Newest interview (abyssea was a mistake?)

[Luvbunny]

While that is one way to look at games... It is silly to think that ffxi should be this way... from the very beginning the game was treated more like a 'world' and was about exploration, adventure, stories, it was meant to be a long road.

If I want a game that feels like a 'game' as you say, I wouldn't be spending money every month for it and I'd go play peggle or chess or something like that.

FXI is a world, that you can explore and there are still missions and quests you can do for story (even abyssea has tons of quests to do) - which by the way the majority of players do not bother to explore or do missions. The difference is that now I can easily explore and go to all corners of the world without having to need others than myself and treat the game as if the offline FF (or Skyrim). There are still tons of challenging contents - most bcnms are still level capped where you need to use food, medicines and know what you are suppose to do - the new bcnm also require some team work. Even low man abyssea still require some quick macros - mob just take forever to die if you attempt to solo (just like old contents). Now everyone has a fair chance to get what they want with a lot less grind time, it is still grindy btw, finishing nyzul, doing the mythic ws, normal ws quest, magian trials - TONS of grindy old content style.

For people who are complaining about abyssea level entrance at 30, cough cough - have you looked at Ground of Valor camps? Yeah, about the same, a bunch of leechers that are afk and a bunch of people naked running around back and forth killing the same mob over and over in express mode. I have no complaints - now everyone can have ALL their jobs at 95 - the only problem is that most do not take the time to take time and learn to play the jobs - which by the way another time sink on itself.

Also crafting, fishing, and HELM are a big timesink as well, it is super casual, everyone can do it, and give you good decent reward - but not all will do it since this is a slow reward and not big ticket ones. Tons of Sea and Sky NM still drop good gears (esp with augmented slots) but now you can easily low man this - not a lot of people do it. I can mention tons of other relevant content that are still semi hard and challenging and require some sort of teamwork, but if it is not NEW shiny shiny gears, most people won't do it. The only difference is that now these older contents are very accessible for all.

[Natasha]

FXI is a world, that you can explore and there are still missions and quests you can do for story (even abyssea has tons of quests to do) - which by the way the majority of players do not bother to explore or do missions. The difference is that now I can easily explore and go to all corners of the world without having to need others than myself and treat the game as if the offline FF (or Skyrim). There are still tons of challenging contents - most bcnms are still level capped where you need to use food, medicines and know what you are suppose to do - the new bcnm also require some team work. Even low man abyssea still require some quick macros - mob just take forever to die if you attempt to solo (just like old contents). Now everyone has a fair chance to get what they want with a lot less grind time, it is still grindy btw, finishing nyzul, doing the mythic ws, normal ws quest, magian trials - TONS of grindy old content style.

For people who are complaining about abyssea level entrance at 30, cough cough - have you looked at Ground of Valor camps? Yeah, about the same, a bunch of leechers that are afk and a bunch of people naked running around back and forth killing the same mob over and over in express mode. I have no complaints - now everyone can have ALL their jobs at 95 - the only problem is that most do not take the time to take time and learn to play the jobs - which by the way another time sink on itself.

Also crafting, fishing, and HELM are a big timesink as well, it is super casual, everyone can do it, and give you good decent reward - but not all will do it since this is a slow reward and not big ticket ones. Tons of Sea and Sky NM still drop good gears (esp with augmented slots) but now you can easily low man this - not a lot of people do it. I can mention tons of other relevant content that are still semi hard and challenging and require some sort of teamwork, but if it is not NEW shiny shiny gears, most people won't do it. The only difference is that now these older contents are very accessible for all.

You can say that but anyone who liked ffxi before abyssea will tell you that the 'feel' of how it was is gone. As you said, now no one bothers doing any of it. Even parties, a core mechanic of the game are all but dead... new low man rules have taken its place.

On further examination of that post, Im confident that you aren't going to get what i mean when I say 'adventure'.

[Winrie]

FFXI Before abyssea = Win
FFXI After abyssea = Lame watered down beer, bud light with a cup of water in it.

I want my game back, all you Abyssea era starting kids can go back to wow

[Luvbunny]

Everyone adventure in their own style, now at least you have options and choices and no longer have to do it the "right way" This game is 10 times better than what it was before - more options, more choices, and more fun. And you are entitled to your opinion and how you want to play this game as you see fit for your playstyle and schedule. The old party style is dead but it is not completely gone, the problem is to find 5 other people with xyz job to do it with you. 600-800 xp per kill (and more with Ground of Valor) is nothing to sneeze at, but the majority of people do not bother to add the numbers and rather go afk naked doing absolutely nothing and learning zero about their jobs. Older camps are way much better now with ground tomes and the increased xp and xp rings, but finding like minded people with the same mindset is not easy.... but as usual you can grab 2 of your friends and do even match - tough mobs and do it this way.

[Natasha]

Everyone adventure in their own style, now at least you have options and choices and no longer have to do it the "right way" This game is 10 times better than what it was before - more options, more choices, and more fun.

Its actually considerably less choice, its just a transparent issue since technically you 'can' do all that you did in the past... Its just worthless now. Now I sill do the stuff but that doesnt make the point any less valid, why would you throw away all the great things that the game had before 2009 -.-

[Luvbunny]

Its actually considerably less choice, its just a transparent issue since technically you 'can' do all that you did in the past... Its just worthless now. Now I sill do the stuff but that doesnt make the point any less valid, why would you throw away all the great things that the game had before 2009 -.-

All the great things are still there, they never go away but finding people who wants to do it are harder than usual. Yes abyssea pamper most of the new casual players, but it also makes things easier for the hardcore players who want to complete everything in the game. Now you no longer need 18 people to do it and no need to wait in line to get the items you want. Dyna is easier to do, everything is within reach if you want to put the timesink required, they just get rid of the shouting for 17 other people (unless you want to do voidwatch).

Even with godmode - abyssea is still somewhat challenging for casual players, but for hardcore now you can complete your gears, feel good about it, and move on to the harder stuffs but at least you dont need to fight it out with 17 other people and no longer have to wait a year or do the point systems. Remember the old dyna - it's impossible to get your relic gears if you do not attend it regularly and amass points...

[Kimble]

FFXI Before abyssea = Win
FFXI After abyssea = Lame watered down beer, bud light with a cup of water in it.

I want my game back, all you Abyssea era starting kids can go back to wow

Ive honestly met very few people who left wow for FFXI.

[Natasha]

All the great things are still there, they never go away but finding people who wants to do it are harder than usual. Yes abyssea pamper most of the new casual players, but it also makes things easier for the hardcore players who want to complete everything in the game. Now you no longer need 18 people to do it and no need to wait in line to get the items you want. Dyna is easier to do, everything is within reach if you want to put the timesink required, they just get rid of the shouting for 17 other people (unless you want to do voidwatch).

Like I said, can't be explained to someone who didnt like it in the first place. Them being there is one thing, they're infinitely easier... theres no reward to playing anymore... really I would say that the game lost its soul but I dont think that would get what I mean across any better.

[Natasha]

Ive honestly met very few people who left wow for FFXI.

I've known quite a few.

[Kimble]

So, people like grinding to get gear, because it means something, but they don't want to grind for gear in voidwatch?