Yeah you can run it. But how well can you run it? On a 450 laptop your probably going to get a 1000 or less benchmark score which is bare bones with lag.

Yeah, the 360 may be a barren wasteland for MMO's (though which console isn't?) but does that really matter?

This gets into what I was saying above-- people that are actually serious about FFXIV aren't likely to play it on a console.  They're going to play it on a PC because it will be better in just about every way.  That means the people that really care about the game and would do something like buy a console for a game, aren't going to buy a console for this game.

I'm not talking about graphics, I'm talking about controls and function.  If FFXIV is anything like FFXI, then you have to be awesome at your job or else people won't play with you.  FFXI is nothing like WoW, the game is actually pretty harsh.

Console users with little money or without a decent PC will be happy to know that there is a console port. That is reason enough, methinks.

As for being serious about the game, there's no difference control-wise between the console and pc version if both can be played with a keyboard&mouse, no?

not true, I just installed my GTX480 and now have 6GBs of ram. Do you want to know how much of an improvement on the benchmark I gained? 40 points. My system scores a 2248 now. The benchmark is trash. Plain and simple. It tests nothing but CPU preformance with threading and does ia piss poor job at it since my CPU gets a P18990 running 3dMark Vantage which is a pretty good score.

As for the specs of my mom's laptop. 3GBs of ram, HD3xxx mobile (its mid-grade, just forget exact model), and an Athlon II CPU running at 2.1GHz. It can run FFXI easily and actually run Crysis on low (at like 25fps but still it runs it). I havent tested the system with 3dmark or anything else but if I was to guess what it would score CPU wise I'd place it maybe around P14000 which is 1000 points above my Athlon X2 4600 .

I stand corrected.

On my new PC i'm getting a 5700 on low and a 4000 on high. Benchmark is evil.

You have to keep in mind that this is the first version of this benchmark, and that it might not even accurately reflect actual game performance (although one could argue that it's what a benchmark is for).

Relax guise, it's just a bench. I have two 5770s and the stupid thing doesn't support CfX or even SLI. The next version should be better... or just wait for the game. :>

I just wouldn't rely on this first version.. it sucks. :<

My scores are actually quite good. But I don't like how the benchmark isn't using my PC the way it should be.

I know, it reminds me of GTA IV or something.

How many do you think even know they can use a mouse and keyboard with their PS3?  I work at a game studio and friends with developers from many other studios and I still encounter people that don't know that.

But yes, assuming you do you mouse and keyboard, it's the same thing, except the setup.  One of the big pluses about console gaming is you have your awesome entertainment center, awesome TV, awesome sound, and comfy couch.  That's great for general gaming, not-so-much for the normal MMO.

I could not imagine playing an MMO from my couch.  The big screen is actually a hinderence since that's more space for you to pay attention to and even though the text is bigger, it would have to be harder to read.

No, MMO's are one of those funny beasts that are best played hunched over at your desk.

Also, what are console users with little money doing with a PS3 playing a monthly subscription game (actually, I have a shitty laptop that barely meets the requirements and I would much rather play on that than the PS3)?  FFXIV has some beasty requirements, but you can play it for pretty cheap on PC's.

Trust me, I'm generally one of the people that love to tell people how horrible in general PC gaming is.  If this were any other genre I would tell everyone to get the game on the PS3 and don't even consider the PC as an option, but with the MMO, I say completely the opposite.

There exist people that the PS3 will be better, but for the vast majority of people, FFXIV might as well be an exclusive.