FFXIV Closed Alpha/Beta Discussion (Cancelled for this week)

[Kurokikaze]

I'm so confused by that sentence... lol

[Eldan]

this isn't anything. All sites such as amazon and gamestop use a 'filler' and false date just so they can get preorders going faster. Thats all. There is no release date for FFXIV at the moment. This has always happened for years now i don't know why people continue to think when one of these dates pop up its a confirmation.

That doesnt mean we can't be disappointed when amazon pushes it back!

[Corrderio]

I think Amazon is pretty close for release date. December sounds accurate, but I'm expecting late December for a release.

[Eldan]

I think Amazon is pretty close for release date. December sounds accurate, but I'm expecting late December for a release.

Im sure it was an educated guess, but in the end it's still just that, a guess. It sounds accurate because you are educated as well :D

[Kaslo]

Actually early December would be a good time, get all those College kids just finishing Finals with a month free.

[Vacht]

One thing I do wonder about is the seamless world. In FFXI, dat mining ruined the surprise for a lot of things, and many mysteries were worked out by examining, say, the monsters and their positions within a zone's dat file.

In FFXI, a monster can only exist in zones with a dat for it, and a zone can only contain monsters found within it's dats. There was no global dat of any sort. In FFXIV, without zones, you could potentially bring a monster from the overworld into a dungeon, through where the zoneline would be if there were zones. Or from outside into a town. Or from one region to the next, due to there being no zonelines. As such, there'll likely be a more global dat structure so it won't be as simple to figure out where certain monsters, dialogue, or points of interests reside.

Checking up on a new quest won't be so simple as checking Gridania's dats, or figuring out where the new NMs are won't be as simple as snooping into the dats for a few zones.

This should add a little more mystery back into the game, that FFXI started to lack once dat mining became prevalent.

My guess is there will be a 'limbo' area in between each zone and dungeon - to give time to load while running from one zone to another. I noticed in pooky's video there are long tunnels from each zone to another. If so, zones would remain the same in XIV, unfortunately :/


12/31/2010 for release.

[Lunarhawk]

They should fill the tunnels with bats that can confuse you and you end up damaging yourself

[Vacht]

They should fill the tunnels with bats that can confuse you and you end up damaging yourself

Only if batman is on the other side

[mintyice]

Actually early December would be a good time, get all those College kids just finishing Finals with a month free.

yes pleaseeee!

[Cutriss]

Yes, obviously, if you are looking from the perspective of the casual shit like this is invisible. "OCD" lol.

Shit son, I did Salvage for two years. You think that shit's casual? Trophies aren't going to ruin it for me.

It's not all black and white. You can be non-casual and not care about whether or not you get all the trophies. I think you just need to get a reality adjustment.

Then again, I guess I do too, for even thinking you can be reasoned with.

BRPlimitations.

[Skeptic]

Hello everyone, first time poster, long time fan of the Thread, as well as the Site. Been meaning to register, but work has me strung out >.<

I personally speculate a Q4 release would be the most reasonable for SE. They'll want to end out their 2010 Fiscal year pretty well with some money from XIV. Then you'll have not only XIV players first Christmas event, but New Years, and Valentines will follow. Speaking of Christmas event, you got Christmas also. The way they pushed the PS3 test to B2 like that means they're still working on a lot it seems. I'd hope that XIV drops in Q4, but it seems fifty/fifty at the moment.

[Loaar]

Pushed the PS3 test to B2? I haven't seen anything that say it was ever going to be earlier. In fact, it makes sense to add the PS3 to the testing once they have some decent testing under their belts (which will be in B2 at the earliest).

[Lunarhawk]

imo they should drop the PS3 so the PC version isn't held back

[Skeptic]

Pushed the PS3 test to B2? I haven't seen anything that say it was ever going to be earlier. In fact, it makes sense to add the PS3 to the testing once they have some decent testing under their belts (which will be in B2 at the earliest).

Developer Q&A session

Q. How long do you expect the alpha and beta tests to last?
A. The alpha test is a low-population test that we’re running on one server only. The server’s name is “Shadowlord.” The test will last for four hours in each region (Japan, Europe and North America) and take place three days a week. After we’ve tested the stability and the load the servers can take, we will be moving into Beta test phase one (B1 –Manly). B1 will be the same as alpha, but take place on multiple servers. Since we’ll also be testing different speeds of character growth, we’ll be going through a few data wipes, as well. After that, we’ll start Beta test phase two (B2), which will reflect the feedback we received from our testers. From B2, servers will run 24 hours a day and the product will be much closer to the finished version. The PS3 testing will also start from this version. From B2 we plan on increasing the number of world servers used and increase the servers’ load slowly to a few hundred thousand people to get ready for normal service. Finally, the few weeks right before we begin service, we’ll hold an open beta test, but only Limsa Lominsa and its surrounding region will be playable. This is under a fifth of what will be playable in the final version.

Via FFXIVCore.com

;;

[Akiyama]

imo they should drop the PS3 so the PC version isn't held back

Yeah, let's take out the console market completely. That's a good way to make more money.

[King Zuca]

Hello everyone, first time poster, long time fan of the Thread, as well as the Site. Been meaning to register, but work has me strung out >.<

I personally speculate a Q4 release would be the most reasonable for SE. They'll want to end out their 2010 Fiscal year pretty well with some money from XIV. Then you'll have not only XIV players first Christmas event, but New Years, and Valentines will follow. Speaking of Christmas event, you got Christmas also. The way they pushed the PS3 test to B2 like that means they're still working on a lot it seems. I'd hope that XIV drops in Q4, but it seems fifty/fifty at the moment.

man i want a Q4 release like i want to find a half naked jessica biel under my tree this christmas. but honestly, my hopes are'nt too high. SE dropping two installments in the series in one year? woo! SE woudl love that. but when is tha last time they did that? lol. i dont know, and im not a pessimist, but im feeling like a Q1'1011 realease

[GRT]

Wow, thanks for a much clearer explanation of the beta phases.

[Skeptic]

Yeah, let's take out the console market completely. That's a good way to make more money.

I bought myself and my Wife a PS3 for this game. I plan on making her my personal crafter (slave?). If I wasted all that money I'll be pissed.

[Klaatu]

Finally, the few weeks right before we begin service, we’ll hold an open beta test, but only Limsa Lominsa and its surrounding region will be playable. This is under a fifth of what will be playable in the final version.

Even more proof that the world is gonna be huge!

[Akiyama]

I bought myself and my Wife a PS3 for this game. I plan on making her my personal crafter (slave?). If I wasted all that money I'll be pissed.

Yeah.. I wouldn't worry. SE needs the sales from the PS3 along with the PC so it'll push more product. That and honestly.. with the amount of people asking 'is my PC good enough to run FFXIV well enough' (me included).. the PS3 is an easy way to solve all of that.