FFXI needs X360 HDD?

By GamesIndustry International Published 25 August, 2005

Chocobollockache.

A number of online reports have emerged suggesting that the Xbox 360 version of Square Enix' massively multiplayer title Final Fantasy XI will only play on versions of the console which are equipped with the hard drive.

While no confirmation or denial has been forthcoming from Square Enix itself, the reports are logical enough - in its PC and PS2 incarnations, FFXI uses the hard drive incredibly heavily to store character information and content updates.

Installation sizes on those systems are multiple gigabytes, and over the months and years of the game's operation, hundreds of megabytes of additional content, patches and expansions have been added to the game.

Therefore, it's logical that FFXI should require a hard drive to play - but it's potentially embarrassing for Microsoft, which faces the prospect of the first title it has ever secured for its platform from Square Enix not working on many Xbox 360 consoles.

The decision to make the hard drive optional has a number of consequences for the Xbox 360; many developers who have spoken to us expressed doubt that the drive would be used in many third party games, since it will be seen as an optional peripheral.

However, the possibility that a "two tier" Xbox 360 has been created, where only those with hard drives will be able to play certain - primarily online - games, is arguably a more major concern. It remains to be seen how Microsoft plans to communicate the differences between the two versions of the system to consumers, and avoid confusion and disappointment among those expecting to be able to play MMOG titles on the Core System bundle.

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Comments (34) Latest comment 7 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • gamesb*tch #1 7 years ago

    oh my life!

  • trevd72 #2 7 years ago

    no moaning, just get the harddrive. if you don't get the harddrive, don't complain thatyou cant play stuff like this.

  • SFA_AOK #3 7 years ago

    I think the console market can support this sort of multi-tiered platforms. FFXI has a sticker on it that says it requires the hard drive. Gaming store staff make sure buyers know this. I know the hard drive is more expensive than an Eye Toy but the need for a USB camera to play the Eye Toy games hasn't brought about Sony's demise just yet.

  • Teeth #4 7 years ago

    It's not a major concern, really - if you wanna play online games then get the HDD. You're bound to be able to afford it if you're into that sort of thing anyway.

  • ralphwolfenstein #5 7 years ago

    Oh jesus. CVG did this 'story' the other day. It's not a story. Of course MMORPG's are going to use a hard drive, as their creators will correctly assume that no-one planning on taking their Xbox online will be stupid enough not to own one…

    It's not an 'embarrassment' for Microsoft - they will have been more than happy for Square Enix to make use of the HDD, and probably actively encouraged use of it

    Only offline games will be required to run with or without hard drive, allowing the developer to make use of it for custom tracks/loading performance as they see fit

    There is no ‘two-tier’ strata of the haves and have-nots being created here – well, there is but it’s on the online/not online division not because you own a hard drive or not. As a ‘news article’ this is either deliberately disingenuous or just plain naďve

    “It remains to be seen how Microsoft plans to communicate the differences between the two versions of the system to consumers, and avoid confusion and disappointment among those expecting to be able to play MMOG titles on the Core System bundle.”

    I mean seriously. What kind of fuck-wit is going to buy the Core system because they want to play MMO games?

    Edit: 'won' a hard drive? I meant 'own' a hard-drive...
    Edited by ralphwolfenstein at 25/08/05 @ 10:56

  • gamesb*tch #6 7 years ago

    who's moaning? go bum yourself you moaning bumache.

    I just think it's SUCh a dumbass thing to do to have an optional HD. Like: "That totally failed for the PS". But we at M$ can make it work!!!"

  • deaner #7 7 years ago

    What ralphwolfenstein said.

    Squenix and Sony have exchanged words in the past about the lack of an HDD in the PS2 preventing them releasing any MMO titles.

  • trevd72 #8 7 years ago

    gamesb*tch: the "moaning" was not aimed at you. when i posted i was first, you must have beat me to the button. it was a comment on the other posts of the last few days which descended into farce.
    Edited by trevd72 at 25/08/05 @ 11:03

  • rinoaMW #9 7 years ago

    "FFXI needs X360 HDD?"

    well duh....

  • Pirotic #10 7 years ago

    next you might pick up that the PS2 version requires you buy the hard-disc too.

    shock horror!

    Seriously, where else did you think it stored all the patchs and updates?

  • effinwooly #11 7 years ago

    No news here people, move on .............come on people, move on !

  • The-Bodybuilder #12 7 years ago

    EG STRIKES again with the non-news news.

  • trevd72 #13 7 years ago

    Vague News flash: An as yet to be named game is in development. A source from a unnamed developer indicated that this would be release in second half of 2006 although it will be released when finished. Apparently this game will kick ass and no other information is available as they want to be first to the market with this new idea that will revolutionise gaming as we know it. More news as we get it.

    Is EG interested in this? :o)

  • Riskbreaker #14 7 years ago

    'Microsoft have already stated that the Premium Xbox 360 pck has been developed with the gaming enthusiast in mind where as the core pack is for the casual player. I wouldn't expect a game such as Final Fantasy to appeal to the type of gamer who plays the odd game every now and then. '

    I'm sorry, but I thought MS were aiming for more people to be 'online' and that the online experience would be the main focus of the system.

    Therefore isn't it the intention of MS to get more 'casual' gamers online? If so, then isn't all this two-tier X360 malarky going to put off the 'casual' gamer (as you put it).

    I personal think it's pretty stupid to assume that the future online gaming will be just the reserve of the 'gaming enthusiast'...........

  • Mr_Brown #15 7 years ago

    Obviously...they should just have two versions of the game on sale. One normal one for HD owners and one bundled with Hardrive. Techniccally, if they make it so you can't buy the HD on its own straight away, Square Enix could make a bundle like with a package like that...

  • Blerk #16 7 years ago

    Touchy lot today, aren't you? :-)

    I wonder if Microsoft has prepared a standard 'HDD Only' labelling scheme for the game boxes so that it's instantly clear which games require a hard drive and which don't?

    /foresees 'world of pain' for retail employees

  • ralphwolfenstein #17 7 years ago

    /foresees 'world of pain' for retail employees

    They're still recovering from the Play 2/Eyetoy debacle...

    oh wait...

  • Celeborn #18 7 years ago

    "Therefore isn't it the intention of MS to get more 'casual' gamers online?"

    I agree with you Riskbreaker. MS wants to "reach" a billion people with xbox360; wants game playing to go mainstream. And here we will have a console for which you can buy games that won't actually work on the console you bought. For a casual person, how the hell are they supposed to know what good that Hard Drive was in that special pack that cost so much more?

    The potential to buy games that don't work for your machine..... these consoles are getting way too PC like!

  • TILT #19 7 years ago

    Yeah right...
    xbox has an HDD -> fanboys: "Yay, standard harddisks rock! Sucks to Sony and their optional harddisk, no one's gonna use it, anyway!"
    ps3's harddrive is gonna be optional -> fanboys: "LOL, expensive and you don't even get a harddrive with it! Typically Sony! Let's see them play MMORPGs now!"
    xbox360 is expected to feature an HDD as standard equipment -> fanboys: "Yay, one of the defining and most useful features of the xbox will be continued in the next generation! Let's see Sony beat this with their optional shit!"
    xbox360's harddrive is gonna be optional -> fanboys: "Yay, the pricing is great! All games will still run without the harddrive, anyway, for those who're gonna wimp out for the core system! Sucks to Sony and their expensive console!"
    xbox360's harddrive is needed for certain games -> fanboys: "Yay, we're gonna have the full package in any case, and we always knew that some games would require the harddrive, no big deal! Who's gonna buy the core system, anyway?"

    I'm not saying the X360 is bad, mind you, I just think people shouldn't be quite so mindless about their backing of their prefered console manufacturer. Yes, I'm more inclined towards a PS3 (after the price has suitably fallen), but I know I was annoyed when they announced it's gonna be optional, and actually saw xbox360's standard harddrive as a major benefit.

  • savant #20 7 years ago

    No HD on cheap Xbox360 = worst mistake MS could have made. It's stupid, cost-cutting madness. I know why they did it (because the HD is one of the most expensive parts of the system and doesn't depreciate like other components), but it just sucks for gamers and developers. The ironic thing is that if you add the cost of the required memory card to the core system you're nearing the premium bundle price anyway. The recent backlash is proof positive that the decision was just wrong - they should swallow their pride and admit that, then produce a system without the wireless controller and wifi dongle, but with the HD for 50 quid less.

  • lennon #21 7 years ago

    Were bored of this tired old story now eurogamer please move along :)

  • knif3r #22 7 years ago

    Just out of curiosity how much space is needed to play a MMORPG - won't a 64MB memory card be enough?

  • kangarootoo #23 7 years ago

    This isn't a major surprise, in fact this exact difference was discussed on previous threads regarding XB360 config.

    As far as how M$ intent to get people online, we seem to be moving down that old "they don't know what they are doing" road. Before some of you exhaust your supply of grumpy juice, I think it is safe to assume that M$ have a business plan that they took more than a little time thinking though. Whoever said that MMO gamers don't fir into the target audience for the core system is probably quite right. In any event, I'm sure M$ have thought it through more than we have.

  • Jdoki #24 7 years ago

    It appears the definition of 'casual gamer' has been lost on some people here... it would appear that some see 'casual gamer' as being the same as 'tight-fisted enthusiast who expects something for nothing'.

    FFXI is not a game for the casual player. It requires a huge investment of time to get any payback, it also requires a monthly subscription - these are not factors that fall in to the casual gamer category.

    So MS have got it on the money... games for enthusiasts require the the enthusiast version.

    Is it creating a multi-tiered market? Maybe, but nothing MS or Squeenix are doing is excluding anyone - any player who wants to play FFXI has the option of buying the HD later, or the more expensive console pack in the first place.

    If cost is too much a factor, well, that's tough luck.

    The core pack is a great option for those with a little interest in gaming, or like some of the added features the 360 will offer, it's for the type of people who want to buy 'little johnny' a cool Xmas gift - remember, that it's not just the cost of the console, there's games on top, and for the casual gamer the core pack, a game and a memory unit may be all they want to splash out on initally.

  • Xerx3s #25 7 years ago

    errr, whos gonna buy it anyway? There will be so many titles that are better by the time it gets released. AND those titles wont have the number X gazillion behind their names.

  • vane101 #26 7 years ago

    Just as with the PS2, FFXI will be one of the pricier games on the Xbox 360. You'll need the hard disk for the 6.5 Gb of data, a USB keyboard will help and you're going to be paying a monthly fee.

    It ain't no game for the casual console gamer although no doubt some will buy it by mistake thinking it's a new single player game!!!

  • The12thMonkey #27 7 years ago

    And for all of us FF11 players, in other utterly unremarkable news, tomorrow will be Friday.

    But seriously, the game is over 7 gig in size. Of course it will need the wretched hard drive. Hardly a suprise.

  • Skullfire #28 7 years ago

    Not sur if EG has been paying any attention, but MS have stated that all games should be playable with or without the HDD, however MMO games are excluded from this requirement.

    This FFXI story is not news. It's a MMO game (see above) and the PS2 version required a HDD so did you really expect any different. Move along now.

  • HarryB #29 7 years ago

    hahahaha J ALLARD U BAD MAN U LIE!!!

  • Xavier_B_OXford #30 7 years ago

    Well, if nothing else, this will certainly sort the 'men from the boys' as it were, by showing the REAL MEN among us Xbox 360 kings who are the lamers that aren't prepared to pay full price for the complete 360 experience.

    If you don't buy a HDD with your 360, you're lower than a PS3 owner, hell, you're lower than a NINTENDO fan! So sell your mother and your granny, pimp your sister on the streets if you have to, but BUY A PREMIUM PACK 360 AND PROVE YOU ARE ONE OF THE WORTHY RATHER THAN A MERE FOOT SOLDIER IN OUR GLORIOUS CAUSE.

    That is all. The word is spoken, hear the call, live the future.

  • Hunam85 #31 7 years ago

    back in the n64 days you could only play some games with that mem expansion and i dont recall any outrage, MS just need to add a *requires hard drive* logo on it, easily done

  • Midnight_Raven #32 7 years ago

    I'm sorry, but I thought MS were aiming for more people to be 'online' and that the online experience would be the main focus of the system.

    Therefore isn't it the intention of MS to get more 'casual' gamers online? If so, then isn't all this two-tier X360 malarky going to put off the 'casual' gamer (as you put it).

    I personal think it's pretty stupid to assume that the future online gaming will be just the reserve of the 'gaming enthusiast'...........

    What Riskbreaker said. M§ have repeatedly stressed how important Live is to them and how much they aim at getting the vast majority of players on Live, no matter what appeals to them. That´s why the silver Live service and a headset are included in the basic bundle, eh? Looks to me that there´s a contradiction here.

    I have to consider myself a casual gamer nowadays (the penalty for being an adult, I suppose :\ ). Still, I like Live in general and would use it if it came free, or at least in part for free. If I can´t DL new maps and stuff, what good is Live for me? The only thing it´d be good for then would be voice chat, right?

  • Repsode #33 7 years ago

    Huge online game that uses lots of stored memory to decrease lag needs a hard drive to run. OMFG It's the apocalypse. Of course it needs it if it didn't we would have seen it in Europe on PS2 years ago. Fact is because sony refused to release the HDD, it didnt. Anyway it will not matter as every one will have one. (Anyone idiotic enough to buy the cheap console deserve to be ripped off by peripheral prices).

    Quote by everyone who bought the core pack a month later: "Seemed like a good idea at the time!"
    Edited by Repsode at 27/08/05 @ 22:14

  • WoodenSpoon #34 7 years ago

    You think its obvious to a random mother that an MMO needs a hardrive? heh, fuckwits.