Forum Settings
       
Reply To Thread

When is it safe to buy FFXIVFollow

#1 Sep 10 2013 at 5:38 PM Rating: Decent
I haven't bought FFXIV yet and wanted to get an idea from active players when it is safe to buy the game.

I played 1.0 beta and was horrified so I didn't buy 1.0 but have heard such good things about the reboot and have been longing for a true final fantasy with jobs and cool lore (scowling at you FFXIII...) that also follows in the footsteps of FFXI.

It seems most stores are out of stock and the digital download is still on hold from square. I suppose stores aren't restocking because of the server issues. If I can get my hands on a copy will I even be able to play? How much longer should I wait?
#2 Sep 10 2013 at 5:45 PM Rating: Good
*
220 posts
If you can get a copy yes you can play, depends on the server, just go to a low population server.

As far as how much you'd enjoy it being an ex FFXI player, like myself, I definitely enjoy it, but you will miss many things from FFXI since difficulty has been eased and it has become more "mainstream" but not having a full time job and such it's not that bad really and understandable.

Edited, Sep 10th 2013 7:47pm by SyniteonReflux
#3 Sep 10 2013 at 5:51 PM Rating: Decent
*
110 posts
stonemanBL wrote:
I haven't bought FFXIV yet and wanted to get an idea from active players when it is safe to buy the game.

I played 1.0 beta and was horrified so I didn't buy 1.0 but have heard such good things about the reboot and have been longing for a true final fantasy with jobs and cool lore (scowling at you FFXIII...) that also follows in the footsteps of FFXI.

It seems most stores are out of stock and the digital download is still on hold from square. I suppose stores aren't restocking because of the server issues. If I can get my hands on a copy will I even be able to play? How much longer should I wait?



I haven't bought it myself either, because I too am waiting for the craziness to die down. But, I have seen a few copies at the Gamestop and Best Buy here(Indianapolis, IN). But, I think I will go ahead and wait a month or so...
#4 Sep 10 2013 at 6:26 PM Rating: Good
Scholar
**
525 posts
If they add servers and resume digital downloads tomorrow, it's probably safe to join.
____________________________
I used to care about my sig. Then I got mocked and butt-hurt. I shall commence with the self-pity now.
#5 Sep 10 2013 at 6:53 PM Rating: Decent
Thanks for the info guys. Can you answer a burning question before I buy?

My biggest gripe with 1.0 was how bland and boring the world was. There was essentially no small towns, no NPC's looking like they are doing anything, big open fields with floaty crystals, copy and pasted tile sets. Has square really taken the time to re-do the world? The world design was my favourite part of Guild Wars 2. It was amazing how interesting the world was with awesome features everywhere and then you go underwater and its an entirely different world. Truly amazing... unfortunately the game mechanics of GW2 are iffy and the writing/voice acting makes my ears bleed. Any thoughts on this guys?
#6 Sep 10 2013 at 7:04 PM Rating: Excellent
*
131 posts
stonemanBL wrote:
Thanks for the info guys. Can you answer a burning question before I buy?

My biggest gripe with 1.0 was how bland and boring the world was. There was essentially no small towns, no NPC's looking like they are doing anything, big open fields with floaty crystals, copy and pasted tile sets. Has square really taken the time to re-do the world? The world design was my favourite part of Guild Wars 2. It was amazing how interesting the world was with awesome features everywhere and then you go underwater and its an entirely different world. Truly amazing... unfortunately the game mechanics of GW2 are iffy and the writing/voice acting makes my ears bleed. Any thoughts on this guys?


Oh yeah man, definitely. It's a really brilliant, beautiful, and fairly interactive world with *tons* of quest-giver NPCs (granted, a lot of them are boring fetch quests, but....). It looks great, it's definitely not a lot of copypasta tilesets. There're some dramatic distinctions even within regions (compare Bronze Lake to the LN areas just outside of town for example) and a whole lot of cool scenery in general.

Voice acting's pretty good overall, but the scenes with spoken dialogue are *extremely* minimal. You'll very very rarely hear spoken dialogue, instead it's mostly on-screen. The writing is fine, and a few of the voice actors are actually pretty cool. I find the Merlwyb character design and voice acting in particular to be pretty awesome. The number of characters with voice actors is also pretty slim though. I don't think I've heard a single mithra or galka (ok, fine, miqote or rogaedyn) character speak yet in game.

The scenery is also, at this point, pretty accessible. With people having reached cap within a matter of weeks, there's definitely an opportunity to go everywhere and see everything soon after you pick it up. I'm not entirely happy with this fact, I wish it were a bit better paced, though I have a strong suspicion that new content will be release on a fairly regular basis during the first year or so so as to keep things moving and keep players engaged. The challenge level on a lot of the later (level 30 and beyond) boss fights is spot on for the party size you're told to use, and some of them are pretty exciting. Getting to level 30 is also very accessible, with the boss fight difficulty slowly ramping up and requiring more experience, skill, strategy, and teamwork.

Overall, it's worth the investment and I've had a lot of fun with it.
#7 Sep 10 2013 at 7:08 PM Rating: Good
*
220 posts
Ya the landscape has way more features definitely, I came to many camps and was surprised at the extra detail, take Camp Drybone for example, it used to be like every other Aetheryte Crystal, but now it's in a big hole in the ground with circular ramps around the sides, and a few guard stations and shops at the bottom etc etc.

Or half a Gridania zone is separated by a huge cliff you can only get up by running up a giant tree root, that has some staircases built around it, then when you get to the top and go a bit further you're greeted with this: http://postimg.org/image/5djolq9aj/ - yes that's a nice lake on top of the mountain with a stunning vista, hope you have a good PC and you're not playing on PS3 :)

Oh and did I mention Costa Del Sol? lovely place on the beach there!



Edited, Sep 10th 2013 9:08pm by SyniteonReflux
#8 Sep 10 2013 at 8:06 PM Rating: Good
***
1,948 posts
The scenery has changed very dramatically, every zones are quite unique with lots of landmarks.

All outposts are now huge fortresses.

Garleans has built 5 huge fortresses all over Eorzea

For example Gridania:
Central Shroud is quite open with lots of river
South Shroud has quite a lot of caverns and swamps, with Adamantoises towering over the very big swamplands.
West Shroud is a whole lot more rocky as it's getting closer to Coerthas (high up on the mountains)
East Shroud is very spooky around the Sylphland

Ul'dahn:
Central Thanalan is quite green compared to previously, with lakes and swamps and lots of railway. Blackbrush is now a big railway station
East Thanalan is similar to how it was but further to the Burning Wall to the far east, scenery has drastically changed due to a fragment of Dalamud
South Thanalan is a vast desert, with Sunken Temple of Qarn, Little Ala Mhigo settlement and Little Spring which is a settlement for U' tribe of Sunseekers Miqo'te (incidentally, a lot of people come there to perv on bathing Miqo'te, including Pugilist guildmaster Hammock Holyfist). Did I mention the Sandworms that frequently attack Little Spring?
Western Thanalan is also more green, due to it's closer to the sea with Vasper Bay.
Northern Thanalan is more industrialised due to Cereleum Processing Plant

Coerthas is now Skyrim (cold, harsh highland, lots of mountain), with Dragons.
#9 Sep 10 2013 at 9:13 PM Rating: Good
**
491 posts
Sorry, I couldn't help chuckling at the title. It sounds like someone threatened you and you're asking when it will blow over. As for your issues, consider them alleviated. ARR has redefined itself and almost nothing from the original exists, especially down to the cookie cutter landscape.
#10 Sep 10 2013 at 10:29 PM Rating: Good
*
150 posts
If your worried about the quality of the game due to 1.0 sucking...its completely different and good. Your worry shouldn't be with the actual game.

I think we find out the 12th when they do maintenance if they will resume digital sales.

The primary issue with this game was its first week and due to everyone wanting to play. 53 packed servers speak for themselves.

If you want to avoid potential login issues, you might be best to wait a few days after sales go up. My hope is that since its taking so long to resume sales that when sales do open up they wont be caught off guard again.

I think you would be safe buying the game digitally when sales go back up, but again if you are concerned waiting a day or two after would be best.

If you can find a physical copy you could jump in right now, only a decent amount of their servers are locked to any new characters...though a few are still open.

Im not sure how many people are left that don't have the game and want it...im not sure SE knows either. Depending on how many more want it could mean the difference between new severs and sales with not a single issue to a repeat of the first week login issues.

Again I would be shocked if that many more want it, and would be shocked if SE wasn't prepared this time. Safest bet again, is to wait a few days and see if the servers are locked up again.
#11 Sep 11 2013 at 10:53 AM Rating: Decent
stonemanBL wrote:
I haven't bought FFXIV yet and wanted to get an idea from active players when it is safe to buy the game.

I played 1.0 beta and was horrified so I didn't buy 1.0 but have heard such good things about the reboot and have been longing for a true final fantasy with jobs and cool lore (scowling at you FFXIII...) that also follows in the footsteps of FFXI.

It seems most stores are out of stock and the digital download is still on hold from square. I suppose stores aren't restocking because of the server issues. If I can get my hands on a copy will I even be able to play? How much longer should I wait?



I went through this debate myself like a week ago or so. As of today, I have no trouble getting onto a server. Sometimes there's a 1 minute wait. If you can get the game now, I think you're good to go.
#12 Sep 11 2013 at 1:44 PM Rating: Good
**
425 posts
It's safe to buy the game now. If it's any consolation, I just ordered my PC copy from amazon, and I play on the PS3 version. This signifies that the game earned my subscription when the trail is over. And it is NOTHING like 1.0.

So come hop on in.
Reply To Thread

Colors Smileys Quote OriginalQuote Checked Help

 

Recent Visitors: 198 All times are in CST
Anonymous Guests (198)