just 5 min of looking:
and there are currently over 500,000 subscribers to FFXI.
source: http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/media/relatedmedia.asp?element_id=A6126413&intDeptTab=16
The game's a runway hit for Sony, with more than 1.5 million copies sold. On average, 100,000 people simultaneously roam the imaginary world called Norrath every night.
source:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/05/28/earlyshow/living/caught/main510302.shtml
i didn't get the date from first game FFIX, but i am assuming it is new.....
but the EQ article was from 2002, so, back in 2002 there were more copies than FFIX
try again