Coming back is not so easy

[Jonnyram]

Literally!

So I logged on for the first time in 2 years yesterday, and got my patching and things done within a few hours (surprisingly).

But unfortunately, the client seems broken now. I can start fights, check my profile, equipment, items, etc. But whenever I click on magic or abilities to open the sub-menus, the game crashes to a black screen instantly.

It's a long shot because I can't find anything on the net like this, but has anyone here had a similar problem? Could I possibly rectify it by verifying my install or is it a hardware issue (using an old PS2)?

I should be able to walk back to Jeuno to get the lotto balls, but I'm worried it may crash before I get there for some obscure reason.

[Pai Pai Master]

I never really experienced any crashing problems on PS2 with just FFXI...haven't heard of anything like it before. The best thing you could do would be to check your install files or just reinstall altogether.

And welcome back. Are you staying long or just trying your hand at the lotto?

[Jonnyram]

I don't know whether I'm back for long or not. Just wanted to test the water. I mean, I know it's gonna be pretty hard to get back into the swing of things, but I hear EXP is a bit easier to get these days at least, so I might try to get my RDM to 75 at least. Only thing is, I don't know if my PS2 is even in a good enough condition to install the last two expansions. It usually has problems reading discs.

[Pai Pai Master]

Perhaps pick up the 360 version? The latest all-in-one pack is $29.99. And yeah, EXP is much easier compared to back when you played.

[ShinGenko]

Could always grab the PC version~

[Jonnyram]

Just to be sure, there isn't some magic/skill that they have removed from the game in the past two years, right? I just can't fathom why it would crash consistently at that point.

I'll try to verify the files as soon as I get home.

[Yellow Mage]

Red Mage is the exact same job that you left it as, if that's what you mean. . . .

[Mhurron]

Just to be sure, there isn't some magic/skill that they have removed from the game in the past two years, right?

If there had been it would have been removed from yours as well in the update process.

It sounds like you have a corrupted file.

[Jonnyram]

I found a corrupt file when running the file check and I updated it, but the problem persisted. So I did a reinstall of disc one and it worked after that. The magic menu was different than the patched version, so I assume the patch must have been incomplete. So I just have to get the last two expansions, install everything and patch! I got a few moogle marbles before starting my reinstallation though

Reading up, it sounds like WHM is more necessary as a subjob nowadays, thanks to the lack of white mages and curega being indispensable in some levelling spots. Hmm.

[Jonnyram]

Well, I'm almost there.

Some points I have noticed in my quest to return:
- the patching system is broken (see previous post)
- it is impossible to buy a copy of the Aht Urhgan expansion disc now
- if you own any of the previous games/expansions, you are explicitly advised NOT to get the all-in-one pack
- Square Enix is retarded for not selling copies of the above on their website
- wow, a lot has changed in two years! They should have done this in the first two years and maybe I would never have quit in the first place.
- there are way too many servers considering the population. They should consolidate.

[Murphie]

SE maintains that the population has not changed in any big way in the time it has been live. 500,000 is pretty much their standard answer. How true that actually is is a mystery, of course.

Server populations have shifted in location (No longer 150 people in the dunes) but I haven't seen a huge decline from several years ago.

The only reason that SE suggests not buying the all-in-one if you have previous expansions is because it's all one code. You lose out on utilizing the second copy of the expansions you already have if you use the all-in-one. But that doesn't mean you can't.