Just wndering: What are all you importers gonna do when the english version is out?

[Teknoman]

Are you gonna keep playing the Japanese version, or switch to the english? Probably you guys are gonna stay on the japanese version, because of the fact that ya put so much into your characters right?

[DJplaeskool]

I've dedicated over 1392 Hours into this...

If I can use an english client, I'll switch to that, but I doubt I'll ever leave Ragnarok...

[Jei]

Ii'll get the usa version and try out how the usa based community will be like. nice/rude, friendly, stuff like that.
If the people aren't too bad and i see more fun potential then I will consider moving my old char over to usa based servers. (If i can that is)
If not, i'll jsut stay on my old server

[DJplaeskool]

Yeah...
hopefully Worldshifters will be available to the NA release servers...

[The_Vagrant]

From what I've heard (which isn't alot mind you) You'll be able to log into the servers just as you can on the import version. They wouldn't make the americans play on the japanese servers because of the distance, so I'm sure they will offer the exact same servers in the US that will somehow be linked to the japanese servers, since they say you all play together. So if the servers are all the same, or at least linked together, you should be able to log in and use your old current character. If you can't do that, you can at least use the japanese client and play, which will still be linked to the new US servers. I'll most likely switch to PS2 when it comes out stateside. The whole console experiance just makes gameplay more enjoyable for me I guess.

[Black Heart]

From what I know, Worldshifting allows a few players to move to another server to keep things balanced. I don't think bringing a Lv50+ character to a new server with thousands of low level characters would really balance things out. This is just my opinion, but I don't think Square would accomidate Importers by letting them bring their characters wherever they wanted.
But the US and Japanese servers will be "mixed in" sort of. They are putting up new English servers and thats where the vast majority of English players will be, but like Square said anyone should be to use a WP to go to any English or Japanese server.

[tazirai]

Okay guys I see that theres some misinformation swimming in this Thread..

First there are no ENGLISH only servers..
As all the servers are japan based yes you will linking to japan thru how ever you connect up to the net..

Secondly if you log onto ffxi for the first time and get assigned a random server you MAY wind up on an inhabited server..Only you can hope for is to get to an empty or low population server..

Third ,square wants the US and europe and japan to play together so there will importers and other foreigners pn all servers.

Fourth..If you have a character in th import you can switch use that character on the NA version BUT..
Your pol account will remain japanese. So ill be able to play triel on my NA version to understand everything and jump back and forth ..
It will be same character ,same server, same LS and everything..


5th there are soo many threads on this topic and the misinformation has to stop..
I base mine in fact because of my understanding of japanese and the fact that i do research before posting..

Heres a a link


check it out
http://www.ffxionline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13320

[DJplaeskool]

Thanks for the info Taz :sweat:

[Jei]

You didn't get my point at all Tazirai. I said USA "based" server. and what i mean is like this

Right now the current servers has been openned for a LONG long time. and they are populated mainly by japanese players, which they should since the game is for japanese.
So, I call them "japanese based" servers.

now, once the game released in USA, there will be new worlds openning up. Sure they are not fixed for onlu USA players and everyone can go there. but look at the truth man.
Thousands of USA players are going to buy the game and start new characters. Where do you think they'd end up at if not the new servers? (with exception of those who use world pass)

They will not be random to the old servers due to the number of players already populating them.

So in my opinion, the newer worlds will be populated mainly by usa players. And so I call it "USA based servers"

If that helps you understand me a little better.

sure i can log in my old character at my old world with english interface.
But people around me would be speaking japanese still.
And what's the point of that? For online game, yes I want to play in a friendly environment and i like the japanese community a lot,
but I also WANT to be able to talk to EVERYONE I meet. Be able to fully communicate and make new friends. Not just stuck to some little group of people.
Language barrier is huge. Really huge. I tried to get over it a million times and ifi really want to REALLY communicate with people in game I will need 2-3 more years of intense japanese course.
I would love to learn more japanese. But in reality Im not gonna have time for all that. ESP for only a game...

[Darkdisiple25]

but ull still be able to move yoyur character to the "USA"servers. and to clear something up( for the guy who said i just want to join a USA server to overpower every one else) i only want to got there so i cAn help people out make a linkshell in hopes that the people in my linkshell that they helped out will help out my alt

[Atma]

I second everything Jei has said.

As long as we're making "the misinformation stop", Unless there's been recent official statements from Square, it is not known with 100% certainty at this time whether you will be able to use the english client with a japanese account. The current word on that is that there's no known reason at the moment why you wouldn't be able to do so, but it is not known for certain whether you will be able to in the final release.

And, if people think that the little "translation" system they're implementing is actually going to allow japanese and english players to play together as if there was no language barrier between the two, I have 10 acres of fine florida swampland to sell really cheap, perfect for building. Japanese players are going to stick with Japanese players, and English players are going to stick with English players... Case in Point: The Ragnarok server.

Language barriers in games like this aren't something that can be broken down through 5 minutes of programming effort and a few words that are automatically translated between the two clients. MMORPGs require complex instructions and directions to be given in short time spans during battles, and even the bartering of items requires complex conversations. Now, considering the fact that babelfish (the most comprehensive freeware translation suite available, and 1000 times more complex then anything FFXI will be sporting) can't even properly translate "I want to buy <x>, I will trade you two <y> for it" from Japanese to English, I highly doubt we can expect anything groundbreaking from FFXI.

And yes, I can virtually promise you there will be "English" and "Japanese" servers. Even if square doesn't differentiate between the two, the players can, and will, make that differentiation. Within the first week of the English client release, I'm willing to lay down my 5-spot that says there will english servers and japanese servers. Sure, they may not be physically located in America, nor will there be anything stopping Japanese players from making characters there, it will rapidly become apparent that each server is going to have a predominant language. I find it highly unlikely that there will be a server where there is an even enough mix that one side or the other won't leave to play on another server.

People play MMORPGs because they want to play the game with other people whom they can communicate with, which means people who speak the same language. I'm sorry, but if Square doesn't learn this before release, or really shortly after release, then FFXI is going to be a collosal failure in the US. FFXI needs english-language dominant servers... and my guess is that all of the new servers opened at US launch will become that.

I hate to seem harsh towards those who think that FFXI is going to be some sort of earth-shaking, precedent-setting example og cross-culture gaming and communication. But the fact of the matter is that I'll believe it when I see it, not when I read about it on a game site with an interview between some exec producer trying to pimp his game as the best thing to hit the market since the invention of the light bulb.

At the end of the day, there's no real financial incentive for Square if japanese and english players end up playing together versus if they end up playing seperately, just like there is no financial incentive for Square if you can use the English client with a Japanese account. So basically, what that means from a typical business and a typical programming perspective is that if it works, it works, and if it doesn't, it isn't worth the man-hours to discover why and fix it.

[tazirai]

I see your point in its entirety..
The only thing im saying is that theres soo many rumours flying around these boards ..
Is it online only?
The usa servers will be in california?
They have an offline mode when you beat the last boss?
Things like that...
Yes i do understand that there will "be english " servers..
But the case inpoint is to fill up some old servers with new players...
Think of it like water....
you got a bucket at the end of a slope, on that slope you have small holes(servers) what happens when you pour water down the slope ,some are gonan go thru the holes. Its just like ffxi , Its more likely that not every new player will get a new server and get assigned to say lakshimi .. Its gonna happen its all in the numbers...
As far as the land Atma ha sin florida ...How much per acreage:) ...COuld always use more land..

But back to the main point Trust me I want to be able to understand everything thats happening in game also.
And also with the numbers.. IE(programming code) YOu will 100% be able to use your toon in NA version ..Its the only way square could put in its little translation system.
Its just a matter of logging in as a guest an dthen playing your account on a friends system.. no secret codes or passwords needed.

Also on the point of english/japanese servers, Yeah youll have some players who simply dun get how to play with the japanese and will actually have no interest in the culture .
Which is all good . SO yeah we will see english servers pop up after a time but they will all still be based in japan. no misinformation there... Its just that players will feel comfortable playing somethign they 100% understand and with others who understand them..
So jeis point is valid


Atma you have made good points also .. but your biggest point is that square is in this to make money ..POINT BLANK...and by mixing and matching players they increase their money pool. So it would be in their interest to make this game as available to the masses as much a spossible.
Liek my friend has german version of anarchy online and i have NA version .. I can still log on no prob ..its funcoms way of keeping folks happy. same thing with square...
They'll los ecustomers if they dun open up the game to all people ..especially importers ..fact is we helped make it a great game.


Last point is this....People are gonna not get knowledge before openng their mouths to talk this is 100% fact ..
and i also know I cant stop a rumour once its spread. But i do have a personal attachment to this site and woudl liek to see it go back to how it used to be ..
Informative but not covered in rumour and false information..
Thats all..

(hope that made sense....holla back )

[Vivid]

i'll buy the NA version and play the NA client. if worldshifters are available, i'll probably try and move to a newer server where more players speak english... however, if not, then im just fine and dandy on Ragnarok.

:edit: i just noticed this... MY SIG IS UBER! jeez.... i need to fix this crap right now...

[hellfox]

I've read an interview with the producer and they say that all servers will be in japan.

[MalkaiyaOneZero]

I thought I had heard that US and JP will be able to play on same servers. We will see.

[StarRealms]

And, if people think that the little "translation" system they're implementing is actually going to allow japanese and english players to play together as if there was no language barrier between the two, I have 10 acres of fine florida swampland to sell really cheap, perfect for building. Japanese players are going to stick with Japanese players, and English players are going to stick with English players... Case in Point: The Ragnarok server.

Let's make a deal... because that must be excellent swampland. No offense but I find the post a bit frustrating, it's obvious to me that you have never actually PLAYED FFXI with JP people. If you actually played the game with JP people I feel you would have a much different opinion than me.

For grouping as a caster (more so as a WHM or a bard) you NEED to know (more helps) only one phrase: yes I will accept your PT invite. That's all you need to know for the entire group, and as long as you do you're job everything will go smooth. For other characters such as melee, you also need to know renkei. Most of tthe time this is super easy as well as long as you can recognize katakana (and even that you can just match it up with your WS), because most of the time I see the group do WS as simple as Person name ƒtƒ@ƒXƒgƒuƒŒ?[ƒh (fast blade)?„Person name ƒo?[ƒjƒ“ƒuƒŒ?[ƒh (burning blade)?„Third person, etc. And there, you have all you need for a successful group. To make things easier, you need to know maybe 10 more phrases such as:
I need to go afk for 2 minutes.
Please cure <x> (just writing this out in katakana could work) or I've even seen people use zzzz for sleeping... language barrier doesn't seem to get in the way there!
Let's go to <place>.
Incoming <x>.
I need to leave in x minutes.
And there are several other insignificant phrases which could make things easier but are not *needed*. The boards here have been a great help in looking up certain phrases. Also as you play, it is easier to learn something, because once something is said enough in a certain situation you begin to figure it out. Words like ‚¨‚ß‚Å‚Æ‚¤ for congratulations after a level, and ‚¢‚«‚Ü‚·?@for pulling (although my spelling might be off on 2nd one).

A lot of the people on ragnarok have most likely grouped with JP people to level, especially the 50+ one. Looking at some posts the high level EN people have mentioned grouping with JP people a lot. I am sure even on Ragnarok with the large "english import community" that the higher level achived on the server the more likely people need to find JP groups to level, however I could be wrong since I do not play on the Ragnarok server, yet I am fairly certain this is the case.

The only people who can't really group with JP people are those xenophonic and ignorant enough not to learn the very little JP necessary to group. And yes I have still had very enjoyable grouping experiences even without knowing much JP. I do agree that there may end up being prodominantly EN and prodominantly JP servers... just really depends how things work out.

Also, there is *definitely* financial incentive for JP and EN people to be playing on the same server... JP and EN times are from 10-13 hours apart depending on where people live in the US. Meaning, during JP peak time EN is at lowest player time, and during EN peak time JP is at lowest player time (only time I could possibly see this not being correct is during weekends when more people play). Therefore, given an equal population of JP and EN you could balance the server load through out the day extremely well, and essentially hold more people per server without reaching the same feelings of overcrowding. Also there is a financial incentive to be playing a JP account with an EN client... more software purchases. Any good cost accountant or financial analyst would not ignore these factors, I am certain.

I don't mean to sound scathing or rude, but one of my pet peeves is when someone talks about ingame play like a 1st hand experience, when it is quite obvious they have never played the game.

[Darkdisiple25]

2 things to say aboyt earlier posts #1 about the langage barriar and translater thing i dont think you will be able to to tell when your useing all the internet slang and short had i mean i could sound foreign just because i dont want to fully type something out #2 in response to star realms question we are the rookies in this game if a whm JAP. player sees your life bar in slim( because your on a team i know he would know to help you same with a renkei im sure they know alot mor e about it then us so if t hey see you start one inm sure they would know hoew to funish it and what to do i mean they have had this game for over a year already.

[Jei]

StarRealms > As sppose to your post.
Knowing enough japanese to party and level up is one thing.
Knowing enough japanese to communicate is another thing.
For example I have level my RDM to 65 so yes I know enough japanese to level up.

Bit communication is still a completely different thing. I have tried so hard to get into a japanese LS. and here's what I feel so far.

- They are really nice, very dedicated and have a lot of joking/humor sentence. They get together doing Jiraad missions or hunt for items for specific quests together. and so on...

I can partly understand their conversation. Guesssing from the words i know here and there... It helps me learn a lot.
BUT all i can do is read. I can hardly answer anything. All I can do is throw in kaomoji faces once in while and pretty much stay there not being able to talk ot anyone.
- I don't understand when they are talking about jiraad missions... I don't even know if it's same part as mine or not...
- I feel some players are really nice and friendly. But because I can only listen I can't talk to him and become his freidns... just someone he recognize by name
- I can offer them help... but i can't really ask for help because I don't really know how to explain what i want.

In my point of view, all importers struggle to play the game surrounded by japanese. we are the minority so we blend into their culture.
If there's equal number of japanese and american I don't think majority of american will care to learn japanese at all.

Just think if it makes sense.... If you buy an american online game, you log in, and found yourself in the middle of german people speaking german and you don't understand....
what will you do?
a) go to book store, grab a german dictionary and learning bookm start learning german so you can speak to them
b) find place where everyone speaks english, go there and leave the german alone.

i think the answer is pretty obvious....
right now, importers and kind of *forced* to do choice a). which is not a choice once the usa version of the game is released.

Don't get me wrong Im quite happy to play with them. But not that 100% happy... there's still too many limitations for me. if you understand what i feel.

[tazirai]

Originally posted by Jei
StarRealms > As sppose to your post.
Knowing enough japanese to party and level up is one thing.
Knowing enough japanese to communicate is another thing.
For example I have level my RDM to 65 so yes I know enough japanese to level up
.................................................. ...............
Bit communication is still a completely different thing. I have tried so hard to get into a japanese LS. and here's what I feel so far.

Don't get me wrong Im quite happy to play with them. But not that 100% happy... there's still too many limitations for me. if you understand what i feel.


I totally under stand jeis feelins on this ..
I guess since ive been studying japanese since 1999 I have a sortof leg up on most folks (still suck at kanji though:)) I am in 4 japanese LS and their are very kind evenm offering to help me and I them.. so that makes it easier ..The hardest time I have in the game is with the story...Which im totally into BTW ..Its liek leveling only allows me to get further into the story because you have to get stronger..I digress..
But the story is pretty much 70% kanji and that makes it hard but my LS mates in all of them have helped me understand it quite a bit and dare i say this DAMN its good .

So jei's feelings are 100% on the money and you really do need a way to talk to each other in order to have the most fun..
I know some LS mates who join a PT and dun say anything just level up and do the renkei or magic when called for..
ME I talk ..alot... in all my LS, and PTs i dun shut up sometimes....hahaha.
So talking to japanese is okay for me .. no matter how good a translator is people may be scared of the foreigness of the language...Also it works both ways..
Soem japanese are terrified of English Pt's because they dun say anything or dun understand what we are saying and they feel left out.

Best PT ive ben in was a 3jpn 2 american and 1 french guy ..Funniest damn PT ..cuz we all tried to talk to each other...and i had to translate ....:(.....I wa sonly oen who spoke all 3 languages..

So i had to use pigeon japanese and pigeon french to communicate to my PT mates .. was a damn good PT however..