The life of an mmorpg and the stewards of its continued existence.

[Pixela]

When a group of developers create an mmorpg they effectively create a living universe online, a metaverse that people populate and it very much takes on a life of its own.

We like to joke that it's just a video game, it's meaningless but it's really not.

This game we have played for so very long has become an important part of our lives at this point for many reasons, for many of us we met important people within its world and it's etched into our existence because of that. For many it got us through tough times in our lives, or is just looked upon as the best of times when we were younger. We have precious experiences in it, that would of never happened if not for its existence.

Vana'diel is important to many tens of thousands of people still, it's as important as the town we grew up in or still live in and the memories we have made in this world will be with us for the rest of our lives.

Many enjoy it today for entertainment, get comfort from it as a safe and familiar place they can relax in, get companionship in a way they possibly can't in real life or just have a place they can exist in with like minded people after work that allows them to wind down.

FFXI is not just a video game, it's much more than that and the longer it has existed the deeper its roots entangle into the people who are part of it. It's also near impossible to replace, we become used to the experience it offers and people who are within it and there is often no real alternative.

It's often seen as cringe to admit that something like this has a meaning to you, but it does. It means so much to many of us that we continue to pay a sub for it, as a communal act to make sure it continues to exist for us all to be part of.

FFXI is an archaic 21 year old PS2 game, but despite the limitations of its code it is still held in very high regard to its community.

FFXI is not only an ongoing testament to the people and company who made it, but an important part of the lives of the people who continue to exist within it. These worlds die and all the efforts are lost when the stewards no longer have the passion to keep it alive, and we are lucky to have people who still value it and want to do the best for the people who love it.

We are in tough times, money is tight and budgets have declined but we continue.

Thank you Matsui, Fujito and everyone else involved for keeping Vana'diel alive for us all, it does matter and it is appreciated to people all around the world.

https://i.imgur.com/7O0cPVR.jpg

[Alhanelem]

It's just a video game

[Pixela]

It's just a video game

It's funny how I've interacted with you so many times now that I know you only posted this to razz me, you don't believe this for a second.

The only difference is you feel this way about 14 (and to a lesser extent 11) and I and others feel this way about 11.

The thing about objects is they take on deeper meaning when other people are involved, even EA knows this and refused to close SWTOR recently when they wanted to move on. They sold the title to another company to run as to not face massive backlash.

[Alhanelem]

It's funny how I've interacted with you so many times now that I know you only posted this to razz me, you don't believe this for a second.

The only difference is you feel this way about 14 (and to a lesser extent 11) and I and others feel this way about 11.

The thing about objects is they take on deeper meaning when other people are involved, even EA knows this and refused to close SWTOR recently when they wanted to move on. They sold the title to another company to run as to not face massive backlash.


You know, I knew you were going to say that. No, FFXIV is just a video game too. As are all others. Has FFXI (and FFXIV) made a mark on me? Of course it has Will I miss them if they're gone? Sure. But life moves on, and there are also a million other games for me to play. It's not the end of the world, even if I have some attachment to them.

[Pixela]

Here is the thing, I don't believe you for a second.

Regardless, we don't have to argue in this thread. Just leave it be.

[Alhanelem]

Here is the thing, I don't believe you for a second.The fact you're unable to believe this is a problem by itself. I've said probably a hundred times that the opinions I post are closely and truly held, I meant that a month ago, I meant that last weak, I meant it yesterday and I'll mean it 20 years from now.

My gaming backlog is already years long. I won't be happy but I can certainly deal with the loss of the only MMOs I've invested conisderable time in. They haven't quiite become the attached internal organ for me that they seem to have become for you. Frankly, I think it's rather unhealthy to have that level of attachment.

If you don't want anyone to argue with you, then don't post controversial / nonsensical opinions.

[Pixela]

Lying Ted.

The reasons I don't believe you are firstly because you had no reason to post in the manner you did in the first place. The only reason you did was to be antagonistic so obviously you will lie to say you don't care about ff14 as a counter to what I posted.

Secondly every time I or anyone says anything in any way you consider to be negative about ff14, it's like the bat signal goes off in your underpants and you are there with your 10 page arguments as to why it's wrong because you're upset.

Thirdly, in your post above on the last line you literally stated that the only reason you posted was to argue, because you're mad at me cause I called you a YoshiP fanboy. Which you are btw.

[Alhanelem]

Lying Ted.

The reasons I don't believe you are firstly because you had no reason to post in the manner you did in the first placeI had absolutely all the reason in the world to do so. That reason was you opened with "we like to joke that it's just a video game."

So.... that's exactly what I did.

And I'm sorry you think I'm lying but it's my true and honest opinion. I certainly didn't conjure up any "facts" out of thin air to justify it the way you do on a routine basis.

At the end of the day, while I would absolutely miss the game if it went offline tomorrow, I could certainly deal with it and move on with my life. I'm actually very concerned right now that you could not and I worry to think about what could happen.

If it's not just a game to you, and you truly couldn't seperate yourself from it should it disappear... you should seek counseling. That isn't even a joke. It's unhealthy and dangerous, and I really would not want to see anybody suffer for not being able to deal with the loss of their favorite thing.

[Nash-Ketchum]

At the end of the day, while I would absolutely miss the game if it went offline tomorrow, I could certainly deal with it and move on with my life. I'm actually very concerned right now that you could not and I worry to think about what could happen.

If it's not just a game to you, and you truly couldn't seperate yourself from it should it disappear... you should seek counseling. That isn't even a joke. It's unhealthy and dangerous, and I really would not want to see anybody suffer for not being able to deal with the loss of their favorite thing.

This has to be a joke, right? Do you get any air up on that high horse of yours? Highly sanctimonious utterings... and unusual.

OP chose to share their love for the game and what it personally meant to them. Lamenting the current decline and eventual demise of FFXI after all these years is understandable. They said nothing however about being unable to deal with the loss of FFXI. It isn't your place to undermine or attack OP's harmless opinion. Be nice. And be honest with yourself. If you weren't saddened by the thought of losing a game you've sunk years of your life into, you would be the one who's mental health would be in question.

Nice to meet ya btw, I'm the new guy. You'll be seeing a lot of me.

[Sirmarki]

I could certainly deal with it and move on with my life. I'm actually very concerned right now that you could not and I worry to think about what could happen.

If it's not just a game to you, and you truly couldn't seperate yourself from it should it disappear... you should seek counseling. That isn't even a joke. It's unhealthy and dangerous, and I really would not want to see anybody suffer for not being able to deal with the loss of their favorite thing.


A large company pulled a popular version of a word board game on Facebook at the time. My mother was not very mobile and she loved it, she loved speaking to people and the game itself kept her mind active.

They canned it, for no real reason really.

That small but big part of her day had now gone, she could no longer enjoy the challenges of this game that it presented and she lost the small, but there, social aspect of it.

So.... I guess, sometimes, things do play a bigger part in peoples lives than you may think.

[Alhanelem]

OP chose to share their love for the game and what it personally meant to them.And? I never had a problem with that. What's going on here isn't a sharing of love though. It's a lamenting. A perpetual lamenting that has persisted through countless threads on these forums. FFXI should be celeberated for what it is. Something that has been happening for the last year with the WE ARE VANA'DIEL site.



It isn't your place to undermine or attack OP's harmless opinion. Disagreeing is not undermining. And I'm not attacking anyone. Frankly, I'm the one being attacked, being called a liar for sharing my closely held and truthfully spoken feelings.



If you weren't saddened by the thought of losing a game you've sunk years of work into, you would be the one who's mental health would be in question. I really can't agree. Good mental health is being able to detatch. I have more passion for FFXI than anyone here probably thinks. But I think the impact it has had on our lives is something that should be celebrated and remembered, as we continue on and live our lives to the fullest- rather than wallow in despair at the thought of losing it, and especially rather than blaming other projects that hundreds of hard working people poured their hearts and souls into. There are many people who are going to be feeling the same way about FFXIV in another decade. It is making a mark on those people just as FFXI did on us, and Pixela spends his time here hating on it. That seems wrong to me, it's offensive to everyone who has fallen in love with that game. And me? I've played both for more hours than I can count. They've both left a mark on me that will last forever. But my relationship (with both, honestly) is rather in a state of visiting now and then and saying to myself, "thanks for the memories." I can simply look back on it fondly as I continue making more memories in my life. It is not good to become TOO attached to anything.


You'll be seeing a lot of me. Why does this feel like a threat?



That small but big part of her day had now gone, she could no longer enjoy the challenges of this game that it presented and she lost the small, but there, social aspect of it. The intent was not to minimize the impact of his or anyone's experiences. I played the "its just a game" joke straight. I mean, he basically invited us to. Frankly when I replied with just those four words I figured it was obvious it was a joke. But I guess not.

No, it is more than just a game. I've spent a good chunk of the last 20 years of my life playing it. We've had our love affairs and our falling outs. At the end of the day though, I know that while it isn't "just" a game, there is more to my life than it. After all, it's not the *only* thing I've fallen in love with over the years. (as an aside, I know exactly what you're referring to, though.)

SE has pledged to keep the game online even if it isn't being updated. That's likely small consolation for many, however, and I really do worry for anyone who has become so attached to it that they lash out. I worry they may do something bad for themselves and people who care about them.

TLDR: FFXI means more to me than probably anyone here seems to think. Most of you really do not understand this. But I have the same love for other things as well and it's wrong to attack those other things out of that love.

[Sp1cyryan]

It's just a video game

/Thread. ___

[Beastorizer]

It's funny how I've interacted with you so many times now that I know you only posted this to razz me, you don't believe this for a second.

The only difference is you feel this way about 14 (and to a lesser extent 11) and I and others feel this way about 11.

The thing about objects is they take on deeper meaning when other people are involved, even EA knows this and refused to close SWTOR recently when they wanted to move on. They sold the title to another company to run as to not face massive backlash.

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/DearestHugeArchaeocete-size_restricted.gif

14 is doodoo though.

...But I proved your point I guess.

Kind of crazy I have been playing this on & off for 20+ years, sheesh.

[Alhanelem]

14 is doodoo though.

...But I proved your point I guess.

Kind of crazy I have been playing this on & off for 20+ years, sheesh.
Hey, you're all welcome to your opinions. But there's a few million people that would disagree with you.

I've been playing both FFXI since it came out and FFXIV since its very first closed alpha test, so while it's been around for 10, for me its more like 11. Different strokes for different folks. In another 10 years you're going to have people writing like this about FFXIV just as Pixela is doing now, so it's a little disrespectful not to consider the feelings of others (and disrespectful to call someone sharing their closely held opinions a liar)

Pixela hasn't even played FFXIV though. He hates it simply for existing. It's one thing to play a game and not like it, that's fine. but writing a bunch of nonsense about it like it's your career, without even having played it, that's what has been grinding my gears all this time, as for me, both games have left a mark on me. FFXI somewhat more since it's been 20 years and it was my very first MMO experience, but anything you do for many years at a time is going to have an impact.

[Beastorizer]

Still feel there is more to Vana'diel.

There are still a number of distant places we never visited yet. Far East was one of those places for the longest, but we recently got there with RoV.

These areas are very interesting when you look at what evidence we have of them.

Southern Mummy carried by Undead in the Deserts, those flying flytraps carry Garhada Lumber, etc....

These mobs obviously have been to these lands imo.

Tsahya is the most intriguing to me, because it seems like some North African -esque region based upon the mummies & the mask, but I digress......

[Alhanelem]

True. And you know how long we stared at the gates of Ishgard in FFXIV 1.0 and many patches later we wondered when we would ever get there, for a long time it had an almost mythical quality like how Tavnazia proper still does to this day in XI.

I have so many fond memories from both worlds, though I vividly remember the first week or so when I started XI. I remember seeing someone walking around with Titan out the first time I made it to the dunes. At the time I wanted to become a Paladin and I was slowly trekking towards San d'Oria from Bastok where I started as a Galka, but when I saw that guy with the summon I decided I wanted to be a summoner. And I remember getting SO much crap for it "GALKA HAVE NO MP" "GALKA SUCK AT SMN" and I did it anyway and I'm still here kicking arse with it 20 years later.

You know, wasn't there some mobile game (not the big FFXI mobile project) that used FFXI's world that was only in Japan? I'm struggling to remember the specifics.

[Catmato]

You know, wasn't there some mobile game (not the big FFXI mobile project) that used FFXI's world that was only in Japan? I'm struggling to remember the specifics.

It was Grandmasters. I didn't play much but it felt like a typical mobile grind.

[Fawkes]

https://i.imgur.com/p8dOP4h.png

...or something, I don't know if I understand what this thread is about.

[Alhanelem]

it's about rose-tinted glasses, if anything.