Classic Server

[PlumbGame]

I agree there has been some quality of life improvements to the game which have definitely been welcomed, but nothing that would be detrimental for me in terms of playing on a classic server.

[Alhanelem]

you're just experiencing nostalgia fever. Even with such a server, you'll go back and play it and discover its just not the same as when you did it all the first time.

The only thing I want from 2009 or earlier is the server player counts. I don't want to go back to waiting hours for a 6 man party to gain EXP etc while idling in town most of the time. At least now if I want to do something I can usually just go do it.

The reasons that put me off from playing now are not the content design or anything, but rather simply the fact that they don't seem to be willing to do certain things to improve and polish the game systems, and when they do try to do something, they keep going about it the wrong way. That plus the 23458345 "we have no plans to do this" posts.

I'm not really even sure if this suggestion is even possible. It assumes that they still have the game code/assets/data from the game in a state from several years ago. I actually highly doubt they've retained that.

Well for one, I imagine a lot of people who want this kind of server haven't even stuck around to notice your improvements. I personally don't consider most of them improvements, such as your quick travel. Sure, for you maybe you don't care about it at this point but I never hated the travel and actually enjoyed it from time to time

There are tons of improvements. Things like showing the price history when you're listing items makes a huge difference and saves time that I could be spending killing evil monsters and doing quests etc. And having more travel options doesn't prevent you from traveling the old fashioned way if you want.

Also, if the people who want this kind of server haven't stuck around to notice these improvements, that raises an important question: Why didn't they stick around? If they left before all this new stuff, then there were problems with the game, which you want to go back to, that made them leave. I have thousands and thousands of hours of game play time. a HUGE chunk of it was spent doing nothing but waiting. That combined with people hating the jobs I enjoyed playing made me almost quit several times, long before abyssea, WOTG or Audolin ever came along.

The reason there are fewer players around now really just boils down to the fact that this is a really old game at this point. Many people have had their fun, came and gone. In many cases, it's the friendships made that keep the current people playing, they're here to socialize. It really has little to do with how much "better" or "worse" you feel the game has become in the last several years. Honestly, I think there are a lot of good things about the game right now, the only reason I've not held a continuous subscription recently is ismply because after 10+ years, I have a ton of games I want to play and I just moved on. It's not because i don't like the game now or liked it more years ago.

[nekrothing]

you're just experiencing nostalgia fever. Even with such a server, you'll go back and play it and discover its just not the same as when you did it all the first time.

Your line of reasoning is based on what, exactly?

"Nostalgia" is an excuse that gets thrown around commonly, but the only ones being influenced by "nostalgia" are the ones exaggerating about how awful the game used to be with hyperbole.

I don't want to go back to waiting hours for a 6 man party to gain EXP etc while idling in town most of the time. At least now if I want to do something I can usually just go do it.

Okay...? Then you don't have to. We're not asking for every server to be reverted back to the way they were. We're asking for the inclusion of a single classic server for those that want it.

If you're having fun with the way the game currently plays, then kudos. Enjoy the main servers. But why deny a classic server for those that prefer the way the game used to be played, when it's not going to impede your enjoyment of the game at all?

Look at the success of the Lineage 2 classic servers. They're currently the most populated servers in the game, and it's helped improve Lineage 2's overall development and longevity. What if this game was able to share that same success?

Also, if the people who want this kind of server haven't stuck around to notice these improvements, that raises an important question: Why didn't they stick around?

I can only speak for myself, but I disagreed with the direction the game was heading in. I played until Abyssea was released, and then stopped. Up until that point, I was enjoying myself. I'm pretty sure the others feel the same way, but I won't speak on their behalf.

I can only say that before Abyssea came along, this game's population was at its highest point, and then it began to decline after it was released.

[PlumbGame]

you're just experiencing nostalgia fever. Even with such a server, you'll go back and play it and discover its just not the same as when you did it all the first time.

The only thing I want from 2009 or earlier is the server player counts. I don't want to go back to waiting hours for a 6 man party to gain EXP etc while idling in town most of the time. At least now if I want to do something I can usually just go do it.

The reasons that put me off from playing now are not the content design or anything, but rather simply the fact that they don't seem to be willing to do certain things to improve and polish the game systems, and when they do try to do something, they keep going about it the wrong way. That plus the 23458345 "we have no plans to do this" posts.

I'm not really even sure if this suggestion is even possible. It assumes that they still have the game code/assets/data from the game in a state from several years ago. I actually highly doubt they've retained that.

There are tons of improvements. Things like showing the price history when you're listing items makes a huge difference and saves time that I could be spending killing evil monsters and doing quests etc. And having more travel options doesn't prevent you from traveling the old fashioned way if you want.

Also, if the people who want this kind of server haven't stuck around to notice these improvements, that raises an important question: Why didn't they stick around? If they left before all this new stuff, then there were problems with the game, which you want to go back to, that made them leave. I have thousands and thousands of hours of game play time. a HUGE chunk of it was spent doing nothing but waiting. That combined with people hating the jobs I enjoyed playing made me almost quit several times, long before abyssea, WOTG or Audolin ever came along.

The reason there are fewer players around now really just boils down to the fact that this is a really old game at this point. Many people have had their fun, came and gone. In many cases, it's the friendships made that keep the current people playing, they're here to socialize. It really has little to do with how much "better" or "worse" you feel the game has become in the last several years. Honestly, I think there are a lot of good things about the game right now, the only reason I've not held a continuous subscription recently is ismply because after 10+ years, I have a ton of games I want to play and I just moved on. It's not because i don't like the game now or liked it more years ago.

Yeah you are right. Thank you for telling us how we feel. Without you I have no idea how my life would go on.

Gullibleness aside really assuming you think they haven't backed up anything let alone being able to recreate anything. You completely misinterpreted the said person you quoted. They said that comment to imply that a lot of players that want the classic experience haven't experienced any of the new quality of life improvements making it a moot point for someone wanting to play this era.

You also try to validate your argument by implying that all quality of life changes that currently exist in the game have been there since said era that players want. When that is completely fabricated and not true at all. Better yet, you don't even know what said problems are that you are referring to. Said quality of life improvements COULD be the reason players quit.

To your last paragraph, that is one reason these servers could prove successful, and why many of the people for them have posted examples of other companies doing such things and them being successful, so people can re-experience the game at a point they felt it wasn't too "old" or "boring".

You yourself admit to not even having an active subscription at this time, also negating any real opinion you have since I can just assume you have no idea what you are saying about current FFXI. I also do know you have moved on because I have had the pleasure of fixing your mistakes or misinformation and just general fail on FFXIV.

[Alhanelem]

Okay...? Then you don't have to. We're not asking for every server to be reverted back to the way they were.

Unless everyone got on board with it, you'd have exactly the same problem that I had back in the day.

There just aren't enough like minded people to populate a server and not have the problem of waiting too long to be able to do something.

You also try to validate your argument by implying that all quality of life changes that currently exist in the game have been there since said era that players want. When that is completely fabricated and not true at all.

That's... not what I said at all? In fact, I was quite sure i said the exact opposite? that many QOL changes have been introduced since said era, not that they already existed before the end of it?

You yourself admit to not even having an active subscription at this time, also negating any real opinion you have since I can just assume you have no idea what you are saying about current FFXI.

Way to make assumptions and find excuses to invalidate my opinions. My opinions are my opinions, you can't just say something and invalidate them.

I played almost continuously up til just before the release of audolin. Even after audolin I've been playing on and off. CURRENTLY AT THIS PRESENT MOMENT i am not subscribed, but I am playing the free week and am playing as I write this.

Why are you so anxious to tear apart anyone who doesn't agree with the premise of the thread? How about you just let me and anyone else who might be in my position have their opinion and agree to disagree? How about base your criticisms on real issues rather than your judgement of my playtime?

To your last paragraph, that is one reason these servers could prove successful,

My las paragraph describes why they probably wouldn't be successful- Because the reasons that people are playing or not playing right now wouldn't be fixed by sending the game through a time machine.

Gullibleness aside really assuming you think they haven't backed up anything let alone being able to recreate anything.

I wouldn't be so sure about this. Even in FFXIV they apparently don't keep some of their data very long (when "Savage" version of Second Coil of Bahamut was released, people asked if they'd do it for the first one and the Producer said that he wasn't sure if they still had the original data from when coil was being developed). Even if they did, it would be no simple matter to introduce a server like this. It would take development resources and would slow down progress on updates for the current game. You're basically asking them to have two development branches- and unless the "old server" branch gets some kind of updates and new content, you're going to get bored with it eventually. So lets say they do make new content for the old version- now we have fewer resources spread across two development branches. I really don't see how this is feasable, even if playing devil's advocate and regarding this idea as more popular than I think it is.

I don't feel like this idea is realistically doable by the development team, even if I did want it. It would come at the expense of all the people currently playing the current game.

[PlumbGame]

Unless everyone got on board with it, you'd have exactly the same problem that I had back in the day.

There just aren't enough like minded people to populate a server and not have the problem of waiting too long to be able to do something.

That's... not what I said at all? In fact, I was quite sure i said the exact opposite? that many QOL changes have been introduced since said era, not that they already existed before the end of it?

Way to make assumptions and find excuses to invalidate my opinions. My opinions are my opinions, you can't just say something and invalidate them.

I played almost continuously up til just before the release of audolin. Even after audolin I've been playing on and off. CURRENTLY AT THIS PRESENT MOMENT i am not subscribed, but I am playing the free week and am playing as I write this.

Why are you so anxious to tear apart anyone who doesn't agree with the premise of the thread? How about you just let me and anyone else who might be in my position have their opinion and agree to disagree?

My las paragraph describes why they probably wouldn't be successful- Because the reasons that people are playing or not playing right now wouldn't be fixed by sending the game through a time machine.

Just like to make sure people aren't swayed based off misinformation if someone came in here maybe wondering if this was a good or bad idea and where people stand. I've had lovely discussions with many people for and against. I would expect people to point out where I'm wrong also, just like people have, and I have to others responses, and start a debate on an issue that could be presented as a valid issue with these server, and some have been brought up. Your comments have already been brought up not only several times, but you are just plainly either misinformed, or giving misinformation. I'm a bit biased towards your comments though because I have seen you here and there in both games and the crap you post, (and even had to deal with personal attacks from you in tells back in the days when I said you were wrong in a shout about the pvp info you were preaching) so although my post wasn't intended to be blunt except the very last sentence, I can see how it would come off that way.

[Alhanelem]

Your comments have already been brought up not only several times, but you are just plainly either misinformed, or giving misinformation.

I'm not "misinformed," nor am I giving misinformation. I am sharing my opinion on a forum topic, nothing more.

You aren't even on my server, I don't know who you are, and I've never made personal attacks against you (nor have I ever intentionally made personal attacks on anyone in general- I'm very defensive [a personality flaw I wholly admit to] and pretty much every negative thing ive ever said about anyone has been a defensive reaction to an attack against me)

So how about we just drop the personal biases for one moment and try treating each other respectfully? Your previous post (above this one you made) came off as extremely condecending.

I can only say that before Abyssea came along, this game's population was at its highest point, and then it began to decline after it was released.

FFXI's population peak was a few years after it's release. Not right before abyssea by a long shot. Just like any game, the population will gradually decline over time as fewer new players come in (because they're off playing whatver latest new game comes along). No MMO or other is excempt from this.

[nekrothing]

Unless everyone got on board with it, you'd have exactly the same problem that I had back in the day.

There just aren't enough like minded people to populate a server and not have the problem of waiting too long to be able to do something.

Again I'll ask... your line of reasoning is based on what, exactly? Rather than basing your reasoning on evidence or research, your feelings are dictating your assumptions. I've already mentioned this before, but more people are in favor of the idea than against it, both in this thread and the other one.

[PlumbGame]

I'm not "misinformed," nor am I giving misinformation.

You aren't even on my server, I don't know who you are, and I've never made personal attacks against you (nor have I ever intentionally made personal attacks on anyone in general- I'm very defensive [a personality flaw I wholly admit to] and pretty much every negative thing ive ever said about anyone has been a defensive reaction to an attack against me)

So how about we just drop the personal biases for one moment and try treating each other respectfully?

Just cause my character name is Dravidian here, doesn't mean it is that in FFXIV. I'm not personally attacking you, I'm pointing out that I quote people like you to fix any misinformation being present. You seem to be taking it personal like you would think everyone just agrees with you or no one would ever point out you are wrong. Just because I'm using other stuff to validate you being wrong, doesn't mean I don't respect you. It's part of removing any credibility.

[Alhanelem]

I've already mentioned this before, but more people are in favor of the idea than against it, both in this thread and the other one.

You're making just as many assumptions. Only a handful of people that play the game read and post on the forums. Just because some people post in your thread and like your idea does not mean everyone does. You also really can't speak for anyone who hasn't played the game in years as they might not read this forum either, nor can they post on it to say whether or not they want it.

I'm pointing out that I quote people like you to fix any misinformation being present.

It only seems to be misinformation if it doesn't paint your idea in the brightest light. I'm not saying this to be mean, but that's the impression I get based on how passionately you react to criticism of the idea.

Please correct my "misinformation" when you've conducted an extensive scientific survey consisting of a meaningful percentage of the current playerbase. Until then you can't just discredit me by saying I'm relying on assumptions, because you don't have a lot of data yet you act like you have all the information.

I do appriciate you being more respectful. Please understand that while I may not be backing your idea I do not intend any hostility and I do respect your position even if I don't agree.