[Zyuu]

Exclusive PAX Final Fantasy XIV Interview

We got some time to interview Sage Sundi at PAX this year! Check out our exclusive interview below. As previously mentioned, there's no game development questions in this interview.



Q: Will people outside of the game be able to view the players' site pages from the game?

A: We have a beta version of the site right now. People are able to see the levels and names of the characters. We are trying to expand a little bit of that but we are not planning to have an equipment system like World of Warcraft. We don't have that detail information on the site but we will provide a blog system for each character so each character can have their own diary.

Also, we will have a forum system for the linkshells and you will be able to choose to have a open or closed forum system to show or hide it from the public.


Q: Do you have any plans to help people who played FFXI to reunite with players who will be stating FFXIV?

A: One of the things we will do is let players be able to put their character name and the name of their server so that players will be able to find their friends easier.


Q: What kind of plans do you have, other than the blogging, for the player site?

A: My plan was to have that system outside of our system so players and other big community sites can help us do it. We only provide basic information from our side and with the community site, we will get other parts. That's the plan.


Q: In FFXIV, do you plan on letting players give each other linkshell invites from anywhere in the world or will it remain the same that players have to be in front of each other?

A: That's interesting. We'll get back to you on that. That's a very good point and we may have to add that!


Q: Will the community site forums be a place for developers to answers questions or just for talking between players?

A: Mainly just talking with the community. The reason we don't have an official forum is that the developers only speak Japanese. They would only be able to speak to the players that knew Japanese and it wouldn't be fair to the rest of the players.


Q: In the game, will you be able to select different languages regardless of where you live?

A: Yes, you can choose whichever language you'd like. The game is one client with multiple languages and settings.


Q: Will there be a journal or something of the like in the game where you can save stories and cut scenes?

A: No, I don't think so.


Q: Is there anything else you can tell us about the community? Any interesting details?

A: We do have our beta forums open and most of the questions we get are about the interface. 'Will the interface be friendly for the mouse and keyboard?' is what what see the most. We've been trying to fix that and things are getting pretty good now. It's getting easier to handle it by the mouse and keyboard now.

We're really happy to have those forums. They're really helping us get good feedback to help us fix the game.

North America Pre-Order Update

PC + 12,008 = 164,729
PS3 + 937 = 25,628

Total + 12,945 = 190,357

There are only 4 weeks remaining until the launch of Final Fantasy XIV. Can you believe it? This week shows a steady increase in Pre-Orders with 12,945 for the week. The PC version continues to be on track for a minimum of 200,000 launch for PC in NA only.

Please take into account that these numbers are from America only and do not include ALL pre-orders. Also the figures are taken from VGChartz. They are not to be taken with 100% accuracy as there is a margin of error but will be fairly close to the real deal.

Misc News

Two new worlds were opened recently, one yesterday and one today. We've added the world forums for each of these worlds to our World Servers forum area. The two new worlds are named Saronia and Fabul.

We're also working on adding more forum sections where needed. Thanks for your feedback so far.

Also, we've done several major updates to the wiki today. Soon we're also going to revamp the navigation menu. Check out our FFXIV wiki, it's filled with FFXIV information. Look forward to many updates in the coming days, weeks and months.

[IMHW]

A: 'Will the interface be friendly for the mouse and keyboard?' is what what see the most. We've been trying to fix that and things are getting pretty good now. It's getting easier to handle it by the mouse and keyboard now.

Is that a joke! maybe they could just enable the hardware mouse they already put in???

This post has been edited by IMHW: 06 September 2010 - 01:24 PM

[alunadriea]

um that's it? WOW ... just ... um.. WOW... nothing really of help there.

nothing confirming a PS3 beta

nothing about how the PS3 version is coming along

nothing really about what they are doing to address the MANY concerns the players have that will be entering this game in just weeks.


why am I getting the feeling SE is keeping a tight lid on information due to the game being rushed to market and it is not as ready as they want us to believe it is?


don't get me wrong I still want to play and waiting for the PS3 version to do so.

but the lack of information flowing from SE to the community concerns me.

[Mirron]

Well, there could be some sort of an issue with it. I find it hard to believe they wouldn't implement something like that. Can't say with any real accuracy, but given they won't charge us for a Hardware Mouse I don't think they would avoid implementing it if they didn't have a reason.

[RoninEliash]

Is it not 2 weeks from release? Or did it get pushed back to 4?

[Aakisz]

We do have our beta forums open and most of the questions we get are about the interface.


where is that forum oO?

[IggyUK]

Well im just happy that the UI and mouse are still being worked on! TBH im not really suffering that much with the controls as they are but any improvement for the retail will be good to have! I would have liked to have a journal in game for myself but by the looks of it thats what the blogging on the Players site is for! Keeping a diary for other LS members to read and for me to refresh myself when i need to. I think i``m just gunna look at it as another way to immerse myself in this game!

[Wagram123]

RoninEliash, on 06 September 2010 - 01:33 PM, said:

Is it not 2 weeks from release? Or did it get pushed back to 4?

Pre-Order #s go up until launch day which is the 30th. Also the #s are as of Sept 4th.

This post has been edited by Wagram123: 06 September 2010 - 01:39 PM

[Pacifista]

alunadriea, on 06 September 2010 - 01:28 PM, said:

um that's it? WOW ... just ... um.. WOW... nothing really of help there.

nothing confirming a PS3 beta

nothing about how the PS3 version is coming along

nothing really about what they are doing to address the MANY concerns the players have that will be entering this game in just weeks.

It was stated from the very beginning that this interview would have no questions regarding game development because a) Sundi isn't allowed to talk about it/doesn't know and b) because there's another interview scheduled for very near future that discusses the development of the game.

Seriously people.

[Keii]

Quote

Q: In the game, will you be able to select different languages regardless of where you live?

A: Yes, you can choose whichever language you'd like. The game is one client with multiple languages and settings.

SE, I officialy love you.

[kyomagi]

RoninEliash, on 06 September 2010 - 01:33 PM, said:

Is it not 2 weeks from release? Or did it get pushed back to 4?

CE release is 2 weeks and the standard 3 weeks

[Axl_Seshaat]

I really didn't have an issue with the UI using a controller or the keyboard, what exactly are people complaining so much about?

[ANTDrakko]

Wait, so the thought of inviting people to linkshells from anywhere never even came up as a thought? Like, ever? I'm positive people have been complaining about this since FFXI like, years ago.

[Wagram123]

Axl_Seshaat, on 06 September 2010 - 02:40 PM, said:

I really didn't have an issue with the UI using a controller or the keyboard, what exactly are people complaining so much about?

It is the mouse.

[Diablo]

Lol at the keyboard and mouse controls getting better and better. I hope they are talking about a different build, I really do. I know that SE doesn't like to share much info (I've played FFXI long enough to know) but man, you'd think they would learn specially considering they are trying to cater/listen to us more.

[IggyUK]

Diablo, on 06 September 2010 - 02:57 PM, said:

Lol at the keyboard and mouse controls getting better and better. I hope they are talking about a different build, I really do. I know that SE doesn't like to share much info (I've played FFXI long enough to know) but man, you'd think they would learn specially considering they are trying to cater/listen to us more.

Yes they are talking about a different build the current is open beta build. There is a seperate retail build though quite what that will entail you guess is good as mine though i hope it will run a lot smoother!

[Einsof]

pardon my colorful language, but that was a bunch of super boring questions. i expected better, core.

[xayla23]

The controls haven't bothered me too bad since I pretty much only used the keyboard in ffxi. But I do admit the sluggish mouse was a pain when I started playing beta (thank you hardware mouse patch!)

My big hope is that keyboard binding will be improved by release. The only thing I need changed to match my ffxi playstyle is to have the camera controls on the arrow keys instead of ijkl.

Not really a complaint since it is beta, just my tiny hope ^^

[mrxennon]

Einsof, on 06 September 2010 - 03:07 PM, said:

pardon my colorful language, but that was a bunch of super boring questions. i expected better, core.

Got to agree with you on that statement.

[Darklano]

Axl_Seshaat, on 06 September 2010 - 02:40 PM, said:

I really didn't have an issue with the UI using a controller or the keyboard, what exactly are people complaining so much about?

The major issue is that there is a 2-3 sec delay when you choose any action, purchase items, etc. The major theory behind this phenomenon is that it's a server delay. If I am not mistaken, all information needs to relay to the server, calculated then sent back to the player for every major action. From what I've read, what makes this even worse is that the servers are all located in Japan. (Please don't quote me on this for I have not yet researched this information myself.)

What many have been asking for is to have more information run off an individual's hardware, to cut back on the tedious sending of information across seas. (mouse, npc dialogue/ interaction scenes, etc) Add this to the fact that many player's barely meet the system requirement. Now what is probably a split sec delay on an internal test environment is now sluggish to everyone else.

Compared to other titles on the market, you can feel the difference. Improvements have been made since Closed Beta but it is nowhere near as responsive as it could be. This will not stop me from buying and playing what is looking to be a good game though. However, any improvements would make the game that much more enjoyable for me.

Please take what I have said with a grain of salt, as it is all just theory. No one is privy to internal information except SE... yet.