anyone know if this will be downloadable in the UK on steam or similar?

That would be one helluva download..

The game is what like 16 gigs?

Why not just buy the retail version?

Any reviews so far?

For kicks, if you check out http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?sku=640188&loc=homeflash1 theres an average of 6. Can't find any others yet, since the standard wasn't released yet/mmo needs a while to review. =/

I asked the question but it was just to test if you knew about any reviews because I actually found one.

It's from the most popular video game website in France:http://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0001/00013461-final-fantasy-xiv-test.htm

They gave it a 13/20. But don't be fooled by them. They are very severe. Those french!

I'll make a quick traduction.

• Graphics 16/20

  Technically, the game is looking good. The settings are inspiring although they sometimes feel bland. The character customization is well done since you won't see someone looking like you anytime soon. The monsters are original.

• Gameplay 10/20

  It's hard to rate this they say. Some great ideas and the combats are dynamics. But there's some balance issues when it comes to the different classes. Collecting items for quests can get really repetitive. They think some of the problems will be fixed soon.

• Lasting appeal 13/20

  Quests are not very original and you might get bored doing them. But the the job system is well made and the possibilites are endless.

• Soundtrack 16/20

  A great soundtrack overall.

• Story 13/20

  A bit cliché, but you can't expect a very deep story for the genre.

• Note Générale 13/20

  The game could have been amazing. They think the game might have been a bit rushed with it's balance issues between classes and some boring combats.

it is to soon for a full accurate, and proper review, unless you want to talk about impressions and graphics. there is many things to fix, and add. I say wait about a week or two.

im lazy, lol, plus I find it so much easier to play games stored on my harddrive, no need for me to search for the disks and such.

the disk is needed to install the game, you don't need it to play.

The game has it's issues but you can't review a MMO in a week and uh 2 days. That's just stupid.

I officially cannot stand this game. Call me misinformed, or whatever, but I'm waaay too upset with this game to continue trying to dive into it. I've hyped it up with any new info on it since its announcement at last years e3-------

Ok, I won't fully rage. But I'll list the problems I've had with the game, probably said before 100,000 times.
*UI is slow as hell. One click takes 1-2 seconds to load a screen. It's half impossible to examine someone, then keep up with them, just because you gotta click on a specific item to load its information. Stupid UI is stupid.

*NO AUCTION HOUSE. THIS GAME WILL NOT SURVIVE WITHOUT ONE. Not everyone wants to level crafts, upon subcrafts, upon looking for retainers for materials, just to get that new piece of armor or equipment in order to have a fighting chance of progressing in the game. I'm physical rank 11 now, pugilist rank 10. Halfway to next level for both. In FFXI, I would've had updated my armor twice already. But no, I have to rely on websites in order to have an idea of what item to look out for next, just because the game does not indicate what to get next at all. Sure, it wouldn't be obvious, but the AH helped in this department, giving you a slight idea of what to aim for. Lack of economy = no game beyond questing. 

  *I cannot get a party. I've shouted. I've asked people. I even raged and spammed and didn't even get someone to tell me to shut up. Not in any language, no responses, anywhere. I see people partying, they're all of the same LS, usually Japanese names. Not surprised. Lack of community in this game is horrific. 

*I cannot understand how to repeat a battlecraft/guildleve. I've done the 4 given to you for Camp Black Brush in Ul'Dah. Then what? You'd think to move on to the next area, Camp Dry Bone, right? But, you can't because everything kills you in 3-4 hits! So I go back to Camp Black Brush, level for a bit (to where I'm at now), still cannot solo Dry Bone battlecrafts, and I can't repeat Black Brushes' battlecraft leves. So I attempt soloing in the Dry Bone surrounding area, but that sh!t is MIND NUMBINGLY BORING. I give up.

Hmm, what else to rage on. Also, yeah, I understand "it's too early, still in Beta Phase 5 (or whatnot)", but damn bros. Rushed game is rushed, and for a FF title, it's just unacceptable. At least theres Starcraft and Halo, and ps3 goodness.

Maybe I'm doing something wrong? Maybe someone can help me? Please? lol, I refuse to subscribe to this game until its fixed (probably by ps3 release). I'm just mad cause the dudes who manage this game said "we'll learn from our XI mistakes and this game will be much better". They didn't learn jack sh!t. XI ps2 release was waaay better then this, IMHO.