First off I would like to thank djdanlib, Ken Thomases, zachary Tahenakos, Jason Siu, Brian Nielsen, and all others who have contributed to help get this working.
I take no credit in getting FFXI to work I just thought it would be nice to have all the information in one spot so other that are looking to install the game won't have to pull out there hair like I did.
- First create a brand new Windows XP bottle.
1.1 Install the following dependencies, if you are unable to see the following dependencies goto CrossOver Games > Preferences > Installer Assistant and uncheck "Hide service packs and dependencies."
CrossOver HTML engine
Microsoft XML Parser (MSXML) 3.0
Microsoft DirectX Runtime
Core Fonts
1.2 Simulate reboot Configure > Manage Bottles > Windows XP Bottle > Control Panel > Reboot
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Insert FFXI DVD and install POL and FFXI (with any expansion that you have) If it doesn't autorun, just use CrossOver Games to to 'Install Software' and then 'install unsupported software' into the bottle, and use choose the disc in your optical drive as destination for the installer)
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When you have FFXI (with your expansion if you have any) and POL installed do the following:
From the dropdown menu choose Programs/PlayOnline/PlayOnline Viewer/PlayOnline Viewer Config and the PlayOnline Viewer Config should launch.
Make sure the 'Start in windowed mode' is unchecked. If you want yo can also 'Enable Music' then Apply settings and exit the config.
Now, Programs/PlayOnline/Final Fantasy XI/Final Fantasy XI Config from the dropdown menu in CrossOver Games and the Final Fantasy XI Config should start up. Set the game to start up in windowed mode and then make sure the resolution of the game is lower than your desktops' resolution.
Example 1024x768.
Note that if you don't have the option to start in windowed mode in your option then you'll need to update you version of FFXI
In the CrossOver Games dropdown menu now go to manage bottles/control panel and hit winecfg. Under the graphics tab check the 'allow windows manager to decorate windows' & 'allow windows manager to control windows' and 'lastly check 'emulate a virtual desktop' and then set the resolution to fit the resolution you gave FFXI config + a little extra due to CrossOver Games now decorating the window.
Example if you did 1024x768 screen resolution then emulate the desktop at 1036x767.
Apply the settings and exit the winecfg.
- Only do this if you are experiencing "black bar"
In the CrossOver Games dropdown menu now go to manage bottles/control panel and hit 'Taskmgr' then File > New task "Run" then type 'regedit'
Now navigate to HKLM/Software/PlayOnlineUS/SquareEnix/FinalFantasyXI
The following strings are for screen resolution
0001
0002
The following strings are for Background resolution
0003
0004
To get recommend setting the background resolution to your screen size.
some common resolutions as follows:
768 = 300
800 = 320
1024= 400
1200= 4B0
1440= 5A0
- Now from the dropdown menu choose Programs/PlayOnline/Final Fantasy XI/Final Fantasy XI. This should launch the POL viewer (the game) and update as needed.
Note the screen in the POL viewer will occasionally invert itself.
It might take little longer for the game to get over the first few log in screens
and these screens will be extremely laggy, this is actually why it takes a while.
When you first get into the game the lag is still there, but just target yourself and hit 'enter' button twice. This will bring up the /say in the chat box I believe. This will adjust the framerate and you're all set for play!
This was all done on my macbook pro rev 4.1, 6GB RAM, 32GB Intel x25e SSD hope this helps.