FFXI is the most atmospheric, well-written, and unique computer-game of all time.

[Jordache]

. . . because they seem to be struggling to create something successful and popular these days.

PS2 limitations *ARE* the industrial standards of FFXI; too many firms forget this (or don't know it) and lose everything when they get lost in the digital age.

The digital age needs to be grounded in hardware because hardware manufacture (i.e., physical products) forces the company to value money physically. This is a HUGE mindset point to consider in terms of how a product is *going* to be developed, so much so that the situation is actually "make and break" without a physical product in mind at the beginning of a new studio's founding. The massive layoff and game industry quality drop since 2013 are exactly the result of this: a technological capability to have microtransactions, patches, DLC, and everything else without actually being tied to a physical edition of a game, meaning: the perfectionism of the studios that developed since 2012-13 have never existed; the quality constraint demanded of a perfected and finished product were removed with a larger internet user base, FFXIV was the example of that both bad, better, and best.

Today: the wider games industry has just finished the bad of FFXIV's lessons in leadership, and are entering the better phase; they've failed too much for too long to do it any other way, and now they have financial-, and every other type of- proof. They're creating FFXIV: Realm Reborn now.

There are too many instances of post-purchase modifications ruining and upsetting everyone on the PlayStation digital market place, myself included. Say, "NO" to post-purchase modifications of digital software, buy a physical copy. The game industry has lost tens of thousands of jobs because the firms developing are developing for a digital marketplace product, harshly said: these products are of poor quality. And then: after you buy the digital version of the game, they [the publishers] modify it to a point wherein it is no longer the item purchased. An MMO is different, and everyone wants a game like FFXI, but they're not building one. The post-purchase modifications are actually illegal under the national commodity and anti-trust laws perspectives, not the T.O.S.. The situation is like buying a cheeseburger or carrot, then having someone remove the cheese after you paid money for the cheeseburger (item): the product is not in the state of purchase, nor is it expected to be altered like with an MMO. You know post-purchase modifications are illegal because if I modified the game files and tried to return the game it would not be acceptable to issue a refund because: the game is not in the same state (condition) as it was sold in, it is not re-sellable.

Anyway:

What my time in medical devices (real life job) and gaming have taught me is that all of the software in the world becomes extremely convenient to patch in real time, so there is actually an incentive to be lazy and defer diligence to quality without a physical product being manufactured.

It is the challenge of manufacturing *for* a physical product like the CD jewel cases of FFVIII that forces a company to think correctly in terms of how their money and time are spent, and most importantly: not wasted. Square-Enix is a company that has a very strong base for physical product development and manufacture, FFXI exists with at least four (4) pieces of physical hardware: a PS2; a PS2 HDD; the game CDs and cases proper; and the SE login token. Then you have to figure in international shipping for a worldwide simultaneous release date. And then: you have to do it circa 2002-3.

You don't make mistakes, you make money; that's what Square-Enix taught me. I modeled my medical devices company after the lessons I learned from participating with Square-Enix and FFXI over the past 20 years.

And that's how I know that the other people are: doing it wrong. '-')-b

[Jordache]

. . . I do not understand what is going on in SE.

They keep doing the same things, and it keeps hurting their finances, and reputation.

This is a very: Japanese pachinko parlor operator mentality of: if it's not broke don't fix it. Nothing will change until the stockholder / investment level is affected, which is how and why revenue and sales are uncoupled from a normalized business model: they actually do not make sense any longer. You're in space-level technology corporations now; they're international (dare I say be interplanetary) and the question you should be asking yourself is the difference in price between a FFXI-Gil and a FFXIV-Gil on the NYSE.

[Jordache]

and simple enough for my imagination to run riot and build my own impressions, adding my own details from my own memory.

*This* ungodly and undoubtedly *this*.

The totality of game development ethos isn't about graphics, it's about everything else besides graphics: how all of the other game's systems have to compensate for the graphics which make it ~better~ overall. It's the love that goes missing because everyone is pushing for graphics like mindless zombie robots instead of artstyle, music, mechanics, AND imagination. You absolutely killed it with: the imagination call there.

I. Can't. Use. MY. Imagination. with perfect graphics.

I can't get that same personal feeling of success from games like FFXVI because they're a moss and rock photography simulator (a good one mind you), but they are mentally exhausting, and not enjoyable. And don't get me started about that Final Fantasy mode they pulled: 120 hours later I have to replay your stupid game just to be able to play the game that I wanted to play.

And why can't I use my own name in SE games anymore? That's where half the fun comes from! I don't like being Clive or Noctus, I want the opportunity to be MYSELF. If i'm good enough for the real world then I'm good enough for your fantasy. AHAHHA

[Jordache]

. . . and I was level 1 so leveling was very difficult, let alone completing missions solo. (Pre-trusts and pre-RoV.)

That's ok, that's how everyone else did it from 2003-2013: very difficult. You'd be surprised how well adapted you are.

[Jordache]

I would also like to touch on this further.

I believe FFXI went too far into "the right field" on this aspect of the game.

Clearly making leveling and main scenario missions so difficult that they cannot be completed solo, creates a nearly impossible situation for players joining the game years down the road.

My personal opinion, with FFXIV for example, went far too far into "the left field" by making the leveling and "MSQ" experience mind-numbingly easy.

I personally believe its extremely easy to strike that perfect balance.

Creating an experience where at release the players are well distributed, the enemies are challenging while in a party, and people who want to play solo still can, and both ways feeling "efficient" to the player/s.

I enjoy imagining a world where FFXIV retained its 25+ million players, and where FFXI is thriving with tens of millions of players as well, but I know what Final Fantasy players imagine, and what SE ends up doing is rarely the same. (My opinion of course.)

You never shouted for help once did you[?], lol ahahahaha.

[Jordache]

I am quite a small lady, and so my Tarutaru girl feels the most automatic and responsive. My reflex-time, hand-eye co-ordination, is much faster on a Taru girl, than it is on a Galka male. Simply because it takes my brain a micro-second longer to realise that the character is supposed to be me.

I highly suggest making a character with your own real life name, I think you would really enjoy it. A lot of people at release could not do this because of a popular name being taken like Michael, or Sephiroth. I've been using my name for my whole life.

[Alhanelem]

I highly suggest making a character with your own real life name, I think you would really enjoy it. A lot of people at release could not do this because of a popular name being taken like Michael, or Sephiroth. I've been using my name for my whole life.

Most people don't use their real names on the internet wherever they don't have to because anonymity. The internet is like Vegas and nobody wants to take it back into the real world.

[Stompa]

*This* ungodly and undoubtedly *this*.

The totality of game development ethos isn't about graphics, it's about everything else besides graphics: how all of the other game's systems have to compensate for the graphics which make it ~better~ overall. It's the love that goes missing because everyone is pushing for graphics like mindless zombie robots instead of artstyle, music, mechanics, AND imagination. You absolutely killed it with: the imagination call there.

I. Can't. Use. MY. Imagination. with perfect graphics.

I can't get that same personal feeling of success from games like FFXVI because they're a moss and rock photography simulator (a good one mind you), but they are mentally exhausting, and not enjoyable. And don't get me started about that Final Fantasy mode they pulled: 120 hours later I have to replay your stupid game just to be able to play the game that I wanted to play.

And why can't I use my own name in SE games anymore? That's where half the fun comes from! I don't like being Clive or Noctus, I want the opportunity to be MYSELF. If i'm good enough for the real world then I'm good enough for your fantasy. AHAHHA

Thank you for your replies, I greatly enjoyed reading them.

Most modern games remind me of Stage Magicians. They use misdirection and Special Effects to dazzle the Audience. Meanwhile, there is no actual Magic, just a dramatic visual spectacle or drama.

So many modern games are like Hollywood movies too. You are going to a Movie Theater, you are an Audience. You are not a Participant.

Where this really shows clearly, is *The Lack Of Game-Skills Required* to play a modern game. When the game is just PEWPEWPEW, sure there's some thumb-strength required, but there isn't a lot of actual Game Skills / Reflexes / Rapid Plan-Changes / On-The-Spot strategy-shifts. It is just "look at how beautiful the graphics are, why would you need things like Unorthodox Party Builds, Kiting, Pinning, etc. Just mash the button and enjoy the Movie, like a good Audience Member.

I am not an Audience Member. I am a Gamer. I actually want to Participate, not just Watch.

Here's the thing. Young children, Primary-School age, even Toddlers, their happiest moments are when they ACHIEVE SOMETHING USING THEIR SKILLS. Sure it is nice to be given fancy toys, but if you want to see a child GLOWING WITH JOY, you let them use their Skills and Imagination to create something or achieve something. They will feel elated for days, after using their Skills to achieve something.

In FFXI, my happiest memories were NOT the times when I got Shiny Loot.

In FFXI, my happiest memories were when me and my friends played on our A-GAME as a team, seamlessly playing our Main Jobs to such high standards, we were so HIGH on the thrill of really shining and using our Game Skills at the total limit of possibility. When the NM dropped nothing just zero loot, we laughed, because we had just seen something Magical, true Alchemy, turning base materials called humans and keyboards, into GOLD, called astonishing Player Game-Skills and Teamwork.

I will take FFXI over any other game, because FFXI gives me so many opportunities to shine as a skilled Gamer. No amount of fancy shiny modern ultra-realistic graphics can ever compare to the rush of playing on my A-GAME.

[Jordache]

Most people don't use their real names on the internet wherever they don't have to because anonymity. The internet is like Vegas and nobody wants to take it back into the real world.

I know, that's why it works so well for me.

[Dihlyte]

You never shouted for help once did you[?], lol ahahahaha.

I’m not sure why you find this funny, but I spent a very large portion of my time online either struggling or begging for assistance, which was not exactly enjoyable.

I was in a LS, and repeatedly asked for help getting through certain areas, that I kept dying in, or for missions I couldn’t solo.

With extremely limited assistance, I eventually made it to level 99. I simply do not recall how far I originally got in missions, but I do not believe it was very far.

As far as specifically /shouting, or /yelling, I do not know how much I did this. Significantly less frequently than I asked my LS.

The only times I asked my LS, was when I tried something numerous times, and failed while solo.

I received help with someone killing a NM that was blocking a path, I got help with my first journey to Jeuno…. I cannot right now recall any other assistance.

Most of my leveling parties consisted of Gusgen Mines. A whole lot of Gusgen mines. On a good day, I found people leveling in Crawlers Nest or Bostaunieux Oubliette.

I had to effectively out level Bostaunieux Oubiette, and just stay there killing one Leech at a time with the book bonus, all the way to 99. Solo.

Again, not exactly thrilling.

The experience now, and freedom with trusts is substantially much more exciting and enjoyable.

(I did not have Abyssea. So this wasn’t an option.)