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[The Mog Log: Pushing back on Final Fantasy XIV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/the-mog-log-pushing-back-on-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/the-mog-log-pushing-back-on-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/the-mog-log-pushing-back-on-final-fantasy-xiv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Push the tempo up.
Among the things I'm reluctant to talk about early when it comes to Final Fantasy XIV are the live letters from Naoki Yoshida. There's always a thread rapidly updating players on what is said during those letters, but that thread is filled with quick translations that may or may not be accurate, and I'd prefer not to analyze and speculate on information that may have been misconstrued. The man speaks in dense blocks of information.

To my surprise, this week we got the full translation of the latest live letter, and something that struck me was how much of the game we're still being told is just over the horizon. This is not to say that I don't believe in Yoshi-P; Final Fantasy XIV 1.0 showed that if he promises something, it will be delivered. But there are a lot of things being held back for later, and honestly it's a little disconcerting for someone waiting eagerly for the game to come out.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Pushing back on Final Fantasy XIV

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Pushing back on Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-realm-rebornconsoleconsolesfantasyfeaturedffff14ffxivffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivlive-lettermog-lognaoki-yoshidaopinionrelaunchsquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logupcoming-featuresupdatesSat, 20 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Final Fantasy XIV's five-year gap]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/02/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-xivs-five-year-gap/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/02/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-xivs-five-year-gap/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/02/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-xivs-five-year-gap/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

You know I roll legacy, son.
Right now, the world of Final Fantasy XIV players is made up of two separate but equally important groups: the Legacy players who are doing secret things in a beta that they cannot talk about, and everyone else sitting on the sidelines and desperately hoping for an NDA breach that unveils huge amounts of information. (The second group also spends some time hating the Legacy players. It's a delicate balance.) As a result, it's even harder than usual to write something interesting about the game.

So, as prompted by some discussions over on the RPC, let's talk a little bit about what we do know regarding the state of the world. It isn't great, but at the same time, it's better than it could be. There are three main time period to be concerned with, and when they're taken as a whole, there's a lot of opportunity for interesting conflict and storytelling as well as roleplaying if that's your cup of tea.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Final Fantasy XIV's five-year gap

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Final Fantasy XIV's five-year gap originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 02 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-realm-rebornbackstorybetabetasconsoleconsolescontinuityfantasyfeaturedffff14ffxivffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivgapsloremog-logopinionsquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logtimelineSat, 02 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Across the country for Final Fantasy XIV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/23/the-mog-log-across-the-country-for-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/23/the-mog-log-across-the-country-for-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/23/the-mog-log-across-the-country-for-final-fantasy-xiv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Perhaps a redone header is in order with some of the new art. Let me think.
On Wednesday last week, I got on an airplane to head across the United States, starting a long and grueling trip. I spent half of Wednesday in the air, half of Thursday either on a train or in a car, and more or less all of Friday in the air once again returning home. All of this for about two hours of playing Final Fantasy XIV and a couple of interviews, in case you missed everything going live on Thursday.

Would I do it again? In an instant.

There's no way that I can repeat the amount of information that was in the roundup in a single column, so I'm not going to try. What I am going to do is talk about some of the other assorted bits and pieces of my Final Fantasy XIV experience and the surrounding events because it was truly something to see. I've been fairly skeptical up until this point, but I'll say that after sitting down and playing the beta version for a little while, I'm now a believer.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Across the country for Final Fantasy XIV

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Across the country for Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 23 Feb 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-realm-rebornbetaconsoleconsoleseventfantasyfeaturedffff14ffxivffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivmedia-eventmog-logopinionpreview-eventsquaresquare-enixsquenixtestingthe-mog-logtravelSat, 23 Feb 2013 16:00:00 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[Final Fantasy XIV's Yoshida on PvP, chocobos, and mobile apps]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/final-fantasy-xivs-yoshida-on-pvp-chocobos-and-mobile-apps/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/final-fantasy-xivs-yoshida-on-pvp-chocobos-and-mobile-apps/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/final-fantasy-xivs-yoshida-on-pvp-chocobos-and-mobile-apps/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

I find it really ironic that this was one of the header photos the community team used.
The recent Final Fantasy XIV press event in San Francisco didn't just mean a chance to sit down and play the game amidst a lushly decorated room, although that was certainly on the agenda. It also meant a chance to ask director and producer Naoki Yoshida some questions about the game going forward and the plans for development down the line, diving beyond what we see and into more fine details about the game's mechanics.

While players will have access to a sizable chunk of the revamped game when the beta goes live on February 25th, there's still a lot that's hidden behind a veil of secrecy. Yoshida's answers help illuminate more details about what's going on in Final Fantasy XIV that might not be playable right now but will be in the near future. And even beyond the foundation that's visible from the beta, the promise of more expansion only adds to the game's overall quality.

Continue reading Final Fantasy XIV's Yoshida on PvP, chocobos, and mobile apps

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV's Yoshida on PvP, chocobos, and mobile apps 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-rebornclassclassesconsoleconsolesfantasyfeaturedffff14ffxivffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivgatheringhousinginterviewinterviewsmobile-appmobile-functionalitypress-eventpreviewpreviewsprofessionspvprelaunchrevampsquaresquare-enixtest-phasestestingupcoming-systemsThu, 21 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Land and Hand: Crafting and gathering in Final Fantasy XIV's relaunch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/land-and-hand-crafting-and-gathering-in-final-fantasy-xivs-rel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/land-and-hand-crafting-and-gathering-in-final-fantasy-xivs-rel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/land-and-hand-crafting-and-gathering-in-final-fantasy-xivs-rel/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Work that armor. Work it good.
When I was playing Final Fantasy XIV's pre-launch beta, it was gathering that made me realize I was in real trouble with this game. Normally I consider gathering to be a necessary evil, a part of the game that exists and only occasionally overlaps with what I like to do. But the first time I started chopping away as a Botanist, I knew that something special was going on here.

Of course, gathering and crafting also needed an overhaul. The former was a frequently luck-based minigame that could be intensely frustrating to decipher with few skills that seemed to do much, and the latter was obtuse even if you ignore the fact that you didn't have a recipe book. So the relaunch had the unenviable task of reworking both systems while at the same time retaining what made them such a breath of fresh air.

If you liked Final Fantasy XIV's crafting or gathering before, I'm happy to say you still will -- and odds are good you'll like both even more because the new systems in place are solid improvements of what came before.

Continue reading Land and Hand: Crafting and gathering in Final Fantasy XIV's relaunch

MassivelyLand and Hand: Crafting and gathering in Final Fantasy XIV's relaunch 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-rebornconsoleconsolescraftingcrafting-mechanicsdisciples-of-the-handdisciples-of-the-landfantasyfeaturedffff14ffxivffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivgame-mechanicsgatheringgathering-mechanicshands-onminigamesnew-systemspreviewpreviewssquaresquare-enixThu, 21 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: A dinner with Final Fantasy XIV's Naoki Yoshida]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/massively-exclusive-a-dinner-with-final-fantasy-xivs-naoki-yos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/massively-exclusive-a-dinner-with-final-fantasy-xivs-naoki-yos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/massively-exclusive-a-dinner-with-final-fantasy-xivs-naoki-yos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

I would not be surprised if Yoshida actually had hunted a giant snake with a bow and arrow. It seems plausible.
Having a conversation with Naoki Yoshida can be a very intimidating exercise. It's not because of his demeanor; he's friendly, genial, and has an obvious sense of humor. No, it's because there's an unmistakable level of energy to him, a huge amount of passion and ambition that drives everything he talks about.

He's exactly the sort of person who would try something completely insane like remaking a game from the ground up after burning the first version to the ground, for example.

I had the opportunity to sit down for a one-on-one dinner with Yoshida at the Final Fantasy XIV preview event, during which we talked a great deal both about the upcoming relaunch of the game as well as his own experiences in remaking everything. For those of us who play Final Fantasy XIV, it's obviously an exciting time, but for Yoshida, what's happening now is the culmination of work that started only a month after he took over control of a game that he had to revitalize after a horrible flop on launch.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: A dinner with Final Fantasy XIV's Naoki Yoshida

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: A dinner with Final Fantasy XIV's Naoki Yoshida 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-rebornburn-it-all-downconsoleconsolesdevelopment-retrospectivedirectorend-of-an-erafantasyfeaturedffff14ffxivffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivgame-developmentinterviewinterviewsmajor-changesnaoki-yoshidapersons-of-interestproducersquaresquare-enixThu, 21 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The battle is joined: Starting new and fighting through Final Fantasy XIV's relaunch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/the-battle-is-joined-starting-new-and-fighting-through-final-fa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/the-battle-is-joined-starting-new-and-fighting-through-final-fa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/the-battle-is-joined-starting-new-and-fighting-through-final-fa/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Have I mentioned I love Highlander women yet? Because it should be restated regularly.
I know a lot about Final Fantasy XIV. This is surprising to no one; there's a reason Joystiq sent me to the preview event, a reason I write a weekly column about the game, and a reason I still have the Final Fantasy XIV collector's edition box sitting in my office. The net result is that I have spent a lot of time playing the game.

As a result, I was more than a little nervous when sitting down to play the revamped version at the Final Fantasy XIV press event in San Francisco last week. Done incorrectly, playing the game could feel subtly wrong, like a stranger pretending to be your old friend. And even if I avoided that pitfall, the gameplay could feel inelegant or forced.

I'm happy to report that none of that is the case. Make no mistake -- the game is very different from its original incarnation, but it also sports enough familiar stuff that you aren't left wandering around baffled.

Continue reading The battle is joined: Starting new and fighting through Final Fantasy XIV's relaunch

MassivelyThe battle is joined: Starting new and fighting through Final Fantasy XIV's relaunch 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-rebornbattle-flowbattle-mechanicscharacter-creationconsoleconsolescontentdynamic-eventsfantasyfatefeaturedffff14ffxivffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivflowfull-active-time-eventsgame-mechanicshands-onhunting-loglogopinionpreviewpreviewsquest-structurequestsrelaunchskillssquaresquare-enixThu, 21 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Touring La Noscea and Thanalan in Final Fantasy XIV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/touring-la-noscea-and-thanalan-in-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/touring-la-noscea-and-thanalan-in-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/touring-la-noscea-and-thanalan-in-final-fantasy-xiv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Touring La Noscea and Thanalan in Final Fantasy XIV
My time spent at the Final Fantasy XIV tour didn't just include a preview of the areas to be found in the upcoming beta. No, we proud and few got the chance to also explore some of the game's other iconic areas, areas closed off at the start of the beta but slated for opening later on in the testing process. I poked around both of these regions, touring both the streets of Ul'dah in Thanalan and the cliffs and plains of La Noscea.

These areas were admittedly still a work in progress. While the maps were mostly finished, the enemies in many of the regions were placeholders, and it was clear that the client we were using had a version with these regions in a state that's not ready for prime time. Still, it was interesting to look at both and see things that had been changed, updated, and in a few cases removed altogether.

Before I proceed, a note: All of the areas under discussion are still being optimized and improved, so some elements such as lighting and geometry may change by the time you get to play with them.

Continue reading Touring La Noscea and Thanalan in Final Fantasy XIV

MassivelyTouring La Noscea and Thanalan in Final Fantasy XIV 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-rebornconsoleconsolesdesignfantasyfeaturedffff14ffxivffxiv-press-tourffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivhands-onla-noscealocationsopinionpreviewpreviewssquaresquare-enixthanalantoursuldahvisualsThu, 21 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Naoki Yoshida discusses the upcoming beta for Final Fantasy XIV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/naoki-yoshida-discusses-the-upcoming-beta-for-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/naoki-yoshida-discusses-the-upcoming-beta-for-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/naoki-yoshida-discusses-the-upcoming-beta-for-final-fantasy-xiv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Title screen image instead of Highlander/Roegadyn woman, because I can't choose and they're both too awesome.
It won't be long now until long-time Final Fantasy XIV players and eager test applicants can experience the beta of the game's new version. Producer Naoki Yoshida has understandably been busy with the ramp-up, but he's taken the time to pen a new letter for the game's players that starts off by displaying all of the racial creation screens for the revamped creator. That includes showing off genders that had previously been unavailable, including female Highlanders and Roegadyns.

Beyond that, the letter talks about some of the restrictions in place from the beta that are still being developed, acknowledging that some character creation options will be held back until later in testing (the team is working to vastly improve hair color and style selections, for example). Yoshida goes on to talk about the production staff's New Year festivities and a visit from some of the Mythic staff members involved with Ultima Online. There are only a few more weeks until the beta stats, but Yoshida and the rest of the staff seems to believe that it's the first step to a better new year.

MassivelyNaoki Yoshida discusses the upcoming beta for Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-realm-reborncharacter-creationconsoleconsolesfantasyffff14ffxivffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivnaoki-yoshidanew-yearproducers-letterrelaunchsquaresquare-enixyoshidaWed, 23 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XIV shows off early Shiva renders]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/22/final-fantasy-xiv-shows-off-early-shiva-renders/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/22/final-fantasy-xiv-shows-off-early-shiva-renders/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/22/final-fantasy-xiv-shows-off-early-shiva-renders/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Not using an ice-related pun used a lot of willpower.
The Primals of Final Fantasy XIV are kind of a big deal. In the original game, players had a chance to fight two of them, both of whom made for a rough fight, but the relaunch will include wandering versions of these pseudo-deities for players to hunt down and harness. And while astute fans have known for some time that Shiva will be among the Primals in the new version, she's finally strutting her stuff in the latest development blog post.

The post contains several early renders of the completed model as well as the ice queen's concept art, all of which should look familiar to veterans of the Final Fantasy series. While Shiva is known to have worshippers much like her fellow Primals Ifrit and Garuda, it's not yet clear if her appearance means a new beastman tribe will be entering the already crowded Eorzea. The full set of pictures won't answer that question, but it will give players eagerly awaiting the beta something new to gawk at.

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV shows off early Shiva renders originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-realm-rebornconsoleconsolesdevelopment-blogearly-rendersfantasyffff14ffxivffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivlorepreviewpreviewsprimalsrelaunchrendersshivasquaresquare-enixTue, 22 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: (Over)analyzing the Final Fantasy XIV trailer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/12/the-mog-log-over-analyzing-the-final-fantasy-xiv-trailer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/12/the-mog-log-over-analyzing-the-final-fantasy-xiv-trailer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/12/the-mog-log-over-analyzing-the-final-fantasy-xiv-trailer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
Sadly, January 7th did not see the release of the new Final Fantasy XIV benchmark. It did, however, see the release of both the beta tester application and the full trailer for the new version, both of which are relevant to the interests of any Final Fantasy XIV fan. The trailer is likely of greater interest, seeing as how most current fans are likely already flagged as Legacy players and thus don't need to apply for testing, but the point is that both are out there.

Of course, the new opening movie is the only piece of information we've had about the game for a little while, but it seems worth analyzing and examining even on its own merits. No, I'm not talking about speculating as to whether or not the guy on the horse who looks exactly like Odin is in fact Odin or not (spoiler, doy). I want to talk about what this means for the lore, what the overall effect is, and whether or not this monster of a trailer succeeds at what it's meant to do.

Continue reading The Mog Log: (Over)analyzing the Final Fantasy XIV trailer

MassivelyThe Mog Log: (Over)analyzing the Final Fantasy XIV trailer originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Jan 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-realm-rebornbackstoryconsoleconsolesfantasyfeaturedffffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyloremog-lognpcsodinopinionquibblessettingsquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logtotes-odintrailertrailer-analysistrailersSat, 12 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: The story so far (and yet to come) in Final Fantasy XIV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/24/the-mog-log-the-story-so-far-and-yet-to-come-in-final-fantasy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/24/the-mog-log-the-story-so-far-and-yet-to-come-in-final-fantasy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/24/the-mog-log-the-story-so-far-and-yet-to-come-in-final-fantasy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
I have several friends who don't play Final Fantasy XIV but still saw the trailer ending the first version. After all, it's been hard to miss. Almost every single person has said the same thing: "It was awesome. I have absolutely no idea what was going on with any of it, but it looked really cool."

This isn't just because Final Fantasy XIV isn't in their rotations. Final Fantasy games are usually dense pieces of work, filled with references back and forth that make sense only if you know all of the players involved and have a solid understanding of the game's magical whoosits. If you've missed some steps along the way to the ending trailer, it's easy to watch and not understand what actually went down, and even if you did, there were some parts that could be really easily missed.

So let's take a step back and look at the story so far. It's not the same as playing through the story for the past two years, but it should at least clarify what in the world happened.

Continue reading The Mog Log: The story so far (and yet to come) in Final Fantasy XIV

MassivelyThe Mog Log: The story so far (and yet to come) in Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-realm-rebornbackstoryconsoleconsolesend-of-an-erafantasyfeaturedffff14ffxivffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivimportant-charactersloremog-lognpcsopinionquestsrecapsquaresquare-enixsquenixstorystory-so-farthe-mog-logSat, 24 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Stuff I'm going to miss from Final Fantasy XIV 1.0]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/17/the-mog-log-stuff-im-going-to-miss-from-final-fantasy-xiv-1-0/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/17/the-mog-log-stuff-im-going-to-miss-from-final-fantasy-xiv-1-0/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/17/the-mog-log-stuff-im-going-to-miss-from-final-fantasy-xiv-1-0/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
The end of Final Fantasy XIV as we know it provoked a lot of emotions from me, as did the trailer released concurrently. I felt a great deal of sorrow, both for the end of the world and the end of my character's story at the time (which is tied into a lot of roleplaying you don't need to hear about). I felt a stirring of hope for the changes coming to the game and the world. I felt inspiration at the sweep and movement of the events surrounding the conclusion and a sense of awe at what had been done.

I also felt a great deal of frustration at the game's servers and the rather lackluster event itself, but that's kind of an irrelevant discussion. It's a lesson to learn for a next time that won't happen.

Amidst all of these other feelings, I also felt a sense of sadness about certain parts of the game that are going away when it relaunches. There are aspects I'm going to miss about Final Fantasy XIV's first version, even if I know why those aspects need to be removed from a design standpoint. Today, I'm going to look back at those elements, things that we're going to be rid of that I'm still going to sort of miss in the long run.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Stuff I'm going to miss from Final Fantasy XIV 1.0

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Stuff I'm going to miss from Final Fantasy XIV 1.0 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-realm-rebornconsoleconsolesfantasyfeaturedffff14ffxivffxiv-version-1.0ffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivlaunch-featuresmog-logold-featuresopinionrelaunchremoved-contentremoved-featuresshutdownsquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logSat, 17 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The end comes to Final Fantasy XIV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/11/the-end-comes-to-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/11/the-end-comes-to-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/11/the-end-comes-to-final-fantasy-xiv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

In the same fleeting moment one must live, die, and know.
As of 1:00 a.m. EST today, the Final Fantasy XIV servers started the game's final event before the relaunch. At 3:00 a.m. EST, they shut down. Immediately following the shutdown, the last trailer for the game's current version was posted, showing the outcome of the final battle against the forces of the Garlean Empire by the unified Grand Companies of Eorzea. And if you've been following the game's story in any fashion, you'll probably want to see how it all ends.

It's worth noting that the cutscene is both fairly long and lacking in context -- if you don't know the most recent lore of the game, you're not going to catch everything that's going on. But if you've been watching the final defense of the Eorzean city-states from inside the game or on the sidelines, you deserve a front-row seat for the last clash of armies. And even though you know how it ends, it's still going to pack a punch.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Continue reading The end comes to Final Fantasy XIV

MassivelyThe end comes to Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-realm-rebornarmageddonbahamutconclusionconsoleconsolesdestructionend-of-the-worldfantasyffff14ffxivffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivrebootrelaunchsquaresquare-enixtrailertrailersvideovideosSun, 11 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: It's the end of Eorzea as we know it]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/10/the-mog-log-its-the-end-of-eorzea-as-we-know-it/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/10/the-mog-log-its-the-end-of-eorzea-as-we-know-it/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/10/the-mog-log-its-the-end-of-eorzea-as-we-know-it/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
It's not really a Final Fantasy game without a good apocalypse, and Final Fantasy XIV is getting just that. We've been watching the slow roll of the end of the world for months now, and as the last few days tick down before the shutdown, it's becoming amply clear just how bad the world is going to get. Everything will burn, everything will fall, and it's down to the last few defenders to fight for the ashes of Eorzea.

And, well, it'll all get put back a couple of days later. But that's not the point.

While the game has been flirting with the apocalyptic prophecies circling around the Seventh Umbral Era since launch, the announcement of A Realm Reborn and subsequent changes set the stage, and since then the game has quite happily pushed the idea that the end is nigh. Speaking as someone who was quite disappointed when similar changes just skipped from "everything's fine" to "after the end" in other games, I was curious to see what Final Fantasy XIV's implementation would look like. And while it's not quite over, I've seen enough to call it -- not perfectly, but very close.

Continue reading The Mog Log: It's the end of Eorzea as we know it

MassivelyThe Mog Log: It's the end of Eorzea as we know it originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-realm-rebornclosing-eventsclosureconsoleconsolesend-of-the-worldfantasyfeaturedffff14ffxivffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivin-game-eventsloremog-logopinionsquaresquare-enixsquenixstorylinethe-mog-logSat, 10 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: When the lights go off in Eorzea]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/27/the-mog-log-when-the-lights-go-off-in-eorzea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/27/the-mog-log-when-the-lights-go-off-in-eorzea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/27/the-mog-log-when-the-lights-go-off-in-eorzea/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
The current version of Final Fantasy XIV is redefining the term "lame duck." This is a duck that is so lame it can no longer move under its own power, relying instead on a specially trained squad of ducklings to occasionally move its head toward food. How it trained the ducklings, I don't know; that's not really the point. It's not a perfect analogy.

We're very close to a final character copy and a server shutdown, at which point... the servers get turned back on again, I guess. Naoki Yoshida quite openly stated that if there is a large enough chunk of players who wanted the servers back on, he will make that happen, even though nothing more would get saved. This raises a variety of questions -- chiefly, why anyone would want to keep playing the game with the explicit understanding that the whole game is getting rolled back before too much longer, but I'm not one of the ones who voted for the reactivation.

But as we enter the final phase -- which is basically just through early next week, if you're not keeping track -- it seems as if it's worth discussing the servers going down and then coming back on. Really, what else do we have to occupy our minds regarding Final Fantasy XIV right now?

Continue reading The Mog Log: When the lights go off in Eorzea

MassivelyThe Mog Log: When the lights go off in Eorzea originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Oct 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-realm-rebornarrconsoleconsolesdata-copydateseventsfantasyfeaturedffff14ffxivffxiv-version-2.0final-data-copyfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivmog-lognaoki-yoshidaopinionreal-world-eventsserver-shutdownsquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logSat, 27 Oct 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A look at Final Fantasy XIV's new character creator]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/23/a-look-at-final-fantasy-xivs-new-character-creator/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/23/a-look-at-final-fantasy-xivs-new-character-creator/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/23/a-look-at-final-fantasy-xivs-new-character-creator/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Thumbs up for chin scruff.
Final Fantasy XIV players already knew that the game's character creator is being overhauled when the game's relaunch goes live. Now, the development team at Square-Enix has finally given us a clearer picture of what to expect from the creator in A Realm Reborn with five new screens showing off some of the options within the new tool as well as the overall interface players will be experiencing. It's not the full picture, but it's enough for fans to start getting a feel for what's on the way.

Several of the options appear to be returning from the current version of the game, while still others are being added or expanded (no doubt some players will be happy to see that a character's bust size is now freely selectable, for example). The overall look is far more streamlined and straightforward compared to the current version. There's no hint of new hairstyles, but you can take a look at the full preview in the gallery just below.

[Source: Square-Enix press release]

Gallery: Final Fantasy XIV 2.0

MassivelyA look at Final Fantasy XIV's new character creator originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-realm-reborncharacter-creatorcharactersconsoleconsolesfantasyffff14ffxivffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivgalleriesgallerypreviewsrelaunchscreenshotscreenshotssquaresquare-enixTue, 23 Oct 2012 22:00:00 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[Final Fantasy XIV shows off A Realm Reborn on the PlayStation 3]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/10/final-fantasy-xiv-shows-off-a-realm-reborn-on-the-playstation-3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/10/final-fantasy-xiv-shows-off-a-realm-reborn-on-the-playstation-3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/10/final-fantasy-xiv-shows-off-a-realm-reborn-on-the-playstation-3/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Yeah, some of the impact is lost in header-image-sized shots.
When Final Fantasy XIV first launched, it was with the promise of a PlayStation 3 version in the near future. That was before the game underwent numerous staff changes, and after two years, it may have seemed to fans as if the game would never come to consoles. But the PlayStation 3 version is a reality, and the team at Square-Enix has released new screenshots of the game's UI and in-game graphics on the console version to prove it.

The overall look is a bit cleaner than the PC version of the UI that players have seen previously, although the graphics are a bit softer around the edges. But it's still recognizably the same game. This batch also includes some concept art for new role-focused chocobo barding, something that's sure to excite fans of the yellow birds. Take a look at the gallery for all of the screenshots and concept art.

[Source: Square-Enix press release]

Gallery: Final Fantasy XIV 2.0

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV shows off A Realm Reborn on the PlayStation 3 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-realm-rebornconcept-artconsoleconsole-versionconsolesfantasyffff14ffxivffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivgallerynew-screenshotsnew-versionplaystation-3previewps3screenshotscreenshotssquaresquare-enixWed, 10 Oct 2012 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Reacting to FFXIV's relaunch information]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/06/the-mog-log-reacting-to-ffxivs-relaunch-information/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/06/the-mog-log-reacting-to-ffxivs-relaunch-information/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/06/the-mog-log-reacting-to-ffxivs-relaunch-information/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
Not so long ago I was getting upset at a lack of hard information on Final Fantasy XIV's relaunch. (All right, I was getting upset at a lack of hard information on stuff to make people currently long gone care about the game, but that was tied into a lack of hard information.) Over the last two weeks, we've received a lot of hard information on the relaunch.

Well played, Naoki Yoshida. Well played.

Metacommentary aside, we've actually gotten some useful bits, chiefly in the form of a fully translated Letter from the Producer LIVE and an update on what's happening with items and money when the relaunch happens. There's a lot of information to hit there, so I'm just going to take it piece by piece and cover what I see as the highlights. I wouldn't say that this information really fixes some of the communication concerns I've had, but it certainly mollifies me for the moment.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Reacting to FFXIV's relaunch information

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Reacting to FFXIV's relaunch information originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Oct 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-realm-rebornchangesconsoleconsolescraftingfantasyfeaturedffff14ffxivffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivgatheringhousingmechanicsmog-logopinionpreviewssquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logupdatesSat, 06 Oct 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XIV explains changes to money and items]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/02/final-fantasy-xiv-explains-changes-to-money-and-items/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/02/final-fantasy-xiv-explains-changes-to-money-and-items/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/02/final-fantasy-xiv-explains-changes-to-money-and-items/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Hooray, my equipped items finally aren't clogging up my bags! It only took forever!
A lot of changes are coming to Final Fantasy XIV when the relaunch finally comes around. Changes to currency and item properties are among the less interesting of those changes, but they're certainly going to have a big impact on the game. A new update from the development team explains in depth what will be changing, what items will be removed, and what will happen to currency values.

The currency one is what's going to throw the largest number of players for a loop, as the game is reducing all money values to a tenth of what they once were. To reduce numbers, all money is getting the ones digit removed, meaning that players will be 10% as wealthy as they are now, but all vendor prices will be 10% of their current values. Net purchasing power should be identical.

There will also be a number of items removed from the game, altered, or otherwise changed with the new version. Players will lose several key items and ammunition, and other items will be bound to a player to prevent trading. Take a look at the full rundown for all the particulars on graphics, money, and other mechanical shifts to inventory management.

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV explains changes to money and items originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-realm-rebornconsoleconsolescurrencycurrency-valuesfantasyffff14ffxivffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivinventoryinventory-spaceitemitemsmoneysquaresquare-enixupdatesTue, 02 Oct 2012 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Two years of spinning wheels in Final Fantasy XIV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/29/the-mog-log-two-years-of-spinning-wheels-in-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/29/the-mog-log-two-years-of-spinning-wheels-in-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/29/the-mog-log-two-years-of-spinning-wheels-in-final-fantasy-xiv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
Has it really been two years since Final Fantasy XIV launched? My collector's edition box was purchase two years ago, and I wrote my last anniversary column a year ago, so I guess it must have been. And yet I still don't feel as if it's actually happened yet.

You'll note that last year's column was mostly about what happened as a result of the game's launch. That wasn't by accident. Launch led to a massive restructuring of the game's design team, and not too long after the one-year mark, the team announced that it was basically remaking the game from the ground up. That fact has dominated the past year, and it's impossible to overstate the importance that announcement has had for the Final Fantasy XIV community. Everything circles around the promise of 2.0 these days.

What has that meant for the actual years of the game's operation? Sadly, nothing good. The game has made huge strides, but we as players have been stuck in a nasty little loop.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Two years of spinning wheels in Final Fantasy XIV

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Two years of spinning wheels in Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-realm-rebornanniversaryconsoleconsolesdevelopmentfantasyfeaturedffff14ffxivffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivholding-patternmog-lognaoki-yoshidaopinionsquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logtwo-year-anniversarySat, 29 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Generating a wow factor in FFXIV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/22/the-mog-log-generating-a-wow-factor-in-ffxiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/22/the-mog-log-generating-a-wow-factor-in-ffxiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/22/the-mog-log-generating-a-wow-factor-in-ffxiv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
The more I see about Final Fantasy XIV's relaunch, the more anxious I get.

If there's any doubt remaining in the minds of others, let me be entirely transparent: I'm a big fan of Final Fantasy XIV. Wonders never cease, I know. To say that I'm looking forward to the new version is pretty much irrelevant. Of course I'm going to play it when everything changes over; I'm playing it now and would continue to do so even without the promise of rebirthing realms.

But while I was discussing the game over dinner with Ms. Lady a few nights ago, she said something that struck me as very relevant: "It's going to need to really be awesome to pull me back." And she has a point. I'm getting a bit anxious because the new version thus far seems to set the bar at a very respectable level that's still nowhere near as high as it needs to be, and I wonder whether it's even possible to hit the mark it needs.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Generating a wow factor in FFXIV

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Generating a wow factor in FFXIV originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 22 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-realm-rebornconsoleconsolesfantasyfeaturedffff14ffxivffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivgameplayimpressionsmog-logopinionrelaunchshock-factorsquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logtrailerswow-factorSat, 22 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New trailer released for Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/20/new-trailer-released-for-final-fantasy-xiv-a-realm-reborn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/20/new-trailer-released-for-final-fantasy-xiv-a-realm-reborn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/20/new-trailer-released-for-final-fantasy-xiv-a-realm-reborn/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Well, the time is actually in a few months. But let's not get nitpicky.
If you're looking forward to the release of Final Fantasy XIV's large-scale revamp, you're probably devouring every piece of information you can find about the game. So you'll be happy to know that just beyond the cut down yonder lies the latest trailer for the impending relaunch, featuring some recycled footage from previous trailers and some new shots of the game as a whole. Also no voiceovers, if you prefer your information in text form.

What we have seen are elements from the first trailers and some of the bigger group battles, including the Meteor spell. What we haven't seen is some of the in-game footage, including more group battles showing off combat and some of the new landscapes featured in the relaunch. There's also a good look at some of the new starter outfits in the game rather than in concept art. If that sounds like enough reason for you, go ahead and check out the full trailer just past the break.

Continue reading New trailer released for Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn

MassivelyNew trailer released for Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Sep 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-realm-rebornanalyzing-footageconsoleconsolesfantasyffff14ffxivffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivfootagenew-trailerssquaresquare-enixtrailertrailersvideovideosThu, 20 Sep 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: It's the countdown]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/15/the-mog-log-its-the-countdown/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/15/the-mog-log-its-the-countdown/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/15/the-mog-log-its-the-countdown/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
On November 1st, it's the end of the world as we know it. I'll let you know then how I'm feeling.

All right, the game will still be online for another week or so, but November 1st is the last day that any progress is getting saved. You can go ahead and ignore Final Fantasy XIV after that last server photograph, unless you had an urge to spend all of your gil on airship rides but couldn't bear the thought of being broke. Not that you'll even need to worry about that after September 29th if you're not currently subscribed, as that's the last chance for people to come back even if it's just for a short period of time.

It's hard to avoid looking forward to the end of the game as it stands, and the fact that we have a precise timeframe only exacerbates the problem. We've got 45 days until the ending hits, and while I've already talked about what to do with the time you have left, there are questions that need to be asked as we look at the numbers.

Continue reading The Mog Log: It's the countdown

MassivelyThe Mog Log: It's the countdown originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-realm-reborncalendarchangesconsoleconsolesfantasyfeaturedffff14ffxivffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivmog-logopinionpatchesschedulesquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logtimelineupdatesversion-updatesSat, 15 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XIV service fees to discontinue on September 29th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/11/final-fantasy-xiv-service-fees-to-discontinue-on-september-29th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/11/final-fantasy-xiv-service-fees-to-discontinue-on-september-29th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/11/final-fantasy-xiv-service-fees-to-discontinue-on-september-29th/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Nothing lasts forever. Sometimes it lasts for a year longer than you expect.
Final Fantasy XIV's current version is approaching its twilight to make way for version 2.0. The servers will go dark, the new version will be tested, and perhaps most importantly, the game will once again discontinue the subscription fee. A recent dispatch from the development team confirms that service fees will be discontinued on September 29th, at which point all billing will stop and cannot be started again until the game relaunches.

Players with currently active subscriptions will be able to continue playing from September 30th up until the game shuts down on November 11th. (The last snapshot of character progress will be on November 1st, however, so the last 10 days of play will not be transferred to the new version.) Players whose subscriptions are already cancelled or will be cancelled after September 30th will not be able to play for free during this period, and the last day to reactivate a subscription or redeem any other codes will be the 29th. Read through the full dispatch for all of the details if you're not sure where you'll be after the end of the month, and keep your eyes peeled for more information as the relaunch draws closer.

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV service fees to discontinue on September 29th originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>billingconsoleconsolesfantasyffff14ffxivffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivlaunchesnew-versionsrelaunchservice-feeshutdownsquaresquare-enixsubscription-feeupdatesTue, 11 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Getting up to speed on Final Fantasy XIV as it is]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/08/the-mog-log-getting-up-to-speed-on-final-fantasy-xiv-as-it-is/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/08/the-mog-log-getting-up-to-speed-on-final-fantasy-xiv-as-it-is/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/08/the-mog-log-getting-up-to-speed-on-final-fantasy-xiv-as-it-is/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
If you're just joining us after a rousing session of Final Fantasy XIV, this column may not exactly be for you because this week isn't about speculation; it's about discussing the many things that people don't like about Final Fantasy XIV which either no longer exist or are known to be removed in version 2.0.

This might seem like it's kind of silly, but honestly, I think there's a lot of stuff that people not actively following FFXIV don't know about. The game's biggest burst of visibility happened when it launched, just like every other game in the history of anything ever. While the game isn't for everyone now any more than it was a year ago, the development staff has taken pains to address gaps in the structure and improve the play experience for everyone.

So here's an article about just that. And while you might already know the content of the article, the next time you know someone worried about something in the game that's long since been excised, you can point him back here.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Getting up to speed on Final Fantasy XIV as it is

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Getting up to speed on Final Fantasy XIV as it is originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 08 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
If you read all of the columns I write in a given week, then I believe that you're a wholly fictional creature. But beyond that, you'll remember that my Wednesday column was all about the systems that City of Heroes could comfortably borrow from Guild Wars 2. You may also be expecting the same sort of column here. That is definitely not the case.

For starters, neither Final Fantasy XI nor Final Fantasy XIV is in a state where it can borrow anything. The former is set in its ways, and the latter has a major update around the corner that makes suggestions about mechanics pretty suspect. Furthermore, neither game is really into the whole "borrowing" routine, preferring instead to reverse-engineer a concept into some bizarre reinvention of the wheel that makes both games at once wonderful and incomprehensible.

No, today I'm looking not at mechanics but at lessons for Final Fantasy XIV. The game is going to be relaunching soon, and that's when Naoki Yoshida's core principles will really be put to the test. And as the development team puts the final touches on the game, I think there are a few things to be garnered from the design of Guild Wars 2 that might nudge development around a touch.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Lessons from Guild Wars 2 for Final Fantasy XIV

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Lessons from Guild Wars 2 for Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
If you needed any more reminders that the end is coming to this version of Final Fantasy XIV, Naoki Yoshida kindly provided several during his time at Gamescom 2012 this week, and they weren't subtle ones, either. He didn't come out and say, "Enjoy the game now because it might not be here next month," but there were definitely some implications. The shutdown before the resurrection is coming soon.

There's some worry inherent in that change. I've talked about that before. But there are also a lot of parts of the game that I am not going to miss in the slightest. There are changes coming that I welcome with open arms, elements of the game that will be gutted and removed that I will bid farewell without regret.

Some of these elements are things I've never liked. Some of them are actually systems I've been fond of in the past but I won't miss once they're gone. But all of them appear to be going the way of the dodo -- or at least they should -- and I'm not going to weep any tears when they shuffle off.

Continue reading The Mog Log: I won't miss you when you're gone

MassivelyThe Mog Log: I won't miss you when you're gone originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 Aug 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
Doom approaches Eorzea. It's nice to think that we as players won a temporary victory and a brief respite from that oncoming destruction, but let's face it: We all know from trailers and outside sources that it's just a momentary win. Cities will burn, lands will be razed, and the best we can hope for is that when we emerge once more, the world is a better place. Final Fantasy XIV is getting a lot of upgrades in version 2.0, but a whole lot of the game is going to be flushed away first.

How long do we have? The rest of the month, certainly. Most of September, probably. More than that? Dubious. So it's time to start making a bucket list for Eorzea-that-is before it becomes Eorzea-that-was, since we all know that a lot of things are changing by then. I'm not talking about finishing out the storyline missions; if you haven't already done that, then odds are you're not too concerned about doing so. I'm talking about the things you need to do in order to prepare for the end, stuff that you should start knuckling down and doing. Maybe some of it won't be necessary after all, but it's better to assume that the clock is running for you to take a last look.

Continue reading The Mog Log: A bucket list before 2.0

MassivelyThe Mog Log: A bucket list before 2.0 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 Aug 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advicebucket-listconsoleconsolesfantasyfeaturedffff14ffxivffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivgame-changemog-logobsolete-contentopinionsquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logversion-changeSat, 11 Aug 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Distinct linked games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/14/the-mog-log-distinct-linked-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/14/the-mog-log-distinct-linked-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/14/the-mog-log-distinct-linked-games/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

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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Black Mages like their explosions.
Final Fantasy XIV's major upgrade had been announced well before this year's E3, but this was its first public showing. While many of the major changes were only appreciable by long-term fans of the game, what was there was massive, ranging from major changes to the interface to several dazzling new areas. It was a lot to take in, and needless to say, we had some questions. Luckily for everyone, executive producer Naoki Yoshida was on hand to answer some of those questions and discuss the game's pending update.

Previous interviews with Yoshida have indicated that the version 2.0 update should begin alpha testing in late September, with a beta to follow not long after. He's also stressing the fact that version 2.0 is a major change for the game, almost an entirely new game in many respects, and while the live game has seen the fruits of a great deal of work there's still more to be done. As Yoshida put it, the game is an MMORPG, but it's an RPG before that, and a Final Fantasy game even before that.

Continue reading E3 2012: A chat with Final Fantasy XIV's Naoki Yoshida

MassivelyE3 2012: A chat with Final Fantasy XIV's Naoki Yoshida originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 09 Jun 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
When it became clear that we weren't getting our 2.0 trailer at this year's E3, I sort of assumed that Final Fantasy XIV fans would have to be content without much new information. As usual, Naoki Yoshida proved me wrong in the most excellent way possible. So while we've only seen the tip of the iceberg about what's coming into the game, that tip is providing quite a bit of fascinating information all on its own.

My first thoughts on seeing the screenshots for the second version was that it might as well be an entirely different game. It's familiar elements ported into an altogether unfamiliar setting. I've been looking forward to it before, but I think this was the first time that I truly believed that this was going to happen and that it would be awesome. So if you've been following along with the game's E3 coverage across the web -- and I know you have -- let's just dive into reaction.

Continue reading The Mog Log: What we saw of FFXIV at E3

MassivelyThe Mog Log: What we saw of FFXIV at E3 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 09 Jun 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jump.
Final Fantasy XIV is out in force at E3 this year, showing off all of the changes coming to the game with the Version 2.0 launch. Producer Naoki Yoshida recently sat down with popular Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu to discuss some of the changes en route, and a translation of that interview is now available. Yoshida confirms that the game is on schedule, with full promotions starting in August and an alpha test beginning in late September.

As Yoshida sees it, the game needs to have a stronger connection to previous titles in the franchise. Fans can expect to see familiar elements like the Crystal Tower (Final Fantasy III), Magitek Armor (Final Fantasy VI), and areas reminiscent of Ivalice (Final Fantasy XII/Tactics). The new client is also meant to be highly customizable and capable of running on low-end machine or high-end machines as needed. Take a look at the full translation for more teases on what's around the corner for Eorzea.

[Thanks to Ring for the tip!]

MassivelyNaoki Yoshida talks about Final Fantasy XIV with Famitsu originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ABOUT TIME!
E3 2012 is going strong, and you know what that means: screenshots for everyone! The folks at Square-Enix are jumping aboard the screenshot bandwagon with a bundle of new screens and artwork from Final Fantasy XIV's upcoming version 2.0 update. The new gallery of goodies shows off a number of the improvements coming to FFXIV in 2.0, such as the sleek new UI, fancy new character creation, improved real-time shading, and most importantly, the ability to frakkin' jump.

Jokes about basic athletic ability aside, the new screens are delightfully shiny and should be a welcome sight both to current players and those waiting for 2.0 to get back into the game. The concept art also hints at a number of new vistas, monsters, and equipment pieces coming in 2.0 as well, so check out the full gallery below for all of the delicious new
eye-candy.

[Source: Square-Enix press release -- special thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Gallery: Final Fantasy XIV 2.0


Massively's on the ground in Los Angeles during the week of June 4-7, bringing you all the best news from E3 2012. We're covering everything from PlanetSide 2 and SWTOR and ArcheAge to RIFT's and LotRO's upcoming expansions, so stay tuned!

MassivelyE3 2012: Final Fantasy XIV releases new version 2.0 screens and art originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.0conconsoleconsolesconventionconvention-coveragee3e3-2012electronic-entertainment-expoexpofantasyffff14ffxivffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivgalleriesgalleryscreenshotscreenshotssquaresquare-enixversion-2.0Tue, 05 Jun 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[FFXIV version 2.0 trailer won't be at E3 after all]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/28/ffxiv-version-2-0-trailer-wont-be-at-e3-after-all/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/28/ffxiv-version-2-0-trailer-wont-be-at-e3-after-all/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/28/ffxiv-version-2-0-trailer-wont-be-at-e3-after-all/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Final Fantasy XIV
Just as Square-Enix is on the verge of releasing a "flood" of new information about Final Fantasy XIV's much-anticipated version 2.0, the studio says that the players' most wanted video will be missing from next month's major convention. That's right: The FFXIV 2.0 trailer will not be shown at E3 after all.

Square-Enix's Naoki Yoshida wrote of the trailer's completion in a recent producer's letter but shared that the company is withholding it from E3 in order to package it with a larger marketing campaign. "During our most recent global PR planning meeting, we came to the conclusion that the most effective way to introduce version 2.0 to the world would be with a flood of new material rather than just a trickle," Yoshida said.

Final Fantasy XIV 2.0's public debut is still scheduled for E3, however. The trailer, along with the info-flood, is slated to be revealed this August. Version 2.0 will be a relaunch of the title alongside the PlayStation 3 release. It will feature overhauled graphics, server architecture, multiple in-game improvements, and additional racial/gender choices.

MassivelyFFXIV version 2.0 trailer won't be at E3 after all originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.0consoleconsolese3e3-2012fantasyffff14ffxivffxiv-2.0ffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivNaoki-Yoshidano-trailer-for-youproducers-lettersquaresquare-enixtrailerversion-2.0Mon, 28 May 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: A look forward to Final Fantasy XIV pets]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/the-mog-log-a-look-forward-to-final-fantasy-xiv-pets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/the-mog-log-a-look-forward-to-final-fantasy-xiv-pets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/the-mog-log-a-look-forward-to-final-fantasy-xiv-pets/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
Pet classes and I have an odd relationship. I don't generally like them, but I like having them there, and when they're done right, I'm very fond of the option. Final Fantasy XIV currently has a grand total of none of them; we have not even a summoner or beastmaster to call our own, but we've been told that this is all changing in version 2.0. And with November just half a year away, it's time to start thinking about what form these pets are going to take.

Of course, this isn't virgin territory for the game series. Final Fantasy XI featured four different pet classes, which have had differing levels of success over time. And even though Final Fantasy XIV isn't meant to be Final Fantasy XI in a new skin, the game can certainly take some inspiration from its predecessor even while forging a unique legacy. And hey, we've got at least three of the four pets from the previous game in Eorzea at this point. So let's talk about the past set of pets, where we are in the present game, and how those systems might make it into the main game.

Continue reading The Mog Log: A look forward to Final Fantasy XIV pets

MassivelyThe Mog Log: A look forward to Final Fantasy XIV pets originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You'd think a character in a Final Fantasy game would be used to strange glowing stuff by now.
This Friday will see the release of Final Fantasy XIV's latest and greatest patch, 1.21. It's bringing the long-awaited Job system, several updates to the game's consumable items, new quests, new options for mounts, and the usual plethora of other improvements. Fans of the game have been eagerly watching the updates, keeping an eye on what's around the bend, and getting ready to enjoy everything the new patch has to offer.

But even 1.21 isn't the big end goal of the game; that's the 2.0 relaunch happening in November. We had a chance to ask a few questions of the game's producer, Naoki Yoshida, regarding both the updates coming with patch 1.21 and Final Fantasy XIV's ongoing road of improvement as version 2.0 draws nearer. So what can players look forward to when they download the patch? What's coming before the relaunch? And how fashionable will your new armor make your chocobo look?

Continue reading Final Fantasy XIV's Naoki Yoshida talks patch 1.21 and the future

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV's Naoki Yoshida talks patch 1.21 and the future originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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