Recent News/Archive 6

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Recent News

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Starting today, we have introduced a survey regarding all of PlayOnline's services, and we would appreciate your opinions and requests in regards to Square Enix's customer support (such as GM support and the Information Center).

Survey period: From January 29 (Fri.) at 0:00am to February 5 (Fri.) at 1:00am (PST)

We will be using the answers you submit to improve our customer support in the future. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Click here for the survey.

The charm wand—that endearing single-handed weapon that has become synonymous with Valentione's Day...

Word has it that, this year, a certain activity has become popular among adventurers who possess this heart-adorned wand.

Care to know more about this latest fad? Then lend an ear to the rumors being whispered in every street and tavern and from every nook and cranny across San d'Oria.

* This year's Valentione's Day event is scheduled to commence on Thursday, February 4th at 0:00 am (PST) and conclude on Monday, February 15th at 0:00 am (PST).

SQUARE ENIX MEMBERS is proud to offer a chance to win one of four copies of the FINAL FANTASY XI ULTIMATE COLLECTION (2 Windows PC and 2 Xbox 360) signed by FINAL FANTASY XI Producer, Hiromichi Tanaka! Entering to win one of these coveted items is easy; all you need to do is be a registered SQUARE ENIX MEMBER! Make sure you don't delay, though, as this exciting opportunity will only be available until February 22, 2010.

Visit the SQUARE ENIX MEMBERS sweepstakes page for more information.

It is our pleasure to announce that the next edition of VanaFest, Japan's premier Final Fantasy XI fan event, will be held on Sunday, February 28th 2010 in Tokyo!

Attendees can expect this year's event to be a veritable goldmine of mind-blowing news. Development and operation team members will engage in a talk session and divulge juicy pieces of information such as new content scheduled for upcoming version updates, planned job improvements, and other exciting milestones for the year 2010. The evolution of Final Fantasy XI is far from over, folks!

But save your awestruck faces for the special announcement...and be sure to hang on to your seats when it comes!

Even those unable to attend need not be disheartened! All the latest news and developments announced at the festival will be delivered to you hot off the press, so stay tuned!

Happy New Year to all adventurers the world over!

As has become the tradition, a curious family of creatures has taken to bounding spiritedly about the three nations.

But what's this? It would appear that this year the creatures are not alone...

Read on for the details.

"*The New Year's event will commence on Thursday, December 31st at 7:00am (PST) and end on Friday, January 15th at midnight (00:00)."

''Look at that glum face! No, no, that won't do at all. How do you expect to bring mirth and merriment to the children of Vana'diel if you can't even turn your own frown upside down!? Fortunately, I've got just the tale to raise your spirits.

So sit up, perk your ears, and listen to the tale of a down-on-his-luck smilebringer—not unlike yourself—who made his Starlight wish come true.''

O-hohoho! The recent fan art contest that duly pays homage to me saw a veritable deluge of entries flowing in fast and free.

Each masterpiece is a unique portrayal of my inimitable essence, glorifying my unsurpassed beauty, might, and overwhelming presence. I extend to you a rare privilege to admire and adore the said masterpieces—they'll surely send your heart to soar.

Step through the portal and be whisked away to the gallery where all entries are on display.

It is with pleasure that we announce the arrival of the version update featuring the exciting new Synergy and Evolith systems. Get together with your craftiest friends to create heretofore unseen items and put the perfect finishing touches on your arms and armor, old and new alike!

Want to learn more? Peruse the details here.

Mog Bonanza, the event that offers adventurers the chance to win large sums of gil and the items they've always wanted, is coming back this winter as the Moggy New Year Bonanza.

What does the year 2010 have in store for you? Don't miss this chance to find out!

Proceed here to learn the details of the Moggy New Year Bonanza.

* Marble sales are scheduled to commence from Thursday, December 24, 2009 at 1:00 a.m. (PDT). * All prizes won in the Mog Bonanza are virtual goods and cannot be redeemed for real-world money.

Ladies and gentlemen! At long last, the winning entries for the Shantotto Fan Art Contest have been decided! The staggering amount of entries and the love that evidently went into each are a testament to the good doctor's enduring popularity, and this made the task of selecting winners that much more difficult for the judges. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who took the time to join in this celebration of one of Vana'diel's most distinguished citizens.

Which of the entries have been deemed to best capture the indomitable spirit that is Doctor Shantotto? Proceed here to find out!

We are pleased to announce that the FINAL FANTASY ULTIMATE COLLECTION is now available for digital distribution via Steam. For the low price of $19.99, you can download the collection—including the award-winning original game, all four expansions (Rise of the Zilart, Chains of Promathia, Treasures of Aht Urhgan, and Wings of the Goddess), and all three add-on scenarios (A Crystalline Prophecy, A Moogle Kupo d'Etat, and A Shantotto Ascension)—and begin your adventures without leaving the comfort of your own home!

Users purchasing the ULTIMATE COLLECTION via Steam will also be eligible for the Nexus Cape, the in-game bonus item presented to owners of all three add-on scenarios. With Steam's Gift Purchasing feature, you can even treat a friend or family member to a life of adventure in Vana'diel for the holidays!

Visit the official Steam FINAL FANTASY XI page here!

Today, we are proud to announce the launch of the new wedding support service, packed with features sure to delight adventurers across Vana'diel looking to exchange eternal vows with their beloved!

Responding to player demands for greater customization, the new service will grant brides and grooms freedom in choosing location, timing, dialogue, and more for their ceremony, allowing them to create a truly memorable event all their own. Information on all the features, including in-game item vendors and wedding certificates, can be found on the new wedding support site, so head on over and get started planning the wedding of your dreams!

The new wedding support site can be found here.

The November major version update, starring the third and final add-on scenario, "A Shantotto Ascension—The Legend Torn, Her Empire Born," is now available for your downloading pleasure! With compelling new Wings of the Goddess quests, more heart-pounding action with the Moblin Maze Mongers, a host of job adjustments, and throngs of game-enhancing tweaks across the board, there is bound to be something for adventurers of all stripes!

Drool over the details here.

The fast-approaching major version update will usher in auspicious adjustments spanning a wide range of in-game elements. Today, it is our pleasure to introduce the changes that are scheduled for the Chocobo Circuit, the fishing quest "Inside the Belly," and more!

Read on for the details.

Ladies and gentlemen! Coming to you in a version update scheduled for as early as late November is "Synergy"—the new in-game system that will add a whole new dimension to synthesis!

Gather around to learn the details.

We're pleased to announce a new system that promises to offer adventurers unprecedented customization options for their equipment! Named the "Evolith" system for the curious stones whose powers must be harnessed to reap the benefits, it will be introduced in a version update coming as early as late November.

Read on for the details!

To commemorate the release of the third and final add-on scenario, we are proud to introduce the "Nexus Cape," an in-game bonus item for players who have purchased the entire trilogy. All characters under a single player account registered for all three add-ons will be eligible for this gift. Owners of the FINAL FANTASY XI ULTIMATE COLLECTION, scheduled for release on November 10, can also shout with glee, as the gift will be available to them also.

Read on for the juicy details.



To tide our fans over until the November 9th release of "A Shantotto Ascension—The Legend Torn, Her Empire Born," a brand new trailer has been made available on the official add-on scenario homepage. More details regarding equipment have also been added to the homepage, so be sure to check it out!

Hasten there now without delay!

Be fairly warned! Only six days remain until the submission period for the Shantotto Fan Art Contest, inspired by the imminent release of the third add-on scenario, "A Shantotto Ascension," comes to a close.

Submissions will be made available for the admiring pleasure of the entire world by way of an online gallery accessible via Topics, with all entries to be judged by a star-studded panel consisting of development and community team members. Selected winners are set to be awarded a special prize – the "Nomad Moogle Rod" in-game item!

Be sure to send in your masterpiece by the Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 deadline. Don't miss this chance to flex your creative muscles and be a part of this premier community event!

Learn how to participate here.

* Please confirm all entry requirements and ensure that your artwork is attached in the correct format prior to submission

Part II of our job adjustments and additions preview invites to center stage beastmasters and summoners, Vana'diel's wielders of animalistic and avatarial might!

Press onward for the details.

We are proud to announce the FINAL FANTASY XI Ultimate Collection for Windows and Xbox 360 for the low price of $19.99! The collection will include the complete original game, all four expansions (Rise of the Zilart, Chains of Promathia, Treasures of Aht Urhgan, and Wings of the Goddess), as well as all three add-on scenarios (A Crystalline Prophecy, A Moogle Kupo d'Etat, and A Shantotto Ascension) on one easy-to-install DVD!

Click here for more details.

The November version update will feature a host of welcome refinements for three time-honored professions: rangers, beastmasters, and summoners. In Part I of our preview, we shine the spotlight on rangers and unveil the adjustments that will have the hunters and huntresses of Vana'diel sharpshooting like never before!

Read on for the details!

The wedding service that has blessed countless couples in the holy bonds of matrimony will soon be reborn as an easier-to-use and even more extravagant service! All of you out there thinking about a beautiful wedding in Vana'diel, why not ask one of the in-game NPCs about that special moment with your partner that will stay with you forever?

Click here to learn more!

Trees bedecked in gold and crimson hues, a crisp breeze in the air and the mouthwatering aroma of pumpkin pie wafting from the windows of taverns and homes... Autumn has come to the three nations, and with it, that most devilishly delightful of seasonal celebrations, the Harvest Festival!

But all is not well, as honest-to-goodness ghosts are plotting to use the guise of the annual masquerade to skulk into town and wreak unholy havoc on the unsuspecting citizens. Brave adventurers who join with the moogles to drive out these demons can expect to receive due reward, in the form of a splendidly ghoulish lantern said to ward off malign spirits! How did people come to attribute such supernatural powers to a simple lighting device carved from an overgrown gourd? The answer lies in a timeless tale passed down in Windurstian lore...

For the full story—and details on how to participate in the festivities for yourself—read on!

Compelling Wings of the Goddess nation quests spanning the two central continents are set to continue in the fast-approaching November version update. As the Crystal War rages ever nearer to boiling point, the front of conflict shifts to the snowswept fields of Xarcabard. Brave souls who turn not their backs to the plight of the Allied Forces shall uncover the true pasts and deeds of the legendary heroes of whom songs are sung to this day...

Read on for the jaw-dropping preview!

Not content to rest until each and every adventurer in Vana'diel is sending a steady stream of gil into their already ample coffers, Goldagrik and his lovable band of Maze Mongers are cooking up some deviously delightful new diversions for you in the upcoming version update.

Read on for the details!

To commemorate the upcoming release of FINAL FANTASY XI's third add-on scenario, "A Shantotto Ascension," it is with pleasure that we announce a fan art contest inspired by everyone's favorite rhyme-spinning sorceress!

With her peerless mastery over the black arts and her sass in abundance, Doctor Shantotto has established herself as one of the most popular personalities ever to grace the world of Vana'diel. Now adventurers the world over have a chance to pay homage to this pocket dynamo by way of fan art! Ruthless, beautiful, nigh-omnipotent—how you portray the former Orastery Minister is entirely up to you. Just keep in mind, however, that the good doctor is nothing if not charming!

Proceed here for the full details on the contest!

We are proud to announce that the official trailer for the third add-on scenario, "A Shantotto Ascension—The Legend Torn, Her Empire Born," is now available for your viewing pleasure!

Head on over to the official site for a preview of the adventure that awaits!

We're pleased to announce that the development and quality assurance teams are hard at work on the new version update, currently on track for an early November release. With thrilling new episodes of the Wings of the Goddess nation quests, job-related adjustments, added features for Moblin Maze Mongers, an extensive and all-new system involving items, and more, there's sure to be something for adventurers of all stripes!

Further details will be posted here as the release draws closer, so keep checking this space!

It's time once more for that most breathtaking and bewildering of Vana'diel's annual observances—the Buffalo Blitz! Why do otherwise sensible individuals risk life and limb by intentionally incurring the ire of these belligerent bovine beasts? The answer might not be what you expect...

For the full story—and details on how to hurl yourself heroically into the fray—just read on!

Brand new FINAL FANTASY XI accessories sure to delight adventurers the world over are set to join our product lineup at the official Square Enix Online Shop on September 24th! We also have the latest news about long-awaited upcoming products that you won't want to miss!

Read on for the full scoop! Click |here to visit the official Square Enix Online Shop.

It is with pleasure that we announce the "Silver Dog Tag"—the second product in the Final Fantasy XI Players' Collection line of premium accessories. Scheduled to go on sale later this month, this smart little number will allow players to always keep Vana'diel close to heart no matter where they go.

Learn more about the Silver Dog Tag here.

"Hi everyone! My name's Mumor! How are you all? I've been feeling just fantastic, thank you! My live performance at this year's Sunbreeze Festival is about to begin, you see. All the fans have already begun lining up and—huh? Where in the world did everyone go...?

What's with the commotion over there? A crowd of people seems to have gathered. But...something doesn't smell right here..."

This summer, a fearsome new menace has come to wreak havoc on festivals and smiles of happiness—the very things our winsome superheroine, Fantastic Fraulein Mumor, has sworn to protect. Only with your spirited show of support can Mumor hope to prevail in her latest battle against evil! All together now: "Shining Summer Samba!!!"

Proceed here to learn how you can help Fantastic Fraulein Mumor purge Vana'diel of this latest threat casting its shadow over the realm!


 * The Sunbreeze Festival will commence on Tuesday, August 4, 2009 at 1:00 a.m. (PDT) and run until Monday, August 17 at 1:00 a.m. (PDT).

Adventurers across Vana'diel, rejoice! The long-awaited Player Event Support service previously announced at fan events in the U.S. and Japan is set to debut today. At your behest, the brave moogles of the Mog House Management Union (MHMU) will dress up as everything from monsters and beastmen to holiday trees. A grand total of two hundred objects covering most everything an adventurer's heart could desire are available to lend your event that extra dose of creative charm!

So what are you waiting for? Check out the Player Event Support site for all the details!

Ah, summer in Vana'diel—a season of scorching days and sweltering nights that will have you working up a sweat just standing around in your subligar.

But don't just stay cooped up in your Mog House casting Waterga on yourself until the cool breezes of autumn blow in. Why, you'd be missing out on one of the liveliest celebrations of the year!

Hark! Don't you hear the powerful swoosh, boom, and crackle of fireworks in the night sky? The joyous strains of a summer melody in the air? That's right, friend—the Sunbreeze Festival is just around the corner!

Read on for the cool, refreshing details!

The July version update, starring the second of three add-on scenarios, "A Moogle Kupo d'Etat—Evil in Small Doses," is now ready for your downloading pleasure! Prepare to be blown away by a veritable deluge of exciting new content including: - The continuing episodes of Wings of the Goddess missions. - The new Campaign element, "Unions." - An expanded Moblin Maze Mongers. - Job-related additions and improvements. ...And a whole host more!

Feast your eyes on the details here.

In addition to the hoards of adjustments and new content promised thus far, the fast-approaching July version update will boast numerous overall improvements including an upgrade to the /bell command added this past April and scrumptious new synthesis recipes that will leave streets drenched in adventurer drool.

for the details.

Hear ye, mighty champions of Vana'diel! Have you gazed longingly at the augmented apparel donned by your lower-level peers, wondering when similar equipment would be introduced for those of powers puissant? Consider your wait over! A host of new augmented items designed especially for high-level characters will be one of the many exciting additions in the upcoming version update.

for the details!

The official promotional video for "A Moogle Kupo d'Etat — Evil in Small Doses," the new add-on scenario currently on track for a Monday, July 20th release, is now available for your viewing pleasure!

Get a sneak peek of the new adventure at the official site!

As a follow up to last week's article on new ninja job abilities, it is with pleasure that we introduce other job-related additions and adjustments scheduled for the fast-approaching July version update.

Peruse the details.

We're pleased to announce that "A Moogle Kupo d'Etat—Evil in Small Doses," the second in a series of three add-on scenarios for FINAL FANTASY XI, goes on sale starting today, exclusively through PlayOnline!

Follow the "A Moogle Kupo d'Etat" banner on the main PlayOnline FINAL FANTASY XI page to purchase your registration code!

For more details, visit the official site. "* Purchasing users will be able to access the new content with the release of the next FINAL FANTASY XI version update, currently scheduled for late July.
 * Users need only purchase one registration code per PlayOnline ID in order to enjoy the new content with all characters on that account."

A host of job adjustments and additions are in the pipes for the upcoming version update, including formidable new abilities for ninjas. Other jobs, too, are scheduled to benefit from myriad adjustments to magic and abilities. In this, the first part in the job adjustment series of articles, we cast the spotlight on ninjas, Vana'diel's agents of stealth and deception.

Proceed to learn how your powers of stealth and assassination might be enhanced!

Not content to rest on their laurels as the foremost—and only—purveyors of custom dungeons in Vana'diel, the Moblin Maze Mongers have been working overtime on their latest Maze Voucher that will usher in a whole new subterranean adventure in the upcoming version update!

for the scoop on the new service!

Continuing their escapades in the Vana'diel of the past, Lilisette and her adventurer companion will find themselves at the site of a new stage in the Crystal War: the unforgiving landscape of the frozen north. It is there that steel will ring out against steel, and a new threat will crawl out from the darkness...

Will the future that awaits adventurers on the horizon be one of joy and elation? Or will it be one of death and destruction?

for a glimpse of things to come.

Today we bring you the 9th Vana'diel Census, which marks the seventh anniversary of FINAL FANTASY XI. In addition to the familiar information, we've mixed in data from the preliminary survey to dig deep and show the true face of the community. Other fascinating never-before-seen statistics such as how merit points are used and the number of players who have earned one of the coveted mythic weapons are also included!

The 9th Vana'diel Census can be found here.

Celestial Nights—the event honoring an age-old tale of a love eternal and true—will soon be here! In a reprise of last year's festivities, the royal couple of legend, Princess Amdina and Prince Yahiko, will return to the streets of all three nations. Come one, come all, to bear witness as a love thought forever lost is reclaimed!

for the heart-rending details.

"*The Celestial Nights event is scheduled to commence on Friday, June 26 at 1:00 a.m. (PDT) and conclude on Wednesday, July 8 at 1:00 a.m. (PDT)."

The Contest Has Ended. Thanks to everyone who entered our Twitter contest!

Ladies and Gentlemen! The winning numbers for the FINAL FANTASY XI 7th Anniversary Mog Bonanza event have been randomly drawn under strict supervision!

From today, the winning numbers will be announced via a system message upon logging into the game. The same message can also be brought up by inputting the /servmes (/smes) command. So what are you waiting for? Log in and check the winning numbers now!

Prize money and items will be available for collection between Tuesday, June 16th at 01:00 (PDT), and Tuesday, June 30th at 08:00 a.m. (PDT). If you happen to be one of the lucky winners, speak to a Bonanza Moogle at one of the following locations while in possession of the winning marble (or marbles!) to claim your prize! Port San d'Oria (I-9) / Port Bastok (L-8) / Port Windurst (F-6) / Chocobo Circuit (H-8)

Learn more about the Mog Bonanza.

"*Please remember that all prizes won in the Mog Bonanza are virtual goods and cannot be redeemed for real-world money."

Hear ye, hear ye! Heroes and heroines of Vana'diel, know well that advance orders for "A Moogle Kupo d'Etat—Evil in Small Doses" will be accepted via PlayOnline from Monday, July 6th. This add-on scenario, the second of three, spins a tale of Mog House mayhem. What manner of stirring adventures and rich rewards await you this time? Why, just wend your way over to the newly launched official site and see for yourself!

A promotional video and more will grace the site in the coming days, so keep your eyes peeled for the latest news!

Access the official add-on scenario site here.

"*Purchasing users will be able to access the new content with the release of the next FINAL FANTASY XI version update, currently scheduled for late July."

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