A recent interview at Gamasutra asks Hiromichi Tanaka and Yasu Kurosawa about both FFXI and FFXIV. Final Fantasy XIV has been in the press a lot recently, and for good reason. Square Enix’s next MMO is due out in only a couple of months and information will start to come out of the floodgates. (Make sure to check out Eorzeapedia for more information pertaining to FFXIV as well as our FFXIV podcast!)
We learned last month that originally, the developers planned at minimum, five years of support for Final Fantasy XI. This interview reveals that the reason for that was due to the average lifespan of game consoles of the time. Tanaka is very surprised that the next generation (specifically the PlayStation 3) is here and Final Fantasy XI is still being supported by players.
Next comes what may be a sad realization for Final Fantasy XI players, or something they’ve been wanting to hear for the last couple of years. Tanaka says that FFXI has “passed its peak” or “reached its time”.
However, we do understand if FFXI players have special memories of FFXI, so there must be some people who will continue to play FFXI. So, we would like to keep of them happy, and we will try to introduce some bonus for our customers, probably from a monetary point of view.
However, of course, we will continue working on FFXI. Even after we launch FFXIV, we will still continue the development side. So, as long as the players enjoy the game, we will continue the service.
Players have been asking for some type of bundle subscription for FFXI and FFXIV since right after the game was announced at last year’s E3. It seems that Square Enix may be doing just that.
Makes sense, esp. given the fees for 14 are comparatively high.
Although it might be kind of nice to have a bundle subscription plan, I wouldn’t count on that just yet.
“So, we would like to keep of them happy, and we will try to introduce some bonus for our customers, probably from a monetary point of view.”
When I read this I thought subscription price reduction for FFXI. But then he said “bonus” and “probably from a monetary point of view”. Trying to interpret anything from SE always gives me a sharp pain in my front right brain area. Perhaps it would make fiscal sense to bundle a price plan, but then what happens to FFXI players that don’t want to play FFXIV? My guess would be an overall price reduction for FFXI and those who want to play both games will still end up paing full for FFXIV.
Or maybe…just maybe, they will have two-for coupons for mules on weekends. Buy one mule get the next one free on Saturdays and Sundays!! Now that’s a bonus!!
All that statement means is that with the title being eight years old, it’s not seeing the “growth” that a MMO would have when it’s new. EQ “reached it’s time” years ago and just like he stated in his interview, as long as there’s a player base still paying for XI they will still develope for XI.
Even through all the ups and downs with SE no matter what they are a big part of my life whether they know it or not. I’ve met many people online, and learned a lot about different cultures. If I ever have kids and run out of books to read at bedtime, they’ll hear about Vana’diel. I know they have to have at least 1 big trick up their sleeves for FFXI and I know also that with the awesome community we have that FFXI probly will never die even if ALL the servers go down.
I’ve come to grips with XIV coming, and welcome it (I know this sounds ridiculously dramatic but I’m just using big people words). I have the feeling of a new beginning same as when I finally hit 80 and soon 99 (I play mainly for the story and for the awesome peeps online). I do appreciate SE switching it up and pushing us along with a soft hand instead of an iron fist. Also if the two can coexist in peace, and won’t be overbearing on my wallet I appreciate that also.
well said with wotg story ending in september they might anounce another full expansion and there are 4 big areas were we havent gone to yet mithra home land to the south gigas empire to the north there is something to the west i dont remember what it called then there is all the far east the other half the toau map so we got long way to go just hope if they make another expansion its just not as long as wotg 3 years to finish it is kinda retarded toau took exactly half that time and it is way shorter
here is link to full world map http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/Im/image/20273
That map was confirmed to be fake years ago.
what realy? ; ;
Well, i know im not quitting…
I understand that FFXI is an older generation MMO now. How long the claimed “we will continue support” will last? I do predict within 9 months SE might cut the servers of FFXI in 1/2 to help save maintenance costs. The real question is how long will SE continue to support their subdivision Play Online? Why make a new Final Fantasy Online when there is so much to be done to FFXI storyboard wise? I do agree that SE made the minimum requirements for FFXIV a bit difficult to swallow. If you don’t have a Gaming PC Tank from the past year then good luck running FFXIV. Not everyone, including myself, wants to play FFXIV, FFXIV requires high PC specs and not to mention a higher subscription fee than it’s predecessor. FFXIV might travel the same road as Ever Quest II — High spec requirements, low population, and tug-o-war with its customer base. If SE decides to pull the plug on FFXI, I will never MMO with SE again. Sega has a problem leaving their online gaming fans high and dry by pulling the plug on their online games. Will SE be next?
why does everyone keep saying FFXIV has a higher subscription price then FFXI when it doesn’t? $12.99 for one character and a mule, $1 for each mule after that. if anything it’s cheaper than FFXI cause you get a mule with the $12.99. also if you don’t want to get a high end computer then get a PS3 if you don’t already have one. it’s alot cheaper for a PS3 and it might be even cheaper to get one by March.
I don’t understand why there is so much FFXIV hate. it’s gonna be everything FFXI was and more, with alot of the problems FFXI had gone thanks to newer tech and from leasons SE learned with FFXI.
Theres 1 question that my cousin keeps asking me about FFXIV… can you jump?
obligatory “not this sh!t again” pic lol. There’s been a lot of talk about this in the FFXIV community. Tanaka put it best “even if you jump nothing is going to happen”. There will be no Jump in FFXIV, nor does there need to be.
of course there will be Jump! You just gotta wait for Drg to come to FFXIV. Unless Lancer has Jump already, I forgot… hey that counts as jumping right? lol >_>;