"FINAL FANTASY XI allows gamers to connect to the same exact world regardless of whether they are playing on a personal computer (PC) or PlayStation 2 and whether they are playing in North America or Japan"

Well thats certainly interesting. Blending the lines between PC's and consoles.

Didn't Phantasy Star Online already do exactly this?

I think there were different servers for PSO... could be wrong though

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Supporter of the "shut the fuck up" fan club.

I thought PSO had small player run servers of 4 players or so, like diablo did...

somebody PLEASE tell me how this game is when you get it... I am very curious after reading about it at www.gamefaqs.com

- Dr.Del

one thing this game's for sure is it's expensive - you pay $13 per month and can just have one character; if you would try out the other races with a different one you have to pay one dollar more per character; shameless rip-off IMHO

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everyone who finds a spelling error can keep it and use it as a base for his own errors

Is this multilpayer only?

Are the GFX good? I.E. does it use Shader effects, does it use better textures? (the Ps2 can only handle lameass low-res pathetic textures).

It's a DX 8.1 game from what I have read. There is no pixel shader 2.0 in DirectX 8.1, but can run older pixel shaders fine.

Its not expensive at all. Theres no NEED to have another character. You can have 1 character with ALL JOBS lvl 70 if you want. Eliminating the need for multiple characters.

Word on the street is that this is a GREAT game. Better even than Everquest and is going to be a real problem for that junk game called Star Wars Galaxies.

Anyone have some first hand experience? I am a sucker for all that is MMORPG and I am sure I will be there buying this bad boy tommorrow.

Sadly, almost every MMORPG I have bought with the exception of DAOC and EQ has been a HUGE disappointment. Perhaps this is the one?

The graphics are OK, but considering that this game has been out for a year already in Japan they're not bad. There's no shader effects or anything, the only thing that the PC version has over the PS2 version is a higher resolution.

But anyway, we all know that good graphics aren't the only thing behind a good game. Graphics are only impressive for the first hour.

The dollar things has been discussed before. It was probably implemented to keep people from creating unlimited characters and killing them on the other side to get points for your, somthing like that. Though, I don't think a dollar is going to really keep people away.

Wow, Randy, I don't think a marketing copywriter could have planted a better post. Word on the the street, geesh. This is the street!

they charg us an arm and a leg for games and now they want us to pay to play sounds like a damb arcade to me

Japan is a continent now?

Played the beta for a couple of weeks. This was in late summer, so what I played was 99% same as what is coming out for retail. I tried to like it. I really really tried. The original final fantasy for nintendo is one of my all time favorites. This game is crap though. The interface is VERY strange. Clicking on monsters to attack them is ridiculously difficult at times. The graphics are very up and down. Some of the cities look incredible, but the terrain is horrible...tons of jaggies no doubt due to ps2 port. Leveling is very, very, very slow. There is no PvP. This is the most bizarre move ever in a MMORPG. They could at least give people the option.
Biggest problem: NO DIRECTION! You have absolutely no idea what to do, where to go, who to talk to, etc. I think in my couple weeks of playing I managed to do 3 quests. I would have done more, but the game doesn't tell you anything...at all. What weapons can I use, how do spells work, what is the auction house, what are crystals, how does crafting work? If you want answers, be prepared to sit for a long time asking random people, because it's not in the manual anywhere and there is no tutorial and there are no forums. You've been warned...stay far away! I am not an avid MMORPG guy. I gave it just over two weeks before quitting in frustration. My brother has played every MMORPG under the sun. He quit after 2 days! His words, in Simpsons comic book guy voice, "Worst MMORPG ever!"

Here's something for all interested http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/multimedia/wind/

Its a Live cam of FF XI , nice to have this type of thing but im gonna stick to EQ LDoN for now and wait for EQ2

Looks promising but how many mmorpg can we play? and the bad thing is once you find out you dont like it its a hard thing to sell on E-Bay all MMORPG are, unless you have Uber character...

The extra $1 per character is to stop a gaming balancing problem they had in beta. It stems the tide of useless new characters. It has nothing to do with greed. Perhaps a beta person can step in here and explain?

From what I read there is story in this game

There might be a story, but damned if I could find it. I sure didn't feel as though I were a part of anything if that makes a difference.