Solidariety for Coronavirus COVID-19

[Zhronne]

As I'm sure SquareEnix and Final Fantasy XI developers know very well, the World Health Organization declared yesterday that the COVID-19 is a world pandemic.

Hundreds of thousands of people are locked into their homes, quarantined, within the territories of China, Italy, South Korea, with more countries what will surely join in the upcoming weeks.


Given how so many people cannot leave their homes I was thinking: why doesn't SquareEnix think about something, in an attempt to show empathy and solidariety towards the people affected by this world crisis?

For example giving a free month of login, a special campaign, anything goes, I'm sure whatever comes to the devs' minds will be greeted with open arms.

[Soraii]

Yeah, unban people that want to play for the month they're stuck inside!

[Sirmarki]

Yeah, unban people that want to play for the month they're stuck inside!

No thanks, we want to enjoy the game without an extra army of botting/cheats back.

[Sirmarki]

As I'm sure SquareEnix and Final Fantasy XI developers know very well, the World Health Organization declared yesterday that the COVID-19 is a world pandemic.

Hundreds of thousands of people are locked into their homes, quarantined, within the territories of China, Italy, South Korea, with more countries what will surely join in the upcoming weeks.


Given how so many people cannot leave their homes I was thinking: why doesn't SquareEnix think about something, in an attempt to show empathy and solidariety towards the people affected by this world crisis?

For example giving a free month of login, a special campaign, anything goes, I'm sure whatever comes to the devs' minds will be greeted with open arms.

I think most people will be happy with the fact they can play without having to go to work.
They are a business at the end of the day, and this will affect them, as it will everybody else.

[Alhanelem]

You spelled solidarity wrong. :p

And while they could do something like this, manga and anime publishers in Japan already have people covered, with several making some or all of their content available online for free (to Japan) while the situation persists to help stave off chronic boredom from isolation.

[Alphie]

As much as the good intentions would be behind this, there would be a TON who would see it as a way of SE trying to make money off of a disaster.

I would rather see SE have a campaign on how to protect yourselves from the COVID issue because the false info going around; washing hands with hot soap and water for 20 seconds, call your doctor before wanting to come in for COVID testing, don't go out or to work if you are feeling sick.

[Sirmarki]

As much as the good intentions would be behind this, there would be a TON who would see it as a way of SE trying to make money off of a disaster.

Not at all. They are running a subscription service which hasn't changed in years. If they bumped the sub all of a sudden to $15 a month 'because people are staying in' then yes, I would agree.



I would rather see SE have a campaign on how to protect yourselves from the COVID issue because the false info going around; washing hands with hot soap and water for 20 seconds, call your doctor before wanting to come in for COVID testing, don't go out or to work if you are feeling sick.

It is not their place to do that though. This is at government level. The only places who have had to send out e-mails and adjust are food establishments and other potential close contact businesses.

[Alphie]

Well, my part of the USA is pretty much locking down here, from schools to business. I just don't like the idea of a company making something off of this. There is always a way it can be seen in a bad way. I guess I'm just so jaded after so many years and things like this being done and going poorly.

And honestly, there are enough people who are followed and trend setters out there on Twitter and Facebook who are giving out false information about the COVID-19 virus. WHy can't SE step up and encourage people to get info from the CDC and WHO. All I see are people panicing and spreading wrong info making things worse.

[Dragoniks]

Good idea but not for a good reason.
Poeple stay in their home so they can play all day.
So no need a free month fee.
If the servers goes down because there is not enough people to take care of the servers, yea they could give us a free month fee in exchange for the time lost.

But now as someone said better make on website information about the virus.

[Sirmarki]

And honestly, there are enough people who are followed and trend setters out there on Twitter and Facebook who are giving out false information about the COVID-19 virus. WHy can't SE step up and encourage people to get info from the CDC and WHO. All I see are people panicing and spreading wrong info making things worse.

It is quite simple really, don't use social media :) It never really has done human kind any favours since it began.

[Alhanelem]

The whole advantage of a game like this is its there when circumstances like this make life more difficult. :p

[BurnNotice]

Honestly, a free month or two of free play is cool. In addition, add a few campaigns like extended CP/EXP events and other fun & engaging events that groups can do.

[Typral]

Remember they gave out Green moogle caps for donating to the Tsunami?

[Sirmarki]

Honestly, a free month or two of free play is cool. In addition, add a few campaigns like extended CP/EXP events and other fun & engaging events that groups can do.

The campaigns would be nice, but no, nothing free. They need support just like everybody else at this time.

[Alhanelem]

Unless you're in food retail, most businesses are sliding. While big corporations like SE aren't going to go under because of this, their own interest in self preservation won't allow them to make those kinds of moves. It only happened with FFXIV because their desire to save their biggest IP's reputation exceeded their short term desire to make money, knowing that in the long term they would be harmed more if they didn't do what they ended up doing.

In a time like this where there is less to do outside of work than normal, I"m quite happy to pay for online games like this.

[Sirmarki]

In a time like this where there is less to do outside of work than normal, I"m quite happy to pay for online games like this.

Yep. Money well spent given the current situation.

[Divaud]

Games are a distraction from real-world affairs for me.

I'd rather they leave ffxi out of the situation so we can get some respite from the craziness

[Sirmarki]

Games are a distraction from real-world affairs for me.

I'd rather they leave ffxi out of the situation so we can get some respite from the craziness

I understand. Sadly, on Asura at least, you have to have /yell turned off because they just can't help themselves.

[TooTallTaru]

I understand. Sadly, on Asura at least, you have to have /yell turned off because they just can't help themselves.

I scared my cat laughing out loud at this.