Final Fantasy XIV @ gamescom 2009 (Updated)

[Ryuushin]

SQUARE ENIX at Gamescom

would be interesting.

FFXIV impressions by Tiesto: http://en.www.ali.dj/final-fantasy-x...-der-gamescom/

INTERVIEW:
Last? Interview(translated by Elmer): http://ffxiv.zam.com/story.html?story=19378

COURTESY OF ZYUU/FFXIVCORE: http://www.ffxivcore.com/index.php?/...omichi-tanaka/
Famitsu interview, translated by Godsleftsock from ZAM
Also by Elmer: http://ffxiv.zam.com/story.html?story=19336(Tanaka)
http://ffxiv.zam.com/story.html?story=19342(Sage Sundi)

Spoiler: show

We catch up to the always busy Tanaka!

On the Gamescon floor, we decided to schedule in an interview with the Producer of Final Fantasy XIV (which will be called FFXIV from here on) Tanaka Hiromichi and FFXIV’s global onkine producer Sage Sundi. We’ll report the interview with Tanaka Hiromichi. Since we’ll report on the interview with Sage Sundi at a later time, please look forward to that as well!



~~First, we ask Tanaka to personally explain the portion of the battle that is playable at this year’s Gamescon.

Tanaka: Well, I’m currently playing a guildleve called “Defeat the large cluster of Puks”
(TN: That is a poor translation of the guildleve name, sorry lol)



~~What are guildleves?

Through the adventurer guild in Eorzoa, guildleves are passes that are issued to visiting adventurers for work. If you achieve the requested job, you can receive various rewards. This is similar to quests that you often see in offline RPGs. The big difference is that you are able to cooperate with and help out fellow players. Being able to play alone or with a large group, the epitome of MMORPGs is packed in.

Tanaka: Just as the title of the leave suggests, you should defeat the puks, but first there are no puks present. You defeat Dodos and trick the puks into appearing.



~~Even elements such as solving riddles have been prepared. However, as it is a very large field, will you search for the target monster yourself?

Tanaka: Because the positions of the enemies are displayed on the map during a guildleve, it becomes a matter of searching those areas. However, as this time it is an alpha version, they are not displayed.



~~It’s said a lot, but the graphics are impressive.

Tanaka: Because it is still in development, the current version still has rough spots. In this version, the background is rather simply displayed, but in the final version, each tree will be displayed one by one to an extremely far distance.


(Here he begins to engage the Dodo.)


Tanaka: In “FFXI”, when you selected the “Attack” command, we used an auto attack system that would attack automatically. However, in “FFXIV” it is essential that you select the command every time.



~~Are the icons lined up on the bottom of the screen commands?

Tanaka: That’s right. They are called “Action Commands”. This interface, too, is still tentative. This is again a comparison to “FFXI”, but a characteristic of this game is that you are able to draw out your weapon at any time. It’s not like drawing out your weapon for a fight in “FFXI”, but you can draw your weapon even in places with no enemies and run around.



(Tanaka defeats the Dodos one after the other.)



~~Please tell us a bit more about the commands.

Tanaka: The ones lined up in a row below are the abilities in the current set. From these you choose the ability, which is registered in the gauge above as a command. In this game there are two gauges. You interact with the right and left hand. For example, because I hold my shield in my left hand, the commands related to the shield are registered on the left hand side.
(TN: I’m not sure if this means you can the shield in your right hand too. Just that he is currently holding it in his left hand.)



~~Will you activate a command soon?

Tanaka: When the gauge called the “Action Gauge” fills up, you can activate it. Moreover, there is also one called the “Power Gauge”, and by accumulating power, you influence your hits and the power of your skills. Again, on the bottom right of the screen is a gauge called “TP”, and depending on the condition (TN: amount?) of this accumulated TP, the skills you can activate change. That is why it is important to act toward accumulating TP during battles.


~~You’re saying that you accumulate TP from attacking enemies and conversely taking attacks from enemies?

Tanaka: That’s right.



(Here Tanaka lets out his blade’s special attack “Red Lotus Blade”.)



~~Oh! That’s a skill that I recognize (lawl).

Tanaka: Lettuce (lol).

Red Lotus Blade was one of the special skills introduced in “FFXI”. It was deemed the pet name “Lettuce” among the users.



~~Do you also choose magic etc. from these action commands?

Tanaka: That’s right. Depending on the present weapon (skills) the contents of the action commands change. For example, now I’m holding a sword, but if I were to change to a staff it would change to a variety of commands for a mage.



~~So that means that acquired skills will also line up in the action commands?

Tanaka: That would be the case. There are skills that you can’t acquire if your weapon’s skill doesn’t go up.



~~In the end will you have an amazing amount of skills lined up in the Action Command?

Tanaka: You have up to 10 abilities that you can set in the Action Command. It means you will customize which 10 skills you will use in the set.



~~It’s something like matching the action command to your own play style, right?

Tanaka: That’s right.



~~What’s the reason for adopting this battle system?

Tanaka: First of all, we wanted to construct a more proactive battle than an auto-battle. More than that, the reasoning was that we wanted to increase the strategy by having you choose your own commands. In order to clearly give defined roles based on ones job, “FFXI” has a premise of having a certain amount of party play. With “FFXIV” you can play alone, or have fun in small groups of two or three. Depending on those situations, you can choose how to share roles.



~~What is the “Smile Mark” in the Action Command?

Tanaka: That is an emote. In “FFXI” you performed emotes via text commands, but with “FFXIV” you can choose it with a graphical user interface. The bag mark next to it selects your items.


~~We saw it in the presentation, but the expressions of the emotes this time are really great. Can you do them during battle as well?

Tanaka: At the moment you can’t use them in battle (laugh).



~~This is a question regarding the interface. Since the resolution of future generation machines has been raised, it’s easy to properly distribute chat and statuses etc. and see information. For example, where will party members’ statuses etc. be displayed?

Tanaka: In the initial condition, it is on the right side of the screen, but in actuality the layout of the screen can be changed freely on the player’s end, such as moving the window with the mouse.



~~What is the player’s point of view?

Tanaka: Since this is only an alpha version, I don’t know how it will turn out after this, but it is a shoulder camera from over the shoulder; a so-called normal third person view. You’ll be able to change it to 3 different views.



This ends the guildleve. Using a warp point, Tanaka warps to the aetheryte of the guildleve’s starting point.



~~Will the main method of transportation in “FFXIV” be aetheryte?

Tanaka: Being able to use the warp is for when you clear the guildleve. It’s necessary to actually travel to the various destinations on your adventure. You’ll probably reflect on it as a convenient method of transportation, but it’s not something you can use at anytime. (TN: Not too sure about that last sentence. But basically you only warp after the guildleve, you need to physically travel to the spot it seems.)


~~Thank you so much for explaining the game system. Now, we will ask about the condition of the current display and the development from here on out. It was a sensational announcement at June’s E3, but we were rather surprised that less than 3 months later that it’s already playable.

Tanaka: We’re coming from the development side, but since we’ve been working one thing or another for 3 or 4 years, it feels more like “finally” to us (laugh). Concerning this version of “FFXIV”, we had the concept of presenting a certain amount to the public and taking in their opinions from as early of a build as possible.

NEW PICS: link: http://news.dengeki.com/elem/000/000/187/187560/


























Dutch post translation(Courtesy of Baha):

Spoiler: show

EA Business Lounge, 13:00. My colleague Wesley is standing next to me. I tell him that I'd love to do an interview about Final Fantasy XIV, but that it's usually incredibly hard to get a hold of the people of SE. Wesley nonchalantly answers: "Um, I just played that game". Two-tenths of a second later, I'm at the Square-Enix booth.

For those of you wondering why my reaction speed approached Usain Bolts, you have to know that I've played FFXI for several years. Too long actually. In a time where I still had time to spare to build a castle of empty coke cans around my pc. With Final Fantasy XIV there's a good chance that my personal history will repeat. I've just set the first step, but for the main course I'll have to wait until sometime in 2010.

"Concept art... speculating time!"

After some nervous shuffling at the booth the presentation finally starts. In the background I see twelve screens with Lalafells, Hyurans, Roegadyn's and the other FFXIV races. What a tease! The Square Enix-dude explains the battlesystem, among other stuff. I don't understand one word, owing to the explanation being given in German, but I'm all set to storm one of the pc's.

Emotes!

After 15 minutes of German gibberish I finally get to step on the stage to get in front of a pc. I get control over a Lalafell (the race that would get teased by all the Tarutaru's in FFXI's Vana'Diel). I hide half of my Lalafell in a nearby bush: hehe, funny sight. I take out my camera to snap a picture. "Sorry, no up close pictures". Damn! It's immediately noticeable that the character animation is much better than in XI. For example: my Lalafell's hair moves along when I run. The game doesn't look finished at all though. Many textures need to be loaded or are just missing, but that's no reason to panic. This is a (pre?)-alpha, which is absolutely not representative for the final fame. The atmosphere is a lot like FFXI. The area I'm running around in looks a lot like the green pastures from eg. Konschtat Highlands. With my teammates I get the mission to dispatch 3 beasts, with a 30min time limit. This being just one of the quests you can embark on in the game.

"New enemies in FFXIV, but here are some old faithfuls: the Cactuar and the Marlboro"

Regrettably, it all goes wrong when I'm about to test the battle system. "Grahh, it's stuck", confirms the SE-employee. My version had a lot of problems (maybe that's why the textures occasionaly completely dissappeared). Oh well, guess I'll try out some emotes! '/laugh'doesn't seem to work (or I typo'd somehow), /point is back, /panic makes the Lalafell panic just like a Tarutaru. Despite of my limited - but enthusiastic - contribution to my party, my partners succeed in killing the three beasts. The third one posed some extra trouble, because it just kept running for its life. Somewhat the opposite of FFXI, where it's you who has to keep running until reaching a zoneline tp lose an enemy. I'm curious to see if they've gotten rid of that annoying element in FFXIV.

"Day-, night- and weather-cycle in action. Ooh!"

It's much too early for a first judgement. MMO-reviews often get criticized, because they're games that require a lot of time before you can make a real assesment. After only 15 minutes of play on this version of FFXIV, it only seems normal to not make any big statements. It's actually a bit surprising that SE has the guys to come show off such a short demo at gamescom, as a lot of people might - wrongly - be scared off a bit by this demo.
You can already see that the atmosphere is very recognisable, and that it doesn't seem that SE is going for an HD-version of FFXI, but is really trying to improve the game gameplay-wise. Tomorrow we have an interview scheduled, hopefully we can all learn more there!

Videos:
TO WATCH
Final Fantasy XIV Weather Effects
Final Fantasy XIV Range/Archer gameplay
IGN: FFXIV Off screen videos
Magic + Melee Gameplay(Magic broken in this version)
Gameplay 2
Gameplay 1
Final Fantasy XIV Online Video Game, GC 09: Character Animations (Cam) HD (Download link on video)
Final Fantasy XIV Online Video Game, GC 09: Lalafell Gameplay (Cam) HD (Download link on video)
BG Tube Mirrors Gameplay 1 : http://tube.bluegartrls.com/videos/2...meplay-video-1
BG Tube Mirrors Gameplay 2 : http://tube.bluegartrls.com/videos/2...meplay-video-2


TO DOWNLOAD
http://brightcove.vo.llnwd.net/d5/un...2001_ff142.mp4 (Game play 2)
http://brightcove.vo.llnwd.net/d5/un...4001_ff141.mp4 (Game play 1)



Pic Links:
Courtesy of Sethe: Index of ./
http://i25.tinypic.com/2li7q82.jpg
http://i25.tinypic.com/1zjbsh.jpg
http://i28.tinypic.com/2dtuhhg.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...G_4817copy.jpg
Imageshack - xivguildlevequestredlot
Imageshack - xivmacromenu
Imageshack - xivrngscenic
Imageshack - xivshieldpuk
Imageshack - wowzje
http://i27.tinypic.com/2s78j29.jpg
http://i30.tinypic.com/6elv6g.jpg
http://i31.tinypic.com/29olmpv.jpg
http://i31.tinypic.com/9r4lll.jpg
Imageshack - ff141



Pics:




Chat log:

Chat window is titled "Allgemein" (Common)

Chat log:

.. gained for the special ability "Swordplay". Your Level in "Swordplay" rises to 21.

You have defeated the Group of Dodo!

You can't perform this action when the target is KO.

gcuser140's shiel returned to normality.

(new scene at 0:15)

gcuser030 takes 1 point of damage.


... uses "Attack".


... deals 1 point of damage to gcuser030 with "Attack" from behind.

An error occured. The command "Adventurermode" cannot be used.

... uses "Attack".

... hits gcuser030 with "Attack" on a weak point.

---

An error occurred, the command "Combat Mode" cannot be used.

---

Later, at ~ 0.45:

An error occurred, the Command "Sword Thrust" cannot be used.

---

Later, at ~ 0.49:


The Ability "Swordplay" raises by 4422.

---

Another ability name @ ~ 0:53:

The Command "Red Lotus" cannot be used.

And another one a bit later:

The Command "Sword slash" cannot be used.

Another ability name @ ~ 1:15:

"Schutzschild" -> Protective Shield



Other Notes:

In the top right corner, there's written "Nichts für Tierfreunde", this sounds like a quest name "Not for animal lovers."

[xopher]

They will show the trailer again. Have a shitty question and answer session filled with "We cannot discuss that at this time".

[Kurokikaze]

Originally Posted by xopher

They will show the trailer again. Have a shitty question and answer session filled with "We cannot discuss that at this time".

My thoughts exactly. One can only hope though...

[LD]

I hope we get something more than what we already have at gamescom, but odds are good that the big show is gunna be at TGS in September.

[Tobatobu]

Maybe they will hint at the beta.

[hagun]

Originally Posted by xopher

They will show the trailer again. Have a shitty question and answer session filled with "We cannot discuss that at this time".

Can't stress this enough. Though I'd love for them yo prove us wrong.

[Ryuushin]

Originally Posted by LD

I hope we get something more than what we already have at gamescom, but odds are good that the big show is gunna be at TGS in September.

Yeah.. I was thinking that too, I guess we'll have to see

[BGtemp]

They could release some nice detals about things like the names of the races, current job line up etc that would be exciting and nice to hear w/o really delving into game mechanics that may not be complete yet.

[Croy]

My gut instinct says to be cynical like the rest of you, but the press release makes me think otherwise. It says it will be THE game they are showcasing at the show floor if the wording in the actual press release is to be believed

"FINAL FANTASY XIV
Developer: Square Enix Co., Ltd.
Brand: Square Enix
Platform: PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system / Windows PC
Genre: MMORPG
Release Date: 2010
FINAL FANTASY XIV

The surprise announcement of E3 2009 is set to be one of the main attractions at GamesCom 2009. An all new massively-multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), planned for a simultaneous global release with language support in German, French, English and Japanese.

Adventure begins anew in the vast realm of Eorzea!"

Its also part of the selection of Live Demonstration on said press release

"The playable world premiere of SUPREME COMMANDER® 2 will be joined by the eagerly-awaited BATMAN™: ARKHAM ASYLUM, DISSIDIA® FINAL FANTASY®, FINAL FANTASY XIII, FINAL FANTASY XIV, KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 DAYS, MINI NINJAS™ and ORDER OF WAR™."

So I think we should get actually hyped for this if only ever so slightly.

This is where I found the press release -->

Final Fantasy XIV (FF14) at ZAM

Its actually been known for a bit now that FFXIV was going to be there.

[Insanecyclone]

If it's the actual in-game footage I'm all over this and I hope they have the music in it up loud!

[Maguspk]

Originally Posted by Croy

My gut instinct says to be cynical like the rest of you, but the press release makes me think otherwise. It says it will be THE game they are showcasing at the show floor if the wording in the actual press release is to be believed

"FINAL FANTASY XIV
Developer: Square Enix Co., Ltd.
Brand: Square Enix
Platform: PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system / Windows PC
Genre: MMORPG
Release Date: 2010
FINAL FANTASY XIV

The surprise announcement of E3 2009 is set to be one of the main attractions at GamesCom 2009. An all new massively-multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), planned for a simultaneous global release with language support in German, French, English and Japanese.

Adventure begins anew in the vast realm of Eorzea!"

Its also part of the selection of Live Demonstration on said press release

"The playable world premiere of SUPREME COMMANDER® 2 will be joined by the eagerly-awaited BATMAN™: ARKHAM ASYLUM, DISSIDIA® FINAL FANTASY®, FINAL FANTASY XIII, FINAL FANTASY XIV, KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 DAYS, MINI NINJAS™ and ORDER OF WAR™."

So I think we should get actually hyped for this if only ever so slightly.

This is where I found the press release -->

Final Fantasy XIV (FF14) at ZAM

Its actually been known for a bit now that FFXIV was going to be there.

oo, promising.

[Croy]

This should solidify it that it will NOT be just a simple rehash of the old trailer.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...g?t=1248915244

[quannum]

Originally Posted by Croy

This should solidify it that it will NOT be just a simple rehash of the old trailer.

how does that pic solidify anything about ff14?

[Maguspk]

Originally Posted by quannum

how does that pic solidify anything about ff14?

[Insanecyclone]

Pony Friends 2

[Ryuushin]

SE apparently bought Eidos, so my friend tells me to expect a Lara Croft RPG >.>

[Zumi]

See the games Live. As in see the same old trailer again live in person.

[Ollieyk]

Originally Posted by Ryuushin

SE apparently bought Eidos, so my friend tells me to expect a Lara Croft RPG >.>

Was wondering why they were advertising Arkham Asylum in a SE newsletter.

[xopher]

hold the fucking phone guys

Anyone notice anything missing from that list?

Final Fantasy XIII

Other than FFXIV and The Crystal Bearers, every game on that list has a playable build out now. FF13 only had a single Japanese playable build and S-E said that there will be no more demos of the game until the game's release.

I think we will see some interesting shit next month.

[Zumi]

Didn't FFXIII already have an English demo at E3? I remember seeing videos of it.

[Waraji]

Is Eorzeapedia.com giving anyone else problems? I can't seem to load the website ; ;

[Trocian]

I really want to be excited, but I know better ; ;

[xopher]

Originally Posted by Zumi

Didn't FFXIII already have an English demo at E3? I remember seeing videos of it.

Pretty sure it was not playable.

[Okan]

Hopefully they'll announce another platform... Like OSX or something.

[TheDirtyHobo]

Originally Posted by xopher

Pretty sure it was not playable.

This terrible writing which was written terribly disagrees.

For the first time and right in E3 Expo 2009, a preview of Final Fantasy XIII English demo on the Xbox 360 has been previewed featuring one main feature – Summoning. Towards the end of the video, you will get to see Lightning perform a Odin summon. Pretty kick ass.

Source

[Croy]

Originally Posted by TheDirtyHobo

This terrible writing which was written terribly disagrees.



Source

I think people here were talking about a playable demo that more than just the SE devs could use... it was more a live devonstration not a playable demo since there wouldn't be an begining or ending point in the demonstration, just whatever the devs felt like doing. Just like the FFXIV thing might end up being... nothing more than a live demonstration and not a wide playable demo for people who attend the event.

[xopher]

I don't expect them to have a version that people can walk up and play at all. That would be strange for an MMO. There's no way you could get a feel for the game in a 5 minute demo.

I'm expecting them to be showing videos of the battle system and stuff like that.

[orson]

Originally Posted by Tobatobu

Maybe they will hint at the beta.

$20 says the beta will be 100% Japanese anyways because devs are too lazy to get stuff translated.

Originally Posted by xopher

Pretty sure it was not playable.

You do realize that a fully playable demo of FFXIII came with the Japanese version of FFVII:AC Complete? Rumor has it that the English recordings have been done awhile ago but thanks to the non-exclusivity in NA markets PS3 users here got the shaft though, freaking Microsoft.

[xopher]

Originally Posted by orson

$20 says the beta will be 100% Japanese anyways because devs are too lazy to get stuff translated.



You do realize that a fully playable demo of FFXIII came with the Japanese version of FFVII:AC Complete? Rumor has it that the English recordings have been done awhile ago but thanks to the non-exclusivity in NA markets PS3 users here got the shaft though, freaking Microsoft.

Translation efforts are underway for FFXIV. This has been stated.

And I'm pretty sure I specified playable English version of FF13 does not exist.

[Katlan]

I expect to see an actual gameplay demo or, at least, screen shots accompanied by an explanation / narrative of certain in-game features and how it will be diff from other mmo's. Game should be hitting Beta (least in JP) soon, so you gotta expect more info to be released