FFXIV Release Date Confirmed for September 30th, 2010!

• Official FFXIV website updated today by Square Enix
• The above image shows the Collectors Edition which will give Early Access starting on September 22nd
• Pricing: Standard Edition ($50) and Collector's Edition ($75)
• Release Date: Standard Edition: September 30th, 2010 | Collector's Edition: September 22nd, 2010 
• Subscription Pricing: Monthly fee: $12.99 | Additional character slots: $3.00/month each (Players may have a maximum of  7 slots).   
• Every account will be given one retainer (which is essentially a mule that can be used to stay online and sell the bazaar for you while you're offline.   
• Additional retainers can be purchased for $1.00/month each

Bonus materials... Excitement overload!!!

Asuran Armbands FFXIII Promo Code

Googles for Pre-Order (confirmed for Standard but also for Collectors Edition???)

Onion Helm Collectors Edition Exclusive!

Bonus Items included in Collectors Edition:

• Special In-Game Item: Onion Helm (reduced penalty upon death)
• Priority Log-in a week before official start of service.
• A specially designed package featuring the art of Yoshitaka Amano and Akihiko Yoshida.
• FFXIV original tumbler
• FFXIV DVD “Eorzea: The Making of a Realm”
• Hard-cover art case to protect your game and DVD.
• A specially designed FFXIV security token.
• Tumbler for Europe version?

FFXIV Official website updated with new poster!

Always everyone, please remember that all the official videos and images from SE were used here strictly for fan purposes; and all the product, system names and/or company logos remain the registered trademarks of Square Enix.  Copyright (C) 2010 SQUARE ENIX CO. LTD. All Rights Reserved

FFXIV: The Metamorphosis from Alpha to Beta!

Square Enix have put up an awesome Alpha and Beta Comparison video on their official YouTube channel




The graphics look absolutely stunning and exhibit a huge improvement over the alpha client. It also shows the excellent upgrade to the battle system (as reported during E3 earlier this month)

Finally, I have to thank one of my Japanese friends for emailing me the link to Famitsu's latest online article.  It contains... (can you believe it?)... Apkallu from FFXI!   I remember hunting those things on the boat to Nashmau for a certain drop lol.  And here they are in FFXIV, including the Gobbue (we already saw that from the new trailer), bomb and Fungar... (heh, back in 2004 I remember them being the first mob to kill me on FFXI due to my 'noobism'; all cuz I had  no idea how to cue poison... hurray for antidotes ehh?).

Remember the Akpallu?

The salamander

The third image is kinda cute innit?  Dangerously cute dark furries holding rocks to lob towards all and sundery lol.... apparently they're called Spirrigans.  And of course, the last is of the very upgraded Fungar (supposedly found around Gridania).  Well, that's all for now folks!  Be well everyone and thanks again for the email Jijisachi! xD

Always everyone, please remember that all the official videos and images from SE were used here strictly for fan purposes; and all the product, system names and/or company logos remain the registered trademarks of Square Enix.  Copyright (C) 2010 SQUARE ENIX CO. LTD. All Rights Reserved

FFXIV video of Elezen Lancer and much more!

Sweeeeeeeeet!

I've been eagerly searching online for videos of Male Elezen Lancers and fortunately Steparu recorded some gameplay footage while at E3 2010.   Yes yes yes yes yes...Lancer ftw!

Here is also a quick character creation video, also by Steparu



That's not all folks... FFXIVCore also got a translation that Dengeki did with Tanaka (awesome read btw) and one thing that really stood out to me was this (mainly because I have had an adventuring-NPC-fellow on FFXI since 2006):

Crafting, Bazaars, and Community Systems
Are there any new systems planned for beta?
Tanaka: Weapons and items will lose durability. You will not lose a weapon because of it, but its battle potential will drop to the point where it will probably be useless. Since repairs will be necessary, we have increased the number of gathering and crafting classes. The next big planned addition would be retainers, hirable NPCs. For example, in FFXI you could not run your bazaar if you logged out. In FFXIV if you hand your items over to your retainer and set them up in the marketplace, you will be able to sell your goods even if you log off. Other than that, we have plans for linkshells but are unsure of when they will be ready for implementation.


And there's more... Could FFXIV be coming to the PS3 in 3D???  This was my expression after reading that... 

Always everyone, please remember that all the official videos and images from SE were used here strictly for fan purposes; and all the product, system names and/or company logos remain the registered trademarks of Square Enix.  Copyright (C) 2010 SQUARE ENIX CO. LTD. All Rights Reserved

New FFXIV Trailer at E3 2010!

The official website for FFXIV has just been updated with the latest trailer that was shown moments ago at E3 2010!   Chocobos... Gobbue... Chariot/Carriages... OMG, was that a glimpse of a waterfall in Gridania?  O.o

That's not all folks... SE has also released a Benchmark download for all regions (North America, Europe and Japan!).  The benchmark download lets you see just how well FFXIV will run on your rig.  It's an official download with actual charcters, maps and backgrounds so that we can all assign a score to our PCs and rate their perfomance.  Wicked innit?

Always everyone, please remember that all the official videos and images from SE were used here strictly for fan purposes; and all the product, system names and/or company logos remain the registered trademarks of Square Enix.  Copyright (C) 2010 SQUARE ENIX CO. LTD. All Rights Reserved

FFXIV at E3 2010... Live Report with Tanaka!

New Battle system finally unveiled... smoother, quicker and definitely looking more fun.  Awesome innit...? xD

Eorzeapedia also has a screenshot from the upcoming FFXIV trailer to be shown today by Square Enix... yessssss, Moogles have been confirmed!   Is that fella in the middle a Gria race? Or a Hyur kid with horn accesories?  I'm seriously loving the Lancer armour btw... (you all DO notice that all six of them are Lancers, yes?).  Spooky face masks too lol.

Always everyone, please remember that all the official videos and images from SE were used here strictly for fan purposes; and all the product, system names and/or company logos remain the registered trademarks of Square Enix.  Copyright (C) 2010 SQUARE ENIX CO. LTD. All Rights Reserved

E3 Begins Today... Could T.E.R.A be FFXIV's Competition?

Yes indeed wonderful ladies and gentlemen... the heavily anticipated E3 2010 Expo begins today and I'll be updating the blog as swiftly as possible with all kinds of information as they become available.  Also be sure to follow the various FFXIV related fan-sites on Twitter as the Admins bring us the latest exciting news.

That said, I was wondering what readers felt about "TERA - The Exiled Realm of Arborea", which is an MMORPG currently in development by Bluehole Studio (same guys that brought us Kingdom under Fire on the xbox 360).   A few friends and I have traded some emails about this sometime late last year when TERA's beta was in full swing and here are two of the latest trailers... makes us all wonder if this (and not Aion) will be FFXIV main competitor...




****Blog Entry edited in April 2011 to add JCRL's explanatory video***




****Blog Entry edited in Feb 2012 once more in order to add Unitlosttube's hilarious and witty explanatory video***



And of course, I'm still keeping a very keen out for our stunning Blade and Soul... (original video added in June 2010 had to be removed because it got buggy, so I replaced it in November 2010)...



Finally, here are some awesome images and information about The Twelve (the Eorzean gods) that was created by Draconix, Mooga and Ralsu on the FFXIVCore Wiki Team.  Wicked calendar and flowchart innit? 

Superb information and I was fascinated with the lore behind all the Twelve.  Amazing how SE have also been saying they might affect our choice of jobs or something of the sort (maybe crafting?).  One lasting thing I got from reading this is that could there possibly be an opposing faction of gods or better still, a single goddess/god that was "exiled" from the rest of them?

I 'm arriving at this notion because I've read enough books (and written a few short stories) to   always leave a possibility of an unexpected element that could always either upset or maintain the "balance".   That the Twelve are alone in their absolute power over all the universe seems unlikely... yeah, I'm trying to seek out some more lore here.

Plus, the manifestation of how Nymeia, Althyk were created seems... vague.  That chart places them at the (head?) of the pantheon but there are also a couple other gods that also manifested out of no where... or did they have a "parent" we don't know about?  Did they "deflect" from another set of gods/goddesses we don't know about?

I know I'm reading too much into this but that's just me... until later, be well everyone!

FFXIV Mission Impossible!

What the...Who goes there!??

Yes indeed, two individuals (do we count the camera-person?) have just infiltrated the revered vaults of Sqaure Enix to bring us the new Character Creation screen for FFXIV! The video was posted on SE's offical You Tube channel and I only just realized it today after I got an email alert earlier today... (I had subscribed onto the channel ages ago and readers know that there is even a direct link at the bottom of the blog).



Awesome great new background (remember that piccys of the old screen on the Alpha client had a field as the background) and the video also shows that players will seemingly be able to select five "Charcateristics" on the face of their toon.

With E3 just 4 days away from commencing, this was a keen way for SE to begin generating the already high levels of excitement for new FFXI information. BTW, their official E3 website and virtual booth is up and has a list of the games they'll be showcasing.

Finally, I leave you with a mysterious screenshot of the alleged new FFXIV trailer that SE will show us... check it out though, the citizens looks mighty cozy with those hulking beastmen innit??? Whether this image is a truely part of what is to be shown at E3, we'll find out in 5 more days. Be well.

Always everyone, please remember that all the official videos and images from SE were used here strictly for fan purposes; and all the product, system names and/or company logos remain the registered trademarks of Square Enix.  Copyright (C) 2010 SQUARE ENIX CO. LTD. All Rights Reserved

Eorzean Alphabet...?

Now this really is impressive...   Eorzeapedia have already done a polished job of putting together the alphebet for the "Eorzean" language that we all saw on the detailed World Map released by SE on may 19th.  Done collectively by Tristis (the font), and AaronDMorgan (the Cipher Imaging) the list was awesomely created.

Also nice is the fact that their site has a tool on the forum-posting composition set-up that allows members to change their fonts into Eorzean.  Neat... and well done, fellaz.

Always everyone, please remember that all the official videos and images from SE were used here strictly for fan purposes; and all the product, system names and/or company logos remain the registered trademarks of Square Enix.  Copyright (C) 2010 SQUARE ENIX CO. LTD. All Rights Reserved