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Final Fantasy XIV Beta Dates Set, More Incentives Detailed

You've only got a couple days but at least you get a chance to play it early, right?

Besides, you'll be doing Square Enix a valuable service. The publisher has announced beta tests for the upcoming Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn :

Players on the PlayStation 3 and PC will be able to sample the MMORPG between August 17 and 19. The game is set to release on both platforms on August 27. However, if you've pre-ordered the game, you'll get early access, which means you'll be able to dive in on August 24.

Furthermore, producer and director Naoki Yoshida offered some incentives to get you even more intrigued:

Veteran RewardsEnjoy various bonuses based on how long you have been a FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn subscriber (30, 60 & 90 days). By starting with a 90-day subscription, players receive all 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day bonuses at once.

Companion iOS AppA free companion app, "FINAL FANTASY XIV: Libra Eorzea™," planned to arrive a week after launch.

Welcome Back CampaignPlayers who registered FINAL FANTASY® XIV 1.0 can play FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn for free until Monday, September 9.

If you're willing to give it a whirl, there will be a 30-day free trial for all newly created accounts. The game will cost $39.99 on the PS3 and $29.99 on the PC, and monthly subscriptions are priced from $12.99 and up. Why people would pay a monthly fee to play a video game, I've never been able to determine. But hey, if it's your bag…

Related Game(s): Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn

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WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
10 years ago

Just in time for a new console generation entirely! Nope, not rewarding them for the project that helped derail the whole franchise.

Underdog15
Underdog15
10 years ago

They "say" there will be a ps4 version at release.

I put that in quotes because they say a lot of things over at SE these days.

The beta is worth seeing though, world. Its a little too quick for my tastes, but its still essentially turn based in a way. Its the direction I wish XV was going.

Ive been testing since alpha in december. Its the closest thing to final fantasy we've gotten in the last decade….

LimitedVertigo
LimitedVertigo
10 years ago

Already preordered…this will last for many years on the PC and PS4.

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
10 years ago

I'm not questioning the quality, everyone says it's actually pretty damn awesome, but if I got involved in an MMO now none of you would ever see me again. I just want a normal FF.

Underdog15
Underdog15
10 years ago

Haha yeah… you might be right, World. FFXI ended up being my exclusive game for at least 1 year… missed some other great titles. You definitely need some self restraint when it comes to mmo's…

Reaper_505
Reaper_505
10 years ago

@Underdog15

When did they say there would be a PS4 version at release? Everything I have seen has said 2014.

Underdog15
Underdog15
10 years ago

Anything within a quarter of release is "at release". I suppose you can get nit-picky if it shows up in January since that is technically a new quarter despite still being within three months.

Either way… pretty damn close to release.

Reaper_505
Reaper_505
10 years ago

I wasn't trying to be nit-picky. I just hadn't heard anything about it coming that soon. That's all. I just thought it was going to be later.

cLoudou
cLoudou
10 years ago

Yeah, no thanks. I'll gladly play for free though

duomaxwell007
duomaxwell007
10 years ago

umm itll be on PS4… as for why youd pay a monthly fee to play a game? Reslly Ben? I expect the "kids" these days to not get it but someone whos been around as long as you should get it… lets see not only do you get a HUGE open wold thats persistent, theres no content and areas, and monsters, huge new sections of the map (areas again), and more storylines every 2-3 months.

Sure games get DLC but do they come that THAT often and offer that much drastic changes? I mean a new storyline alone is usually done in a sequel for a brand new game (disc) but this is being added to an already existing game. so its easy to see what that 13-15 bucks a month is going towards.

Now if you were paying a monthly fee and the game stayed exactly the same with nothing new added for 6+ month periods at a time THEN i could understand questioning the fees… which is why F2P mmos have little to no new content for LONG stretches of time (DCUO) because youre not paying them regularly but then ppl complain about how little there is to do/why theyre running out of stuff to do. I NEVER had that problem with FFXI and Im sure FFXIV will be no different (played 5 years and theres STILL stuff I have YET to do.. because theres so MUCH of it) whereas i did everything DCUO had to offer in 2 months

Vivi_Gamer
Vivi_Gamer
10 years ago

Subscriptions for MMO's just has never worked for me and now that they have to compete with the online services from other games, the appeal just isn't there.

I played the XIV Beta a few weeks back and I have to say it was just awful. As it is an MMO it has no story or engaging characters, that was to be expected. Bu the missions themselves just feel like fetch quests or side quests, I just see no aim to the game. What is worse is that there are no group missions. So on the Beta everyone was just running around doing there own missions rather than working together or communicating at all. For an MMO I found it to be a rather isolated experience and by the end of the few hours I played it I had had enough.

If the game had no subscription, I would consider it but there is no chance that I will pay for the game and the pay subscriptions on top of that – forget it.


Last edited by Vivi_Gamer on 8/12/2013 4:06:14 AM

Gaming Prodigy
Gaming Prodigy
10 years ago

@Ultimadesires
I would just like to stop you after reading the second paragraph. The reason you didnt like it is either
A. You only made it so far to where the game hasnt opened up or
B. You lack any kind of knowledge to check online resources to see what the LIVE GAME is going to have.

And paying to play, as long as the MMO is diverse, (ways to make your classes) looting, end-game, and able to play solo & with a party. Those are what I look for. This game has some solid potential. Maybe before you go a give a "unhealthy" review of a beta you REALLY give it a try

SE has a lot of making up to do, and it seems like they may just have pulled their heads out of eachothers asses. RR looks great, and its not even out yet, XV had me hocked from day 1 (trailer back in 07?) and still is looking good and finally KHIII. This game is long overdue, with no gameplay out yet i'm still ready to dive into the game.

Underdog15
Underdog15
10 years ago

Dude, it had no story because its been intentionally left out for the most part to avoid spoilers at release. Its why when u fight a boss it starts with an explanation for why you aren't seeing the instanced story. It straight up tells you its not included in beta.

How much did u even play?

As for no group missions, that's just straight up false. Like… not even a little true. Its designed to solo to lvl 10 for teaching u how to play. But that's not even close to true. You don't have to like it, but lets use real reasons please.


Last edited by Underdog15 on 8/12/2013 8:46:05 AM

Vivi_Gamer
Vivi_Gamer
10 years ago

I did play the game for a good 10 hours or so, so I think that is enough time to gather a fair perspective of the game. In my experience there went any group missions, there was the occasional enemy on a the map which would have a unique icon and you would be encouraged to take them on. But even so, all people were doing was just plowing every powerful attack they could. There was no sense of strategy or teamwork in that.

If they game opens up to more group missions, fair enough. But as a Beta and for many the first time playing the game it did not give off a welcoming impression. I went around trying to communicate with players and they would just go on their way doing their little missions. It was just a very shallow 'multiplayer' experience and I am not encouraged to go out and buy the game due to such experience – Even if it was Free to play upon buying the game.

So I believe my experience is more than enough reason to have a low opinion on it. Nor shall I be penalised for not praising it. My judgement on the story may be considered harsh but I saw how they tried to introduce characters like that creature with the white hair… but they're hardly as grounded as a character from the main Final Fantasy series.

Of course as it is an MMO the character you play as is just transparent, but that is to be expected of MMO's and is one reason I will never get along with them. It's something I have complained about in any game where you create the lead character, even single player games like Fallout or Skyrim. So just because it is an MMO doesn't mean I will let it off. Especially as it has taken an FF numeral rather than just being called Final Fantasy Online 2… Though from what I played the world and races look Identical to XI anyway.

duomaxwell007
duomaxwell007
10 years ago

lol it DOES have a story.. which is why I WILL play FFXIV and loved FFXI but wont touch any other MMO… there were indeed cutscenes and dialogue/story progression in the beta, you can even look at story from the old 1.0 on youtube to further prove it. As for no group content soo what about those story based level 15+ dungeons you HAD to do in groups?

Underdog15
Underdog15
10 years ago

My issue isn't that you aren't allowed to like or dislike the game. 10 hours isn't really much to form an opinion of an entire game when those 10 hours are spent in a restricted beta, imo.

But I'm not refuting your right to like or dislike or even have an opinion on it.

My issue is that many of your issues with the game aren't true.

Duo: yes, some story elements are found in the beta, but not all. More was revealed in Phase 3, but not everything. In earlier phases, you got even less.

But also, like Duo said… by lvl 15, a huge amount of missions and quests REQUIRE a party. So much so that for people who dislike being social, there's "duty finder" to automatically pair you up with a balanced party from all the servers.

In fact… duty finder was the main testing item for phase 3 along with PS3 stress testing. So like… the FOCUS of the third phase for much of their programming was tinkering with the part of the game that puts you with a full party… either a partial party or a full alliance of a dozen or more people!

THAT's why I say you aren't using real facts. Have your opinion. I'm cool with that. But use real reasons. That's all. It's not fair to other people reading your comments who haven't tried it yet that might make a conclusion based on your comments only to miss out on a game they might otherwise have really liked.

Gaming Prodigy
Gaming Prodigy
10 years ago

@Underdog15

Well said

Underdog15
Underdog15
10 years ago

F2P model would not work on a game like this.

And didn't I just read a bunch of explanations the other day to justify an acceptable subscription model re: servers? This definitely falls under that

Underdog15
Underdog15
10 years ago

Also id wait for ps4 version. Ps3 looks inferior to pc version unfortunately. Ive been playing on pc mostly. Looks fantastic.

broox9
broox9
10 years ago

I played the beta a few weeks ago too. Seems at least decent. I know I was playing a dialed back version but I was entertained for a couple of hours.

As much as I think it would be cool to play, I can't see myself spending enough time on it to justify a subscription. I would never take advantage of all it offers. That's what happened to me with LOTRO before it went F2P.

As much as it sucks to say, DCUO works for me because I'm not hard core on MMOs but I like them.

Underdog15
Underdog15
10 years ago

They will have a timecard subscription model available. In other words, you could play for a while, and if you wanted to go back to it at a later date, your character would be waiting for you after you buy a new time card. Also, if you only played a couple hours here and there, it might be more affordable than a straight up monthly subscription.

A nice option for people who might only play it more casually or people who wish to discipline their time.

Reaper_505
Reaper_505
10 years ago

The way I view subscription based games such as FFXIV:ARR is this; If I buy one PS3 game, it costs me $60, and I get an average of 30-40 hours of fun out of it. So for $13/mo, as long as I get an average of 20+ hours of fun, then it is worth more. I look at $/hr. 20+ hours is the rule I set for myself, but the math would actually make it closer to 10 hours to be even with buying a game.

Underdog15
Underdog15
10 years ago

I'm the same way. I aim to keep my costs below $2/hr in an ideal world. It's been my goal all generation. I failed a few times unwittingly, but for the most part, I've been good. So a $60 game has to get me at least 30 hours. Otherwise, I wait a bit for a price drop.

The subscription for this game requires me to play 6 hours a month to get my money's worth. If I start seeing that I'm not getting at LEAST that, then I would probably cancel.

But 3 of my buddies are also getting the game and we've already got a voip set up. So I'm anticipating I'll hit that pretty well for the first year or so at least.

Reaper_505
Reaper_505
10 years ago

I also have a group of friends getting it, so I'm sure I'll get my money's worth for at least a few months.

kraygen
kraygen
10 years ago

I've actually been playing the beta for over a month now. I tried it on ps3 first, but found it much easier to play on pc as far as the controls go. I'd like to point out that I'm not a pc gamer first, I prefer a controller, but it just felt clunky with ff xiv.

As far as the game goes, they have definitely improved some things since it's initial release, however I've played many mmo's and this one the combat just feels too simple to maintain my interest.

After a month of beta testing I'm already bored with it and while I could keep playing for free, I haven't been.

Underdog15
Underdog15
10 years ago

A lot of people complain about simple combat. But after reading everything about it, I'm pretty sure most of the problem is just not advancing your characters to a complex enough point.

kraygen
kraygen
10 years ago

I don't remember what the level cap is right now, but I got two different combat levels over level 25 and 2 crafting classes to level 20. Harvesting I didn't get as high because I hated how it was set up and it was horribly boring after 5 minutes.

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