Final Fantasy XIV

I've always sort of had a problem with the fact that they're numbering the online games in the series of things. I'd normally be able to say I've played every FF game, but realistically I know I haven't anyway, and I've never played the online ones either. Not to mention the confusion it might create.

Looks pretty awesome. Graphics are good. But my favorite Final Fantasy was "Final Fantasy X"

IGN posted a very interesting article about the problems with MMOs.

You can catch the whole thing here

What do you guys think? Agree completely? Think something much more important is missing from the top 10?

I've been looking at forums to see what payment model people like the most. I'd love to hear what you guys think about them.

I really do not like the WoW plan, rather the typical MMO payment. You pay upfront for access and then you are free to do whatever. If you are a penny-pincher, this one blows, but it obviously is good for the company (and not much to worry about on the consumer's end).

I've been hearing a lot about micro-transactions (something that companies like EA LOVE) and I think one company has a good model so far. It seems a lot more relevant now since spam sites like Kotaku get a lot more hits than legitimate websites, but Dungeons and Dragons Online has a really cool model. From what my beta-testing friends told me, you can play, legit, for free pretty much the whole game. However, if you are impatient, you can, LEGIT, buy early access to content. It really takes EA's model of gaming and runs with it in a positive direction.

Thoughts? I know we have some MMO players here and you guys are always vocal!

I really hope this is an indication of how sexy the PS3 character models will be...

After seeing the newly released footage from BioWare, I lose more faith in Square being able to deliver a high-quality MMO (or at least one that can rival WoW in any way).

Below is part 1 of a series of 4 videos. I suggest you check them all out!

Star Wars: The Old Republic at IGN.com

I was looking at an article I saw about this in Ninetedo Power. The graphics looked amazing!!! I'm planning on getting it when it first comes out. Even if I don't have a wii, I'll force my friends to let me play...Yes I'll bribe them with pocky...heh heh hehhh

There is a lot going on this year at GamesCom, and I feel bad for our German Correspondent Paji. I've asked him to try to get hands-on time with FF14, but until then, here's IGN's progress report from none-other-than Mister Slime!

Now, Charles says he doesn't know German, and being at a German event, he's kinda screwed there. Fortunately, Paji does, so that won't be much of an issue (unless he can't read, which is pretty bad).

Below are a bunch of off-screen videos. The sidebar can bring you to the next part (it is all offscreen, though).

More Final Fantasy XIV Online Info

Now that the PS3 Slim is official (as well as the price drop to $300), there is no excuse for you guys not to have a PS3! Get one so Sasha can have more than one friend on her friends list!

Here is the crappy live picture our German correspondent took today:

I blame Tom for breaking the internet. I wanted to show you a real picture and simultaneously make fun of our German correspondent. Alas, Tom has destroyed the internet.

Here is one of our official ones from the Sony Press Site. I don't like it, though:

I was watching the E3 live stream on the day of this announcement. I have already decided I would be investing in both FFXIII and FFXIV sometime next summer. Both games have me extremely psyched and that is saying a lot. I don't game hard anymore, but FFXIV is something I want to get in on from the beginning.

I don't really have much else to say. I think FFXIV has a different kind of appeal than FFXI did, regardless of how FFXI did focus heavily on storyline. Now that it's clear where the competition is, I believe it may stand a chance amidst WoW's popularity, especially since I have not touched WoW ever.