Question for 360 users

[Mesdoram]

I have been playing the game since NA PC release and I love the controls for the keyboard (No mouse, woo!). But recently I've realized that it sort of hurts my pinky to play for long periods of time and I'd like to stay in good ergonomic health. I was thinking of making the switch to console, but the PS2 is out -- I got a slim one, my big one crapped out a few years ago coupled with the nearly impossible to find hard drive. Anyway, I have an XBox 360 and $20 is not unreasonable. I have the recharging station so batteries aren't a problem, and I can plug my controllers into the USB port for power.

Onto my question -- how does the game control with the 360 controller? I know hitting macros won't be as swift and menu navigation might be a little clunky at first, but all things considered, would it be a good investment? I'd go for plugging in my PS2 controller into the PC, but for the same price I could completely skip the button mapping portion of the game.

Another thing that concerns me is the resolution. I have a pretty powerful machine so I run on completely ramped up specs on 1024x768 resolution so I'm used to smaller menus and larger view of the world. Are these options available on the 360 version and if not, what would be your best guess to what the resolution actually is. I'm hoping that as a more powerful console it's not using the PS2's graphics.

I know my questions are a little long winded but if you did manage to read this completely, I thank you for your patience and replies in advance!

[Necropolis]

Re: Question for 360 users

You could of course just use your 360 controller on your PC. There are drivers you could download that make it work with a PC and setting up the controller in the FFXI config menu only takes a few minutes.

I started playing on the 360, and when I got the game for my PC I had to get a 360 to use with it, because I was at a complete lose controlling everything with the keyboard.

As for control of the game with the 360 controller, I enjoy it. I much prefer the movement with the joysticks as opposed to wasd or the number pad. Controls may take a while to get use to, but I don't think it would be hard to pick up.

My only complaint with the controls with the controler, is that I feel I'm more at the mercy of my macros. If I need to cast Stona, and don't have it macroed, I have to set down the controller, type in the command, select the target, and hit enter. Same problem when I need to type something, while hitting the macros, I get forced into holding the controller akwardly, while typing with one hand.

I like the controller aspect a lot when I'm off soloing/skilling/farming et cetera because I can just laying the bed and hit macros and control everything pretty much from the controller. I feel as though I have better movement control over the keyboard.

As for the resolution of the game, I believe it is higher than the default computer configuration. I run the PC in the max settings, and find it only marginally better than the xbox version. The menus are a bit larger (and to my knowledge can't be shrunk), but you're playing on the TV, so a bit bigger view than your typical computer monitor. I do find that the screen is a bit cluttered when in a full alliance, and trying to navigate menus and such, but doesn't really bother me either.

Well, sorry for the long post, but hope some of this info was helpful.

[Necropolis]

Re: Question for 360 users

Oh, just thought of one more thing you could try as well if you don't mind spending a bit more for it.

The Logitech G-15 keyboard has 18 programmable keys with 3 modes (so 54 buttons really). I use this on my PC version (won't work with xbox because it needs to be installed) and just use the macros to hit "Alt-1", "Alt-2", et cetera. I find it helps a lot in dynamis and events once you get use to it. I find it a bit more ergonomically friendly, as you arn't streching your hand hitting Alt/Ctrl and a number. Just one button presses for all your macros, and allows you to type macros on the fly. Though I find that the macros on the fly to be iffy at best in high lag areas like dynamis, but I find it very helpful with I'm a party leader and have to rotated bards in and out of the party. I just hit the memory key, /pcmd add "name", then hit the key I want it to be assigned to.

Also it has a little LCD screen that you can rotate apps around with, and control your music and what not from the keyboard, so you can run iTunes or what not before launching ffxi and have it run in the back ground.

Just another suggestion if you don't want to jump to the xbox version.

[Mesdoram]

Re: Question for 360 users

Oh, just thought of one more thing you could try as well if you don't mind spending a bit more for it.
The Logitech G-15 keyboard has 18 programmable keys with 3 modes (so 54 buttons really). I use this on my PC version (won't work with xbox because it needs to be installed) and just use the macros to hit "Alt-1", "Alt-2", et cetera. I find it helps a lot in dynamis and events once you get use to it. I find it a bit more ergonomically friendly, as you arn't streching your hand hitting Alt/Ctrl and a number. Just one button presses for all your macros, and allows you to type macros on the fly. Though I find that the macros on the fly to be iffy at best in high lag areas like dynamis, but I find it very helpful with I'm a party leader and have to rotated bards in and out of the party. I just hit the memory key, /pcmd add "name", then hit the key I want it to be assigned to.
Also it has a little LCD screen that you can rotate apps around with, and control your music and what not from the keyboard, so you can run iTunes or what not before launching ffxi and have it run in the back ground.
Just another suggestion if you don't want to jump to the xbox version.

I know the keyboard your talking about, but it's not my left hand that bothers me (My macro hitting hand). It's my right hand which I use to move with the number pad. I'm not exactly sure why it hurts, probably from hitting return so much.

[Necropolis]

Re: Question for 360 users

I know the keyboard your talking about, but it's not my left hand that bothers me (My macro hitting hand). It's my right hand which I use to move with the number pad. I'm not exactly sure why it hurts, probably from hitting return so much.

Well in that case, I like the ergonomical feel of the xbox control. For me at least I find that it fits my hand better than a PS2 or other controller. I wouldn't suggest the "Xbox for windows" controller because I believe it lacks the Vibration motors that the normal Xbox controller has. I personally like the wieght of the 360 controller, and find the ones with out the wieght don't feel quite right to me. But that may be that I'm just use to other controller.

[Shadowffvi]

Re: Question for 360 users

The 360 controller feels great, and you still get a fairly decent resolution out of the 360 version, I think its 720p, but I could be mistaken. Either way it IS widescreen which is a nice touch and will give you some of that extra added view of the world.

I've owned all three versions...PC/360/PS2, and I still like the 360 version the most.

If you know of anyone else that is playing on 360 you can voice chat with them, or simply anyone on your Xbox Live friends list, you can replace the in game music in seconds with the click of a few buttons.

[soneill1986]

Re: Question for 360 users

Do I need to have the disc in the 360 to play?

EDIT: I'm the original poster, on a friend's computer.

[reklesgemini]

Re: Question for 360 users

Do I need to have the disc in the 360 to play?

EDIT: I'm the original poster, on a friend's computer.

yes you do.

[Ghostraven]

Re: Question for 360 users

If you have a decently high end CPU I would say stick with that, the 360 verson does lag a bit since the effects are all STUCK on high and you cannot make alot of the adjustments you can make on PC.

Sure you can play in bed or on the sofa with the 360, but I wouldn't recommend it over the PC version unless you have a nice sized HDTV to take advantage of, and your PC struggles to run FFXI. I find the 360 lags in areas the PC doesn't, like switching macros and opening maps, and I miss not being able to use the various PC mods that are available.

Another thing is you'll need a USB keyboard or ps/2 > USB adapter to play the game properly on xb360, and it might be a pretty awkward setup in your home to have a keyboard wire stretching from your xbox to your lap. (And I hate wireless keyboards because the batteries usually die at bad times ><)

[HairdewX]

Re: Question for 360 users

If you have a decently high end CPU I would say stick with that, the 360 verson does lag a bit since the effects are all STUCK on high and you cannot make alot of the adjustments you can make on PC.

Sure you can play in bed or on the sofa with the 360, but I wouldn't recommend it over the PC version unless you have a nice sized HDTV to take advantage of, and your PC struggles to run FFXI. I find the 360 lags in areas the PC doesn't, like switching macros and opening maps, and I miss not being able to use the various PC mods that are available.

Another thing is you'll need a USB keyboard or ps/2 > USB adapter to play the game properly on xb360, and it might be a pretty awkward setup in your home to have a keyboard wire stretching from your xbox to your lap. (And I hate wireless keyboards because the batteries usually die at bad times ><)

I'm the opposite. I also understand how playing on a PC for a long time can make the hands and wrists hurt. (I learned it the hard way from WoW, hehe).

My wife plays on a fast PC, and I play on my Xbox 360.

Ergonomically, the 360 controller is the most comfortable controller I have ever used. Also, never underestimate the comfort of being able to play anywhere the wireless controller can reach. (Ever get "chair butt"? With a wireless controller and a big sized HDTV, you can easily move with ease) There is some slowdown on the 360 sometimes, but nothing that would make the game unplayable.

If you are really worried about plugging a usb keyboard into the 360, this summer a thumbboard will be released. (Which will be mine, btw :D)

[Shadowneko]

Re: Question for 360 users

Just to put in my comment: I play on a PS2 and I hate the KB controls! The movment and camera controls are some of the worst ever to grace a game.

The game was met to be mapped onto a controler and all the functions work perfecly with one save typing chat messages. I've had the PC editon sevearl times and I always end up using a controler...