October Topics, 2009
New "A Shantotto Ascension" Trailer Goes Live! (10/29/2009)
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!
Shantotto Fan Art Contest Deadline Only Days Away!
(10/28/2009)
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.
"A Shantotto Ascension" Now Available for Advance Purchase! (10/26/2009)
It is our pleasure to announce that registration codes for "A Shantotto Ascension—The Legend Torn, Her Empire Born" are now available for purchase. The official site has been updated to mark this momentous occasion, so head on over and see what's in store!
Follow the "A Shantotto Ascension" banner on the PlayOnline Viewer's main FINAL FANTASY XI page to purchase your registration code.
Detailed information can be found at the official add-on scenario 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 November 9.
*One registration code will grant all characters within a single PlayOnline account access to "A Shantotto Ascension."
From the FINAL FANTASY XI Development Team
Job Adjustments and Additions: Part II (10/21/2009)
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.
Allakhazam Pumpkin Carving Contest—The Deadline Draws Near! (10/20/2009)
As previously announced in this space, entries are now being accepted for the 2009 edition of this popular event organized by Allakhazam. With the deadline fast approaching, pumpkin sculptors are encouraged to put the finishing touches on their masterpieces and prepare them for submission without delay!
Those whose gourds are judged to be top of the crop can expect some truly fabulous prizes to come their way. But to show our appreciation to all participants, we have also prepared event-exclusive in-game items to give away to entrants on a first-come, first-served basis. So what are you waiting for? Procure a pumpkin to serve as the canvas for your masterpiece, grab your utensils from the kitchen drawer, and get carving!
Adventurers the world over are eligible to participate, and it matters not a smidgen how many carving hours they have under their belts. We look forward to receiving entries from all of you!
Proceed here to learn more about the event, and here to view an online gallery showcasing last year's entries.
* Entries must be submitted by Saturday, October 24 at 3:00 p.m. (PDT).
* Please read the rules and submission guidelines carefully, and do not forget to attach a picture of your pumpkin with your entry.
Announcing the FINAL FANTASY XI Ultimate Collection!
(10/16/2009)
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.
Windows® 7 Compatibility Report (10/15/2009)
A report is now available detailing the compatibility of all PlayOnline services with Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system, set to be released on October 22.
(Report accurate as of October 15)
The report may be viewed here.
* Windows and Windows 7 are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
From the FINAL FANTASY XI Development Team
Job Adjustments and Additions: Part I (10/14/2009)
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!
Produce your own wedding! Presenting the new wedding support service! (10/13/2009)
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!
Harvest Festival 2009: Tales from the Cryptaru (10/09/2009)
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!
*Location information for seasonal stalls was corrected on October 16, 2009 at 5:00 a.m. (PDT)
Announcing the Shantotto Fan Art Contest! (10/08/2009)
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!
From the FINAL FANTASY XI Development Team
Wings of the Goddess Nation Quests! (10/06/2009)
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!