Considering the game's been announced for a little over two weeks but is set to drop in 2010, we expect news for Final Fantasy XIV to fly fast and furious in the months leading up to its release. Today, for instance, we've received rumors claiming that the beta process for the game will begin as early as September, spawned by a recently uploaded Help Wanted sign on Square Enix's site which requests the aid of game testers and game masters.
The employment offering doesn't actually mention FFXIV, though -- it only asks that applicants be well versed in FFXI, which led some fans to speculate that most of the FFXI support team will be shifted to XIV. The GM positions are scheduled to start mid-September -- a potential start date for the speculated beta. Also lending credence is the fact that the FFXIV dev team claims to have been working on the game for five years, and wants it to have a longer beta period than XI's, which was only four months.
We're smelling a lot of "if" coming off this rumor, but our sister site Massively (which knows more about MMOs than anyone ever) thinks it carries some weight. We'll adhere to its wise, wise judgment.
Reader Comments (56)
Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 12:33PM MarkezJM said
I guess I can understand the bitterness though, life has been harsh on you http://www.break.com/pictures/polluted760216.html
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Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 12:47PM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said
Are you the guy who sucks off Square Enix's teet every night at the very mention of anything Final Fantasy? Or do I have you confused with this guy:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y252/teardrop_hero/3414_540.jpg
Tell your mom I said hi too:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y252/teardrop_hero/3415_540.jpg
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http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y252/teardrop_hero/3414_540.jpg
Tell your mom I said hi too:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y252/teardrop_hero/3415_540.jpg
Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 1:50PM SheppyReturns said
Are You the guy who has to poopoo anything Final fantasy because it's all conformists and way too mainstream for your tear drenched ass or do I have you confused with this guy?
http://www.vaycanina.com/resimler/standart/06052007172722emo_boys_rock--large-msg-1152717544.jpg
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http://www.vaycanina.com/resimler/standart/06052007172722emo_boys_rock--large-msg-1152717544.jpg
Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 6:13PM SheppyReturns said
That's it? That's your inspiring rebuttal? Bad troll is bad.
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Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 7:13PM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said
Troll? LOL...there's nothing more I need to say. Arguing with fanboys, let alone FF fanboys, is about as pointless as Rosie O'Donnell having a vagina.
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Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 11:28AM (Unverified) said
I wanna say that Final Fantasy and MMORPG put together is a oxymoron...But..Final Fantasy never ends anyway.
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Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 11:33AM MaliceMajorE15 said
sure it does. anyone who has ever played a final fantasy will testify to that. why is it an oxy moron? FFXI is pretty good so i dont know what your comment is based on. maybe you are just anti RPG
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Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 12:51PM skipjimroo said
I think the more likely scenario is that he doesn't know what an oxymoron is.
Google is your friend kids. Use it wisely.
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Google is your friend kids. Use it wisely.
Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 3:37PM (Unverified) said
@malice
Its not really. But you would think that Final Fantasy would finnaly end at some point. It really doesnt...So anyway...Final Fantasy + MMO is The Neverending Story.
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Its not really. But you would think that Final Fantasy would finnaly end at some point. It really doesnt...So anyway...Final Fantasy + MMO is The Neverending Story.
Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 11:24AM (Unverified) said
I would wager this is more of an in-house alpha test. even pre-alpha.
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Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 12:49PM (Unverified) said
Why would you hire Gamemasters (People who uphold the rules) to govern your own employees. Thats like hiring cops in a top made up entirely of cops. Kinda dumb really.
Also I just check this link out and theres even more stuff look like they are in the process of doing translations. I have a feeling this rumor is right. There going to need people to double check all the dialogue and everything else. Semptember is about roughly the time to get most of the translations done.
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Also I just check this link out and theres even more stuff look like they are in the process of doing translations. I have a feeling this rumor is right. There going to need people to double check all the dialogue and everything else. Semptember is about roughly the time to get most of the translations done.
Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 12:50PM (Unverified) said
top=town It's hot in this car and it's killing me that's my excuse damnit.
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Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 12:24PM Draken Stark said
First of all why are you posting if you don't care.
Second, thanks for all the information that you've given me. Enlightened by your input, I can now call you a douche.
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Second, thanks for all the information that you've given me. Enlightened by your input, I can now call you a douche.
Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 12:44PM StormEagle said
Well, you see there's two types of beta testers in this world. The type of beta testing we're all used to, is the fun type. You play the game and test out the servers for the company and if you should happen to notice a glitch, you report it. Then there's the workhorse tester. They spend their time with the game not only doing that, but actually run through the game performing a lot of instances of "what happens when i do this" tests, and "will this work?" experiments. Sometimes, its not very fun.
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Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 12:26PM I AM IRONHIDE said
Just got IV: After Years on WiiWare and Tactics A2 in the mail to fill me in till then. Hopefully.
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Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 12:30PM Spunky Monkey 190906 said
So how much is this going to cost us, FF11 was £11 plus £1 more for each character, and this one?
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Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 12:41PM StormEagle said
Hopefully this is more marketed to the masses with reasonable fees and the like.
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Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 12:47PM Muu said
Timeframe sounds about right.
Late next month they're putting probably the 2nd-final major update to FF11 by adding the last additional area to the Wings of the Goddess expansion (Xarcabard[S]); missions will probably come to a close by the end of the year. I wish for the best of things to happen with FF14, but alongside Tanaka on the project is the lead producer for Chains of Promathia... anyone playing/used to play FF11 should know what that could mean.
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Late next month they're putting probably the 2nd-final major update to FF11 by adding the last additional area to the Wings of the Goddess expansion (Xarcabard[S]); missions will probably come to a close by the end of the year. I wish for the best of things to happen with FF14, but alongside Tanaka on the project is the lead producer for Chains of Promathia... anyone playing/used to play FF11 should know what that could mean.
Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 12:59PM (Unverified) said
Why is everyone saying this game won't work, it's going to be rubbish, it'll be broken just like XI, etc;
Have I missed something or am I going to be able to play a very well made MMO on my PS3, for free (micro transactions)?
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Have I missed something or am I going to be able to play a very well made MMO on my PS3, for free (micro transactions)?
Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 2:04PM (Unverified) said
It may not be free, be aware of that. PS3 can carry out subscription services, ie Qore, so it can use subs for FFXIV( which it would be entirely upto S-E)
Personally I'd prefer an MMO to be subs than freemium, because at least everyone is on a level playing field, where as freemium means whoever has the most real cash has the best stuff in game.
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Personally I'd prefer an MMO to be subs than freemium, because at least everyone is on a level playing field, where as freemium means whoever has the most real cash has the best stuff in game.
Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 1:21PM (Unverified) said
Have you played in the last year? Finding a party is a snap with the Level Sync system. And you don't have to "search" for something to kill because that something is alway Colibri.
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Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 1:19PM (Unverified) said
i hope it's for PS3 also , not just for the PC . They didn't say it's for PC , they didn't say if there is a damn beta but i think if they come up with a beta it will be just for PC . hope it's cross platform too .
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Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 1:38PM (Unverified) said
Hm.. what? It's for PS3 and it has already been stated it's also coming to the PC.
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Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 1:38PM (Unverified) said
I have high hopes for FFXIV since during the last couple of months SE has been doing a great job for appealing a more "casual" market in FFXI. Sure, some people may be hardcore, but I like my games fun. I'm sure they know they'll get the perfect formula.
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Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 2:04PM (Unverified) said
I'll be there if this is true. Quit FFXI last year after playing since UK release so I'm looking forward to a new adventure. FFXI was my real MMO after trying everything else thanks to a compelling story and flexible job system, as well as characters who you become a part of and which were not as throw-away as other MMOs.
I'm hoping they continue down this more casual route they have been taking recently in XI, as I have much more of a life since the early days of my playing FFXI.
Also, the guy who said FFXI looked like crap but plays WoW, is a great big hippocrit.
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I'm hoping they continue down this more casual route they have been taking recently in XI, as I have much more of a life since the early days of my playing FFXI.
Also, the guy who said FFXI looked like crap but plays WoW, is a great big hippocrit.
Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 2:07PM Angel Mass said
I dont know about you guys, but I just cant wait for FF MCDLXXIV!!
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Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 2:08PM (Unverified) said
FFXIV and The Old Republic are competing for my MMO of '10, It's gonna be first come first served, but if I get in a beta of either and find it awesome I'll wait for it.
If either are pulled of right ( though I think Star Wars has the better chance) they cold pull at least a few million form WoW and keep em this time.
I really want to see how well it plays on PS3 too, they seem to have a ton of MMO's lined up, in fact most MMO's coming out over the next year are on PS3...
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If either are pulled of right ( though I think Star Wars has the better chance) they cold pull at least a few million form WoW and keep em this time.
I really want to see how well it plays on PS3 too, they seem to have a ton of MMO's lined up, in fact most MMO's coming out over the next year are on PS3...
Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 2:09PM (Unverified) said
Oh and to quote Unskippable;
"One man, a bigger man, a woman and a large mutated chicken are Earths last hope"
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"One man, a bigger man, a woman and a large mutated chicken are Earths last hope"
Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 2:21PM Nobledevil Gaming Optimist said
Why is this game getting so much hate?
Is it because it's an RPG? Because it's a Final Fantasy game? Because it's an online game? Because it's a PS3 console exclusive (for now)? Cripes, some of the people sound incredibly pathetic spewing hate on a game you have never played and never WILL play.
Let people with actual varied taste in games enjoy a conversation, for Christ's sake...
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Is it because it's an RPG? Because it's a Final Fantasy game? Because it's an online game? Because it's a PS3 console exclusive (for now)? Cripes, some of the people sound incredibly pathetic spewing hate on a game you have never played and never WILL play.
Let people with actual varied taste in games enjoy a conversation, for Christ's sake...
Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 2:44PM (Unverified) said
It's not console exclusive. Never has been.
People hate it because because a very large number of troglodytes played FFXI for two weeks at launch, decided it was too hard, and left to bitch about it for the next five years. FFXI thus gained a bad reputation despite being loved by many.
And never mind that the new game is going in a completely different direction from XI's unrelenting hardcore style. People like to complain.
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People hate it because because a very large number of troglodytes played FFXI for two weeks at launch, decided it was too hard, and left to bitch about it for the next five years. FFXI thus gained a bad reputation despite being loved by many.
And never mind that the new game is going in a completely different direction from XI's unrelenting hardcore style. People like to complain.
Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 10:51PM Nobledevil Gaming Optimist said
I actually liked the fact that XI kicked my ass. It was the first MMO I played, so I got used to the relentless butt-hurt I got from it.
Plus the ease of macro creation / manipulation and the incredibly versatile sub-job system meant I could play however I want with the same character and still stay on the same server.
Whew, almost a run-on sentence there. But you people who played and loved XI know what I'm talking about; it's a die-hard community and I can't wait for a beta of XIV to rejoin it.
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Plus the ease of macro creation / manipulation and the incredibly versatile sub-job system meant I could play however I want with the same character and still stay on the same server.
Whew, almost a run-on sentence there. But you people who played and loved XI know what I'm talking about; it's a die-hard community and I can't wait for a beta of XIV to rejoin it.
Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 2:49PM (Unverified) said
This news has been digested and mostly dismissed by the FFXIV forums for weeks. Summary: the QA coordinator and testers are probably for XIV, but for the in-house alpha. The Game Master is most likely for FFXI.
The game's producers said in an interview that the beta will begin in 2010:
http://ffxiv.zam.com/story.html?story=18415
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The game's producers said in an interview that the beta will begin in 2010:
http://ffxiv.zam.com/story.html?story=18415
Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 4:40PM (Unverified) said
Does anyone else think the music sounds suspiciously like the Gym theme from the original pokemon games?
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Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 5:09PM miquonranger03 said
Well, this is unprecedented; the sequel's demo'll probably be out before the demo of the game before it
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Posted: Jun 22nd 2009 5:09PM darthnazgul said
So if XIV comes out before XIII, then will XIII become XIV and XIV will become XIII??? Cuz it looks like they are working a lot faster on XIV than XIII... I think they've shown more of XIV this early after announcement than what they showed of XIII at announcement.
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