Finally A Date For Final Fantasy XIV

The Collector's Edition contains the following items

  • In-Game Item: Collector's Edition pre-orders will include a reward code to receive and exclusive in-game item, the Onion Helm.
  • Early Access: Play 8 days prior to the release of the Windows PC Standard Edition (timing of access subject to initial server capacity).
  • Behind-the-Scene DVD: Get an insider look at the making of Final Fantasy XIV, with exclusive video content, interviews and more in this special documentary DVD.
  • Security Token: A Final Fantasy XIV – branded Security Token to use with your regular password.
  • Travel Journal: Record your travels in this beautifully bound journal filled with pages of never-before-seen concept art.
  • Right of Passage: Redeem a voucher to receive your fully-personalized Right of Passage Certificate, each stamped with a unique serial number.
  • Amano Cover: Special PC Collector's Edition illustration by renowned artist Yoshitaka Amano.

For those who pre-order the Standard Edition, you will not be left out as you will receive a reward code for a exclusive in-game item: the Garlond Goggles. For those who plan on playing Final Fantasy XIV on the PlayStation 3, your wait continues until early March of 2011. Square-Enix seems to be the first MMO to step out of the normal subscription plan as you will only have to pay $12.99 a month. Hey it may not be a big difference, but it is certainly a start. Here's the kicker - Square-Enix has announced that each additional playable character will be $3.00 per period, with a maximum of 8 playable characters per account. Each additional retainer will cost $1.00 per period. So if I am understanding this correctly, if I want to make an alt I will have to pay an extra $3 dollars to play it? Maybe it is Square-Enix's way to suck even more money out of us? Either way, it is a good thing I only focus on one character anyways.

Final Fantasy is occasionally without some sort of story in their games. So here is the breakdown on the story for XIV.

In the past, the city-states battled tirelessly, vying for domination and hegemony. Death-mongering beast tribes pillaged the land unchecked, leaving only destruction in their wake. Unseen enemies lurked beyond the borders, striking at the slightest provocation or show of weakness. The history of Eorzea is a tapestry woven of war and strife, stained with the blood of those gone before, and the tears and ash of fallen endeavor.

And yet the love the gods bear this unforgiving land endures, now as always. What is the allure of this seemingly forsaken place? With what hope and top what end do would-be inhabitants journey here to live out their days?

The answer lies with that which gives form to Hydaelyn and all mryiad creation in it – crystals. The cornerstone of all things, it is these crystallized manifestations of the aether that beckon the people to come, risking all in the undertaking.

Wonder what the specs are? You may wonder no more:

  • O/S: Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista 32/64 bit SP2, Windows 7 32/64 bit
  • CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.0 GHz); AMD Athlon X2 (2.0GHz)
  • Memory: Window XP: 1.5 or Higher; Windows Vista/7: 2GB or Higher
  • HDD/SSD Space: Install: 15GB or more; Download: Space on the hard drive where My Documents is located should be 6GB or more
  • Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce 9600 series or higher with VRAM 512MB or more; ATI Radeon HD 2900 series or higher with VRAM 512MB or more.
  • Sound Card: DirectSound compatible sound card (DirectX 9.0c or higher)
  • Resolution: 1280x720 or higher; 32bit or higher
  • DirectX: DirectX 9.0c

My Take:

When I played the beta for Final Fantasy XI many moons ago, I couldn't find myself getting into the game at all. It was difficult to acknowledge that it is one of the few Final Fantasy in the "series" I couldn't fully get into. Well, when Square-Enix shocked everyone with their announcement of the game last year at E3 2009, I instantly got excited for this installment of the series and MMO. I do not know why, but I cannot wait for September to roll around for me to play this game. Especially since I just pre-odered the Collector's Edition at Amazon. The world will end for me when this game comes out later on this year.