Comments from the Devs

[Jamison]

I just did a preorder of the PC edition to attach the promo code to my main account. I'll give away the game registration code later on. As much as I'd like to have the physical items that come with the ARR CE, the reality is it's all stuff I can live without, the art book is really the only thing that really excites me. Don't want a second security token and the rest is, well, probably downloadable shortly after release anyways. I'll put that money towards the 1.0 OST (and Dalamud minion!) if there's a US release of that.

[Takiwaki]

SO there is alot of new infos on purchasing on the beta forums recently posted

They have indeed confirmed Registration codes from both the Windows and PS3 versions are required to log in to both platforms with 1 service account.

[Jamison]

SO there is alot of new infos on purchasing on the beta forums recently posted

They have indeed confirmed Registration codes from both the Windows and PS3 versions are required to log in to both platforms with 1 service account.

They did a pretty good job of laying out a bunch of different scenarios and explaining why there are some restrictions in some specific cases.

[TacoTaru]

Yes, they're going to start the rerelease of their notoriously shitty game by banning all the players who stuck with them through it because they found a loophole with preorders. Are you kidding me?

[Pharaun]

I doubt they'll ban people, but I'd be shocked if they didn't have something in place to deactivate promo codes for cancelled orders.

[solracht]

The alternative is that all users can get pre-order bonuses for free by signing up and then cancelling pre-orders.

The alternative is these sites stop giving the codes away and either don't send them out until they charge you, or lock your preorder after you receive the code. ShopTo does the latter, for example.

Either way, I doubt this will still work next week.

[Spider-Dan]

Yes, they're going to start the rerelease of their notoriously shitty game by banning all the players who stuck with them through it because they found a loophole with preorders. Are you kidding me?

Given all the things SE has banned players for in the past, you express surprise at the concept of them banning for an exploit that directly results in at least $40 of lost sales income. This from the same company that warns you repeatedly that the most inane public discussion of their barely-closed beta will result in your 2-year-old character being wiped from existence.

No, I am not kidding. If you really think you have figured out a slick way to cheat SE out of buying a copy of the new game, then I suggest you try it.

[solracht]

No, I am not kidding. If you really think you have figured out a slick way to cheat SE out of buying a copy of the new game, then I suggest you try it.

Since Square-Enix was smart enough to gift me two full accounts in the form of guest passes, I probably will.

[Adajer]

I wonder if the ps3 registration code will work on the ps4 version when it comes out. My wallet is telling me no.

[TacoTaru]

Already did. If they're truly stupid enough to ban accounts over it, then oh well.

[Rocl]

someone get me a preorder code

[Spider-Dan]

Since Square-Enix was smart enough to gift me two full accounts in the form of guest passes, I probably will.

What do guest passes have to do with pre-order bonuses?

As I understand it, the pre-order "DLC" requires that you actually buy a copy of ARR, by design. Any attempt to bypass that is an attempt to stiff SE out of $40-$70. You should weigh your actions appropriately.

[Jehr]

What do guest passes have to do with pre-order bonuses?

As I understand it, the pre-order "DLC" requires that you actually buy a copy of ARR, by design. Any attempt to bypass that is an attempt to stiff SE out of $40-$70. You should weigh your actions appropriately.

$40-$70? In what world does something that comes with every copy of a $30 game equate to $40-$70? If people were getting the collector's edition this would make sense, but they're getting something that comes with every single copy that is ordered before August 26th at 11:59 PM...

[Spider-Dan]

Sorry, I thought PC and PS3 non-CE were the same price. Replace "$40-$70" with "$30-$70".

[Evane]

You've made your point clear, they've made their point clear. Posts are still being posted.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lr...c6jgo2_400.gif

[Wulfgang]

From the ARR E3 announcement:

We’re proud to announce that FFXIV: A Realm Reborn will be at E3 2013 in Los Angeles on June 11-13! While things are a bit hectic as our E3 preparations are in full swing alongside our Beta Phase 3 planning, the development and operations teams have been working hard to prepare exciting content for E3 attendees. If you’re able to attend, you'll definitely want to stop by the FFXIV: A Realm Reborn area at the Square Enix booth! Just what will the attendees be playing at the show? While we don’t want to ruin the surprise, we can say we're planning to let them try out some exciting battle content!

Since E3 is an industry-only event, many people won't be able to participate -- but don't worry! We're also prepping a lot of new videos (including an awesome new trailer!), assets and even some... hm, how should we say... "live" streamed entertainment? We'll have lots of juicy announcements for those of you watching at home, so be sure to mark your calendars!

Bold / underlined section makes me think there's an off chance they open the beta for E3 and the live streamed entertainment is beta players actually doing things ingame. However, you also run the risk of trying to show off Uldah and having a ton of "HAY HOW DO I GET PINK PIG MINION" or "GCD TIMER IS RUINGING THE GAME" shouts spamming. If you can hide the chat log (I imagine they can) then perhaps this is a non-issue.

Otherwise, what is the live entertainment? Mithra cosplay dancers? The awkward "..." and live in quotation marks makes me curious. Opinions?

[solracht]

What do guest passes have to do with pre-order bonuses?

You were talking about Square-Enix. A company that gave away two extra service accounts per 1.0 CE purchase. You were saying they're not stupid and can't possibly do something that will cost them profit, so I thought bringing up a counter-example was relevant.

Either way:

As I understand it, the pre-order "DLC" requires that you actually buy a copy of ARR, by design. Any attempt to bypass that is an attempt to stiff SE out of $40-$70.

I actually don't see it this way. See this quote:

Also, please be aware that the number of early access codes will be limited and distribution will cease when the limit has been reached.

* The pre-order bonus code distribution timing and method may vary depending on the retailer.

Square-Enix has already distributed the codes to the different stores. How these codes are given to the players is up to them. If Amazon and Gamestop didn't put the correct safeguards on their code distribution system, then that was their choice. I'm really having a hard time seeing Square-Enix getting involved.

I'm done I think. If I can be bothered to find my guest codes to make an account, I'll let you know if it's banned on August 28th.

[Spider-Dan]

You were talking about Square-Enix. A company that gave away two extra service accounts per 1.0 CE purchase. You were saying they're not stupid and can't possibly do something that will cost them profit, so I thought bringing up a counter-example was relevant.

Oh, I could definitely see SE giving away free bonuses. But that is nothing remotely like players exploiting the system to get paid DLC for free.

Square-Enix has already distributed the codes to the different stores. How these codes are given to the players is up to them. If Amazon and Gamestop didn't put the correct safeguards on their code distribution system, then that was their choice. I'm really having a hard time seeing Square-Enix getting involved.

Maybe they'll just throw up their hands and say, "Oh well, you guys beat the system! Can't do anything about it now!" You know, like they do anytime the players figure out some exploit they don't approve of. (I also find it bizarre that you seem to believe SE has no interest in their distribution partners being shafted.)

The best case scenario (provided that no one on the official forums mentions anything like this for the next three months) is that SE simply revokes all (cancelled) pre-order DLC bonuses, retroactively if needed. If you really think they'll let you bilk them out of $30 without a peep, you must not have been paying attention for the last 10 years.

[Jehr]

I'm still confused why you keep saying that people are getting Square Enix for $30 for pre order bonuses.. The game itself costs $30-$40 depending on which console you get, so why would early access to a game you're going to pay a monthly subscription to, a Mog cap, and a Cait Sith minion be worth 100% or 75% of the game's value? If anything, it's like $5..

By comparison, Netherrealm recently put the pre-order only Red Son DLC costumes & missions pack up for purchase on the 360 and PS3 marketplaces, which cost 240 microsoft points, or $3.. Pre-order only stuff definitely doesn't have the value that you apparently think it does

[Spira]

i find it somewhat amusing that people are going all out for novelty cosmetic items in choosing how to buy ARR.
while i really did want the cait sith minion, i don't live in the US and i'm not even sure if I can pre-order that way. i think if I used a mail forwarding service it might work.

ultimately, i think you guys need to remember that these items (the minions especially) are only visually different and the only bonus you might get from that is people thinking "oh you had money to throw at SE". something else is going to come along the way in the very near future and you're not going to get it (FFXI proved that to me, although I'm quite lucky in the sense that I have very nice friends, some of whom buy FFXI merch even tho they don't play the game), so it may be wiser to adopt a more measured approach to these in-game bonuses now, because if you stick to it, you'd literally be throwing money at them for virtually worthless items.

as a side note: some of the bonus items for XI were actually useful, like tidal talisman (which i didn't get), destrier beret for any content <31, and chocobo shirt for lowbie jobs.