Any countermeasures planned for declining player population?

[Winrie]

Screw another server merger, i got enough fun from kujata morons on my server, if that happens ill be takin my happy ass to 14, which at the moment is a much better game. This game died when abyssea ruined every bit of content that was alive at the time to appease casual gamers. Sorry to break it to you, but keeping casuals happy on a 10 year old game is an idiotic viewpoint.

[Daniel_Hatcher]

Screw another server merger, i got enough fun from kujata morons on my server, if that happens ill be takin my happy ass to 14, which at the moment is a much better game. This game died when abyssea ruined every bit of content that was alive at the time to appease casual gamers. Sorry to break it to you, but keeping casuals happy on a 10 year old game is an idiotic viewpoint.

Expecting others to stay after 10 years of the same game, gaining little new content is much more idiotic.

Disliking FFXI and then moving to another SquareEnix MMORPG is even more idiotic than the previous.

[Vivivivi]

I have a feeling if this new "hardware" that was mentioned around the new year is a new platform, such as PS Vita or iOS, I believe this game will get a resurgence of new players, AND retain them. Here's why:

Voidwatch and Voidwalkers are the most ingenious, low cost, self-marketing strategy SE could have come up with for this game if they are indeed planning on bringing XI to the aforementioned platforms. New players adventuring in areas like West Saruta-Baruta or South Gustaberg, discovering the game for the very first time will be witnesses to some of the very best players on their server, and get a first-hand preview of some of the very strongest NMs in the game. They'll also see all of the cool equipment and spells and job abilities that lays ahead should they decide to continue their journey in Vana'diel, and potentially meet some more experienced veterans who can help guide them along, or offer them a link pearl.

This is all of course dependent on if the game is quickly brought to new platforms, while Voidwatch is still "the thing" to do.

[Camiie]

Vivivivi, I completely disagree. Whenever I go to the starter zones the only time I've ever seen people doing Voidwatch is when I happened to be in a group doing it. I haven't seen any newbies come by at all, much less oohing and aahing over how cool we all look. Besides, if someone did ask me about it, I'd be forced to give my honest opinion and I'd most likely end up scaring them away from the event.

I did run across excited newblets once while doing VWNMs when those were popular, so I do see where you're coming from. I just don't see it happening now no matter what systems they add. It's too little too late.

[Spiritreaver]

Screw another server merger, i got enough fun from kujata morons on my server, if that happens ill be takin my happy ass to 14, which at the moment is a much better game. This game died when abyssea ruined every bit of content that was alive at the time to appease casual gamers. Sorry to break it to you, but keeping casuals happy on a 10 year old game is an idiotic viewpoint.

That Abyssea 'ruined' content that came before it, is a telling commentary on said content. SE's reaction to the generally positive player reception of Abyssea-style content is telling also. As well as continually disheartening.

@the bold last sentence of the quote, that is completely backwards. As a business, you do not brush off the majority of your customers to satisfy a select minority. And you definitely don't do that when there is zero difference in what each group is paying into the company.

The HC players are gonna burn through content faster than the casual players. And after they are done lording over those 'lesser' player they leave for greener pastures. Who is left still paying that monthly and proping up FFXI's revenue-stream then? Exactly.

And as to going to 14...are you insane? I mean you have seen firsthand what SE will do when they no longer give a care about an MMO property in their control, and you'd let them have the chance to do it to you again?

[Insaniac]

Attributing any kind of ulterior motives to the VW design process is foolish. VW and every event we have gotten since are the result of an extremely limited budget, a skeleton crew dev team, and a circa 2001 mmo design ideal.

[Vivivivi]

Camiie, no I agree with you that's the current situation, I was just pointing out that if SE got XI in front of, say, the iTunes audience, there would be an influx of new players, at least to check it out, and VNMs and VW might be a hook to get them to stay ^^

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

I have a feeling if this new "hardware" that was mentioned around the new year is a new platform,

In b4 new Hori clock.

[Damane]

the issue is there and it needs adressing. It has come to the point where you blatantly cant even do the new content due to lack of people via shouts (VW for example). I'm hopeing for a major annaouncement on the vanafest, but I wont hold my breath. The game is dying faster then expected.

[Kagetachi]

My thoughts on while the population is going elsewhere is because the FFXI team and Square Enix do not want to share their plans for future expansion beyond what we are getting soon. Supposedly they are working on another Expansion but no to little information has been brought to light. It's hard for people to stick around when they have done everything they want to do. IMO tho, the story in this game was far from concluded.