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The Mog Log: Assembling the gestalt of Final Fantasy XIV
We've been treated to a veritable onslaught of new information about Final Fantasy XIV of late, and when I say "treated" I mean precisely that. After all, Square-Enix's information comes at a glacial pace, to the point where they're still releasing information about Final Fantasy VII to this day. (Or squeezing blood out of that stone for all it's worth, reader's choice. I think my way is funnier.) Of course, the problem is that the information is released without a great deal of context. My hat goes off to the brave folks in the testing, scurrying about and trying to reveal as much as possible, but I know from experience what happens when your goal is "find things out" rather than "assemble a coherent picture." We know a lot of facts about Final Fantasy XIV, but we don't have a real idea of the scope of the game. For some people, that's second nature. For others, it's a challenge. And for some people, they haven't seen the piece or two that would make everything fall into place. So today, The Mog Log is taking a tour back through what we've learned and trying to put it all into some sort of overarching framework.
The Mog Log: Everybody's got something to ask except for me and my monkey
Sometimes, people don't want answers to the questions that you expect. Sometimes people come up with solutions for problems you didn't know existed. And sometimes a question still gets asked even when you thought everyone knew the answer. It's a little bit of an unorthodox time here on The Mog Log, and it's going to be a bit of an unorthodox installment of our usual question-and-answer column. So let's dive right into the Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV questions, yes? Including those that are surprisingly meta. Baalur asked: "I don't think [customizable underwear is] half as ridiculous as the author. Why should the underwear be any less stupid than, say, a pet following you around?" Well, the latter is a slavering beast that's yoked to your will, and the former allows you to take great pains to make sure that your mito'qe is wearing her Lumberjack Boxers of +5 Vitality before she goes off to tank something. I think we can agree that one is just a bit more intimidating and cool, while the other is... well, still cool, but in an entirely different fashion.
Staying in control with Final Fantasy XIV
We're likely nearing the end of useful information that can be gleaned from the current wave of testing in Final Fantasy XIV, leaked or otherwise, but what a fruitful time it has been. The game's picture has solidified so much in our minds compared to a scant few weeks ago that we can look at much of the information-heavy translated article from 4Gamer.net and see things we're already aware of. Still, there are tidbits like the nuances of the control scheme that had been largely unmentioned before now, and another set of eyes confirming some of the cooler features is certainly welcome. While it's no great surprise that the game should work well with a controller, the change to a standard WASD setup for movement should please any number of fans. Unfortunately, keybinds for individual menu windows like character status seem currently inaccessible, though that's likely to change. We also learn a little more about the ability system -- it seems that abilities are somewhat weaker on other disciplines, although they're still usable. Combine that with a number of gorgeous screenshots, and Final Fantasy XIV fans can enjoy the most recent course of information. (Oh, and yes, another mention of the underwear thing.)
The Mog Log: The people have spoken!
Actually, it's more like the people never stopped speaking. Because there's been quite a bit to talk about over the past few weeks, most of it circling around the enormous bursts of information coming out of the Final Fantasy XIV testing process. We've gotten our first few looks at what the game might look like, and compared to the lockstep class-and-level progression of Final Fantasy XI it's like the game's being developed by a whole other company. Or like it's some mixture of all the best parts of the games of yesteryear, which might not be that far from the truth. If you haven't been in the mood to talk about the new hotness, of course, there's been plenty of other things to chat about, specifically the huge March update in Final Fantasy XI that added all sorts of new widgets. (An update I was lucky enough to take a tour of, if you missed it.) So jump on past the cut for the most interesting, though-provoking, or just most noteworthy threads over the past month around the web, as determined by reader mail and whatever caught my eye before my clicking hand got tired.
Intimate apparel among Final Fantasy XIV equipment
When character creation previews started emerging for Final Fantasy XIV, one of the oft-heard bits of speculation was that there would be some way to customize your character's undergarments. Of course, the idea is on its face rather ridiculous, except for one thing: according to the most recent test article released by Famitsu, you can do precisely that. One of the points discussed from this latest bout with the game are the equipment slots available, twelve in total and including one's underclothes. While we shudder at the thought of farming a boss for underwear, it's most likely a cosmetic option. The remainder of the article, helpfully translated by FFXIVCore, goes into more details on the game's menus and emotes. The emotes are apparently quite detailed, even including shifting facial expressions. Most of the menu discussion will likely be familiar to Final Fantasy XI players, but even veterans are encouraged to take a look at the full translation. After all, lately it's rarer to not have new Final Fantasy XIV info to digest, and even little things like being able to move windows around the UI are welcome changes.
Final Fantasy XIV alpha test guide leaked
Information on the highly anticipated Final Fantasy XIV has been coming in great rushes with the testing in full swing, and what we've been hearing only whets the appetite. Robust character customization, diverse character growth, and a unique battle system all offer something at once reminiscent and yet different from Final Fantasy XI. While Square-Enix has stayed fairly tight-lipped even as we've gotten more Japanese news on the game, the first major "leak" from the test has emerged: a full disclosure of the Alpha Tester's Manual, as sent out by Square to all of the game's testers. Although many elements of the game have already been disclosed from other sources, seeing everything laid out in the manual format helps make things a bit clearer. It also goes into more details about the limitations on the test, implying that several of them (such as the 20-ability limit) are unique to this phase of testing. There are also firmer details on things like Aetheryte, which function much like Final Fantasy XII's Save Crystals. If you're interested in Final Fantasy XIV, you can still glean more information from the newest leak, but like much news on the game it might just whet your appetite.
More looks inside of Final Fantasy XIV
It's a good time to be a Final Fantasy XIV fan, with testing now in full swing and information coming out an accelerated pace. While we'd been in the dark for some time, we're now moving into almost having an information glut. FFXIVCore has been hard at work translating everything released by Famitsu, and there's a lot to digest from there, ranging from confirmation of things we've already suspected to new information altogether. Aside from several screenshots of the game in action, we find out that characters will indeed have both first and last names on creation, in the style of Guild Wars and Dungeons and Dragons Online. The battle system will apparently use staggered sets of abilities rather than steady auto-attacks, something more akin to City of Heroes than Final Fantasy XI. Learned abilities can be used regardless of a character's class, allowing extensive mix-and-match play with each character. In addition to all of that, we also learn just how deep the character building is: levels allow you to improve your stats and skill levels allow access to new abilities, but almost everything is built on player choice. There's a lot for Final Fantasy XIV fans to digest, but the game is shaping up to be very different than its predecessor while retaining the same rich flavor.
The Mog Log: How Final Fantasy XIV will crush our hopes and dreams
It seems only appropriate after last week to continue turning things on their ear. Fans of the column (I could probably just write "fan" there) have probably noticed that I talk about Final Fantasy XIV in a way not entirely separated from a child discussing their idol. I seem to maintain faith that the game will include every wonderful system ever, that it will take story and gameplay to an unheard-of level of connection, that it will be beautiful and vibrant and living, that it will bring food and water and smite our enemies. But I am not alone in this, and we are all so painfully wrong. If you have played Final Fantasy XI (and if you're reading this, odds are good), you know that Square-Enix uses hope in much the same way that Lucy uses a football. While I spent last week talking about how the old game deserves more love than we give it, this week I'm going to list five reasons why we'll be disappointed when Final Fantasy XIV arrives. (And tune in a few weeks from now when I am still not anywhere near getting into the beta. I'm a slow learner sometimes.)
Still more Japanese leaks for Final Fantasy XIV
There are male mito'qe and female roegadyn in Final Fantasy XIV. There's no word currently on whether or not they'll be playable, but the latest information put out via Famitsu indicates that they are there, at least. For some players, simply knowing that the somewhat awkwardly monogendered races from Final Fantasy XI will be reaching the wild shores of sexual dimorphism will make the latest bits of news palatable. Others would rather hear about the actual mechanics of playing the game -- and luckily for everyone, that's included with the information as well. It's confirmed that zone transitions are seamless, as is the background music (most likely with careful crossfades). There are stat differences between the much-discussed clans, but they're not a huge deal -- a far bigger difference is every class getting early access to teleportation and warp spells to make transportation less problematic. We even get a bit of meta-information telling us that testing on the Playstation 3 should be coming in another couple phases. While there's nothing world-shattering, the picture being paiinted is increasingly alluring, and it's hard to argue Final Fantasy XIV isn't learning a lot from its predecessor. The full list of leaked facts can be found here.
Final Fantasy XIV has a clan-do attitude
While we heard about Final Fantasy XIV's subraces -- called "clans" -- a week ago from Japanese fansites, today SquareEnix has released the details on their North American site. Each race has two clans, which totals 10 unique selections by the time all is said and done. Fans familiar with Final Fantasy XI's races will be pleasantly surprised by the variety offered here. The elfin Elezen are now divided into the Wildwood (forest archers) and Duskwight (grubby cave-dwellers) clans. If cutsie dolls are more to your liking, then the Lalafell are up for the job, split between the down-to-earth Plainsfolk or the darker Dunesfolk. The hulking Roegadyn are partial to extreme climates of bitter oceans and volcanic fury, which has resulted in the Sea Wolves and Hellsguard, respectively. Of course, every MMO must offer a traditional human race, which in FFXIV falls to the Hyur, who either identify as the educated Midlanders or the beefy Highlanders. Finally, the cat-like Miqo'te will choose to be either one of the Keepers of the Sun or the Seekers of the Moon. From running down this list, there's a definite light/dark dichotomy going on here, not just in skin tone but in the clans' basic philosophy. You can find information about the different versions of each of the five primary races by going to World --> Races --> Overview on the Final Fantasy XIV main menu.
FFXIV gameplay footage explores cities, chocobos and emotes
A lot of news has been coming out for Final Fantasy XIV lately, and we're quite happy to see it. Today we've got what appears to be (the first episode of what's sure to be recurring) in-game footage of players exploring one of Eorzea's cities on the game's official Japanese YouTube channel. There's a moment in the clip where the Japanese players speaking throughout are amazed to find a Chocobo and well, it's pretty entertaining to watch -- especially when the video gets to the part where it reveals that old Tarutaru emotes are fully intact. Panic! We're also getting another tiny peek at the user interface for Final Fantasy XIV in the video. From what we can see here, Square Enix is keeping the memorable "Send/Receive" graphic, which blinks with a strange hypnotic rhythm. The mini-map and health/mana bars both look quite useful yet unobtrusive, too. Overall, everything about this game screams, "Final Fantasy XI, but newer and hopefully improved." We hope that proves to be wholly true in the coming months.
Japanese site updates on Final Fantasy XIV races
When the races for Final Fantasy XIV were announced, the response was a little muted. After all, by all accounts they were just the same races we had seen in Final Fantasy XI with better models and new names. The slight differences revealed here and there via lore didn't amount to much more than speculative changes with no impact on gameplay. But that seems to be a bit further off the mark than expected, as the Japanese site for the game has updated with information about all ten races. Yes, ten. Fansites FFXIVCore and Eorzeapedia have translated the pages, showing that the different groups of a given race are more distinct than seemed possible. Each of the five races appears to be split into two groups -- Hyurans, for instance, are divided into the large and muscular highlanders alongside the more communal and common midlander. While it's not said how much stats will differ, if at all, it's strongly implied that different subgroups will be balanced in different directions a la Final Fantasy XI. There's a full rundown of the translated information here, along with a gallery highlighting the differences. Final Fantasy XIV is quickly shaping up to be full of surprises, so we can only guess at what might be next. [ Thanks to FusionX for the tip! ]
The Mog Log: Answers (and disclaimers)
In this edition of the Mog Log, every question you have ever had will be answered completely accurately. (Disclaimer: these questions must pertain to either Final Fantasy XI or Final Fantasy XIV. And they must have been asked via e-mail or comments. And it must be noted that "I don't know" is an accurate answer to a question. Also, this aside is now longer then the introductory sentence.) Aren't you excited as possible? I know I am. We'll start off with a question from Dormer: "Why aren't we getting more information from the beta?" We're not sure, but we can certainly speculate. The most logical reason is that the testing is closer to an alpha than anything and they're not letting people in that they can't trust implicitly. Square-Enix has a pretty good track record at keeping things quiet when they want to, and they're likely making sure that nothing leaks out from this phase. How much of an NDA further phases of Final Fantasy XIV's testing will have is a mystery. But there's another reason for the possible dearth of information. (Which we've intentionally put behind the cut to inspire you to keep reading.)
A little more Final Fantasy XIV information from Dengeki
Since we recently had an official update to the Final Fantasy XIV site, we're currently in the usual gap before Square-Enix releases any more information about the game. But a few new little tidbits have surfaced from Dengeki Games, an offshoot of the same Dengeki Playstation magazine that's provided many translated tidbits for players. Eorzeapedia has a translation up with the new information, which includes some dissection of the above UI screenshot and a few more nuggets of information. Oddly, one of the most interesting bits of information is what the red icon located next to the enemy name indicates. (That would be just to the right of the player character in the image.) The effect is apparently similar to that of colored enemy names in several MMOs, but with a twist -- rather than providing you with information about the enemy, it compares the overall strength of the enemy party with your current party. Also included in the news is the fact that testing will take place at differing times worldwide, as well as a few more hints about unlocking popular traits like dual wielding. While it's not going to answer all of your questions, the newest translation should help stoke your appetite for Final Fantasy XIV's release hopefully coming this year.
The Mog Log: A little more conversation
Well, gee, not much has happened since the last time we did a community spotlight in this column. Except maybe for that little VanaFest thing, and huge drops of new info on Final Fantasy XIV, and the beginning of the latter's beta testing. So, yeah, slow month all around. This should be a pretty short column, I might just start talking about my favorite beers toward the end. All joking aside, a lot has been happening, and it has produced more than a few diverse opinions. The immediate response to the VanaFest announcements for Final Fantasy XI was covered a couple weeks ago, but there's still the specifics to be hammered out. After all, it's hard to take in server merges, level cap raises, massive content drops and new add-ons all in one go. Not to mention that we do still have another game coming in the not-so-distant future, one that's shaping up to have an interesting positional aspect to gameplay. So let's take a look at some of the noteworthy talk from Final Fantasy's webwide community.
Official Final Fantasy XIV site updated
The official site for Final Fantasy XIV follows several Square-Enix site traditions, by being designed entirely in Flash and having an obnoxiously slow update schedule. Thankfully, an official update has just hit the site, both in the form of several new screenshots (including the lovely in-game shot seen above) and more solid ability information about several of the game's disciplines. Much of it mirrors what we'd seen in early leaks from Japanese magazines, but the abilities and spells of each class shed more light on how the game will play. Conjurers are apparently going to play similar to Scholars, with both traditional black and white magic spells in their arsenal, as well as unique tricks such as being able to cast while moving. Thaumaturges, meanwhile, inherit several Dark Knight draining/sacrificing abilities along with several status ailments. And those are just the two casting professions -- each of the five physical damage professions seem poised for a wide variety of ability combinations, along with a heavy emphasis on position. The beta information for Final Fantasy XIV still seems to be restricted, but the game is already looking intruiging for both fans of the series and general MMO players.
The Mog Log: Those grapes were probably sour anyway
So, guess what beta I didn't get an invitation for. You can go consult with the instant replay if you want, I can wait. I know that everyone is stunned. I certainly was. Of course, I assuaged my sadness by telling myself that I didn't really want to be in their stupid beta anyway, because I bet it smells bad and it sets my computer on fire. That line of reasoning worked real well. I don't honestly think my column got me kicked from the running for a Final Fantasy XIV beta slot, but it's a bit more reassuring than the idea that I just didn't get picked for some other reason. (I'm putting money on Square-Enix not knowing I exist, for the record.) All things considered, I can live without the beta, even though I'm chomping at the bit to play the game. But I'm not the only person, place, or thing not currently darting about the world of Eorzea. And as long as I'm on a streak of making long-winded predictions, why break with formula? There are three other things that I suspect aren't in the beta either, and I intend to make a guessing game out of seeing how close I am to the truth.
The Daily Grind: What would you break the NDA for?
It's easy to miss amongst all of the GDC 2010 coverage and news, but Final Fantasy XIV and All Points Bulletin went into beta this week. Of course, not much new information has surfaced about either, both due to the relatively short time they've been out there and to the three letters that are the bane of any tester's existence: the NDA. Those documents are the barrier between whatever fun gameplay (or buggy, glitchy nightmares) the testers are experiencing and the eager public, and Mark Jacobs has gone so far as to say on record that the earlier the NDA drops, the more confident a company is in its game. That doesn't mean that the NDA is an ironclad protection, of course. There are always one or two testers that find something so surprising, in either direction, that they consider it worth breaking the rules and being thrown out of testing for the chance to break a story. So put yourself in their shoes. What sort of things could you uncover within a game you were testing that would inspire you to break an NDA? Would you be more likely to break it for good news, or to warn other people off from a mess of a game?
Advance leaks from Famitsu and Dengeki shed more light on Final Fantasy XIV
The first round of testing is just around the corner, and for some people that means that Final Fantasy XIV is holding much more mental real estate than the just-released Final Fantasy XIII. All things considered, information is likely to start coming fast and furious as soon as the testing opens, but some advance copies of Famitsu and Dengeki Playstation have made their way into the hands of people who just can't wait another day. FFXIVCore has helpfully translated the information available, which already paints an interesting picture of how the game will play. Fighting is confirmed to be on the move, with a strong emphasis on positioning and MP conservation. We've also got some picture of how the classes will play, with Pugilists inheriting a workalike to Provoke and Gladiators inheriting Phalanx and Shield Bash, albeit with different characteristics. There's also talk about Miners and Blacksmiths working in parties, pointing out utility for gathering or crafting disciplines in groups. We've also got a little information on the Illusionist, meaning most likely that an official site update is on the way. With testing beginning soon, expect Final Fantasy XIV information to become more and more available -- but what we're hearing so far definitely sounds like a good ride.
GDC10: Massively's day 1 roundup
Massively staffers descended on GDC 2010 yesterday like a horde of....well, Horde. Our intrepid reporters are slaving away with microphones, tape recorders, and keyboards in hand to make sure you get all the latest MMORPG tidbits directly from the folks making the games. We'll be bringing you a ton of content over the next few days, so fear not if your favorite forthcoming game hasn't received the red carpet treatment. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled throughout the remainder of the week, and in case you missed it, here's a brief rundown of yesterday's coverage. Fallen Earth iPhone app demo Sword of the New World additions Taikodom coming to America EA to publish Copernicus' Project Mercury Battlestar Galactica MMO revealed FFXIV Beta via FFXIII DCUO Mass Animation contest Can't get enough of our GDC 2010 coverage? Check out our Sword of the New World GDC 2010 gallery below, and be sure to return throughout the week as we continue to bring you all the latest on your favorite games and developers. %Gallery-87809%
