[Reminder] Are you ready to cry again? (2° Wave of Alpha invites tomorrow, 3 dec.)

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Originally Posted by Mug

I live in Norway, so I have the EU version with both games included. I'm still on the first game (around level 25 at the moment).

So both games are pretty much one game, just in two parts? I had a feeling when I started the game and it gave me two options; to either start the first game or the second one at lvl 35. Thought that was a bit weird :P

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Yep if it has both of them together then you're good.

I was just not in the mood when that game first came out... thanks to... Final Fantasy XIV!! JP version White Knight 1 came out right around when FFXIV Beta was going on if I remember correctly and I wasn't too happy with beta, complained so much about how much the game was lacking (can see all my complaints on The Lodestone blog post lol, in Japanese though)... So to cool off I played White Knight Chronicles...

We'll you'll see how 1st one will end, and just think how you would feel if you didn't get to play part 2 right away... lol
It just ends there... it's like... WAIT!?!?!? WHAT!?!?!? Why am I seeing the ending credits... WTF!!!??!?!? NO F...WAY!!
I still haven't had the chance to get pt 2 lol... seen it around in JP game stores but the used version still runs around $60-80 bucks.

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As for Xenoblade, looked at the game that was inside my drawer... it's PAL version lol... damn ebay... they showed JP cover saying JP version and was for $30 bucks so got it right away... then I found out it's not Japanese, didn't even check if it was NTSC-U or PAL... just noticed that now... haha... so now I have to go...*cough* my wii... :)

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Originally Posted by Reinheart

Yep if it has both of them together then you're good.

I was just not in the mood when that game first came out... thanks to... Final Fantasy XIV!! JP version White Knight 1 came out right around when FFXIV Beta was going on if I remember correctly and I wasn't too happy with beta, complained so much about how much the game was lacking (can see all my complaints on The Lodestone blog post lol, in Japanese though)... So to cool off I played White Knight Chronicles...

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I didn't much care for White Knight Chronicles... I hate the feeling of my character being an unimportant side character... why include character creation if your characters not important personally x_x

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Originally Posted by Andrien

Are there new episodes of Gaki no tsukai? Last series I watched was the Police station, Hospital games.

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Hi Andrien,

Did you see the Airport Batsu Game? ;) (and for New Year's Eve this year they're having a new epic Batsu Game as well.)

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Originally Posted by Soukyuu

Alpha is not a big deal anyway, most people are just bored and don't know how to waste their time (just look at the forums)

切腹　= seppuku, ritual suicide
腹切り = harakiri, "stomach cutting"

As my teacher explained it, when the Americans were translating this for the first time, the just took the 2 kanji and read them as if they were written as 2 words (the reading changes when 2 or more kanji are written together), so they read it as "harakiri" instead of "seppuku". Don't ask me how they managed to swap the kanji order, it's what I've been told. Fact is, no one corrected them (maybe they thought it was rude, maybe people didn't listen or maybe they were laughing about foreigners being too dumb to read), so it is now a legitimate word in English, but doesn't have a special meaning in Japanese (contrary to seppuku). There is a similar story about "kamikaze" too, but I don't remember what the correct reading was...

/JP trivia

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Hi Soukyuu,

Nice trivia, thanks. :) Don't forget about the newest mangling:

カラオケ Karaoke
OG Japanese Pronunciation = Kah-Rah-Oh-Keh
American Pronunciation = Ker-Ree-OH-Kee

:)

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Originally Posted by Reinheart

Did you finish the first one? or does the NA version include 1 and 2 together..
I really enjoyed the story on the first one and was so into it until I got to the ending on 1st one and was about to throw the PS3 out the window... really pissed me off how some recent games can't finish everything on one disk so they find excuses to release part 2, which should of been included in the first game.

I'm still trying to get my hands on Xenoblade JP version... I have English version inside my drawer at work but don't have the courage to try it out.... I don't think I can handle English voice overs on JRPG's... 'yet'

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Japanese voices are included in both the NA/EU version of the game. Mostly everyone sounds okay, but Reyn really hurts your ears sometimes. Whoever voices Dunban should get a reward.

Overall the EU voice acting is....meh. Dunban sounds great and some characters voices match well. However, hearing them all the time, especially in battle like Shulk and Reyn start getting really annoying.

It sounds more light hearted the voice actors, which is not too great because it isn't a light hearted game. They would work out wonderfully for Dragon Quest games though. >_>

I sometimes switch to the JP audio when I hear "Lets not lose our heads though!" or "Its Reyn time!" too much.

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Originally Posted by ShinigamiKayla

I didn't much care for White Knight Chronicles... I hate the feeling of my character being an unimportant side character... why include character creation if your characters not important personally x_x

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Hehe, yeah I hate how my character just stands there without saying anything. The other characters don't even acknowledge him at all. They look at him sometimes in cutscenes, but that's about it lol. I think the whole reason for the character creation thing was because of the online aspect of the game, though.

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Originally Posted by Reinheart

We'll you'll see how 1st one will end, and just think how you would feel if you didn't get to play part 2 right away... lol
It just ends there... it's like... WAIT!?!?!? WHAT!?!?!? Why am I seeing the ending credits... WTF!!!??!?!? NO F...WAY!!
I still haven't had the chance to get pt 2 lol... seen it around in JP game stores but the used version still runs around $60-80 bucks.

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Whoa, I got my copy dirt cheap, around 10 Euros. JRPG's don't really sell well here (apart from Final Fantasy games), which has its upsides =P

new tweet

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FINAL FANTASY XIV ‏@FF_XIV_EN

Another wave of Alpha Tester invites went out early this morning. Check your email! If not yet chosen, another selection takes place 12/6!

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So if not today, perhaps tomorrow, eh? ;)

湧くのが遅い orz

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Originally Posted by Zantetsuken

tweet just posted..

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THEY'RE ALL LIES !

Allah ho-Akbar.

I guess they saw our complaints =P

Well, you've made me into a liar, I do have another comment after from my previous post. (#402)

You talk a lot about throwing insult, but you keep doing it yourself in a passive-aggressive sort of way. Well, more just aggressive under the veil of "horrible company misstep that need to be pointed out so it never ever happens again or else."

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Originally Posted by Abriael

***SNIP***of course, without mentioning the fact that making a rule and then not honoring it in the face of your paying customers is a *very* bad marketing move.

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You keep coming back to it...

So if we take the reason they gave us here: http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/s...756#post906756 ... then your saying that even though they didn't get enough active applications with "specific types of machines, setups, connection types, ISPs, geographical locations and other configurations", they should have just gone ahead and tested under conditions they didn't believe were optimal? Or are you saying they should have delayed the alpha and asked our permission to change test participant pool so they could test they way they felt was best?

I mean it's either that, or you are saying they lied. In that case, why bother supporting them anymore?

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Originally Posted by Abriael

***SNIP*** There's a large number of people that just signs for every alpha/beta they see (there even are sites that list them all for their convenience) in order to have something new to play for a couple hours.

They log in, provide a warm body, log out, and never come back again, without providing any feedback at all.

By opening the alpha to everyone, SE opened the doors to a large number of those, excluding many that simply were much more deserving of the spot. Not a good idea.

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So again, "Not a good idea" to test under optimal configuraitons? or they lied? They have mentioned many times that they needed the "warm bodies" for the stress test. Over and over again they have mentioned limited participation in the alpha BECAUSE it's a stress test. Any feedback they get is a bonus, but it's the server preformance they are trying to gauge.

Your saying that they should have thrown that out, and made sure that less optimal "warm bodies" were there instead of what they needed. Why bother testing at all if they can't do it they way they think it needed to be done?

No, I'm not putting words in your mouth. That is the logical conclusion to the argument you are making. That... or again, they lied. You keep coming back to the "wrong" they did. So what wrong was it? Getting the testing they needed done at the inconvenience of some 1.0 customers? Or lying to all customers in an inept marketing ploy?

Personally, I think I have about as much reason to believe the "marketing ploy" argument as I do the "yanked alpha applications because of forum behavior" possibility.

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Originally Posted by Spectre

You talk a lot about throwing insult, but you keep doing it yourself in a passive-aggressive sort of way. Well, more just aggressive under the veil of "horrible company misstep that need to be pointed out so it never ever happens again or else."

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How is that an insult again?

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So if we take the reason they gave us here: http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/s...756#post906756 ... then your saying that even though they didn't get enough active applications with "specific types of machines, setups, connection types, ISPs, geographical locations and other configurations", they should have just gone ahead and tested under conditions they didn't believe were optimal? Or are you saying they should have delayed the alpha and asked our permission to change test participant pool so they could test they way they felt was best?

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If you think they couldn't have achieved exactly the same mix of "specific types of machines, setups, connection types, ISPs, geographical locations and other configurations" while keeping it only to active subscribers you're basically dreaming. It's statistically impossible.

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I mean it's either that, or you are saying they lied. In that case, why bother supporting them anymore?

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Putting aside the fact that companies lie through their teeth all the time, they stated clearly that only active accounts were eligible for the test, and then let in inactive accounts. That is, in itself, a lie. Unless, of course, we don't assume it's an oversight, which is probable.

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So again, "Not a good idea" to test under optimal configuraitons?

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You're continuing to bring up the theory that they HAD to include inactive accounts in order to achieve "optimal configurations", which they never said, and is honestly a rather laughable assumption.

And yes, you're putting words in my mouth. Your "logical conclusion" has nothing to do with logic, and is based on a metric ton of flawed assumptions.

didn't read the link did you? Here it is again, and highlighted.

That's exactly what they said.

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Originally Posted by Bayohne

Greetings everyone,

I know the alpha tester selection process is a hot topic, and while I cannot disclose the selection process, I do want to pass on some additional details to help you better understand the situation. To ensure a broad scope of testing for the Alpha Test, we did accept users with specific types of machines, setups, connection types, ISPs, geographical locations and other configurations that we need to test that may, or may not, meet every requirement on the application. Alpha is an important first step for testing and we need to make sure we have a wide breadth of users testing it.

We appreciate your understanding, and we look forward to further expanding our selection in the future. In fact, there are a few Yoshida posts that we're working on today that go into further detail on this.

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It's not a theory, it's a quote.

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Originally Posted by Spectre

didn't read the link did you? Here it is again, and highlighted.

That's exactly what they said.

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Well... SE it says that Alpha is only for NA, EU and JP, but i know some people from Uruguay (EU account) and Chile (NA account) that got an invite. So... i started to believe that is pretty random.

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Originally Posted by Spectre

didn't read the link did you? Here it is again, and highlighted.

That's exactly what they said.

It's not a theory, it's a quote.

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I did read it. And nowhere it says "we had to accept people that didn't have an active account". That snippet could be referring to anything and everything.

The little (actually enormous) flaw in your reasoning is that for most of the application period users with inactive accounts could not even apply. They would be bounced as soon as they logged in with an "your account is inactive, you can't apply" message.

Even assuming that the opening of the application to inactive accounts has been intentional (and it's a rather big assumption), when you do that kind of thing and change the rules you *need* to communicate it.

Not only because of the fact that active subscribers may rightfully feel cheated out of something that was initially reserved just to them, but also because a lot of inactive subscribers tried to apply initially, were bounced, and then obviously never retried, because no one actually told them that they could.

I have quite a few friends that tried to apply, got refused because their account was inactive, and never tried again. When they learned that other people with an inactive account got accepted, they obviously weren't anywhere happy about it.

Even assuming that your theory about them intentionally opening to inactive accounts is somewhat founded, their communication on the matter has been extremely lackluster, and when you deal with customers communication and transparency are always the key.

Doing this kind of things on the hush hush never works too well. If people notice, they won't be happy, and on the internet people *always* notice.

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Originally Posted by Zantetsuken

new tweet



So if not today, perhaps tomorrow, eh? ;)

湧くのが遅い orz

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So SE thought they would do a two-nighter disappointment combo on me? Neat.

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Originally Posted by Zantetsuken

new tweet



So if not today, perhaps tomorrow, eh? ;)

湧くのが遅い orz

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Originally Posted by Mug

I guess they saw our complaints =P

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Originally Posted by Velhart

So SE thought they would do a two-nighter disappointment combo on me? Neat.

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I said this on the other thread but: I am half-wondering if the date (6th) is a typo. They are suddenly going to deliver new accounts 3 days in a row? They've said Dec. 7 will be the next day on the JP twitter. They've said they will add new accounts "every two days". And if this is a new decision, wouldn't they say "another selection takes place tomorrow."

I'm over-analyzing. xD. I hope it's true.

Surprise! New wave of invites tomorrow!

https://twitter.com/FF_XIV_EN

Moar tears incoming xD !

http://gifs.gifbin.com/1237811334_cr...e-audience.gif

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Originally Posted by vax

Well... SE it says that Alpha is only for NA, EU and JP, but i know some people from Uruguay (EU account) and Chile (NA account) that got an invite. So... i started to believe that is pretty random.

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I don't think the person's actual address comes in to play here, just the type of account^^. Say for instance I had a Japanese account and I was living in Iceland (I know, nuts right?), I am pretty sure I'd be eligible for the Japanese Alpha based on my account type and not my place of residence.

I hope this makes sense!


Quick edit! - Due to time differences between Japan and the USA I wouldn't be surprised if we only saw one wave of invites as when the invites go out on say the 7th, it is still the 6th over here in the states. (Though I hope this is not the case! I would like to see more people get in that want to test!)

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Originally Posted by Nix

I don't think the person's actual address comes in to play here, just the type of account^^. Say for instance I had a Japanese account and I was living in Iceland (I know, nuts right?), I am pretty sure I'd be eligible for the Japanese Alpha based on my account type and not my place of residence.

I hope this makes sense!


Quick edit! - Due to time differences between Japan and the USA I wouldn't be surprised if we only saw one wave of invites as when the invites go out on say the 7th, it is still the 6th over here in the states. (Though I hope this is not the case! I would like to see more people get in that want to test!)

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Yes, i know now that is about the account, but if you look at the Bayohne post:

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To ensure a broad scope of testing for the Alpha Test, we did accept users with specific types of machines, setups, connection types, ISPs, geographical locations and other configurations that we need to test that may, or may not, meet every requirement on the application. Alpha is an important first step for testing and we need to make sure we have a wide breadth of users testing it.

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For SE, there are ocean down of North America, i don't think they want to look of countries from South America for the alpha, this is why i think it's a little random.

O.O!! WOOF?

So much difference lol

Sup QQers! Mod's on and the room's up! Click

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Originally Posted by Forgo

O.O!! WOOF?

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http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/...tennisball.jpg

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Originally Posted by Nix

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/...tennisball.jpg

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i like the ball..it makes sense..like pie...btw i no like crying http://jatim.org/wp-content/uploads/.../super-cry.gif

That /cry .gif cracks me up lol

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Originally Posted by Kiara

Hi Andrien,

Did you see the Airport Batsu Game? ;) (and for New Year's Eve this year they're having a new epic Batsu Game as well.)

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Sweet! I did some searching on the webs and I found a site where I can watch them. Thanks!

I'm kind of torn as far as whether or not I really want an alpha invite.

One one hand, I would love to have a chance to test the game. I'm sure I could find a few ways to break it, lol.

On another hand, if I do get an alpha invite, I'll be too busy testing to come here on the forums and make fun of all the people QQing because they didn't get in.

Hmmm... :/

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Originally Posted by Abriael

I did read it. And nowhere it says "we had to accept people that didn't have an active account".

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Why does it have to spell that out when most reasonable people would be able to get that from the "may, or may not, meet every requirement on the application" part?

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Originally Posted by Abriael

The little (actually enormous) flaw in your reasoning is that for most of the application period users with inactive accounts could not even apply. They would be bounced as soon as they logged in with an "your account is inactive, you can't apply" message.

Even assuming that the opening of the application to inactive accounts has been intentional (and it's a rather big assumption), when you do that kind of thing and change the rules you *need* to communicate it.

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So, they didn't mean to let people without active accounts apply? That just makes them incompetent, not so sure how I feel about that... But making that big assumption, how would you have handled it then?

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Originally Posted by Abriael

Even assuming that your theory about them intentionally opening to inactive accounts is somewhat founded, their communication on the matter has been extremely lackluster, and when you deal with customers communication and transparency are always the key.

Doing this kind of things on the hush hush never works too well.

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It really does amaze me how you don't see your responses as over-reacting.

I wonder how well it would have worked out for them to annouce that same quote BEFORE first round of acceptance emails went out. How many people would have assumed that they were going to get shafted from the get go? Managing that would have been way easier then addressing the few people after the fact that got bent out fo shape right?

What I'm most curious of, since we are talking about lies, and such...

Honestly, if you would have gotten an invite in the first round, would you still be championing this cause for all those other people that the company has so greiviously insulted with this?

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Originally Posted by SkyeWindbinder

I'm kind of torn as far as whether or not I really want an alpha invite.

One one hand, I would love to have a chance to test the game. I'm sure I could find a few ways to break it, lol.

On another hand, if I do get an alpha invite, I'll be too busy testing to come here on the forums and make fun of all the people QQing because they didn't get in.

Hmmm... :/

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Choices, Choices! lol

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Originally Posted by SkyeWindbinder

I'm kind of torn as far as whether or not I really want an alpha invite.

One one hand, I would love to have a chance to test the game. I'm sure I could find a few ways to break it, lol.

On another hand, if I do get an alpha invite, I'll be too busy testing to come here on the forums and make fun of all the people QQing because they didn't get in.

Hmmm... :/

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http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c7...6-48-53-24.jpg

What?! You'd leave the forums....and me? I am saddened.

/Thancred

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Originally Posted by Dragonheart

Surprise! New wave of invites tomorrow!

https://twitter.com/FF_XIV_EN

Moar tears incoming xD !

http://gifs.gifbin.com/1237811334_cr...e-audience.gif

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"Aw, you poor thing. Here, let me wipe your tears. Mmm, yes, yes, your anguish sustains me."
— Stewie Griffin

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Originally Posted by Vilhem

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c7...6-48-53-24.jpg

What?! You'd leave the forums....and me? I am saddened.

/Thancred

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:mad: Great. Leave it to you to make me NOT want to accept an alpha invite.

This was a low blow. You used THANCRED on me! >.<

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Originally Posted by SkyeWindbinder

:mad: Great. Leave it to you to make me NOT want to accept an alpha invite.

This was a low blow. You used THANCRED on me! >.<

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You know he'd be sad if you left :(

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Originally Posted by Vilhem

You know he'd be sad if you left :(

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(sigh) Gone to take ANOTHER cold shower...

Brb...

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Originally Posted by SkyeWindbinder

(sigh) Gone to take ANOTHER cold shower...

Brb...

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Fine Fine...I'll do the right thing...you can take him with you to alpha... ;_; (and to the shower)

/roll "Alpha invite come on!"

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Originally Posted by DarkkenMoneybags

/roll "Alpha invite come on!"

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I will roll 0 XD Just my luck!

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Originally Posted by Spectre

Why does it have to spell that out when most reasonable people would be able to get that from the "may, or may not, meet every requirement on the application" part?

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You're making an assumption. It may or may not mean that.

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So, they didn't mean to let people without active accounts apply? That just makes them incompetent, not so sure how I feel about that...

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Incompetence is a big word. It may very well have happened that when they allowed everyone in the game for the dalamud event that also inadvertantly unlocked alpha application. Mistakes happen, and even competent people make them.

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But making that big assumption, how would you have handled it then?

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It's not really an assumption. The fact that for the largest part of the application process inactive accounts could not physically apply at all is indeed a fact. Any number of people tried and can easily confirm it.

That's really pretty simple. When you make a mistake the best way to address it is simply a "we made a mistake, sorry about that. It won't happen again".

Owning to a mistake and making amends is normally the simplest and easiest solution.

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It really does amaze me how you don't see your responses as over-reacting.

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Really? I'm not here insulting people or ripping my hair off. I'm offering some criticism in a rather mild way, mind you. Unless you see any kind of criticism as an overreaction.

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I wonder how well it would have worked out for them to annouce that same quote BEFORE first round of acceptance emails went out. How many people would have assumed that they were going to get shafted from the get go? Managing that would have been way easier then addressing the few people after the fact that got bent out fo shape right?

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If it was intentional, that should have been announced as soon as the rule was changed. Giving people notice upfront is definitely the less damaging way as opposed to letting them find out by themselves.

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Honestly, if you would have gotten an invite in the first round, would you still be championing this cause for all those other people that the company has so greiviously insulted with this?

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Now who's exaggerating? No one talked about grevious insults. What SE did is a PR blunder. No one here is feeling insulted. Criticism doesn't imply that.

And yes, this "cause" is simply a matter of principle for me. My criticism comes regardless of me participating into the alpha or not. You're very free to disbelieve it, of course.