Did Sword Art Online help Final Fantasy XIV?

[Abriael]

I was chatting with a Japanese colleague earlier about the fact that the FFXIV Nico Nico stream had a degree of success that I didn't expect, with more than 60k viewers that are quite a lot for a stream in Japanese that wasn't very much publicized internationally.

She told me "yeah, with Sword Art Online, everyone is crazy for MMORPGs again in Japan now".

Very possibly, she's right, Japan is very sensitive to this kind of influence, and I can definitely see how a popular anime/manga/novel series could have raised the "cool factor" of MMOs, especially one made locally like FFXIV.

It's interesting that there are already rather strong rumors of a second SAO anime series to be released in the summer season. That'd sure be convenient, even if the next arc of the story is set on a gun-based MMO.

[Cedri]

As long as it gets rift support, then I can see SAO influencing FFXIV:ARR

[Eijii]

As long as it gets rift support, then I can see SAO influencing FFXIV:ARR

This would be amazing.... I can't wait for the commercial release... Hawken and Doom 3 looked like it felt amazing....and I don't even like fps/shooter type games....

[Vilhem]

I'm inclined to believe this. There was mention of the NicoNico thing on the "other" forum, but that's as far as it went with international announcements.

60k is a huge number, considering you had to have a premium membership on NicoNico to even view the live stream (there were places that were re-streaming it lol). So yeah, I do think SAO's timing had a lot to do with the interest in online gaming in Japan, even if it's just a passing fad.

[Kirito]

I'm inclined to believe this. There was mention of the NicoNico thing on the "other" forum, but that's as far as it went with international announcements.

60k is a huge number, considering you had to have a premium membership on NicoNico to even view the live stream (there were places that were re-streaming it lol). So yeah, I do think SAO's timing had a lot to do with the interest in online gaming in Japan, even if it's just a passing fad.

you don't need premium membership to watch, you need it to not get kicked... and premium is like $5 a month

[Vilhem]

Yeah well, I couldn't get in, cause it kept prompting me to get a premium membership. And I declined and went to a restream because aside from the XIV event, I don't use NicoNico D:

[Pseudopsia]

I watched SAO, it was very good. I have no idea if SAO caused more people to watch the stream. I think us MMO players can relate to SAO very easy, however people not familiar with MMOs may not. SAO theme is not new, .hack//sign has the same theme probably not as popular since it is a lot older.

Maybe everyone wants to be a Beater(Beta Cheater) now

[Abriael]

I watched SAO, it was very good. I have no idea if SAO caused more people to watch the stream. I think us MMO players can relate to SAO very easy, however people not familiar with MMOs may not. SAO theme is not new, .hack//sign has the same theme probably not a popular since it is a lot older.

Maybe everyone wants to be a Beater(Beta Cheater) now

The difference is that .hack was never popular as SAO is.

[Kirito]

The difference is that .hack was never popular as SAO is.

Seriously? Look at all the light novels, movies, figures, games and anime based on dot.hack....

[Abriael]

Seriously? Look at all the light novels, movies, figures, games and anime based on dot.hack....

That doesn't mean it's more popular. It means it has a publisher willing to pump a lot in it. Just to make an example the SAO light novel series was the top selling this year in Japan. .Hack has been rather popular, but never broke any records that I know of.