| Final Fantasy XIV | |
|---|---|
North American box art |
|
| Developer(s) | Square Enix Product Development Division 3[1] |
| Publisher(s) | Square Enix |
| Director(s) | Naoki Yoshida[2] |
| Producer(s) | Naoki Yoshida[2] |
| Designer(s) | Nobuaki Komoto[2] Akihiko Matsui[2] |
| Artist(s) | Hiroshi Takai[2] Akihiko Yoshida[2] |
| Writer(s) | Yaeko Sato |
| Composer(s) | Nobuo Uematsu |
| Series | Final Fantasy |
| Engine | Crystal Tools (Version 1.0+) Game-specific engine (Version 2.0)[3] |
| Version | 1.20 (December 15, 2011)[4] |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3[5] |
| Release date(s) | Microsoft Windows Collector's Edition September 22, 2010 Standard Edition September 30, 2010 PlayStation 3 Q1 2013[3] |
| Genre(s) | Massively multiplayer online role-playing game |
| Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | |
| Media/distribution | Optical disc |
Final Fantasy XIV (ファイナルファンタジーXIV Fainaru Fantajī Fōtīn), also known as Final Fantasy XIV Online, is the fourteenth installment in the Final Fantasy series. It was released in September 2010[6] for Microsoft Windows, with a PlayStation 3 port in development.[7] The game is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game and is developed and published by Square Enix. The game takes place in a land called Hydaelyn, mainly in a region named Eorzea, which has a contemporaneously aesthetic blend of science fiction and classic fantasy elements.[1][8] The game was released in Japanese, English, French, and German.[9]
The cheaper "Standard Edition" Windows version of the game was released on September 30, 2010, while the "Collector's Edition" was released about one week earlier, and servers officially launched at 18:00 PDT on September 22, 2010. The PlayStation 3 version was originally planned to be released in March 2011,[6][10] but owing to the game's initial reception, subsequent staff changes, and a desire not to "release a simple conversion of the Windows version in its current state, but rather an update that includes all the improvements", the release has been delayed.[2] The game has shipped 630,000 copies worldwide as of November 4, 2010. [11]
The game was released to generally negative reception. Due to criticisms of the game's quality, Square Enix has reshuffled the development team and completely overhauled the gameplay since launch.[2] On October 14th, 2011, Square Enix announced their intention to relaunch the game as Final Fantasy XIV 2.0. The relaunch, currently slated for late 2012-early 2013, will incorporate a new graphics engine, new server and data structures, revamped interface, redesigned maps, more gameplay variations and content, and new playable sexes of certain races (male Miqo'te and female Roegadyn). Final Fantasy XIV 2.0 will coincide with the PlayStation 3 release of the game.[3]
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The battle and job systems are different from the one previously used in Final Fantasy XI, which utilized experience points and level-based progression. Final Fantasy XIV is being designed to utilize a skill-based progression[12] system similar to that of Final Fantasy II. Character races resemble and allow players to create avatars similar to ones in Final Fantasy XI.[1] Group play has been de-emphasized, and now solo and group play have been balanced.[1] Weapon use alters "character development".[1]
The North American official website[13] was updated October 7, 2009 and explains about the Job System, also known as the Armoury System. By wielding different weapons and even crafting tools, players are able to take on the role of their choosing such as Gladiator or Thaumaturge. In general, the different roles are divided into four disciplines: Disciples of War (masters of combat arms), Disciples of Magic, Disciples of the Land (gatherers of material resources and students of the natural order), and Disciples of the Hand (crafters who invest their creative ingenuity in synthesis and industry). The crafting system is a part of the Armory System; when a player decides to wield a Blacksmith hammer, their appearance will change and they will become a blacksmith. The same goes for harvesting tools; a player can equip them and their appearance will change. They will then take on the role of a resource gatherer.
Square Enix was looking for a way to allow users to transfer their avatar game names from Final Fantasy XI to Final Fantasy XIV.[1] The developers say that, in addition to Final Fantasy XI, games that have also influenced Final Fantasy XIV include World of Warcraft, Age of Conan, Diablo and Warhammer Online; however, they have also stated that their most important influence is player feedback.[1] Chocobos were recenty added in patch 1.19.[14]
In a DVD included with the September 2009 edition of Famitsu magazine, Nobuaki Komoto announced that while Final Fantasy XIV includes XI's job system, it returns to focus on weapons and skills, and does not have experience points or a leveling system. This would have been the third time since Final Fantasy II that the series had seen this kind of change. However, as revealed by game-play footage during the first open alpha tests, players accumulate experience points towards a player's "Physical Level" and skill points that accumulate toward a particular discipline's "Rank Level." The player's physical level affects attributes such as HP (health/hit points), MP (magic/mana points), while attribute points accumulate with each Physical Level can be used to adjust character attributes such as strength, intelligence, dexterity, and other similar basic stats. There are no specific job-levels, though, as seen in FFXI. The setting is different from that of XI; while still set in a "high fantasy" world, the setting is more modern than that of its predecessor and includes higher technology. The game also includes races "familiar" to players of Final Fantasy XI, but with new names and "other changes."[15][16]
Eorzea's nations used to be constantly at war with each other until fifteen years ago when the Garlean Empire, a mysterious nation from the east, razed the mightiest of the city-states, Ala Mhigo. The nations decided to band together if they were to repel the invaders, but the Empire never came, leaving a state of détente throughout the land. The resulting peace has led to a wide swath of soldiers and mercenaries suddenly without a job, and so they are now forming guilds and going by a new name: adventurers.[17][18]
So far there are five playable races in Final Fantasy XIV, all similar to the races from Final Fantasy XI. The goal of the developers was to create an atmosphere of aesthetic familiarity to players of FFXI. On April 13, 2011 Naoki Yoshida, through a Community Representative on the Final Fantasy XIV Official Forums, announced that Miqo'te and Roegadyn would no longer be genderlocked. Male Miqo'te and female Roegadyn will become available around the same time as the PS3 client release.[19] They have since clarified that they will be released along with the 2.0 Version Reboot.
Classes in the game are divided between Disciples of War, Disciples of Magic, Disciples of the Land, and Disciples of the Hand. Disciples of War focus on physical combat, with specific specializations. Gladiator is Final Fantasy XIV's Tank role. The other Disciples of War professions focus on a DD role, these professions are Lancer, Pugilist, Archer, and lastly Marauder. Disciples of Magic focus on magical combat and healing, both Thaumaturge, and Conjurer have dual roles in the game of magical DD, and Healing. Disciples of the Hand focus on the creation of materials, armor, and weapons. Often taking resources obtained by the Disciples of the Land class. Disciples of the Land focus on gathering resources usually to sell, or turn into items with their Disciples of the Hand class. The player will be able to change into that class if the specific required items are equipped; for instance, if the character equips a saw, he or she will become a carpenter.[20]
Final Fantasy XIV, previously codenamed Rapture (ラプチャー Rapuchā),[21] was first mentioned in August 2005, when Square Enix announced they had begun working on a new MMORPG, but neither confirmed nor denied that it was a sequel to Final Fantasy XI, or that it was Final Fantasy-related.[22] Hiromichi Tanaka, producer of the MMORPG Final Fantasy XI, stated in April 2006 that developers were working to make Rapture a worldwide release for the PlayStation 3 and Windows Vista,[23] before announcing in February 2007 that the game was being developed for Xbox 360 and Windows PC, and that it could be brought to the PlayStation 3 at some stage as well.[24] Square Enix announced at GDC 2008 that the new MMO was being targeted at all aforementioned systems and hinted that Mac and Linux clients would not be out of the question.[25]
On June 2, 2009, at the Sony E3 Conference, Final Fantasy XIV was officially announced for the PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Windows through a trailer mixing pre-rendered CGI and actual in-game sequences running from the Crystal Tools engine.[1][26] The game was directed by Nobuaki Komoto, produced by Hiromichi Tanaka, and developed by the team at Square Enix that had previously created Final Fantasy XI.[1][26] Akihiko Yoshida was the art director, and Nobuo Uematsu composed the music (marking his return to the game series since he departed Square Enix after Final Fantasy X).[27] The game will have cross-platform servers between PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Windows, making all servers accessible from any country. The game will be beta tested for longer than the 4 months that Final Fantasy XI was.[1] The PlayOnline system is not used for the game, but a solution is in the works for those wishing to easily switch between FFXIV and FFXI.[1]
An Xbox 360 version of Final Fantasy XIV was considered, being announced to be in talks with Microsoft to bring the game to the system. However, in an interview with Eurogamer, Tanaka stated that, "The main reason why we couldn't go with Xbox 360 was the Xbox Live system. [Live is] different to the normal internet environment, so when we wanted to introduce this game in the same environment as Windows PC it had to be PS3, so that was our choice. Microsoft has a different point of view: they want to have a closed environment for Xbox Live. We're still talking to... We couldn't come to an agreement on Xbox Live."[28] Tanaka has said that development on the Xbox 360 is considered "on hold" and that there are "no plans" to continue development unless the situation with Microsoft and Xbox Live changes.[29]
The PlayStation 3 version of the game is planned to go into closed beta around November-December of 2012, and at latest January 2013, alongside the release of Version 2.0.[30]
The alpha test was announced at VanaFest 2010, an event to commemorate the eighth year of Final Fantasy XI.[31]
In April 2010, Final Fantasy XIV entered into its alpha testing stage, which involves players from different parts of the world logging on at different times and testing what the development team at Square Enix had created. Square Enix had said that about 10% of the game was playable during the alpha phase. The alpha test ended on Saturday, June 19, 2010, after 11 weeks.
The PlayStation 3 release of Final Fantasy XIII contained a key for a chance to access a beta, to be held later in the year.[32]
The beta testing was being conducted in phases for developers to adjust game-play and technical issues reported by testers. Phase 1 began on July 10, 2010, and phase 3 ended on August 25, 2010. Open beta was announced to start on August 31, 2010; however, it was postponed due to "critical bugs" that needed to be fixed. Square Enix later announced that open beta would commence September 1, 2010 at 19:00 (PDT).[33][34][35] Open beta ended September 19, 2010, at 8:00 Eastern Standard Time.
Due to the game's predominantly negative reception, the president of Square Enix, Yoichi Wada, announced a major shift in the development team in December 2010, with Tanaka announcing his resignation from his role as producer.[2] Naoki Yoshida then became the director and producer, with most other positions also changing. The PlayStation 3 version, originally due for release in March 2011, was also delayed in order to accommodate the new changes that are anticipated.[2] The initial 30-day free trial was extended, first for two months and later indefinitely, in order to allow players to experience the new development team's updates before committing to the game.[36]
As of patch 1.18, improvements have been made to the graphics, battling, synthesis, and experience reward systems. Magic has been upgraded to now regenerate automatically, and several new items have been added. Patch 1.19 introduced significant new content including the materia system, airships, beast tribe settlements, new items, a battle with Ifrit, and chocobo mounts. Revisions were also made to monster difficulty, magic casting, and the influence of character statistics.
On October 14th, 2011, Square Enix announced their intention to relaunch the game as Final Fantasy XIV 2.0. Many changes are to be included at and shortly after the reboot, most notably a "fundamental reworking of in-game maps", "the implementation of a new graphics engine", "release of additional gender options", "a fully renewed user interface", a "worldless content finder", a new server system, 1v1 and large scale PvP. The beta is slated to begin between October and December of 2012. In the months leading up to Final Fantasy XIV 2.0, the existing game world will be undergoing massive changes in the "Seventh Umbral Era" in-game event, which will provide players with a storyline, quests, and achievements that will not be able to be accessed again once Final Fantasy XIV 2.0 is released, giving a little something back to those who are currently playing the game. The long-delayed PlayStation 3 version of the game will finally be released shortly after the launch of Final Fantasy XIV 2.0 for PC. [3]
The soundtrack for the video game Final Fantasy XIV was composed by Nobuo Uematsu. The theme song Answers was sung by Susan Calloway. The music was well received and in reviews noted as being one of the only good parts of the game, along with its graphics. Final Fantasy XIV is the first Final Fantasy since Final Fantasy IX to have a score completely composed by Nobuo Uematsu.
A selection of tracks from the soundtrack was released in two volumes with only eight and nine tracks, respectively:
It is hinted on the official soundtrack page that a third album will be announced, with some speculating it to be the complete soundtrack.[37]
On September 21, 2010, Square-Enix announced they had partnered with third-party peripheral maker Snakebyte (via Sunflex) to produce an official Final Fantasy XIV licensed gaming controller for the PC that would launch on September 30, 2010, alongside the retail edition of the game.[38]
| Reception | |
|---|---|
| Aggregate scores | |
| Aggregator | Score |
| Metacritic | 49 out of 100[39] |
| Review scores | |
| Publication | Score |
| 1UP.com | D+[40] |
| Game Revolution | D[41] |
| GameSpot | 4.0/10[42] |
| GameSpy | [43] |
| GameTrailers | 4.2/10[44] |
| IGN | 5.5/10[45] |
| PC Gamer US | 30% [46] |
Final Fantasy XIV received negative reactions. It currently holds a score of 49 out of 100 on the review aggregator site Metacritic, based on twenty-five reviews.[39] Kevin VanOrd of GameSpot gave the game a 4.0/10. He called the game a "step backward for the genre", citing a bad interface, quest restrictions, awful player and NPC economy, and numerous other problems upon release.[42] IGN gave a 5.5/10 (mediocre).[47] 1UP.com gave the game a D+,[40] saying that inside Final Fantasy XIV "there is a game with considerable depth and potential here, but it needs another six to nine months before it's ready for primetime," further stating that "it's impossible to recommend to anyone in its current state.". PC Gamer gave it a 30% rating, reviewer Tom Senior writing that "the kindest thing that can be said about the Final Fantasy MMO is that it has a good intro movie". GameTrailers gave it a 4.2 out of 10, saying it "falls flat at every turn" and "isn't worth the hassle" and explaining that the launch for it was unacceptable because it was a "broken incomplete mess"[48] In December 2010, the website labeled it "The Most Disappointing Game of the Year" in their "Game of the Year Awards" [49] and also included the game in a "Top Ten Worst Sequels" feature.[50]
Game website Cheat Code Central was more favorable, giving the game a positive 4.2/5 rating, but also initially noting they "can't recommend that you spend $50, and then $12.99 a month after the first 30 days, on a title that has as many flaws as FFXIV does."[39] This sentence was later removed from the review.[51]
Final Fantasy XIV has shipped 190,000 copies in Japan, 210,000 copies in North America and 230,000 copies in Europe as of November 4, 2010.[11]
Square Enix has sent at least two apologies to its customers, recognizing the poor quality of the game, asking for patience, and announcing free trial extensions and reshuffles in the development team.[52][53][54]
Square Enix CEO Yoichi Wada admitted in a September 2011 press conference that "the Final Fantasy brand has been greatly damaged" as a result of the game's shortcomings.[55][56]
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