(I think) I have an odd situation with accounts and installation.

[Jewels]

I live in the UK. I bought the US version of this game back in 2003, and I couldn't play it due to my computer being too old. Now, I still haven't managed to play it, because I've never bothered to buy a graphics card, nor upgrade my computer (I've actually downgraded so it's even worse than before).

Although I couldn't play the game, back then I still installed it and created my POL account and a (free trial) Content ID (which I assume is deactivated or something). Because the PAL version wasn't out at the time, my address details weren't accurate. I want to be able to have an account with accurate details reflecting my real address, and I don't know whether I can do that. Do I have to buy the PAL version? Or do updates simply add in more countries? If I have to purchase the PAL version, can I still use my existing POL ID so I keep my current account?

Note, I don't have a much a problem with buying the PAL version, because that alone costs around the same if not less than Chains of Promathia (which I don't have). Doing that would mean I have two sets of keys though.

[Jei]

Re: (I think) I have an odd situation with accounts and installation.

The only reason to keep your old ID is for existing characters. If you never have one, I think buying a UK version would be a better idea. Check out the 2007 DVD collection set. That includes all expansion at a much cheaper price.

[Lunaryn]

Re: (I think) I have an odd situation with accounts and installation.

It actually doesn't take that much to run FFXI. You need proper 3D acceleration, but not a whole lot more than that. If you need to do it on the cheap, I recommend buying an older ATI Radeon card. I'm still using an 8500, which is a high-end but very old card which I picked up several years ago for $60. This is the same as the 9100; it's just slightly below the recommended minimum but it works fine, and particularly if you have an older motherboard that doesn't do AGP 8x, the 8500/9100 is faster than the 9200 anyway. I don't know the nVidia numbering at all so I couldn't say which of those would work for you, but I'd say any Radeon 2 (8500+) would work.

Remember, if your system is slowish, the best tweak available is generally to turn off weather effects. Decreasing the clipping distance is another good one, as is disabling effect animations.

http://dri.freedesktop.org/wiki/ATIRadeon is a nice place to see the actual specs of the various cards.

[Jewels]

Re: (I think) I have an odd situation with accounts and installation.

I'll be upgrading when Vista gets released, and assuming XI runs fine on that, hardware won't be a problem.

So let's say I do purchase the EU version, can I still use my current POL account? I don't really want to have two accounts.

[bungiefan]

Re: (I think) I have an odd situation with accounts and installation.

POL accounts are set to regions. You can't put European addresses into the American version. Thus, if you want to keep your old account, you have to use a fake address. If you want to have truthful user information, you have to buy the European version and create another account. Also, registration codes are locked to region, so if you keep your American account, you have to import American expansions for valid registration codes.

[Feenicks]

Re: (I think) I have an odd situation with accounts and installation.

bungiefan speaks the truth. I imported the US version way back in 2003 and now whenever an expansion comes out I have to import it otherwise it won't work.

[Likibiki]

Re: (I think) I have an odd situation with accounts and installation.

Thirdededed.

You need to keep to the same region for game/expansions/etc.