First Time on FFXI

[Swoozie]

Re: First Time on FFXI

You enter all the info on the program Playonline and not actually a web browser. So unless you already have a worm on your computer which if you did, you would be screwed right now. In this case installing Playonline directly from the discs and then entering your credit card info onto this program is 100% secure there is no virus on the discs so this would basically be just the only time you will enter your info if your canceling you wont be needing it so there isn't really anything to worry about.

Oh and besides that, this game isn't a walk in the park I've actually just gotten into it and at times it can be stressful. Although its all about meeting the right people I just met a whole new Linkshell (Guild) today by walking around in the city and I guess we just became friends somehow they looted me with tons of gil and gear for no real reason and welcomed me encouraging me to level and they even are offering to help me get my sub job. So I highly suggest to look for that special Linkshell because they do exist. Picking subjobs is what makes this game so addicting and tempting to continue playing so many combos you can be and being able to switch jobs without making new characters is great.

[ZeroTigress]

Re: First Time on FFXI

Allright, so I've downloaded and installed POL and now I'm trying to create a Content ID for FFXI. (I'm on the 14-day free trial, by the way.) I've run into a pretty big problem in which I'm supposed to enter the registration code I received in my email. I've typed it in at least 20 times and each time POL says that the registration code is invalid. Am I supposed to have another registration code sent to me in order to create a FFXI Content ID or is there a wait period?

[cloverest]

Re: First Time on FFXI

All you can do to try to avoid hacking is keep your antivirus software up to date, use adware killing stuff, maybe install NoScript on Firefox, etc.

Two of my friends got their accounts hacked last summer, not because of sharing login info and not because of downloading 3rd party programs, but because of visiting a FFXI-peripheral page that had been hacked. But you can't spend all your time worrying whether it could happen to you, so just be prepared and know that if it does happen, there are ways to recover your account (though it can be a pain in the rear), and it's not the end of the world.

[ZeroTigress]

Re: First Time on FFXI

My apologies if I rubbed anyone the wrong way. I know there are risks to playing MMOs; I simply stated how I feel about payment methods and why I prefer one over another. I don't really have a problem with SE's way of doing things, it's just something I'm not used to.

Thank you all for your input. I really do want to try this game and I'm willing to go through whatever process necessary to do so.

[Ameroth]

Re: First Time on FFXI

Yeah I think you're being a little over-paranoid. If you're so concerned with getting "hacked," perhaps don't put your CC # out there at all.

Because your character isn't any safer if you input your billing info once or if you do it 12x a year.

[EternalMalachi]

Re: First Time on FFXI

The billing info is saved on SE servers and I have yet to hear about them getting hacked or their security compromised.

When people get their account 'hacked' it is usally because they gave their info to someone (so they could log them in for lvl'n or whatever) or they download unsafe 3rd party tools and someone gets their info that way. Avoid those things and you should be just fine.

And I would think it would be LESS safe for you having to give your billing info every month. If at some point you unknowingly acquire some malware on your pc, there is more opportunity to get your credit card info if you have to reinput it so often. SE has even changed some process where you use your mouse to enter into a virtual keyboard for certain info to avoid you losing info to possible keyloggers on your system.

[Armando]

Re: First Time on FFXI

This means that the company doesn't keep the credit card number in their system and hence anyone who tries to hack my account will not be able to use my characters or steal my in-game items unless they pay for the subscription first.

Granted, someone can easily use their own credit card to compromise my characters, but at least they're using their money and not mine.

I'm not seeing the benefit though. If you pay on a monthly basis the character is still accessible to anyone who hacks your account for the rest of the month; and really, they just need an hour or two to strip your character clean.

[ZeroTigress]

Re: First Time on FFXI

If I had to manually pay my bill every 30 days that would drive me nuts. I am happy with the way SE does their auto-billing.

The reason why I prefer paying for a MMO on a monthly basis (that is, pay for a month and only get that month) is mainly for security reasons. On the MMO I play currently, if you pay by credit card, you have to re-enter the credit card number each time you pay for a new subscription. This means that the company doesn't keep the credit card number in their system and hence anyone who tries to hack my account will not be able to use my characters or steal my in-game items unless they pay for the subscription first.

Granted, someone can easily use their own credit card to compromise my characters, but at least they're using their money and not mine.

[Ameroth]

Re: First Time on FFXI

The problem isn't that I won't get hooked (which is most likely the case), it's that SE will continue to bill me even if I stop playing after a month.

They sure will bill you after a month if you don't cancel their service. If you know for a fact you will not be playing next month, you can cancel your content ID whenever you feel like. In fact, we just had a topic (here) discussing activating a content ID and then immediately deactivating it to prevent SE from charging for the following month.

But SE is not going to charge you for a service you have deactivated. Worry not.

They will, however, charge you for a service you have not deactivated even if you are not utilizing it. It seems like a pretty easy and fair system to me.

[Solymir]

Re: First Time on FFXI

If I had to manually pay my bill every 30 days that would drive me nuts. I am happy with the way SE does their auto-billing.

[meSchnitzel]

Re: First Time on FFXI

Oh, you misread me. The problem isn't that I won't get hooked (which is most likely the case), it's that SE will continue to bill me even if I stop playing after a month. The way it works on the MMO I'm playing now, I just pay for 1-month and I play for 30 days. Then once the 30 days expire, I can't play anymore and have to pay for another month to continue playing. This is a nice system as it gives me control over how much money and time I spend on a MMO.

It's interesting that SE has taken a utilities billing approach to charging their players, though it doesn't make me feel very good in the least as it means that SE will continue taking money from me when I don't play. I'm a casual MMO player so my usual habit is to play a game on and off (to keep myself from getting bored with a game I like). From what you're saying, this means I have to continuously delete and create Content IDs in order to not be charged for time I don't play. This won't be a total hassle for me, though it means that I unfortunately will not be able play FFXI very often as a result.

Actually i think you misunderstood, Its very easy to just Disable your content ID at the end of the month if you don't want to play anymore. It does not delete your character, it simply de-activates your access and you dont get charged again until you reactivate.

MOST MMOs have the auto billing approach active. The difference however that you have experienced is that some allow you to play for 30 days and then have to reactivate, or others will allow you to purchase a time card at the store and it will activate your account for 30 or 60 or however many days you want.

so yeah, no deleting when you dont want to pay, simply deactivating... takes maybe 2 mins

[Rothy]

Re: First Time on FFXI

Oh, you misread me. The problem isn't that I won't get hooked (which is most likely the case), it's that SE will continue to bill me even if I stop playing after a month. The way it works on the MMO I'm playing now, I just pay for 1-month and I play for 30 days. Then once the 30 days expire, I can't play anymore and have to pay for another month to continue playing. This is a nice system as it gives me control over how much money and time I spend on a MMO.

It's interesting that SE has taken a utilities billing approach to charging their players, though it doesn't make me feel very good in the least as it means that SE will continue taking money from me when I don't play. I'm a casual MMO player so my usual habit is to play a game on and off (to keep myself from getting bored with a game I like). From what you're saying, this means I have to continuously delete and create Content IDs in order to not be charged for time I don't play. This won't be a total hassle for me, though it means that I unfortunately will not be able play FFXI very often as a result.

All you do is cancel your content ID if you don't want to be billed anymore (Do not delete your character!) With the IDs cancelled, SE won't charge you.

[ZeroTigress]

Re: First Time on FFXI

I don't see why is that such a big problem. After the 30 days, you'll be too hooked up to even consider stop playing so...

Oh, you misread me. The problem isn't that I won't get hooked (which is most likely the case), it's that SE will continue to bill me even if I stop playing after a month. The way it works on the MMO I'm playing now, I just pay for 1-month and I play for 30 days. Then once the 30 days expire, I can't play anymore and have to pay for another month to continue playing. This is a nice system as it gives me control over how much money and time I spend on a MMO.

It's interesting that SE has taken a utilities billing approach to charging their players, though it doesn't make me feel very good in the least as it means that SE will continue taking money from me when I don't play. I'm a casual MMO player so my usual habit is to play a game on and off (to keep myself from getting bored with a game I like). From what you're saying, this means I have to continuously delete and create Content IDs in order to not be charged for time I don't play. This won't be a total hassle for me, though it means that I unfortunately will not be able play FFXI very often as a result.

[assumedvigilance]

Re: First Time on FFXI

i don't know if this holds true still or not, but i read somewhere that a person had the 30 day free trial going and only got about 15 days before he/she was charged. had to do with when that person signed up and how far along his trial period the next first of the month hit. you may want to make sure that if you do the 2 free trials that they end on the last day of the month so you get your full 44 days out of it.

[Ziero]

Re: First Time on FFXI

Hmm, that doesn't sound very promising. I guess I'll have to wait until I play the game to see if it's worth the trouble of stopping the fees after a month.

Actually, it's the exact opposite of how you feel. The 30 day trial that comes with the $20 version of the game is completely unrestricted so you can literally do whatever you want within the game and learn almost everything you want about it before paying a monthly fee. It gives you ample time to play the game, experiance it's content and find out if this is something you'd actually want to stay with or not. If you don't like the game after 30 days, you can just cancel your Content ID and SE won't charge you a single penny ever again.

Though just a few things to note:

Your PlayOnline account is completely, and totally 100% free for life. There is no reason to ever cancel your PlayOnline account.

Your Content IDs are what you actually pay for monthly. These allow you access to create and access your characters so you can play the game. If you do enjoy this game and play for a while, but for some reason feel the need to quit, you can just cancel the Content IDs for all of your active characters and SE will not charge you. The characters will still be saved in the system, and will not be deleted for some time (which varies) so if you ever decide to come back after a long break, you can just reactivate a Content ID and use your old character

Oh dear. I hope the server my cousin is on isn't crowded.

So far only one server has officially been closed, and that's Odin. However Bahamut is getting up in numbers and it wouldn't surprise me if that closed down to new characters as well.