News

Vana'diel has been on fire with goldfish scooping, dancing, and wild buffalos! But all that's over now, kupo! No more trouble, and no more heat! But don't you miss all the activity, actually? Aren't you itching for more excitement?

I have some information fresh from the M.H.M.U. (Mog House Management Union) that just might scratch that itch, kupo! Harvest time in Bastok, San d'Oria, and Windurst is now over, and a bone-chilling, fearsome festival is in the works! The towns will use the festival as a means to express their enormous thanks to the adventurers for the safety they bring, and provide a means of revenge for the ever-so-few trifling troubles they cause.

That's right, kupo! It's the third incarnation of the Harvest Festival!

The other details given to me are vague because apparently, the festival planners didn't want any information leaked to the adventurers, kupo! Luckily, the M.H.M.U. had a few secret agents planted at their meetings! Apparently, there will be more than just the typical monster costumes! A certain hazardous-looking decoration(*) devised by the engineers of Bastok is scheduled to make an appearance. Oooh, scaaary... I'm shaking in my fur, kupo!
The planners have also set up patrols during the preparation for the festival, so they must be hiding more spine-tingling secrets!

Do you like playing tricks? Then I have good news for you, kupo!
It seems they are planning to give away special costumes. Adventurers will roam the streets wearing the costumes and approach wary passers-by with calls of "Trick or Treat?"

What will the moogles be doing, you ask?
Eating candy and playing tricks, of course, kupo!

(*)
When questioned, Raibaht shouted, "What do you mean, 'It looks dangerous!?' Cid's inventions tend to have a unique look to them, but this was made from the same technology that allows airships to fly at great heights. It's perfectly safe!" I think I made him angry, kupo...

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<Event Details>
This event is scheduled to commence at Oct. 20, 2005 17:00 (PDT) and will last until Nov. 1, 2005 0:00 (PST).

<How to Play>

-Trade a treat to a disguised NPC walking in Bastok, San d'Oria, or Windurst.

-The NPC will only accept certain treats.

-Players might be disguised as beastmen or monsters for a certain period of time after trading a treat to an NPC. Magic or items cannot be used while disguised. Costumed players also cannot perform actions that require a target, such as talking to NPCs or opening doors.

The effects of the monster costume may be canceled by changing to a new area or:
1. Windows version: Press the [+] key on the numeric keypad twice.
PlayStation 2 version: Press the triangle button twice.
2. Line up the selection box with the status icon entitled "Costume."
3. Windows version: Press the [Enter] key.
PlayStation 2 version: Press the X button.

-Talk to an event moogle during the festival to find out more. Perhaps a surprise awaits...

Spotlight:

October 4th-5th in Amsterdam, FINAL FANTASY XI was demonstrated at the X05 event held by Microsoft. Several new areas included in the forthcoming expansion pack announced at TGS 2005, "Treasures of Aht Urhgan", were shown. It was the first opportunity to see FFXI on Xbox 360™ connecting to one of the actual worlds currently in service. The development of the Xbox 360 version of FFXI is in its final stages meaning that it is already possible to connect to actual worlds with other players from the Windows or PlayStation 2 versions! Further optimization remains to be done, so you can expect to see Beta test information announced in the near future!

During the beta test period, all beta testers using Xbox 360 will connect to the dedicated beta worlds. Existing worlds will be available for Xbox 360 users when the beta test is complete.

The Xbox 360 consoles which were used to connect to the public server were fitted with USB keyboards. Using the combination of its controller and the additional keyboard, FFXI handled like a dream!

Additional information is becoming available all the time, so please look out for more exciting news on Xbox 360 and FINAL FANTASY XI!