Playing FFXI on your PlayStation 3: A primer:Follow

I have seen many threads that ask the same question: Can I play FFXI on my PS3? The answer is maybe. This thread is designed to answer the end all be all questions about running FFXI on the PS3. I will break it down into individual steps to keep things simple.

Step 1: Determine what PlayStation 3 model you have.

Believe it or not, not every PS3 can play FFXI. Sony has decided to cut backwards compatibility on one of its models. But how do we determine what model you have? Quite simply, one can differentiate the model by the size of the hard disk in the unit. Below is a list of the models that can play FFXI:

Models that can play FFXI:

60gig Model
80gig Model

Models that can play FFXI with extra equipment:

20gig Model

The 20 gig model can play FFXI, but you are going to need a bigger hard drive. You can pick up a Notebook 2.5inch SATA drive from any computer outlet that's a decent size and run FFXI through that. (Credit to Finuve)

Check out this guide to swap out your hard drive. (Works for all PS3 models.)

http://www.gamersreports.com/article/43/

Models that can not play FFXI:

40gig Model

If you have the 40gig model, which doesn’t support PS2 backwards compatibility, you will not be able to run FFXI. If you have the 60gig, 80 gig, or an upgraded 20gig model, proceed to the next step.

Step 2: Configure your internet connection and update the Firmware.

This is also very simple to do. On the XMB (Main Menu) go to the settings menu. Then scroll all the way down to Network Settings. Then select internet Connection Settings. From here, select yes to continue on and select the type of connection you have. Finally, follow the on-screen instructions. Boom, you have an internet capable PS3. When the PS3 connects to the internet, odds are you need to update your firmware. To do this select Settings from the XMB and select System Update. Then follow the on-screen instructions. Proceed to step 3 once your PS3 reboots.

Step 3: Create a PSN account and download the PS2 system data.

To access the PSN store to get the PS2 system data you need a PSN account. To get one, just go to the Friends tab on your XMB, select sign up and fill out the forms. You do not have to have a credit card on file to get the file. After that’s all done and you are logged in, head to the PlayStation Store to get the PS2 system data. Click on "View by Title" -> "P" -> "PS2 System Data" -> "PS2 System Data (For HDD Titles)" -> "Download" and it should start downloading. After it is finished, go to the Game option in your XMB and select it to install it.

Step 4: Configure HDTV for PS2 games. (HDTVs ONLY)

The PS2 software will default to a 640x480 resolution for your PS2 games. Incidentally, this will look horrible on your HDTV. Sony placed an option to do a software upscale for PS2 games to make them look less blurry. If you have a HDTV, go to the Settings tab on your XMB and click on game settings. Enable the PS2 up-scaling option.

Step 5: Insert Vanna’deil collection 2008 DVD, or PlayOnline and Tetra Master DVD.

When the DVD is loaded in and tries to run, the PS3 says that this is a hard disk game and needs to partition a portion of your hard drive for PS2 data. Go ahead and let it do so. This process takes about 5-10 minutes. After that, POL will boot up, just follow the instructions on the screen. If you are installing each expansion individually, install them one by one.

Step 6: Configure POL internet connection.

When you boot POL off the hard disk for the first time it will ask you to set up your Ethernet connection. The default values should be able to log you in just fine as the game works off the PS3’s connection. Just be sure you are connected to the PSN before you boot up the game.

If you cannot connect with the default settings, exit out of POL and go to the Internet Setting in the XMB. Write down the primary DNS and Gateway numbers, then go back into POL and input these numbers there. (Credit to AngusX)

Step 7: Patch, Patch, and patch some more.

Self explanatory pretty much. Just go to the FFXI front page on POL and hit play. Patch the game.

Step 8: ???

Step 9: Profit!

Note on playing the game on multiple machines.
The POL accounts are universal. You can play on all 3 systems with the same account, characters, etc.

The 360 version requires you to tie it to a gamer-tag, but that doesn't prevent you playing the game on another machine or another 360 as long as you are logged into the gamer-tag.

You also may want to save your macro sets on the server, so you won't have to input them again on the new machine.

Hopefully this will end the redundant threads about playing FFXI on the PS3. If you have an issue, or have anything helpful to add to the guide, post it here and I will attempt to give you a hand.

Xyle

Edit: Sorry for the delay...stupid finals. Added 20gig information (Thanks Finuve) and added information about the exact location of PS2 system data in the new PlayStation Store.

Edit: Added another method for connecting to POL through the PS3 (Thanks AngusX!)

Edit: Added note about multiple machines.


Edited, Apr 24th 2008 8:38pm by neootaku

Edited, Apr 30th 2008 12:01am by neootaku

I've always been interested in this, but I have silly questions.
Namely... I assume you can use the same account on PC, and PS3... But are there any problems from switching back and forth?

Thanks for the guide, either way.

To add to that question (being someone that can play on both PC and PS3). The only real issue, is that items get unsorted when swapping. Also sometimes changes made in the configuration menu on one or the other system can sometimes cause things to be reset on the other. It's a minor inconvenience.

Edited, Apr 21st 2008 2:28pm by chluke

Never ran into that issue in particular, but it could happen.

Updated op and placed credit where credit was due. Thanks!

Xyle

So wait let me get this straight, if I play on the 360, I can also play on the PC with the same account? /cheer! :]

Thanks for the information and sorry about the slow response. Edited op with information and a guide to upgrading your hard drive. Also added information about the PS2 system data in the new store.

Finals are killing me.

Xyle

Edited, Apr 24th 2008 8:24pm by neootaku

nice guide, but does it work on an european ps3 with 60gig?
i have the game with all addons for pc, but i would like to play it just for fun on my ps3. will the ntsc version work on my ps3? if yes, will i need to buy the game with all addons for ps2 again, only to install it on the ps3, or is there a way to download the game datas without buysing the dvds? thx in advance

the emotion engine was the MIPS cpu that was actually in the ps2. what sony did with the 20 and 60 gb models were simply to put the CPU and the GPU from the ps2 into the ps3, so basically you did have a ps2 within your ps3 hardware-wise. there is absolutely no emulation in these models, so i dont really know what you mean by "hardware emulated"

with the 80gb model, they left the GPU in there (graphics synthesizer) but removed the emotion engine CPU, and let the ps3 handle the processing. the GPU was still left to handle the graphics data though, none of that is emulated in the 80gb model so ps2 games arent COMPLETELY emulated in the 80 gigs.

Edited, Apr 27th 2008 6:23am by XxmutinyxX

No chance, PS2 onry for now.

Sad for our Euro friends, really. Square Enix gave them the shaft on PS2 availability, so there is no chance for Europe to play it on the PS3 as of yet.

Another thing that is irking me. The new 80 and 160 gb PS3s will not go backwards compatible at all for PS2 games. Even with the PS2 loader for HDD games. It seems that the download is specific to model number, so you better have an older version of the 20, 60, or 80 gb system. Sony's online sight, and the back of the boxes even tell you if you can or cannot use PS2 games on them.

From what I've heard, the 60 gb machine of yore seemed to have the least problems in setting up for PS2 FFXI play. Also, finding an older 60 gb machine online, they sell for as much, if not a little more, than the $499.99 that it costs for the current non-backwards compatible to PS2 games 80 gb PS3s. Yeah, it really sucks. What Square Enix should do is make an actual PS3 download or Blue Ray Disc of the game. Sadly, I can see them not doing so due to costs of Blue Ray, and they like to keep the price FFXI install disks to $20 to $40 instead of the $60 a pop for Blue Ray discs.

So yeah. After jumping through a lot of hoops to find out if I can get a backwards compatible machine to justify getting a PS3, my wife and I are probably not getting one unless they have backwards compatibility in the newer systems again(very unlikely at this time), or the price for an older 60 gb model goes lower in price than $500. Until then, we'll stick to our old PS2 with keyboard, laptop with numeric keypad and controller, and PC with controller.

I really wish there was a way to upgrade the PS2 graphics to be at least equal to the Xbox 360 or PC versions. It could be just a patch or something even, not even needing to come on a dvd or Blu Ray disc.

I'll bite, as this happened to me too.



What I found was that when the PS2 software boots up, it disconnects all controllers / keyboards / anything in the USB spots.
Usually what fixed it was simply unplugging the keyboard before booting up POL then plugging it in after it loads.
this will make the PS2 software 'find' the new hardware.