Final Fantasy XIV @ gamescom 2009 (Updated)

[Shuichi]

After watching these vids, I can't wait for this game. Gonna need to take a week off work once this launches. Do want! Now to decide if I wanna be Elezan or Lalafell.

[xopher]

The numbers in the name thing is just a placeholder for this event. I'm willing to put money down that it will not be in the final game.

[Seph]

It's ok. :3

I've translated the text real quick for my linkshell forum, I'll paste it here too:

Spoiler: show

Playing Final Fantasy XIV for the first time (click for dutch blogpost with pictures!)
EA Business Lounge, 13:00. My colleague Wesley is standing next to me. I tell him that I'd love to do an interview about Final Fantasy XIV, but that it's usually incredibly hard to get a hold of the people of SE. Wesley nonchalantly answers: "Um, I just played that game". Two-tenths of a second later, I'm at the Square-Enix booth.

For those of you wondering why my reaction speed approached Usain Bolts, you have to know that I've played FFXI for several years. Too long actually. In a time where I still had time to spare to build a castle of empty coke cans around my pc. With Final Fantasy XIV there's a good chance that my personal history will repeat. I've just set the first step, but for the main course I'll have to wait until sometime in 2010.

"Concept art... speculating time!"

After some nervous shuffling at the booth the presentation finally starts. In the background I see twelve screens with Lalafells, Hyurans, Roegadyn's and the other FFXIV races. What a tease! The Square Enix-dude explains the battlesystem, among other stuff. I don't understand one word, owing to the explanation being given in German, but I'm all set to storm one of the pc's.

Emotes!

After 15 minutes of German gibberish I finally get to step on the stage to get in front of a pc. I get control over a Lalafell (the race that would get teased by all the Tarutaru's in FFXI's Vana'Diel). I hide half of my Lalafell in a nearby bush: hehe, funny sight. I take out my camera to snap a picture. "Sorry, no up close pictures". Damn! It's immediately noticeable that the character animation is much better than in XI. For example: my Lalafell's hair moves along when I run. The game doesn't look finished at all though. Many textures need to be loaded or are just missing, but that's no reason to panic. This is a (pre?)-alpha, which is absolutely not representative for the final fame. The atmosphere is a lot like FFXI. The area I'm running around in looks a lot like the green pastures from eg. Konschtat Highlands. With my teammates I get the mission to dispatch 3 beasts, with a 30min time limit. This being just one of the quests you can embark on in the game.

"New enemies in FFXIV, but here are some old faithfuls: the Cactuar and the Marlboro"

Regrettably, it all goes wrong when I'm about to test the battle system. "Grahh, it's stuck", confirms the SE-employee. My version had a lot of problems (maybe that's why the textures occasionaly completely dissappeared). Oh well, guess I'll try out some emotes! '/laugh'doesn't seem to work (or I typo'd somehow), /point is back, /panic makes the Lalafell panic just like a Tarutaru. Despite of my limited - but enthusiastic - contribution to my party, my partners succeed in killing the three beasts. The third one posed some extra trouble, because it just kept running for its life. Somewhat the opposite of FFXI, where it's you who has to keep running until reaching a zoneline tp lose an enemy. I'm curious to see if they've gotten rid of that annoying element in FFXIV.

"Day-, night- and weather-cycle in action. Ooh!"

It's much too early for a first judgement. MMO-reviews often get criticized, because they're games that require a lot of time before you can make a real assesment. After only 15 minutes of play on this version of FFXIV, it only seems normal to not make any big statements. It's actually a bit surprising that SE has the guys to come show off such a short demo at gamescom, as a lot of people might - wrongly - be scared off a bit by this demo.
You can already see that the atmosphere is very recognisable, and that it doesn't seem that SE is going for an HD-version of FFXI, but is really trying to improve the game gameplay-wise. Tomorrow we have an interview scheduled, hopefully we can all learn more there!

Thanks.

It seems that game is not really fully playable yet no wonder SE doesn't want to show it the public.

[Mistress Stowastiq]

I love the giant chickens (dodo) they were fighting. It is absolutely beautiful so far from what I have seen played. I like the way the char was running with her bow drawn. In the salutations demo, I really fell hard for the mithra and this coming from someone who prefers to play male characters. I was a bit disappointed in not seeing the little taru wide stride glide running style but had to remind myself it is a lala not a taru. The more differences I see, the more I appreciate that they are keeping both games going. Something in each game I get attached to.
Thank you for posting the chat log .

[Avé]

We're not giong to be able to put numbers in our names like in the videos are we? That'd be fucking stupid.

I hope not, it bugs me seeing numbers and starting the names with lowercase letters.

[SilverBreeze]

Anyone know dutchy to translate what it says at the bottom of the article about rainy weather? FFXIV looks good so far, and I'm liking the whole FFIX ability points system.

Did this ever get done? I could probably get a friend to look it over. Just show me what...

[Kurokikaze]

So tomorrow SE will get barraged with Beta questions... Let's hope for the best. :X

In before "Details cannot be released at this time." and they will make us wait till next month/TGS.

As for names with numbers/lower case letter - probably only for the event.

[Rautha]

ah i have sound now here at home

The screen with the blue-ish thing in the middle is:
the possibilities a character can develope as the players wish. you can fight or relax... with the "COLLECTOR" (upper left char) (i saw that correct on the blurry screenshot)....to collect raw materials or treasures (he says: art treasures) or go fishing. the next day i can make a sword and do so my smithing (upper left)

"not only to fight and kill mobs, but you get further and advance by forming several abilities....blabla...liek collector and craftsman"

ok... he explained the job system to all non-FF gamers...

he calles the blue crystal teleporter: Etherit(h)
then he explains the guildleve system. you are allowed to kill several mobs e.g 9, then you get back and get reward (weapons, items, money)

next is the compass... nothing special (red and green points)

he also mentiones the gladiator / the warrior (he says as if they are the same...just another name)

[Omniyoji]

Anyone know dutchy to translate what it says at the bottom of the article about rainy weather? FFXIV looks good so far, and I'm liking the whole FFIX ability points system.

Did this ever get done? I could probably get a friend to look it over. Just show me what...

Nope the article doesn't give any proper info on weather, just the day/night picture.
Bottom of the article just says it's too early to judge the game and that tomorrow interviews will follow that will hopefully give out more information. ^-^

I hope someone asks about character customization tomorrow, if we can make our lalafell very short and make their heads bigger, maybe they will look like our beloved tarus. :/

It's ok. :3

I've translated the text real quick for my linkshell forum, I'll paste it here too:

Spoiler: show

Playing Final Fantasy XIV for the first time (click for dutch blogpost with pictures!)
EA Business Lounge, 13:00. My colleague Wesley is standing next to me. I tell him that I'd love to do an interview about Final Fantasy XIV, but that it's usually incredibly hard to get a hold of the people of SE. Wesley nonchalantly answers: "Um, I just played that game". Two-tenths of a second later, I'm at the Square-Enix booth.

For those of you wondering why my reaction speed approached Usain Bolts, you have to know that I've played FFXI for several years. Too long actually. In a time where I still had time to spare to build a castle of empty coke cans around my pc. With Final Fantasy XIV there's a good chance that my personal history will repeat. I've just set the first step, but for the main course I'll have to wait until sometime in 2010.

"Concept art... speculating time!"

After some nervous shuffling at the booth the presentation finally starts. In the background I see twelve screens with Lalafells, Hyurans, Roegadyn's and the other FFXIV races. What a tease! The Square Enix-dude explains the battlesystem, among other stuff. I don't understand one word, owing to the explanation being given in German, but I'm all set to storm one of the pc's.

Emotes!

After 15 minutes of German gibberish I finally get to step on the stage to get in front of a pc. I get control over a Lalafell (the race that would get teased by all the Tarutaru's in FFXI's Vana'Diel). I hide half of my Lalafell in a nearby bush: hehe, funny sight. I take out my camera to snap a picture. "Sorry, no up close pictures". Damn! It's immediately noticeable that the character animation is much better than in XI. For example: my Lalafell's hair moves along when I run. The game doesn't look finished at all though. Many textures need to be loaded or are just missing, but that's no reason to panic. This is a (pre?)-alpha, which is absolutely not representative for the final fame. The atmosphere is a lot like FFXI. The area I'm running around in looks a lot like the green pastures from eg. Konschtat Highlands. With my teammates I get the mission to dispatch 3 beasts, with a 30min time limit. This being just one of the quests you can embark on in the game.

"New enemies in FFXIV, but here are some old faithfuls: the Cactuar and the Marlboro"

Regrettably, it all goes wrong when I'm about to test the battle system. "Grahh, it's stuck", confirms the SE-employee. My version had a lot of problems (maybe that's why the textures occasionaly completely dissappeared). Oh well, guess I'll try out some emotes! '/laugh'doesn't seem to work (or I typo'd somehow), /point is back, /panic makes the Lalafell panic just like a Tarutaru. Despite of my limited - but enthusiastic - contribution to my party, my partners succeed in killing the three beasts. The third one posed some extra trouble, because it just kept running for its life. Somewhat the opposite of FFXI, where it's you who has to keep running until reaching a zoneline tp lose an enemy. I'm curious to see if they've gotten rid of that annoying element in FFXIV.

"Day-, night- and weather-cycle in action. Ooh!"

It's much too early for a first judgement. MMO-reviews often get criticized, because they're games that require a lot of time before you can make a real assesment. After only 15 minutes of play on this version of FFXIV, it only seems normal to not make any big statements. It's actually a bit surprising that SE has the guys to come show off such a short demo at gamescom, as a lot of people might - wrongly - be scared off a bit by this demo.
You can already see that the atmosphere is very recognisable, and that it doesn't seem that SE is going for an HD-version of FFXI, but is really trying to improve the game gameplay-wise. Tomorrow we have an interview scheduled, hopefully we can all learn more there!

^ twice

[Kurokikaze]

By the way, Zyuu, I forgot to ask before, but what was the music like? Its really hard to listen to it from the videos that have been posted.

[Zyuu]

really appreciate your work
just out of curiosity: you needed 19 hrs?... for a 3-5 hr flight (Göteborg > Cologne)? what did you do in Amsterdam?^^

looking forward to the interview tomorrow

No, the CEO of Curse needed that. I needed 4. I'll edit the post a bit.

[Zyuu]

By the way, Zyuu, I forgot to ask before, but what was the music like? Its really hard to listen to it from the videos that have been posted.

I'm not going to comment on this now, since I honestly can't remember. It was a bit too loud in there, I'm not even sure if I heard sounds at all, I probably did, but was too busy to play the game. Heh.

[Insanecyclone]

I kind of hate that it's going to follow the same easy to use UI now in mmos but I guess it's better than something crazy but I will play it regardless so I don't fucking care.

[Averrinicus]

Zyuu as I understand it and please correct me, but engaging is just like FFXI but the way you attack and use spells is through the action bar that has each one numbered(at the bottom of the screen right?).

[Zyuu]

Zyuu as I understand it and please correct me, but engaging is just like FFXI but the way you attack and use spells is through the action bar that has each one numbered(at the bottom of the screen right?).

Yes, it's very similar.

[Averrinicus]

Yes, it's very similar.

Awesome lol I mean I'm all for a little more familiar game mechanics.

[Kurokikaze]

I'm not going to comment on this now, since I honestly can't remember. It was a bit too loud in there, I'm not even sure if I heard sounds at all, I probably did, but was too busy to play the game. Heh.

Haha its cool. I guess I'd be too focused on the game too if I were there. Thanks a lot for all the info you've been providing by the way. :D

That combat/hotkey system is WoWtacular.

[Cyn]

The video make it look like there is no auto attack, or that it's very slow if it's there... is that really the case?

[Lovian]

was the job change system shown off in action? Did you see the spells in action?

[100percentile]

The video make it look like there is no auto attack, or that it's very slow if it's there... is that really the case?

Yes, can you elaborate on this?