FFXIVstuff, aka monster hunter XIV Options

[Crushinator]

All depends on if I get a new computer up by then. If I don't then I'll probably have to pull an AC9breaker and wait till the PS3 release next march :(

[Scan_Man]

The changes have actually made this game enjoyable in my opinion. It went from Superman 64 terrible, because controls and UI were that bad, to the level of any decent MMO you could spend hours and hours on. They listened to the ton of US players' bitching on the forums, and did not cave into the WoW haters and FFXI fanboys. It is a sign this game might actually end up being excellent in the coming months and years.

Though, I am not so sure yet I will pick the game up at launch. I'm still very much into World of Warcraft raiding, and there is still quite a lot of content left that my guild and I have not completed. I can see I'm not going to get a break from it before the Cataclysm expansion release. Also, DC Universe Online comes out in November which looks freakin fantastic in my opinion. But definitely, I have renewed interest in this game.


As far as computer goes. It is strange that FFXIV is a DirectX 9 game, but requires a DirectX 11 video card to run well. If you are not getting a constant frame rate of 30+ the mouse pointer is very laggy, and not usable (I'm not so sure if Square is going offer hardware mouse because the software mouse is to prevent bots or something). And you kind of need the mouse pointer to do things. I recommend the Geforce 460 GTX.


Check out this nice buying guide for anyone interested in building a new rig. http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/2003/1280087473915.png

This post has been edited by Scan_Man: Aug 11 2010, 03:25 PM

[tanshin]

I didn't want to say anything at the risk of drama, but this is why I kept secretly eye-rolling every time you posted complaining about stuff like controls in the BETA, and saying "I'm not gonna play this game because of so and so". There are many, many long, dramatic threads about these very kinds of comments in the beta forums. Did you think you were playing the finished product for free or something? Or that they wouldn't fix anything on the beta that people were concerned about? Then why have a beta?

I'm not trying to rage out, it's just you keep posting these walls of text that seem like wow-biased fully fleshed out game reviews full of invisible expectations, when they game isn't even finished yet. We could post about any game and say "this is not WoW, it can't do what WoW does". Just let it be it's own thing, ya know? Not every game has to be "the next WoW" for people to liked it, nor does it need the 9 gajillion players (or whatever WoW has) to be successful.

That aside, the more objective info you posted is much appreciated and very helpful, so thanks for that.

[Alisha]

i'll be waiting for ps3 release. but at least phantasy tsar zero is keeping me busy for now.


gimme some dish on armor. the bandana is a nice ode to your old fone. i HATED rainbow armor in FFXI. to the point that sometimes i wore inferior armor so i wasnt wearing like orange and green and grey shit.

[Crushinator]

gimme some dish on armor. the bandana is a nice ode to your old fone. i HATED rainbow armor in FFXI. to the point that sometimes i wore inferior armor so i wasnt wearing like orange and green and grey shit.

[AC9breaker]

In any event. I've already pre purchased my copy of 14, collectors edition of course. At the same time though, I'm also eyeballing Guild Wars 2. That recent trailer they unveiled looks all kinds of jawsome.

[Scan_Man]

WALL OF TEXT!

Response to Tanshin:

I am just giving my opinion. The content of opinions are up for discussion, but basically should be taken for a grain of salt. Nothing to "emo" over. If you have something to say about the game (as in gameplay or other musings), or disagree, say it. Talk about the actual game. I asked you questions, so I could possibly adjust my opinions based on someone who had first hand information. You declined to answer, which is your right.

However, I'm here to talk about this game, in its current form, based on information I am able to gather. What I think of it too. Retorting with that it is just a "Beta" talk, does not lead to any kind of discussion of this game. I understand that it is a Beta. Developers have an NDA because they don't want people talking about an unfinished product. However, there are people out there that are interested in knowing how the game is coming along, me included. They may not have beta access, or they may but not have the time to play. That is my audience, if it is not clear to you. Most of all, I love talking about game mechanics, and what that means for users, in detail. It is a passion of mine. I understand most people don't care, or it is beyond their scope of what they wish to discuss. But it is something, I like to talk about regardless if no one is listening. That is what passion is all about.

Sounds like you trying to start drama because saying things like "secretly rolling my eye" is dismissive passive aggressiveness directed towards me. So, if I got your engines revved up, I say good! I don't care if you have a problem with what I say, but I will not let that kind of hostility directed towards me slide.

You said you tried to hold off not saying anything because to not start drama. Why wait until now? If I were to take what you said literally, then your choice of words have failed that stated purposes. Again, why now? What makes now so safe for you to come out of your hole?

Saying stuff like "secretly rolling my eye" is a dick move. And you know it. Which why you put your "Did not want to start drama" disclaimer, to try and soften it. Stop. I am not fooled by such. You basically told me how your intentions are going to come off.

Not everyone emotionally attaches to things he or she says, or what other say, like you may do (I assume). For me, I expect disagreement, welcome it, and respect it. I would never dismiss someone because their point of view differs from mine because that stifles discussion. But, make no mistake I am going to defend my position.




Me editorializing in response to Tanshin's points:

Let me clarify something. Most of the things I write here are lifted from articles I wrote on my blog, or other forums, sometimes copied and pasted. That is why they are long (sometimes lifted from two or more entries). Also, I try to use enough detail in my writing to where I think there won't be a misunderstanding, or ways to misconstrue what I wrote.

People that follow my blog, or twitter, are interested in my current opinions on gaming, MMOs including WoW and FFXIV. I posted my thoughts here on FFXIV versus WoW because it is a FFXIV thread. I don't like some of the decision Square is making in relation to this game, which for me helps my buying decision.

I also assume, that most people here are not into WoW. Thus, know very little comparatively about the current state of the game. Its successes, problems, and failures. Competition has an influence. And WoW is FFXIV's competition. So it difficult to talk about one without mentioning the other because obviously FFXIV is being influenced by WoW. Believe me, I have more things to say on this, that I am saving because I writing a MMO buying guide.


A game forum is for discussing games and opinion of games. Plus, ultimately I am the one that has to make a decision to buy this game. And for FFXIV, my decision is going to be based on if it is worth my time over WoW. I have the right to have expectations because it is my money and time. I choose to determine how I am going spend those. I can only make a decision based on the information at hand. I am not a "wait and see" person. If I took a "wait and see" approach, then that means I am already making a mental investment to hold out for that thing to get better; which may not happen. Thus, I will miss out on potential better opportunities or mental investments available to me in the now that have a higher chance of working out. Not saying my way is right for everyone, but works for me. I am a "think about it today, forget about it tomorrow if it no longer holds my interest" type of person. So agree to disagree here.

And no one is saying a game should be the next WoW. But, there is no reason why a game should not strive to be the next step in MMOs like WoW was to Everquest. Why should I invest time and money in something if I have something that is better? Not only that, but there is a cheaper solution for what is essentially the same type of gameplay at its very core.

WoW has more content, and more features per dollar than FFXIV. That is a fact. Not to FFXIV's fault for being new. But, my beef is the pricing for FFXIV in regards with this. FFXIV is $12 for one character. I understand the arguments in favor of this. But those arguments ignore that people may want to play a different race, or have an alt on another server. This pricing point alienates a large portion of the MMO player base. The price is very steep to ask for someone coming from other MMOs such as WoW. And that is the point of view I am representing here. FFXIV borrows from WoW in a lot of places, so I think comparisons are fair. WoW rips from a lot of other games too.

I do have problems with WoW. A lot of them even. I still think it is the best MMO option out there. I give credit where credit is due. I extend this to FFXIV, or any MMO out there.

Like I said in another post, if you are coming from FFXI, or not currently playing any MMOs, this point of view does not pertain to you. Nor should it.

On a side note, discussion on this forum is abysmal these days. I know you guys save it for the podcast, which is excellent. But it would be nice to have a forum discussion once in a while like back in the old days. Lastly, I tend to play devil's advocate to get some discussion going; not just here, but on my blog. I get some of you may not be bothered with having other responsibilities to attend to.

[Vitamin D]

[Scan_Man]

In any event. I've already pre purchased my copy of 14, collectors edition of course. At the same time though, I'm also eyeballing Guild Wars 2. That recent trailer they unveiled looks all kinds of jawsome.

Yes! Guild Wars 2 is another game on my radar. I loved the first one though expansions not that great in my opinion. But, I played it casually, so maybe I would enjoyed it more had I had devoted more time to see more of the content.

I know I'm seriously thinking about renewing my Aion sub for Aion 2.0. When Aion was launched it had none of the features they promised back when the game was just concept art. Then a month after release they showed the Aion 2.0 trailers with all the promised features. I was like wow! Why was this not ready? Here we are almost a year later.

Also, Torchlight 2 was announced. Going to have the much needed multiplayer.

So there is a lot of options out there. I say pick your poison. FFXIV is stuck in the middle between a lot of other games right now, I'm torn.

This post has been edited by Scan_Man: Aug 12 2010, 05:59 PM

[tanshin]

In any event. I've already pre purchased my copy of 14, collectors edition of course. At the same time though, I'm also eyeballing Guild Wars 2. That recent trailer they unveiled looks all kinds of jawsome.

Ok, if you're doing it, I'm doing it. I'll get the CE, you twisted my arm.

[Alisha]

gimme some dish on armor. the bandana is a nice ode to your old fone. i HATED rainbow armor in FFXI. to the point that sometimes i wore inferior armor so i wasnt wearing like orange and green and grey shit.

i was talking to scan crush my love!

[Scan_Man]

gimme some dish on armor. the bandana is a nice ode to your old fone. i HATED rainbow armor in FFXI. to the point that sometimes i wore inferior armor so i wasnt wearing like orange and green and grey shit.

i was talking to scan crush my love!

Yeah I will try to take more pics. It is annoying because there is no screen cap feature right now. So I am using printscreen and MS Paint. Unless someone can recommend a free screen cap software, that does not take low res pics. It would not be a problem if alt+tabing did not crash the game like it did in FFXI.

The armor variety for low level is kind of impressive compared to other MMOs. And does not look bad if you are mismatched.

Edit: By the way Alisha was referring to my fonewearl on PSO. She had a bandanna.

This post has been edited by Scan_Man: Aug 12 2010, 06:47 PM

[HC82]

Wall of text for the win. I like to read walls of text, assuming it has value. The AT boards don't have much discussion, actually, so it's not always a bad thing to express an opinion.


Also, FFXIV will sucks balls because anything FF that's online has sucked, will suck and can only suck worse then the suckiest of the sucky suck sucks. So, my final conclusion from not playing the beta and being a blind FF fanboy is that the game has to suck because my opinion dictates absolute truth of reality, thus everyone must be offended... right now!

By the way WoW sucks too. I stopped playing it because its a waste of time and money. I can do something meaningful like educate myself and my mind. I'll be damned if I don't get the next rare loot drop that becomes useless in 6 months, while my real world body wastes away as I drink mountain dew and eat doritos.

I mean really. Why do people play video games anyway? It's a huge waste of time and anyone who plays video games is a total loser. Go do something constructive, like get a Doctorate Degree in real world awesomeness.

For that matter, don't go to the movie, or watch TV, surf the internet or read a book for entertainment. It's all useless, because we're soulless fleshbots.

With that said, MMORPGs suck, as do video games, life in general, and everyone who reads this. So, on that note, I'm going to take out my Super Mario Galaxy 2 game from it's shrink wrap and pre order FFXIV, since I just bought a new PC for for gaming.

Cheers.

[Scan_Man]

LOL! Bravo HC!

[Afroforce]

Look, I haven't played a game with most of you in years but if you have me on facebook, which, I'm sure only Scan does. Tell me what server you guys are planning on getting on. I already have a few competent friends starting FF14 with me.

Also, hi!

/lurk