Final Fantasy XI: Console or Computer

[Darkly0990]

I want to play Final Fantasy XI, but which is better: Console or Computer?
Now, XBox is not an option--don't have one. I still would like to know if it's better than PS2 or PC.
I have a PS2, but I would have to buy the network hard drive adapter, as well as the game and the hard drive it comes with. I'd also want a keyboard for typing.
I have a laptop and DSL. All I would have to buy is the game. I would find an adapter that allows you to play with a PS2 controller.
So, people, which is a better choice? What are your experiences? Any difference between the two?

 

[Dopples]

I'd say get the PC version. It'll allow you to .dat mod, and it just runs generally smoother whilst looking nicer.

 

[MDenham]

Seeing as how it's nigh impossible to find the expansions for the PS2 version anymore, I suggest the PC version as well.

(I still need to track down a copy of ToAU for PS2 anyway.)

Also, you're out less cash getting the PC version ($20 + adapter for PS2 controller = about $40, vs. $110 or so for the HDD + network adapter for PS2), if that happens to be a concern.

 

[Prexus]

PC because keyboard controls > PS2/Xbox controller.

 

[Mexneto]

I heard that Sony or Square, I can't remember, that they started banning or blocking PC members for no reason a while back...that's my my brother quit playing. (He never got banned, though)

 

[JD_Slasha]

I know this isn't helping, but I'd say both. I have FFXI on both my computer and PS3, and I don't have a problem with either, except the controls are a bit different. The only thing I might advise is that in my opinion using the controller is a bit easier, but hey, to each his own right?

 

[Dopples]

I heard that Sony or Square, I can't remember, that they started banning or blocking PC members for no reason a while back...that's my my brother quit playing. (He never got banned, though)

Um...they weren't "randomly banning" players. They were tracking down players with any sort of hack, and RMT connections. So unless you buy gil or use a speed hack, you're fine.

 

[Mascarpone]

I heard that Sony or Square, I can't remember, that they started banning or blocking PC members for no reason a while back...that's my my brother quit playing. (He never got banned, though)

it wasn't really for no reason. They've been kicking accounts that are suspected in taking part in RMT (real money trading, buying in game items with real cash) and 3rd party softwares which if you read your user agreement you ARE NOT allowed to do.

oh yes dopples just said that. Duuur.

One suggestion, make sure you have friends when u start playing. the game is very noob-unfrinedly. not the comunity, the game itself is just hard to start up. and it WILL consume you. I can't play it anymore because if i sit down an dlog in i just play for hours and get no work done.

 

[Prexus]

Actually, the banning epidemic you are talking about was because of a piece of software called Windower. FFXI doesn't run in a window, and if you Alt+Tab it, it disconnects you from the server. This is an archaic method of preventing hacks, originally developed by EverQuest. To stop you from accessing software AFTER the game is loaded.

What Windower did was let you run FFXI in a window, so you can alt+tab, resize, minimize, etc. It also showed percentage and numerical values for your health and mana at all times. These aren't really hacks, but are deemed hacks by SquareEnix and thus people were getting banned for what seemed like no reason.

 

[mccdlibby]

I have played this on all choices available. I have FFXI for the Xbox 360, but my brother has it for PC, Xbox 360 and PS2. I would have recommended this for the Xbox 360 just because the controls are a lot nicer with a console, imo. I have always played console game because I never really had a PC that was up to date on graphics cards, processors etc.

If I were you I would definitely go with the PC Version. Reason being is like MDenham said it is hard to find the expansions for the PS2 version, even if you could find them I still wouldn't recommend getting this over the PC version.

PC version just had a release at the beginning of this year, FINAL FANTASY XI Vana'diel Collection 2007. Not only that, but the graphics look A LOT better. The PS2 version looks really saturated, while the PC version is very vibrant and just a lot better too look at.

So, imo, I would go with the PC version over the PS2 any day. Really, your only other option, other than the PC version, is to get a Xbox 360.

Hope this helped.

 

[Glue]

Windower users have hardly ever been banned. Maybe a few when it first came out, but they actually admitted it and someone was an ass enough to report it.

Lately, though, SE has been taking steps to bring better support and fixing old things in the original game (that should have been fixed years ago) after everyone simply started to hat the game. As a result, they've started building an official Windower, which will be released sometime before the new expansion this winter.

Depending on your PC, the ps2 version may run smoother, but due to Windower, running the game in a window, with a smaller resolution makes everything render much faster.

Using macros is simply too difficult with a console, its much quicker to simply just use the keyboard, and forget the mouse, etc. You have to press CTRL or ALT and a digit from 1 to 0, compared to holding down r1 and r2 and manually scrolling through a list to the macro you want.

Most people who buy a ps2 controller adapter quickly get rid of it because the game is simply much easier to play with a keyboard, and faster, which is a key concept in the game - being able to act and react quickly.

 

[arcthemonkey]

"Most people" is, in my experiance, complete and utter BS. The vast majority of people who play that game do so with a gamepad (in my experiance, which admittedly was only two or three years), which is what it was designed to be played with. The menus, movement, and targetting systems are cumbersome without a controller, and playing with a gamepad doesn't stop you from using the keyboard for closest enemy targetting, or the occasional macro. Using macros with a PS2 controller isn't dramatically slower than a keyboard, and you don't have to throw away the rest of the benefits of the controller. Again in my own experiance, most people only have three or four macros anyway (White Mages who have 20 macros are sucky White Mages). If you get good enough at flipping through your macro bars, you can do it nearly as fast as someone using a keyboard, while still having 4-6 important functions pretty much instantly available (I always had a long provoke macro, that announced the timing, but I could hit R2 and click it faster than most could reach for their '4' key - my fingers never have to move from their buttons). With the possible exception of white mages, you will most commonly find yourself waiting for a skill to recharge, during which time it's simple to queue up your next skill. FFXI, last I played it, wasn't about spamming 15 skills with fox-like reflexes, it was about timing and finesse - all of which can be done with the controller. Also, if you play with the controller practically on your keyboard, which is what you probably will do, you can be like my brother, the "FFXI Pro", and tap an occasional macro out with your pinky (He could actually type with his pinkies, as well, but that's a while different discussion).

Once again, the game was designed to be played with a PC controller, and it shows.

That being said, get it on PC. It looks better, and anything better or equal to 5500FX will run it just fine.

I will kill you, Prexus!

(Also, please don't start accusing me of not being familiar with macros and hotkeys or some such nonsense

 

[Darkly0990]

Okay. PC it is. It's cheaper and sounds all-around better than PS2, and I'm not going to buy an XBox 360 just to play FFXI. So, for you PC players, what gamepads do you use? I was thinking of just using the PS2 controller, but is there something else better?

 

[Dopples]

I use a Logitech Dual Action. It's a Plug N' Play USB controller with the PS2 controller layout. Plus it's only about 10 bucks

 

[arcthemonkey]

If you already have a PS2 controller, it's not hard to get an adapter (which is nifty to have anyway).

 

[Dopples]

Wouldn't need that, considering adapters are usually more expensive then the logitech controller

 

[arcthemonkey]

I paid $13 for mine :D

 

[Prexus]

Same.

But Arc, why do you want to kill me?

 

[Dopples]

The controller I mentioned is 9.99. So you save 4 bucks

 

[Darkly0990]

I'm thinking about the adapter, but I'd have to buy online, I think. Any found at a best buy or something?