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No Graphics Upgrade for 360 FFXI

Posted by Zonk on from the isn't-it-about-time-for-one? dept.

GamesIndustry.biz has the word that Final Fantasy XI, as it will appear on the Xbox 360 console, will be a straight port of the title with no proposed graphics upgrade. From the article: "The company also revealed that Final Fantasy XI was originally in development for the current generation Xbox console, but that an agreement couldn't be reached with Microsoft that would allow Square Enix to implement its custom PlayOnline online gaming service on Xbox Live. The restrictions on this have been eased significantly with the Xbox 360, the firm's spokespeople explained, and players will log into PlayOnline in order to play FFXI, not the Live service."

9 of 44 comments (clear)

  1. Bad precedent by llevity · · Score: 3, Interesting
    The restrictions on this have been eased significantly with the Xbox 360, the firm's spokespeople explained, and players will log into PlayOnline in order to play FFXI, not the Live service."

    One of the great things about the Xbox's online strategy is its uniform. I can be playing Game A, and if a buddy logs on to Game B, he can join my game, or invite me over to his game.

    If they start a precedent where logging into Live isn't necessary for online play, then online could quickly decentralize and lose one of its best features.

    I like the flexibility, but to me, a better solution would be to integrate Playonline with Live Aware features.

    1. Re:Bad precedent by mconeone · · Score: 2, Interesting

      "The restrictions on this have been eased significantly with the Xbox 360, the firm's spokespeople explained, and players will log into PlayOnline in order to play FFXI, not the Live service."

      This may or may not be 100% true. The new xbox live service has a free membership, and will allow publishers to charge for playing their games online. This is different from the old xbox live, as you had to pay just to be able to log in. While they might completely circumvent this, my guess is that 360 users will have to use xbox live to be able to log into PlayOnline.

    2. Re:Bad precedent by hunterx11 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      EA combined their own servers with Live aware features. They were the first to be allowed to do so, and frankly the experience is markedly worse than any Live games which I've played.

      --
      English is easier said than done.
  2. Other PC MMORPGs on their way? by ZephyrXero · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I wonder if we'll see other PC MMORPGs coming to the 360, like World of Warcraft or Guild Wars? I'm sure EQ2 will be coming out on PS3 at some point too...

    --
    "A truly wise man realizes he knows nothing."
  3. Article not entirely accurate. by falcon5768 · · Score: 3, Informative
    It wont be a graphical update of the PC version, but it WILL be graphically better than the PS2 version. Realistically though anyone who buys a MMORPG or any game based on graphics alone is a moron.

    And the reason behind it is that they do not want to lose the PS2 fanbase which while smaller in America is well over 50% of the Japanese users.

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    "Slashdot, where telling the truth is overrated but lying is insightful."

    1. Re:Article not entirely accurate. by djdanlib · · Score: 3, Informative

      The ideal 3D resolution seems to be 512x512 at 800x600 2D resolution. I think the textures were designed at that resolution, because the geometry and textures seem to line up very well at those settings. I've got a 22" monitor that I usually run at 1600x1200 and I can tell you that FFXI does look best at 512x512. I've played it at 2048x1536... not a happy experience for the eyes.

      Setting up MIP mapping at above-normal settings (like 4 or 5) in the registry and forcing anisotropic filtering in your display driver both help it look better. Also, sitting more than a foot away from your monitor helps immensely.

      For more details... check out my old Allakhazam post on all the registry settings. AFAIK, I am the only one to have ever gone into that much detail.

    2. Re:Article not entirely accurate. by falcon5768 · · Score: 2, Insightful
      Well the windower thing will never be fixed they would rather a few people not play then lay the relm open to easily be botted. As it is now they constantly update the PC client to stop windower from working since its against the TOS.

      honestly I continue to not see the point in it, maybe its because I grew up in a time where you couldnt have other programs running on a PC and play a graphics heavy game, but I see no point in leaving a chat program or my email when I am playing a game.

      --

      "Slashdot, where telling the truth is overrated but lying is insightful."

  4. Some graphical upgrade.. by hollismb · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I would think that being 720p (which is a requirement on XBOX 360) would at the very least count for something, at least over the PS2 and canned XBOX version. Especially when you consider that it probably would've been ported from the PC version, and downgraded somewhat to run on the original XBOX. Heck, that new Tony Hawk game isn't getting much of a graphical upgrade over the PS2 and XBOX versions either. Looks about the same to me. That's the problem with ports sometimes. No biggie.

  5. Re:No, it isn't. by ZephyrXero · · Score: 2, Informative

    I think the GP was trying to make a joke...

    --
    "A truly wise man realizes he knows nothing."