Sure to please Chocobo fans, players can expect those speedy, yellow birds to appear in Eorzea.  The developers relate how the audience erupted in excitement the second they appeared during SCEA's presentation.  Apparently, everyone had been a little confused up until then, but once a Chocobo graced the screen, everyone knew they were in for another Final Fantasy title.  In this way, Chocobos are practically inseparable from the series and need to be included.  However, just like the races, they will be looking to develop a new incarnation of Chocobos unique to this title.  Unfortunately, it is causing them a bit of worry regarding how exactly to do this.

Originally, thought to be a PS3 exclusive, Final Fantasy XIV will in fact be making an appearance on the PC.  The developers delve into this a bit, mentioning Crystal Tools, a development platform that will also be used for Final Fantasy XIII and is designed to allow them to port more smoothly to multiple systems.  In regards to the PC version, the game will utilize the most current version of Direct X that is out when beta testing begins.  This goes for Operating System as well.  Similarly, they do not specify Vista or Windows 7 as an operating system, saying again that it will depend on what is out at the time.  For those of you looking to prep a new PC, Tanaka claims they are really looking to get on the cutting edge of technology with this installment.  Like Final Fantasy XI, the game specs will be extremely high for the time, but in about 5 years, an average machine can run it on max settings with little to no issues.  Tanaka also expressed interest in making a benchmark program available.

To compose the musical side of Eorzea, Uematsu was tapped for his extensive work in the Final Fantasy series.  Tanaka was a little nervous that Uematsu's busy schedule would not allow for him to bless the world of Final Fantasy XIV with his compositions, but luckily he was happy to oblige.  Although there were a few snags, being as this is an online game, they are researching the most effective way to deliver Uematsu's work in full 5.1 channel surround sound.

Final Fantasy XIV will have a number of Worlds/Servers, and they are aiming for a capacity of 5,000-6,000 simultaneous connections.  The exact amount of Worlds has not yet been decided, but they have plans to add more Worlds as user demand increases.  The most they can say is that they will work hard to exceed the amount of Worlds contained within Final Fantasy XI!  When asked whether they plan to have as many as 30 Worlds upon launch, Tanaka states that he does not believe that many will be required so soon.  Final Fantasy XI started with 16, but it grew gradually with a Windows release, NA release and EU release, so it will at least be more than that it is assumed.

If you were diligent in acquiring your Mog Satchel, those Square Enix IDs and Security Tokens we set up are going to come in handy.  As Square Enix revealed yesterday in a response to a series of questions from ZAM, the Security Tokens will be used to secure Final Fantasy XIV accounts and PlayOnline will not be used as a portal for accessing the game.  Tanaka further explains that exclusively using the Square Enix ID also allows them to be more flexible with the payment plan.  He expresses interest in switching from a monthly plan to one that charges in 30-day increments.  As for being able to purchase in-game items with real money, the developers indicate they are not considering the option at this time.

Some may find it ironic that Rapture was first announced four years ago at an E3 Microsoft press conference, yet is now touted as a PS3 console-exclusive title.  However, the interest appears to be there for an Xbox360 port, but Tanaka laments that they just have not been able to reach a full compromise with Microsoft yet.  Talks will continue, but there is no more comment on whatever progress may have taken place.

One concern certainly being voiced across many forums is the fate of Final Fantasy XI in the face of this new release.  Well, rest assured that Vana'diel will persist well after the release of Final Fantasy XIV.  Tanaka admits that while players can play both games simultaneously, it could be quite taxing on one's free time.  However, he reiterates that the focus for XIV is having a variety of content that allows you to spend your time how you want and still progress.  In the end, it is up to the player if they want to remain in XI, try out XIV, or maintain a presence in both games.  Users are encouraged to explore the full freedom both games offer.

Besides the visual similarities between the characters you create, there will be no solid connection between Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV.  There will also be no character transfers, but they are investigating a way in which you can carry your preferred name over from XI.  The developers stress that they want to maximize the comfort for community members transferring from one game to the other.  Character transfers would take people out of XI, when the goal is to encourage freedom of play, rather than bunch everyone into one game or the other.  The ideal would be enabling you to play with your friends in either XI or XIV as you so choose.  Tanaka even states there was an initial plan to add a new door to the Mog House that would exit into Eorzea, much like a portal to a new dimension.  However, the technical hurdles involved in accomplishing such a feat were too much to overcome.  Some things they can do, however, include transferring over Linkshells or Friend Lists to Final Fantasy XIV.  Still, none of this is set in stone yet. 

Jumping back to Final Fantasy XI for a bit, we are able to shed a little light of hope for the devout denizens of Vana'diel.  We know updates are planned out for the next year, but will development cease after that?  When pressed on this issue, Tanaka gives a reassuring "no" to the idea the development would cease, and says that updates will continue as long as there are users to support.  The Final Fantasy XI team has already been multi-tasking on Final Fantasy XIV for several years now, so there is no reason to think they will suddenly drop the game now.  Players are encouraged to look forward to more updates, including the next add-on scenario, A Moogle Kupo d'Etat.

Final Fantasy XIV will also have a strong story backing up the gameplay.  Like Final Fantasy XI, the story will be epic in scale, having the feel of a single-player title.  Rich, full cut scenes will also become a staple of this title.  When asked whether the game will feature voice acting for NPCs, the developers simply gave a nod and a wink and asked that we all "wait and see."  Crystals will also be back with a role in the story, but again, players should expect to see them take a unique form this time around.

In the end, Final Fantasy XIV is all about taking the latest hardware and cutting-edge technology and developing a unique experience that really delivers for all types of players.  Long time fans of the series can look forward to a truly amazing world in which they can immerse themselves, while faithful players of Final Fantasy XI have unexplored lands to tame alongside those whom with they have forged lasting friendships throughout their time in Vana'diel.  However, Final Fantasy XI will be here to stay, and Square Enix made sure to convey the idea that the users who brought them this far will not be abandoned.