I played for 6-7 years. Only payed for a main. Never gave in for mules or alts.

Yeah, but I'm also assuming that since you don't macro then you also don't equipment switch for the various spells and situations.  I wouldn't be surpised if you're the type of person that doesn't have sneak oils/invis powders on you at all times, probably doesn't use food, and probably doesn't craft.

Even if you have 120 slots and a satchel having a single properly equipped character is a stretch.

It can be done, you're living proof, but it sure makes it hard to craft, carry consumables, have proper equipment, and do extras like BCNM's and the likes.

I had all of those things, except I was skimy on the oils powders. It was a pain sometimes but I managed. I abused the hell out of the delivery system.

Also I used Macros, just not on mage classes. I needed to feel more involved than just standing there. I would have went insane.

Holy ****, four mules ? ... okay I had like 3 and I was just lvl 89 cooking ... :<

Not great money, but at least I never paid for my food.

hence I said that there is something wrong with the benchmark when running on your machine lol, have you tried a new install of windows?

Mules are characters that people buy to hold their stuff. These are completely optional. But are useful is some cases. They only cost 1 extra dollar on your monthy bill in both XI and XIV.

Bah...just call up Sega and tell Sonic Team to make a PROPER PSO sequal with current gen tech.

Problem solved.

Too bad Sonic Team totally lost it. How many years has it been without a decent game? Sonic 4 better blow my mind... :/

It won't happen.

@zero: Basically when you start crafting things, you'll run out of inventory space quickly enough. The solution is to create spare level 1 characters whose sole purpose will be to "hold" your stuff. They can also be used to overcome some crafting limits.

No, I have not forgotten. I still remember playing Anarchy Online and cancelling it after a month of playing.

As for comparing every MMORPG to WoW it is the necessary and right thing to do as WoW set the benchmark, is still the MMORPG leader, and is the game to build one's MMORPG around in order to usurp WoW's throne.

I was still playing WoW when Age of Conan and Warhammer Online came out. A few guildies left to play one or both, but sure enough, they were back within a month or two. I have not forgotten.

As for the comparison between Bioshock and Modern Warfare 2, you are right eventhough you are leaving out the massive marketing push that Modern Warfare 2 had.

As for a game being a failure or not, MMORPGS are judged on their monthly subscribers more than first week and first month sales alone. That being said, I am perfectly right and irrefutable in saying that Final Fantasy 11 has been a failure in comparison to WoW because it took 7 years for Final Fantasy 11 to reach 2 million subscribers, while WoW did that in less than 6 months.

As for the original question by the OP or should I say whine from Square Enix, Square Enix is expecting Microsoft via Xbox Live to provide a free lunch in the form of Microsoft taking the tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars per month to own, run and maintain the Final Fantasy 14 servers.

I can understand why Microsoft would be hostile to giving Square Enix something for nothing.

Reinstalling Windows is normally a useless tradition. If you really want to refresh windows without having to reinstall or restore everything just install a service pack again. That normally works. Otherwise use ccleaner and defraggler.

Still I could use the Windows 7 SP1 beta I guess. Still not really needed. I think the benchmark is just poorly made. Especially since the rumored recommended specs are pretty pathetic I should be great.