[5/15] Some answers to commonly asked questions.

[AKosygin]

I have asked one of the SquareEnix representatives some commonly asked questions about the FFXI US version. Before I continue, please keep in mind that it is possible that the answers may change as decisions are made, but the person I interviewed gave me these answers. (Note: Answers are paraphrased) PiNG or anyone at E3, can you verify this by asking another rep? (Make sure the SquareEnix rep I asked is not wrong?)

Q: Will US Players be playing with JP Players?
A: Yes, US Players will be playing along side with JP players on the same server. Messages produced by the system will be translated according to the client connecting. Right now in the Close Beta (as the rep is playing on the live Beta server), we have Japanese and English players playing side-by-side.

Q: Will US Players be getting their own servers?
A: No, we will most likely open new servers for both, but they will not be restricted to US or JP players.

Q: If you have a Japanese FFXI account, will you be able to play on the US English Client?
A: At this point, it has not been decided for sure, but currently we see no reason to restrict it. So, if you have a Japanese account and decide to play on a friend's English client, they should still be able to. However, they will lose their Japanese support and language as everything will be in English. The only difference that will remain is that your registration information will be restricted to remain a Japanese address, name, etc.

Q: If you have a Japanese FFXI account, will you still be able to get Customer Support in the US and not have to call to Japan.
A: That has not been setup, however, the systems are connected so there is no reason not to provide the support to a Japanese customer via the US Customer Support team; just make sure your friend from Japan can speak some English.

Q: Have you confirmed anyone for the open beta?
A: No, we have not yet confirmed it. We have recieved more applications than our quota, we will have to unfortunately reject some. But those whom gets in to the open beta will recieve a notice via E-mail and/or regular mail. The best bet is to keep checking your e-mail box.

Q: How many applicants will be selected?
A: Well, we selected about 40 for the close beta, but the open beta will be several thousand. I can't say for sure the actual number as I have not been told the number, but my guess is several thousand.

EDIT: Oh, one more important note I forgot to mention. SquareEnix KNOWS that there ARE IMPORTERS, they won't do anything to the importers and will leave them alone. The Rep. I interviewed said that "there are already US English players on the Japanese servers" (in those exact words) so that was enough evidence for them to keep the servers integrated to both languages; as they see that the idea is a success.

Another EDIT: I asked about when the exact release date is, he replied: "All I can say is the quarter 4 of this year for the PC, I am not allowed to say what the exact date is." Hinting that they do have one, but won't devulge it. As for the price of the game and monthly fee, the rep was unsure as he was not told anything about the price.

--AKosygin

[Yoko]

now thats awesome news. Beta ain't confirmed yet!!! Oh and the fact that import players will be able to play with their chars is also good news for them ;) (and me also since i'm importing it soon XD!!)

[Etra]

hehe, I'm importing today (I hope ^^) now that I heard about this.

[exile2k3]

if i dont get accepted into beta I will import

[mrm83]

hmmm.... the translate system.... i wonder how they will translate slangs...

[Sephallis]

w00t! Several thousand!?! Only rejecting a few!?! HELL YES! MY CHANCES OF GETTING IN JUST WENT UP!

[Chipmunk777]

yay yay yay me <3 you!!!!!!!!!!!11111111 cuz, i heard they already sent out all the emails to the people who are going to be in open beta, and i didnt get one, so i was sad for a while :spin: but now im so happy! good investigative work! :thumbsup: And im glad the JP players will be able to use their JP accounts on the NA version. thats great! :thumbsup: thanks for the great news! :thumbsup:

[manussit]

hell, YEAH!!!!:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

can't wait for beta... come to my mail box already!:mad: :p
....
(i hope):biggrin: :handsdown :handsdown :handsdown

[manussit]

sorry i can't edit:

and they only picked 40 for closed beta? wow that's a few.. too few, really:o :( :dead:

[Ace2996]

:biggrin: This is the BEST news I have heard all week!!!:biggrin:

:handsdown :handsdown Thanks for the news AKosygin:handsdown :handsdown

[AKosygin]

Originally posted by mrm83
hmmm.... the translate system.... i wonder how they will translate slangs...

I would like to clarify that the translation for SYSTEM MESSAGES, like quest story, error messages, etc. There is NO translation planned for any user entered text. So, a Japanese player speaking to you in Japanese will appear in Japanese.

The rep said they tried to do online, on the fly language translation and it flopped, miserably. So as far as player-to-player communications will remain raw. Only player-to-NPC or COMPUTER will it be translated.

[Saken]

Hehe, sounds sweet. Looks like were getting somewhere with the release. Thanks AKosygin, for the info.

[Sindinista]

Have they said anything about letting JP (or importers:biggrin: ) transferring to the new servers they were adding?

[AKosygin]

Okay, basically it boils down to this:
If you have imported and are playing the Japanese version, you are considered to have a Japanese account.

You may install the US English Client and play your Japanese account on the English client and everything will be in English.

Your CURRENT character will stay where they are unless you World Shift them (if they let you). You may create NEW characters on the new servers provided that you are not anchored in to a server, or you have a World Pass to go to the new servers. You will NOT be automatically moved, as they have indicated that they are going to do nothing with the importers.

Also, your account information will REMAIN in Japanese and so if you call US English customer support, you better know darn well how to say your Japanese name and address.

[Sindinista]

If they let you, yes that is the big mystery.

[celerius]

since NA and JP shares the same server, it'll be nice to know if those using ffxi JP ver can download some patch so our menus, and NPC names/conversation can be switched to EN.

[manussit]

Originally posted by celerius
since NA and JP shares the same server, it'll be nice to know if those using ffxi JP ver can download some patch so our menus, and NPC names/conversation can be switched to EN.

it depends on the client.. so u need to change the client to get that...

i doubt that they will release such patch as i'm sure they want your money (again) to buy the US version if u want to see it in english:rolleyes: ;) :biggrin:

[AKosygin]

In thoery, if you have a friend that has the English client, they can just "lend you their disk" long enough for you to install the English client on your computer so you can use it to play your Japanese account.

[Hardedge]

This topic makes me grin! We still have a good shot at getting selected for the beta test!!!

Thanks, AKosygin!

[xavega4297]

Can someone help me find a place i can import ffxi please

[exile2k3]

shop.himeya.com

[spiezzaossa]

Any news for the European version?

[manussit]

Originally posted by xavega4297
Can someone help me find a place i can import ffxi please

http://www.ffxionline.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=4643

[tazirai]

Originally posted by StarvingArtist
The only thing keeping me from plopping down for a NA version is not being able to type in Japanese. The Jpn client allows you to type in both languages, it would be nice if we could do that in that in the En client. Now, I need to convince someone to get it and "lend" me their CD ^^



HIya estya

Well I do know this
I have the japanese version installed and
Also play star wars beta and dark age of camelot and anarchy online .
I can type japnese in all those games. ill post screenshot to show you ..
So I still beleive you can type japanese . in the game. as long as you r system language is japnese if i know my PC programming which I do.
I am going to post 3 pictures
2 from anarchy and one from star wars

[Tsuko]

Gee, I had no idea about that...I thought the program needed to have certain compatibility with Japanese!

[tazirai]

Originally posted by tazirai




HIya estya

Well I do know this
I have the japanese version installed and
Also play star wars beta and dark age of camelot and anarchy online .
I can type japnese in all those games. ill post screenshot to show you ..
So I still beleive you can type japanese . in the game. as long as you r system language is japnese if i know my PC programming which I do.
I am going to post 3 pictures
2 from anarchy and one from star wars







I cannot post in this section so please go to screenshot section I will post them there.

[Kosh]

Can someone tell me what the difference is between a closed beta and an open beta?

Also, am I the only one who doesn't see the point of having english and japanese players on the same server. I see the drawbacks of not being able to understand half of the people on the server... but I don't see any benefits of this idea :confused:

[manussit]

Originally posted by Kosh
Can someone tell me what the difference is between a closed beta and an open beta?

Also, am I the only one who doesn't see the point of having english and japanese players on the same server. I see the drawbacks of not being able to understand half of the people on the server... but I don't see any benefits of this idea :confused:

closed beta = very few selected, test for game error(system)
open beta = lots selected, test for connection (&server stress)
public beta = anyone can download the program to test, test for server stress

and i don't want to argue w/ anyone... different programs do different things in beta, what i've said are the closest that i understand (there was a thread a while ago arguing of what are the betas for, u see?);) :sweat:

and for the servers... i think they are trying to promote it to be a real world where eveyone is mixed together w/o limits and restrictions.... ...i'm sure soon enough u'll see the differences anyway.... people in US will be in some while the JP people will surely want to stay together and speak their own language... imho anyway.... no offence to anyone...

[Kosh]

It just seems bizarre, in such a dialogue driven game I just don't see japanese and english players "working together". This would be a great idea for something like Tribes or Quake where you just go around shooting people. But in a game that takes so much teamwork, all they are doing is cutting the amount of people I can group with in half. It's just bizarre.

[Mars]

Oh boy this damn wait is killing me but thank god that only a few people won't get selected but knowing my luck I will be one of those people. But all I can do is wait and see, besides they said that they are gonna be emailing everybody right?

[Blackpanther]

*Walks in*My people!!calm down..for there is a chance that you will or will not be picked.
Dont get your hopes all up guys.Because everytime I do,I never get anything -_-.Well anyway,what about the PS2 release?!!?I have a crappy computer so I have to stick with the Ps2 version.And the Japs Mixed with the Amies is cool.But i'm sure we'll have choices.All Japanese servers,All US servers,and Mixed servers.Maybe,we'll see.

[zelly]

Id go with a japanese server if MOST of them spoke english, lol. It would be cool if the translator online hadn't flopped and worked better. Then we'd be able to understand them!! XPPP

[Xyphere]

OK. I was thinking about importing FFXI (an was about to). So when the ameriacn release comes do i use that disk to get menus and stuff in english????