Final Fantasy XI might not be up there with World of Warcraft when it comes to MMO powerhouses, but it certainly has a following — a following now thinned by hundreds thanks to some cheeky cheating.
The story goes that a number of players “discovered an issue that allowed players to create multiple items for certain treasures and rewards in areas such as Salvage and Assault by exploiting the game system.” The glitch had been known to players long before Square Enix caught wind of it, and they exploited it like an underaged crack fiend.
The bug was fixed on November 28, 2008. However, the publisher was not satisfied with merely fixing the problem, and pursued those who trespassed against the game’s terms of use with the wrath of Old Testament God.
“As a result of the investigation, approximately 400 players were temporarily suspended based on evidence gathered,” Square Enix boasts. “Approximately 550 players who committed more serious misconduct had their accounts banned.”
When Square Enix wields the banhammer, it doesn’t screw around. Those that were banned forever are said to be longtime FFXI players, and there is some ill sentiment surrounding this as angry fans want to get the afflicted unbanned. I don’t know though, maybe they should get used to sunlight again — it’s good for you!
