Us silly people...Follow

Ya know, in the past hour it's been down, I've done some reading. Before being released in America, Japan never had this many problems. I've heard about programs that allow you to play in windowed mode and programs that allow you to minimize FFXI without it getting shut down. Don't know how much truth is in this, but I also heard SquareEnix say they do not want, nor will they allow people to use this software. Much like Ebay and Yahoo a while back, this has grown big. Big enough to put a target on it. Who does it target? The hackers. The people that want to brag about shutting something down and boast about messing something up. I'm sure the servers...wherever they may be...have protection against this. However, all the people that use this software is helping the hackers. Sure, I'm probably babbling right now. Been awake 34 hours on 2 hours of sleep. Never has FFXI had this many problems until America decided to shape it in it's own form...in it's own image.

To anyone doing this, I say knock it off. Sheesh... Can't you just play and enjoy what they have created? Cheaters and hackers are the reason I, and many others, quit playing Diablo II...and it was FREE! If you want to change the game, quit changing OUR game and make your own damn game if you're that damn stubborn to create your own fantasy world. My biggest peeve about this game is the lack of a minimap and how the three nations battle for lands AND have to battle the beastmen. Doesn't make much sense to me, but *shruggies*...oh well. Other than that, the game is great like it is...SO LEAVE IT ALONE!!

I'm sure everyone who posts those complaints do enjoy playing this fine game. But, they can and should expect more, because they are paying a monthly fee. I do not use the "windowing program" but it disappoints me that Square has not put one in already. It seems like they are unwilling to provide more resources to prevent hacking so the playerbase as a whole must suffer. This is the only game (and my first MMORPG) I have played that has not allowed alt-tab back to windows. I try and do many things at once on the computer, so why can't I quickly alt-tab out to check for important emails/messages or read some posts on this message board and others like it? I am a paying customer, I follow the rules they set upon me, why must I be forced to contemplate using this 3rd party app because I should not have to start the game up if I just want to use the desktop to change winamp?

... This really doesn't make much sense FullEclypse.

You claim to not want windowing software because it screws up the servers? I have yet to see a program like this on this game, or past games that have full screen (EQ), that affects the server in any way whatsoever. I can almost bet my gil on that.

The complaint that you don't want to sit their and wait one someone to check email in a hunting group is also pointless. How many times do people say "AFK" "BIO" "BRB" in groups? And do you know what they are for? Simple fact is, in any case...if they sitting their idle in your group, kick them? Being able to minimize would not hurt that. And the fact about the sound is totally left up to the software minimizing it. The no sound with playonline when min'd is part of Play Online.

I have used Windowing and Mapping programs before on Everquest before Sony introduced the ability. I was not going to let them take total control of my system as I sat their playing. I have other things I need to do at times too and 5 minute log ons are annoying.

I would kill for Square to let us minimize this game...mainly because I am SICK AND TIRED of sitting for 3 hours looking for a group and not being able to use my computer. I think we should be able to use our own property , specially when it is wide known about grouping problems in this game.

The only problems that minimizing presents is macro'ers really. It lets people set up their commands ahead of time. This is already a problem though it appears (with fishing at least). And I know that EQ had some kind of specialized mouse control options that did not let people use *most* macro programs in it. Square could try the same. If people want to macro, they will...even if Square doesn't open up the minimization. They should let people use their own machines.

My take on macros: The proliferation of macro utilities is the fault of the game designers. They failed to make a particular activity engaging enough to elicit your participation in it. Honestly, fishing - the biggest macro culprit in FFXI - is no damn fun. This is a game, not an assembly-line job. My philisophy behind all crafting-style skills is that they should be associated with their own mini-games for which the quality of the item correlates directly with how well you play the game. Imagine if the type and number of fish you caught was related directly with your score in a game like - say - Bejeweled. Fewer people would macro that because they would then be interested in participating in the fishing process.

Yeah have to agree they could have but then we wouldn't have to beat our heads against the wall and then the doctors wouldn't make any money.