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The Mog Log: Starting new in Vana'diel
Getting started with Final Fantasy XI can be rather daunting the first time. You might be lucky to have a friend right there holding your hand through the starting areas... or you might accidentally wind up vendoring several thousand gil worth of items because you didn't properly grasp how the auction house works. Or you might throw away a bunch of zinc ore because it's taking up too much space. Or you might put yourself on everyone's blacklist by accidentally locking your chat mode in /yell. You can draw whatever conclusions you want about my early memories of the game. They're not pretty. Assuming you've mastered moving, the basics of looking around in your inventory and interacting with NPCs, and so forth, it's not always immediately evident what you're supposed to do, what the best job for a starter character is supposed to be, and so on. Thus, for those of you newly interested in the game, we have a small guide on some of the less immediately transparent elements of the game. (For those of you who already know Sky and Sea inside and out, you can skip ahead to the end. I can promise there's something there.)
Screenshot roundup: FFXI, X-Men, Rumble Roses, more
Just when you thought Rumble Roses XX couldn't get any more scandalous, they go and release even more screenshots of the battling beauties (hey, no complaints here). This title will be hitting shelves just next week, so we probably won't be seeing many more after this. And let's not forget the viewables from Final Fantasy XI. These screens are specifically from the Treasures of Aht Urhgan pack, but the Xbox 360 bundle will include that as well. A handful of Far Cry Instincts Predator images are also available. The attention to detail coming from these never cease to amaze. Don't miss out on the screenshots for X-Men: The Official Movie Game either. If this title snuck up on you, then you'll be happy to know that Zak Penn and comic writer Chris Claremont are backing this game. We could be seeing it as early as May.
FFXI box art reflects "Blighted Gloom"
1UP has images of the cover art for the Final Fantasy XI: Treasures of Aht Urhgan expansion pack for the PlayStation 2, PC, and Xbox 360 (sort of). The Xbox 360 version isn't just an expansion pack, but the entire game and all expansion packs, including Treasures of Aht Urhgan. The boxart is created by longtime Final Fantasy artist Yoshitaka Amano, and features two different themes: "Blessed Radiance" and "Blighted Gloom," both the names of quests from the current Chains of Promathia expansion. Final Fantasy XI hits the 360 on April 18th.
Final Fantasy XI release dated
Square Enix announced yesterday that their MMO Final Fantasy XI will be shipping soon to North America, Japan, and Europe, along with the upcoming PC expansion pack, "Treasures of Aht Urhgan." FFXI will be shipping in North America on April 18, with Japan and Europe following just two days later. Players have been beta-testing the title for a couple weeks now, and we've heard complaints of repetitive gameplay, an agonizing install process, dated graphics, and worse. We've made a wishlist of all the things an MMO on the 360 should do if it wants our hard earned rupees, so the question is: are the FFXI beta testers out there planning on ponying up for the full version?
FFXI beta hits the UK
OXM's free Final Fantasy XI beta disc has been a success despite a delay in the magazine's UK release; it hit newsagents on Thursday, and seems to be a big hit amongst many gamers. Our quick tips: Get your registration code handy before installing. You'll want this site if you're using the European disc. If you can, grab a USB keyboard for the installation and registration procedure. It's a lot easier than entering the requisite information the long way. Also, find something else to do during the two-hour installation. Remember your character name; if you hit the Random button, write it down! Make sure to get a copy of the US or UK manual; the registration isn't particularly complex, but the controls are. If you want to group with a friend, use the Xbox 360's private chat feature to talk rather than laboriously crafting text messages ingame. Happy adventuring in Vana'diel!
Final Fantasy XI beta testing
FFXI beta testing has begun and they need some eager testers to run it through its paces. Readers of the Official Xbox Magazine know what's going on: all you have to do is go purchase the latest issue to find the beta disc. Lucky for us Square Enix is prepared, with enough to go around for each magazine copy. Everyone will be in the same boat as a separate server is available for the beta test. So if you're an Xbox 360 owner in North America, Japan or Europe, check out the site to receive a registration code.
Final Fantasy XI beta to be available with UK magazine
Good news for people from Her Majesty's blessed shores. The popular massively multiplayer online game Final Fantasy XI is due for release on the Xbox 360 next year, and readers of the UK's Xbox 360: The Official Xbox Magazine (or OXM 360 for short) will be able to take part in the beta test in January. A disc is included free with the magazine, which goes on sale on January 5th. This is a great opportunity to preview what the next generation of gaming will be capable of; however, with the Xbox Live marketplace shaping up to be a solid content-delivery system, it's a shame the beta will not be downloadable. Beta discs are also being distributed with special Japanese 360 launch packages, but we've no word on when it will be available to our American cousins, so this may give them one reason to hate us back.
Xbox 360 - Final Fantasy XI details
"Exactly the same." That's what Square Enix representatives answered when asked about the upcoming version of FFXI for the Xbox 360. Of course, this is not entirely true, as the team has added support for HD resolutions. But for gamers hoping for a major overhaul, you're out of luck. The latest FFXI port was initially designed for the original Xbox, but complications involving PlayOnline and the Xbox Live services left the game dead in the water. Now, an agreement has been reached that will allow 360 players to connect to PC and PS2 servers via PlayOnline and enjoy the same aging game all over again (or for the first time). The Square Enix team reportedly had the next-gen port up and running in a matter of 2-3 months, expressing much delight in working with Microsoft's latest hardware.
Get into the head of a Final Fantasy XI Gil-seller
If you play Final Fantasy XI, you know what a Gil-seller is. They're the folks who hang out in the game world gathering resources 24/7, and then selling the goods for real money. The activity is against the rules. If you find one you're asked to report him to a GM. The link will take you to an interesting forum post that transcribes over 12 hours of a GM's conversation with a Chinese Gil-seller. It's a little creepy at times, because the GM is destined to turn the guy in. But as they chat you get the feeling that they're actually starting to like each other. Wasn't there a movie or two with this plot? The discussion after the post is also interesting. Some people get on the GM's case for using the guy for Chinese lessons. Others have no pity for the perp (who says he's poor and makes 8 bucks on a good day). This is one of those posts that slowly fascinates you, so give it time. [via render]
