[06/06] Final Fantasy XIV Producer Discusses Roadmap, PS3 Beta, and Xbox 360 Possibilities

[C i d]

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Famitsu.com was given a chance to see a live play session of Final Fantasy XIV Version 2.0. But before that, the site quizzed director and producer Naoki Yoshida on the long awaited reboot of the troubled MMORPG.

The first question the site asked was about the PlayStation 3 version of the game. Yoshida would not share a time frame for the PS3 version. Rather, he discussed the approach Square Enix will be taking with promoting FFXIV to PS3 players. The PS3 version is especially targeted to new players, so he believes they should start promotions from zero When they open a promotion site for the PS3 version, it will begin with the very basics, such as an introduction to the world of Eorza.

Moving on to a general discussion of Version 2.0, Yoshida listed three points that he, his staff, and Square Enix as a whole consider pillars for Version 2.0's development: the ultimate gameplay, a main story that gives the feeling of "FF," and the ultimate graphics for driving the ultimate gameplay and ultimate story.

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Screenshot from the FFXIV Version 2.0. Square Enix shared new media for the game at E3.

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On the area of graphics, Yoshida noted that the game's graphics engine, which he's had a hand in since concept creation, is built upon the idea of showing as many players as possible. Also, it's designed to be extremely customizable, allowing it to run on high spec PCs, low spec PCs and PlayStation 3.

All the screens we've seen thus far have been from the PC version, said Yoshida. The quality will go up by about 15% from what we're seeing now.

One area that Final Fantasy fans in particular can look forward to is the inclusion of many fan service elements in Version 2.0. Yoshida personally feels that FFXIV should be a fan service title. They're adding elements from past FF games, recreated with FFXIV-level graphics and in the FFXIV world style. As an example, you'll find a Crystal Tower in Version 2.0. This, of course, is from Final Fantasy III. The Mado Armor (Magitek Armor) that appears in Version 2.0 is pretty much the same design as that of FFVI. He also said to expect an Ivalice and the FFXIII world in FFXIV form. Yoshida hopes that this type of fan service gets players excited as they wonder what game's "essence" will next be added to FFXIV.

Famitsu.com asked Yoshida what's certain to be a common question as Version 2.0's release approaches: how about an Xbox 360 version? Replied Yoshida: "It's an MMORPG, so I believe we should have as many players as possible playing it, and when thinking about it as a business, I believe it is my job to get as many accounts made as possible. So I won't say that there is no possibility. However, until we deliver the promised PlayStation 3 version, no matter what we say, people will ask "Seriously?" and "Uhh, how about getting that Version 2.0 running first?", so we must first concentrate on getting Version 2.0 out.

Version 2.0's roadmap is currently running on schedule. They plan on beginning full promotions around August and starting an alpha test in late September. The plan is to start a beta test without too much wait after that.

For PlayStation 3 version beta testers, the plan is to deliver a client in download form, and allow players to take part in the latter half of the beta.

Yoshida would not give a precise timeframe for start of official service, but he assured that the staff of course knows that the sooner the better. Once the beta starts, he believes they'll be able to have a large number of players trying out Version 2.0.

Japanese readers will find even more commentary from Yoshida, and the impressions of the demo session from Famitsu.com's reporter, in the Famitsu.com article.


Source: Andriasang​

 

[Martel]

The first question the site asked was about the PlayStation 3 version of the game. Yoshida would not share a time frame for the PS3 version. Rather, he discussed the approach Square Enix will be taking with promoting FFXIV to PS3 players. The PS3 version is especially targeted to new players, so he believes they should start promotions from zero When they open a promotion site for the PS3 version, it will begin with the very basics, such as an introduction to the world of Eorza.

LOL, epic fail on the question dodging right there. Nicely done. In other words, they still have absolutely no clue whether or not they'll ever actually get the opportunity to release it - the PS3 will probably be at the end of it's life cycle by the time they do get around to it. Who gives a damn about how they're going to promote it? They don't NEED to promote it to the people who are asking these damn questions! Fuck your marketing strategy and just tell us if we're ever actually going to see it or if it's going to turn into another Versus!

Moving on to a general discussion of Version 2.0, Yoshida listed three points that he, his staff, and Square Enix as a whole consider pillars for Version 2.0's development: the ultimate gameplay, a main story that gives the feeling of "FF," and the ultimate graphics for driving the ultimate gameplay and ultimate story.

"Ultimate gameplay" indeed. That's one of the biggest bullshit claims I've ever seen from Square Enix. I don't think they comprehend what kind of story gives a "feeling of FF" either, because if they did, they sure as hell wouldn't be trying to achieve it through an MMORPG. Graphics do not drive anything, either. They're very nice, but they're the least important part of it. We've already had a graphically-driven FF, and look at how THAT turned out. I for one am in no hurry for a repeat performance.

On the area of graphics, Yoshida noted that the game's graphics engine, which he's had a hand in since concept creation, is built upon the idea of showing as many players as possible. Also, it's designed to be extremely customizable, allowing it to run on high spec PCs, low spec PCs and PlayStation 3.

That's just plain common sense; nobody wants to have their game crashing because it can't cope with hundreds of thousands of people on it.

All the screens we've seen thus far have been from the PC version, said Yoshida. The quality will go up by about 15% from what we're seeing now.

...where the hell do they get these arbitrary numbers from?

One area that Final Fantasy fans in particular can look forward to is the inclusion of many fan service elements in Version 2.0. Yoshida personally feels that FFXIV should be a fan service title. They're adding elements from past FF games, recreated with FFXIV-level graphics and in the FFXIV world style. As an example, you'll find a Crystal Tower in Version 2.0. This, of course, is from Final Fantasy III. The Mado Armor (Magitek Armor) that appears in Version 2.0 is pretty much the same design as that of FFVI. He also said to expect an Ivalice and the FFXIII world in FFXIV form. Yoshida hopes that this type of fan service gets players excited as they wonder what game's "essence" will next be added to FFXIV.

"We were too lazy to design a new world, so we've recycled elements from the old ones" then, essentially.
Leave Ivalice alone. Please. PLEASE. Keep wrecking the things you've done wrong, don't wreck the one thing you've done right.

Famitsu.com asked Yoshida what's certain to be a common question as Version 2.0's release approaches: how about an Xbox 360 version? Replied Yoshida: "It's an MMORPG, so I believe we should have as many players as possible playing it, and when thinking about it as a business, I believe it is my job to get as many accounts made as possible. So I won't say that there is no possibility. However, until we deliver the promised PlayStation 3 version, no matter what we say, people will ask "Seriously?" and "Uhh, how about getting that Version 2.0 running first?", so we must first concentrate on getting Version 2.0 out.

...so why did he immediately divert away from the question at the start of the interview, knowing this?

Version 2.0's roadmap is currently running on schedule. They plan on beginning full promotions around August and starting an alpha test in late September. The plan is to start a beta test without too much wait after that.

They have a SCHEDULE now? I'd love to see Versus XIII's schedule. It's probably a picture of Chibi Noctis and Chibi Stella skipping through a field of flowers.

For PlayStation 3 version beta testers, the plan is to deliver a client in download form, and allow players to take part in the latter half of the beta.

Makes sense. What would also be lovely would be if this was free to play, but I suppose the chances of that happening are astronomically slim.

 

[C i d]

[11/06] Final Fantasy XIV PS3 to be shown this summer
Square Enix to host limited time PS3 beta

Square Enix is planning on showing off the PlayStation 3 version of Final Fantasy XIV sometime this summer, producer and director Naoki Yoshida has said.


“Right now it’s optimized for PC. We’re about 50% into the development of the PS3 version, but it’s [the PC version's visuals] pretty much how it’s going to look on the console as well,” Yoshida told PlayStation Blog. “It uses the same new graphics engine we built just for this game. This summer we’ll have an opportunity to show the PS3 version.”


The publisher believes that the upcoming 2.0 update to the title “can be considered the next real Final Fantasy game in the series” due to its inclusion of the series’ three pillars: high quality gameplay, great storyline and beautiful graphics.


“We’ll have some Final Fantasy staples as well, like chocobos, moogles and summons,” Yoshida added. “But what is a little bit different is that these summons are like demigods in this world, so they´re really powerful, and it’ll take cooperation of all the players to fight these battles.


“And on top of that, there´s our MMORPG community, which will consist of both PC players and also the PS3 players all over the world.”


PlayStation 3 owners shouldn’t expect anything extra for their wait. Because PlayStation 3 and PC players will be playing in the same world, Square “can’t give either group something special.” However, both groups can switch between PlayStation 3 and PC on the fly, should they feel like changing the mood.


But what about PlayStation 3 players who have never played a massively-multiplayer online game? How does Square intend to attract that audience?


“We know that a lot of console players never played an MMO and they may be scared by not knowing what to do,” said Yoshida, “and we want to stress that it’s very similar to an offline Final Fantasy that always had great stories, made you cry, changed your life. There will be a beta for a limited time where people will be able to try it out. And an additional factor to bring in console games are graphics: something of this quality you can’t have in any MMO title.”


If you missed the first screenshots of the 2.0 update at E3 last week, catch them here.

Source: Gematsu

 

[Master Cat]

I'm actually looking forward to a PS3 beta of FFXIV. ^^;

I hate the fact that the game runs like crap on both my desktop PC & laptop. If it ran super smooth on the PS3, then the gameplay would be drastically improved imo. It's actually a pretty fun game as is, I just don't have the patience to deal with lag every 5 seconds anymore. xD

I'm a bit concerned with how they're going to attempt to market it (once again), considering how much the PC version had failed, plus FF fans are already pissed off that there's still no word on Versus, lol. Good luck to Square Enix!

 

[Yatsumiko]

I was thoroughly upset with the PC version of this game. I bought it along with a brand new computer for my birthday last year and I made sure that my computer had the specs to handle it... I couldn't even get out of the beginning area with all of my graphics on low ): Hopefully that once I get my new computer I'll be able to try Final Fantasy 14 again and see if it's as terrible as everyone says it is. Regardless, I want to participate in the beta for the Ps3 because for me it's a final fantasy game and I find all of them enjoyable... for the most part.

 

[Master Cat]

Yatsumiko - I feel your pain and disappointment. x_x I actually know quite a few people who had decent to excellent PCs with the appropriate specs recommended by Square-Enix and they still experienced issues with even loading the game. It took me nearly 30min just to customize my character due to the horrible lag!! And once that was over & done with, I received the black loading screen of death shortly afterwards.

With that said, I'm sort of assuming that the PS3 release/beta won't be having such horrible processing speeds, but as @Martel mentioned, if FFXIV is released near the end of the PS3's life cycle, then... xD