FFXIV Info - Fan Site and Database

Square Enix have sent out an e-mail detailing the open beta test for FFXIV. In case you have not received it, the contents of the e-mail are below. The time given in step 1 is GMT. For PDT it will be 17:00 on August 31st.

“In preparation for the official release of FINAL FANTASY XIV on September 30, 2010 and the early release on September 22, we will be starting an open beta test to help put the finishing touches on the game. We ask that all users who can participate in the open beta test apply from the following website.

1.Access the following URL.
http://entry.ffxiv.com/
* The page will become accessible starting at 2:00 on Sep. 1, 2010.

2.Log in with your Square Enix account and have a registration code issued.
* Depending on the access status, we may temporarily suspend the issuance of registration code. If you cannot have registration code issued, we ask that you please wait a little while before trying again.

3.Register the registration code you received by e-mail on the Square Enix Account Management System.
Click “Select Service” from “Services and Options” on the left menu. Select “FINAL FANTASY XIV” from the services available and then “Add a service account.” Enter the registration code you’ve been issued and proceed to the end of registration.

The Square Enix Account Management System: https://secure.square-enix.com/account/

– Client Software Used in the Open Beta Test
The installer for the open beta test’s client software can be downloaded from the following website.
http://entry.ffxiv.com/

*If you have already downloaded the client software for the closed beta test, there is no need to download the installer.

– Transferring your Character Name from the Open Beta Test to the Commercial Release
As long as the World you choose in the commercial release is the same as the World you chose in the open beta test, you will be able to transfer your character name. If you choose a different World for the commercial release, your character name will not be transferrable. For details, please refer to the beta test site.

– To PlayStation 3 Version Applicants:
This test phase will deal only with the Windows version of the software. Details regarding the test schedule for the PlayStation 3 version will be released by e-mail at a later date. If possible, we still ask and encourage you to take part in the testing on a Windows PC.

– Note:
・The open beta test is being conducted on the Windows version of the game only.
・Latest news and notifications will be periodically posted on the forums of the tester site.
・The game to be tested is under development, and may differ from the commercial release.
・Please direct all inquiries regarding FINAL FANTASY XIV to the Square Enix Support Center ( http://support.eu.square-enix.com/ffxiv/ ).”

Important Update

The open beta has been postponed until further notice due to the discovery of a critical bug. The information from Square Enix is as follows.

“FINAL FANTASY XIV Open Beta Test, which is scheduled to begin at 02:00 (GMT) on Sept. 1, 2010, will be postponed due to a confirmation of critical bugs. New schedule will be release? at a later date.

Along with the postponement of FINAL FANTASY XIV Open Beta Test, the issuing of registration code for FINAL FANTASY XIV Open Beta Test will be postponed as well. With the download of client software’s installer, it will be suspended at 02:00 (GMT) on Sept. 1, 2010.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”

Update 2:

The open beta will begin on September 2nd at 2am GMT, which is 7pm PDT on September 1st. The instructions given above will still apply.

We recently got our hands on a beta key for the closed beta, so I was finally able to play it! I have taken some beautiful screenshots from the La Noscea region, some of which are from parts you may not have seen much of. Some are from the guildleve system and there’s even a map thrown in. Unfortunately I did not get to spend much time on the beta due to hardware issues, which remain unsolved. This has limited what I could tell you.

I started the beta by creating a Hyur called Xenor Vernico on the Jecht server, you can see him in the screenshot of the left. I was disappointed that there was not many hairstyles to choose from but I was still able to create a character I was happy with. After going through the opening cutscene I was thrown into Limsa Lominsa for the first time. After finding my way out of the starting location I decided to explore the town and try get used to the controls.

The controls were a bit difficult to get the hang of because I am used to using the arrow keys for camera movement in FFXI and had to get used to using the IJKL keys instead in FFXIV. The camera also seemed to move the opposite way to what I expected, but that was easily sorted in the configuration settings. Camera movement keys can be set to arrows in the retail version so this will be good news if you don ot like change.

I decided to head over to the market wards and see what they are like because it seemed to be a topic debated often on fan sites. After hiring my Retainer I was able to enter the market ward areas. The system looks like it has potential, after all being able to sell items in a bazaar while you are not logged in can only be good. But I could see why some people do not like the system. It can be difficult to find specific items. A search feature would be a great addition and I can see Square Enix improving the system.

I then thought I would check out the guildleve system. The leves available to me at my level were quite basic, in the form of go out and kill X amount of monsters, but early quests in any game are never complex or difficult. They are designed to help the player ease into the game and get the hang of things. I found the guildleve system fun, and I can only imagine how much fun the more complex leves will be at higher levels.

I made it to level 4 Conjurer by completing guildleves and killing a few random monsters along the way. I noticed there are a lot more spells available at early levels than in FFXI, for example I had all of the first tier of elemental magic right from the start. I also had a non-elemental magic ability called Spirit Dart which does not use MP. This is very useful because at this level I did not have an ability to regain MP so I had to make it last for the duration of the guildleve. The ability is very good and I did not see it miss.

I spent the rest of my time in the beta exploring La Noscea because I knew the closed beta was due to end within days. It did not seem worth levelling my character any more. I thought the Bloodshore area would be an interesting place to visit after looking at the map and it was. This was possibly the best scenery I had seen in the game so far. A beach! I went down to it and explored before staying in a safe spot to see how it would look at night.

I then headed over to an area called Cassiopeia Hollow. This is a dungeon area that you can access from near the Bloodshore Aetheryte crystal and it is full of paths, water and new creatures. There is a lot of detail in the random plants that are scattered around the area, which adds to the depth of the world. Unfortunately I ran into something nasty and ended up dead in one hit. I should not have been there at my level but it is fun to explore.

You can see all of the screenshots I took below. Click them for a larger version.

We also have six screenshots provided to us by our member MetroPeanut who played as a Pugilist. There’s a screenshot of the loot window and an airship, among others.

If you would like your screenshots featured on our home page please post them in the forums and we will post the best ones. In the open beta we will only be looking for screenshots from the Gridania and Ul’dah regions because we feel we have tonnes from the Limsa Lominsa and La Noscea regions already.