They definitely were a barrier to entry for console, but given WoW has never had a console release, and FFXI for Windows was released before PS2 in NA (Oct 2003/Mar 2004), I’m not sure that’s completely the case.
I always thought it was more to do with FFXI being menu based (and slower to begin with) rather than using a simpler system with action keys like you get with WoW and later MMOs.
They definitely were a barrier to entry for console, but given WoW has never had a console release, and FFXI for Windows was released before PS2 in NA (Oct 2003/Mar 2004), I’m not sure that’s completely the case.
I always thought it was more to do with FFXI being menu based (and slower to begin with) rather than using a simpler system with action keys like you get with WoW and later MMOs.
Oh definitely, I’m not saying it was the only reason, just saying it was a limiting factor.
Edit: Nope, I’m an idiot.
I did say only, meant more “major”