Category: Editorials

Is FFXI Going To Start Phasing Out The PS2? No Expansion Outside Japan


The recent announcement of a new boxed expansions for Final Fantasy XI brought a swell of joy from the aging MMO’s community. Except for the Playstation 2 community, because earlier today Square Enix clarified on the announcement to point out that Seekers of Adoulin will not be releasing on the Playstation 2 outside of Japan, hence the ominous absence of the PS2 on the trailer we posted.

Is Square Enix greasing the wheels to start phasing out support for the Playstation 2? It is absolutely possible, as Sony Online Entertainment did with Everquest Online Adventures earlier this year. It is absolutely possible, considering the ripe old age of the Playstation. The full statement is below:

“I’d like to take a moment to clarify which platform Seekers of Adoulin will be available on for those that have been asking. We will continue to support North American FINAL FANTASY XI players on the PlayStation 2, Xbox 360 and PC (Windows) platforms. However, FINAL FANTASY XI: Seekers of Adoulin will only be available on the Xbox 360 and Windows platforms in North America when it is released in 2013.”

TERA Introducing Chronoscrolls


What are Chronoscrolls, I can hear you asking. In Eve Online, CCP allows players to buy Pilot License Extensions, or PLEX, which act as one subscription. These are physical items that are traded in-game, making it possible for another player to play Eve completely free as long as they are able to generate enough income to buy PLEX off of other players, while the player selling the PLEX is technically buying gold but in a safe environment, and of course CCP gets paid all the same.

Chronoscrolls are essentially the same thing. On June 28th, players will be able to buy and trade Chronoscrolls through the game’s market. They cost $14.99 (naturally) and are available to purchase on the EME store. You cannot trade directly with another player, destroy them, put them in your bank, or sell them to a vendor. They can only be traded through the broker house.

Chronoscrolls represent a potentially large increase in revenue for En Masse Entertainment as long as a lot of players are buying them.

(Source: TERA Website)

Buy $20 Mercenary Pack, Get DUST 514 Beta Access


Earlier this year, CCP announced that the initial cover charge for DUST 514 would be removed in favor of simply making the game free with a cash shop. Now, if you are like me and bought a $20 Playstation Network card in advance, you are not entirely out of luck. In a CCP press release today, the company has announced the release of a $19.99 Mercenary Pack.

The pack contains a number of goodies: guns, grenades, xp boosters, etc, but what it also includes is guaranteed beta access to DUST 514. While regular key holders will only be able to play during beta weekends, Mercenary Pack holders will have more opportunities to get in and start shooting.

The Mercenary Pack is $20 on the Playstation Store.

(Source: Massively)

Falling Out #10: True Story


I often receive advertising offers from gold farming websites. Yes, because nothing says a website worth working with to a developer than advertising for criminals.

Squeal of Fortune Isn’t Pay To Win, But It Is A Waste Of Money


Back in April, Jagex started selling spins for Squeal of Fortune, igniting a heavy discussion on the company’s changing position on microtransactions and real world trading. After all, Jagex has lead us to believe for years that buying an advantage is the most evil thing a person could do, next to punching an orphan with one hand while drowning his puppy with the other. How much does Jagex hate real world trading? Enough to neuter the game for years at the expense of their subscriber numbers and the good will of their community. So far Jagex’s response to criticism has been to change the rules to allow Squeal of Fortune.

Now that Squeal of Fortune has been out for a few months and players have so graciously invested their own money for the sake of science, we can finally get a consensus on whether or not the mini-game does indeed offer an advantage. And the answer is absolutely not. Through many thousands thrown at Jagex, the general consensus that I have seen is that Squeal of Fortune does indeed offer a good amount of gold and experience, at incredibly expensive prices. Compared to gold farmer prices, the equivalent at $200 in spins offering just a couple million gold and a few hundred thousand experience is worth maybe $10.

It would be unfair to compare Squeal of Fortune to a pay to win model. A pay to win model would offer an advantage, like flying a plane because it is faster and often more cost effective than driving. Using Squeal of Fortune to replace playing the game is more like making the same trip by hand-pulled cart. A longer, less comfortable trip that will take far more time and cost more than any sane person should pay.

You’re going to need deep pockets if you want Squeal of Fortune to take you anywhere, to the point where your money could be better spent on upgrading your computer several times a month. Or at the casino.

Squeal of Fortune Isn't Pay To Win, But It Is A Waste Of Money


Back in April, Jagex started selling spins for Squeal of Fortune, igniting a heavy discussion on the company’s changing position on microtransactions and real world trading. After all, Jagex has lead us to believe for years that buying an advantage is the most evil thing a person could do, next to punching an orphan with one hand while drowning his puppy with the other. How much does Jagex hate real world trading? Enough to neuter the game for years at the expense of their subscriber numbers and the good will of their community. So far Jagex’s response to criticism has been to change the rules to allow Squeal of Fortune.

Now that Squeal of Fortune has been out for a few months and players have so graciously invested their own money for the sake of science, we can finally get a consensus on whether or not the mini-game does indeed offer an advantage. And the answer is absolutely not. Through many thousands thrown at Jagex, the general consensus that I have seen is that Squeal of Fortune does indeed offer a good amount of gold and experience, at incredibly expensive prices. Compared to gold farmer prices, the equivalent at $200 in spins offering just a couple million gold and a few hundred thousand experience is worth maybe $10.

It would be unfair to compare Squeal of Fortune to a pay to win model. A pay to win model would offer an advantage, like flying a plane because it is faster and often more cost effective than driving. Using Squeal of Fortune to replace playing the game is more like making the same trip by hand-pulled cart. A longer, less comfortable trip that will take far more time and cost more than any sane person should pay.

You’re going to need deep pockets if you want Squeal of Fortune to take you anywhere, to the point where your money could be better spent on upgrading your computer several times a month. Or at the casino.

FFXI Still Expanding, Seekers of Adoulin


Final Fantasy XI is ten years old this year, and remains one of the few MMOs on the market that can maintain a subscription and still sell expansion packs every few years. Announced at Square Enix’s Vanafest, FFXI’s fifth expansion, Seekers of Adoulin, launches in 2013. With it, the expansion brings two new jobs (only one of which has been revealed), as well as new lands to explore.

Oddly enough, the trailer above and the promotional website (linked below) only mention the expansion coming to Xbox360 and PC, with no mention of the Playstation 2. According to a few FFX-related websites, this likely means that Seekers of Adoulin will be download-only on the PS2.

(Source: Seekers of Adoulin)

Korean TERA Major Server Mergers Coming, Free To Play Possible


Since TERA launched in Korea well before North America and Europe, players have come to see it as sort of a litmus test for the game’s overall performance. Back in June 2011, we reported that TERA was not meeting financial expectations, and the game was forced into a merger bringing the number of servers from 35 down to 15.

Fast forward to today and once again TERA is apparently still hemorrhaging players. In a post on the game’s Korean website, a planned server consolidation will go into effect on June 28th which will target all thirteen remaining servers. When the dust settles, KTERA will only have four servers remaining of the original 37 it launched with.

On July 4th, TERA will launch a test server to gauge the possibility of free to play for the title. The server will be open for four weeks with a level cap of 50, and is quite the indicator that TERA plans on heading free to play (at least in Korea) as a final saving measure. There is so far no word or indication as to TERA’s performance in the west, and whether or not other territories will follow with a similar model.

(Source: KTERA Website)

(Source: Free to Play Announcement)

Video of the ____: RuneScape Fingers, Dual Wielding


RuneScape’s beta goes live in just a few days, and the last of the Behind the Scenes videos has been released. In addition to the numerous changes to the way players fight, Jagex has revealed that players will also be able to dual wield weapons. Check out the video to see it in action.

Even at eleven years old, RuneScape is committed to keeping the game fresh and new, with massive upgrades including the combat system, the high definition graphics upgrade just a couple years ago, and the continued addition of new skills, new areas, and new mini-games. Dual wielding is a feature that has been long requested by the RuneScape community.

Note: Don’t go spending your RS gold on extra weapons to stock up. According to reports, you will need special versions that won’t be released until the update.

Win A Physical Copy Of Alganon and Line of Defense Comics


Boy do I have a prize for all of you. Well, one of you. Last year Derek Smart partnered with DC Entertainment to create two comic books. The first, based on Alganon, was only distributed at Comic Con. The second, based in the upcoming MMO Line of Defense, was distributed only at E3 convention this month. The former was released in a digital form, the latter will not be released digitally to the best of my knowledge.

But you have an opportunity to get your hands on both. In that strange paper format, no less.

The rules are pretty simple. Rather than the old boring “make a comment and I’ll pick someone at random” giveaway that MMO Fallout normally does, I’m going to give you all a psychological examination. All you have to do is look at the photo below, and tell me what you see at contact[at]mmofallout.com. The best answer will win both comics.

Now due to the nature of the prize, I must limit the contest to North America only, and if you are picked you will need to provide a mailing address. Otherwise, go nuts! The contest will run for two weeks, until July 5th.