OFFICIAL FFXI Windowed Mode Support Confirmed!

[Yeargdribble]

Re: OFFICIAL FFXI Windowed Mode Support Confirmed!

You'd think that with the popularity of things like TParty SE would just drop the stubbornness and realize it's not such a bad idea to implement on their own.

Sooo... Official TParty in 2010?

[Murphie]

Re: OFFICIAL FFXI Windowed Mode Support Confirmed!

Heck, at the rate they are changing things all of a sudden, it may be much sooner.

[Omniblast]

Re: OFFICIAL FFXI Windowed Mode Support Confirmed!

Perhaps it is a bit harsh to get rid of ps2 so quickly. After all the ageing system still can control international ballistic missle launches back in the days.

But in all seriousness, it is an ageing system. I would have expected Japanese people that are playing on the ps2 to save up enough money to afford a computer or laptop that can allow them to play ffxi on a much more advanced systems.

I'm sorry, but PS2 graphics is a joke. On the comp before the regedits to modify the background graphics to 2048 x 2048, FFXI looked horrible. I was amazed at the difference. Granted they mainly used the cpu processor just like a ps2 would, there was no secondary processor (gpu) to help process all those pixels.

Now that in most computers it is more common, the time is right to phase out the PS2. Since we do have another affordable option (Xbox360), It's perhaps 2x the cost of what a PS2 would cost with the hard drive. I always end up phasing out my computer every couple of years, and building a new one. Granted it would have cost me far less to actually buy a xbox 360 to play ffxi, but I wouldn't be able to play any other game out there, (Supreme Commander, Dystopia, F.E.A.R., Jade Empire, etc.)

I'm not saying that getting rid of the ps2 will help their sales, but perhaps as someone stated earlier, upgrading the graphical end of the computer with a download would help.

[KamuroIshigami]

Re: OFFICIAL FFXI Windowed Mode Support Confirmed!

Well. I think everyone agree about how obvious fish bots in Batalia dawns are recently. While S-E still announce RMT being banned at the end of month, they still are not taking immediate actions against the bots no matter how obvious they are.

When "obvious" bots like those can't be dealt with at a satisfying pace, that is why they have to announce on front page about them baning accounts. Those announcement are in placed because players had already lose faith in that matter. It should have been totally unnessecary IMO to announce such thing if they had shown more enthusiasm and actions within the game itself and not lose our faith to begin with.

That brings up a whole point about community effort and how much more Blizzard was trying to communicate with their players. Faster responses and actions taken in game against gilsellers, GM that actually show appreciation and thank he players for informing them these issues, in constrast to FFXI that GM doesn't sound please to hear us that much when we try to report RMT. I should know, I have reported RMT on both games and I must say that GM encounters in WoW was warmer, friendlier, and show much more appreciation to me than FFXI.

Both window mode and server choosing should had both been in game since window version released. Took them long enough to listen to us... or to their Japanese players and not us?

On the flip side, it is mutual, in that the community doesn't sound please to hear them either, given the recent response to this particular feature confirmation. Are we not doing what we advocate in which they should not do?

All I hear now is more complaining. No thank yous, no appreciation, and we act just like a bunch of ingrates to the simplest of things, and at the same time we expect them to look forward to the "verbal" abuse we give them?

I think they are saints to want to talk to the community under this kind of circumstances.

Even before I became Administrator of these boards, I made several GM calls in-game and they were helpful and friendly in explaining to me what I done wrong, or to take suggestions. So, I understand if you feel bad when you get burned for something, and I know there were a few rotten apples in the GM Team before, but I do not believe it should be blanketed.

[BurningPanther]

Re: OFFICIAL FFXI Windowed Mode Support Confirmed!

The circumstances are what they are because of S-E's previous inaction.
I mean no offense to my fellow male players, but the player community(as a whole) is like a woman scorned: Go for too long without making up to her, and when you finally do, you'll find it's an uphill battle to win back her good faith.

Square-Enix has taken far too much time in responding to it's player community, as a result, we as a whole have turned rather cynical and hard-nosed to their efforts. The recent improvements are hopeful, but still have been rather slow, which leaves everyone wondering if S-E has truly started caring about what we have to say. It'll be an uphill battle for S-E to regain(or just gain) the the appreciation or trust that has left it's players.

[KamuroIshigami]

Re: OFFICIAL FFXI Windowed Mode Support Confirmed!

As I was reading the latest comments a theory just occurred to me about why SE may be playing catch up in customer service suddenly. When news was released a while back about a new SE MMORPG I remember reading a lot on BG (probably the most hardcore FFXIers) about how many of them wouldn't even think of giving the new SE MMO a chance because of the past mistakes of SE as well as they continual proof that they are incompetent.

I won't suggest that SE is reading BG for ideas (because if they were they would've fixed much more), but perhaps they realize that if they want to win customers to their new game they will need to strongly count on the potential of transfers from their old game.

SE's first foray into the MMO market was clumsy at best, but they obviously at trying to pick up on some of the things that make WoW work (Assault anyone?) By showing some amount of feedback perhaps they feel the can sway MMOers to trust them in the future. I wouldn't be surprised if this ramps up all the more as we approach their future title.

Just a theory.

While this is NOT THE SOLE FACTOR, this is actually not theory and it is fact. One of the things why it may SEEM WoW is better is because WoW had the benefit of learning from other's mistakes.

Given the trend SE has with mistakes and learning (case-in-point: Spirits Within -> Advent Children; and past game failures before Final Fantasy) I believe that there will be significant improvements with their new MMORPG, one of them being community feedback. If the trends hold of SE's habit, the next one will be good if not a revolutionary ground-breaking game.

It was also mentioned in passing at the Summit that the experience and mistakes learned from FFXI will also be passed on to the next Community Relations Team of the next game; while corrections will be made to FFXI. So therefore, I have high hopes (and I pray that it would not be dashed) that the community feedback would be significantly better in the next game and in the coming future than it was with FFXI.

Sometimes, I wish that some of us would not take some things for granted.

[KamuroIshigami]

Re: OFFICIAL FFXI Windowed Mode Support Confirmed!

Omniblast, I apologize. I deleted both our messages. On review, the messages were inappropriate given the LOCATION at which it was made.

My frustrations at trying to make a point here with everyone got the better of my judgment in regards to the specific issue you pointed out. I'll reply to your PM when I am in a better situation to reply to it.

[eticket109]

Re: OFFICIAL FFXI Windowed Mode Support Confirmed!

I've never really had issues with SE, but then again I work customer service so I understand where they're coming from on a lot of things.

[Effedup]

Re: OFFICIAL FFXI Windowed Mode Support Confirmed!

I see where you're coming from, eticket...anyone that's worked in retail has had those customers where NOTHING is ever good enough, and I'm starting to get that feeling from a lot of these posts. When I'm faced with a customer that shits all over my attempts to satisfy them over and over and over again, I usually hit a point where I'm basically like "screw it" and tell said customer that I've offered to do everything I can for them, and if they are still not happy, they can pretty much go be unhappy somewhere else.

SE is attempting to satisfy the player base, and they've been doing a lot lately to try and appease them...if we all collectively sit here and give them the finger because we're bitter that it took all these years, then eventually they will say "screw it" and tell us to go be unhappy somewhere else. I don't know about y'all, but as I've only been playing a year and haven't experienced one tenth of the content that's out there waiting for me, and I'd really like it if SE stuck with FFXI and didn't decide to dump this game in favor of a new MMORPG, which they're working on as we speak.

I'm not as bitter about it as a lot of the people that have posted negatively here, but then again I haven't been playing nearly as long, and it's hard to say that in their positions I wouldn't be a little bitter, too. However, all past wrongs aside, why don't we wait and see what SE comes up with? Based on how broken FFXI is being presented as in these other posts by peeps that have been playing for years, it's not like the introduction of a windowed mode can make things any worse...

[little ninja]

Re: OFFICIAL FFXI Windowed Mode Support Confirmed!

I see where you're coming from, eticket...anyone that's worked in retail has had those customers where NOTHING is ever good enough, and I'm starting to get that feeling from a lot of these posts. When I'm faced with a customer that shits all over my attempts to satisfy them over and over and over again, I usually hit a point where I'm basically like "screw it" and tell said customer that I've offered to do everything I can for them, and if they are still not happy, they can pretty much go be unhappy somewhere else.
SE is attempting to satisfy the player base, and they've been doing a lot lately to try and appease them...if we all collectively sit here and give them the finger because we're bitter that it took all these years, then eventually they will say "screw it" and tell us to go be unhappy somewhere else. I don't know about y'all, but as I've only been playing a year and haven't experienced one tenth of the content that's out there waiting for me, and I'd really like it if SE stuck with FFXI and didn't decide to dump this game in favor of a new MMORPG, which they're working on as we speak.
I'm not as bitter about it as a lot of the people that have posted negatively here, but then again I haven't been playing nearly as long, and it's hard to say that in their positions I wouldn't be a little bitter, too. However, all past wrongs aside, why don't we wait and see what SE comes up with? Based on how broken FFXI is being presented as in these other posts by peeps that have been playing for years, it's not like the introduction of a windowed mode can make things any worse...

I think some of us are bitter for how windower was taken for many years. The reasons why S.E didnt want windower was they stated it caused cheating/botting/hacking. It was stated as an unfair advantage over other players who didnt use it, or could use it. Now here we are 3+ years later an now they finally say they are implimenting one. Now you can take this one of 2 ways, either be happy for it, Or question it. I think most question it. Why All the nonsense about windower causing cheating an so on an so forth. Then turn around an say you are implimenting it.. The same could be said for botting, an implimenting cheaper allternatives to other armors.

While this is NOT THE SOLE FACTOR, this is actually not theory and it is fact. One of the things why it may SEEM WoW is better is because WoW had the benefit of learning from other's mistakes.
Given the trend SE has with mistakes and learning (case-in-point: Spirits Within -> Advent Children; and past game failures before Final Fantasy) I believe that there will be significant improvements with their new MMORPG, one of them being community feedback. If the trends hold of SE's habit, the next one will be good if not a revolutionary ground-breaking game.
It was also mentioned in passing at the Summit that the experience and mistakes learned from FFXI will also be passed on to the next Community Relations Team of the next game; while corrections will be made to FFXI. So therefore, I have high hopes (and I pray that it would not be dashed) that the community feedback would be significantly better in the next game and in the coming future than it was with FFXI.
Sometimes, I wish that some of us would not take some things for granted.

That may be part of the reason. Then again as in anything in life you must be willing to evolve. While blizz is always working to try to keep relations with its customers good. S.E has never really attempted to do so. BLizz wishs to hear feedback , comments an suggestions towards making their game that much better. S.E basically told us , hey this is what we think youd like, eat it or leave it..

Proof lies within zillions of concerns about botting, an rmt An it only took S.E 4 years to start adressing the problems. An that was only when things got way out of hand. Now ith window mode its the same thing. When something is totally out of balance in WoW, they adress the concerns, An test it themselfs, An have set up realms so it can be tested. Bst had that same issue with the MPK patch since Dec 05. 15+ months later an a statement from them saying they bouched Bst up big time, An its not even at the top of there list of jobs to fix..

[ItazuraNhomango]

Re: OFFICIAL FFXI Windowed Mode Support Confirmed!

I think some of us are bitter for how windower was taken for many years. The reasons why S.E didnt want windower was they stated it caused cheating/botting/hacking.

Can you cite references to this? The information I came across lately seem to say S-E did so mainly out of the desire to preserve consistency across platforms. Where/when did S-E state windower caused cheating?

[KamuroIshigami]

Re: OFFICIAL FFXI Windowed Mode Support Confirmed!

That may be part of the reason. Then again as in anything in life you must be willing to evolve. While blizz is always working to try to keep relations with its customers good. S.E has never really attempted to do so. BLizz wishs to hear feedback , comments an suggestions towards making their game that much better. S.E basically told us , hey this is what we think youd like, eat it or leave it..

Actually, I think it is a matter of inexperience. Making a game for a console and making a game for PC involves a really different paradigm in terms of interaction with users, testers, and customers. In PC, you make a game, you open it to beta testing and the testers are members of the playing community that becomes your customers. In a console, and after so many years of console games with SquareSoft and Enix Corp. then later SquareEnix together, console development involves less outside-open-to-the-public testers.

In addition, for console games, there are less feedback directly from the customer as you tend to operate at a distance and gauge community reactions through the game reviews, fan publications, and sale figures. I bet that SE was just not ready to realize (until the past year) that a close two way interaction was needed.

If you think about it, they are entering a new segment, so mistakes like this is not unusual, and not unexpected. Hence, why I am so sensitive to comparisons between SE and Blizzard. While valid in some senses, it is much of an expectation.

[Karinya]

Re: OFFICIAL FFXI Windowed Mode Support Confirmed!

In fact, I think this may be the first game SE has ever made where a version update was even *possible*, let alone regular. Aside from things like KH Final Mix, you can't really change a console game once it's manufactured and shipped, even if you discover a serious bug. They still have the near-obsessive testing habits that let very few bugs through compared to developers that expect to fix them in the field, but when it comes to feature requests and improvements, they just don't know how to interact with their userbase.

While clearly many people did (and still do) use unofficial windowers to cheat, I don't think it was ever SE's primary argument against an official windowed mode (which presumably wouldn't have the same cheating-enabling hooks in it anyway). They either didn't think many people cared much about it, or that it would take up too many development resources away from other things for too little gain. Frankly, I'm one of the people who thinks it's not that big a deal anyway (even after my second computer died). I'll probably use it at least once in a while, but I certainly wasn't going to choose which game to play based on something so trivial.

[little ninja]

Re: OFFICIAL FFXI Windowed Mode Support Confirmed!

I think you are giving S.E way to much leway on their relations with its customers. Yeah they were inexperienced, But thats still not a viable excuse 4 years later.

[aozora]

Re: OFFICIAL FFXI Windowed Mode Support Confirmed!

All I hear now is more complaining. No thank yous, no appreciation, and we act just like a bunch of ingrates to the simplest of things, and at the same time we expect them to look forward to the "verbal" abuse we give them?

Thank you, Square-Enix, for giving me a scaled down version of a plug-in that I already have. I appreciate your willingness (after several years) to provide me with an official windowing alternative that doesn't violate your Terms of Service.

I look forward to future implementations of functionality that is already readily available as third-party software. I wholly agree with your stance that vendor lock-in is beneficial to the community as a whole, and that you should dictate exactly how your game is played.

It is, after all, your ball, and you can take it home whenever you wish. We're all lucky to be playing with it at all!