It’s a literal free-for-all in Lord of the Rings Online as the online game goes free-to-play tomorrow.

LoTRO developer Turbine just made the dreams of J.R.R Tolkien come true by inviting the whole world to explore Middle-Earth. Seemingly inspired by the free-to-play success on its other MMO title Dungeons and Dragons Online, Turbine is banking on strong word-of-mouth and its newb-friendly community to attract new rollers to its servers.

Under a free account, a player can create one character and choose among seven of the nine available classes. Only the Warden and Rune-keeper classes are reserved for premium and VIP accounts. For more information on the content and services given to a VIP or Premium or Free player, then read the comprehensive breakdown of the account perks at the LoTRO site.

Basically, if you’re curious about LoTRO and just want to get a feel of it up to level 50, then go download the LoTRO client and sign up for a Free account. Then when you feel like progressing more in Middle-Earth like expanding your LoTRO Gold money cap or venturing into the expansion packs, you can purchase services through a cash shop.

If you’re a current or former LoTRO player confused as to how the Free-to-play change will affect you, check out the helpful chart below from fan site mmorsel.com:

As you can see, if you paid for the lifetime subscription you’re basically set for life in LoTRO–full access to the game, free Turbine points to be spent on exclusive goodies and not even a single dime to shell out. Current subscribers still have to keep paying monthly for those monthly Turbine Points and VIP content access. And if you’ve ever paid for either a box or a monthly subscription, then you automatically have a premium subscription.

Now that that’s all sorted out, let’s head over to the other side of the fantasy MMO universe.

Final Fantasy XI just went live with its September version update. Along with the new Wings of the Goddess missions and Magian trials came the Scars of Abyssea battle add-on.

In Scars of Abyssea, players can join the Bastion battles and repel the rampaging Abyssean hordes. It also has new Empyrean armor rewards plus additional NMs to slay and loot FFXI Gil from.

The September update also came with the new level 85 cap increase, just 14 levels shy away from the final goal of a level 99 cap. It’s quite a a lot of content that’s sure to keep FFXI players chugging along with their linkshell buds. (What Final Fantasy XIV?)

No, the bed bug infestation plaguing the rest of the country hasn’t reached Hydaelyn, but it seems “critical bugs” of the software nature are lurking in Final Fantasy XIV and the hunt for them has delayed the start of the FFXIV open beta, which was scheduled for Sept. 1.

In a statement in their official FFXIV open beta registration site, Square Enix did not say how long it will take them to spot–and eliminate–the said game bugs. Only that open beta testing, including registration, will be postponed in the meantime:

“FINAL FANTASY XIV Open Beta Test, which is scheduled to begin at 02:00 (GMT) on Sept. 1, 2010, will be postponed due to a confirmation of critical bugs. New schedule will be released at a later date.

Along with the postponement of FINAL FANTASY XIV Open Beta Test, the issuing of registration code for FINAL FANTASY XIV Open Beta Test will be postponed as well. With the download of client software’s installer, it will be suspended at 02:00 (GMT) on Sept. 1, 2010.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”

With their biggest batch of testers yet jockeying up for a slot in the open beta, this preventive bug cleaning should ensure minimum errors while playing the game. It makes sense because aside from the rabid Japanese and hardcore Final Fantasy fans, the average casual player will be put off by server crashes and client malfunctions.

Better to cover all the bases and make the ride as smooth as possible for all of us, right? I’ll keep you all posted when a definite date has been set to resume the open beta and clues, if any, as to what these “critical bugs” might have been.

Update: ET Facebook fan Ric pointed me to an S12 thread poster who suggested that anti-virus compatibilities might be part of the problem. Thanks for the link!

Final Fantasy XIV unlocked the gates to open beta today and, as a bonus, also gave us a new three-minute trailer showing brand-new cutscenes, including a possible villain sighting!

The open beta will last a couple of weeks (getting a Square Enix ID is a must for this!) and will most probably feature the latest iteration of the game, complete with revisions based on feedback from the past three rounds of closed beta testings.

Most beta testers can head on to the open beta without a hitch but if you’re a casual player waiting for unrestricted access to the game in its near-complete form, then you might have to wait a little while longer; new testers will be added on a staggered basis, increasing in number as the Sept. 30 launch nears.

By mid-September, I’m fairly certain the game servers will be optimized to handle the expected deluge of toons running around in Hydaelyn.

Together with the open beta announcement, Square Enix also released the North American prerelease trailer. Right from the get go we’re serenaded by the FFXIV opening theme song entitled “Answers” sung by Susan Calloway. The Detroit crooner has previously worked with Square Enix to produce the Distant Worlds cd and even performed these collaborated songs live on tour.

The theme song sounds like a bard’s lullaby and, if you pay attention to the lyrics, is made to inspire us on our impending journey in FFXIV. The tune plays out while we see in-game footage as well as never-before-seen battle cutscenes.

That guy at the end also screams VILLAIN (who else likes to stand in glorious armor while watching an atomic bomb explosion?) so I’m curious to know who the heck he is and just what evil schemes he’s up to.

If the open beta and latest trailer got you pumped up, don’t forget to sign up for the EpicToon Early Toon program. You’ll get cool perks like shiny FFXIV Gil freebies and discounts, which can help you gear up fast in FFXIV.

Stay tuned as I try to get into the open beta and roll the cutest Lalafell thaumaturge you’ll ever see. Wish me luck!

But in back-to-back announcements over the weekend, the Japanese developer promised new Wings of the Goddess missions and Trial of the Magians challenges, giving levelers and end-gamers fresh reasons to log into Vana’diel.

Most of the new Wings of the Goddess missions will plunge adventurers into the final stages of the expansion’s time-bending conflict as Lady Lilith reveals herself to the Allied Forces, and her minions bring greater mayhem. Cait Sith also seems to be gambling on a final counterattack that can turn the tides of battle with your help, of course.

Square Enix describes the upcoming batch of Goddess missions as “”emotionally-charged,” which I bet my FFXI Gil, is the code word for the death of a popular NPC or two.

Meanwhile, the Trial of the Magians offers armor rewards for the first time, which can be augmented trough further trials. Each job will have a unique set that can complement existing weapons obtained by battling in Abyssea. Expect tweaks in the win conditions for some trials, and the unlocking of Empyrean weapons for augmentation, either with new skills or improved stats.

Hundreds of Final Fantasy XI players just became millionaires as Square Enix revealed the winners of their Mog Bonanza 2010.

The lottery-style draw sold more than 5.8 million marbles at 2,000 Gil each resulting in a 11.7 billion prize lot.

Rank 1 winners who picked five digits matching the draw each received a little more than 100 million gil each; rank 2 winners around 4.2 million each; and rank 3 winners roughly half a million Gil each.

Aside from these swath of new Vana’diel millionaires, nations are celebrating their new non-cash prizes, the most notable of which are the Kupons for relic armor items.

Want to know if you got lucky in FFXI Gil or gear? Just log onto the game and view the system message, or speak to the designated Bonanza Moogles at each of the three nations plus the Chocobo Circuit (H-8). For more details, read the full post here.

Final Fantasy XI is set to begin a series of level cap increases, starting with a 5-level rise from 75 to 80 in the game’s next version update this June 21. This is in line with an announcement last March from FFXI developer Square Enix that  characters will have a new level 99 ceiling to overcome.

In many console-based Final Fantasy games, level 99 is the highest a character can earn in terms of progression and is considered by FFXI fans as a slight nod to the series’ role-playing roots. Square Enix has been vague on the roll out of these level cap increases, assuring only that  “new job abilities, magic spells, weapon skills, and equipment” will be made available to players to maintain the game balance in these higher levels.

(Pic from rpgloft.com)

I’m turning Japanese
I think I’m turning Japanese
I really think so

While reading through all the alpha test leaks for Final Fantasy XIV, I find myself humming along to “Turning Japanese”, an infectious tune from short-lived ’80s pop band The Vapors.

Details on the alpha test are mostly coming from hardcore Japanese sites like gaming bible Famitsu, so it’s been my mission to collect all the Japanese translations now scattered online.

Here’s a rundown of the most interesting features uncovered so far by FFXIV testers:

Customizable Character Features

Each character in the game can still have a first and last name, but the customization options have increased, according to a 4Gamer.net translated article. The alpha test lets you tinker with the following character features:

• Height
• Voice
• Skin color
• Hair style
• Hair color
• Hair highlights
• Face type
• Eye color

You also get to choose a birthday and your own guardian deity on the character creation screen.

It Begins On a Boat

The starting area was a ship attacked suddenly by jellyfish-like monsters. After this encounter, characters are led to the only playable town in the alpha test: the marine city-state of Limsa Lominsa. Square Enix had announced before that there will be several city-states so it’s fair to expect a variety of beginner scenarios.

Moveable UI

Unlike Final Fantasy XI which has a static user interface, next-gen title FFXIV has movable windows that allow you to drag visual elements and experiment with your ideal screen set-up. The chat screen also disappears when unused for some time but can be reactivated with one button push.

Seamless “No Loading  Screen” World

Nothing disrupts immersion more than seeing a loading screen while moving between zones. FFXIV seems to have worked out a way to minimize disruptive loading when going in and out of Limsa Lominsa, the accessible cit for the alpha test.

“After leaving the city, the music and mini-map changed automatically. Not sure how they made that possible, but it made the world feel more realistic and wide,” observes Famitsu via a translation from FFXIVCore.

Realistic Light Effects

So you’ve been chatting in a darkly lit pub. But then you notice that you have to meet up with a Lalafell hottie, so you open the door to broad daylight. The screen will burst with solar glare–just like when your eyes adjust to sudden brightness. If Square Enix was meticulous enough to implement such a realistic light effect, then it excites me to know what they have done to ramp up traditionally important game features like final boss fights.

Dodos of Doom

Lastly, guess who wiped on the seemingly harmless dodo mob:

It’s glad to know mobs won’t die to a single hit or two. And as with any Final Fantasy game, never underestimate the enemy no matter how fluffy the package.

Also, gamers salivating over these features should know the game still has a long way to go from alpha test. Game elements can change at the whim of the almighty developers so just enjoy the info as it unfolds. Or keep yourself busy to make the wait more bearable–I hear the gyrating Harajuku girls are a fantastic distraction!

(Pics from 4Gamer.net and Famitsu.com)

It’s been easy to dismiss Final Fantasy XIV as a prettier but rehashed version of Final Fantasy XI, what with its use of old races just with harder-to-pronounce names. But a new website update shows FFXIV finally getting some originality going, as each race has been divided into two distinct clans.

“Players from these clans will spend the next 39 days battling it out until one of them becomes the ultimate…”

What the… Jeff, shouldn’t you be in Samoa right now?!

“Oh, sorry couldn’t help it.”

ANYWAY, so each race gets two clans each for a total of ten playable clans. A superb translation from the ffxivcore.com community let us know the basic background of these clans as uploaded in the FFXIV Japanese game site. My altaholic ego just shed a happy tear:

Hyur race. The Midland (Left and center pic) clan has a larger population settled in towns and villages compared to the muscular Highland (Right pic) clan who have declined in numbers after their state city of Ala Mhigo fell. Highland Hyur do not have a female version, though a reason has not been explained. Maybe they got scared of the rock hard abs.

Miqo’te race. It’s a literal night-and-day difference between the Keepers of the Moon (L) who revere the Moon Goddess Menefina, and the Seekers of the Sun (R) who worship the Sun God Arzema. Both hunt best at opposite times of the day and choose to live isolated from bigger communities–a shame really, they’re cute as kitties!

Lalafell race. Geography seems to have factored in a great deal to the lifestyle of both Lalafell clans. The Plainsfolk (L) clan live like the hobbits with houses connected by underground tunnels and have a fairer complexion. The Dunesfolk (R), meanwhile, can be found in the deserts and exude a Western Asian dress code complete with forehead beads. I’ll have one of these pidgin folk please.

Elezen race. This one’s obvious enough to decipher. The Wildwood (L) clan likes to hang around foliage and have been trained to use the bow well. The Duskwright (R) clan are cave dwellers with a developed sense of hearing that give them an advantage in martial arts. Duskwright Elezen earned the ire of their Wildwood kin due to their acts of banditry so there’s that token elven conflict waiting to be explored.

Roegadyn race. Much like the Lalafells, geographical location dictates the difference between the Sea Wolves (L) and Hellsguard (R) clans. The former are called “wolves of the sea” and are adept sailors, while the latter thrive on harsh volcanic regions and are called “guardians of the flame”.

It’s up in the air whether the clans will be split down to warring factions ala World of Warcraft but the descriptions point to possible sources of conflict. It would be grand though to see Highland men raiding Midland villages for their women, claiming they only did it for their clan to survive. Kidnapping to prevent clan extinction = epic MMO  storyline!

Apr. 6 Update: This post has been updated in line with the official English translations at the FFXIV US site.

(Pics from http://www.eorzeapedia.com/)

Final Fantasy XI is pushing through with a World Merge where sixteen servers will be combined in pairs down to eight servers.

To prepare for this transition, the EpicToon.com store has temporarily stopped all virtual currency services for a few days in the affected servers. These are:

• Asura
• Bismarck
• Cerberus
• Lakshmi
• Leviathan
• Quetzalcoatl
• Sylph
• Valefor

Check back often at EpicToon.com for updates on when you can resume buying and selling FFXI Gil. Customer service will also be on standby to advise you whether Gil is already available on your server.

Thanks for your epic patience!

Fresh off their VanaFest 2010 bash that saw Final Fantasy XI players drooling over some pretty hefty updates, the guys at Square Enix have also released new information on their anticipated next-gen MMO, Final Fantasy XIV.

While the US version site had glitches (my loading screen kept getting stuck at 96%), the EU version site worked well enough to reveal new info for us to gawk at:

Desktop-worthy screenies. Ranging from fantastic CG concept art to actual in-game stills, the new pictures posted under the “Screenshots” subsection are breathtaking. I’m a sucker for water color environments and detailed armor renditions, so it was extremely frustrating for me not to right-click and save the pics as my desktop wallpaper. Oh well, other enterprising fans will pluck these out of from the flash site so I’ll just wait for that!

Updated Disciplines section. Based on  the updated Disciplines (aka Classes) section, there will be 20 disciplines all in all to master in FFXIV, five in each of the four broad categories.

For the Discliples of the Hand, there’s the:
- Alchemist
- Blacksmith
- Culinarian
- Tanner
- Weaver

For the Disciples of War, there’s the:
- Archer
- Lancer
- Gladiator
- Pugilist
- Marauder

The Disciples of Magic has yet to reveal any disciplines under it, but I bet a billion in-game Gil that a Summoner and a Priest will be included there. As for the Disciples of the Land, I think these will be the gathering professions like a Hunter and Trapper that provide raw materials for crafters.

Expanded race descriptions. I also found out more about the five playable races in FFXIV: the diverse Hyur, individualistic Miqo’te, spritely Lalafell, noble Elezen, and massive Roegadyn. Seems like all the races migrated to Eorzea for some reason or another, and some (like the Hyur and Elezen) have had conflicts in the past due to their contact. But trailers suggest all the races will band together to fight a “greater evil” as well monsters like jellyfish swarms and giant Molbors.

New Bestiary section. FFXIV also included a few new monsters in its Bestiary section, including the aforementioned Molbor (the Eorzean version of a Marlboro, from the looks of it). There’s also the Cactuar and Ogre that look awesome. Actually, I don’t want to hurt the cute Cactuar if only it didn’t threaten to pole me with a thousand needles. Most of the monsters depicted in the Bestiary section also indicated two primary “drops” or materials. The Antelope mob, for example, has an antelope horn and a doeskin which I think a blacksmith and a tanner, respectively, will find useful.

FFXIV is definitely oozing with elegance, so if you like a high fantasy MMO that seems to have taken the higbrow road in terms of polish, then head to the official website now!