Dropping PlayStation 2 Support

[Rostum]

DISCLAIMER: I am in no way saying that SquareEnix have or are going to drop support for the PlayStation 2 version of the game.

I thought I'd open up some friendly discussion about the issue of the PlayStation 2 support for the game. I know in the past it's always been joked at that we have limtations from the platform, but I'm wondering exactly if or when SquareEnix will drop support for it.

Is there a known percentage of the population playing on this platform? If they were to drop it, what do you think that'd mean for the game itself? Do you think it'd allow the game to evolve and grow in to something much more modern - keeping up to date with the current MMORPG market? Or do you think it'd be insane for SquareEnix to drop support?

Let me know what you think.

[Kailea]

Re: Dropping PlayStation 2 Support

it will happen at some point, and people will still rage "omg why will they not support my 10+ year old console"

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Dropping PlayStation 2 Support

As I understand it the majority of players in Japan are PS2 players and the majority in the west are PC players. PC playhers, however, tend to forget that MMOs that ditch a certain performance standard in favor of a bigger better one never score any points with their userbase.

Also, FFXI is a game in its twilight and there's no denying it. If a new, proper expansion were coming, we would have heard of it by now. Why drop support for a platform if you''re never going to get past all these tiny add-ons SE keeps doing. Seems to be they have no intention of leaving PS2 behind given the designs of these add-ons.

Personally, I think FFXI's next big move - and one for the better- would be a single player iteration. Bring the world of Vana'diel outside of the MMO realm and onto other systems and give those players the FFXI story in another form. SE is not going to be able to just re-iterate the same MMO over and over like they do certain installments of the rest of the series.

PS2 may realistically be at its end as a viable platform - there's not much software left for it now and there was hardly any after 2008, but it doesn't exactly mean support for FFXI on PS2 should end just yet. Most laptops could run FFXI favorably, but then, the laptop and PC markets are facing a shake-up right now. People today who may wish to move on to another platform may wish for that platform to be a tablet in the not-too-distant future and that's a possibility every developer should be considering.

We can always talk about potentials, but even for PC, there's a status quo some people would rather not be forced to move away from. There's a reason WoW was successful as it was it wasn't by catering to an elite.

[Rostum]

Re: Dropping PlayStation 2 Support

Also, FFXI is a game in its twilight and there's no denying it. If a new, proper expansion were coming, we would have heard of it by now. Why drop support for a platform if you''re never going to get past all these tiny add-ons SE keeps doing. Seems to be they have no intention of leaving PS2 behind given the designs of these add-ons.

Yes, perhaps you are right. However, even the original Everquest has managed to bring out a new expansion recently and keep in mind World of Warcraft is doing the same thing. It kind of saddens me that you are most likely right though. I've always loved Vana'diel, and it still has so much potential to be expanded upon in a big way. It'd be an absolute shame to lose that potential.

We can always talk about potentials, but even for PC, there's a status quo some people would rather not be forced to move away from. There's a reason WoW was successful as it was it wasn't by catering to an elite.

I'm not really talking about turning it in to a new game, but rather expanding upon it moreso than the current add-ons have been. Hell, even updates to the graphical rendering engine (as in newer shaders, lighting, higher resolution textures, etc.) as an option for other platforms would be a nice step that would not require much money or developer-power (please note I'm not talking about more asset creation, or upping the polycount in regards to a graphics engine)(also World of Warcraft managed to do this really well with Cataclysm). It might even have to be a case of split development, like what they're doing with FFXIV.

Whether they would have to drop PlayStation 2 support to do that from a technical standpoint I don't know, and whether they can afford to drop it from a financial standpoint again I don't know. I doubt the game can be bought on PlayStation 2 anymore, but they sure as hell want to push it for the PC - just look at the new Steam sale they had going, along with the new 14-day-trial to try and get newer customers. Can they really attract new customers with how the game currently is? Keep in mind the new trial, and the Vita version that is to come.

[Firewind]

Re: Dropping PlayStation 2 Support

It can't still be the case that most players in Japan are PS2 players. It would benefit SE and FFXI in the long run if they went and performed a survey to see exactly how many players are PS2 players.

If it's the case where continued support for the PS2 is only really pandering to a small minority of the userbase, it's not as if it would be difficult for Squenix to say, give the PS2 users a code to download the PC game for free and phase out PS2 support over say 6-12 months.

What you do have to remember is that Squenix are already catering to an elite of sorts by restricting the game to the technical limitations of the PS2.

[cidbahamut]

Re: Dropping PlayStation 2 Support

It can't still be the case that most players in Japan are PS2 players. It would benefit SE and FFXI in the long run if they went and performed a survey to see exactly how many players are PS2 players.

They did exactly that a few months ago.

It's less a need to drop PS2 support and more an issue of needing to recode the engine for the PC, since right now it's just stuck in a wrapper and clinging to an older version of DirectX that won't be supported for much longer. It already has graphical issues when running on Windows 7 because of this, or so I have read on numerous occasions.

[Cheezeman3000]

Re: Dropping PlayStation 2 Support

Personally, I think FFXI's next big move - and one for the better- would be a single player iteration. Bring the world of Vana'diel outside of the MMO realm and onto other systems and give those players the FFXI story in another form.

Wow, I've never even thought about that before, and I think it would be amazing. My biggest barrier to entry has been paying a monthly fee for a game I can't devote much time to on a monthly basis. But if they somehow made it offline, I'd be able to take my time and not worry about cost vs. play time.

Granted, this has a probability of happening at almost 0%. But it's a nice thought.

[Etra]

Re: Dropping PlayStation 2 Support

Granted, this has a probability of happening at almost 0%. But it's a nice thought.

It will happen eventually. The game can't stay live forever and after a few years of its closing, SE will want to re-release game, but in an offline environment. If they did it right, it could be a big cash cow for them if they waited long enough (7 years+?) after the game closing. If they re-release too early, the fans that played the game might not be too interested since they already played the online version recently. If they wait long enough, they might get the nostalgia factor in there coupled with the "I really wish I could play XI again" / "I never got the chance to play XI" feeling.

[Firewind]

Re: Dropping PlayStation 2 Support

If they wait too long though, nostalgia filter can set in and backfire heavily on Squenix.

[Armando]

Re: Dropping PlayStation 2 Support

If they wait too long though, nostalgia filter can set in and backfire heavily on Squenix.

What do you mean? Nostalgia only gets stronger with time.

[Firewind]

Re: Dropping PlayStation 2 Support

Nostalgia Filter - Television Tropes & Idioms

AKA why the devs can never win with remakes and sequels.

[Armando]

Re: Dropping PlayStation 2 Support

Ah. Well, to be fair:
1) I don't think it can backfire when you can't even play the old FFXI to begin with. Usually when someone says "fuck this remake, I'll just play the original" they still have a way of playing the original.
2) FFXI's gameplay and user interface are pretty bad - an offline game will be better at both.
3) FFXI's plot was broken up by the constant need to grind. Used to be weeks or months before you moved on to the next mission. An offline game solves that problem.

But most importantly, all the fans that couldn't afford the time or money of an MMO and missed out will give it a shot if they're not disenchanted with SE by then.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Dropping PlayStation 2 Support

Thinking a little more on the subject, I can think of only one way they can drop PS2 support and get away with it.

Go free-to-play.

Considering how FFXI has been since even before I quit, it deeply needs is community reinvigorated. Linage II went F2P just today and logging into the starter city was like walking into Aht Urghan Whitegae the first day TOA was out. Lag Central, but because a ton of people started playing the game. I might have to wait a few days for it to settle so it'll be playable for me but it was kind of the same story with DCUO just weeks ago.

The starter cities in FFXI have been dead since the start of TOA, but especially so with WOTG. People starting out now arrive to a dead city and there's hardly a soul in them that would even care to help them get started. SE has tried their best with EXP rings and adapting EXP quests and the like but its still pretty much dead.

Whitegate is still the hot gathering spot, the latest add-on areas are where the EXP and latest gear grind is.

Most basic PCs could run FFXI now and the accounts made on PS2 would be just as viable on PC - it was always that way by design.

But then, that kinda puts pressure on FFXIV to go the same route and SE is looking to start charging soon if they haven't done so by now. In FFXIV's case it might be wise to go the way of Minecraft, TF2 or DOTA2. Much of the changes FFXIV has enjoyed this last year has been from community input and going into 2.o its still going to be that way. Let players leave their mark on FFXIV by letting them get involved.

TF2 has proven people will pay cash for silly hats.

It doesn't have to be the F2P model Aeria games has, I think DCUO nailed it with their F2P model and the public long-term beta is proving to actually be a good thing and profitable.

[Squiggs]

Re: Dropping PlayStation 2 Support

I don't have an opinion on dropping PS2 support, but...

Whitegate is still the hot gathering spot

That's not even remotely true.

[DakAttack]

Re: Dropping PlayStation 2 Support

Dropping PS2 support and F2P are not going to happen, at least not while they're still bleeding money from FFXIV. They wont do anything to weaken their current best source of income until they can replace it.