they plan on doing for handling modem versus DSL.


Cyb

[blizz]

here's an interesting quote:


Hiromichi also maintained FF XI's inclusion of a main storyline and final boss, though the game's universe will continue to expand as online updates are released, effectively assuring that the story continues long after the original quest is completed. The game also allows for solo play, though many areas will only admit parties.

http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q2-2002/041302b.html

the game is beginning to seem more and more like a half arsed job already :plain:

[Cyberman]

Originally posted by blizz
here's an interesting quote:



http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q2-2002/041302b.html

the game is beginning to seem more and more like a half arsed job already :plain:

Ummm... yeah..
I think they might have been better off making an experimental one (Vagrant STory type game) then killing the FF Series with a poorly thought out Idea.

Anyone for FF7 online? ;)

Cyb

[blizz]

FF7 was great, and online would be really sweet, although the materia system is a little unbalanced.

[Eagle]

FF7 had too many limit breaks too. I mean, Areis barely ever got to use her final limit, cause by the time she got it, she would be dead.

[Cyberman]

Originally posted by Eagle
FF7 had too many limit breaks too. I mean, Areis barely ever got to use her final limit, cause by the time she got it, she would be dead.

Hehehe Yeah
Actually in the Japanese Version you could revive Aeris!
They removed that from the NA version

I think it is entirely possible to do an FF7 online actually. The world is large and such but the entire games models and such are in the PSX and PC version. All one needs to do is use those for model information. As for showing the movies at various points, not sure. It would be cool to just have an FF7 world in full detail. Midgard for example was a HUGE city yet only a small part of it was shown.

The biggest difficulty would be sticking to the original theme and enhancing it to work online. Something to think about :)

Balancing the materia system might be kind of hard especially since early on you don't get much in materia. Once of course you are attacking the utlimate weapons you have Knights of the Round and other incorigibly powerful ones.

Hmm could be interesting to make a test system, probably only could do midgard (because you have an entire world to do otherwise ;)).

Cyb

[Eagle]

I don't think they could revive Aries in Japan. I think that was a rumor. I could be wrong though. Have you played the Japanese version to find out?

[Eagle]

Actually, I think the rumor was not that the Japan version had the ability to revive Aries, but that a pre-release of the japanese version had it, but nobody outside Squaresoft ever saw it. The rumor started when an email from one of the writers was submitted to various websites that said they were removing the ability to revive her. After that various online petitions ensued for them to put it back in before they released it in the USA. However, its likely that the original e-mail was a hoax as well since Squaresoft employees are most likely under confidentiallity contracts. In all likelyhood, there was never a plan to have Aries revived at all.

[pj64er]

Originally posted by Cyberman

Anyone for FF7 online? ;)

Cyb

if SquareSoft 'revisits' any old FF world, ill be happy.

[blizz]

it would kind of made that entire scene redundant if you could revive her unless it was actually written into the plot

[Eagle]

Well that was the rumor blizz, It was supposedly written into the plot. The deal was that you would first have to help the guy in the pipe in midgar with some sort of medicine, then you would have to hope that it was Aries that you went on a date with at the gold saucer. Finally, on the third cd, you would need to get the key to midgar and go back to the church in the slums, which would then give you the ability to ask her to join you again and something like that. Anyway, supposedly the key was removed that would allow you to help the guy in the pipe and Cloud would merely say "Listen, I'm no doctor." (which he does) And when you go back to the church on the third CD, you'll see a ghost image of Aries, but it fades away to be replaced by the kids taking care of the garden (which it does). However, if you could revive her, it would ruin the ending movies/storyline so I don't see how that could work.

[Eagle]

Aha, I found the webpage

http://members.tripod.com/Cricketopia/argument.html

oh and this one

http://www.ethical-business.com/petitions.asp?pet_id=134

[Cyberman]

You can by the way HAVE Aeris in your party ANYHOW, there is cheat code you can use to add Aeris back into your party.

I think the death of Aeris is probably one of the best known scenes for all RPG games, it was totally expected and unexpected at the same time. I think it was a cool enhancement to the game.

Now FF7 Online.. what do you think could make such a game work?

Cyb

[Eagle]

Yeah, I think it wouldn't be as good without it. None of the other FF games have done it and they don't compare to FF7.