@SquareEnix: Kickstarter campaign to get a graphic upgrade?

[Emdief]

I'm sorry if this has already been asked, but as a returning player I was wondering if this was actually a possibility.
I'm an editor for the italian videogames' press, and I'm in touch with several journalists and editors who would help to spread the word across the web. Is there any chance the community could help SE to re-do FFXI graphics or at least release some serious texture pack?
Beside console users, I believe a graphic boost would help a lot in terms of visibility and it could be a way to get new players into the game. I understand the game doesn't have many players online anymore, but letting the game slowly die wouldn't make much sense, if the company can still get some money out of it.
Can you guys discuss about how much money you would need to make some kind of texture pack? Or maybe release some tools for the community to start working on it?
Epic Games is doing a wonderful job with the new Unreal Tournament by working together with the community, and I believe we could help as well if you would allow us to.
I'm sure many of the players would pay to get a graphic boost in FFXI, and Kickstarter is a beautiful way to get things done nowadays. Please consider this possibility SE, the community would most likely assist you guys.

[Raydeus]

Personally I'd like an HD texture pack and a serious PC optimization (DX11/12 and maybe mantle and Open GL support) of the client. Things like a reworked UI that looked the same but had a much quicker response (at times it can take more than a few seconds to get the macro pallet to show up and be able to press macros for instance) and much longer draw distance that actually worked among many others.

Other than that the game looks good to me the way it is now, which is pretty awesome considering how old the game is and how it can still hold it's ground against many newer games that look flashy but have crappy models and style in comparison.

Either way a Kickstarter would be a great way to see how viable it would be for SE to invest in these things. We've talked about it in other threads before, but it has never been more than idle chatter.

[Sixtythree]

FFXI is in dire need of optimization for modern PC's. The performance of this game on modern hardware is pretty bad.

[Zarchery]

Square Enix is a rather large international corporation. Not some individual or fledgling startup. Kickstarter seems out of place.

[Raydeus]

Square Enix is a rather large international corporation. Not some individual or fledgling startup. Kickstarter seems out of place.

Not really, Kickstarter and others like it may have been popularized by indies, but in the end it isn't that different from all the market studies companies make all the time. The only difference is that here all the cost will be passed onto the costumer, so there will be zero risk involved for SE. If the kickstarter failed they can just shelve the idea and move on, and if it does succeed they will just have to deliver the improvements we'll be paying for in advance.

Many companies are actually starting to seriously consider Kickstarters and the sort for this very reason, zero risk for you as a company and some good potential for an easy profit on a success.

All Square needs to do is set a minimum goal that would make it worth it for them, then set additional goals for any extra money they obtain to fulfill other player requests. No matter how you look at it this would be way safer than something like Adoulin was, and it could potentially be far more successful and profitable for them.

If they can adapt their ways to work with the idea that is.

[Emdief]

Not really, Kickstarter and others like it may have been popularized by indies, but in the end it isn't that different from all the market studies companies make all the time. The only difference is that here all the cost will be passed onto the costumer, so there will be zero risk involved for SE. If the kickstarter failed they can just shelve the idea and move on, and if it does succeed they will just have to deliver the improvements we'll be paying for in advance.

Many companies are actually starting to seriously consider Kickstarters and the sort for this very reason, zero risk for you as a company and some good potential for an easy profit on a success.

All Square needs to do is set a minimum goal that would make it worth it for them, then set additional goals for any extra money they obtain to fulfill other player requests. No matter how you look at it this would be way safer than something like Adoulin was, and it could potentially be far more successful and profitable for them.

If they can adapt their ways to work with the idea that is.

Agreed, basically it would be a way to see if people are actually interested in spending money for a graphic upgrade. That being said, FFXI has a lot of maps and areas, and obviously it would take some time and money. To be honest I wouldn't mind spending another 60 euro for the game, if it was to get an up to date product. They should just discuss about it within the staff, and decide how much money they'd need to make it profitable for them. Then it would be up to us entirely.

[Damane]

Not really, Kickstarter and others like it may have been popularized by indies, but in the end it isn't that different from all the market studies companies make all the time. The only difference is that here all the cost will be passed onto the costumer, so there will be zero risk involved for SE. If the kickstarter failed they can just shelve the idea and move on, and if it does succeed they will just have to deliver the improvements we'll be paying for in advance.

Many companies are actually starting to seriously consider Kickstarters and the sort for this very reason, zero risk for you as a company and some good potential for an easy profit on a success.

All Square needs to do is set a minimum goal that would make it worth it for them, then set additional goals for any extra money they obtain to fulfill other player requests. No matter how you look at it this would be way safer than something like Adoulin was, and it could potentially be far more successful and profitable for them.

If they can adapt their ways to work with the idea that is.

SE doesnt have any interest in revamping FFXI, FFXI made them a shitton of money, which went towards FFXIV instead of revamping FFXI to some degree mostly. I would like a revamp, but honestly, they have milked the FFXI base enough the last 4 years in order to make FFXIV a success.

[Raydeus]

SE doesnt have any interest in revamping FFXI, FFXI made them a shitton of money, which went towards FFXIV instead of revamping FFXI to some degree mostly. I would like a revamp, but honestly, they have milked the FFXI base enough the last 4 years in order to make FFXIV a success.

You are right XI was sacrificed in order to make XIV "succeed" (although that success still remains in question long term considering how disposable content is in that game), but SE isn't allergic to money either. So if XI could still make money for them and players were willing to pay for the upgrade they have no reason to say no to that extra profit.

Snip

Most of what you say is precisely why a Kickstarter would be the best option for something like this.

Although personally I wouldn't want a change in models at all, just hi-res textures and a client upgrade (like I said DX11/12 support, Open GL and maybe Mantle for a stretch goal) that was completely focused on optimizations for PC. The performance gains the game would get would far surpass the extra requirements better textures would need so it would actually allow weaker PCs to run it much better. But gameplaywise nothing would/should change.

[Vasch]

I don't honestly care to have the graphics redone, but an HD texture pack would be sweet, even if it just affected characters.

[Ritsuka]

You are right XI was sacrificed in order to make XIV "succeed" (although that success still remains in question long term considering how disposable content is in that game), but SE isn't allergic to money either. So if XI could still make money for them and players were willing to pay for the upgrade they have no reason to say no to that extra profit.





Most of what you say is precisely why a Kickstarter would be the best option for something like this.

Although personally I wouldn't want a change in models at all, just hi-res textures and a client upgrade (like I said DX11/12 support, Open GL and maybe Mantle for a stretch goal) that was completely focused on optimizations for PC. The performance gains the game would get would far surpass the extra requirements better textures would need so it would actually allow weaker PCs to run it much better. But gameplaywise nothing would/should change.

They wont do it cuz they don't wanna block out there Japanese player base most still play on ps2. This game was made for ps2 no PC everything forgets that.