Michael

You're right. Square-Enix doesn't care about new users, because they figure any new people will probably be pushed into FFXIV, which is starting beta next week (also announced at VanaFest).

What they _did_, though, was breathe life into something they have only been using as a cash cow. And they did something which is going to break up a few of the problems with FFXI -- namely, the Bull of the Woods is no longer going to be, necessarily, the Bull of the Woods.

If you're at lower levels now, then Square-Enix, frankly, would rather see you migrate to FFXIV. If you search all the players on your server, then search again for the non-75s, the latter is

I think, though, 4 years ago, Square-Enix was still trying to get new players.

VanaFest was basically the announcement that SE finally admits the playerbase is not going to get any bigger, so we're going to concentrate on keeping what we have -- 2/3 of all players on being on 75's...

Well, VanaFest provided the answer to at least one of these: First applicants (+ VanaFest attendees) get notice on March 1-10, March 11 is when the website for them goes live and the first Beta appears to be starting.

Grindy? About to become far worse with the level cap eventually to hit 99!!

Expansion? Not a big one, but a hyper-endgame zone (three of them) which you have to pay $9.99 each to get, starting in June, 2nd in September, 3rd in December.

Soloing is about to explode!

Of course, the thing is that it would expose how few players are actually still p(l)aying for this game, and how much Square-Enix has probably lost for XIV before it even goes beta.

This is another effort to keep XI relevant as Square-Enix continues to refuse to deal with the real problems which have all but killed it and are about to kill XIV before it even goes beta.

One at a time:

1) Oh, I'm not AFRAID of Square-Enix and FFXIV. I've already made the decision that I simply WILL NOT play FFXIV because I have no real faith in that Square-Enix can successfully run a fair-play MMO. I am just not certain, at this point, whether it's simply either:

They can't run a fair-play MMO.

or

They refuse to, as an act of fraud for those of us who try to play the game fairly. (My guess is this one...)

I cannot recommend FFXI to much of anyone at this point, simply because, to play the game, most players believe you need multiple illegal third-party applications, and all Square-Enix does about it is talk, because, if they actually did something about it, you can kiss goodbye three-quarters (at bare minimum!) of the US player-base!

2) A lot of this compartmentalization also comes from the fact that a lot of these players are literally "40K/hr or F off!" They will compute their every move (using illegal computer add-ons, no less) to maximize their effort far beyond anything they would otherwise be entitled.

And, of course, you gotta have the LEET GEAR!!!

3) Mog Bonanza: Two things:

a) "You pays your money, you takes your chances!"

b) How about, if you know you're going 10/character, getting one ball with each last number, like I do for my one character?

4) Still see the occasional Astley idiocy, but it's getting safer... :)

I would agree with nerglz, even though I play FFXI (but only to spite the cheating portion of the player-base).

Take two numbers, if you're on XI:

Do a /sea all (/search all).

Then do a /sea all 1-74 (levels 1-74).

All you need to know that nerglz's statement is correct is to know that the latter number will be 1/3 (or less) of the former.