The latest edition of Famitsu Wave recently hit newsstands in Japan, bringing with it a DVD which contains an 8-minute exposé on Square Enix's second stab at the MMO genre, Final Fantasy XIV. The whole video is posted after the break. Fret not -- it sports convenient English subtitles.
Here's some of the more titillating excerpts: The game features a reinvented character progression system which does not include experience points or leveling up. The job system from XI will make an appearance, but in a heavily altered form -- an interview with the game's director, Nobuaki Komoto, revealed that the game will place a focus on the weapons players use, explaining that your armaments will determine "the way you play" and "the way you grow." Sounds reminiscent of Final Fantasy IX. (That's a very good thing.)
In addition, FFXIV producer Hiromichi Tanaka explained that the game takes place in a new region with a more "modern" feel to it -- the mysterious Eorzea which was mentioned in the trailer. The new world features familiar races (albeit with new names), and plays host to a "deep story," which is told through cut-scenes and quests. For more FFXIV info than you can possibly handle, check the video after the jump.
[Via Eurogamer]
Reader Comments (85)
Posted: Aug 4th 2009 3:06PM (Unverified) said
Not a big fan of MMOs, but I will say that this is very pretty.
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Posted: Aug 4th 2009 3:44PM (Unverified) said
Longhorn I thought you was one of us please do not recommend PC gaming again
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Posted: Aug 5th 2009 2:25PM Elranzer said
Final Fantasy XIV, when it was known as "Project Rapture" was *originally* developed for Xbox 360 and PC, with no mention of a PS3 port (in fact, some doubt as to a port). Then it was announced for all three systems (PC, PS3, 360). Then at E3 2009, it was announced as "PS3 exclusive" by Sony (not Square) and Square later, in the same day, corrected them saying there will also be a PC version at launch.
Consider the drama involved here, and the fact that this runs on the multi-platform "Crystal Tools" engine, there's no doubt that Sony coughed up some dough for *timed* exclusivity, and it WILL eventually wind up on 360. The point of an MMO is to get as many subscribers as possible, and limiting the systems available will limit subscriber base.
Anyone who thinks that the game simply can't run on the 360 is a fool. First off, there's no PS3 game that couldn't be ported to 360, and second, it's running on the Crystal Tools engine. You'll see it on 360 before the end of 2010.
Reply
Consider the drama involved here, and the fact that this runs on the multi-platform "Crystal Tools" engine, there's no doubt that Sony coughed up some dough for *timed* exclusivity, and it WILL eventually wind up on 360. The point of an MMO is to get as many subscribers as possible, and limiting the systems available will limit subscriber base.
Anyone who thinks that the game simply can't run on the 360 is a fool. First off, there's no PS3 game that couldn't be ported to 360, and second, it's running on the Crystal Tools engine. You'll see it on 360 before the end of 2010.
Posted: Aug 4th 2009 3:07PM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said
BUT WHO WILL I BRAG TO ABOUT MY LEVEL 49 MAGE?!
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Posted: Aug 4th 2009 3:10PM (Unverified) said
No leveling?!
But, buuut, however will I grind for hours and hours??!?
Really, though, that interests me more than anything else. My mind is blown by Square Enix trying something so radically different in an established genre.
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But, buuut, however will I grind for hours and hours??!?
Really, though, that interests me more than anything else. My mind is blown by Square Enix trying something so radically different in an established genre.
Posted: Aug 4th 2009 3:47PM Rick James said
Actually, the premise of not leveling up in a RPG isn't new--Microprose did it in 1987 with Darklands... Which despite its bugs, many consider one of the best RPGs of all time.
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Posted: Aug 4th 2009 4:12PM Rick James said
Posted: Aug 4th 2009 4:17PM Rick James said
sorry, forgot to mention that gamespot included them on a list sometime back. Also, the game has quite a cult following.
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Posted: Aug 4th 2009 7:54PM NumberZero said
Plus Square also did no leveling in FFII. So this is closer to that.
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Posted: Aug 4th 2009 3:10PM Dark Archon PSN Archonik XBL Dar said
...b...b...but I like leveling up :(...
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Posted: Aug 4th 2009 5:23PM (Unverified) said
I suspect we will have to level our weapons as they will determine your specific job.
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Posted: Aug 4th 2009 3:13PM (Unverified) said
If this game can provide more interesting quests than "collect (x) amount of (y)" I will be interested.
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Posted: Aug 4th 2009 3:15PM Faceless Troll said
No leveling? Does this mean we'll actually get an MMO without grinding for once?
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Posted: Aug 4th 2009 3:19PM (Unverified) said
OMG this sounds pretty good. Hopefully it is well implemented and the no leveling makes it more enjoyable for everyone. Ill keep my eye out for this one.
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Posted: Aug 5th 2009 2:24AM (Unverified) said
look forward to it am still in FF11 after 7 years!
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Posted: Aug 4th 2009 3:23PM DevilSei said
How can it being like 9 necessarily a good thing?
For all I know, it could take a bloody page out of Tactics Advanced's system of needing a certain number of skills per class to get to next one, and said skills only come from certain weapons. That was like 9's, and was the worst thing I've seen to date in the series in terms of gameplay.
Granted, the main reason TA's system was so bad was because of the horrendously random Judgement System, which could be as simple as "no items", or as bad as "No Swords!" or "No Attacks". And of course, seemingly no random battles (as far as I could tell).
If they relegate getting jobs to quests only, I'll be happy. Unless it's:
"Gather 300 pieces of incredibly rare wool from the incredible 1-a-day only spawn of Woolious the Supreme Sheep-thing, who dwells in the mountain of incredibly hot fire and insane dragons-who-love-to-bite"
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For all I know, it could take a bloody page out of Tactics Advanced's system of needing a certain number of skills per class to get to next one, and said skills only come from certain weapons. That was like 9's, and was the worst thing I've seen to date in the series in terms of gameplay.
Granted, the main reason TA's system was so bad was because of the horrendously random Judgement System, which could be as simple as "no items", or as bad as "No Swords!" or "No Attacks". And of course, seemingly no random battles (as far as I could tell).
If they relegate getting jobs to quests only, I'll be happy. Unless it's:
"Gather 300 pieces of incredibly rare wool from the incredible 1-a-day only spawn of Woolious the Supreme Sheep-thing, who dwells in the mountain of incredibly hot fire and insane dragons-who-love-to-bite"
Posted: Aug 4th 2009 4:30PM DevilSei said
"Neofolklore
"an interview with the game's director, Nobuaki Komoto, revealed that the game will place a focus on the weapons players use, explaining that your armaments will determine "the way you play" and "the way you grow." Sounds reminiscent of Final Fantasy IX. (That's a very good thing.)"
L2Read.
(I really do hate this comment system)
Reply
"an interview with the game's director, Nobuaki Komoto, revealed that the game will place a focus on the weapons players use, explaining that your armaments will determine "the way you play" and "the way you grow." Sounds reminiscent of Final Fantasy IX. (That's a very good thing.)"
L2Read.
(I really do hate this comment system)
Posted: Aug 4th 2009 3:25PM Dr Perry Ulysses Cox said
Why do the MMO's get a numeric designation? Why don't they call them Final Fantasy Universe or World of Final Fantasy or something more clever than those two examples?
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Posted: Aug 4th 2009 3:47PM RogueJedi86 said
Because they're still Final Fantasy. Each Final Fantasy is different from the one before it. MMOs are different. Or are you trying to say FF games are supposed to be different, but not too different? XI proved that FF-numbered games don't have to be single player, get used to it. It's not like the development of FFXIV as an MMO is preventing the "real" FFXIV from being made. FFXI's development team is making XIV, so it makes no different on whether it's a number or not. At least with a number it can get more mainstream buzz.
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Posted: Aug 5th 2009 2:31PM Elranzer said
Final Fantasy XII was technically part of the Tactics/Ivalice Alliance series (along with Vagrant Story) yet was a numbered Final Fantasy. XI and XIV seem to sharem any of the same characters and elements, and so it's almost its own sub-series. X-2 and Dirge of Cerberus were not "numbered" entries but sequels to numbered entries, so it got a little weird.
Basically, the numbers and words after "Final Fantasy" are meaningless now. It's all part of the Final Fantasy universe. Final Fantasy XIV Online is no more canon to the universe than Crystal Chronicles or Chocobo Dungeon.
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Basically, the numbers and words after "Final Fantasy" are meaningless now. It's all part of the Final Fantasy universe. Final Fantasy XIV Online is no more canon to the universe than Crystal Chronicles or Chocobo Dungeon.
Posted: Aug 4th 2009 3:28PM Offensive Bias said
Having never played FF9 the entire idea of an XP-less or level-less MMO has me a little confused...but intrigued all the same.
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Posted: Aug 4th 2009 3:29PM Spunky Monkey 190906 said
Very good ideas, just please don't hit me with extreme prices :)
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Posted: Aug 4th 2009 3:36PM JXCGunrunna said
umm... FFII was class leveling, not character leveling if i remember right.
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Posted: Aug 11th 2009 7:58PM (Unverified) said
Wow... Uematsu doing the ENTIRE soundtrack... it's good to see he's back!
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Posted: Aug 4th 2009 3:46PM (Unverified) said
I'm thinking it is going to use a skill board similar to FFX and FFXII. No leveling needed, just skill points you can use.
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Posted: Aug 4th 2009 3:56PM (Unverified) said
As I reread the whole thing, the board system seems unlikely, unless they would use different boards for all weapons/armor.
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