Here is what I hated about FFXI ... should I come back.

kevinjr

I keep hearing great things about this game.  I played it at launch, hated it, and moved on.  I am now, like many, looking for a MMORPG to tide me over until Vanguard or another is released.  Here is what I didn't like, if you don't mind please let me know if things have changed in this area.

1) Interface

Hated it.  Reading the board, this hasn't changed.  Any plans to come out with a PC designed interface?

2) Japan/North America, PC/Console

I have nothing at all against any race, Japanese included.  But I didn't enjoy the communications difficulties that existed at launch.  I understand a translator helps, but I don't want to have to rely on that.   The same can be said with including PCs and Consoles together on the same servers.  When I played, most console players did not have keyboards.  It really hurt communication.

So, do they now have dedicated PC North American servers?  Or are they still mixed?  Do they even have a proper server select yet, or is it still random?

3) Grind

I played many EQ characters to max level, so I don't mind some grind.  But in the post WoW world I do expect alternatives to killing the same creatures weeks on end.  FFXI was right up there with EQLive and Lineage 2 as the ultimate grind games.  Is it still the case?  Or have they expanded quests?

From what I can tell, all three of my issues still haven't been addressed.  I just want to throw them out there to you players to confirm before I move on to Saga or something. 

Thanks.

ChrisMattern

1) interface
Still the same. A game pad, like a Logitech RumblePad, can help a lot here.

2)
Still JP/NA/EU and PC/PS2/Xbox 360 all on the same servers. Most PS2 people have gotten the word and gotten themselves a keyboard, however. I find plenty of NA users to play with, and on the occassion when I play with JP, we manage to get along fairly well with the translator. Yes, you still don't get to select your server without a Worldpass (assignment has never been exactly random, however, the idea is to keep the servers load-balanced)

3)
Grind is moderately easier, they took some of the steepness out of the exp curve for the 50s and 60s among other things. Quests still do not earn you exp. I have to question if you ever had to kill the same creatures for weeks if you were doing a good job exping.

Chris Mattern

xuinasha

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Originally posted by ChrisMattern

1) interface
Still the same. A game pad, like a Logitech RumblePad, can help a lot here.
2)
Still JP/NA/EU and PC/PS2/Xbox 360 all on the same servers. Most PS2 people have gotten the word and gotten themselves a keyboard, however. I find plenty of NA users to play with, and on the occassion when I play with JP, we manage to get along fairly well with the translator. Yes, you still don't get to select your server without a Worldpass (assignment has never been exactly random, however, the idea is to keep the servers load-balanced)
3)
Grind is moderately easier, they took some of the steepness out of the exp curve for the 50s and 60s among other things. Quests still do not earn you exp. I have to question if you ever had to kill the same creatures for weeks if you were doing a good job exping.
Chris Mattern

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if quests did give you exp.. man,would FFXI be more loving to myself,I jsut abosolutely hate grinding in the game.

kevinjr

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Originally posted by ChrisMattern

1) interface
Still the same. A game pad, like a Logitech RumblePad, can help a lot here.
2)
Still JP/NA/EU and PC/PS2/Xbox 360 all on the same servers. Most PS2 people have gotten the word and gotten themselves a keyboard, however. I find plenty of NA users to play with, and on the occassion when I play with JP, we manage to get along fairly well with the translator. Yes, you still don't get to select your server without a Worldpass (assignment has never been exactly random, however, the idea is to keep the servers load-balanced)
3)
Grind is moderately easier, they took some of the steepness out of the exp curve for the 50s and 60s among other things. Quests still do not earn you exp. I have to question if you ever had to kill the same creatures for weeks if you were doing a good job exping.
Chris Mattern

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Thanks for the information.  I was exagerating the point of grinding.  I just like a purpose (beyond loot and xp) to killing MoBs.  Even if its just a quest to kill 200 creatures.  Not sure why.  Something to achieve I guess.  Thanks again.

Gameloading

If you didn't like it before, you still won't like it. FFXI has grown, but not evolved.

FleshMask

I find Japanese players even better than american players, everone of those foreigners knows what they are doing...

If I had to choose from a 14 yr old english-speaking Galka-mage/Taru-tank, or from a Japanese pro-player....

I would forget the langage gap, Japanese parties have never let me down... that's more than I can say about english-speaking 14 yr old potty mouths.

I don't mind the grind... what I hate is the TIME it takes to grind.

Took me half a year to make a decent nin/theif hume, only just to have parties ignore me.