Final Fantasy XIV - Beta Test

Notorious

I haven't seen this posted here, but has anyone else signed up for the EU beta test of FFXIV?

I hadn't looked at the official FFXIV site in a long while, but when I popped on today I noticed they were taking applications for beta testers for both the PS3 and PC versions. There's a sizeable application form to fill out, but square say that testers will be picked at random.

To register for the PS3 version you need to register your copy of FFXIII first - certain reg. numbers (think it's just the first-run copies of the game), will give you a registration code that allows you to apply for the beta test. I'm pretty sure you have to get the code in order to apply though. You're guaranteed some in-game item if you register FFXIII too, so it's worth doing.

Official site

Kiith

Muwahahaha!
http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055776179

I actually like the look of it so far. Graphically, its very good. And i kind of missed the FFXI boat, so look forward to giving this a go (when it eventually comes out). Have they kept the cross-platform servers? Would be nice to get a good game where pc gamers can play with console gamers.

I am pretty jaded with MMO's though...

Notorious

Damn you Kiith!

I didn't realise that the beta sign-up had been open for so long. I never actually played FFXI because my PC wasn't up to scratch, but I'm big into the Final Fantasy series so I'm hoping this is a good one.

Xluna

It looks like a nicely crafted world,but I'm not into MMORPGs.

carbonkid

Im thinking of giving this one ago depending how i am financially when its released. Never played an mmorpg before, is there a recommended platform? Choices been console or PC of course.

Notorious

carbonkid wrote: »

Choices been console or PC of course.

I suppose that depends on how good your pc is? I'm working off a netbook at the moment, so I'll be going for the ps3 version.

Gummy Panda

I'm looking for PS3 version but i'm a bit wary of getting this game.

WoW sucked up a lot of time and i don't want an exact repeat of that. Also in this, I hope i can find UK & Irish only guilds. Freaking swedes/danish were a nightmare in WoW cause of time difference and them finishing working at 4pm (their time). They always wanted to raid early and make the UK/Irish players rush home.

carbonkid

Notorious wrote: »

I suppose that depends on how good your pc is? I'm working off a netbook at the moment, so I'll be going for the ps3 version.

Ive both a fairly powerful PC and PS3 at my disposal...which is the better platform though or does it make a difference?

Gummy Panda

carbonkid wrote: »

Ive both a fairly powerful PC and PS3 at my disposal...which is the better platform though or does it make a difference?

Probably PC if SE allows add-ons for UI. they didn't in FFXI which ended up being a big selling point for WoW.

carbonkid

Gummy Panda wrote: »

Probably PC if SE allows add-ons for UI. they didn't in FFXI which ended up being a big selling point for WoW.

LOL...sorries man i havnt a clue what "SE allows add-ons for UI" means.

Gummy Panda

Basically in wow you can customize your interface with add-ons ( they are kinda like approved mods ). They improve on the basic ui using information already in code.

carbonkid

Ah i see now...yea i definitely be wanting some of that.

Im pretty sure there will be lots of robbing from WoW ideas in FFXIV so chances are that will be an option.

Thanx for the advice ^_^

Woden

Signed up for it there. Never got into FF XI dispite having imported it from the states and setting up a us based account to play. I got it as it was the next FF XI in the series and had not played an mmo.

Then came years of wow now quit. Signed up for the beta anyway I'd be interested in a casual experience in the FF world.

carbonkid

I never played IX either...apparently to get anywhere you had to give up at least 6hrs or more of your time on a quest. This one is ment to be more like WoW.

Woden

Bumpity bump.

Got a mail today of acceptance to the beta test

Site will be up tommorow where you can log in and download the client apparently.

Aurongroove

Same here! beta testing here I come.

Aurongroove

Woden, I've just logged in, the site is up!

Woo hoo FF14 here I come

Aurongroove

scratch that, the log in failed, it seems it's up for certain amount of time,

the next window will be 10am tomorrow till 8pm

Woden

Lousy work. I shall check it out when I get home!

MarkJD

Give yourself a good 10+ hours to download it. They are using a P2P system make sure to open the ports they suggest goes much faster!

Played FFXI since 2004, benn in the Alpha a while now, some aspects of the game are great and some seem to be taken from WOW but definately has that unique Final Fantasy feel to it. Game looks and runs beautifully.

Anyone else that is in Beta want to team up? Makes things much faster, FF has always Bern based around party play.

MarkJD

Another thing to note for potential PS3 owners is that the game has been pushed back to March 11 for release while on PC it's due for release in September 10.

The problem is to do with the way the game was optimised for PS3, it doesn't have enough RAM so they need to redesign it.

A huge problem in the development of FFXI was limitations put on the game by the PS2. While some modifications/scripts where possible on the PC it was nothing like customizable UI on WOW and other things, something I'm hoping won't be a problem this time around with PS3 but it seems to already be the case with the above

Aurongroove

:mad: currently grumpy about game not working for my particular set up, neither laptop nor desktop.

am I testing: yes

having fun: zilcho

MarkJD

Try updating your drivers. I had a problem where it crashed on launch. Needed updated drivers

Aurongroove

I tried that: they're already tip top.

I've been glued to the users forum, it's quite a common problem!

Gummy Panda

I think I'll stick to wow.

In the last few months I've totally gone off JRPGs and Japanese games in general.

I'll just look forward to cata and getting my Worgen Druid alt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1hYJ8HCA3o

Woden

33.5% slowly slowly catchy monkey

Aurongroove

there's been a slew of upgrades I had to do on my Desktop, but I;m slowly getting there.

Aurongroove

yes! 3 days of upgrades, standard vista> 70 odd updates> upgrade to pack one> 50 updates > Upgrade to Pack 2 > 20 or so more updates.


the client is working! (currently downloading) time remaining 25 hours apparently
, but

progress!!

MarkJD

Now you just gotta wait for them to get passed these technical difficulties and hopefully we can play haha!

Think its scheduled for Wednesday

Aurongroove

scratch that, time waiting: 75 hours

MarkJD

Have you opened the ports? Just leave it over night thats what i did, took about 15/20 hours but it was done.

Aurongroove

How does one ensure these ports are open?

(I'm using Vista service pack 2, 32 bit)

MarkJD

Read the details on the Beta Testing forums, it has a step by step guide for doing it

Hercule

just a quick FYI to all lucky beta testers, the beta downloader is basically a really shoi torrent program, nobody will be able to download from it without it using bandwidth really inefficiently, i have messed around with ports/firewalls before and know that that is just a placebo - A simple fix (that Square-enix keep hiding) is if you go to my documents/my games/final fantasy IV beta\ you can pull the torrent files down and use a proper bittorrent client to download the files

I got the big 3.5gb chunk down in a couple of hours at 300kb/sec steady using utorrent and the raw torrent files from the beta "downloads/patch" folder - also able to limit upload speed to avoid it clogging all the bandwidth. - I have all the files ready to go for the next test this wednesday!

MarkJD

Thats interesting, well theres a better option than opening the ports then.

Does anyone know other than copy and pasting files if id need to do anything if i wanted to move it from one pc to another.

i have it currently installed on my XP machine but id like to move it to a windows 7 machine without doing a new full download. Can i just copy / paste the files across or would any registery edits need to be done?

Aurongroove

MarkJD wrote: »

Read the details on the Beta Testing forums, it has a step by step guide for doing it

I've been told that but I cant find it.
can you link me?

MarkJD

Hercule wrote: »

just a quick FYI to all lucky beta testers, the beta downloader is basically a really shoi torrent program, nobody will be able to download from it without it using bandwidth really inefficiently, i have messed around with ports/firewalls before and know that that is just a placebo - A simple fix (that Square-enix keep hiding) is if you go to my documents/my games/final fantasy IV beta\ you can pull the torrent files down and use a proper bittorrent client to download the files

I got the big 3.5gb chunk down in a couple of hours at 300kb/sec steady using utorrent and the raw torrent files from the beta "downloads/patch" folder - also able to limit upload speed to avoid it clogging all the bandwidth. - I have all the files ready to go for the next test this wednesday!

Check this method out it might be much faster for you. Ill look and get the link if you cant try the method above

Aurongroove

I know beggars cant be choosers but I'd much rather not dabble in uTorrent or bittorrent or whatever else.

I get the feeling they'd really rather we didn't. and if opening ports reduces the download to say, 4 or 5 hours, then I'll be happy.

MarkJD

PM sent.

Aurongroove

replied.

Kiith

I've seen the client on various sites that shall not be named here. I'm pretty sure you could get it from rapidshare if you have an account. Patching it is up to the auto-patcher though.

Hercule

they do not want people to use other software such a utorrent or azureus to download the files as "it risks the files becoming (more) publicly accessible" - at the end of the day, my dl speed of 10kb with and upload of 40kb was unacceptable, no amount of dicking around with ports is going to help.

Using the ****ty downloader (which as i said is a poorly made torrent client) my download had run for almost 8 hours and gotten to a whopping 4%, at which point it froze and started from the beginning again. At least using utorrent i can pause/return to the download without it having a hissy fit.

Download with utorrent 2 and 1/2 hours - download with the tool ~30 hours, no real choice to be honest + if they patch the files again (as they have done 2/3 times in the past few days) you will have to get the 3.5gb chunk again and again.

Aurongroove

what a horrible dilemma.

On one hand the download they're offering is saying 60 hours remaining.

on the other I could go against they're wishes and have it downloaded in 4 or 5 hours.


It's such a stupid state of affairs

MarkJD

Just download it via the torrent program and get it over and done with. They wont know thats how you downloaded it.

Aurongroove

actually I may not need to.

I just checked there and the download is fluctuating between Ob/s to up as far as 150Kb/s

maybe they're trying to fix things?

the estimated time has rapidly fallen at any rate. it's going between 3 and 12 hours depending on when you look (which is a massive improvement from 60+)

Aurongroove

secondly: testers; what are we doing? :rolleyes:

find me on the beta site (same name: "Aurongroove", I;m sure there's some sort of search function)

I just realize I was logging in here as well as the beta site forum every time I wanted to see if there was any craic; it;s a bit like holding an Igloo conference in Egypt, when we could have used the cabins in the Arctic provided for us.

MarkJD

Im hoping to do Botanist and some crafting first, get to grips with that so i can earn some €€..

When i played FFXI i was always too lazy to learn a craft and make gil so if im playing this time around i want to be able to make money. In the Alpha it was easy to make money from guildleves / farming so could buy the latest armor etc.

In the Beta they have made it much harder so.. Just have to wait and see.

I leveled Archer / Marauder / Lancer to lvl 10 which was quite easy in Alpha. I hear they have made it harder in the Beta.

Granted the ATI card problems are fixed for tomorrow ill be playing. Can hit you up on msn or something and see if we get the same worlds

Aurongroove

I hear the system is still a little un balanced with regards mages; that they have no MP regen, and the spells are kinda weak.

all the same I plan on maybe choosing one of those little dudes, and becoming like a white mage or something, but one who can kick ass with a Bo staff maybe.

I'm not sure how welcoming the game might be to mages with physical attacks, but I reckon it;d be neat to have a player with an unexpected stats, even if it takes a little extra work to get them strong.

Aurongroove

right servers start again at the mad time of 2am tonight until 12 Sunday

I'm gonna wait up: I've been up this long whats another hour or six?

Woden

Right just back from vacation. Not had a chance to try it yet. Can't see an announcement on the beta site but its saying the auth server is down for maintenance when I try to get in at the moment

[edit]Ignore me. Had my proxy in IE turned on. Fail![/edit]

Aurongroove

I've been playing for a fortnight or so, and it;s looking good.

If I were you, I'd wait for phase 3 to begin, our Phase 2 characters are being erased along with the entire phase 2 world. so there's no point beginning a game just to have a day or so's delevopment.