Author: Kurtis Seid

The original release of Final Fantasy XIV in 2010 was met with harsh criticism from both players and press. Square Enix themselves conceded that the MMO was a failure and the producer formally made an apology for the state of the game. Over the next three years version 1.0 of Final Fantasy XIV was retooled with new gameplay mechanics, updated graphics engine, improved servers, and a fleshed out story. In the end the game was released as version 2.0, Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.

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I played Final Fantasy XI for several years, and eagerly picked up Final Fantasy XIV when it first launched. While I didn’t despise the game like so many others, it was rather lukewarm and I only played for about five months. Due to my subscription of 1.0, there was no need to purchase 2.0 as it automatically rolled into my account. I was also granted early access to the game three days before the official launch. I’ve chronicled my impressions as a returning player coming into a very different world.

Warrior of Light

A Realm Reborn (2.0) takes place five years after the end of the original Final Fantasy XIV (1.0). Story-wise, the world was under siege from the primal Bahamut and the empire of Garlean. In a last ditch effort to save the heroes from utter destruction, they were transported five years into the future, though with their memories fragmented. New 2.0 players take the role of novice adventures who will hear stories of the “Warriors of Light” that fought five years ago. 1.0 players are instead the actual Warriors of Light, who have certain small advantages and slightly altered stories.

As a Warrior of Light I retained my class levels, abilities, gear, money, mount, and ability to change classes. I however didn’t keep access to various quests, transportation (airship), retainers, or other companions. Despite my higher level I found myself at the same story progression as any other player. I started 2.0 in the higher level 20’s as a Pugilist and soon found myself blitzing through quests without much thought of difficulty or goals. The focus was to get my airship pass as soon as possible and travel to other cities. This required going through a large amount of quests designed from levels 1 through 15.

Eventually I decided to drop my Pugilist gauntlets and take up lower level classes such as Lancer and Archer. If I was going to be doing lower level content, it made sense to be lower level and gain appropriate rewards. Even if you are higher level, 2.0 makes full use of ‘level syncing’ to reduce your current level and bring it closer to one applicable to the story or dungeon you’re undergoing. This meant that I was typically on my toes, even if I went in with higher levels and overpowered gear. What also made things nice was that most quest rewards let you opt out of getting lower level gear in exchange for more money (gil).

Duty Finder and roles

One of the biggest improvements is the implementation of the Duty Finder, Final Fantasy XIV version of a Dungeon Finder. Not only does it include finding full dungeons, but shorter “Guildhest” group quests, hunts, and eventually will allow PvP. The first few of these objectives are available at level 10, but as mentioned before you can enter at higher levels and by synced down. One thing to keep in mind that each class can only queue as a single role, even if they have been gearing themselves as something else. Marauders and Gladiators are assigned tanks; Conjurer as healer; and Lancer, Archer, Pugilist, Arcanist, and Thaumaturge as damagers (DPS or Damage per second). Basic dungeons require one tank, one healer, and two damagers.

As you can imagine this can mean long wait times for damage dealers, while tanks and healers get first dibs. My classes above 10 and ready to use Duty Finder were Pugilist, Lancer, Archer, and Conjurer; three DPS, a healer, and no tanks. Though you only actually need these roles to queue, you can still run around as other classes in the meantime and actively switch classes during a dungeon or guildhest. In some cases many players were switching to melee DPS (Lancer, Pugilist) to tank simpler encounters.

Roles expand slightly at level 30, where each class can upgrade to a job once achieving level 15 with a designated secondary class. For example a 30 Pugilist/15 Lancer can become a Monk, which is a more specialized and less customizable Pugilist. Most of the classes advance to only a single job, which shares its original role. The exception is Arcanist (DPS), which has two jobs in the form of Summoner (DPS) and Scholar (Healer). In the end players will have to wait until level 30 to see more healer options.

Most classes can already heal and defend themselves by assigning additional abilities from other classes. For example my levels of Conjurer allowed me to assign magic such as Cure, Protect, and Raise to my DPS classes. Though the amount of healing was much lower and couldn’t be used as area of effect, it was still very useful in a pinch. Most jobs lack the option of adding in a variety of cross-class abilities, and are restricted to only a select few. The question for players is if it’s better to have the specialized strength of jobs, or the diversity of classes. It’s speculated that classes will be better for soloing, while jobs will shine in groups.

Fate and Levequests

It seems that with so many classes that you’ll be spending a lot of time grinding. Besides the Duty Finder, there are many activities to relieve the monotony of leveling. The first is Fate, timed world quests that sprout out around and allow anyone to take part in. This isn’t really new to MMOs, as games such as Guild Wars 2 and Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning implemented them all the time. Fates are very common and quick allowing easy experience and gil without much hassle.

Levequests return in A Realm Reborn. Levequests are short quests designed to be completed solo and can include fights in the field, gathering materials, or crafting in town. An improvement to Levequests is that you can hold up to 100 at once, and are rewarded an extra allowance every few hours. One drawback is that you will fail a Levequest if you happen to disconnect or are transported to an instance, such as using Duty Finder. This can make it risky to initiate a leve when you are queued for something else.

Additionally, the item rewards and assignments are typically geared towards the guilds that are located in the nearby cities. For example in the city of Ul’dah and the surrounding region you’ll likely be given gear for Gladiators, Pugilists, and Thaumaturge; crafting and gathering is typically for Weavers, Alchemists, Goldsmiths, and Miners. This isn’t much of a problem for 2.0 players who might already be those classes. However, as a returning 1.0 user most of those proved worthless and motivated me to continue my hasty pursuit of an airship pass, and guilds in other cities.

World problems

The biggest issues during early access were the technical server problems. Even though it was planned to gain a three day head start to older players and those that pre-ordered, it became difficult to even play. During the second day of early access, August 25th, Square Enix decided to limit the amount of players allowed on the NA/EU servers and disable the player queue. Instead of being placed in a waiting list, unfortunate players were given a “1017 error” telling them to log in when space was free. This led many to spam the login screen and attempt to brute force their way in. I was guilty of this and spent more than two hours trying to get in.

Even once inside the game there were still plenty of server errors, including crashes, time outs, and a broken Duty Finder. Many players were cautious, often staying in the same zone to avoid being disconnected and having to repeat the login fiasco again. Others went completely AFK, taking up player space with no form of auto kick to remove the idle. The problem was eventually resolved in the early morning of August 26th, allowing many players to easily get into the NA/EU servers. The JP servers never suffered these problems.

Ready for launch?

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn officially releases on August 27th and the question remains is if Square Enix is ready. The amount of early access players represent only a fraction of the populace, and things could get worse once the floodgates open. It’s good that they’ve managed to work out some kinks now, even if felt like early access players were in a beta stress test.

A Realm Reborn is incredibly fun, compelling, and a great reboot to the lackluster original. Returning players will have certain advantages with gear and levels, but the playing field is rather balanced for with those that are coming in for the first time. If I spent hours just trying to get into the game, there is something alluring or addictive that many others will feel as they explore the new Eorzea. I’ll continue playing Final Fantasy XIV to explore all the nooks that I’ve yet to discover in the short amount of time so far.

Are you enjoying Final Fantasy XIV?

Microsoft subtly revealed that Game for Windows Live will shut down in 2014, which could affect the multiplayer, downloadable content, and saves of many titles. Some games, such as Age of Empires Online, depend on the service to function, while others games are less intertwined. While the shutdown is over a year away, it’s good to highlight what the change means and some ways to alleviate the problems.

Publisher responsibility

There are currently over 70 games that use Games for Windows Live (GFWL), with 15 of them published by Microsoft Studios. Among their popular titles include Fable III, Gears of War, and Halo 2. All these games have some type of cooperative or multiplayer aspect, which seems important to preserve after the end of GFWL. Microsoft is expected to roll out patches to either retain GFWL’s functions, and possibly roll them into a new service (perhaps integrating it directly into Xbox Live or the larger Microsoft account).

One thing to keep in mind is that Microsoft doesn’t necessarily have to oversee the preservation of third party games that require GFWL. Capcom has 10 games that use the service, many of which have online and cross-platform capability. Sega and Codemasters also have at least 5 titles that use GFWL for multiplayer and match making. It’s the responsibility of these publishers to amend their dependence on GFWL and patch their games. Questions remain as to when they will do this, and if the updates will simulate everything GFWL offered.

Multiplayer

Online cooperative and competitive modes are among the biggest features of many GFWL games. For some games, it includes both match-making and the actual multiplayer sessions themselves, while others use more direct P2P methods to find other players.

Among the most popular titles that could be harmed by the demise of GFWL include Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto IV, Namco Bandai’s Dark Souls, THQ’s Warhammmer 40,000: Dawn of War II, and Capcom’s Street Fighter IV.

Downloadable content

GFWL not only takes care of the full retail game, but also any downloadable content or expansions to the titles. Among the biggest of these are the 5 DLC scenarios for Fallout 3, starting with Operation: Anchorage and concluding with Mothership Zeta.

Bioshock 2’s downloadable single player campaign Minerva’s Den is also intertwined with GFWL, and will require patching from 2K Games to be accessible once the service shuts off. Evidence through Steam’s registry shows that 2K Games is taking steps to make Minerva’s Den playable over Valve’s online service.

Accessing saves and other game aspects

Accessing saved data for many titles requires logging in to your Games for Windows Live account, even if you plan on playing in single player. Some titles, such as Batman Arkham City, instead save to the cloud and allow saving and loading from anywhere even if GFWL isn’t working.

GFWL can also oversee other aspects of the game such as voice chat, friend list organization, leaderboards, and achievements. Many game achievements will need to be completed before the GFWL shutdown in order to boost your Gamerscore across your Microsoft accounts.

Steam relief

Some of the issues related to the inevitable GFWL shut down are already being taken care of thanks to patches and Steam implementation. Batman Arkham Asylum, Batman Arkham City, and Bioshock 2 have already received Steam Achievements, which include ones identical to those found in GFWL.

This is a great start, as Steam is an established and more stable online platform than Game for Windows Live ever was. Among the easiest ways publishers can alleviate the shutdown is to transfer over to the Steamworks API. This tool will allow games fully integrate with the Steam client, and provides access to networking, player authentication, matchmaking, and voice chat. Steamworks also provides the Steam community with friends groups and, as mentioned above, easy roll over of achievement lists. As a final bonus it also can use Steam Cloud to help manage saves and has anti-cheating capabilities.

Overall, Steamworks sounds like a great way to preserve the functionality of many games. Many of the GFWL titles are already available over steam. The biggest question is if and when publishers will adapt, if they opt into some other system, or if they’ll simply let their games decay. Microsoft seems content with Age of Empires Online dying completely when GFWL ends, but what of the rest?

How do you feel about the end of Games for Windows Live?

Shortly after concluding WWDC 2013 two months ago Apple released a beta of iOS 7 for developers. This beta was recently updated to iOS 7 beta 5, which features a good amount of small changes. We’ve tried out the update and are pleased with the ways Apple is taking the OS.

Better color coordination

iOS 7 beta 5 has improvements to the look of the Settings App, mostly in the form of new colors. Icons in the settings app are no more colorful and easier to see for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Do Not Disturb, and others. The Twitter icon on AirDrop has also been change from a white bird on a blue background, to the more familiar blue bird.

The install screen also has changed to match with your device’s model. For example If you have a white iPhone, the screen will have a white screen with black icon, while a black iPhone will have a black background with white icon.

Interface changes

The iOS is of course focused on a great phone interface. All of the icons while taking a call are much larger and have circles to help highlight them and match the look of the keypad.

When you power off your device a new power off slider will appear at the top. As you swipe from left to right the color will change from a dark red to a much lighter off-pink.

The Control Center settings now have Access controls, allowing you to toggle if the menu is access able from the Lock Screen or within apps. Turning off access is a great way to prevent accidentally activating the feature, especially when playing games with a lot of swiping.

Taking care of mail

A small change to the mail app interface includes the direct removal of the delete button right on the inbox. Instead you must hit the edit button, allowing you to mark your email list and then move them to either trash or archive. Although this extra step might seem annoying, it’s a great means of stopping accidental email deletion.

A touch of trust

To help with security, a new warning and check has been added when connecting your device to a new computer via a charger. The first time you attach your iOS device to a computer a verification will appear, asking you would like to allow full access to your device and all of the stored data.

This can also occur when you connect to other devices (such as game consoles) or power sources, which may indicate possible security risks or hidden computers within your power source.

Panoramic problem

A minor removal includes the disabling of the panoramic wallpapers which previously moved according to your device’s gyroscoping, rotating a full 240 degrees. You can still select panoramic pictures as wallpapers, they simply won’t animate. It’s understandable for this to be missing in the beta as it’s not a necessary function for developers . Hopefully it will be reinstated when iOS 7 is released for consumer use.

iOS 7 beta 5’s changes are helpful and prevent accidental access of unwanted functions. While the update isn’t huge, it does provide a taste of where Apple is focusing and how the iOS will ultimately shape into. We like what we’ve seen and look forward to future updates.

Even though Alice: Madness Returns wasn’t a commercial success, the series still has a dedicated fanbase. Over 3,000 supporters have backed a Kickstarter to fund a new animated film that will continue Alice’s story, and if successful, could result in a third game. Alice: Otherlands is the name of the project that will take the series heroine into the minds of important figures from 1875’s London. We were able to interview series creator American McGee to find out what he and his company Spicy Horse has in store for the series.

The series and its future

Softonic: It has been stated that Otherlands will conclude the Alice trilogy, but will there be room for potential spin-offs and side stories? If so, would they be as games or films?

American McGee: The plan right now is to get Otherlands made as a series of animations and as a game. The success of the animations will help secure a future for the Otherlands game. Beyond that, I really don’t know yet. It’s going to depend on how the story resolves and audience demand. Personally, I wouldn’t mind if Otherlands (animation and game) marked the final chapter of Alice’s adventures. That feels right to me.

ST: Will viewers of Otherlands need to have played Alice or Alice: Madness Returns to fully understand the story? Will there be extra references they could miss?

AM: Because these animations take place inside the minds of other characters (not in Alice’s mind) you won’t need an understanding of Alice or Madness Returns in order to enjoy them. When we eventually make a game based on this concept, then some understanding of Alice’s journey and goals will be helpful in enjoying the story and action presented there.

American went into further detail on the Kickstarter site–

“Alice’s story in the first game is one of overcoming psychological trauma brought upon by the death of her family. Emotions created by that event (rage, guilt, sadness, etc) take form in Wonderland, personified through characters like the Mad Hatter and Queen of Hearts. If Alice loses in the battle against these emotions she’ll not only lose her sanity, but be lobotomized and remain locked within the asylum for the rest of her life. She knows there’s a greater mystery to be solved, but the immediate problem is escape from her mental and physical imprisonment.

At the end of the first game we see Alice is victorious. She frees herself from her mental and physical constraints, is set loose in London…”

“The narrative contained within the three games links together – the first story being one of Alice overcoming the psychological barriers that stop her from realizing her true potential. In the second game the threat is physical, though Alice uses her “Wonderland powers” to unravel the mystery of her parents’ death and defeat the real-world bad guy. At the end of the second game we see Alice emerge onto the streets of London filled with a power that transcends the physical and psychological – she’s now master of both domains. She’s also aware of an insidious evil lurking in every corner of Victorian London, of a threat greater than the asylum or the man who killed her family.”

The ownership game

ST: Electronic Arts published the first two games, do they have complete ownership of the Alice license? Could they have say on what goes into Otherlands, or will it be completely up to you and Spicy Horse?

AM: EA own the game rights. The film rights are owned by independent film producers in Hollywood [Collision Entertainment]. We’re running [the Kickstarter] so that I can purchase the film rights. That will give me freedom to create animations, feature films and merchandise (toys, posters, books, etc) related to those. If another game gets made I expect we’ll have as much creative freedom as we did with Alice and Madness Returns. Making sure I have creative freedom is part of the negotiation process.

ST: Will we see the return of both cast and characters? Would Susie Brann reprise her role as Alice, and maybe even Anni Long as The Queen of Hearts?

AM: That is very likely. Susie Brann, Roger Jackson and the other voice actors are a critical part of the Alice productions. I’m working today to secure their involvement with the Otherlands.

ST: Does Alice make use of her arsenal of weapons and powers? There is of course the vorpal blade, but what about also the parasol, pepper grinder and others. What about Hysteria?

AM: we might have a chance to see Alice fighting against the mental demons contained within the Otherlands (minds of others). The animations will vary in terms of content and story. Some might be visual explorations and nothing more. Others could contain mini narratives and the kind of action you’re asking about here. Of course for the Otherlands game (when we finally make it) we’ll see Alice using her full arsenal of weapons and skills.

“The third installment of the story would find Alice leveraging her super hero-like power to invade the minds of others, hence “Otherlands.” 1875 in London is a time filled with a rich array of characters, each a potential vehicle for Alice’s new adventures – Jules Verne, Jack the Ripper, Darwin, Queen Victoria and a plethora of French artists.”

ST: You’ve listed out a number possible Otherlands Alice could visit. What are the top minds that you’d most want to see come to life?

AM: I’ve very interested in seeing the minds of Van Gogh, Verne, and Edison. The list of potential minds is growing daily – because there are so many great options, I think we’ll need to have a dialog with our backers to decide which ones we explore first. With Kickstarter the question is not which minds I want to explore – but which minds our backers want to explore.

The Alice Otherlands campaign has proven successful, achieving 111% of its $200,000 goal ($222,377 pledged). This has proven better than Spicy Horse’s previous Kickstarters, Akaneiro: Demon Hunters which earned 102% of its goal, and Ozombie which was canceled three weeks before its scheduled funding deadline. American McGee and Spicy Horse do have challenges ahead of them, as they are a game studio and not an animation house. Still, the success of the Otherlands animation could lead the way to new Alice games. It’s a question if Electronic Arts will see the merit of publishing another title.

When it comes to strategy and simulation games, Android and iOS devices have some real hidden gems. Some simulations allow you to sail the seas, manage an airline, or simply live vicariously through strange creatures. It’s even better when you don’t have to pay for them! Read on and we’ll show you six free games for your iOS and Android devices.

Pocket Planes

Would you like to be the owner of a business empire? You might enjoy Pocket Planes, a game in which you manage your own airline company.

Of course, Rome was not built in a day. You’ll start with a modest company and grow slowly to hobnob with the greats. Eventually you’ll control absolutely everything, from things as superficial as crew uniforms to important issues as scheduling flight routes.

Download Planes Pocket for Android

Download Pocket Planes for iPhone

Bridge Constructor

Suspension bridges might not sound like the most fun subject in the world, but things change when they’re turned into a game. Bridge Constructor is humorous proof of this.

In this game, you have to build bridges on different cliffs. Combine materials and structures to make your constructions strong or you may fall prey to nasty accidents. Of course, unlike real life, if a bridge doesn’t work out, you can simply make a new one.

Download Bridge Constructor for Android

Download Bridge Constructor for iPhone

The Sims Free Play

The most popular version of The Sims is on PC, but no platform has escaped the charm of the virtual beings, including iOS and Android.

Both mobile versions of The Sims are more limited than their PC counterpart, but they still have more options than you might expect: you can have up to 20 Sims in a game, care for pets, visit neighbors, and build houses. If you’re a Sims addict, you’ll want to download these versions.

Download The Sims Free Play for Android

Download The Sims Free Play for iPhone

Playmobil Pirates

Do you fear you’re a little old to play with Playmobil? Don’t be ashamed, if you don’t want to be seen playing with dolls, you’ve always got game simulations.

With Playmobil Pirates you can experience adventures with a high strategic component within a complete Playmobil world. Its low difficulty level may not be perfect for the hardcore player, but if aren’t too interested in challenge, you could enjoy the game a lot.

Download Playmobil Pirates for Android

Download Playmobil Pirates for iPhone

Towers N ‘Trolls

Tower defense is a classic genre that has had iterations throughout different systems, including even iOS and Android. For these devices, we found Towers N ‘Trolls to be among the best free games.

Don’t be deceived by its Shrek-style graphics, Towers N ‘Trolls is a tremendously challenging and addictive game, and the very best of its kind in the app stores.

Download Towers N ‘Trolls HD for Android

Download Towers N ‘Trolls HD for iPhone

Clash of Clans

This sixth title only meets 50% of our remit, as it is only available on iPhone/iPad, but there could be an Android version in the future. Clash of Clans has become a blockbuster, a game that has been winning over iOS users since its inception.

In Clash of Clans, you are the head of a barbarian tribe that must deal with foreign enemies. Fun graphics, intense gameplay, and multiplayer modes make it one of those titles you’ll lose hours and hours over. We’d love an Android version soon!

Download Clash of Clans for iPhone

What other mobile simulation and strategy games do you play?