As far as public and media relations go, the New York Comic Con may be the "last chance gas station" on the deserted road of game sales for Square-Enix's recently released MMO, Final Fantasy XIV.

In today's gotta-have-it society, the holidays begin Nov. 1. Store shelves once overflowing with economy-sized bags of candy transform overnight into a winter wonderland. As the range of the gift buying season widens with each passing year, competition to be that game beneath the wrapping paper -- and likely the game that dominates a player's attention through the first quarter of the year -- tightens.

The recently-released Gamespot review of Final Fantasy XIV was but a rumble before the tsunami of potential negativity. With a wave of bad press on the horizon and one last media event before the holiday season, will this be Final Fantasy XIV's last hurrah or its moment of triumph?

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Things have been hectic lately regarding Final Fantasy XIV.  The revelation of a long dormant fatigue system has many fans up in arms.  An official English explanation is now available, which has begun to calm the swirling rage, but a deeper problem still lingers: the rift between foreign players and the Japanese developers.  Call it the language barrier, a cultural misunderstanding... but it is there and it has begun to wreak havoc on the promotion of FFXIV.

So, let's get right to the heart of the issue: communication.  We are going to direct this to the developers and speak their language to communicate 5 pieces of advice to help ensure the success of their newest MMO overseas.

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This edition of Disciples of the Pen features another article by Sephrick who looks at the recent history of the Final Fantasy series from a hardware perspective.  Sephrick examines how the games have evolved over time, and how Square Enix continues to push the limits of current-gen with their flagship RPG series.  Each new installment raises the bar, but at what cost to the players?

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Recently, some forum posters requested they be able to write their own op/ed pieces and express their excitement for Final Fantasy XIV on the ZAM news page for everyone to enjoy.  Already, we have received a completed article from Sephrick, who was inspired by the great detail and subtleties Square Enix has already put into the land of Eorzea.

Read on below and let us know what you think in the ZAM Forums!

If you want to write in and help make Disciples of the Pen a regular feature, just send a PM or e-mail elmer@allakhazam.com with your ideas and submissions!

Final Fantasy XIV, like its predecessor, is going to use servers that mix players from regions around the world.  While many players enjoy playing with people from all walks of life, sometimes language barriers and cultural differences can disrupt an otherwise fun adventure.  To help start off on the right foot, Manner Mode presents short, easy-to-digest lessons that can be used without extensive Japanese knowledge so players can help make Final Fantasy XIV a more pleasant experience for all.

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This was first posted back in October of last year. Now that the beta is open to all regions, it seemed like the perfect time to reboot this segment with an additional section for Japanese players.  New lessons are on the way!

The Final Fantasy series has a long and rich history from which the developers can pull many beloved characters and themes. With each new installment, many fans wait anxiously for the quote or screenshot that reveals their favorite icon will appear once again. Some are borrowed from the page of history, and others crafted from the imaginations of creators at Square Enix. All of them, however, have changed and developed over the 20-plus years since the series' inception.

As we look back, we hope to show long-time fans how Eorzea has been shaped by these influences while newcomers may gain some insight as to why these aspects of Final Fantasy are so special.

Today we look at Gil!

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The Final Fantasy series has a long and rich history from which the developers can pull many beloved characters and themes.  With each new installment, many fans wait anxiously for the quote or screenshot that reveals their favorite icon will appear once again.  Some are borrowed from the page of history, and others crafted from the imaginations of creators at Square Enix.  All of them, however, have changed and developed over the 20-plus years since the series' inception.

As we look back, we hope to show long-time fans how Eorzea has been shaped by these influences while newcomers may gain some insight as to why these aspects of Final Fantasy are so special.

Today, we look at the Chocobo!