We've got a trailer from 2004 for Chains of Promathia as our Youtube of the week. We know it's old and in Japansese but come one, some of the sequences are amazing. The Final Fantasy XI engine still amazes us. Check it out below:

Thanks to OpalFlame we've got three brand new screenshots added to our database. Thumbnails below:


Landscape


Wyvern


Dynamis Sandoria

View New Screens

We've got an update on the PlayOnline Viewer update that was posted yesterday. Full details below:

At the following time, we performed a version update of the PlayOnline Viewer.

* The client software has also been updated at this time. The version update process will automatically begin upon login after the time stated below. Please follow the instructions that appear on your screen.

[Update Time]
Sep. 11, 2007 0:00 (PDT)

[Affected Services]
PlayOnline

[Important Update Details]
-An issue was addressed where the PlayOnline Viewer would freeze when trying to open certain e-mails in the unread mail list (Xbox 360 only).
-Other minor issues were addressed.

The leviathan server was experiencing some issues earlier in the day. These have since been resolved.
Source: PlayOnline

We have experienced several technical difficulties on some areas on the Leviathan World, but the recovery process is now complete. Thank you for your patience.

[Date & Time]
Sep. 11, 2007 from 5:48 to 6:30(PDT)

[Issue Details]
Unable to access to the following areas.

[Cause]
Technical issues with the servers.

[Affected World]
Leviathan

[Affected Areas]
-Northern San d'Oria
-Lower Jeuno

[Affected Services]
FINAL FANTASY XI

A version update was applied to FFXI yesterday. Here is the information:
Source: PlayOnline

At the following time, we performed a version update of FINAL FANTASY XI.

* This update consists of a version upgrade of the client program. When you press the play button after the time stated below, the version upgrade will begin automatically. Please follow the instructions on the screen.

[Affected Period]
Sep. 10, 2007 9:00 (PDT)

[Affected Services]
FINAL FANTASY XI

[Important Update Details]
- Pankration in the Pit has been implemented.
*Please refer to the related information for details on Pankration.

- Accuracy rate of following weapon skills were adjusted:
Guillotine / Penta Thrust

Following issues have been addressed:
- The abilities of some monsters were weaker than intended.

- If a Goblin Bounty Hunter was defeated, it would remain KO'd and not disappear.

- Players were not able to enter Hazhalm Testing Grounds properly if the player who reserved the chamber checks the "Entry Gate" while not possessing the key item "glowing lamp."

- All random damages were not being calculated properly.

- Amount of damage was not being corrected properly when characters were equipped with two-handed weapons.

- Monsters with two-handed weapons had higher attack and accuracy than intended.

- TP of Beastmaster's pet continued to decrease while it's not engaged in battle.

- Automaton's new attachment "Stealth Screen" was not working properly when it was used with "Optical Fiber."

- Automaton would cast magic on a player who is in KO'd status.

- Automaton's status was lower than it was supposed to be.

- Under certain combinations of Head and Frame, Automaton would try to cast spells continuously.

- Players were sometimes able to carry more chocobucks than what was allowed when item "Chocobuck Slip" is traded with chocobucks.

- The location of the treasure did not display during the Chocobo Hot & Cold game when cancel button is pressed at certain timing upon using clump of Tandjana wildgrass.

- Item icons would not appear in Delivery Box. (Xbox 360 version only)

- Macro may not have functioned when the name of certain items are included.

- Text command that represent another player or monster were not working properly when the command contained apostrophe.

Today's version update brings with it the long-awaited opening of Pankration.
Armed with soultrapped, combat-enhanced monsters from around Vana'diel, adventurers now have a venue where they can gather and place their beasts in direct competition with one another...The Pit.

Click here for details.

We would love to know if you have taken part in "Pankration in the Pit". Please let us know by responding to our latest Topic of the Week. If you missed the details on this event please check out our previous news post here.

This past week producer for Final Fantasy XI, Hiromichi Tanaka, spoke at the Austin Game Developers Conference. This was actually an event we reported on back in the Spring but now that it has passed we are pleased to bring you the details on Tanaka-San's address. Many topics were discussed including the development of Final Fantasy XI, the upcoming Wings of the Goddess and the ever secret “Next Gen Square MMO Project”. A huge thanks to Gamasutra for first reporting on his Austin GDC address.

Tanaka revealed that the roots of Final Fantasy Xis development actually began in 1999 after Chrono Cross was completed. The game originally planned for the Microsoft Xbox but that was abandoned due to space concerns the project was only completed for the Playstation Two and later moved to Microsoft's Xbox 360 platform. He also stated that between the game's 32 public servers there are as many as 20,000 unique logins on each server per day. The total number of players is currently thriving at roughly 550,000 – That's a lot of adventurers!

He also discussed the problems of Realy Money Trading or RMT within the Final Fantasy XI universe. Mr.Tanaka explained that these groups are usually connected to each other through common funds rather than standing independent . He also explained that attacking the issue of RMT within FFXI has to be a multi-pronged approach. Just banning/removing the farming accounts isn't enough - Banning the “hunter” or gil collecting accounts and maintaining a good log system are two of the key weapons used by Square Enix to stop the currency trade. This is an issue we have reported on many times and we are happy to pass along news that Square reports 2 out of every 3 real money trading operations have shut down.

During the end of his presentation Tanaka presented the crowd with the chance to ask some questions and he also addressed the upcoming expansion Wings of the Goddess. He revealed that there will be a total of twelve skus (retail units) between the multiple languages and platforms that Final Fantasy XI currently supports. He also revealed that it will be a simultaneous release across all platforms and languages – this is defiantly good news for our European counter-parts who received their language packs this past spring.

The presentation closed with some information on Squares secret next generation MMO. According to Tanaka the game has changed a lot since it's initial announcement at E3 2005. The development team has undergone some changes and the project is now using a cross-platform middleware. He ended this tantalizing topic stating that it won't be much longer before we learn more about Square's future plans.

Lots of exciting news has come from Tanaka's speech and we would like to thank him for giving the community so much to be excited about. Wings of the Goddess is currently scheduled for a Winter release and we will on tap to bring you all of the latest breaking news.

Source: PlayOnline
We've got one more reminder from PlayOnline that Microsoft will be preforming maintenance on Xbox live tomorrow between 2 and 6PM (PST). Full post below:

At the following time Microsoft will be performing maintenance on the Xbox Live service.
For more information please see the Xbox Live official homepage (http://www.xbox.com/live).

Xbox 360 users will be unable to log into the PlayOnline Viewer during this time. Players who are already logged into PlayOnline will be able to continue to use PlayOnline services. However once logged out, PlayOnline will not be accessible until the maintenance period is over.

[Date&Time;]
Sep. 10, 2007 from 2:00 to 6:00 (PDT)

[Affected Services]
Users of the Xbox 360 edition of the PlayOnline Viewer

*Users of the "Playstation 2" and "Windows" edition of PlayOnline will not be affected by this maintenance.

Source: PlayOnline
A general reminder that Final Fantasy XI will be unavailable tomorrow for a few hours. Details below:

At the following time, we will be performing FINAL FANTASY XI maintenance on all worlds. During this period, FINAL FANTASY XI will be unavailable.

Thank you for your patience.

* The client software will also be updated at this time. Once this maintenance is completed, the client update will start automatically after logging back into FINAL FANTASY XI. Please follow the instructions that appear on your screen.

* From 30 minutes before the start of maintenance until the end of maintenance, applications for World Transfer Service will be unavailable.

[Date & Time]
Sep. 10, 2007 from 9:00 to 12:00 (PDT)
* Maintenance completion time may be subject to change.

[Affected Services]
FINAL FANTASY XI

There is a post over at the official Playstation Forums suggesting that Wings of the Goddess will be released in limited quantities for the Playstation 2. Given the fact that the core game was recently made compatible with the Playstation 3 via a firmware update this is a little hard to believe. We are working are hardest to find out specifics in regards to the availability of the Playstation 2 release.

Square Enix revealed that Wings of the Goddess will be shown in video format at the Tokyo Game Show this month in Tokyo, Japan. We are expecting that Square Enix will show off a new video of WotG as the last video released to gamers was back at E3 in July.

Source: IGN - Various Channels

Video Only
Final Fantasy XI Wings of the Goddess (multi)

Looks like the maintenance that we reported on yesterday has been canceled. The following was posted earlier this morning on PlayOnline:
Source: PlayOnline

The maintenance which was scheduled to be held on Sep. 5 from 9:00 to 12:00 (PDT) has been cancelled.
The maintenance is currently being rescheduled. New updates will follow as the new schedule becomes available.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.

The greatest point of interest since the August Version Update has been the increase to the amount of damage you deal when wielding two handed weapons. We would like to know how you feel about these changes to the game. If you have an opinion about this subject please post a comment, we'd love to hear from you.

Thanks to OpalFlame we've got three new screenshots that will help us kick off September!


Look at the Wings


Choco Head


Dynamis Sandoria
View Latest Screens

Source: PlayOnline

After years of petitioning by the people, the Empire has finally agreed to open the Pit's gates and allow Pankration matches to be held once again. Soultrappers from all across Vana'diel have already begun to arrive with their trusted pets, eager to take part in what is destined to be one of the most heated events in Aht Urhgan history!

The summer breeze is making way for fall’s cooler touch. That must mean it is September! To celebrate we’ve got a brand new desktop calendar from our art staff. It is available below in many different resolutions:


1024x768
1280x960
1280x1024
1600x1200
1440x900
1920x1200

Square has released a news posting on PlayOnline outlining current known issues with the August version update.

Since the implementation of the latest version update on Aug. 27, 2007, we have confirmed the following issues. Investigation and recovery work is currently underway.

- Amount of damage is not corrected properly when characters are equipped with two-handed weapons.

- TP of Beastmaster's pet continues to decrease while its not engaged in battle.

- Automaton's status is lower than it is supposed to be.

- Under certain combinations of Head and Frame, Automaton will try to cast spells continuous

Square has updated the New Players Guide. Full posting follows:

The following is a message to the new inhabitants of Vana'diel out there—along with anyone thinking of embarking on an adventurer's life in the world of FINAL FANTASY XI!
The New Player Guide, an irreplaceable online scripture for all Vana'diel neophytes, has been augmented yet again. The latest installment adds a fifth chapter to the manual, and, as always, is packed with plenty of streaming video and useful content.

Leaving no stone unturned, Chapter 5 is a collection of information covering every facet of life in Vana'diel. With features outlining he online community, regularly held public events, a cornucopia of synthesis recipes, undeniably enjoyable quests, and a unique battle system that keeps even the most seasoned veterans coming back for more, the New Player's Guide has it all--boiled down and concentrated into a single-chapter serving virtually bursting at the seams! It's required reading for any ambitious adventurer.

Click here to view the New Player Guide.

We've updated the side poll with a brand new question about the august version update. We should have some impressions of the Chocobo Racing changes within a week or so. Until then please feel free to vote in the poll!

Previous Poll:

Question:
Did You Enjoy The Sunbreeze Festival?

Choices:
Option 01: Yup [4 votes]
Option 02: It was alright [0 votes]
Option 03: I didn't participate this year [4 votes]