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 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.