Introduction
On May 16, 2011, FINAL FANTASY XI celebrated the nine-year anniversary of its launch in Japan!
It has been two years since the last Vana’diel Census, and in that time, the add-on scenarios A Crystalline Prophecy, A Moogle Kupo d’Etat, and A Shantotto Ascension have been released, as well as the battle area add-ons Vision of Abyssea, Scars of Abyssea, and Heroes of Abyssea. After almost six and a half years with a level 75 ceiling, the level cap was raised, adding many new, enthralling ways for players to continue enjoying the game. And in March, the official forums went up, allowing players to communicate with the development and operations teams more closely than ever.
This year, to better understand the shape of the ever-evolving community, we’ve added new research points and analyzed the data from every angle. With no further delay, let’s take a look at the current state of the FINAL FANTASY XI community.
* All research (other than login distribution data) is based upon data obtained in May 2011.
Login Distribution
The graph below represents the login data for the third week of April 2011. The simultaneous logins show that there are always a considerable number of players logged into FINAL FANTASY XI at any time, this number increasing at the peak hours of each region.
« Simultaneous Logins » * Indicated in JST
Jobs
In June 2010, the level cap was raised for the first time in six and a half years. This year’s census looks at how job demographics have changed over the past two years. Let’s take a closer look at the main job level distribution and the popular job rankings.
The graph below details the level distribution of main jobs from level 2 to level 90.
The first thing you will notice when looking at the graph is that level 90 characters make up 15.56% of all players. This is about the same percentage of players who were at level 75 at the time of the last census. The second highest number of players is at level 5. This can most likely be attributed to players hoping to make their dreams come true through the Mog Bonanza, with the new ability to deliver exclusive items to other characters on the same account.
One can see that the percentage of characters at level 37 has decreased, with levels 40, 45, and 50 showing increases. This can be attributed to the level cap increase allowing for higher support job levels, as well as experience points becoming more readily obtainable.
« Main Job Level Distribution (Level 2-90) »
« Main Job Distribution (Level 1) »
Job Levels Population Distribution
1 67.34%
« Main Job Level Distribution (Level 2-90) »
Next, let’s take a look at the distribution of main jobs.
Up until now, mages had been at the top of the rankings, but this year, they were surpassed by the damage-dealing monk and warrior, which took first and second place. We can also see from the data that the beastmaster, summoner, and dancer jobs have significantly risen in position.
As usual, the top six ranks are all standard jobs, but the overall ratio of standard jobs to extra jobs are about the same, with much less of a discrepancy between the most and least popular jobs than we have seen in the past.
« Main Job Distribution (Level 2-90) »
Moving on, let’s take a look at the main and support job combinations. As in the last few censuses, the White Mage/Black Mage pairing was the most popular of all the countless combinations of jobs available in the game.
It should go without saying that a great deal of useful magic has been added, but among the spells added, the addition of Cure VI, and making Warp II a spell available to support jobs would seem to be likely reasons for this combination’s rise in popularity.
« Main/Support Job Rankings »
The graph below details the percentage of jobs at level 90. The most numerous jobs are the ever-popular spell-wielding black mage, white mage, and red mage, the evasive thief and ninja, and the physically formidable warrior and monk. It seems that many players are leveling jobs that complement each other in main and support job capacity.
* If a single character has leveled multiple jobs to level 90, all of those jobs have been counted in the data.
« Percentage of Level 90 Jobs »
The rest can been seen at the following links.
| Merit Points | Equipment | Synthesis Skills |
| Expansion Data | Rankings | Linkshells | Adventurer Appreciation Campaign |
In Closing
For the tenth Vana’diel census, in addition to the usual data, we’ve delved into linkshell statistics and unveiled intriguing trivia from across the realm of Vana’diel. We hope you had as much fun reading it as we did compiling it! With two years having passed since the last census, I hope we’ve been able to convey just how much the game’s community has grown in that time.
On March 11th of this year, Japan was struck by the greatest disaster our country has ever faced. As a result, we made the decision to temporarily suspend FINAL FANTASY XI services, and we would like to apologize for the inconvenience this caused. That FINAL FANTASY XI has been able to celebrate its ninth anniversary during these difficult times is entirely due to the support and cooperation of you, our players. I would like to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart.
With the introduction of Abyssea and the lifting of the level cap, winds of change have been blowing across Vana’diel. These favorable winds are ushering our realm into a new era—one of boundless charm and excitement, and grander adventures than ever before. I believe that it is the collective voice of our devoted player community, coming through to us clearer than ever on the official forums and fan sites, that will continue to strengthen this wind.
With the lifting of the level cap to 99, an array of job adjustments, additions and refinements to content new and old, and the establishment of the test server, a veritable whirlwind of exciting changes will soon be coming to Vana’diel. And look how time flies! With next year set to ring in our tenth anniversary, your feedback is more important to us than ever. Like a seasoned adventuring party, let us combine our strengths and journey forth toward the next momentous stage in FINAL FANTASY XI’s illustrious history!
Until we meet again in Vana’diel,
Sage Sundi
Global Online Producer
June 28, 2011
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