XI's had director interaction during its beta years ago, and in the past year and a half the NA Community reps have set up events on twitter and the test server, as well as the live-feed of SoA where they took some questions over the chat.
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The real difference this time around, is that the development team (XIV) watch and read many of the typical FF/Gaming websites (They have stated this) to see what people truly think of there work and how its progressing, everyone has an opinion these days and not all can agree on something.
As Vilhem said, Yoshi-P is a people person. Can you imagine if XI was to get someone like Yoshida behind the wheel?
Somebody to out right say enough, this has to happen if we want a future to expand the game, away from the chains that bind (DX8) it to PS2 quality. I am not sure though if I would want to return even if they rebuilt the engine like XIV, and maybe that's what others might think. I wouldn't need to return, because I have a character that is close to looking like my current XI one, just in a different realm, but the likeness is there. I don't miss anything from XI now.
I would like to play both, but I likely can't afford both at the same time.
I'm disappointed that the discount for having a sub with both is no longer a thing.
I may be going with XIV even though I don't like the more casual design.
Mainly because I really like Yoshi-P's direction and his dedication towards communication and transparency.
It's totally possible that XIV will turn out like most other casual MMOs out there and I'll come back to XI.
There are outside NMs in XIV but they are part of the FATE system. When they do pop up it seems to be from X# of people have killed X# of the surrounding mobs. Though hopefully there is someone who can cure you're fighting these "NMs" or you're sol. Right now in the beta you can't use more than one account at least not on the PS3 version.
Fool me once, your fault, fool me twice my fault.
FF14 is a decent game now but still is nothing but another WoW clone. And all WoW clones died to become F2P forgotten games. I just ask for those who get bored and upset about FF14 don't come back to FF11.
Here we go again with the "WoW Clone" lol. You obviously don't know what the standards for MMO's are now, or you wouldn't be throwing that useless comment around like it held any weight. You sound like an old man stuck in his old archaic ways of doing things. Hey, if you want to stick to XI, nobody's forcing you to leave, but don't spew crap like you really know what's going on. You just come off as a bitter fool who's not taking this change well.
There will never be another game like XI. It's jarring for those that have been on this game for years, but yes, the world outside did change, MMO's aren't what they were when XI/EQ/Ultima were released. The market has changed, the playerbase has come to expect different things than ten years ago.
It won't go F2P, as much as you'd enjoy seeing that. SE has the money to sustain it for awhile, unlike other companies that have to pay off investors quickly, and as such, have a quota they need to meet.
But go ahead and keep sticking your head in the sand in the vain attempt it'll fix the problems here.
Hey, you're right! Look, I've already made a character of the new race, Forum Troll.
So, should I choose Alliance or Horde? Maybe a Tarutaru shadow priest? I know! A Galka Warlock!
Anyone starting in Stormwind with me? We can go do FFXIV Deadmines together!
Aside from minor similarities in the "feel" of the battle system, and the quest helper, XIV and WoW are completely different. Crafting is more intuitive. Never seen Fates or Leves in WoW. What else is different from WoW?
1. Races
2. Forename/Surname
3. Crafting
4. Fates
5. Leves
6. Story Line
7. Cities
8. Graphics
9. Battle system
10. Classes
11. Spells
12. Enemies
13....
You get the point. Or maybe you don't?
Also, it's "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."
Maybe if you could stop shaking your fists at kids stepping on your lawn while you reminisce of the "Good 'ole days" you could take the time to re-evaluate a statement before you make it.