Quote Originally Posted by Miiyo View Post
I'm pretty sure that FFXI alone has generated enough funds that these "major financial losses" you speak of, are comparable to a commoner losing a dollar.
You'd think so, but that's because you're not taking into account operating cost. You're looking at the gross value, not the net value.
For them to be running FFXIV as an extended beta should say something about how much that "major financial loss" isn't as major as you'd think.
It's definitely a major cost. But the plan is that eventually FFXIV with its subscription costs will have a large gross income and will eventually net significant profits, as FFXI did and does. But the longer XIV remains free, the larger a hole it will have to dig itself out of.

Sure they want the games they produced to succeed and we are fortunate to be in an age that they are trying to communicate with us directly, but no one should get over their heads. They don't owe the players anything.
Agreed.