A friend of mine is thinking about import a USA copy of FINAL FANTASY XI. He's afraid of being separated to another server if he wanna play with other friends (europeans). So I wanted to ask a few things about servers to clear doubts:

- If he buy the USA version of the game (which will work in Europe if I'm not wrong since on PC there are not PAL/NTSC limits), will he be separated on an USA server or something?

- If a group of people buy FF XI and wanna play together in the same server (some with USA copies and other with European copies), is that possible? if so, how, paying �?

Many thanks in advance.

FFXI is a cross-platform, cross-region MMORPG (it was actually the very first MMORPG to do this). In other words, no matter what version of the game you play (whether PS2, PC or Xbox 360), or where in the world you play from, you will be playing with people from all over the world on the same servers. Physically, all the servers for FFXI are located at Square Enix HQ in Japan.

Also, you're free to choose which server you want to play on when you create your character. So, as long as your friend knows the name of the server they play on, you're free to create your character on that server regardless of where you are, or where they are. As an example, the linkshell I'm currently a member of in the game (in FFXI, a linkshell is like a clan or guild), has members from as far afield as Australia, China, Kuwait, Germany, Sweden and the UK.

As for the monthly fees, they are calculated separately, because before you can start playing FFXI you have to first sign up with Square Enix's PlayOnline service and create a PlayOnline account. When you create this account you have to submit a valid payment method (credit card or debit card).

It is through this service that the FFXI fees are handled, as once you have created a PlayOnline account, you then have to purchase a FFXI Content ID which is 'connected' to the PlayOnline account.

PlayOnline then automatically determines what currency your fees are billed in to your card by the region you selected for your payment method (Japanese Yen for Japan and Asia, US dollars for the US and Canada, British Pounds for the UK, and Euro dollars for everywhere else). It seems complicated, but it's reasonably simple when you sign up.

Hopefully, this hasn't been too difficult to understand. :)

Perfect explain Enkidoh. Huge thanks for your support.

Lets imagine a situation where me a my friends do an error while trying to be all in the same server, and one of us or two end in another one because of a confusion. Can we translate then our player to other server without loosing any config., after done progress in the game? how much would that cost? (I don't know if for that action you've to pay with � or with the game's money).

Square Enix does indeed offer server transfers if you happen to not like the server you're on or whatever, however, there is a fee for doing so, charged to your PlayOnline account as a 'premium service', As far as I know (I've never used the service myself), although you keep all your character data, gil, items and equipment, any linkshells you created or belonged to on the first server are disbanded and deleted when you move.

Also, although there is technically no restriction to what server you can move to, occasionally, transferring to some servers may be restricted temporarily due to too many people being on there at that time. Usually when this happens though, Square Enix will notify everyone of this under the 'Latest News' heading on the main page in PlayOnline Viewer, and on the FFXI website.

There is also a 30 day 'grace period' after successfully transferring to a new server, in which you will be unable to change servers again for a month from the date you first transferred. This is to try and control server bandwith.

My imported FINAL FANTASY XI Vana'diel Collection 2008 has arrived to my house, still sealed. It was a bargain.

I would like to ask you a thing before open it (and give the seller a feedback), because I was afraid of something in the back cover. On its backcover, there's a hole with the form os a square, that says NOT VALID FOR PURCHASE IF OPENED. NOT FOR RESALE BY A PRIOR OWNER. And the bar-code above. And seems that on that square, something would fit. Is my copy lacking something on that area so it's not sealed but just re-sealed after used?

It seems to be on excelent mint conditions, so I doubt it, but I don't know if on that gap there should be any kind of code or something. So, for those who have this edition, may answer my doubts please?. To explain it better I've attached a picture:

(http://img190.imageshack.us/i/imgp0755.jpg/)

I think it may be simply because that message is typed in the internal box, so they opened that gap to make the customers and sellers able to see that message and to use the bar code there, but I'm not sure so that's why I ask. I hope that by giving you the bar code of the box I'm not givin' something personal to use on PlayOnline, this is my first MMORPG so I'm a bit lost on this =]

So many thanks in advance.

No no no, the barcode will have nothing to do with your account. Don't worry about that.

The hole is more than likely intentionally made by the manufacturer to protect the registration codes while still allowing the product to be scanned. You can get the discs from anywhere, but the codes in the manual are unique. The discs are worthless if a thief can jot down the code.

"Still sealed" or ideally straight from authorized dealers is usually how you want to obtain this sort of product. If everything is on the up and up with the seller, your code will work when you register for a Playonline account. I'd reserve the feedback till it actually goes through.

Yes, the registration codes are contained inside the box, usually on the back page of the game's manual. You have to enter these codes when signing up for PlayOnline, and purchasing FFXI/Tetra Master Content IDs.

They're locked to your PlayOnline account's payment method, so even if you have to uninstall the software and then reinstall at a later date, as long as you remember your PlayOnline ID and password, it will work fine.

The Registration Codes incidentally are single use. Once you use them, they cannot be reused again, meaning if you decide to cancel your PlayOnline account at a later date, the codes are null and voided. In that case, if you wanted to rejoin PlayOnline again, you'd have to purchase a brand new copy of the game and create a new account.

So if I decided to stop using FF XI with the months to avoid paying its fees, and I would like months later to continue playing it again (from where I left it with my level and player if possible) I can't and I'll have to buy another FF XI unit??? !!!

I also saw that the world transfer thing costs 25$, this is amazing... this MMORPG is quite expensive in terms of fees unfortunately.

Thanks to both of you for your answer. Further questions:

- I would like to start it playing after the middle of July, so I guess there's no way to check if the code works now without starting now my 30 free days period, isn�t it?

- I would like to play in the future just the 30 free days, but lets say that I would like to play one or two months more..., judging by the SQUARE ENIX fee information in their site (http://www.playonline.com/ff11eu/envi/charge.html), looking at the Free Trial Periods, I understand that if I continue playing after the first 30 free days I'll have not only to pay the 2nd and other months but also to pay fees for the original month that at the beginning was free?. I say that because of this sentence specially: "If you wish to continue using a Content ID after the free trial period, fees for the initial month will be billed together with the following month's fees.", I think that with that "initial month" they're talking about the free one, or maybe that initial month is the 1st after the free one and I'm wrong then.

Not exactly. Basically, the 30 day free charge period is indeed free, however, if that period ends before the end of the month, Square Enix will bill you only for the period of time from the end of the free trial period to the end of the month (say, your free 30 day period ends on the 16th of May - Square Enix will charge you for the days from the 16th to the 31st only). Every month after that though, the normal monthly fees apply.

Also, if you don't want to play FFXI for a period of time and don't want to pay the fees during that time (but plan on coming back at some time in the future), just cancel your FFXI Content IDs, but keep your PlayOnline account active. Your FFXI IDs can be reactivated easily enough later on, and because PlayOnline itself is free, you won't be charged for the FFXI fees if the Content IDs are cancelled.

If you delete your PlayOnline account though, after 3 months it and everything that is attached to it is deleted, and cannot be recovered, meaning you'll have to buy a whole new copy of the game if you want to play it again. So it's worth keeping your PlayOnline account active even if you're not doing anything with it.

Many thanks for that answer, it was perfect. Tons of invisible rep. for you !

EDIT:I've fully installed the game with all its expansions and updated the PlayOnline viewer, just to have it all on perfect conditions for when I'll start my game (July 21st). With this Vana'diel 2008 Collection, a coupon for a 30-days friend invite comes too, so seems to be I'll be able to use my 30-days while playing with a friend who has not FF XI, just by giving him my disc for the install and this 2nd User Code, so we both will have a 30-days free period. I was surprised because... this is like buying one single game but getting two. I mean..

- I know that after my 30 days I'll be able to continue playing my game by paying it each month. But my friend will be able to do the same? Because in that case he's getting algo a ContentID with this coupon code and so on without had pay any game (just because of my copy includes a 2nd code for a friend). Or will be his case different than mine? (for example after his 30 free days with my "friend-coupon" he'll have to pay any kind of fee to transform it on a normal account like mine able to play monthly?)

- Can this be applied to my account?. Like to have 60 free days instead of 30. I guess no, at least not under the same account because that would imply the use of a 2nd code (I've been searching for it but I couldn't find anything).

In general words.. I guess some kind of difference should be between my account and the one that my friend will create with this friend coupon on July 21st with me. So that's my doubt summarizing.

And a second doubt: there's any way for both of us to get into the same server when doing the character? or transfer him to my server if we result in different ones (not caring about the level then, so I'm not talking about the method through server transf. in which you've to pay a fee). I've heard something about a WP that should be paid with game money, but I was wondering if couldn't we start in the same one by any option when creating the character or something (and if there's any differences or suggestion to choose a server as 1st one, they'll be welcome !).

Maybe this is totally normal on MMORPGs and since I've never played one I'm just with strange doubts?. Thanks in advance.

Okay, I have little experience when it comes to the whole Friend coupon thing, but I'll try to answer with what I know.

From what I understand, the 'Friend Coupon' is simply a bonus that entitles you to special in-game items you and your friend both get once you start the game. I think the main thing you get is a Mandragora cap that sets the levels of you and your friend the same so you both party together, but there are some other items too. These things are also available indeed as you mentioned if a current player purchases a Gold World Pass in the game and invites a friend to play.

I'm not entirely sure, but as how I understand it to use a Friend Coupon you still have to set up a PlayOnline Account and purchase a FFXI Content ID, then enter the Friend List Coupon number under ''Reward Registration' in PlayOnline Viewer. In other words, bot you and your friend require separate copies of the game to play.

As for playing on the same server, as I mentioned in a previous post you can select any server from a list when you create your character, so you just have to coordinate with your friend to choose one that you'd like to play on. If you're not sure, this is the current server list available for FFXI:

Bahamut
Shiva
Titan
Ramuh
Phoenix
Carbuncle
Fenrir
Slyph
Valefor
Alexander
Leviathan
Odin
Ifrit
Diablos
Caitsith
Quetzalcoatl
Siren
Unicorn
Gilgamesh
Ragnarok
Pandemonium
Garuda
Cerberus
Kjata
Bismark
Seraph
Lakshmi
Midgardsormr
Asura
Fairy
Remora*
Hades*

Remora and Hades are the so-called 'European servers' because they were added in September 2004 to coincide with the launch of FFXI on the PC in PAL territories (Europe, the UK, Australia etc). However, the servers are not located physically in Europe, nor do they have more European players on them. All FFXI servers are located physically at Square Enix HQ in Japan. Also, it should be fairly obvious that the servers are all named after summon monsters from earlier FF games. ;)

Also, as is listed in my sig I play on Midgardsormr so if you're still not sure which server to choose, you're welcome to come to Midgard! :)

Anyway, hopefully this has helped.

Thanks Enkidoh, many thanks for that welcome note, I'll try to give it a try on Midgardsormr !

And about the Friend Coupon I think we're talking about different things. What I meant is a special paper that comes with the Vana'diel 2008 Collection, with another serial number different from the one that comes in my map for me. And on that paper it says that you can invite with it a 2nd friend by using your DVD to install the game (or from an URL too) and then using that 2nd serial numer to have its own 30-days free period. So it's like buying one game, but getting two IDs.

What I was wondering is if that second ID will have the same things than mine, or if he'll be able after those 30 days to continue playing the game by paying monthly as a normal player (because that would mean the Vana'diel 2008 pack is really a game with tho serial numbers on it for two people !). It doesn't say anything about items for both or chaging between servers like a pass... it's more like an invite to a friend to test the game too.

Hmmm, then it sounds like that 14 day Free trial thing Square Enix is also offering, but that's only available by downloading the game from Square Enix, rather than buying it in software form from a game store. If that's the case, then he can indeed keep using the game (after installing it with your copy of the game) even after the trial period is over - you'll just have to set up a payment method once the trial is over.

But as I said, I have little experience in this area so I'm sorry for any mistakes (they didn't offer these services when I first started playing back in 2005 - damn, where has all that time gone? :p)