Japanese video game publisher and developer Square Enix is abandoning the PlayOnline game payment service in favor of an internal billing system, and is requiring all members of the service to transfer their accounts before close of business on 31 August 2011, after which they will no longer be able to access Final Fantasy XI through PlayOnline.
In this article Gaming Update examines the issues that have faced players through the years, the various payment schemes, and what is necessary to continue to play on the service.
Final Fantasy XI helped to pioneer a style of MMO gaming closely linked to console-style and is credited with helping to change both the technology of the MMO and player expectations for game world quality since its original launch in 2002.
The latest update for Final Fantasy XI Online, the 'November Update', is now live across all platforms where the game is playable.
Can't believe this game is still getting updates 21 years after it launched. That's crazy! XI remains the only main numbered FF that I haven't played.
At the time, it was an amazing game if you had a good Linkshell and/or friend to play with.
A MMOROG that actually required teamplay to be played.
Easily one of the best games ever. As you said, it had the caveat of NEEDING a good group to play with, but I've never had memories/experiences like that in ANY game since.
I've been chasing that experience since I stopped playing it, and the closest I've come to is FFXIV. And even that is still vastly different.
Played the shit of this 20 years ago. Getting the Serket ring was epic. Idk how many mornings we spent camping before we finally got the pull and I won the roll upon defeat. It was great solo, but you really need a good link/squad for some of the notorious monsters....
@Seraphim
I loved those camping hours for every NM of interest.
Leaping Lizzy or what was it's name. Damn, so many days and nights 😅
And first time you got attacked by the Kraken on the boat, omg...
To get more engagement with his article, and drive clicks. DUH!
(Thanks, I'll go ahead and report that).
Wish they'd release it for PS4, 5, Xboxes and Switch - it ran on ps2 and still works on potato PCs so should run well everywhere
Live service games are vehemently criticized and companies need to rethink & prioritize respectful game design for consumer benefit.
Gabe says not being publicly owned is a huge part of what makes Valve so successful.
"The whole point of being a privately held company is to eliminate another source of noise in the signal between the consumers and producers of a good."
Looks at Destiny 2 > I used to go into a store to find a game. Now I go into a game and find a store.
"Bungie reportedly expressed concerns over how engaging The Last of Us multiplayer project was"
Bungie at GDC "Beware of overdelivering, quality doesn't matter, a live service being fast is more important than quality"
meh
I remember that headline about Bungie and Factions. I’m not a Bungie guy, but I am a Factions guy. Can’t help but wonder if their GaaS input will be to my liking. 🤔
I always thought Destiny would be better if Bungie built the game and then handed it off to another company to run it.
That's kind of the GaaS whole thing, though. This is like telling wolves to stop behaving like wolves.
Was looking at the top games in my country as per the PS Store and it’s overwhelmed by service games. Blood is in the water.
The issue is that journalists mostly ignored this issue as it was arising. Games like Overwatch were considered exciting until lesser news websites and organisations began taking opinion pieces on the problem. From then it’s just gotten worse.
A lot of “game journalists” are just extensions of the corporate PR teams. Remember when Bungie flew people out to Bungie HQ and showed them the 4v4 multiplayer in Destiny 2? Everyone who attended said this was the best decision for multiplayer. Less than a year later, Destiny 2 went back to 6v6. Everyone who attended said this was the best decision for multiplayer.
The issues are so prelevant, that I just immediately skip over the majority of GaaS games, hardly any are worth the time. The mainstream media glossing over the issues is nothing new, you always have to wait a few months for the real reviews or opinion pieces (that tends to include video game reviews as well).
This is why I won't spend money on a lot of these games, not only do they nickle and dime you at every opportunity, but a lot of these games have a very short life span, not many of them survive for multiple years like Fortnite has.
I also feel like most MMOs in generally are more aqueduct in terms of content, for what you pay, I feel like a lot of them give you a decent amount to enjoy.
SQUARE ENIX® announced that the January version update for FINAL FANTASY® XI Online is now available. #FFXI #JRPG #MMORPG @SquareEnix
I think I speak for the entirety of humanity when I say this update announcement doubles as a reminder that this game still exists.
I'm honestly surprising it's still going. I have some of my most fond memories in gaming on this game. And I've been gaming for over 25 years.
I wish I had the time to keep playing it, but I just can't. Good on SE continuing to support it after all this time.
Ah this is certainly more detailed than the last and shed some light on what I'd like to know. Certainly is interesting if Square is thinking of getting rid of XI and would be saddening but, I guess if by letting it go and focusing on XIV to make it better I suppose that would be cool. Gonna miss it though :(