Do New FFXI Players Exist and Could Anything Renew Interest?

[xiaoset]

I bought the FFXI Ultimate Collection this morning, because I wanted to come back, and have a fresh start, but the 3D Secure Code or Verified by Visa crap is making me regret paying the $10 for the game.

There is absolutely no way I can play using this, as I sold my PS2, I have a Slim PS3 (no PS2 in it!) and I sold my 360 ages ago. Unless someone finds a way, my pre-paid in Canada just doesn't work.

I was really looking forward to coming back actually, but SE shot my dream down

[Darkmagi]

I remember something about using firefox+noscript to make it work. If that fails, you could always find a trustworthy friend to enter your information for you on a ps2/360.

[xiaoset]

I remember something about using firefox+noscript to make it work. If that fails, you could always find a trustworthy friend to enter your information for you on a ps2/360.

Actually, the website PoL sends me to, works fine. It says everything is good, and then tells me to click submit on the PoL viewer and close the current window. It's just after clicking submit on the PoL viewer, it comes up with UCS-5111 even though the website accepted it... so idk what's going on..

EDIT: I also called SE, and the rep told me that it's very strange and the website shouldn't accept it at all, if PoL is giving me UCS-5111. He offered to refund my purchase, I said no thanks and wanted to continue on to try and get this solved.

[Gwynplaine]

There's certain specific prepaid cards you can use that have the verification feature. I posted about them a long time ago, I'll edit with the specific cards if I remember or find my old post. You have to go to your cards specific Visa or Mastercard website BEFORE you go to pay and setup the feature username and pin password etc. Mastercards feature is called "Securecode". "Verified by Visa" is what Visa's feature is called. Your card has to have one of those. Visa users can go here and hit "activate now" to check if their card has it. Mastercards require going to the specific site for whatever sort of card youre using.

Edit: There's probably a few others that work. I can say this one works though. The Mastercard (NOT Visa version) AccountNow prepaid.
http://www.accountnow.com/services/how-it-works.aspx

[Niiro]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uRQ-j8cbrY

I've never had a need to bypass the secure code thing so I don't know if it still works but there's a guide how.

[xiaoset]

Yeah, I've done that today, multiple times today, the Verify by Visa website, it just brings up a page after you enter your card number and the security code,
which then results in every browser I've downloaded to test this (FireFox, IE, Chrome, Opera) in a connection time out, or it doesn't exist.

I've asked a friend to do the same, and it times out for him as well.

[Hoshiku]

As far as xp for newbies goes, not sure on other servers but on asura if you chill in qufim island you're likely to get a party invite... and the xp is rather fast thanks to that update (of course qufim burns have always been decent).

[dannyl]

If your a new player, Pacific Time Zone and in Bahamut server, hit me up, I'll help with whatever

[Chun Liroy]

If your a new player, Pacific Time Zone and in Bahamut server, hit me up, I'll help with whatever

I'm EST, but I think I might have to take you up on that offer sometime.

[Moosey]

So after spending nearly an hour on the phone with SE today, they tell me that the error codes I was getting meant I never actually connected to their CC authentication servers and once I do manage to get through, I need to call them back with the error code saying that my CC is ineligible for the secure visa thing(even though the visa website told me that already) so they can enter my CC manually. Still can't get past the UCS-65207 error. Anyone happen to know this code? One would thing a company would be eager to accept your payment in any form, but SE always has a fun way of doing things. :D

dot dot dot

[Taruking]

Is the new FFXI player extinct? Do you know any? Should Square attempt to lure new players in somehow or is FFXI too old and settled in its niche?

Actually you can sort of find the answer in your post if you are willing to take a step back to examine the broad picture, i.e. try to look at things in game developer's and potential player's perspective.

As far as SE is concerned, they must find a way to revive FFXIV, even if that means turning XIV into XI-2. Maintaining two MMOs is going to take up too much resource to be cost effective especially when both games are essentially targeting the same group of players. Under the most desperate circumstance, SE will simply stop making new content for XI, create incentives for existing XI players to join XIV and slowly shut down FFXI servers, so that the company can focus their attention on XIV. There are already signs of SE heading towards this direction - AF equivalent job specific gear, overhauling of job system to make them more familiar to XI players, and incoming XI server merge etc. Will SE be able to turn things around for XIV? The company has devoted most of their resource to the game. The dev team is pumping out new updates at unprecedented rate. Afterall they did make FFXI. If everything else fails they can simply turn XIV into XI-2.

How is this going to affect potential new players? They will need Abyssea expansions to progress past lv75 (or lv30 if they want fast exp if they even know how to make it work). Abyssea content is too easy unless SE throw in some new events, majority of the existing players are going to start looking for a new game once they have capped exp and gear, and are likely to join FFXIV iF SE manage to revive the game (most likely will). In about two months time, SE is going to announce new events for high level players and overhauling of the XIV battle system. Don't you think it makes more sense for potential new players to join XIV instead of XI?

Perhaps you should know a bit about my experience with FFXI Before you accuse me of bashing the game. I had been playing FFXI since 2004 and stood by it when all my friends quit FFXI over the years. I left FFXI around July '10 and even before abyssea I already have 13 lv75 jobs and loads of high end gear. I quit mainly because of real life committment and haven't touched another MMO since. It can be hard for players like us to give up FFXI after putting in so much time and effort. I can certainly understand why those who are still playing XI will like to encourage new players to join the game.

[Gwynplaine]

[byte]

Give stacks of keys as a reward for completing missions, quests etc.

[Moosey]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uRQ-j8cbrY

I've never had a need to bypass the secure code thing so I don't know if it still works but there's a guide how.

So I was able to finally connect to the CC servers and used this bypass with my ineligible card, and it worked!

Also, thanks to whoever posted the torrent with all the updates! Gonna make this already way-too-long process take much less time.

[richardd]

my bradygames strategy guide helped me when i started over. i dont know where i would've been without it.

[orson]

my bradygames strategy guide helped me when i started over. i dont know where i would've been without it.

As much as it had an awful lot of retard in it, they did have a huge amount of info that was really useful. Especially back when the websites for info weren't nearly as prolific.

[Gwynplaine]

I'd be curious why they just sort of silently ended their free trial program a while ago. Maybe that's something to ask on Twitter/Forum. Maybe they thought it was being abused too much by RMT and their NPCing?

[Carlosd]

I want to restart fresh with the ultimate pack, is there a way to bypass 3d with a new account?

[bungiefan]

Yes, register the new account on a console. Then play on PC afterward.

[Gwynplaine]

You should really just try to get a card with the 3D secure feature on it. Eventually you're gonna need it or you won't be able to access a console or something. Look at the links I posted higher up and find one of those bank providers to try and get one on a debit or something.