Rise of Zilart Implementation

[Gwynplaine]

So, according to wikipedia zilart was released:

April 17, 2003 (Japan, PS2)
October 28, 2003 (N.America, PC)
March 23, 2004 (N.America, PS2)
September 17, 2004 (Europe, PC)

but does anyone know when was it implemented in FFXI? One article I read says April 15, 2003. So if that's true it was setup and activated a few days before players had the expansion?

[Saraphym]

I thought it came out when it was released in NA? Can't remember clearly though, its been awhile.

[Aymee]

I thought it came out when it was released in NA?

With that JPN release date, I'd assume that date proper or a few after for activation 'fairness' (like was done for ToAU and will for WotG). It seems kinda silly that it would have been out for 6 months for retail but not integrated. The game was still JPonly and I'd assume the expansion was quite anticipated amongst the more serious players as the initial areas were ridiculously limiting... they were surely sitting around drooling about it for months in advance like we do now. I can't imagine why it wouldn't have been activated at the time of JPN retail.

[Therin]

I thought it came out when it was released in NA?

With that JPN release date, I'd assume that date proper or a few after for activation 'fairness' (like was done for ToAU and will for WotG). It seems kinda silly that it would have been out for 6 months for retail but not integrated. The game was still JPonly and I'd assume the expansion was quite anticipated amongst the more serious players as the initial areas were ridiculously limiting... they were surely sitting around drooling about it for months in advance like we do now. I can't imagine why it wouldn't have been activated at the time of JPN retail.

The JP elite were definitely figuring out how to get sky so that they could pop the almighty Despot and gain his Ultimate Double Attack Scythe of Power before we were playing.