signed up for the beta (pc and ps3)

Here’s to the Night

January 17, 2013

Hello all!
Fernehalwes here.

Now that we’ve finished tidying up after Yoshi-P’s little smash session with the Hammer of the Gods, I can finally bring you some screenshots from the new and improved Beta version.

As many of you may recall from the Alpha version walkthroughs released last month, we had yet to introduce the passing of time, so all the footage you saw took place in the day.

Our programmers, however, have been busy working behind the scenes, readying the realm for nightfall...and here’s an exclusive first look!

The Knot in Old Gridania:

The Moon in Her different phases:

Ah, but will facing north-by-northeast at 2:45 a.m. while the moon is a waning crescent result in a 27% increase in your chances to synthesize HQ mythril ingots!? That is real the question!

Fernehalwes

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I sure don't miss Dalamud being in the sky in these pictures. It seems a lot more dark like real nighttime in the game. On Version 1.0, the sky was lit up with a bluish glow. It didn't feel dark then.

That icy stare...!
That icy hair...!

Could it be...? Nah... It couldn't be... Or could it?

Lady of frost...
Likes her diamonds in dust form...
Name rhymes with “diva”...

http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/blog/post/171

I think this is the best Shiva model to date. She is so cold shes burning hot!

I saw the blog post early this morning. I will never forget the 1-hit KO of her bitchslap to me on FFXI. I forgot to trade the tuning fork to the protocrystal for the Lv20 Avatar fight against her, so she was Lv65 and I was Lv20 when I fought her, lol.

Glad to hear those were the z-brush default colors. A Shiva without having that icy feel would be so off.

Here's the title screen, new and improved with a "beta version" tag. The BGM has been changed as well...another little tidbit to look forward to.

Starting from phase 1, all races will be available for testing, so it's time for roll call! First up is the Hyur Midlander female.

The Hyur Highlander female is also front and center, looking strong and sexy.

Next up is the Elezen male smartly sporting race-specific gear.

The Lalafell looking adorable as always, but don't count them out in PvP.

The Miqo'te male makes his long-awaited debut, fueling fan desires for a new project: Miqo'te Online.

Last but certainly not least is the Roegadyn female, with strength matched only by her beauty.

With all these screen shots, it'd be a shame not to include one of the benchmark. We're still putting the finishing touches on it, so pay no mind to the score.

@ Wagram
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/threads/59783

Nice first look at Roegadyn, and Highlander chicks. They're actually good lookin

The Sound of Music

January 28, 2013

Hello all!
Fernehalwes back again for another installment of the Developers' Blog.

Recently, I’ve seen several people on the Lodestone forums express how cool it would be if, instead of pics, I could sneak a few music clips up on the blog as well. So, I donned my ninja garb, popped open a bottle of prism powder, and slipped into the shadows of the sound department—destination: FINAL FANTASY XIV sound director Masayoshi Soken's studio.

But alas, I should have known! Soken detects his prey by sound, not sight! I never stood a chance...and now I am his prisoner, forced to translate this message...

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Greetings earthlings! I now control the horizontal and the vertical. The Developers’ Blog is mine, and by mine, I mean the personal property of one Masayoshi Soken—Japan’s number one fan of knee-socks—a.k.a. Knee-Soken!

For those of you following my twitter feed (that would be all of you, I presume), you may recall a few days back I HYPOTHETICALLY asked that if I were to HYPOTHETICALLY leak a few of the HYPOTHETICAL tracks I was HYPOTHETICALLY working on for XIV, which ones would you HYPOTHETICALLY want to hear?

Well, despite a few nay-sayers who claimed I didn't have de Balzac to follow through with my intentions, most of you were psyched about getting the chance to listen to some previously unreleased tracks. And so, I devised this über complex plan to lure project manager M into my sound lair and bend her to my will. But wouldn't you know it, Fernehalwes happened to drop by, so I guess this’ll have to do.

Now that the blog is mine and I can do whatever I want, how about I start by leaking one of the tracks for Limsa Lominsa? Oh, and while I'm at it, how about these two tracks for La Noscea? Sure, they won't be officially released in-game until the 3rd phase of the Beta Test, but who's going to stop me? Mwahahahahaha!

The soft breeze off the ocean, the endless blue sky. Ah, what I wouldn't give to escape from this stuffy office and steal away to a place like Limsa Lominsa, where I could fill my lungs with the salty air and listen to the gulls while sipping on a glass fine wine. If I close my eyes, I can almost feel the cool sea spray tickle my skin.

That reminds me!
The FINAL FANTASY Vocal Collection goes on sale tomorrow in Japan...and it will contain the full, uncut version of “Answers” sung by the lovely Susan Calloway! That's right, the version you heard in the End of an Era trailer was only half the masterpiece! But now, for the first time ever, the song will be available to the public (outside of limited-edition sets sold at private shows, etc.), and that means for the first time ever, the lyrics will be unveiled!!1!

(Um, Mr. Knee-Soken, Ferne here. I, uh, posted the lyrics on the Lodestone forums a few months back, so actually, this is technically the second time ever they will have been released to the public!)

Silence! This is my blog, and I'll have none of your insolence! I was merely saying that it was the first time the lyrics would be released in PRINTED form!

Now, where was I?
Ah yes, the CD! You can find out more about it here. But be careful before opening the site at work, unless you don't think your boss'd mind the silky smooth sounds.

And uh... I guess that's all? Very well. You can have your blog back...for now. But one day I'll return. You won't know when, and you won't know where (though it'll more than likely be here), but mark my words, you haven't heard the last of Knee-Soken! Mwahahahaha!

We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

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I love it when a plan comes together. ;)
(cue fanfare)

Fernehalwes.

Couldn't embed for some reason.

Very impressive, that is some really good tunes there.