The OFFICIAL "I intend on Quitting, and here is why" Thread

[Dazusu]

Said the pot to the kettle.

I'm not the one asking for a cease of development on/removal of casual content, I'm asking for everyone to have what they want. Perhaps you need to look up what hypocrisy actually means before you insinuate people are practising it. I won't flame your inability to comprehend basic English.

[FrankReynolds]

I'm not the one asking for a cease of development on/removal of casual content, I'm asking for everyone to have what they want. Perhaps you need to look up what hypocrisy actually means before you insinuate people are practising it. I won't flame your inability to comprehend basic English.

Funny, people who claim to have excellent comprehension skills usually do so because they have run out of useful things to say. Using insults while complaining about negativity is funny on so many levels.

Any time a company says "tell us what you think" people are going to tell them what they don't like. Square Enix isn't a charity group working to cure cancer or some other disease. They are a gaming company. The ultimate goal for them is to make money. People paying for the product is all the ego stroking that is required. All other input directed at Square Enix should be geared towards critiquing the product and suggesting improvements.

The way this forum is configured gears it for 3 things: Getting feedback, Conveying Info about the game, and allowing players to discuss game tactics etc. It is not the users responsibility to make people like whatever content SE has created. That is SE's job. Therefore, SE is technically to blame for the negativity that you are experiencing, because they created the subject of that negativity, and then requested people to give them feed back.

Ultimately, the responsibility falls on you though, as you are the one who takes it upon yourself to read that negativity, and more often than not add to it.

What makes you think that the game should have a bunch of stuff that requires 12-36 people to complete (not that I don't like this content)? Do you think that because you like that style of play, they should go ahead and make it even if the thousands of other paying customers will never get to do it? Has it ever occurred to you that an "an almost co-operative RPG (Play with 4 friends over a network!)" type game might actually be what the current population of FFXI wants? Why do you feel that your opinion is important and these "negative" people's opinions shouldn't matter? Do you pay more? Did you develop the game? Does someone owe you something?

[Dazusu]

Edit: Nevermind.

[Zinato]

Because it's an MMO? MMOs are known for large scale battles that require many people, that is one of the many commonly accepted definitions of an MMO. Not only that, but this game was exactly that until recently.

I'm curious to know which MMOs you've been playing since both WoW and ToR (the current industry standards) both follow lower man formulas. (ToR's is 4 man teams for most content) To add to that while it is true both do have large scale raids, they are also only a section of the end-game content for each of those games. (Against say Dynamis, Limbus, Einherjar, HNM, Sky, Sea, Zeni back in the days of old, and yes some of that could be low-manned but the final battles were mostly 12+. Also to add to that Raids in other MMOs don't have the horrid drop rates XI does, so "Raiding" only amounts to a small portion of the game.)

Another thing, MMO stands for Massive Multi-Player Online. (Yes, I'm sure you knew that) I bring this up because things such as MAG for the PS3 also qualify in this catagory, In fact any game with large populated servers is an MMO regardless of genre. My point to this is MMO does not mean large groups are needed to do things, it means large amounts of people play together (In the same world) at the same time.

FFXI as a game not only has to maintain the interest of its players but, also needs to maintain itself over other MMOs. FFXI is a game, and as such players need not feel "Loyalty" to the brand. If something better is released there is no good reason not to switch right on the spot. The games industry is not static and while its true nothing is stopping a 10 year old game from flourishing, it can also be said that unless the game keeps up with trends it will lose customers. An FYI, Since 2006 and the release of the Nintendo Wii the games industry shifted from what was "hardcore" to casual games any player can pick up and play. (This applies to MMOs too) If you need evidence, take note how the Xbox 360 and PS3 have both followed suit adding motion controls to the system as well as "functionality" (Facebook, Netflicks, and various other helpful items) and the addition of several party style games be it dancing, singing or just random things like bowling. Oddly enough Abyssea started in 2010, and if I recall that was when Kinect and sonys motion controllers were being developed for "The new gen" seems like an interesting coincidence.

Not only that, but this game was exactly that until recently.

I'll restate just in case someone doesn't read Wall-O-Text. The gaming industry changed Nov 2006 to casual (feel free to blaim Nintendo) 2010, marked the start of the industry wide shift thanks to the Wiis continued success. Going back now is a major mistake as seen by the release of FFXIV (Keep in mind XIV was what XI was prior to abyssea with a few alterations, if that is a winning formula for new/returning players why are they making XIV 2.0 with our DEV team?)

[Kimble]

Wait, we are blaming Nintendo for XI being more casual friendly?

[Vold]

I figure the blame goes to WoW because seemingly now unless you replicate it's success you're a failure. So everybody is trying to make their game as friendly to the mainstream gamer as possible. This is when we got ToAU and sealed FFXI's fate as easy mode. People like to talk down Abyssea for doing it but no, FFXI has been in easy mode since ToAU when SE made the serious effort of cutting down on the grinding. It started with basic exp and ended with Nyzul I think. It was event after event geared towards casual play with a side of hardcore content to keep that side of players entertained via more ground kings to hunt.

I held dear the idea of hunting HNMs against other players but frankly the system died the moment someone got the bright idea to bot. So really it's a combo of players and the times that caused FFXI to fall into casual mode. But this game can certainly survive just fine in casual mode if voidwatch is anything to go by. You can't get any more casual than it. And the people have proven without a shred of doubt that they are still willing to join up with others in large groups if the reward system is fair. Which VW is. It still sucks but it's FAIR no matter how you cut it. ADL, for example, is not. And if your LS didn't survive Abyssea you're hard pressed to find another. Most LSs broke apart into smaller ones and people being people, well, let's just say they are stubborn about strangers outside their immediate network of friends. This is why things like ADL today are problematic for us to deal with. Just because some players are good to go for it doesn't make it okay no matter how much you want it to be so.

But don't worry because SE is obviously on your side of having bottlenecks as the last stand against casual gamers to separate hardcore from casual. The "dumb" people i.e. players who don't take things so seriously are never going to be on the same ground as you ever again. Until the next pay for add on comes.

[Zinato]

Wait, we are blaming Nintendo for XI being more casual friendly?

In a way yes, prior to its release of the Wii game developers had been working to make "hardcore" games. (evidence can be seen with "nintendo hard" games) It was only after Wii's creation that "Shovel ware" (tons of so-so games created to target the casual gamers) and casual game began to appear on the market. Nintendo had found a new market and was making buckets of money for it. Shortly after Sony, Microsoft and many Developers began to aim for the same untapped market. Nintendo Wii was a gateway console for alot of the newer gamers, (Basically anyone who doesn't remember NES, SNES or Genisis) and so these newer gamer expect the same style of game when the purchase new games. Additionally, because of this even those gamers who had played "Hardcore" have been treated to so many casualized games recently that they too are growing accustomed to it.

Of course what Vold said also plays a major role, Since WoW like the Wii was the gateway of casuals into the MMO market it is now the standard for MMO creation. (even though many FFXI fans call it easy mode) The point is the industry has changed toward casual and I would be shocked if someone could argue otherwise. Fighting that trend is fighting new customers, previously untapped customers (non gamers) and alienating those gamers who were brought up on casual.

Additionally take note that WoW was released 2004, and its first expansion was early 2007 (following the start of the casual era, though too close to have seen Wii's success) Point being many of WoWs fans would consider the game as it is now superior to the style of the original and its expansion. Much like how many XI fans consider Abyssea superior to the old ways. The difference is WoW saw the trends and embraced them, rather then doubling back and fighting them.

Now whether you think XI being more casualized is a good thing is up to you.

[Psykloned]

So I just started back up again myself. Fresh and all. Seems like Shiva is pretty much full of nothing xD
I will continue to grind out what I can I suppose and see what happens.

I'm guessing the numerous issues spoken of in this thread are ongoing by the way things have been going for me..

[Kimble]

I.... am at a loss for words that Nintendo is the reason FFXI has become "casual friendly".

[Damane]

Just deactivated my 2 accounts.

In short:
1. Voidwatch sux (even tough I got most of the drops), but alliance content no thx
2. nyzul isle sux
3. New relic trial sux even more
4. Lack of new content that is actually fun
5. Legion will suck even more, because it requires again an alliance or more

Basicly I dont want to deal AGAIN with the "olde" age of FFXI where random number generators decide if you get loot or not. Luck based shit = kiss my ass.
This game is just relying lately tooo much on Alliance-based events. Low-man content (Can I have it?)