What would make you return to ffxi? (if you left and came back for the free access)

[Castanica]

I left (again) 2 months ago. I came back for the free access this time again but I can't see myself playing very much this time, because I have no intention of re-subbing considering what I'll be paying for (a game with a death sentence).

So my question is this, if you did come back what would make you want to stay? These free access fortnights are an obvious lure, but if the line isn't strong enough they won't be reeling in much money from them.

For me, I would want either continued full development (Yoshida even said that the key to longevity for an mmo is CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT), a very cheap sub or free access system with a cash shop selling cosmetics. I like my waifu, yes I would buy outfits to dress her up! the point is, either I'm paying for good updates on a game with a long-life or I'm paying for cosmetics. I ain't paying for nothing because you think we are suckers.

These very regular free access fortnights show that they still want XI players money, they just don't know how to make us stay and/or don't want to spend any money to that end.

Money to me is of little concern, I'm playing a f2p game right now. I spent well over £200 last month on it buying outfits for my characters, I still refuse to pay £12 sub for a game in the state XI is in. Mainly, it's the principle.

The idea of Rhapsodies was a spectacular flop imo, it did far more damage than good to this game. when you say you want to end the game with a spectacular ending, you still just said ending.

Make me want to stay Square, I still have the desire to play it but you need to offer a better deal than you are offering right now.

I know what the player numbers are like on this game now, so more agree with this mindset than you obviously assumed would. Do something about it before it's too late.

[Obysuca]

Tbh, one of the things that'd make me stay is mostly about players. It feels like people do content once and never again. I've come back for this free access and the last one and loved XI, even resubbed after the 1st one, but then I realize, unless the 2 friends I have that still play are on, there really isn't much to do, especially when theres 0 shouts (unless you can speak JP) and even if you shout for things, no one's interested.

I'd love to get back into XI and do some of the new content, but I've been cockatrice blocked because no one has a reason to redo the older delve or vagary, so I can't get the stuff to be able to do the new content (missing every hit is not fun). It feels like somewhere in the last few years, SE went from "make all content relevant so people continue to do it" to XIV's concept of "make content that's throwaway so if you missed it, you're out of luck". Which is pretty sad and is a horrible way to get/keep players.

I'd say after November, you'd think XIV could support XI so we could still get some sort of content, considering XI supported XIV for however many years, but then again, XIV's not doing as well as people think, so I guess that's not an option. Just seems kind of cheap to charge $13 a month still when they have no plans to add anymore content after November. SE pretty much killed XI themselves by saying that, because I know a lot of people who won't come back due to no more updates but still being charged.

It won't happen, but what would really draw me back to XI is if it was still how it was back in the day. When you always had stuff to do and people to do stuff with, even if it was just lvling a job to 75.

[Ulth]

I've actually told SE the reason why I still play FFXI in a survey they wanted me to fill out after dealing with their customer service. The reason I still play is because I have friends who play. That being said a lot of the fun of this game is playing it with your friends. However when any of my friends who don't play it ask if I recommend it I tell them I don't, and the subscription fee is too high. I would love for them to be on the game so we could play together, but I don't feel right roping them into an addiction that costs 13 bucks a month.

[Midnitdragoon]

To me is always been about the community and people. It's what made ff11 so great. The issue in having nowadays is that with trusts ppl just want to solo everything. Don't get me wrong... Trust are a wonderful addition to the game but just feel that it's making ppl antisocial.
Lots of my friends would love to give ff11 try but they always ask when or if there will be a graphics update to the game. They'd love to play if the graphics had the next gen feel.

[Draylo-]

What would make them return is a higher population and for the game to be popular again, which is very unlikely to happen. People like to place the blame on Abyssea or Adoulin or Insert thing I don't like here, but its a lot more complicated than that. It's an old game and one that its Developers didn't care to invest in its future. People like to play things that are popular to fit in, when something is unpopular you get the effect we see now where anytime FFXI is brought up its constantly bashed (check out the Facebook page for FFXI and any youtube videos.) Sad fact is that SE could have prevented their so called "PS2 Dev kit" situation but they didn't. They are banking on all they need is FFXIV and they and putting off FFXI onto Nexon for their mobile POS. Unfortunately, its way past the time to salvage anything unless they do go back on their word and say they are planning to continue updates. They have the money and the resources but its all up to them.

[Stompa]

I paid subs every month since 2004, with the exception of the months when SEAMS was having payment problems and not accepting my money, those are the only months I did not pay for FFXI in eleven years.

I don't want or need discounts, I am happy paying the full subs. I love the world of Vanadiel, and FFXI is the best computergame I've ever played in my life. When I pay the FFXI subs it is my submission of respect to the game. It is the same as if a workman does a great job re-bricking a wall in my house, and he charges me a low rate, I will pay him extra and add a substantial tip if I think he did a good job and behaved professionally. If a product or service is good, it deserves to be paid for. The subs we pay for FFXI are keeping the game alive, so if you love FFXI it makes sense to keep paying for it.

I am staying because my heart is in Vanadiel. My life would not be the same at all if I couldn't see my Tarutaru, my automaton, and my pet mog-garden sheep, Rameses. When I finish work every day, I look forward to logging into Vanadiel, chatting with my in-game friends, pwning some monsters and doing some fishing. This is part of my daily life for over a decade, and I would miss Vanadiel terribly if I couldn't go there anymore. That is why I am happy paying subs every month, so that I can continue to log-in and have fun with my friends in the world that I love.

[Castanica]

I paid subs every month since 2004, with the exception of the months when SEAMS was having payment problems and not accepting my money, those are the only months I did not pay for FFXI in eleven years.

I don't want or need discounts, I am happy paying the full subs. I love the world of Vanadiel, and FFXI is the best computergame I've ever played in my life. When I pay the FFXI subs it is my submission of respect to the game. It is the same as if a workman does a great job re-bricking a wall in my house, and he charges me a low rate, I will pay him extra and add a substantial tip if I think he did a good job and behaved professionally. If a product or service is good, it deserves to be paid for. The subs we pay for FFXI are keeping the game alive, so if you love FFXI it makes sense to keep paying for it.

I am staying because my heart is in Vanadiel. My life would not be the same at all if I couldn't see my Tarutaru, my automaton, and my pet mog-garden sheep, Rameses. When I finish work every day, I look forward to logging into Vanadiel, chatting with my in-game friends, pwning some monsters and doing some fishing. This is part of my daily life for over a decade, and I would miss Vanadiel terribly if I couldn't go there anymore. That is why I am happy paying subs every month, so that I can continue to log-in and have fun with my friends in the world that I love.

I'm glad you're happy but you didn't read the topic title.

[Stompa]

I'm glad you're happy but you didn't read the topic title.

I did read it, and I tried to reply in the only way I could. I never quit the game, I was unable to play for a while during C&B era etc. and I came back as soon as I could and I was actually very happy that my money was being accepted in the SEAMS payment page.

Your post is basically talking about what would make a person stay in the game, if they came back, what would make them pay to play the game. I replied to that, as it applies to me, I am staying because I love playing FFXI, and I don't mind paying the subs, so the free trial doesn't matter to me. I'm sorry if I didn't make that clear in my last post.

I have said before, in one of these previous identical threads, I agree with a slight lowering of subs in 2016 and beyond, as there is no new content, it makes sense to lower the subs slightly, or at least restore the XI/14 bundle offer. Although that wouldn't affect me, as I don't play 14.

And also I'm able to afford normal monthly FFXI subs as they are not expensive, and for the monthly subs I get many, many hours of happy and thrilling gaming. So I don't see the "free play" as important to me personally, I think FFXI subs are good value, for such an awesome game.

[Alhanelem]

I would return on a more permanent basis if they either reduced the sub fee (seeing as content updates are going to stop), or reinstated the FFXI+FFXIV discount. It's a money thing for me, nothing else.

[Ulth]

Group discount wouldn't hurt either. Lots of people play with their family.