With the recent excitement of Blizzard Entertainment's Starcraft II closed beta release, apparently Square Enix's Final Fantasy XIV MMORPG alpha testing is going live next week on March 11, 2010. Reports are flying in about people already having received an invitational email. In addition, a beta test site for the game has popped up online. As a reminder, this is an alpha testing, typically done to check to see if everything is running properly. Players who have not received an invite do not need to worry, as Square Enix has announced several closed beta tests as well as an open beta months after the end of alpha.

"Additionally, several closed Beta Tests and a larger-scale open Beta Test are scheduled to take place in the months following the conclusion of the Alpha Test. As an Alpha Test participant, you will be able to take part in all of these."

Interested participants who have not signed up for beta can still do so on the official homepage.