Do you think SE will ever stop supporting FFXI on PS2?

[Losrase]

Re: Do you think SE will ever stop supporting FFXI on PS2?

I still have my old PS2 and I used it until I quit a few months ago.

I have all the discs up to WoTG and hearing that they wont have the PS2 discs for the new level cap just put the "last nail in the coffin".

[Mhurron]

Re: Do you think SE will ever stop supporting FFXI on PS2?

I still have my old PS2 and I used it until I quit a few months ago.

I have all the discs up to WoTG and hearing that they wont have the PS2 discs for the new level cap just put the "last nail in the coffin".

They're addons that are showing up this year. Just like with the last three, there won't be disks for any of the platforms. Unless there is word otherwise in the next month, the PS2 is just as supported as the other two.

The last disks released was WoTG, for any platform.

[Armando]

Re: Do you think SE will ever stop supporting FFXI on PS2?

Just like with the last three, there won't be disks for any of the platforms.

What about the Ultimate Collection? It included all 3 add-ons.

[Elwynn]

Re: Do you think SE will ever stop supporting FFXI on PS2?

The add-ons are included with the update downloads.

The only thing the disc version gets you is an unlock code and a little less time for the initial update download.

[ItazuraNhomango]

Re: Do you think SE will ever stop supporting FFXI on PS2?

I have nothing against people who play on the PS2 but if you've ever played on PC you have to understand that maintaining ps2 compatability has crippled graphical development of FFXI.

I'd go with this:

I wouldn't expect for graphics and code to be updated of PS2 was dropped, though.

And, I'd add that the graphics are just the front man; there is no technical reason why SE couldn't develop a brand new (and backward compatible) graphic engine and drop it into the PC version, while slowly swap out lower resolution models and textures a batch at a time via client updates--all the while keeping the PS2 client the same, and do all that without creating any game play differences between the platforms.

Everything you see on screen or hear from the speakers that's from FFXI, and I mean EVERYTHING, is merely a representation of bunch of numbers and text (which are really just more numbers) tracked by the servers. Nothing in the way of how PS2 presents to the users is a constraint on anything PC or xBox version of FFXI client software present to the users.

To use an absurd example, what looks like a red haired Mithra on a PS2 can look like a blond dwarf on the PC clients if the programmers so choose--it's completely arbitrary that the graphical representations for 'Mithra' look alike on both platforms. Again, the representation of the in-game data/state on the PS2 presents no technical constraint on the representation on any other platform.

(Then again, with the .dat mods people use to make their characters look different, it's not such an absurd example after all--it's already shown that the PC client is free to display what it wants, independent of the PS2.)

So, why no spiffy, improved graphics on the PC so far from SE?

It's all about money--no point spending an incredible amount of it to upgrade the graphics at either the engine level or the art asset level for old contents--unless those old contents can be leveraged to bring in a huge new revenue stream.

[ShepardG]

Re: Do you think SE will ever stop supporting FFXI on PS2?

I would pay 50$ for an updated graphics engine of FFxi. I mean, honestly the games graphics aren't bad, consdidering they came out almost, what, 7 years ago? I just hate the menu lag, the server bottlenecks, and the fact that I havea 2000$ pc which will run farcry 2 at near max resolution, but this game that's 7 years old causes it to crash 1/5 times randomly.

I whole heartedly agree with you about the money thing, which is a shame. Maybe one day the whole thing will be open source with "donations" to keep the servers running, and dedicated players/developers can write their own updated directx 10 variations of the sphagetti that is the coding of FFxi.

[Armando]

Re: Do you think SE will ever stop supporting FFXI on PS2?

To add to what Itazura said: EverQuest 1's third expansion, Shadows of Luclin, gave a graphical overhaul to the game. Those with the expansion would use the higher quality models and textures. Those without it would continue to use the original graphics.

I'm sure Square can do it. Whether they feel they should is something else entirely.

[Chromemage]

Re: Do you think SE will ever stop supporting FFXI on PS2?

A ton of wishful thinking going on here... when did you all become such optimists? It's sickening really.

Anyways, 0% chance they're going to upgrade the graphics for FFXI. Plain and simple, they will use the cross-platform middleware that they developed and they will be held to its limitations.

But why would they try to do a graphics overhaul? Whether or not you like to talk about it, FFXIV is going to put a huge hurting on FFXI. So again, why,in 2010, with a huge new release coming 2011 juiced with FF graphics galore, would they do something like that?

@Armando... thanks for the memories! I remember when Shadows of Luclin came out for EQ. I don't care if you were using a Falcon NW or a VoodooPC on your college campus T1+, The game lagged out for a week yet EQtards still were skipping work and school to camp the new expansion. Those were the days... good riddance!

[Feba]

Re: Do you think SE will ever stop supporting FFXI on PS2?

Nothing in the way of how PS2 presents to the users is a constraint on anything PC or xBox version of FFXI client software present to the users.

The only caveat I'd put in here is that FFXI is so client based that changes on one can make things on others odd. For example if someone has an area dat which is different from someone else's, the same coordinate data could show them floating just above the ground, or something odd like that. And then there's the whole "first person view, walk backwards, it suddenly looks like you're standing with your back to the mob swinging at it" stuff. If you're not careful, it could be possible to, say, have out-of-bounds on one console be valid territory on another, and because of that place some vital spot where not everyone can reach it.

But yes, it would be completely possible for SE to revamp the graphics, and probably with minimal effort if they recycle FFXIV's assets.

[ItazuraNhomango]

Re: Do you think SE will ever stop supporting FFXI on PS2?

The only caveat I'd put in here is that FFXI is so client based that changes on one can make things on others odd. For example if someone has an area dat which is different from someone else's, the same coordinate data could show them floating just above the ground, or something odd like that.

That's only if the terrain map is screwed up. Heck, there's not even a reason to change terrain map; can just display an updated terrain while navigating on the old one--the user wouldn't really notice much difference for navigation unless it's done wrong.

But yes, it would be completely possible for SE to revamp the graphics, and probably with minimal effort if they recycle FFXIV's assets.

Well, not really. Ultra-hi res models/textures for some creatures while standing next to players and environment using low res models/textures will just make the old look terrible and the new out of place. It'd have the overall effect of making the game look worse.

Ideally, you'd pump out the updated files over time, then switch over to all-new-everything in one go when most of the users have all the files. That'd be budget busting, though, time-wise and money-wise.

[Shadowneko]

Re: Do you think SE will ever stop supporting FFXI on PS2?

I think the reason the add-ons exist is because it's hard to print PS2 disks anymore. I believe that the first set was to see if they could float a full expansion without selling any PS2 disks(and just sell the keys).

BTW: my PS2 works like a champ but the box I use to connect it via wireless has issues since I'm down in my hole of a basement. I need to get the 'make your own Ethernet cable' kit to wire it up so it'll work but I haven't gotten around to doing that just yet.

[Elwynn]

Re: Do you think SE will ever stop supporting FFXI on PS2?

Everything you see on screen or hear from the speakers that's from FFXI, and I mean EVERYTHING, is merely a representation of bunch of numbers and text (which are really just more numbers) tracked by the servers. Nothing in the way of how PS2 presents to the users is a constraint on anything PC or xBox version of FFXI client software present to the users.

There already are subtle differences. When I got the PC version installed on a dull craptop, I was surprised to find 6-foot high flowers in Valkurm Dunes just south of the oasis that simply were not in the PS2 version. I might not have noticed except that's my favorite solo pull spot for leeches, and it's hard to miss flowers that are taller than you, with blooms almost as big as your head.

[bungiefan]

Re: Do you think SE will ever stop supporting FFXI on PS2?

Haven't they already stopped supporting it?

Hell on the actual tech support page, it's listed a PC/360. There's no mention of the PS2 version, and all PS2 products are discontinued last I checked.

Besides anyone with a PS2 old enough to still support the HDD should be SoL by now anyway as they don't have that long a shelf life. Mine gave out after 4 years ; ; (the newer slim models are much more reliable but don't support the HDD so yeah.... and since they cut out the PS3 support too, well, ppl r boned)

My Japanese launch model PS2 is still working to this very day, and my American system still works. Granted, I've been keeping it alive by running games off the hard drive instead of the original discs. I still mainly play FFXI on PS2. As long as you buy the PS2 install discs when they release you don't have any problems with availability and pricing. Trying to buy them 2 months later is where problems arise.

I buy Japanese PS2 discs since my account is Japanese, and split the cost on an American PS2 disc with a friend so they get the code and I get an install disc for my system. Then I download a PC install disc from whatever source I can find, and can happily play on all three systems.

I don't need to do that anymore with the add-ons all being downloaded automatically when you patch the game, whether or not you have them registered.

[Chromemage]

Re: Do you think SE will ever stop supporting FFXI on PS2?

Not sure where all the confusion is coming from.

I bought all PS2 discs for FFXI back in Sept '09, and was pretty easy to find. I just googled my way to the older discs, and the newer ones are on amazon.

I leave my mule sitting online 24/7 on my PS2, never turn it off. Still runs like a champion and love playing it on a big 50+ inch screen. I've only had to call support once, and I told them I was playing on PS2. They still helped me!