Tag: Final Fantasy XIV

Server Control Is A Necessary Evil


ffxiv 2013-08-19 00-31-56-61

If you aren’t aware of the server locks on Final Fantasy XIV, chances are you either picked a low population server or you aren’t coordinating with a clan/group of friends. During the open beta phase 4, a large number of servers were locked down in order to keep the population in check. With the launch of early access, Square Enix has once again begun locking servers in order to disperse population and prevent servers from being overloaded. The general reaction has been mixed, leaning toward negative, with complaints mostly related to being cut off from friends/clans.

As usual, both sides have a point. Gamers want to be able to log in and play with their friends with as little impediment as possible. Square Enix want to disperse the population more evenly among the servers available to prevent players from congregating on one or two servers, overflowing them while leaving the other servers empty and abandoned. To meet Square’s goal of not having unbalanced server population and ensuring that players on the more popular servers don’t experience heavy instability, server locks are a necessary evil. It is similar to NCSoft implementing faction locks on Aion servers to keep the sides from becoming any more unbalanced.

The server lock idea, however, will live or die in the court of public opinion based on whether or not Square Enix plans on allowing players to easily transfer over to their intended servers once the launch population levels out (unless we see the rare case where the population continues growing).

Surprise! Microsoft Behind No FFXIV On Xbox


10866E3_2013_FFXIVARR_PUB_29

Gamers will be able to enjoy Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn on Playstation 3, Playstation 4, and their personal computers and in fact many of them have been thanks to the MMO’s numerous beta weeks. But why isn’t there an Xbox360 or an Xbox One announcement? Bad news, chief, there won’t be. As was the case with RuneScape and a number of other MMOs, FFXIV will not be showing up on Microsoft’s console until the company changes its stance on cross-platform titles.

In an interview with RPGsite, Naoki Yoshida explained that Microsoft would require FFXIV to be on its own platform-specific servers, a request which the developer refuses to accommodate.

“For example, one player might be on the PC version, another might be on the PS4 version, and I’m playing the Xbox version – but we’re not able to join the same game servers. That is just… I just don’t like the idea. I disagree with it.”

Since the question gets asked in every article: Final Fantasy XI was released on the Xbox360, however the story goes that Microsoft merely made an exemption for the title. Why they can’t do it again is anyone’s guess.

(Source: RPGsite)

Final Fantasy XIV Shuts Down: Watch The World End


If there is one thing Square Enix may never fail to impress us with, it must be the cinematic cutscenes that they create for their games, and the soundtracks that accompany them. Alright, make that two things. Final Fantasy XIV ended today in a cataclysm that destroyed the entire world, all recreated through the power of cimena and computer generated images. The video doesn’t provide much context at all if you haven’t been paying attention to the game, but even if you haven’t, it makes for one hell of a video.

Final Fantasy XIV shut down earlier today after the final event played out. The world will be reborn with Final Fantasy XIV 2.0, coming soon.

Final Fantasy XIV Subscription Ending…Again.


Final Fantasy XIV is a poster boy in just how badly an MMO can launch. It is also a shining example of a developer doing everything in their power to return a game to its intended light, as Square Enix has worked tirelessly these past two years in what will finally come together as FFXIV 2.0: A Realm Reborn. Boy, it sure has been a long two years. As already announced, Final Fantasy XIV will shut down its servers on November 11th in preparation for the launch of 2.0. Afterward, early testing will begin on the release of the MMO’s rebirth.

After September 29th, however, subscription billing will end. Players currently subscribed as of that date will be able to play until November 11th for free, while inactive accounts will not be reactivated.

(More info: FFXIV Website)

FFXIV Shuts Down November 11th For 2.0


I think Final Fantasy XIV is the first time I’ve ever said “this game is shutting down” with a positive outlook. Earlier this month, Naoki Yoshida explained to us that Final Fantasy XIV will shut down at some point in the future in order in order to make way for the MMO’s relaunch, A Realm Reborn. In a producer’s letter released today, Yoshi revealed that the shut down date has been determined: November 11th, at midnight PST (8:00am GMT). The servers will remain down until A Realm Reborn launches.

A Realm Reborn will initially roll out in a four phase alpha test. The first test will only be available to Japan, however Yoshi has asked the players to answer a poll if they would prefer to keep the current version servers online (albeit with no progress saved to Realm Reborn after the initial shut down) so they can at least play while they wait.

(Source: FFXIV)

Final Fantasy XIV Mergers: March 27th.


On February 9th, Square Enix announced that the Final Fantasy XIV server mergers would take place on March 27th, reducing eighteen servers down to ten. Later on, the company redacted their announcement on the promise that the system needed to be reevaluated before anything could go ahead. Yesterday, the Final Fantasy Lodestone was updated with the new plan.

The merger, to take place on March 27th, is not much different than the previous plan. Eighteen servers, as before, will merge to ten. Starting March 1st and concluding March 19th, players will be able to enter an application period where they can choose their destination server.

As before, name/retainer rules follow a guideline of active account followed by first created. Linkshells will be carried over with the merge, and in case of duplicates the name will be handed over to the linkshell with more active members. Any players, including the master, who transfer to different worlds will be automatically removed from the linkshell roster. Friends/ignore lists will also be kept.

(Source: Lodestone)

Square Enix Redacts Server Merger Announcement


Remember last week when Square Enix announced the details of their server merger? Well who says that Square doesn’t listen to their community? After an enormous amount of discussion on the forums, Square is taking the server merger back to the drawing board.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for the wealth of feedback you have provided us with following the announcement made on February 9, 2012 (Thursday), regarding the World merge and character transfers. In order to ensure that the most desirable and effective outcome is achieved, we will be reassessing the method of the merger process.

Initially, the server merger was set to take the game’s eighteen servers and merge them down to ten. Square has promised to release more information as the company decides upon what to do next.

(Source: Lodestone)

Final Fantasy XIV Server Mergers Coming


We’ve known about Final Fantasy XIV’s upcoming server mergers for a long time, since December when Square initially announced them. At the time, Naoki Yoshida commented that Square would be taking a look at the server populations after billing began and judge how many servers to merge afterward. He also stated at the time that the mergers were expected to be temporary, until FFXIV 2.0 launches in late 2012 and an anticipated surge in returning players necessitates for more servers.

On the Lodestone today, Square Enix is finally ready to discuss brass tacks. The original eighteen servers will be merged down to ten, on March 27th. Players will have much of the month in order to designate a destination server to move to, and worlds will be locked as they fill up in order to prevent overpopulation.

Name duplicate rules on characters and retainers are based on whoever has an active subscription as of March 26th, and then on which character is older. Linkshells will be deleted, as will friends/block lists.

(Source: Lodestone)

Final Fantasy XIV Finally Available Via Digital Download


Obtaining Final Fantasy XIV has been a test of finding a store still stocking it, and nowadays those numbers are a bit slimmer than launch (none at all, if you live by me). Strangely, up until now Square Enix has opted out of utilizing any digital distribution systems for reasons that could be chalked up to releasing 2.0 before utilizing Steam or Direct2Drive.

For now, those looking to get Final Fantasy on the cheap can pick up FFXIV on the Square Enix website, as a digital download. The cost is $20 USD, or $13.39 if you purchase in the next few days. Check it out at Square Enix’s website.

Final Fantasy XIV Server Mergers Coming After Billing Begins


Now that I can shut up about services being hacked…I think it goes without saying that Final Fantasy XIV is long due for a server merge, and that the sparse population on many servers is only going to get worse when the billing starts and only those willing to remain monthly remain. FFXIV 2.0 is a long way away, and for now Square needs to focus on their current customers. Naoki Yoshida has posted that the server merger will be discussed in more detail once Square has a better idea of how many are sticking around once billing begins.

We will first analyze the number of players in the game after the billing service begins.
Based on that analysis, we will be running a simulation where the maximum concurrent access during the peak hours will become somewhere around 1500 to 2000 per World.
* The above number is provisional and not a finalized number.

More information is expected around mid to late January.

%d bloggers like this: