A look at why this game has such a devoted and widespread community of fansFinal Fantasy XI has become a huge hit with gamers and the general publicIt is a very appealing title and has caught the attention of a major cross-section of societyIt now enjoys a passionate following and has built up a substantial community of fans

The success of Final Fantasy XI is interesting because it appeals to a great variety of playersThe game has appealed to fans of the series, to fans of online games, and to new players as wellThe Final Fantasy series obviously had many fans to begin with but this didn't guarantee that they would take to the new titleThe series' move into online gaming was different and initially the fans weren't sure if it would workThe excellence of the game removed any concerns or fears that they might have had.

A wide range of people play Final Fantasy XIThe game naturally appeals to the young, with many teenagers playing itAdults enjoy it too, with the opportunity to be in a simulated world proving to be a major drawThe world of Vana'diel is a family experience for some - people will play it with their parents, while brothers and sisters will compete against one another in the gameThe feature that allows two characters to ‘marry' each other encourages couples to play together as well.

The fanbase of Final Fantasy XI is global, reflecting the international make-up of the Vana'diel player base itselfThe game was released in phases, first of all in Japan, followed by America, and then finally in Europe, and it developed a following everywhere it was launchedThe fact that everyone plays together on the same servers helps the fan community to thrive, as the fans all directly interact with each other in the gamePlayers can meet people from other countries and bond with them.

The world of Vana'diel acts as a home for the Final Fantasy XI fanbaseYou can become acquainted with other fans and then see their characters in the game world itselfThere are special in-game events that help Vana'diel to feel like a proper communityCelebrations and festivals are common and are open to every playerThere are also tournaments and sporting events where teams can compete at activities like Ballista, in a kind of virtual championship.