Realm News The FFXIVRealm 2.1 Update is Coming!!!

Yep, we're at it again! After a nice, relaxing summer off, we're coming back full-force with some pretty big improvements to the site! And we want your feedback about what should be included in the new update!

Leading up to the 2.1 update, we've been spending a lot of time thinking about what makes FFXIVRealm the best community for the best MMO out there. With this update, we want to focus upon you, the community. Already a lot of improvements have been made behind the scenes in preparation for the launch of the update, including better responsiveness for mobile devices, front-end customization, and lots of new ways to interact with each other. All those little gremlins that exist across the site from the 2.0 updates will hopefully be fixed, and we will be preparing the site for creating even more new, original content.

Over the next few weeks, we will be posting daily screenshots of the site's new look - yes, we're changing the theme once again, but this time, we think we've created a look you'll really enjoy. We'll also be periodically posting Community Polls to get your feedback about what you want to see in the Realm's largest update since launch, so make sure to check back often!!!

To kick things off, here's the first screenshot of Realm 2.1. If you've been following our Facebook page, you will already be familiar with this neat little addition. You might have to look carefully to see what makes this something we're very excited to be offering you guys in the next update...



Apologies for all the censorship in this screenshot. Don't want to give away too many surprises... We do need to fill each day this month with a new screenshot...

So, check out the spoiler below for all the latest confirmed features of the new update. We'll be adding features to the list as soon as they are confirmed, which means, as soon as you guys guess what'll be in the update (randomly, or by guessing from a screenshot), we'll add it!

Make sure to check back often to give your suggestions, find our latest community polls, and see what's been added to the update spoilers! And feel free to post your thoughts, opinions and suggestions. This update is all about us trying to tailor the site to you!



FFXIVRealm 2.1 will be live at the end of October 2015!!!

Please look forward to it!

Confirmed Features in 2.1 (open) Confirmed Features in 2.1 (close)

THIS LIST WILL BE GROWING EXPONENTIALLY UP UNTIL THE LAUNCH OF 2.1!!! IT IS NOT YET EVEN REMOTELY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FULL-SPECTRUM OF CHANGES AND FEATURES COMING WITH 2.1. PLEASE CHECK BACK FREQUENTLY TO SEE NEW ADDITIONS TO THE LIST! OUR DEVELOPMENTAL LIST INCLUDES OVER 200 FIXES AND CHANGES TO THE SITE!

Highlights
1. Live Chat widgets and page
2. Users will be able to change the background image and color theme of the site.
3. The Front Page has been completely re-designed.
4. The Media Page has been re-opened to the public to upload their own media
5.

Added
1. User postbits have been re-designed to feature avatars more visibly
2. Users will be able to display server and Free Company information on their message postbits
3. A number of new trophies have been added
4. A few dozen animations have been added to various elements around the site
5. The Free Companies Categories block now shows the number of FCs currently in a region/server
6. A Live Chat block on the forums index and a Live Chat page will be opened for registered members

Removed
1. A number of Trophies that weren't working as intended have been removed
2. The FAQ Page has been removed
3.

 

Our very first Community Poll for Update 2.1 has been posted here: http://ffxivrealm.com/threads/community-poll-1-the-forums.15142/

This first poll is your chance to save a forums category, suggest one for adding to our list, and kill one. One thing is for certain, the forums list WILL change with 2.1. This is your chance to suggest the forums categories we will have here at the Realm!

 

Screenshot #2 - A little something we've been working on with the user postbit that appears next to your message in a thread. A couple changes here...



We wanted those avatars to really stand out for everyone! Hope you all like it!

Make sure to check out the Community Poll above and weigh in on which Forums Categories are cut, which are saved, and what new ones are added in Realm 2.1~!!!

 

Time for another screenshot of what the Realm will look like in a few weeks.

One of the things that bothers me is our lackluster news blocks on the front page. This was actually the first change I made to the new theme of the site...

Screenshot #3


This will be the new style of the featured threads blocks on the front page. Gives us a bit of tools to make the front page a bit more visually interesting (pay no attention to the low rez image I used... if you notice blurriness, that's just the pic I hastily threw on there. It'll be crystal clear when 2.1 goes live.)

 

Screenshot #4


Another screenshot from the upcoming 2.1 update here at the Realm. A couple of new things you might spot here, and the first full-screen grab so far. One thing that's for certain is that the Links on the navbar in this screenshot WILL DEFINITELY change for the update, so don't put too much stock into the content that you see, just the style.

Hope you guys are liking the changes thus far. If you have any ideas or suggestions for the update, please feel free to add them to this thread! I'm all ears. Things are moving forward slowly, but consistently, and I still think we'll have a late October / early November release of the update.

 

Alright,

Sorry it's been a few days since the last screenshot of FFXIVRealm 2.1. Been slammed with work. Before you check out this one, a bit of a disclaimer. Please keep in mind that these screenshots are a work in progress. The style and design is far from complete. More often than not, I'll highlight a functional improvement rather than an aesthetic one. So, if you see something you don't like, please feel free to comment. The community team has been great with their feedback about the design so far, and I think will vouch that I don't take negative or constructive feedback personally.

That said,

Screenshot #5



In this screenshot, you can see one of the 10 background images you'll be able to choose from (you've now seen 6 out of the 10 in these screenshots, so let me know if there's something you feel is missing!). You can also see a couple of the functions we actually currently already have, but have been made a little more noticeable and nicer in the new style. You have the ability to hide the side bar, as well as hide forums categories.

What do you think? Hope it is beginning to look like an overall improvement for you guys!

 

I just assume you cuss us out privately and then make adjustments based on our criticisms in order to shut us up.

 

Many a table has been flipped!

 

Community Poll #2 is now open!

http://ffxivrealm.com/threads/community-poll-2-live-streams.15186/

The issue at hand: our Live Streams page! Will it stay or will it go! Head over to the thread and voice your opinion!

 

Another screenshot of the new FFXIV Realm style and features in development.

Screenshot #6

 

Screenshot #7

Went ahead and stole the Dev's watermark from the official forums. Everybody's post is a blue post here at the Realm!



Not sure about those like buttons though. What do you guys think?

 

Love the overall look, buttons could be better

 

Not a fan of the dark grey section under each post. I much prefer the way it is, with the colour being the same as the rest of the post window.

 

Haven't been able to get to a desktop for a few days to get a screenshot, so I'll just say the next spoiler.

In Realm 2.1, you'll have the ability to search conversations and "like" conversation messages.

Oh, and we're adding 50 new trophies. As such, titles are going to be re-tweaked. And, when you've reached the top level, I ran out of catchy titles from FF, so you'll just be able to create your own unique title.

Umm... Any other little tidbits I can spoil?

We're working hard to make sure when 2.1 goes live, you'll be able to choose the colour as well as the background. Currently, all the screenshots you've seen are with Lominsan Red, but we hope to launch with Ishgardian Blue, Ul'dahn Gold and Gridanian Green as well. It's still TBD how many, if any, of those colour palettes will be available at launch. Some might need to be released a bit later.

 

Screenshot #8

This one's just for @Caimie Tsukino





Made the ratings block and like button a bit more noticeable, gave the guides more page space.

 

The ability is there, but the text editor is minimal and doesn't show tools. You need to use BBCode to change the font-family.

Here's what you need to write to change the font on the profile posts page (or anywhere that doesn't have the text editor tools):

Code:

[FONT=Times New Roman]Changed font family[/FONT]

In the normal editor you can use the font-family tool (the nice big serif 'A' in the toolbar) to change the font.

Also, in the upcoming update you will be able to choose your color scheme as well as your background image. Initially, we are going to start with four light color themes (Lominsan Red, Gridanian Green, Ul'Dahn Gold, and Ishagardian Blue). In the not-so-distant future after 2.1, we will launch 2.2 which will contain those color themes used in a dark theme.

We're working really hard to make sure at least two of those light themes are available at the launch of 2.1. Should be able to give you a more specific update about which ones next week.

I've currently closed the Beta Test due to some issues that come up with the recent server error. Once I'm confident with the state of the site again, I will reopen it. I hope this weekend to reopen the Beta Test to everyone to check out and give us their feedback.

 

The test style is back up and the release date has been set for November 10th!