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The Mog Log: Far too much accountability
Sometimes, it's really hard to figure out what in the world Square-Enix is thinking. I don't really make a habit of defending Square on principle; I defend stuff that's defensible in the first place. There are decisions that might seem odd, but they make logical sense and can actually be defended in the correct light. That's mostly a function of trying to see a reasonable set of decisions and reasonable motivations amidst what can sometimes seem baffling. It's not always an easy road. And then there are times when I can't even start to decipher what in the world anyone in the management train was thinking. Even when I do decipher the thought process that led to the action, it's the sort of thing that leads to some mixture of bafflement and irritation at the overall lack of thinking. That's my reaction when I look at the whole Square-Enix Account merger fiasco for Final Fantasy XI -- something that could have been a great idea but wound up just being an overall terrible execution.
Final Fantasy XI to merge PlayOnline accounts with Square-Enix accounts
For a long time now, PlayOnline has been the albatross that Final Fantasy XI players have to contend with. The fact that the service essentially serves as an oversized launcher for the game has long been a point of mild frustration to console gamers and a massive annoyance to PC players. But change is coming in the form of an upcoming account merge, merging all PlayOnline IDs into Square-Enix accounts and removing the cumbersome launcher-based process for handling service changes. The change will begin rolling out at the end of July and will run until August 31st, giving players ample opportunity to complete the transfer process and manage accounts solely through the website. While a full walkthrough is not yet available, preliminary questions have already been answered in an official support topic. Final Fantasy XI will still need to launch through the PlayOnline service, but it should be a boon to players to have at least one less set of account credentials to misplace.
Subscribing to both Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV gets you bonuses
Players have been wondering for some time if there would be any reason to continue subscribing to Final Fantasy XI after the release of Final Fantasy XIV. Not that the two games are wholly interchangeable, but the audience for both is likely to be similar. Square-Enix seems to have considered this and, as a result, players subscribing to both games will get three bonuses for playing both games. The first is the most significant from a material standpoint -- the base cost of a subscription to Final Fantasy XI will be discounted to $7 a month for an account with both games linked. The other two bonuses are for veterans of the game, but equally appealing. Players with a character already created in FFXI will be able to import their character name to Final Fantasy XIV, with the character name being the given name and the server name as the family name. (So "Jejeune" on the Fairy server would be named Jejeune Fairy.) And as a last carrot, FFXIV characters will receive a special item on creation, the Hermes Shoes. So if you're planning on picking up FFXIV and already play FFXI, now would be the time to link the PlayOnline account.
Celestial Nights (and days) coming to Final Fantasy XI
While there are those who might argue that the release of the June version update is celebration enough, Final Fantasy XI isn't the sort of game to let a couple of months go by without some Vana'dielian holiday event. It's time for another fun trip into the celebration of summer, and this year's festivities promise to celebrate everyone's favorite part of the season: young lovers dying unpleasantly. At least, that's what this year's piece of introductory fiction for the Celestial Nights is promising, along with the ever-popular profiteering moogles. Unlike several events in Final Fantasy XI, the actual process of the event over the past two years has remained fairly static, as has the backstory regarding the event. In short, it's a chance for characters to get some unique furnishings and the ever-popular decorative pieces of armor. This year's event will be starting on June 29th, running for two weeks until July 13th. Avid players can brush up on the guide from prior years for a good idea of how this year's festivities will most likely take place.
Fantasy Earth Zero Q&A
Fantasy Earth Zero is a game with a bit of an odd pedigree, coming to the US years after Square-Enix released it in Japan, going from part of Square's overarching PlayOnline service to a free-to-play game after a weak launch. The announcement only came early this year that it was finally being brought over, and there's unfortunately little information for those of us in the English-speaking world about the game. As a result, a recent interview on Warcry with more details on the game is a welcome dose of solid information, with Gamepot USA's Sheloman Byrd and Nicholas Niers both taking part. A point hit repeatedly in the interview is that level will not be a primary determinant in the game's PvP -- player skill is promised to have a bigger impact. PvP is also one of the game's primary leveling mechanics, as the conflict between kingdoms includes experience gain. The core of battles between castles involve constructing towers while destroying those of the other side, with a large-scale map and changing objectives as one side loses or obtains new territory. The whole effect sounds interesting, so take a look at the full interview, and keep your eyes peeled for more information on Fantasy Earth Zero's upcoming beta.
Square-Enix announces VanaFest 2010
With Final Fantasy XI entering its eighth year of operation and Final Fantasy XIV just around the corner, fans of Square-Enix have plenty to be excited about. But there's even more good news -- the company has just announced VanaFest 2010, the official fan gathering for the game, on February 28th in Tokyo. The official announcement, mirrored on Pet Food Alpha, makes a strong point that there will be a great deal of information about upcoming job changes and game updates coming for Final Fantasy XI. It seems that even with its big brother on the horizon, Square is still committed to its older game, a welcome sight for many fans. There's also an undisclosed "special announcement" rumored to be coming at the convention. Pet Food Alpha also has a few additional pieces of information. The tickets for the event will be free of charge, but will only be available to players with an active Japanese POL ID since December 2008. Attendees will be lucky enough to receive the pictured chocobo cap, while those unable to attend will have to be content with the new information coming out of the convention. With any luck, a similar event will be held for American and European players, but even just knowing that new facts are incoming for the game should be enough to get fans worked up.
The sad fate of the PlayOnline Viewer
Those of you who are currently playing Final Fantasy XI or who have played it in the past will remember the PlayOnline Viewer. Those of you who haven't will have no idea what it is, which might be for the best. Square-Enix originally included the program with the launch of Final Fantasy XI with the expectation that it would serve as a hub for a variety of different online games, so it would serve as a chat program, a launcher, a social network hub, and a support site. Of course, when you think of all those things, what you probably think of is Steam, which does all of those things quite well. The PlayOnline Viewer, on the other hand, has proved excellent at doing... well, it mostly means more clicks before you get into FFXI. And as Pet Food Alpha has recently noted, it also seems to be hosting wholly unmoderated explicit chat rooms. Square-Enix has stated that Final Fantasy XIV will not use the viewer, which means they seem to have abandoned it as a poor idea. Steam works, in part, because it sells a variety of both online and offline games, most of which don't come from its parent company. With a clunky interface and strange functional restrictions on it, it's hardly a surprise that the service never took off... but in light of recent events, the company's policy to ignore it completely might not be the best plan.
Ranger, beastmaster, and summoner targeted for job adjustments in Final Fantasy XI
No, you can't curve the bullets just yet, but Final Fantasy XI's next set of job adjustments, coming in the November version update, is targeting three classes -- the ranger, the summoner, and the beastmaster.In the first part of the job adjustment news, Square-Enix has released details on the changes coming to the ranger. Two of the changes really stand out, including the adjustment of Velocity Shot's ability duration from five minutes to two hours and the addition of textual notifications that will tell the ranger how successful their shot was from where they were standing.
Final Fantasy XI's November version update announced
While it was a foregone conclusion that we'd be seeing a content update in Final Fantasy XI very soon, thanks to the release of the trailer for "A Shantotto Ascension," we now have confirmation on the target month for the gigantic update -- November.The November version update will include new Wings of the Goddess nation quests, more Moblin Maze Mongers features, a mysterious new "item related system," and a continuation of the job targeted enhancements. The next few months will be filled with exciting news as we'll get to find out what jobs are being targeted for changes during this update and what exactly this mysterious new system is.Of course, the version update will also come with the newest mini-expansion, "A Shantotto Ascension," which we have the trailer for already! So check out the trailer, and stay tuned to Massively for all the information related to the upcoming version update!
Square-Enix not discontinuing authentication tokens, authenticators now back in stock
Looks like we can put a rumor to rest for y'all. As we reported on earlier, some people were wondering if Square-Enix was discontinuing their authentication token program as it never looked like the tokens were being re-added to the stock.We've spoken to Square-Enix regarding this matter, and they've laid the rumor to rest for us. The authentication tokens are not being discontinued (as they are pretty popular) and have now been re-stocked back into the store. We here at Massively highly recommend tossing the 10 bucks towards the token, if you can afford it, as it gives you access to the amazingly useful Mog Satchel -- a second inventory for your character. Better act fast, however, as these tokens fly out of the store very shortly after being restocked.To purchase an authenticator, log into PlayOnline, go to the Final Fantasy XI top page, select optional services, and then click security token sales.
Final Fantasy XI's July version update lands on the servers
Kupo, fellow adventurers! The July version update is here, and it has brought many tasty treats with it including the brand new add-on pack, "A Moogle Kupo d'Etat!"We here at Massively have kept you up with all of the developments in the July version update including the new job abilities for ninja, the new additions coming to the Fields of Valor quest system and the new blue mage spells, and the brand new item augmentations for characters over level 50. Even with all of that coverage, however, we still didn't get everything that's been added in this new update!More campaign missions, more mazes for Moblin Maze Mongers, new campaign areas, and the brand new addition of the "union" party system to the Campaign lets more players play together to save past Vana'diel from the destruction of the beastmen and win wonderful brand new items!For all of the changes and additions, check out the patch notes page available on the Final Fantasy XI main site, and enjoy all of the new content!
More adjustments to Final Fantasy XI jobs with the next version update
More information pours in regarding the upcoming Final Fantasy XI July version update, and the news is all very positive. No nerfs are hiding on the horizon for the game -- instead it's just clear sailing with improvements to combat skill progression, circle protection spells, and blue magic.All players will be happy to see Square-Enix has noted that combat and magic skills are suffering while players level quicker via the Fields of Valor quests and level sync. Because players are spending less time in each level, their skills in combat and magic are simply not advancing fast enough. To combat this, the rate of advancement for skill in weapons and magic has been boosted for the low and mid levels of the game.
E3 2009: Final Fantasy XIV is not PS3 exclusive, more details revealed
Today we got to spend some time with the team of Final Fantasy XIV in a seekret Square-Enix press conference at E3 and land some goodies about the game.While the team was generally tightlipped about what they had planned for their next MMO, the one thing they were very clear about was that PC users will be able to jump into the Final Fantasy experience once more. While the game is currently a console exclusive for the PS3, a Windows version will be releasing at the same time.In addition, the team did mention that they were still "considering all hardware possibilities" regarding the game. While it's not a full confirmation that the game will be coming to other consoles, it doesn't exactly write out the possibility either. Perhaps the game will be a timed exclusive, much like FFXI has done, rather than a full exclusive, but there is no clear indication that this is the path they will take at this time.So what else has the team revealed? Follow us after the break and we'll drop the other details we know on FFXIV.%Gallery-65025%
Final Fantasy XI celebrates seven years with their Adventurer Appreciation campaign
It's been seven eventful years since chocobos and moogles have invaded MMOs, and Final Fantasy XI is still going strong as they celebrate another anniversary with their player base. Of course, any intrepid adventurer knows what the Adventurer Appreciation holiday is all about. It's not that the moogles come out and give away free items or how they recount many insane statistics to you, like how many times you've talked to NPCs. No, it's not about any of that.It's about getting your Anniversary Ring to boost experience gain again! Wooooo hooooo!*Ahem* Excuse me. It's more than just getting a massive experience boost. Especially this year, with the rumor of ancient and powerful Mog Tablets resurfacing across all of Vana'diel. Who knows what's truly in store for this year's event, but it's certain to be worth your while! The campaign will start with the appearance of moogles in the city squares on May 12th and will end on May 25th.Remember, if you still have your ring from last year, use your charges before getting a new one! You can't get a new one, until you throw your old one away!
Final Fantasy XI's community team goes on a podcast tour
The Final Fantasy XI community team members are going on a virtual tour, stopping by each of the major podcasts to answer some questions and get in-depth with what they do on the long running fantasy MMO.Pet Food Alpha, Limit Break Radio, and He Says She Says will each be playing host to various members of the community team, with Pet Food Alpha leading the way on the first show. PFA will be covering topics on global support, as well as the premier and community websites with special guest Robert Peeler. He Says She Says will be all about the many in-game seasonal events with special guest Matt Hilton, and Limit Break Radio will be covering the topic of live events with both Matt Hilton and Robert Peeler.Pet Food Alpha has already posted the first show, with the He Says She Says show coming only two days away from now on May 6th. Lastly, Limit Break Radio will be posting their podcast on May 13th, next Wednesday.
Massively's hands-on with Final Fantasy XI's April version update
Prophecy, valor, campaign, and item augmentation, oh my! This latest version update was packed with goodies for the Final Fantasy XI player base, making sure that something for everyone was included in the game. I recently got the chance to sit down with the Final Fantasy XI team and play through some of the content, experiencing what their newest mini-expansion, A Crystalline Prophecy, had to add to the game.Past that, I also had the chance to see the new Fields of Valor areas in action, aid the Mithras in defending Windurst from the beastmen during the Crystal War, and experience some of the hard tasks in the campaign missions first hand.So does the April update get a thumbs up? Is Crystalline Prophecy worth the ten bucks? Those questions and more will be answered within.
Massively's hands-on with Final Fantasy XI's April version update pt. 2
The Crystal War Missions of Campaign The new missions in the Campaign area of the game offer some tough challenges and nice rewards for players looking to further the storyline of Wings of the Goddess. Of special note are the cutscenes, which were very emotional and also very beautiful. Compared to some of the original cutscenes that the game shipped with, these new scenes are very active and dramatic. Funny characters, camaderie, and full blown combat were abound in the seven minute cutscene I watched -- all which included my character fighting back to back with some of Windurst's most talented military heroes. The boss battle I got to participate in was tied directly into the events of the prior cutscene, as players need to use clues from the cutscenes to locate where to go and what to do. In our battle, one of the Mithras was injured as she fended off hordes of beastmen with a slew of grenades, forcing our party to find her and help defend her. Unfortunately, once we located her door, we were attacked by a group of beastmen that included a very powerful boss. Even with five well geared level 75 players, including me as the white mage with my brand new white mage abilities, the boss took a considerable amount of time (and a little cheating) to defeat. As to the fate of the injured Mithra... let me just say that I was a little heartbroken by the end of the cutscene, and I only knew the character for ten minutes. Our overall impressions of the version update and mini-expansion are... For a game that's close to seven years old to feature challenging, engaging content, well-written story, and beautiful graphics is in itself amazing. The version update even seems to be slowly upending the former hardcore playstyle of FFXI, creating a more welcoming game for newbies and veteran players alike. If you have Final Fantasy XI and have let your account lapse, my suggestion is to certainly come back and give the new version update a try -- especially regarding additions like the Fields of Valor. FFXI has evolved from a game of ruthless intentions into a challenging, but rewarding experience for those who are willing to stick with it. Additions like being able to add your own stats to items via item enhancement only make the game more approachable for today's World of Warcraft audiences. The version update brings much to the game and makes for a thumbs up. A Crystalline Prophecy, however, is a little shaky. While the content starts at level 30, it cannot be finished until the player is level 75. The storyline looks to be decent and the end reward seems to be worth 10 dollar price tag, but the level 75 requirement pushes this one into the territory of "buy it if you can finish it." This isn't an expansion I would recommend for players just starting with the game, but it certainly is a purchase for those who are already FFXI veterans. But, newbies, if you can afford the 10 dollar price tag and have a character at or over level 30, go ahead and grab it. It's a nice addition to the game, especially for a price of 10 bucks.
Final Fantasy XI's Feast of Swords is back again for another swing
It's springtime! The birds are in the air, the flowers are in bloom, and crazy armor stealing brigands are back in Vana'diel. That means the moogles are once again handing out swords and imbuing them with moogle magic to fight back the malice of the brigands. It's the Feast of Swords!Participating in this event is pretty easy, but it's recommended you bring a class that has a high amount of hit points and include white mage as your subjob. Simply visit a moogle at any one of the major FFXI cities and pick up your magical sword. Be careful though, as you'll be brought down to a level restriction of 1, but no monsters will be interested in attacking you. You will also have the benefit of enhanced movement speed, so you can track down those armors.Taking down one of the magical armors will allow you to trade your sword in for some neat event prizes, like food that turns you into a kid, medals that teleport you to a city's chocobo stables, or even one of the special yearly swords. But participate soon! This event is being sheathed come May 12th.
Square-Enix security tokens on sale Tuesday!
If you've been waiting to get your hands on one of those Square Enix authenticator tokens to keep your Final Fantasy XI account safe and sound, then you're in for some great news. Square Enix has announced that they will start selling their security tokens on Tuesday, April 7th in Japan, North America and Europe. These new tokens will cost $9.99 US and will be available for purchase through the PlayOnline viewer. Also, if you opt to pick up one of the security tokens, you'll get a special in-game bonus item called "The Mog Satchel." Apparently this nifty new item will grant you additional inventory space equal to a character's Gobbiebag capacity - up to 60 slots! Additionally, it will "benefit all characters on the PlayOnline account(s)". Now as to whether that means shared communal space between all the characters or just the ability to have one on each character, they didn't explain. Square Enix did note that the bag would be able to be accessed from anywhere; the Mog House or while out running around adventuring. For $10 to ensure your account's security and to score up to an additional 60 inventory slots? We know we'll be making that investment, kupo.
Starting out in Vana'diel: Community, controls and cooperation
Hello there adventurers! It's Thursday, and that means more tips for those of you who are new to Vana'diel.This time around we have some less documented topics to talk about -- the controls of Final Fantasy XI, how to get into groups and how to run groups, and answer one of the questions presented by reader Green Armadillo in last column's comment area.I know these topics may seem weird for a recurring feature that is suppose to be a guide to starting out in Final Fantasy XI. You would think I would be tackling more game play issues or tips on how to level. However, these topics play right into getting the most out of your FFXI experience. Knowing these things is going to help you tremendously in Vana'diel, so let's stop talking about it and get down into it.
