Okay. I have searched all across the internet. I want some people to verify some information for me if you can. Now keep in mind this is to register a brand new, never been activated account; not to renew an exisiting account or change payment method. This is for someone who JUST bought the game and installed it. (Also, I do not have a PS2/Xbox360, so those solutions are right-out)

1. In order to register for an account with FFXI, you NEED to have a card that is able to register with either Verified By Visa or Mastercard SecureCode.

2. In order to have a card that is able to use the Verified By Visa/SecureCode system, it needs to have a credit limit (i.e. Debit Card's won't work)

3. Pre-Paid cards used to work, but no longer work for registering a brand new account.

So far I have contacted my bank (KeyBank, WA) and they have said that their debit cards do not support the SecureCode service (they are Mastercard). I have contacted the SecureCode/Verified By Visa customer care and they said to contact the bank and have them sign up for the service. I contacted Mastercard and they said that they have no control over the system whatsoever.

My goal: I want to play this game. I want to pay Square-Enix money so that I can play their game. I'm not a person who wants to fraud their system or make money off of it. I just want to start up a little character and play in their world. I am not trying to hack their systems or scam them, gold farm or sell my account for real money. I just want to play the game that I got for a gift for the holidays.

Please help.
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- I'd rather be Saving the Princess.

Hmm, this is odd.

I use a Visa Debit Card to pay my FFXI fees and it still works perfectly (as long as I have enough money in the account to pay the fees naturally). Even at times when I haven't had enough in the account for whatever reason and my FFXI account is suspended, it still accepts the same card when it's reentered - as long as I have at least $5 in it - it's classed as an 'invalid card' by Visa otherwise and will not be accepted by PlayOnline.

Also, non-Visa and Mastercard branded debit cards have never been accepted by PlayOnline, so nothing has really changed in that regard.

All I can suggest is searching for a bank that offers a Visa or Mastercard debit card that accepts this new security thing (honestly, this is the first time I have heard of a problem of this sort) and then try it again.