Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Jukebox Heroes: Character select music]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/jukebox-heroes-character-select-music/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/jukebox-heroes-character-select-music/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/jukebox-heroes-character-select-music/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Jukebox Heroes Character select music
Character select and creation music has always fascinated me. OK, maybe not fascinated; it's interested me. I've always viewed such themes as the overture of the game, the interlude between the title theme and the game proper to come.

These themes don't tend to be rip-roaring in their presentation because that's not their purpose. They have to be pleasant enough without being annoying when looped endlessly. After all, sometimes players spend a loooong time making their characters or sitting there at the select screen, and the last thing you want is for their ears to become fatigued by the experience.

So here are six MMO character select and character creation themes that I've enjoyed over the years. And if you saw the title graphic up there and immediately started hearing this song in your head, then you and I probably grew up in the same era.

Continue reading Jukebox Heroes: Character select music

MassivelyJukebox Heroes: Character select music originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 May 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studioscity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcomposercomposerscovcoxeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xifree-to-playfreedomgame-musicjasper-kydjesper-kydjukeboxjukebox-heroesjustin-olivettimmo-jukeboxmmo-musicmusicncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiossandboxsandparksci-fantasysci-fisoesonysony-online-entertainmentsoundtracksoundtrackssquaresquare-enixsuperherosuperheroestelonthe-chronicles-of-spellbornvanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvgwildstarwsTue, 21 May 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XI's Feast of Swords cuts into another year]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/final-fantasy-xis-feast-of-swords-cuts-into-another-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/final-fantasy-xis-feast-of-swords-cuts-into-another-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/final-fantasy-xis-feast-of-swords-cuts-into-another-year/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Sweating moogles probably smell terrible, for the record.
We're just a month away from the 11-year anniversary of Final Fantasy XI, which means that certain events in the game have taken on a certain sense of routine. Every year the Feast of Swords comes around at the same time, and every year a ceremonial armor gets stolen. This year's lore piece isn't about the event, it's about the growing suspicion of an adventurer that there's more behind this annual event and "unexpected" theft than anyone has been told...

But you don't need that as motivation to go beat up armor with a wooden katana, do you? Of course not. The event starts off on April 24th this year and runs until May 8th. The procedure is much the same as in previous years -- characters pick up a wooden katana, get a buff, and run around starter zones tying to beat up enchanted armor. It might be a conspiracy in-game, but out of the game it's just a chance for everyone to be a samurai for a few days.

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XI's Feast of Swords cuts into another year originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstoryeventsfantasyfeast-of-swordsffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xihumorin-game-eventsloresettingsquaresquare-enixTue, 16 Apr 2013 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Don't you want me, FFXI?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/06/the-mog-log-dont-you-want-me-ffxi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/06/the-mog-log-dont-you-want-me-ffxi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/06/the-mog-log-dont-you-want-me-ffxi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

DON'T YOU WANT ME, OHHH-WHOAAOH!
Final Fantasy XI has launched its fifth expansion, and yet I can't bring myself to be as excited as I should be. Longtime readers will recall that the account I've been playing on is younger and lacking in many of the higher-level conveniences such as airship passes and a white mage leveled enough to handle Sneak and Invisible. Put simply, I'm not in a place to just jump right into all of the content that Seekers of Adoulin has to offer right out of the gate.

On the plus side, I do have several conveniences that completely new players wouldn't have, not the least of which is an extensive knowledge of the game as a whole. A new player coming in straight would look at the game and just wind up baffled, and I can't blame him in the least. If you're starting fresh, the game is not welcoming you.

Longtime readers will also know that I've long been a proponent of making the game easier to get into. But is this even worth bothering with? Is the game for players starting at lower levels any more? Is there even a point to easing up the lower-level restrictions any longer?

Continue reading The Mog Log: Don't you want me, FFXI?

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Don't you want me, FFXI? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Screenshot -- Final Fantasy XI
Here's a fun fact about me: Final Fantasy XI was one of the first MMOs I ever played. I had dabbled in Ultima Online and EverQuest before it, but at the time those games came out, I was but a wee lad of nine or so, and I truly had no idea what I was doing in either of them. What I did know was that I was in love with the idea of sharing a massive, persistent world with thousands of friends (and enemies) waiting to be made.

So when Final Fantasy XI came out stateside in late 2003 (it launched in Japan in 2002), I was firmly in the grip of some kind of JRPG mania thanks to Final Fantasy IX, Legend of Dragoon, and others of that ilk. Naturally I took to the notion of a massively multiplayer Final Fantasy game like a Black Mage to a comically oversized hat. I was a devout player of FFXI for a couple of years after that, before all of my FFXI-playing friends decided to jump ship to some uppity little newcomer called World of Warcraft, and I've had an on-again, off-again (mostly the latter) relationship with FFXI ever since.

Continue reading Second Wind: Final Fantasy XI

MassivelySecond Wind: Final Fantasy XI originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fantasyfeaturedffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xiOPINIONpost-launchrelooksecond-impressionssecond-looksecond-windsquaresquare-enixupdated-impressionsFri, 05 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: PAX East wasn't for us]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/the-mog-log-pax-east-wasnt-for-us/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/the-mog-log-pax-east-wasnt-for-us/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/the-mog-log-pax-east-wasnt-for-us/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It also apparently was not for my ankle. That story is relayed elsewhere.
Last week I promised to bring you all of the hard-hitting coverage of Square-Enix's presence at PAX East 2013 as it pertained to Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV. So here's that coverage: Both games still exist.

We good? Great. I'll spend the next nine hundred words or so discussing cats, then. Seriously, if you've been following this site or this column, you know everything from PAX East already.

Of course, all of this underscores what I see as a simple fact: PAX was not meant for fans of Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV. If you scan fansites and this site for coverage, you would not be blown away by any of this information, and that's fine. It's not actually for you, and I'm going to go ahead and say that it really shouldn't be for you because it would just be preaching to the converted.

Continue reading The Mog Log: PAX East wasn't for us

MassivelyThe Mog Log: PAX East wasn't for us originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 30 Mar 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conconsoleconsolesconventioneventevent-coverageeventsexpofantasyfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivmassively-event-coveragemog-logopinionpaxpax-2013pax-eastpax-east-2013penny-arcade-exposquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logSat, 30 Mar 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XI: Seekers of Adoulin goes live]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/final-fantasy-xi-seekers-of-adoulin-goes-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/final-fantasy-xi-seekers-of-adoulin-goes-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/final-fantasy-xi-seekers-of-adoulin-goes-live/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Final Fantasy XI Seekers of Adoulin goes live
Final Fantasy XI's fifth expansion, Seekers of Adoulin, is now running free in the video game wild. If you can catch the wily release, you'll be treated to a pair of new jobs, seven challenging bosses, and a new continent to explore.

While Seekers of Adoulin isn't available for PlayStation 2 players, PC and Xbox 360 gamers are encouraged to hop on board the chocobo train. Players looking to purchase it on Steam may have a little bit of a wait, however.

For more in-depth analysis and previews of the expansion, be sure to read up on the back issues of The Mog Log while FFXI updates.

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XI: Seekers of Adoulin goes live originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>expansionfantasyffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xilaunchplaystation-2releaseSeekers-of-Adoulinsoasquaresquare-enixsteamthe-mog-logxbox-360Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Jukebox Heroes: Final Fantasy XI's soundtrack]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/26/jukebox-heroes-final-fantasy-xis-soundtrack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/26/jukebox-heroes-final-fantasy-xis-soundtrack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/26/jukebox-heroes-final-fantasy-xis-soundtrack/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Jukebox Heroes Final Fantasy XI's soundtrack
Hey you! Want a good way to die a horrible, painful death? Enter into any geek domain and put down the music of the Final Fantasy series. Do it. I double-dog dare you. Even scrubs who couldn't identify a single other composer or notable video game soundtrack will leap to the defense of One-Winged Angel.

While I generally do like the Final Fantasy tunes, especially the earlier 8-bit era stuff and Final Fantasy IX, I haven't seen it as an infallible series in regard to its music. I think along the way Nobuo Uematsu's become this person who can Do No Wrong in the gaming community, which has stifled an honest look at both the highs and lows of his soundtracks.

I don't want to be all about hero worship or mindless bashing today; I want to examine a fairly good but not perfect soundtrack that represented Final Fantasy's first foray into MMOs. Along with Uematsu, Naoshi Mizuta and Kumi Tanioka shared composing duties on this project. There's some terrific stuff here that you'll listen to after the jump, but there are a lot more completely forgettable (and sometimes annoying!) tracks that have been shoehorned into FFXI's expansive game. So let's come down to earth and see what Final Fantasy XI has in store for us.

Continue reading Jukebox Heroes: Final Fantasy XI's soundtrack

MassivelyJukebox Heroes: Final Fantasy XI's soundtrack originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Mar 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-themechocobocomposercomposersfantasyfeaturedffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-viifinal-fantasy-xigame-musicjukeboxjukebox-heroesjustin-olivettiKumi-Taniokammo-jukeboxmmo-musicmusicNaoshi-MizutaNobuo-Uematsuone-winged-angelopinionsoundtracksoundtrackssquaresquare-enixTue, 26 Mar 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XI expansion CE coming to Steam... eventually]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/26/final-fantasy-xi-expansion-ce-coming-to-steam-eventually/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/26/final-fantasy-xi-expansion-ce-coming-to-steam-eventually/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/26/final-fantasy-xi-expansion-ce-coming-to-steam-eventually/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Final Fantasy XI expansion CE coming to Steam eventually
Final Fantasy XI: Seekers of Adoulin's collector's edition is making its way to Steam, although it might not get there in time for the official launch. Square-Enix announced the possible delay in a brief post today and promised an update on the situation soon.

"Knowing that there is a possibility that the Steam version will not be available for purchase on launch, we wanted to alert you as soon as we could," the studio said.

It's not all doom and gloom, however. There's a terrific three-minute trailer for Seekers of Adoulin after the jump, and don't forget that Massively recently got the skinny on the expansion classes so that you may be properly prepared!

Continue reading Final Fantasy XI expansion CE coming to Steam... eventually

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XI expansion CE coming to Steam... eventually originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Mar 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cecollectors-editiondelayexpansionfantasyffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xiSeekers-of-Adoulinsoasquaresquare-enixsteamtrailervideoTue, 26 Mar 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: On the eve of seeking Adoulin in Final Fantasy XI]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/23/the-mog-log-on-the-eve-of-seeking-adoulin-in-final-fantasy-xi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/23/the-mog-log-on-the-eve-of-seeking-adoulin-in-final-fantasy-xi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/23/the-mog-log-on-the-eve-of-seeking-adoulin-in-final-fantasy-xi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

This week's column has the subtle smoky flavor of hotel wi-fi.
A while back, I was upset that we hadn't gotten nearly enough information about Seekers of Adoulin. That's certainly not the case any more; we've gotten a fair bit of new information about the expansion, which is good considering that Final Fantasy XI players will be seeking the heck out of Adoulin on Tuesday.

Of course, there's still some air of mystery about the expansion, which is appropriate. Final Fantasy XI's expansions always contain a few new wrinkles that aren't really previewed, and I think players prefer it that way. But there's a lot to talk about, starting with something that I find very interesting insofar as it's launching in the wake of a new philosophy for the game as a whole.

Back in December I talked about how the game's future might be brighter than it has been for a long time. How Seekers of Adoulin works in practice will tell us a lot about whether or not that hopeful future will come to pass or not.

Continue reading The Mog Log: On the eve of seeking Adoulin in Final Fantasy XI

MassivelyThe Mog Log: On the eve of seeking Adoulin in Final Fantasy XI originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 23 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classesconsoleconsolesexpansionfantasyfeaturedffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xigame-mechanicsmechanicsmog-logopinionpreviewsSeekers-of-Adoulinsoasquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logupcoming-releasesSat, 23 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's comprehensive preview of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/massivelys-comprehensive-preview-of-final-fantasy-xiv-a-realm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/massivelys-comprehensive-preview-of-final-fantasy-xiv-a-realm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/massivelys-comprehensive-preview-of-final-fantasy-xiv-a-realm/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

There's always a new adventure over the horizon.
Final Fantasy XIV is doing something that has never been done before. After launching to poor reception, the MMO appointed a new producer and director, Naoki Yoshida, who has been working tirelessly for two years to rebuild the game from the ground up. The launch version shut its servers down in November of last year, and since then players have been eagerly awaiting the release of the game's revitalized relaunch, Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.

In preparation for this relaunch, Yoshida spent the last week and a half touring the globe and meeting with the press to show off FFXIV in all its glory. After playing the game since launch and writing about it for three years, I was glad to attend the event and see the full spectrum of what the game has to offer in its relaunch. And there's a lot to be said about the game as a whole. It's the sort of thing that can't be contained in just one article or two.

So how about half a dozen? And a trio of videos to accompany the new benchmark program?

Continue reading Massively's comprehensive preview of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn

MassivelyMassively's comprehensive preview of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-realm-rebornconsoleconsolesfantasyfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivhubinterviewinterviewsnewspreviewpreview-eventpreviewssquaresquare-enixThu, 21 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: An in-depth look at Final Fantasy XI's new jobs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/massively-exclusive-an-in-depth-look-at-final-fantasy-xis-new/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/massively-exclusive-an-in-depth-look-at-final-fantasy-xis-new/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/massively-exclusive-an-in-depth-look-at-final-fantasy-xis-new/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

LAAAAAAAAANDSHAAAAAAAARK
This year isn't quite as exciting for Final Fantasy XI as it is for Final Fantasy XIV, but it's still bringing a pretty big change to the status quo. Players have had years to get used to the game as it is, but now Seekers of Adoulin is on its way to completely rewrite matters, giving us two new jobs as well as a new region and new mechanics to deal with. In other words, it's going to be shaking things up.

So while I was out in San Francisco enjoying all that Final Fantasy XIV has to offer, I also had a chance to look into Final Fantasy XI's new expansion, specifically the new player jobs. Both the Rune Fencer and the Geomancer are bringing something new to the game, and while I didn't get to play around with either job extensively, I did get to see how both will play and check out their key abilities.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: An in-depth look at Final Fantasy XI's new jobs

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: An in-depth look at Final Fantasy XI's new jobs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The more I look at the outfit on that elvaan in the back, the more I feel subtly uncomfortable about this.
Final Fantasy XI is encouraging players to go west. Specifically, it's encouraging players to head west of the game's familiar continents to the city of Adoulin in the appropriately titled Seekers of Adoulin expansion. So it's probably in the best interests of players to know more about what Adoulin is all about, something that the most recent post on the official site discusses in depth.

Adoulin as a name refers to both the city, more properly called the Sacred City of Adoulin, and the archipelago surrounding the main city. The city itself was originally the lynchpin of colonization efforts, but when attempts to colonize the main continent of Ulbuka were aborted two hundred years ago, the nation underwent several drastic changes to adapt to reduced living space and a need for mercantile expansion.

Now the colonization is starting up again, something that will most likely serve as the main source of conflict within the expansion proper. For more details, including racial demographics and a preview of some of the major sights in the city, take a look at the full rundown.

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XI gives more details on Adoulin for those who seek it originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Feb 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstorydemographicsexpansionfantasyffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xiloreSeekers-of-Adoulinsettingsoasquaresquare-enixWed, 20 Feb 2013 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Chocobos run Final Fantasy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/16/the-mog-log-chocobos-run-final-fantasy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/16/the-mog-log-chocobos-run-final-fantasy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/16/the-mog-log-chocobos-run-final-fantasy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Oh the things I have seen.
Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV do not take place in the same world. One is not a sequel or prequel to the other, neither game continues the same story themes, and indeed nothing connects them beyond the names and a set of thematic elements. So I enjoy looking at those thematic elements sometimes, for the same fundamental reason that when I was a little boy I occasionally liked to take apart toys just to see how they worked.

You'll remember that I looked at moogles as they related to the Final Fantasy series as a whole a while back, with the ultimate conclusion that moogles exist to provide an in-universe explanation for mechanical conceits. Chocobos have got to be simpler, though. They're present in both Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV, and they're extremely straightforward in both: They're mounts. That's their purpose in the series, isn't it? You ride chocobos. Surely it can't be any more complicated than "fictional method of transportation".

The answer is of course it can. But I think the first step is to look back at the series as a whole.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Chocobos run Final Fantasy

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Chocobos run Final Fantasy originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Feb 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstorybirdschocobosconsoleconsolesfantasyfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivgame-mechanicsloremog-logmountsopinionspeculationsquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logwild-speculationSat, 16 Feb 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Final Fantasy and the case of the missing alts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/09/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-and-the-case-of-the-missing-alts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/09/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-and-the-case-of-the-missing-alts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/09/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-and-the-case-of-the-missing-alts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

I guess I'm sticking with this header until I get something better.
As I've mentioned before, my first MMO was Final Fantasy XI, and I think I'd be remiss not to observe that a lot of my MMO habits came about as a direct reaction to that game. My love of soloing comes in no small part as a result of the misery of trying to get anything accomplished by myself in Vana'diel, for example. Alts appear to be more or less the same thing.

Saying that having an alt in Final Fantasy XI was counterproductive is like saying that arsenic is unhealthy. This was one of the many traits that Final Fantasy XIV carried over from its predecessor, but it removed any real option of having a second character serving as your bag space expansion because there wasn't a proper mail system to facilitate it. So there was even less reason to pay for an extra character slot there. Alts were just as absent in Final Fantasy XIV's original incarnation.

But this might be changing on both sides of the equation. FFXIV's Legacy players get extra slots for free, after all. Might there be some hope for alts in the future?

Continue reading The Mog Log: Final Fantasy and the case of the missing alts

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Final Fantasy and the case of the missing alts originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 09 Feb 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Final Fantasy XI: Seekers of Adoulin's Naakuals
Some new updates have hit the Final Fantasy XI: Seekers of Adoulin official website, shining a light on the abilities of the new Geomancer job and on the Naakuals, seven of the fiercest creatures in Adoulin. The Geomancer will be bringing a number of nifty new mechanics to the table, though perhaps the most interesting of these is the job's use of luopans. Luopans are described as "geomantic catalysts" that "act as the epicenter for special spherical fields termed 'colures.'" The Geomancer can place a luopan anywhere on the ground and activate it to cast a geocolure spell, which can provide buffs to nearby allies or debuff nearby enemies.

And from the looks of things, players will need all the help they can get in order to take down the dreaded Naakuals, described as "the seven most bloodthirsty hellions that reign over the wilds surrounding Adoulin." Three of these Naakuals have been revealed on the expansion's site. The first is Tchakka, the Riptide Naakual, which takes the form of a nasty shark-like rockfin. There's also Achuka, the Firebrand Naakual, representing the dinosaur-esque gabbrath family, and Colkhab, the Matriarch Naakual, the most dangerous of the bee-like bztavian family. To have a look at these ferocious foes for yourself, head on over to the FFXI: Seekers of Adoulin official site.

[Thanks to zengarzombolt for the tip!]

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XI: Seekers of Adoulin site details Geomancer abilities, Naakual bosses originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 02 Feb 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seriously, I have no idea if this header is any good. Feedback is welcome.
Passive sexism is a big deal to me. If it isn't a big one for you, it should be, because at some point high heels and metal bikinis became something passively accepted in games as a whole and that's not all right. MMORPGs on a whole do better than single-player titles, but you still have games like TERA that stick every female character into gravity-defying heels and the legal minimum required for clothing, or Scarlet Blade and its outfits made entirely out of electrical tape and fishnet.

Some games are better or worse about this than others. The Secret World allows you to dress up either gender to be as sexy or as casual as you like, and Guild Wars made a point of keeping skimpy armor as skimpy armor for both genders in most cases. (Although not hardly all.) But the question that's actually relevant to this column is how Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV stack up, and the answer is that they acquit themselves remarkably well. So much so that they're among the most even-handed games I've seen, if not at the top of the list.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Final Fantasy and sexism

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Final Fantasy and sexism originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 02 Feb 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoleconsolesfantasyfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivgender-issuesgender-relationmog-logopinionrantssexismsquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logSat, 02 Feb 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XI: Seekers of Adoulin announces official soundtrack release]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/26/final-fantasy-xi-seekers-of-adoulin-announces-official-soundtra/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/26/final-fantasy-xi-seekers-of-adoulin-announces-official-soundtra/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/26/final-fantasy-xi-seekers-of-adoulin-announces-official-soundtra/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

If you're listening to the town music while wandering around your hometown, the Matrix has officially won.
Final Fantasy XI has always had wonderful soundtracks, and the upcoming of Seekers of Adoulin promises to be no different. We've heard a few of the tracks from the expansion that's due out at the end of March, but if you can't get enough of the songs from the game even before it launches, then we have good news. The official soundtrack album will be released on March 27th, complete with cover art by Yoshitaka Amano.

At this point, the album is confirmed for release only in Japan, meaning that game music lovers will have to jump through a few importing hoops to acquire it. All of the tracks on the album are composed by Naoshi Mizuta, who is also responsible for the arrangement and production on the final release. It's unlikely that this will see a full American release, but if you're willing to make the effort, you can have the in-game music follow you around as you like.

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XI: Seekers of Adoulin announces official soundtrack release originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audioexpansionfantasyffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xigame-soundtracknaoshi-mizutaSeekers-of-Adoulinsoasoundtracksoundtrack-releasesquaresquare-enixupcoming-releaseSat, 26 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: A year of columns in review]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/26/the-mog-log-a-year-of-columns-in-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/26/the-mog-log-a-year-of-columns-in-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/26/the-mog-log-a-year-of-columns-in-review/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Still playing around with new logo ideas. This is the one I had out of a dozen that I thought came out the best, but I'm still not sure if I like it.
Three years is not a lot of time to do anything. I'm continually surprised by the fact that I've been writing about video games professionally for three years of my life, which is admittedly only 10% of my life to date but still seems astonishing. This also marks the start of the third year of The Mog Log, which means that I've been talking about moogles and cat-women professionally for a tenth of my life.

I use thoughts like that to keep me warm at night.

As always, the anniversary mark is about the time when I look back at the column thus far and see how well it's done as a whole. Last year I wanted to really switch up what I did with my coverage for Final Fantasy XIV and Final Fantasy XI, and I think that by and large it worked pretty well. So let's do the usual thing wherein I look back, you take a trip down memory lane with me, and we all walk away feeling smarter. Or, if that doesn't sound interesting, you could just go look at some cat pictures.

Continue reading The Mog Log: A year of columns in review

MassivelyThe Mog Log: A year of columns in review originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Jan 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columnsconsoleconsolesfantasyfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivmog-logopinionopinionsretrospectivesquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logyear-in-reviewSat, 26 Jan 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Final Fantasy nostalgia]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/19/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-nostalgia/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/19/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-nostalgia/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/19/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-nostalgia/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
There's nothing quite like Final Fantasy XI. Nor is there anything quite like Final Fantasy XIV. The two are similar enough that you can use one as a substitute for the other in a pinch, but both possess a certain feel that just isn't found in any other game. That's neither good nor bad; it just is.

Watching the trailer for Seekers of Adoulin gave me a powerful blast of Final Fantasy XI nostalgia, and while I could wax poetic about how the game I remember isn't the game that exists any longer, that's not really the point. The point is that for all the frustrations of the games, there's a lot of joy in both. So today I just plucked my top five memories from both FFXI and Final Fantasy XIV to share with you, since I bet that some of you have the same sort of glowing nostalgia. Even if you don't want the good old days to come back (I sure don't), you can still remember them with a smile.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Final Fantasy nostalgia

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Final Fantasy nostalgia originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 Jan 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoleconsolesfantasyfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivmemoriesmog-lognostalgiaopinionrecollectionretrospectivesquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logtreasures-of-aht-urhganSat, 19 Jan 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: 2013 for Final Fantasy XI and XIV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/05/the-mog-log-2013-for-final-fantasy-xi-and-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/05/the-mog-log-2013-for-final-fantasy-xi-and-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/05/the-mog-log-2013-for-final-fantasy-xi-and-xiv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
I'd like to say that 2012 started out with a lot of promise, but it really didn't. Looking back at my predictions for Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV a year ago, I see they weren't perfectly accurate, but they certainly fit well within the margin of error. Very little happened over in Final Fantasy XI's development, and Final Fantasy XIV managed to continue not wowing anyone, albeit partly because of the several delays to version 2.0 that now have it releasing around the middle of this year.

If you haven't noticed a theme yet, here it is: I'm worried that by the time it does launch, no one will care any longer. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

While I've split things up between recaps and forecasts in the past, in this case it's virtually impossible to do so. A lot of what has been done this year is banking entirely on the strength of what will be happening next, so Square was selling 2013 in the midst of 2012. So let's look at the past year for both games and the year to come, with an extra helping of hope and speculation for 2013.

Continue reading The Mog Log: 2013 for Final Fantasy XI and XIV

MassivelyThe Mog Log: 2013 for Final Fantasy XI and XIV originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012-in-review2013-in-previewa-realm-rebornconsoleconsolesexpansionfantasyfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivmog-logopinionprognosticationSeekers-of-Adoulinsoasquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logSat, 05 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Parties and roles in Final Fantasy XIV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/29/the-mog-log-parties-and-roles-in-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/29/the-mog-log-parties-and-roles-in-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/29/the-mog-log-parties-and-roles-in-final-fantasy-xiv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
Final Fantasy XIV's party setup already makes a bold step away from normal conventions. Where most games these days top out with parties of four or five players, a full party in Eorzea is eight people with according benefits. It's definitely a game of numbers.

This offers some unique drawbacks and advantages all at once. The drawbacks are implied just by the sheer size: It's harder to get three strangers to work with you as part of a team; it's harder still to gather up seven without one person dragging you down through a combination of cluelessness and hapless malice. But considering the pre-relaunch game offered a lot of content that could be done solo or in ad hoc groups of varying sides, perhaps this won't be such an issue in the long run.

So let's talk about the potential advantages. I think the game is uniquely poised to deliver on this front simply because having more people in the party allows you to do things that more modern games don't have the space for -- things that Final Fantasy XI was quite good at doing in party composition, as it happens.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Parties and roles in Final Fantasy XIV

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Parties and roles in Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class-rolesclassesconsoleconsolesfantasyfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivgroupgroupsmog-logopinionpartyparty-structurerole-distributionrolessquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logtrinitySat, 29 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist's top MMO stories of 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/29/the-game-archaeologists-top-mmo-stories-of-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/29/the-game-archaeologists-top-mmo-stories-of-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/29/the-game-archaeologists-top-mmo-stories-of-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Game Archaeologist seals up 2012
As another gaming year spins to a close, we here at the Institute for Digital Interactive Entertainment have been holding our archaeological department hostage with a trained buffy-tufted marmoset until it delivered a final report. After hours of begging and infected monkey bites, the head of that department, Prof. Justin Olivetti, Ph.D., handed us a scrap of urine-soaked paper with the following article inscribed.

While the Institute strongly suggests that you ignore this report and instead work on your button-mashing exercises, the board of directors stated that all such papers must be posted for the public to see.

This report is presented in the Yetbari typeface and contains a sequential series of items that number between 11 and 13.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist's top MMO stories of 2012

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist's top MMO stories of 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 Dec 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionanarchy-onlineaoasherons-callasherons-call-2blizzardblizzard-entertainmentcity-of-heroescity-of-villainsclassicclassic-mmoclassic-mmosclassicscohcovcoxeaelectronic-artseqeq-maceq1eqmaceqoaeverquesteverquest-online-adventuresexpansionf2pfantasyfeaturedffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xifree-to-playfreedomfuncomgame-archaelogistlord-britishmeridian-59mythicmythic-entertainmentncsoftnostalgiaopinionparagonparagon-studiossandboxsci-fiSeekers-of-Adoulinshadowbanesoasoesonysony-online-entertainmentsquaresquare-enixsuperherosuperheroestelonthe-game-archaeologistturbineultimaultima onlineuovanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvgwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 29 Dec 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XI: Seekers of Adoulin releasing in late March]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/26/final-fantasy-xi-seekers-of-adoulin-releasing-in-late-march/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/26/final-fantasy-xi-seekers-of-adoulin-releasing-in-late-march/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/26/final-fantasy-xi-seekers-of-adoulin-releasing-in-late-march/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Final Fantasy XI Seekers of Adoulin releasing late March
The long silence over Final Fantasy XI's newest expansion has been broken, as Square Enix has finally announced that Seekers of Adoulin will be coming out in late March of next year. The game's fifth expansion will go live on March 26th for North American players and on March 27th for European fans.

In addition to the release date news, the studio unveiled an updated website full of Seekers of Adoulin information. The expansion will include a virgin continent, additional enemy types, and two new classes: the Rune Fencer and Geomancer.

Seekers of Adoulin will be sold on both PC and XBox 360. Fans will pay $29.99 for Seekers of Adoulin alone or $39.99 for the core game and every expansion and content pack to date. There's also a two-minute trailer for the expansion; consume it after the jump!

Continue reading Final Fantasy XI: Seekers of Adoulin releasing in late March

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XI: Seekers of Adoulin releasing in late March originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Dec 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>expansionfantasyffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xilaunchlaunch-datepricingreleaserelease-dateSeekers-of-Adoulinsoaspecssquaresquare-enixtrailervideoWed, 26 Dec 2012 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jukebox Heroes: Christmas music]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/25/jukebox-heroes-christmas-music/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/25/jukebox-heroes-christmas-music/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/25/jukebox-heroes-christmas-music/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Jukebox Heroes Christmas music
Merry Christmas and happy holidays from the staff at Jukebox Heroes! When it comes to the season, I have to admit that I'm a bit of a Christmas music junkie. Not nearly as bad as some I know, and I'm totally for a ban of hearing such music in public spaces before Thanksgiving and after New Year's Eve. I just love how it's so cheery and makes me feel warm in my tummy.

A couple of months ago when I realized that this column would fall on Christmas day, I entertained the notion of just featuring MMO Christmas music. That seemed a bit silly to me; there's no way that there could be more than a scarce handful of tunes, right?

It turns out that there's quite a bit, actually.

So whether you're celebrating, taking some time just to game, or bored out of your gourd, why not hit the jump and see how MMOs have contributed to the enormous library of Christmas music?

Continue reading Jukebox Heroes: Christmas music

MassivelyJukebox Heroes: Christmas music originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Dec 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playchristmaschristmas-2012christmas-musiccomposercomposersdotae-sportesportf2pfantasyfeaturedffff11ffxifiesta-onlinefinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xifree-to-playgame-musicgranado-espadaguild-wars-2gw2jukeboxjukebox-heroesjustin-olivettileagueleague-of-legendslolmaplestorymmo-jukeboxmmo-musicmobamusicncsoftnexonnexon-americanexon-koreaopinionphantasy-star-onlinepsoriotriot-gamessoundtracksoundtrackssquaresquare-enixsword-2sword-of-the-new-worldTue, 25 Dec 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Square Enix confirms layoff rumors, denies any impact on MMO operation]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/16/square-enix-confirms-layoff-rumors-denies-any-impact-on-mmo-ope/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/16/square-enix-confirms-layoff-rumors-denies-any-impact-on-mmo-ope/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/16/square-enix-confirms-layoff-rumors-denies-any-impact-on-mmo-ope/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In hard times, the vendor NPCs are the first to go.
It's an unfortunate reality that layoffs are somewhat common in the gaming industry, and more often than not that means that games get cancelled or shut down. This weekend, Massively has been inundated with rumors that Square Enix has become the latest studio to suffer that reality. Tipsters suggested the company had laid off several people from its office in LA, people whose termination might impact the game's online offerings such as Wakfu and the upcoming relaunch of Final Fantasy XIV.

Only part of these rumors appears to be true. Senior Director of Public Relations Riley Brennan has told Massively that the layoffs did occur for restructuring purposes but that the workforce reduction will have no impact on the company's online titles, though we don't still don't know which titles or departments were affected.
In order to ensure it is operating effectively, the Square Enix Los Angeles office has reduced its workforce. This was a difficult decision and we wish the best for those affected by these changes. The decision will not have any impact on the operations of MMO titles. Customers can expect those services to continue, including the upcoming launch of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.
While we're certainly happy to hear that our games will continue to operate without incident, our best wishes go out to those affected by this round of layoffs.

[Thanks as always to our anonymous tipsters!]

MassivelySquare Enix confirms layoff rumors, denies any impact on MMO operation originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 16 Dec 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ankamaconsoleconsolesf2pfantasyffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivfree-to-playlayoffsmmo-industrynewspoliticsrumor-debunkingrumorssandboxsesquaresquare-enixsquenixstrategystrategy-mmosubsubscriptionturn-based-combatwakfuworkforce-reductionSun, 16 Dec 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Final Fantasy XI's future might just be bright]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/15/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-xis-future-might-just-be-bright/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/15/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-xis-future-might-just-be-bright/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/15/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-xis-future-might-just-be-bright/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
We might not have another roadmap for Final Fantasy XI just yet, but we have the next best thing: a letter from producer Akihiko Matsui talking about what's at least being gingerly planned for the next year. More accurately, it's about delays in the existing roadmap, the state of the game, and what Matsui plans to do about it in the near future.

While the letter itself is a little old at the moment, I'm going to be honest and say that I keep re-reading it amidst a mixture of disbelief and hope. I've been getting up on the same soapbox for almost three years regarding Final Fantasy XI's biggest problems, and Matsui's dispatch by and large seems to indicate that the team in charge of the game right now is aware of exactly these issues and actively wants to correct them.

This is kind of staggering. It's the good sort of staggering, but it's the sort of thing you don't expect to see, especially not from a game with a lot invested in gleefully ignoring the rest of the world. But this could mean that despite FFXI's age, next year could be the best one for the game in a long while.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Final Fantasy XI's future might just be bright

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Final Fantasy XI's future might just be bright originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akihiko-matsuibarriersconsoleconsolescontentcontent-barrierscontent-challengecontent-polishexpansionfantasyfeaturedffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xifuture-updatesimpedimentsleveling-barriersmog-logopinionSeekers-of-Adoulinsoasquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logSat, 15 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Consoles and the online Final Fantasy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/20/the-mog-log-consoles-and-the-online-final-fantasy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/20/the-mog-log-consoles-and-the-online-final-fantasy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/20/the-mog-log-consoles-and-the-online-final-fantasy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
You could be forgiven for losing faith in the prospect of Final Fantasy XIV ever coming out for the PlayStation 3. Yes, it had been a promised platform, but it wouldn't be the first MMO to abandon console promises. Heck, the development team is still working on fulfilling some of the promises made by the original team; it could be forgiven for putting that one on the back burner.

But it's a real thing. We've seen the screenshots, and we know that two years after the game's initial launch, we will finally get to play around in Eorzea on our televisions. (The "we" in this case refers to fellow PS3 owners.) This is sort of a mixed blessing.

This isn't a column about console gaming compared to PC gaming; I really don't care which platform you prefer, and it's also not the point. This is a column about the fact that Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV are both going to be console games as well as computer games, and that introduces some interesting wrinkles.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Consoles and the online Final Fantasy

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Consoles and the online Final Fantasy originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Oct 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-realm-rebornconsoleconsole-versionconsolesfantasyfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivmog-lognew-launchsopinionrelaunchsquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logSat, 20 Oct 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Where in the world is Seekers of Adoulin?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/13/the-mog-log-where-in-the-world-is-seekers-of-adoulin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/13/the-mog-log-where-in-the-world-is-seekers-of-adoulin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/13/the-mog-log-where-in-the-world-is-seekers-of-adoulin/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
Square-Enix has long had a very different approach to MMOs compared to the rest of the world. In some ways, this is understandable; I know that every company operates in its own way. But where American and European companies are playing the electric guitar and Korean companies are playing keytar/acoustic duets, Square seems to be bringing out the xylophone to do a heartfelt rendition of Long Distance Runaround. (For those of you not willing to click the link, that song is not normally played with a xylophone.)

As a result, on one level I'm not surprised that we know virtually nothing about Final Fantasy XI's next expansion beyond the upcoming jobs and the fact that it's not going to be released for the PlayStation 2 here in America. I am also completely baffled that in the time since the expansion's announcement we have heard nothing about it. We first found out that the expansion existed in any form back in June, and we've learned pretty much nothing new since... and that's not a good sign.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Where in the world is Seekers of Adoulin?

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Where in the world is Seekers of Adoulin? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 13 Oct 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoleconsolescuriositydeveloper-attitudedeveloper-demeanorexpansionfantasyfeaturedffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xilack-of-newsmog-logopinionSeekers-of-Adoulinsoasquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logSat, 13 Oct 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Worst expansion names of all time]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/11/the-perfect-ten-worst-expansion-names-of-all-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/11/the-perfect-ten-worst-expansion-names-of-all-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/11/the-perfect-ten-worst-expansion-names-of-all-time/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Perfect Ten Worst expansion names of all time
When SOE announced that EverQuest's 19th expansion would be titled Rain of Fear, I instantly found myself tripping over the name. I shouldn't have -- it's a few simple words that are first round picks for spelling contests -- but it defied the traditional naming conventions for MMO expansions. Many people I talked to kept wanting to write "reign" instead because "rain" seemed like a deliberate misspelling by some intern in Smedley's empire.

Homophones aside, Rain of Fear is hardly the worst expansion title I've ever seen. The industry has had its share of bad names, from the confusing to the downright unpronounceable. Sure, we get used to these titles, and perhaps it's nit-picky to lug them out at such a late point in many of their lifespans, but petty is my middle name. My first name is Tom. And these are 10 poorly named expansions. Deal with it.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Worst expansion names of all time

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Worst expansion names of all time originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Oct 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
Subscriptions are dying. There's no two ways about it. Star Wars: The Old Republic is switching over, and whether or not they liked the game, fans of Final Fantasy XIV have no room to throw stones about the game's success. That leaves a handful of holdouts in the normal subscription space, and that doesn't include the next major release on the horizon, as Guild Wars 2 is under the same buy-to-play model as its predecessor.

Final Fantasy XIV and Final Fantasy XI are two of the holdouts. And in a world increasingly dominated by games without subscription fees, that's pretty significant. So the question becomes whether or not the games will embrace the free-to-play option, whether or not they should, and how this sort of option could work in the game's favor rather than against it. After all, there are some roadblocks to making the system work quite right, but there's a lot of pressure on the market for a change.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Final Fantasy and free-to-play

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Final Fantasy and free-to-play originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Aug 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
The Final Fantasy series has always had some spectacularly memorable villains. Sometimes that's been a challenge; this is a series in which your main antagonists have included an evil tree, a general who dresses up like a clown, and an adult version of the creepy kid from grade school who can't breathe very well. But for some reason, this has never carried over into the online installments. And with Final Fantasy XIV's first major villain debuting in the current patch, it's worth talking about.

I don't mean to say that Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV haven't had antagonists or anyone to step into the role of "villain." They certainly have. Final Fantasy XI has an entire rogue's gallery with Eald'narche, Promathia, the Shadow Lord, and whatever we were fighting in Abyssea. (I think it was the dread monster Apathy, but I sort of clocked out for a while there.) But compare it to the villains of Star Wars: The Old Republic or the single-player installments of the franchise. Heck, compare them to the villains of World of Warcraft. The villains here just don't quite get to a memorable level, and I think there are a few good reasons.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Final Fantasy's bargain bin villains

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Final Fantasy's bargain bin villains originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Aug 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antagonistsconsoleconsolesenemiesfantasyfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivmog-logopinionopponentssquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logvillainsSat, 04 Aug 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: The zone design of Final Fantasy XI]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/21/the-mog-log-the-zone-design-of-final-fantasy-xi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/21/the-mog-log-the-zone-design-of-final-fantasy-xi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/21/the-mog-log-the-zone-design-of-final-fantasy-xi/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
Gustaberg is one of the ugliest zones in Final Fantasy XI. For better or worse, it's a bunch of bland plateaus swarming with vultures, worms, and bees. It wasn't a visual treat when I first saw it, and the years have certainly not been kind. But the fact of the matter is that even after several years, I still get a little smile on my lips when I walk into that dessicated husk of a land. From the waterfall near the Wadi to the narrow pass to the Highlands, Gustaberg is painfully nostalgic.

Final Fantasy XI created a lot of magnificent regions for players to explore right from the moment it launched, and every subsequent expansion has added new areas without making them feel redundant. Considering that the game's next expansion is on the way, I thought it was apropos to look at what makes the zones so wonderful as well as what mistakes the designers might try to avoid when making the new areas in the west.

Continue reading The Mog Log: The zone design of Final Fantasy XI

MassivelyThe Mog Log: The zone design of Final Fantasy XI originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Jul 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
By early next year, the environment will be an interesting one for both Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV. Both games will have a major update out, whether that update is a large-scale revamp or a trim new expansion. (Speculation on that last one, yes; munch on a grain of salt as we proceed.) They'll both be poised for players to enjoy, each with its own distinct flavor... possibly.

See, there's a definite problem with all of the coming updates in the online Final Fantasy space. Both games need a distinct identity, and yet they're also both overlapping in several core areas. Square-Enix clearly wants players to be able to enjoy Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV as two different experiences, but is that really possible?

I'd like to think it is. I think that both games can deliver a rich experience for players of all stripes without becoming mirrors of one another, even disregarding superficial elements like jumping. I think both games also need to come together on certain points of common ground, so players of either can enjoy certain shared features that would otherwise be taken for granted.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Distinct linked games

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Distinct linked games originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 14 Jul 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Mog Log header image by A. Fienemann
It seems almost unbelievable, but it's here. It's coming. Seekers of Adoulin is the fifth expansion for Final Fantasy XI, the first one in what seems like an eternity, a genuinely new experience for players above and beyond the many recycled bits that have dominated the game for years now. It's a new region, a new set of challenges, all sorts of new. It's what players have been asking for for years on end, and as surreal as it seems, this is a reality. That it's not coming until next year almost seems like a footnote.

Needless to say, I'm excited. I think that if handled correctly, this is a great opportunity for Square-Enix to revitalize Final Fantasy XI in the wake of Final Fantasy XIV's relaunch later this year. It's a chance to give the game a new audience and let players come back to enjoy it on their own terms. Most of all, it's a chance to show how much life the older game really has, possibly to players who would never have seen it otherwise.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Unabashedly squealing about Seekers of Adoulin

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Unabashedly squealing about Seekers of Adoulin originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 30 Jun 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yes, I sort of had a Greek thing on my mind with this one.
I like games that make your characters feel legendary, but sometimes I think they've gotten the whole formula wrong. The problem is that the only thing important about your character is what he or she has done, not what he or she is. World of Warcraft has a lot of quests and raids that seem to imply your character is a big deal, but how big a deal can you really be if you're learning all of your tricks at the local trainer?

What about a game where your personal history has as much to do with your future development as anything else? A game where your accomplishments aren't just backstory but an integral part of your character's abilities? A game where every new encounter is a chance for your character to learn something unique? I'd love to see a game where your accomplishments are not a list of things that you've killed but a clear litany of skills learned and scars accumulated -- a game where the path to power isn't necessarily clearly marked.

Continue reading MMO Blender: Eliot's self-made legend

MassivelyMMO Blender: Eliot's self-made legend originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Jun 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armchair-game-designblueholebluehole-studioscity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxddodnddungeons-and-dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlineeaelectronic-artsen-masseen-masse-entertainmentendless-trialf2pfantasyfavorite-mmofeaturedffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xifree-to-playfreedomgame-designgame-mechanicslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromechanicsmmo-blendermmo-mechanicsmmo-mix-tapemmo-mixologymythicmythic-entertainmentncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiospvprvrsquaresquare-enixsuperherosuperheroesteraturbineturbine-entertainmentwarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineFri, 29 Jun 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Square-Enix ranks highest in average salary for Japanese game companies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/29/square-enix-ranks-highest-in-average-salary-for-japanese-game-co/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/29/square-enix-ranks-highest-in-average-salary-for-japanese-game-co/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/29/square-enix-ranks-highest-in-average-salary-for-japanese-game-co/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Square Enix
If making the most money is a top priority when choosing which gaming company to work for (as if working on games isn't enough!), the go-to company in Japan is Square-Enix. According to Nensyu Labo, a company that analyzes salary and income in the island nation, Square-Enix ranks at the top of gaming companies for average annual salary. And the race wasn't close, either; employees at the company that brings us Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV make on average more than twice as much a year as the next closest competitor, Sony -- 21.68 million yen ($273,057) to 9.23 million yen ($116,253).

For a look at what other companies made the top 10 list, check out the rankings.

MassivelySquare-Enix ranks highest in average salary for Japanese game companies originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Jun 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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On the plus side, you can probably get a PC that can run the game for the price of a hamburger.
If you're a Final Fantasy XI player still playing the game on the PlayStation 2, it looks like you're in for a disappointment. After the surprising announcement that the game was getting a new boxed expansion, it was noted that the official site didn't list PS2 support. According to community representative Matt "Baryohne" Hilton, that wasn't an accident: Seekers of Adoulin will not be available for PS2 players in North American and European markets.

Japanese players on the console will still be receiving the expansion, likely due to the higher percentage of console subscribers in Japan compared to other regions. Hilton was quick to point out that support would still be offered to PS2 players, but that's cold comfort to any console players left out of the upcoming expansion. There's been no word yet on whether or not the game will begin phasing out console support entirely, but if you consider the age of the PS2, it's entirely within the realm of possibility.

[Thanks to FusionX for the tip!]

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XI: Seekers of Adoulin not on PS2 outside of Japan originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Jun 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baryohneconsolesdiscontinued-supportexpansionexpansionsfantasyffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-ximatt-hiltonnewsplatformsplaystation-2ps2seekers-of-adoulinsquaresquare-enixsupportWed, 27 Jun 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 206: Tear harvesters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/26/massively-speaking-episode-206-tear-harvesters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/26/massively-speaking-episode-206-tear-harvesters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/26/massively-speaking-episode-206-tear-harvesters/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Massively Speaking Episode 206 Expanding our minds
It's expansion week here on Massively Speaking, as we tackle numerous additions to our favorite games (as well as a brand-new one launching this week)! Bree's back with her acerbic charm, and Justin's positively bouncing with the desire to relay all of this in a giant showtunes number. The MMO news train stops for nobody, so hop aboard and pull that whistle!

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

Get the podcast:
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Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 206: Tear harvesters

MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 206: Tear harvesters originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Jun 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Final Fantasy XI the most profitable in the franchise
Behold the power of MMOs to generate a Fort Knox of income. Square-Enix announced that out of all of the Final Fantasy games from 1987 through today, Final Fantasy XI has been the most profitable.

This comes from Square-Enix President Yoichi Wada, who was hyping the title over the weekend amid the news of its upcoming expansion. Wada also said that if you tallied the accumulated play time of all current FFXI players, you'd end up with a mind-boggling 200,000 years /played.

Final Fantasy XI recently celebrated its 10th anniversary and announced its first new expansion in six years, Seekers of Adouli.

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XI is the most profitable in the franchise originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For each new horizon, a departure.
If you know the history of Square-Enix, you know the name Hiromichi Tanaka. More recently, if you've had anything to do with either Final Fantasy XI or Final Fantasy XIV, the name will also strike a chord, as Tanaka was the driving force behind both games. At the end of last week's VanaFest convention in Japan, Tanaka announced that he will be stepping down from his current position as producer of Final Fantasy XI and leaving Square-Enix, citing health issues that he declined to elaborate upon.

Tanaka's role on the FFXI staff will be filled by Akihiko Matsui, who previously briefly served as the game's director before moving on to work as Final Fantasy XIV's battle designer following the game's troubled launch. This announcement comes in the wake of several major announcements regarding FFXI during VanaFest, including the promise of a new boxed expansion next year and a new UI for the game with the new expansion.

MassivelyHiromichi Tanaka is retiring from Square-Enix originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 Jun 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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