Dihlyte
06-19-2024, 02:55 AM
I absolutely love and appreciate FFXI now.
I am also grateful of how well FFXI has come together to such a massive masterpiece that it is today.
I also played FFXIV, and FFXI for many years.
(FFXI: 2012 -> Now + ongoing.)
(FFXIV: 2012 -> 2020.)
Because of how much I played XI, and XIV, and how much passion I have for these games, I can't help but constantly think of ways to improve each game.
This might seem like a random post, and it kind of is, but I can't seem to get this/these idea/s out of my head. I feel maybe perhaps actually posting it and sharing it, I can get it out of my head and stop thinking about it.
What causes me to even think more on it, and really want to say it, is when I hear:
Naoki Yoshida say things like:
"So in regards to making a new MMO after XIV it's extremely difficult to make a follow-up after a successful MMO... if we were to do it it would have to be something that would want to make all XIV players switch over. I can't fathom how difficult that would be."
Like... I personally can't even believe he said this.
(This was in regards to FFXI and FFXIV's success and on-going support from fans, and keeping FFXI online even if they choose to stop updating it.)
I do not feel like getting XIV players to leave XIV for a better FFMMO would be difficult at all. The biggest hurdle would be getting XI players to play it.
While FFXI and XIV are both profitable games, and many people have fond memories of these games, the Final Fantasy MMO I have in my head, feels like it would not only absolutely crush FFXI's success, as well as XIV's profits, but also over time begin to even creep onto WoW's level of numbers in terms of subscriptions.... when WoW was at its peak. I'm not talking FFXIV's Endwalkers numbers, I'm talking 25 million active subscribers or even more.
I personally do not really consider FFXI or FFXIV to be all that successful.
(On a side note, I personally feel like its possible for XI and XIV to easily have 5 times as many players in each of their respective game than they currently have, if a little more care and effort went into them. Also if somehow I had any actual say in creating such a FF-MMO, I would use a portion of its profits to preserve both XI and XIV, as well as perfectly re-creating them to run perfectly with their same graphics/gameplay/features/etc features.)
These probably seems like bold statements, but the reason I feel this way, is because the Final Fantasy MMO I have imaged after playing FFXI (2012), FFXI (2024), FFXIV 1.23b (2012) and FFXIV: ARR (2013) FFXIV 5.0 (2020) to such extensive amounts, seeing so many complaints and compliments over the years, as well as personal first hand experience, it is a no brainer what game could be created to create such a scenario.
Overall outlook:
-Gameplay is more important than Graphics.
First off, Square-Enix needs to understand gameplay is more important than graphics.
This is, even still one of Square-Enix's major flaws.
FFXIV's newest expansion "Dawntrail" 7.0, is a focus on graphics.
In my head, I don't even know why SE is even putting time into a graphical overhaul after receiving so many complaints about character creation, Viera and Hrothgar. Logically I would have done a character creation overhaul before doing a graphical overhaul.
FFXIV:ARR Was a less graphically pleasing game than FFXIV 1.0, and 2.0 was more successful regardless of this.
Games like minecraft exist and are wildly popular.
Not to mention, many people leave FFXIV for FFXI, because the gameplay is better to many of those people.
People simply really do not prioritize graphics over gameplay. Period.
-Main Story Players will always be main story players.
-Endgame content should be endgame content
Which brings us to the next topic point.
-RPG rewards should be rewarding.
This brings me to my next topic.
-"Damage cap" versus "Stat squish"
Simply put. A video game that is well planned ahead of time, should never need a stat squish.
A damage cap is a much more interesting, and exciting experience for the player, and drastically cuts down on wasted development time.
I have no clue why on earth MMORPG players and developers feel "stat squishes" are "good" for anyone.
Without continuing to just make random points for eternity, I would like to explain how I imagine Square-Enix would create such a game.
The Game:
-Main Story:
-Character creation:
-Level Cap:
In my mind, this ultimate Final Fantasy MMO, would have a level cap of 30, and this is when players would unlock the additional jobs.
-User Interface:
-Leveling
Leveling should include multiple options.
-Equipment
S
-Open World
The open world in any RPG is vital to the overall experience.
-Optional Content/Quests
Content is another crucial aspect to an MMO and any RPG.
Optional content should never become forced onto the player, and should always remain optional, and always relevant.
-Miscellaneous/Stat customization/Secrets/etc.
I'm just going to touch on this briefly as I feel its important, but I do not want to spend a long time talking about it.
Stat customization, subjobs, character stat progression, key items, purchasing spell scrolls, stat trees, stat traits, merit points, skillchains, magic bursts, limit breaks, secret items, secret enemies, rare loot, powerful items, relic grinds, notorious monsters, as well as many other smaller, larger, and varying aspects that make up an RPG such as limited time shops, conquest maps, temporary items, and all the extensive aspects of a RPG are crucial to the overall experience.
You cannot create a proper RPG, especially a proper MMORPG if you do not incorporate and expand on everything that has come before. Then once you do that, you also need to create new, exciting, and interesting aspects and features. The problem with XI and XIV now, is they are hindered by a lack of creativity be that in new content design or simply creative problem solving. Also of course a lack of funding, and/or use of available funding.
I understand the developers are doing their best with what is available, but I also know at the same time, there are many fans that are willing to work entirely for free to do as much if not more work than many SE employees, due to how passionate they are about each or both of these games.
I could really go into detail on these sections, but it would consume an unusual amount of time, and again, since I'm not here actually creating a game, using an excessive amount of time and effort beyond just getting all these thoughts out of my head, is mostly pointless. The only real purpose of this, is to get this out of my head, cause it's building up within me at this point.
I am also grateful of how well FFXI has come together to such a massive masterpiece that it is today.
I also played FFXIV, and FFXI for many years.
(FFXI: 2012 -> Now + ongoing.)
(FFXIV: 2012 -> 2020.)
Because of how much I played XI, and XIV, and how much passion I have for these games, I can't help but constantly think of ways to improve each game.
This might seem like a random post, and it kind of is, but I can't seem to get this/these idea/s out of my head. I feel maybe perhaps actually posting it and sharing it, I can get it out of my head and stop thinking about it.
What causes me to even think more on it, and really want to say it, is when I hear:
Naoki Yoshida say things like:
"So in regards to making a new MMO after XIV it's extremely difficult to make a follow-up after a successful MMO... if we were to do it it would have to be something that would want to make all XIV players switch over. I can't fathom how difficult that would be."
Like... I personally can't even believe he said this.
(This was in regards to FFXI and FFXIV's success and on-going support from fans, and keeping FFXI online even if they choose to stop updating it.)
I do not feel like getting XIV players to leave XIV for a better FFMMO would be difficult at all. The biggest hurdle would be getting XI players to play it.
While FFXI and XIV are both profitable games, and many people have fond memories of these games, the Final Fantasy MMO I have in my head, feels like it would not only absolutely crush FFXI's success, as well as XIV's profits, but also over time begin to even creep onto WoW's level of numbers in terms of subscriptions.... when WoW was at its peak. I'm not talking FFXIV's Endwalkers numbers, I'm talking 25 million active subscribers or even more.
I personally do not really consider FFXI or FFXIV to be all that successful.
(On a side note, I personally feel like its possible for XI and XIV to easily have 5 times as many players in each of their respective game than they currently have, if a little more care and effort went into them. Also if somehow I had any actual say in creating such a FF-MMO, I would use a portion of its profits to preserve both XI and XIV, as well as perfectly re-creating them to run perfectly with their same graphics/gameplay/features/etc features.)
These probably seems like bold statements, but the reason I feel this way, is because the Final Fantasy MMO I have imaged after playing FFXI (2012), FFXI (2024), FFXIV 1.23b (2012) and FFXIV: ARR (2013) FFXIV 5.0 (2020) to such extensive amounts, seeing so many complaints and compliments over the years, as well as personal first hand experience, it is a no brainer what game could be created to create such a scenario.
Overall outlook:
-Gameplay is more important than Graphics.
First off, Square-Enix needs to understand gameplay is more important than graphics.
This is, even still one of Square-Enix's major flaws.
FFXIV's newest expansion "Dawntrail" 7.0, is a focus on graphics.
In my head, I don't even know why SE is even putting time into a graphical overhaul after receiving so many complaints about character creation, Viera and Hrothgar. Logically I would have done a character creation overhaul before doing a graphical overhaul.
FFXIV:ARR Was a less graphically pleasing game than FFXIV 1.0, and 2.0 was more successful regardless of this.
Games like minecraft exist and are wildly popular.
Not to mention, many people leave FFXIV for FFXI, because the gameplay is better to many of those people.
People simply really do not prioritize graphics over gameplay. Period.
-Main Story Players will always be main story players.
-Endgame content should be endgame content
Which brings us to the next topic point.
-RPG rewards should be rewarding.
This brings me to my next topic.
-"Damage cap" versus "Stat squish"
Simply put. A video game that is well planned ahead of time, should never need a stat squish.
A damage cap is a much more interesting, and exciting experience for the player, and drastically cuts down on wasted development time.
I have no clue why on earth MMORPG players and developers feel "stat squishes" are "good" for anyone.
Without continuing to just make random points for eternity, I would like to explain how I imagine Square-Enix would create such a game.
The Game:
-Main Story:
-Character creation:
-Level Cap:
In my mind, this ultimate Final Fantasy MMO, would have a level cap of 30, and this is when players would unlock the additional jobs.
-User Interface:
-Leveling
Leveling should include multiple options.
-Equipment
S
-Open World
The open world in any RPG is vital to the overall experience.
-Optional Content/Quests
Content is another crucial aspect to an MMO and any RPG.
Optional content should never become forced onto the player, and should always remain optional, and always relevant.
-Miscellaneous/Stat customization/Secrets/etc.
I'm just going to touch on this briefly as I feel its important, but I do not want to spend a long time talking about it.
Stat customization, subjobs, character stat progression, key items, purchasing spell scrolls, stat trees, stat traits, merit points, skillchains, magic bursts, limit breaks, secret items, secret enemies, rare loot, powerful items, relic grinds, notorious monsters, as well as many other smaller, larger, and varying aspects that make up an RPG such as limited time shops, conquest maps, temporary items, and all the extensive aspects of a RPG are crucial to the overall experience.
You cannot create a proper RPG, especially a proper MMORPG if you do not incorporate and expand on everything that has come before. Then once you do that, you also need to create new, exciting, and interesting aspects and features. The problem with XI and XIV now, is they are hindered by a lack of creativity be that in new content design or simply creative problem solving. Also of course a lack of funding, and/or use of available funding.
I understand the developers are doing their best with what is available, but I also know at the same time, there are many fans that are willing to work entirely for free to do as much if not more work than many SE employees, due to how passionate they are about each or both of these games.
I could really go into detail on these sections, but it would consume an unusual amount of time, and again, since I'm not here actually creating a game, using an excessive amount of time and effort beyond just getting all these thoughts out of my head, is mostly pointless. The only real purpose of this, is to get this out of my head, cause it's building up within me at this point.