Just picked up FFXI, so I figured I'd point out a few key things about it so far.

Right off the bat, FFXI = $50, you must have XBOX Live to even use it. Also not only do you use XBOX Live, you also use "PlayOnline" (another Live service). The 1st 30 days of PlayOnline is free. After that it's around $8-12 a month (it estimated $4 and some change for 13 days prorated). Yes, that's right, XBOX Live ($8) + PlayOnline ($8-12) are needed just to play the game. I'm not very happy about this BTW. I'm not a PC gamer, so it's not like I'd have known, also I never saw anything about using another online service in any previews. Not very cool, I don't know how long I'll play it, but what if I play it to death for 2 months and don't feel like playing for a while, I'm not paying $8-12 a month for a service I won't use. The game retails for $50, so I think a deal should have been cut with Live or something so that we as the end user don't bare the cost. Live could've just gave them an extra $10 per copy and then sold it for $60 or something. Sorry I just see that as a lot of money. Just to play FFXI for 6 months would be $50+$10x5=$100 (game+service at 5 months, remember 1 month free).

Also, the disc has been in my drive for 3 hours now, yet I'm still not playing it...

When you start the disc, it first makes you install/setup PlayOnline. That took 45 minutes and most of it was typing in all the info, like setting up a Live account. That onscreen keyboard is really screwy, I highly recommend using a keyboard. I would have used mine, but I'm too lazy and figured "oh, it's only going to take one more second". I imagine it could be cut down to 15-20 minutes w/keyboard.

After you install PlayOnline it then appeared that I was going to play... Nope, then it shows a very, very, very nice intro scene. After that you have to register the game and each update, which again is a pain in the ass due to the onscreen keyboard.

Now I started FFXI and though I was going to play it... Nope, now it logged in and has to install updates. Yeah, I was like "cool, updates are quick". Nope, another hour.

OMG, it's almost done. I'll post some more back about the actuall game after I play it for a little while. Just wanted to get that info out there though. Especially the pay to play.

OMFG, OMFG, OMFG, service does not start until April 19th and it is April 19th. It just says "you cannot play Final Fantasy XI" AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH WTF would they release a game and you not be able to play it. Online only game and the service isn't ready. Why, why

it's unfortunate that you're finding this out now, but it's been fairly common knowledge for a while now, and if you were unfamiliar with the PC version there was a free beta released months ago. Browsing this forum would have turned up oodles of threads with people frustrated with the 4 hour install process.

Though, to be clear you DON'T need Live Gold just Silver (which is free). The reason you pay PlayOnline is because the game is using their servers as opposed to the Xbox Live servers. The benefit here is that you can play along side the PC and PS2 gamers who have the game (instead of just Xbox 360 players). When you sign up for Xbox Live Gold they even tell you that it doesn't cover the cost of MMO games.

Also today is the 19th so....

Yeah, I got the BETA disk with an OXM magazine. Let me know if the graphics are improved or if the text size is any bigger.

Nope will never buy this game.... hope everyone boycotts this game so no other game will do this... :angry


xbox live should be the only purchase.. not some 3rd party live service....

i thought the HD test was sized up during one of the beta updates?

anyways, fun game for a few weeks, then it comes down to one word... repetitive.

this game, is hands down about leveling up.. thats it.

I've been playing FFXI since the PC release date its a very fun and addictive game the reason I purchased FFXI for the 360 yesterday on the 18th and did the install and all the updates which im used to after installing on multiple pc's and my ps2 so I knew what to expect I was surprise though last night when it was done getting the unable to play til the 19th message but not a big deal to me and and the main reason SE didn't include online play through xbl service is because all the people that would be angry still having to pay a monthly charge for the pc/ps2 subscriptions when xbl users would only have to a 50.00 for a 1yr service the game is well worth the money and is one of the only games thats been able to keep my interest for over 2yrs give it a try its lots of fun and alot of cool people im glad that its available on pc/xbox/ps2 gonna get to meet alot more people and have alot more fun in the game if anyone is lucky enough to get on the Fenrir server hit me up with a /tell im a lvl74 blm Majestacal cya in game hopefully.

So frustrated... XBOX Live says "not our service", PlayOnline says, oh that's right, PlayOnline's customer support hours are M-F 9am-6pm. And no support forums, only support PM's, which is pointless if they're closed. There isn't even anything on their site or any forums, only "search q&a" which provided not one result for "360" or "xbox".

Also, I checked out the manual and it's $12.95 a month and for each addon (3 included), it's $1 per month. And there are up to 16 total addons.

While I was finishing posting: I logged back out and then logged back in, which I've done 2x already. When I logged back in, it said that it was open instead of saying open on the 19th. Thank god, I was beginning to think I wasn't going to even get to play it tonight.

Looks like the game here is about trying to play the damn game. I wouldnt play that shit if someone gave it to me LOL.

Wow there are no achievements for the game too.

yeah MS pretty much let SE break all the rules to get the game on the 360.

-Keyboard as a control device
-PlayOnline Servers/accounts instead of XBL Servers/accounts
-Installs to HDD
-No Achievements

^ all of those are things that AFAIK MOST developers arn't allowed to do.

ditto. I tried playing the BETA version with a controller and it was horrible. The biggest problem I faced was the text though, very hard to read.....

same sh!t for me too. all excited cus i played final fantasy games since ps1.. got the crap .. put in disk ready to play.. hmm in stall dash okie dokie not to bad.. register a account.. takes about 3 times longer than just the xbox live set up.. now i got that done thinking im getting somewhere.. nope we have to install the game.. since when do you have to do that sh!t.. its on a freakin disk.. so after a hour long install im ready to play the game.

well cant even figure out how to start it so i see something that says update. well better do that.. look well it took about 20 mins to scan the dam thing just to see what needed upgraded than an hour to update. what kind of crap is this. now i needed to create a content id. did that. started the game up and it will not find a content id.. this is complete crap.. i paid 60 bucks for the game and can't even play it.. i hope this content id error is something with the service not up yet.. want to call customer support but their hours are like 6.. come on

but im just going back to oblivion... i swear i wish you could return video games. im never going to forgive square for this pile of SH!T. DO NOT BUY THIS CRAP ASS GAME.. unless you like setting stuff up more then you can play it.

Oh I agree completely. I was using a PROJECTOR and I still couldn't read the friggin text
I don't know how PS2 gamers play this stuff, I can see PC gamers but I can't imagine Text is easy to read on a crappy 480i TV when I can't see jack on a HD projector. Hopefull the retail version fixes this, or at least provides some options.

Overall I couldn't get into it, MMOs just aren't my thing. Glad I got the beta disc though, it was a learning experience for sure.

Yeah, I was waiting to post and trying to find if anybody else was having this too... But yeah, I'm getting the content ID error now. I got it less than 5 minutes after I said I could log in. I would almost bet that if I buy another then it will work, but yeah, I'm not doing that. This is truly sad, an online only game doesn't even work on the first day it's released. I will never buy another FF game, EVER

I will say though, that opening screen was beautiful. The game does look like it could be good... But if you haven't already bought it, I suggest that you wait unitl this crap is fixed at least. Even when it is fixed, for somebody who hasn't used the beta it should take them 3 hours total before even playing.

I was also a little off on the pricing. Each additional character you create will be another $1. It says that the addons are not charged monthly, but the prorated screen said like 41 cents for that 12-13 days prorated (I had only registered game and one addon at that moment.

Same here, smoking some hash to calm down and then going back to Oblivion. Nuff headache for one night.

It's too bad that you were first exposed to this game/chore when you purchased it. I tried to get into the free beta back in February, but it was such a chore to do anything in that game that I couldn't ever justify purchasing it no matter how much I love the FF series (except 8, 10, and X-2). I doubt they fixed it in the retail version, but if you want to talk to another gamer that you meet in your travels, you'll have to invite him/her to a private chat. You can't audibly chat with anyone unless you invite them to a private chat.

However, you can chat with anyone with a keyboard, but I refuse to move my keyboard back and forth from my TV room to my computer room, and I'm steadfast about not purchasing a keyboard for my 360. I'm a firm believer that console games are meant to be played with a controller not a keyboard. I play PC games but not many because sitting upright in front of a screen typing away the days can't compete with laying on the couch with my feet up on the coffee table with a controller in-hand and a beer within reach.

Unfortunately, a keyboard isn't a luxury for this game; it's a necessity.

This game was a bad port. IMO, it should have only been released for PC. This game isn't really meant to entertain on 360, but rather it's Square getting their foot in MS's proverbial door.

@Master X:
As far as those achievements go, think of it this way: all of us that tried the beta have all the same achievements that the guys who purchased it ever will.

Never say die, man. You shouldn't let this experience sour your like of FF.

Hope I'm not speaking too soon again, but I'm past that and creating a character now.

EDIT: I'm actually playing now.

wow, I cant believe you actually bought it

i mean its a ported ps2 game for xbox sake

did they at least fix the choppy frame rate?
would be nice if they beefed up the graphics too

what did you do.. i bought another character and still having a prob.. but its a new day so im going to see if it works...

it is 420 so i better be high as shit and playing ff before the day is over..

I've finally gotten to play the game a little bit and have a better opinion on it now....

I had another friend get the game also BTW and it took him about 6 hours to set it all up (kept freezing and having to re-download stuff).

So far I like the game (maybe not worth $50+$13 per month). I've had a lot of fun running around and leveling up so far. Also, the only really nice graphics I've seen was a short intro video that came on while it was installing the game to the HD, other than that video I haven't seen any cutsceens at all (but I've also not really started on the missions). I might be wrong, but I think the game actually has some kind of story to it. I think as you do missions you somehow get closer to beating the game (not sure though).

I really enjoy the people that are playing too. I can't even count the number of times I've been getting my ass kicked by some demon and some random person will start casting cure on me so I won't die. Every time I've leveled up and somebody was around to hear the famous "level up music", they have always congradulated me. I've even had to run around and ask for help some too. I had to find a world pass (so a friend can create a character and play on the same server as you) and I could not have done that without the help of others.

As far as I know the "choppy things in beta" are fixed. My friend did say that the text was small, so I'm guessing the text must be the same size as the beta. Sorry that I didn't say it was hard to read, I've got perfect vision, so I can read everything. My friend also said he didn't remember music being in the beta, but either way the music in-game isn't bad, just like the older FF's.

So I guess to sum it up, I'm pretty happy with the game. Only thing that really sucks is I just got Oblivion about a week and half to 2 weeks before I got this. I've got like 45 hours on Oblivion and want to finish it. I don't see myself paying to play FFXI for anymore than 3-4 months, so I'm stuck with trying to figure out whether I should beat Oblivion now (haven't even started the main quest, lol) or whether I should go full force on FFXI until I don't feel like playing it anymore. And BTW, somebody who has played FFXI on the PC or PS2, can you actually beat the game?

BTW, anybody who has never played any Final Fantasy, I would be careful of buying this game, if you don't like it, it's not like you can take it back or trade it in (not without illegally screwing somebody over).

WOW, I just got FFXI a couple of days ago!! I also went through the same LONG download... I played it maybe ten min or so. Everyone that was in the game was very helpfull!! I'm a big fan of the FF games but I would'nt recomend this one! I'm gonna finish Oblivion then I'll figure out what to do with FFXI

Man, i am ever glad there is this site....just bought the game and was a little hestitant to open before i found out all the "costs" associated with it. Well this one is going back tomorrow...

my local blockbuster had this for rent.. i almost picked it up.. thank god i didnt or I would have wasted 8 bucks

It's to bad nobody gives the game more than a hour of play before passing such a harsh judgment on the game Ive played it since the release over 2 years ago and its the only one that kept my interest because there is always something new to do and as for a post about the PS2 port play the PS2 version then look at the 360 version it 10x better than the PS2 version it looks exactly as the PC version that I played since release it looks nothing like a PS2 port so don't judge it like that Ive converted over from the pc to the 360 and still having as much fun since the first time I played FFXI it a game thats for certain type of gamers like me that have invested alot of time into and I have to say its one of the best online rpgs that I have played I have tired GuildWars, WoW, RFOnline and I have came back to FFXI because the people are nice willing to help and it always has something new to do in the game 3 expansions since it release im still working on the second expansion before I start on the newest 3rd that was just released so don't judge the game until you have invested some time into it 10min-1week doesn't give this game justice to say its crap!

Wow this forum doesnt change your all so negative....

Seriously FFXI doesnt get any credit whatsoever and I think thats messed up. It must be a good game if its been out for 3 years and is on every major gaming platform. How many other games are like that? (none) Its got three expansions, the games bigger and better than it ever was. The graphics are as good as Pc way better than ps2. There are things that suck like you have to take time to do install and register playonline and it takes time like 6 hrs but you only have to do it once and you get a lot of stuff when you install. Playonline is basically a better version of xboxlive minus the voice chat. Its got chatrooms email you can even send greeting cards to friends for birthdays stuff like that. Even take screenshots in game and send them to friends. And bitching about the money part figures considering the forums filled with pirate kiddies but im glad I dont want the halo kid crowd on ffxi so screw ya if you cant afford 13 bucks 50 cents a day. Most of the players on each server are very nice and respectful. I didnt realize till I met girls playing ffxi and we switched over to halo and people were rude as hell. There isnt a single my friend doesnt get harassed in halo. Shes never been harassed in ffxi ever. Regardless of that what it really boils down to in this game is, how social are you? Its not halo anymore its not you verse another player and the monotony that goes along with kill or be killed. Its about having a full alliance of 18 players taking down one of the Avatars (Ifrit) we all rememeber from each FF game we have ever played. Oblivion is great dont get me wrong but when you get that great armor that looks sick as hell whose going to see it? Your Real life friends who probably havent played and dont understand how hard it was to get? This game has aspects of gaming that you wont find in any other game for 360 for a while. Also its one of the few games where if you want to go fishing get a pole some bait and go. There are also seasonal events that coincide with real life holidays. There are so many aspects why it is worth the money and worth the time but it sucks when everyone rights it off cause there attention spans are to short and the wallets to small

~3 BlackHole

OK, since I pay $8 for XBOX Live and can play any game I buy online and don't feel like I should have to pay $13 to play just one game that makes me a pirate. I do believe I bought the game which cost $50.

I don't see $13 a month anywhere near worth playing just one game, especially when I compare that to $8 a month to play any 360 game I want.

And the reason I posted all the cons of this game is that I would hate to buy this game if I didn't know anything about it or the cost associated with it. And like I said, since it's a one time registration, it's not like if somebody hates the game they could take it back, it's $50 lost and will never be regained.

And honestly I hope that nobody else buys this game for the 360. I would like to see M$ never let another company use another online service. If they can't make it for XBOX Live, then make it non-Live or don't make it at all.

.. says the guy who got banned for pirating Halo 2 map packs...

Twice.

It has nothing to do with people having a "small wallet" or short attention spans. Rejection of this game is about the game feeling more like work than fun.

For what it's worth, I think it's terrific that cerealkilla did the guinea pig thing for those that were in doubt. He presents excellent points for this game. He also admits that he likes the game, although he doesn't recommend it. That's awesome because it shows that he's objective and he would rather keep people from making a financial mistake unless they'd be truly dedicated to this game and to put up with its many faults.

We need more people like him on the scene.

$8 a month for Live? you live outside the US?





$8 a month for Live? you live outside the US?

It took me 9 hours from putting in the CD to playing it!!!

But, I really like the game, only played an old FF game on a PS2 years ago, so I didn't know what to expect really.

Very addictive, friendly players and great fun.

I've only played two other games on the Xbox 360 and only one on the old Xbox and hardly any other games either to be honest, so I'm totally new to all this online gaming carry on.

There's a lot of running around but I'm sure it'll only get better the more time I spend on it.

Still, I hope not too many games come out with this kind of payment method. Imagine if you've got a few kids and they all want to play and not only that they want to play all the other games with similar payment methods. It'll soon mount up.

Hey, how are kids paying for these things anyway, on their parents Credit Cards??? Do they have other ways of paying? Shit I'm to old for this.

@xombeisaho: The worst of all is that your still here... That's truly sad. And what's even funnier is that your probably going to still post again. Why waste your time?



I only got it a month ago, but I didn't buy a Live kit (didn't think I'd need it) so I'm currently paying monthly for $8 per month. I need to invest in a year live kit though, it will save me a lot of money compared to paying monthly.

I'm very suprised at some of the comments that I have read. I love this game and intend on playing it for a while. I bought the game on an impulse when the local EBGames didn't have any Oblivions left. I bought it, called up a friend only to find out that it was online only that required monthly payments. Okay, $13 dollars isn't that much a month... geez. I could make that much off of ** Do not post that site on XS **s in one week. But nah, I'm 16, might as well get a job. What a story to tell in the future. I got my first job just to pay for a video game. Anyways, I'm still in the free 30 day subscription on the Fenrir server. I played from last Friday might when I bought the game, all the way to this morning before the XBL Maintenance update. The game has a "Play Time" feature that informs the player how long he/she has played. Checking it before the XBL downtime, it said I have played for 1 day and 9 hours. I think I'm addicted... Anyways, I expected to see some good reviews and praise for the game, but didn't. I must think it's the best since I have never played an MMORPG before like this.

I only have one problem using the controller and not a USB keyboard... You can't type as fast. I don't mind that though; I can manage. I will probably buy a USB keyboard if I see one for cheap. The controls for the game, including the camera required some time to get used to since when set to normal, it feels inverted. My character is already a Level 13 Warrior and would be working on 14 right now if it weren't for the update.

I like the community on the server that I play on. People always seem to be talking and having fun. There have been a few situations where I would ask for someone to heal me, and be successful in saving my life. I have made a couple freinds already playing this game and have a "party" most of the time. That is another feature that I like. The "Party"-ing. If you can't get the job done yourself, the get some similar friends to help you out while sharing experience.

In closing, I must say that I do love playing this game.

EDIT- Oh yeah, I'm also hapy to see that it is not full of the same guys that have the same uniforms. I like the diversity that the players picked.

Lately I've been confident in a Phantasy Star Universe purchase in the near future and paying 8$-ish a month to play online, but I've been thinking lately - if I'm gonna pay to play one game online, it may as well be a fully-fledged MMORPG for an extra few bucks. I've played PSO, and I couldn't see myself paying monthly for it. It's basically an instanced game, and I don't see why ST has to charge so much for a game that is run in seperate 6-player instances (less than COD2). It should be 5$ a month at most, since the only server-intensive thing going on in PSU is the lobby (cities with hundreds of players).

Anywho, I've been looking into FFXI. Not knowing anything about it for the 3 years it's been out, I starting reading about the different jobs, the battle system, the crafts, etc.

Still not 100%, though. I still gotta sort my debit card out so I can use it (thus pay for ffxi). I also gotta figure out where I can get a usb keyboard. Would they be at EbGames? I don't want to go out of my way to pick one up, since I like to keep things like 'extra gaming expenses' in the social-closet when it comes to my parents. Not that they wouldn't let me pay, but I just prefer they don't know I'm spending/doing so much just for gaming.

Anywho, I'm also getting a drumset for 1month for my birthday (my sister is renting it out for us ), and enchant arm is coming out at the end of the summer (something I've been looking forward to). I may put eM on the waiting list IF I get my credit card sorted out by mid-august. If not, then FFXI is on my waiting list and I'll be playing Enchant Arm for a week or so.

That's another thing. Most of the games I've been getting are lasting a week or two. Now, my problem is, when I get a game, I make time to play it (or allocate my 'tv-time' to 'gaming-time' - same thing). When I get the casual every 2-4 month game purchase (I don't impulse buy 80$cdn products), I finish them in a week or whatnot. I am then left gameless for a month at least looking at what's coming out next or wasting time on forums (hello, everyone!! ).

I think it's time for another quality time-wasting online game. The only games that have given me quality gaming that saved me money in the longrun were Socom2 and Diablo 2. What I mean is, they've kept me playing for so long that I haven't had to buy any other 80$cdn games to keep myself busy. With the amount I had to pay for socom2 (60$ for socom2 plus 75$ for online adapter) and diablo 2 (urm... nothing but a trip to my cousins house), I got tons of hours of gaming time. Yay for me!