Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Gamers Anonymous

My chair grates against the dirty tile floor in the Gamer's Anonymous meeting room. My cheeks flush red for a moment and I pause to take a look around at the dozen pairs of eyes all fixated on my every move. I imagine them for a moment transfixed by the illuminating glow of computer monitors and take a deep breath. They are just like me.
"Hello, my name is Bob and I am a gamer."
There is a murmur of "Hello Bob" and I do my best to smile. My name isn't really Bob but I doubt the authenticity of several other name tags in the room. Misskitty and Gankymcgank are obviously reflections of online personas. These are the real addicts, those who can't separate their characters from their own individual personalities, at least - that's what I tell myself.
Ganky applies some smelly herbal concoction to his felt-tip marker and winks at me as he positions himself behind an unsuspecting victim. I continue, "I have played World of Warcraft off and on since Open Beta."
I used to be Bob, the gamer who missed out on eating dinner with his wife and kids regularly; opting instead to eat my meals in front of the computer screen. It is so many others on a daily basis. It could end up being you. World of Warcraft touts 11.5 million subscribers, according to some sources. While that doesn't take into consideration the sheer number of customers who pay for multiple accounts, the number is still impressive by industry standards alone. Regardless of who pays for the accounts, each one returns a monthly profit for Blizzard. MMO addiction spells big profits for gaming companies and World of Warcraft has proven that it can hold and maintain market interest, or fuel addiction according to some.
The scenario at the beginning of this article is fictitious and does not represent any personal experience, nor any experience that I have heard of. It may sound extreme to some, while others may wish for such a support group to help them break free from their virtual chains. We can all understand a weakness to entertainment and a desire to be constantly entertained. Most of us go to work or school, both in some cases, and then come home and look to gaming as a form of stress relief or escape from the responsibilities that no one else seems to understand. Soon we find that we're staying up just a little bit later in order to finish an instance run or a quest chain, a few minutes turns into a few hours. In the morning we log in before dashing out the door so we can see if our auctions sold. We log in again as soon as we get home and then repeat the process.
Somewhere along the way we get lost. The gaming loses its purpose and we log in to do nothing in particular. Questing doesn't sound fun, PvP (player versus player) has lost its charm, not everyone is interested in getting achievements for doing the same old crap... so we log in and we sit. It is then that addiction becomes the most apparent, when the game turns into a chat program with phenomenal graphics and you still pay 15 dollars a month.
Some read the trade, city, and guild chats - making funny comments here and there. Others find enjoyment in becoming an internet bully and chide silly questions and belittle other players at random. I stopped posting to the forums a very long time ago, but I often stopped in to read the class sections for tips on how to cope with patch changes. It has never been uncommon to find well put together posts suggesting changes or protesting actions taken by the developers hammered by the forum trolls with responses indicating that the player should "learn to play" or "just quit - can I have your items?" or maybe the most absurd: "tldr" (too long didn't read) as if telling someone that you didn't read their post because you thought it was too long is worth the effort of mentioning in the first place.
Perhaps it becomes like smoking, where some claim that the desire to smoke had been replaced with the habit of lighting up and holding the cigarette. I know that there were days when I would log in just because it was habit to do so. In that regard, maybe it isn't that far off.
Unlike in life, however, the player has some control over how they interact with this virtual environment. Everyone looks the same and on face value, everyone starts out the same. The geek can become the jock, the kid with no friends can be popular. The guy who’s always been picked on can be the bully. The possibilities are endless, just as they are in real life, but many of these same individuals have associated life with failure, with responsibility, and perhaps with impossible odds. Anything risked in the game world can be associated with entertainment until the game becomes life. For most, life does not allow you to simply start over whenever you are unhappy with the results of your decisions.
It's only when I step back from the game for a while that I see what makes World of Warcraft so alluring. In many ways it is just like life. It is unfair and disappointing. The developers change aspects of your class that you loved and so you re-roll, creating a new character that better fits the flavor of the month changes. Some players choose to stay true to their original class and continue to play in the face of patches that cause them to receive less invites to raids and strip them of their unique abilities in an effort to homogenize class roles - designed to promote the concept of 'Bring the player, not the class'.
If such changes were made in real life, the consequences might result in the loss of your job as the company you work for decided that reductions in production staff could be offset with an increase in sales staff with more reliance on automated production lines. In World of Warcraft, however, negative changes to the class you play can be mitigated by playing an alt (alternate character) instead.

Addiction to video games is real. Addiction to World of Warcraft is real. Regardless of why you play, of why you continue to log in, and why you haven't quit time and time again when you thought you would for sure, many people feel the same. The good news is that there is life after World of Warcraft and there is life outside of it. Sometimes it takes getting angry with the direction the game is headed, sometimes it takes someone else quitting and successfully re-entering life, and sometimes it might just require some counseling like it did for Bob. Any way you shake it, though, life is good. You should join us sometime - no guild application required!

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Applications for Beta for Final Fantasy XIV Reborn Now Accepted

Well, it looks like Beta testing for FFXIV Reborn is just around the corner! If you'd like to get in on the action and snag a sneak peak of the new engine and changes they've made to the world, now's your chance to apply. Another great thing about this Beta event is that the staff are being much more attentive to player input than we had the first time around. Need another reason to apply? This Beta even will ACTUALLY include testing on the PS3 system!!!! This is a huge move forward in securing a multi-platform player base!



What is a world without second chances? This reminds me of the plot of one of my short stories, "The Viability of a Seed" in which a 2,000 year old date palm seed is given a second chance to grow. Inspired by the real-life story of Methuselah, a Judean Date Palm sprouted from a 2,000 year old seed, this story makes no promise of success -- merely the chance to succeed. The only hope for Methuselah is that it turns out to be female, in which case the plant species that has been extinct for centuries will be reborn. If Methuselah is male, it may very well be the last of its kind. In the same way, if FFXIV fails to succeed in 2.0, it may be the last MMO that Square-Enix produces in the Final Fantasy franchise.

So, how do you apply for the BETA? Do you need to have already purchased the first version of the game? The good news is that anyone can apply for access to the Beta event, even if you've never played Final Fantasy XIV! All you have to do is go to the Beta Application page and apply! Those players who purchased the PS3 version of FFXIII can enter the code that came with the game for possible preference in acceptance for the PS3 Beta.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

The Modern FFXI Dilemma

Should I return to Final Fantasy? This is a question that many people find themselves asking. The reasons for why they left the game vary. Perhaps another MMORPG came out that seemed interesting, stealing their attention for a time but not able to sustain their gaming needs. Perhaps the sale of gil by gilfarmers and the subsequent volatility in the economy drove them out. Over time, those frustrations fade into the memories of the good times had in the game. Maybe many friends departed the game and loneliness prompted the subscription cancellation. There are countless reasons why people leave and just as many for wanting to come back.

But before you reactivate your subscription or repurchase the game, you have to consider what changes may have rolled out in the game since you've been gone, whether many of your online friends have departed or if that even matters, and whether your expectations match up with what Final Fantasy 11 can offer you in its current state.

One of the first places you're going to want to look is the Official FFXI Homepage. Here you'll find information about recent and upcoming updates, detailed patch notes, and other community related information.

I also recommend checking out FFXI web communities and forums. I won't provide links here because there's no guarantee the ones I post will remain active. Your best bet is to do some Google searching. If you are having difficulty finding anything with an active user base, this should indicate what you may find in-game.

Things have changed since the early days of finding a party, standing around whacking and skill-chaining or healing while someone pulls. That is quite rare now and has been for some time. The paradigm has shifted, most of the common gameplay is mob warfare. Alliances of players run around for hours upon end from book to mobs, or a small section of an Abyssea zone, hacking and slashing without coordination. It can be fun, but it isn't the same experience as it was before.

There are still NM's to seek out and fight for drops or glory. There are still BCNM's and other higher-skill events to lead or participate in. Fishing and crafting is still a part of the game, though the economy may have shifted somewhat since you've been gone.

In the end, I think it comes down to expectations. With so many free-to-play options available, you may find yourself better suited to making new memories in new games or waiting for the next big expansion release to catch the influx of new and returning players. Whatever you do, be sure to make an educated decision and if you do resubscribe, make sure it's for the right reasons.

Happy gaming!

Thursday, July 19, 2012

I Was a FFXI Player

Every now and then I find myself fighting the urge to re-up my subscription to dive back in to Final Fantasy's MMO worldscape of Vana'diel. I can manage to stave it off for a while, but eventualities always keep me braving the absurd and the monthly charges once again assault my credit card.

The realization that the things I loved about the game are still present, but mutated... enjoyable but no longer the same takes a while to kick in. Naturally, I begin to question why. Why do I spend so much time in the game chasing the phantom memories that made my addiction so long lasting? Whenever I resubscribe, I'm charged a hefty $16.95 a month for my primary character and three mules. The cost is so steep compared to other available gaming options, but still the allure manages to seep through.

I wonder about this every now and then. What was it about this game that can bring me back time and time again? The world has changed, the party structures and roles have changed, even the jobs themselves have seen such radical change over time.

This last endeavor only lasted a month. I was enjoying myself, but no one I used to know was playing so it was like starting all over. You sit in Port Jeuno and listed for shouts and yells and get into the groups that seem fun. You take some jobs and level to cap and then max out merits, perhaps rinse and repeat a few times... So a bit of test farming to see what's making the easy gil. Maybe even poke around on FFXIAH.com to see what times you can buy for less than vendor prices to sell back to npc's at a tidy profit. After a while, though, these paltry activities leave you wanting a bit more. It always goes back to the good ol' days, doesn't it?

The remember when's of yesteryear are truly the ghost in the machine. Over time, games must change to stay viable. Leave the game and come back to see it changed and you suddenly have to reconcile those differences. Depending on where you are and where you were, those changes could have serious impacts on the way you play your game. This could mean spending countless hours researching builds, jobs, gear options, or whether you should switch altogether and level up a job you had in the closet. Great, now you're far behind the curve because you've got to group and gear for what you want. Is your job a desirable? If not, you best be starting the parties and alliances it'll take to get the jobs done. After that, it's still a whole lot of luck.

The new expansion is on the horizon. New jobs, new lands, a great many things unseen. I'm not sure if I'll be buying a copy to jump back in, but you better believe it'll be a terrible battle of wills.

GG, SE, GG

Friday, October 7, 2011

FFXI Mog Satchel - Registering your Security Token

Here is a run down of the procedures you must follow in order to successfully register your FFXI Security Token so you can log in with your new one-use passwords and enable your Mog Satchel.
  1. Open the box and navigate to the internet address provided.
  2. Create an account and log in. (Accept the usage agreement.)
  3. Enter your email address.
  4. A verification email is sent to the address you entered.
  5. Click the URL provided in the verification email.
  6. Enter your desired ID. (Check for availability.)
  7. Enter a password. (Enter in the password confirmation.)
  8. Enter your birthday.
  9. Select a security question. (Just in case you lose or forget your password.)
  10. Enter the answer to your security question.
  11. Confirm the data and submit.
  12. Login using the account you just created.
  13. Select the Security Expansion. (Click next.)
  14. Select the Security Token Registration. (Click next.)
  15. Accept the terms. (Click next.)
  16. Enter the seriel number located on the back of your Security Token.
  17. Press the red button on your Security Token to display a one-use password.
  18. Enter the six digit code displayed on the device. (Click next.)
  19. Complete the Registration.
Well, that wasn’t so bad, was it? But wait! You aren’t done! Now that you’ve registered your Security Token, you’ve got to add it to your PlayOnline account! I know, right? But don’t worry, this is pretty quick and easy too.
  1. On the left of the screen, click Link Settings.
  2. Select “Add a link” (Click next.)
  3. Select PlayOnline. (Note: trial accounts cannot be linked.)
  4. Select PlayOnline Info. (Click next.)
  5. Confirm your account.
  6. Confirm Add.
  7. Open PlayOnline.
  8. Edit login settings to include “One time password”
Congratulations! You have now added the Security Token to your FFXI account. You will now be required to enter two passwords each time you log in. The first password will be the one that you created in the registration portion of this guide. The second password will be generated by pressing the red button on your Security Token device. “One time password” does not indicate that you will only enter the password once, but instead that each password the device generates will only be good for one use. You will still be required to enter in a new password in this field each time you log in.
If you have found this guide useful, I would also like to recommend my other articles on Final Fantasy XI.

Monday, September 26, 2011

How to Beat FFXI

Okay, so the game isn't really beatable, it just isn't designed that way. But there are things within Final Fantasy XI that were very hard, or next to impossible, to do without a dedicated group that have become much easier with the increased level cap. As a bit of a disclaimer, I was recently prescribed Prozac for some service related anxiety problems and as a result my desire to play the game has all but faded away in the last couple of weeks. I'm a disabled veteran, you see, and as a result I sometimes have a hard time dealing with everyday situations. I haven't given up the ghost yet, and still plan on spending more quality time within vana'diel.

Some of my recent accomplishments include progressing further in both the ToAU and WotG story lines, getting my soboro great katana, and getting my joytoy. Classic items such as the Blau Dolche dagger have become incredibly cheap, but are still just as effective in their normal level range before you begin upgrading to new weapons and gear from the add-ons.

I haven't experienced anything new from the recent level cap increase to 95 yet. I just log in and do some crafting, post to the auction house, and check on my chocobo. Other than that I've been pinging around the house doing things I haven't done much of in years. It's both good and bad. Sometimes I feel like I'm burning the fuse at both ends. Panic attacks are not uncommon.

I've been trying to think of other things I can do in FFXI that might have a more calming affect. Maybe I Gould spend more time working on the magian weapons, or leveling RDM from 75. I don't know. It seems that the key to having a great time in the game is still based on the idea of having core friends you can do things with. I mean, I can solo Shinryu, but that's not much fun after the first few times. I could probably go solo some of the old gods in Sky, but I never learned much about that area and how all of that works.

I have been meaning to level up my synergy skill, but that honestly sounds so boring.

So how about you guys? What have you been doing lately in FFXI that seems worthy of your time?  Have you gone back to lay some of those elusive notorious monsters like Charybdis? Have you been looking for things to do while leveling multiple jobs to 90, now 95? Give me some feedback here.


Thursday, June 30, 2011

FFXI Thunder Magian Staff Trials

I managed to hit level 90 on my Black Image after leaving it at 61 for the longest time, so I figured that it might me a good idea to start working on the magian staves to replace my old elem staves I've had laying about. One of the first things I noticed was that the first trial overlaps for several staves. While inventory slots are precious right now, I decided to grab a few so the trial staves and headed out to Grauberg (S) to smack down some treants with the frequent wind weather there.

Trial 790
Treants
50 while
weather must be present
5 points per kill
Grauberg (S)

This was slow going solo, but it wasn't long before someone else showed up with a lot more to kill than I needed for one staff. Taking advantage of the momentum, I warped back to Jeuno and turned in the trial for the first, then a second, and a third staff. Note: you can't have the same trial on more than one weapon. You have to warp back and accept 790 on the next staff once you've completed one.

Trial 791
50 Spiders
Weather: Heat, Wind, Thunder, or Light
5 points per kill
Kuftal Tunnel

I tried for hours hanging out in the Boyahda Tree for thunder but it was a no go. I'd read about this being the same experience for some on the wiki talk page for this trial and they'd ended up heading to Kuftal to finish. After several levels of staff skill dorking around in the Tree as BLM/BST, I caved and headed for the hills. Finishing this trial was super quick with another duo I ran into there. And just as we finished we ran face to face into Guivre. Yikes! Okay, not so much anymore. I popped manawall, hit manafont for giggles, and went to town. I'd say the poor guy didn't have much of a chance, but I don't feel that bad for him. That day vengeance was mine!

Trial 816
50 Monsters
Weather or Day: Thunder
1, 5, or 6 points per kill
The Boyahda Tree

By the time I rolled around to this trial, the weather npc gave favorable chances for lightning in the Tree, so I headed out to kill spiders and shrooms. It was easy enough, nothing too interesting to report here. I did go as BLM/BST for more staff skill and the kills were super easy, as they should be at this level. The numbers listed above for kills are as follows: 1 for a kill on Lightningsday, 5 for Thunder weather, 6 for both at the same time.

Trial 817
75 Beasts
Weather or Day: Thunder
1, 5, or 6 points per kill
The Boyahda Tree

Again, weather was feeling stormy in the Tree, so that's where I went. Only this time the target was the bunnies, Moss Eaters. Super easy, went /bst for staff skill. Ran out of weather and finished the last 20 or so with day kills, which was a bit slower but did the trick.

Trial 822
150 Vermin
Killing blow >= 50 Thunder damage
1 point per kill
Grauberg (S)

For this trial I headed back to Grauberg to hunt down those pesky chigoes. I ended up getting a group for a little less than half of these and with another BLM in the group we totally smoked them. Thundaga III followed by a Thundaga and that was that. Soloing took some time, but it wasn't too bad since I no longer had to wait for weather and the kills were easy. En-disease did suck when it landed so I just tried to keep refresh up and convert handy from my RDM sub.

That's all I have for now. Next on my list is trial 823, 200 slimes with Thunder killing blow of 150+. Den of Rancor is supposed to be good. I'll update later as I progress.