Version Update Preview (11/06/2009)

[Ronfar]

Checked your sig...
Hahaha they made such a shit, fucked up game you felt you just HAD to lvl 12+ jobs to 75 in protest. Seriously, either you love this game or you're some kind of sadist if your willing to plough hundreds of hours of your life into a game you think is shit and/or fucked up.

For the past 2 months or so I only log on for Einherjar, and sure I used to play alot. Again to the point you cannot tell me there is anything in this update that is anywhere close to being good besides rng and the kettle shit, but I have doubts on the kettle.

Also for my job levels who cares, I wasn't working at the time and played when I didn't have homework or class, sorry for tiring to save money =(

[Ropeydonkey]

I can understand the desire for new End Game Zones, and Top line gear from a lot of folks.

These folks have played XI for years, and have created characters that are at the top end of the skills and possibilities in their job(s) and they want to push that line farther. They have worked out the end game content and zones to the point where it's just a matter of showing up and putting in the time until they get the clear/items/etc they want.

New items and challenges are needful to players like this. And as they have years invested in getting where they are now, to have the feeling that they are 'stuck' where they are is frustrating. And not getting something new to work for with an update makes it seem like a failure.

On the other hand, there are players like myself who are in the game for other reasons. One of mine is that it's a place to escape to, and relax after a days work. I get to talk to my game-friends, and work on small goals. Like getting all the MMM runes, or skilling a craft, or soloing a job to 75. And these things are rewarding because SE has created a game world with a lot of depth.

Quests like Zaldon, or the Choco Races are not things that most people will care about or use, but they make the FF XI world bigger, more complex, and more complete. They are things that a player may discover and be amused by, and chose to start doing. Just like the players in the above paragraph seek to always be stronger and better and so forth, these players look to enjoy the world of FF XI in their way and all these seemingly unimportant updates serve them.

SE is looking after all of its players. The issue is that it doesn't give every group something every time. I feel bad that End Game Top Enders didn't get something this time out, but there will come another Dynamus, Limbus, Nyzul, Odin-place etc. Perhaps next time.

And Zaldon has been good to lots of folks beyond fishermen. I know many people like Mecurial dagger that his quest makes possible to get, And I have never had any issues selling those Mecurial swords I get out of Ferry Fishies for a good price very fast when I get one. So This little bit of the FF XI world adds to others.

The fact that FF XI's world is so complex, and has so much depth is one of the reasons that ALL of us love the game, and lots of these updates serve that purpose, making the world richer. It's an investment that SE makes every update. Some don't pay off well, but each adds a little bit to the game.

Well put. And this is basically why everyone who I know that has left FFXI for another MMO, came back.

[hagun]

Seems to me that a lot of people would only be happy with the following update:

- New Uber-gear that makes ALL old gear OBSOLETE and can be obtained in NO LONGER than 30 seconds
- 204923590 new endgame zones
- Free gil on demand
- Every job able to do 9999 dmg per hit at any given time with no delay

And when they dont get this, they just DONT STOP CRYING.

Anyone who understands game mechanics will realise why SE DONT release immense new gear every update, dont give all jobs stupidly overpowered new abilities, free gil etc or a million new zones. Its a (7?) year old game that still has to run on PS2 that is being superceeded in a matter of months. Get. A. Grip.

But instead SE gives a rehash of everything that has already been had. Don't get me wrong now, there is a lot of innovative gear/events out there now since six years ago. The game is completely different and user friendly than it was three to four years ago. There is much to keep you playing if you still want to play the same game for six years now. I am really proud of SE and, to be honest, they have done a great deal to keep people interested. People are still playing, so that's all the measure of success they need. I agree with you wholeheartedly. However, most folks I know only play for certain events and mainly for the ones that aren't a massive time sink i.e. Einherjar, Limbus, Salvage, etc.

People bitch too much just about everything. SE is slow to act, but they do so for a reason. They take baby steps, but too many people expect leaps and bounds. That's just not happening though. So people will bitch and moan endlessly.

I say just relax and enjoy the game. Give suggestions and stop the bitching. However, there are lots of useless things SE does i.e. bells while completely neglecting certain aspects of the game i.e. Ballista, Fellowship Adventures, chocobos still not usable in places like Xarca, re-spawn times for old world popped NMs, etc. I personally like to see Ballista back and to make it rewarding to attract new victims...err I mean participants. That never happens though. So yeah, I can see the frustration of people who have played for six years. You can't really blame them for bitching too much since that bitching has a sound basis.

[Tomino]

I usually avoid over criticism against SE but there is something about WoTG that feels more and more wrong after every single update.

It's not reasonable to release an expansion pack that's largely based on story/lore and have it still unfinished after TWO years. Jesus, people have lives, why do I have to buy a game in 2007 and log in 2010 so i can see how the story ends?
Sure, other expansions had a similiar schedule, but nothing like WotG.
Not to mention the absence of any possible reward killed the interest for said storyline, making it impossible to clear it outside of a setparty of friends.

[Kyte]

New chocobo jackets will have Enchantment: Morph-Chocobo!

Spoiler: show

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76...failcobo-1.gif

[Starr]

There is no room left for side grading surely so maybe the new armor will obsolete some older stuff

[Pikarya]

update of the year, all years.

[Ropeydonkey]

There is no room left for side grading surely so maybe the new armor will obsolete some older stuff

I think this is what SE is trying hard NOT to do, hence all the side-grades and macro pieces. People will bitch if new gear makes something they spent ages getting obsolete.

[Mugekuge]

Well put. And this is basically why everyone who I know that has left FFXI for another MMO, came back.

No, you are wrong, that possible was over a year ago, but now people isnt coming back, i log on and do a /sea all and barely can find 1k people online, when a year ago we had over 2k people on, when you start playing other mmo's and see their version updates (that are far more common than what SE gives to us) and see all the new content other companies release, including endgame and stuff for casual players, you'll see why people bitch so much to SE, i still like FF11 but SE needs to sit and think why they keep losing so many subscribers.

[Ropeydonkey]

No, you are wrong, that possible was over a year ago, but now people isnt coming back, i log on and do a /sea all and barely can find 1k people online, when a year ago we had over 2k people on, when you start playing other mmo's and see their version updates (that are far more common than what SE gives to us) and see all the new content other companies release, including endgame and stuff for casual players, you'll see why people bitch so much to SE, i still like FF11 but SE needs to sit and think why they keep losing so many subscribers.

To be honest, I think its more a case of people seeing FF as too old. The average gamer is a graphics whore lol. Also consider that the console this game was released on is all but dead (PS2 RIP). If you look at the list of MMOs released before or around the time FFXI came out, you'll see that FFXI is doing incredibly well for its age. Remeber, WOW came out 2.5yrs later - which technologically speaking - is a massive difference.

I remember when it was up for debate whether SE would drop XI for a new game OR give it a major overhaul and ditch PS2 support. I believe if they had done this, and made the game shiny but in every other way identical to how it is now, numbers would be MUCH higher than they are. Ultimately, for a PS2 game, FFXI is doing spectacularly well.

Its also server dependant - not all servers are that bad, I cant remember the numbers but I think the recent vana census looked like numbers where fairly stable. I dont think there are THAT fewer players, but maybe average login time is lower now? More people just hopping on for events etc.

[Guppy]

Are there any good guides for raising chocobos? I've always thought it was stupid but at this point, why the hell not.

Also, if you have any questions, drop by the following threads on BG:
http://www.bluegartr.com/forum/59254-pullus-torque.html
http://www.bluegartr.com/forum/66323...o-raising.html

Even if the thread has been inactive a while, the Chocobo enthusiasts on these forums are pretty good at responding to new questions.

New chocobo jackets will have Enchantment: Morph-Chocobo!

Spoiler: show

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76...failcobo-1.gif

Ur doin it wrong:
http://www.bluegartr.com/forum/attac...ppy-cheeze.jpg

If i need to raise a chocobo what time frame are we looking at?

1 month to raise a choco right?
about 1 month to get the points for the jacket? (guesstimating here)

You can have an adult chocobo ready to ride at day 29, but I'd say day 64 is a more reasonable endpoint for finishing a chocobo (as this is when stat boosts from chocobo care plans finish up). It only takes a few minutes a day to raise a reasonably good chocobo that can earn chocobucks (but quite a bit more time and gil, if you want one with capped stats).

The length of time it will take to earn a jacket could vary greatly. We don't know if the jackets are going to be a hundred chocobucks, or a thousand (but no more than a thousand unless they make some changes, as that is the maximum you can hold at once). I used to earn about 20-30 a day, back when I was still doing them regularly. There's no cap on the number of chocobucks you can earn in a sitting, but the more you grind in a day, the more expensive it gets.

[dejet]

To be honest, I think its more a case of people seeing FF as too old. The average gamer is a graphics whore lol. Also consider that the console this game was released on is all but dead (PS2 RIP). If you look at the list of MMOs released before or around the time FFXI came out, you'll see that FFXI is doing incredibly well for its age. Remeber, WOW came out 2.5yrs later - which technologically speaking - is a massive difference.

I remember when it was up for debate whether SE would drop XI for a new game OR give it a major overhaul and ditch PS2 support. I believe if they had done this, and made the game shiny but in every other way identical to how it is now, numbers would be MUCH higher than they are. Ultimately, for a PS2 game, FFXI is doing spectacularly well.

Its also server dependant - not all servers are that bad, I cant remember the numbers but I think the recent vana census looked like numbers where fairly stable. I dont think there are THAT fewer players, but maybe average login time is lower now? More people just hopping on for events etc.

they said something along the lines that they had not lost one member... I and about 99% of the players would call BS on that lol

[Colenzo]

BEST UPDATE EVARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

[Altanass]

No, you are wrong, that possible was over a year ago, but now people isnt coming back, i log on and do a /sea all and barely can find 1k people online, when a year ago we had over 2k people on, when you start playing other mmo's and see their version updates (that are far more common than what SE gives to us) and see all the new content other companies release, including endgame and stuff for casual players, you'll see why people bitch so much to SE, i still like FF11 but SE needs to sit and think why they keep losing so many subscribers.

depressing, i remember back in the day asura was hitting 4k people daily ;-/

[ronin sparthos]

depressing, i remember back in the day asura was hitting 4k people daily ;-/

Which is why servers should be merged but we know how excited people will get when that happens.

[dejet]

Which is why servers should be merged but we know how excited people will get when that happens.

calling shit storm on BG when this does happen

"NO MY FRIENDS!"
"I will quit!"
"that server sucks why cant we go with XX"

going to be epic(epic QQing), and make BG fun for a good amount of time I bet.

maybe we can even make a sub forum for "server X know ass wipes" and list the dicks of each server.

[Xno Kappa]

That would be awesome if they merge servers. So much entertainment could be provided in a single thread for those at work.

[BRP]

lol if you played this game for over 4-5 years, perhaps it is not the game's fault you are a little bored. Just maybe it is time to move on, and without a whimper or a tantrum. An update will not introduce a whole new battle system to learn. An update will not introduce a whole other game.

This is why such conversations are useless. The participants are not rational human beings. They are bitter junkies and slaves. Their perception of videogames is completely busted. Final Fantasy XI is not a game anymore. They do not criticize a game, they curse at their japanese gods.

(Of course those who defend against this type of poster will end up having no criticism of the game, making all threads a black and white piece of shit.)

This has no true connection with the thread's subject, but it is something that could be said in everyone of these bawwfests and always be a suitable response. This is happening every time, making all of these threads unreadable.

So to be on topic: Those chocobo jackets are ballin'.

[Charismatic]

BRP, layin down the law.

[Aemora]

Yey Fishing!

Last update had 1 thing I wanted, and that was the Fey Weapons (which turned out fairly nice for Scholar, gome!). This update has Zaldon upgrades, which will lead to a lot more fishing opportunities and people to exploit in the coming months (if the 'drops' are any good at all, that is... Maybe you can like, gut a Matsya for a Khroma ore at 10% rate or something, idk, just tossing that out there Mr. SE). As well as something for the Summoner within me.

Now, a slight upgrade, nothing too much to ask, but would it be possible for SE to idk... Add Scholar to Morrigans plz?!?!?! I'm sure the coding ain't that hard >.>