After the travesty that was the first DLC quest, I doubt there'll be very many takers for the next two. The story and a halfass-decent reward item was one of the few redeeming qualities of the previous real expansions; AFAIK the DLC quest consisted of spending several hours hunting for key items from regular mobs and a few battlefield instances which net you a reward item that's a little too half-assed to be all that useful.
Now we know that, while Square Enix's inhouse devs are shitty they're still miles beyond whatever subcontractor they decided to use for the DLC quests (yes, they have said somewhere that they're not the ones developing these DLC scenarios).
@Cimmerian76: Everyjob nowadays. Not only were there changes like exp bonuses to parties of less than six people, but they added bonuses to the Signet effect that helps speed up solo play. There's Campaign and Beseiged for the later levels, though admittedly Beseiged is better for skillups. There's the adventuring partner npc you can all out. They also added the exp booster rings, and then the big change:
Not only is solo easier with FoV, getting around is easier too since the "tabs" you get with it can be spent to instantly send yourself back to your home country.
(DEAD) Goldwings - Remembered for his bravery and heroism... xD was starred
(DEAD) Goldwings - Remembered for his bravery and heroism... xD was unstarred
@Cimmerian76: Which mmo is that? FFXI is fairly well-paced. You just need to know what you're doing. (I wouldn't call an mmo where you can get a job to lvl 30-40 in a week "slow").
Anyway, the mage headpiece reward seems more worth it then the body for ACP.
@Kyolux feels abused by Prototype's cheapness!: most new players can't do that. and if you don't have anyone to party with, you can't. i had to give up on that game by level 20 cuz it would always take hours to get a party. and the character creation lied about the graphics. Character creation graphics were almost twice as good as they really were in-game
Yes, because graphics are the most important aspect of any video game. amirite?
Seriously, when did you last play FFXI? The more recent installment to the series allows High Lv characters to drop their level down to any level (10+) in order for them to party. They still retain all gear they have equipped (with adjusted stats)and still gain exp, skill points. This works out perfect because now it's easy as hell to get into parties and still manage to progress at a steady pace.
Also, you are not required to party in FFXI in order to gain levels. If you got stuck at Lv.20 then you were obviously doing something wrong.
The only thing that looks interesting to me is the actual late fees, and the interest on the fees. As far as I know, you pay to get access, and if you don't pay, you don't have access. There should be no late fees at all.
@Shinta: Charges while suspended is another really bad one. I'm sure they have a point on that one too.
Termination of right to use the online game because of late fees, not so much. It explicitly states in the user terms that they can terminate you for any reason they want.
If you sign up for a month, then cheat your arse off in week two and get banned / suspended for two weeks I don't think you should get two weeks back. You broke the rules, and therefore breached your contract SE have no obligation to compensate you for this.
If I buy a cinema ticket, then get kicked out halfway through for filming it, or harassing other customers or what have you, I would not expect all, or even half my money back.
@Hey_Blinkon: Pretty harsh words. Companies are obligated to make information like this clear on the box. Most people will pick up a game without stopping to think that they might need to pay extra monthly fees to play it. I know I might. Not everyone is a major gamer who knows what is and isn't an online pay to play game. Some people may not even understand the concept and they deserve to have this play online & pay monthly concept explained in plain view. It's hugely arrogant to call someone an idiot for assuming something is one thing when it's not normally that was. If you rent a car and assume it's business as normal and somewhere in the contract was a clause that you'll be paying them more money every day, would that make you an idiot for assuming it wouldn't happen because it's not how renting a car normally works and you didn't spot it?
@shufflemoomin: I would feel confident calling them an idiot. Anyone who commits to paying for a service and doesn't read the small-print deserves what they get.
You have all the tools you need to understand that the game is a subscription game, you can't even begin playing it until you have ponied up your card details. It's a bit weak after the fact to say that you didn't read the EULA or whatever, especially when you have to click a button that says that you agree with the agreement.
It's not Square Enix's responsibility to manage your spending habits. The lesson here is Caveat Emptor. Let the buyer beware.
This lawsuit has all the legitimacy it needs behind it. A similar lawsuit was made from the Chicago area I believe a few years ago, and that one passed.
The result was that they changed their payment scheme only for the residents of Illinois. I would know, since I've been a victim of SE's payment scheme and to date have lost $52 because of it.
No, LOL @ customers for being whiny little bitches.
i. Licensing of the online games software disguised as a sale;
So, basically, you're not buying the game, you're buying the license to play the game, which is true of ALL GAMES.
ii. Monthly fees ("fees") to play the online games;
True of every MMO. Did those who bought the game not read up on it first?
iii. Penalties for late payment of the fees;
Pay your fees on time then. Stop bitching.
iv. Interest charges for late payment of the fees;
Pay your fees on time then. Stop bitching.
v. Charges while the online game account is suspended;
Why should Square have to lose money, processing your refund, when you did something to disrupt their online community?
vi. Termination of the right to use the online games for late payment of the fees;
Pay your fees on time then. Stop bitching.
vii. User restrictions and conditions related to the online games;
Are you serious? Every form of intellectual property has license restrictions and conditions. How the hell is this a case?
viii. Termination of game data for payment of the fees.
I assume this is supposed to say "late payment of fees," in which case the solution would be to stop bitching, and pay the god damn monthly subscription costs ON TIME.
Jesus people are stupid. It's all just a game isn't it?
@ReconToaster.: Yes exactly it's "just a game", and all these conditions are very strict for "just a game". Stop being their bitch and think about other as well.
@IsLaNd3r - and the chipmunks: What, think about all the other people who purchase a game that has monthly fees, and then don't pay when they're supposed to, when there are plenty of people who do pay on time and get no special treatment for it?
Gaming is a luxury and an optional privilege, whether it be online or off. Online, you're using their servers on their time, and you are essentially making a contract with that company that you will pay for those services. Break that contract, and you're out of luck.
@Testamonium: Why on earth should those who pay their fees get special treatment? I mean they get what they pay for, they actually play the game.
On the other hand, those who don't pay or don't pay their fees on time have absolutely no effect negative or otherwise to the people that pay.
And I don't think that gaming is a luxury, the way I see it I don't owe anything to the gaming companies, on the contrary they provide a service in return for money just like every other company. Not that I agree with this monthly fee policy anyway, since in my opinion MMOs are the worst thing that happened to gaming in a loooong time.
@IsLaNd3r - and the chipmunks: ReconToaster is right. It is just a game. However, as part of playing this game you sign up to certain commitments.
It's the same as your sky subscription. Yes, you buy a sky box, but you also commit to a subscription.
If you pay late you will get a penalty, if you don't pay you will a reduced service.
If you are unable to manage your finances well enough to ensure that you have £13.09 (assuming you have everything listed here: [www.playonline.com]) in your account when you are due to pay then you clearly have bigger issues than needing to rid the world of Pandaemonium.
@IsLaNd3r - and the chipmunks: That's the whole point. People who do all the right things on time get no special treatment, and neither should people who pay late. If it's in your contract with the company that there are late fees, then you pay them if your payments are late. It's your own damn fault. It's like turning in homework late, and then complaining that you got points taken off because it wasn't hurting anyone else but you. And as minuscule as one gamer's data might be, one hundred thousand gamers' data that's wasting server space by being dormant might not be so desirable to your business model.
Gaming is a luxury. Anything that can buy you a week of groceries for the price of a single item is a luxury, just like most current gen tech, barring cell phones and a basic computer with internet access because those have steadily become necessities. Anything fun that isn't essential to daily life is a luxury. They provide you that luxury, and when it's online, you're using their servers, bandwidth, and maintenance/upkeep. You follow their rules.
@Sourside21: You keep talking about being a victim of their payment 'scheme,' but it seems like the only people affected are people who've paid late.
If you have not, in fact, paid late, and truly are someone that has slipped through the cracks, then I'm sorry for you. But if I didn't pay my electric bill in time and they shut of my service, and charged me a fee for reactivation, well, that's in my contract with them, even if it is the fine print. That's their business model. Know what you're dealing with before you deal with it.
06/29/09
Now we know that, while Square Enix's inhouse devs are shitty they're still miles beyond whatever subcontractor they decided to use for the DLC quests (yes, they have said somewhere that they're not the ones developing these DLC scenarios).
06/29/09
06/29/09
06/29/09
06/29/09
[wiki.ffxiclopedia.org]
Not only is solo easier with FoV, getting around is easier too since the "tabs" you get with it can be spent to instantly send yourself back to your home country.
06/29/09
06/29/09
06/29/09
06/29/09
06/29/09
Too bad the most badass moogle of all time was FFVI's Mog, who could dance and have catastrophic destruction rain down from the heavens.
06/29/09
06/29/09
06/29/09
06/29/09
06/29/09
06/29/09
06/29/09
Anyway, the mage headpiece reward seems more worth it then the body for ACP.
06/29/09
06/29/09
Yes, because graphics are the most important aspect of any video game. amirite?
Seriously, when did you last play FFXI? The more recent installment to the series allows High Lv characters to drop their level down to any level (10+) in order for them to party. They still retain all gear they have equipped (with adjusted stats)and still gain exp, skill points. This works out perfect because now it's easy as hell to get into parties and still manage to progress at a steady pace.
Also, you are not required to party in FFXI in order to gain levels. If you got stuck at Lv.20 then you were obviously doing something wrong.
06/29/09
Nub years:
"I'm Sorry! JP onry! (*´Д`)"
"Valkurm Dunes, the hot leveling spot... also known as Death Valley"
"Welcome to Qufim Islands - Don't steal my worms."
"Welcome to Garlaige Citadel - Don't fall down the hole."
"Welcome to Crawlers Nest - You will level here forever."
"Hey lets kill X crabs until they become too low then we'll move on to Y crabs."
"Welcome to Dragon's Aery - Don't aggro the scary dragon that's ALWAYS there."
"Welcome to Sky - Yeah it took you a year to get here but it's SOOO worth it!"
Intermediate Years:
"I'm Sorry! JP onry! (─▽─)"
"Mana burn party! BLM onry!"
"Pet burn party! BST onry!"
"Hey lets form a 2-man and kill X BST pets and then move on to Y BST pets."
Current:
"Level sync Astral Flow burn party! SMN onry!"
"Hey can I join your melee burn?" "NO! Non-BLM onry!"
"Hey let's constantly level sync to X level with a 5 man static and kill the same mobs to 75!"
"I'm Sorry! JP onry! (´・ω・`)"
06/29/09
Nub Years:
We NEED a WHM.
Intermediate Years:
We NEED a BRD.
Current:
We NEED a PL.
06/29/09
06/25/09
06/25/09
06/25/09
06/25/09
Termination of right to use the online game because of late fees, not so much. It explicitly states in the user terms that they can terminate you for any reason they want.
06/25/09
If you sign up for a month, then cheat your arse off in week two and get banned / suspended for two weeks I don't think you should get two weeks back. You broke the rules, and therefore breached your contract SE have no obligation to compensate you for this.
If I buy a cinema ticket, then get kicked out halfway through for filming it, or harassing other customers or what have you, I would not expect all, or even half my money back.
06/25/09
06/25/09
06/25/09
You have all the tools you need to understand that the game is a subscription game, you can't even begin playing it until you have ponied up your card details. It's a bit weak after the fact to say that you didn't read the EULA or whatever, especially when you have to click a button that says that you agree with the agreement.
It's not Square Enix's responsibility to manage your spending habits. The lesson here is Caveat Emptor. Let the buyer beware.
06/25/09
LOL
06/25/09
This lawsuit has all the legitimacy it needs behind it. A similar lawsuit was made from the Chicago area I believe a few years ago, and that one passed.
The result was that they changed their payment scheme only for the residents of Illinois. I would know, since I've been a victim of SE's payment scheme and to date have lost $52 because of it.
06/25/09
No, LOL @ customers for being whiny little bitches.
i. Licensing of the online games software disguised as a sale;
So, basically, you're not buying the game, you're buying the license to play the game, which is true of ALL GAMES.
ii. Monthly fees ("fees") to play the online games;
True of every MMO. Did those who bought the game not read up on it first?
iii. Penalties for late payment of the fees;
Pay your fees on time then. Stop bitching.
iv. Interest charges for late payment of the fees;
Pay your fees on time then. Stop bitching.
v. Charges while the online game account is suspended;
Why should Square have to lose money, processing your refund, when you did something to disrupt their online community?
vi. Termination of the right to use the online games for late payment of the fees;
Pay your fees on time then. Stop bitching.
vii. User restrictions and conditions related to the online games;
Are you serious? Every form of intellectual property has license restrictions and conditions. How the hell is this a case?
viii. Termination of game data for payment of the fees.
I assume this is supposed to say "late payment of fees," in which case the solution would be to stop bitching, and pay the god damn monthly subscription costs ON TIME.
Jesus people are stupid. It's all just a game isn't it?
06/25/09
06/25/09
Gaming is a luxury and an optional privilege, whether it be online or off. Online, you're using their servers on their time, and you are essentially making a contract with that company that you will pay for those services. Break that contract, and you're out of luck.
06/25/09
On the other hand, those who don't pay or don't pay their fees on time have absolutely no effect negative or otherwise to the people that pay.
And I don't think that gaming is a luxury, the way I see it I don't owe anything to the gaming companies, on the contrary they provide a service in return for money just like every other company. Not that I agree with this monthly fee policy anyway, since in my opinion MMOs are the worst thing that happened to gaming in a loooong time.
06/25/09
It's the same as your sky subscription. Yes, you buy a sky box, but you also commit to a subscription.
If you pay late you will get a penalty, if you don't pay you will a reduced service.
If you are unable to manage your finances well enough to ensure that you have £13.09 (assuming you have everything listed here: [www.playonline.com]) in your account when you are due to pay then you clearly have bigger issues than needing to rid the world of Pandaemonium.
06/25/09
Yes, "jesus" people are stupid. And you are a prime example.
06/25/09
Gaming is a luxury. Anything that can buy you a week of groceries for the price of a single item is a luxury, just like most current gen tech, barring cell phones and a basic computer with internet access because those have steadily become necessities. Anything fun that isn't essential to daily life is a luxury. They provide you that luxury, and when it's online, you're using their servers, bandwidth, and maintenance/upkeep. You follow their rules.
06/25/09
If you have not, in fact, paid late, and truly are someone that has slipped through the cracks, then I'm sorry for you. But if I didn't pay my electric bill in time and they shut of my service, and charged me a fee for reactivation, well, that's in my contract with them, even if it is the fine print. That's their business model. Know what you're dealing with before you deal with it.
06/25/09
06/25/09
Did they really say officially that it was coming to PS3? I don't remember.