Yoshi Interview at PGS

Today I learned Lyse's face is too real and lost the Final Fantasy appeal to it.

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Originally Posted by LaylaTsarra

Only thing is that many might just not want to be bothered with it on their phone or spend the access fee but that would surprise me if hardcore gatherers and crafters won't be all over it.

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Even as a casual one, I'd be all over it. And given I use my phone 24/7 and am getting a new phone in the fairly near future with much better RAM so I can multitask better (plus using Go+ so I can keep my steps and stuff going in-game), expect me to spend more time on that than in the Pokémon Go app (in the foreground). I'd be checking it practically every waking minute.

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Originally Posted by Alleo

So if we would get more scars and stuff like that the servers would explode from the stress? How in the world will this game last for a long time if we cant even get some more customizations? Are they at least working on changing that over time or will we hear "server limitation" as a reason forever? Come on you are one of the most successful P2P MMOs out there and one of the big cash cows for your company...you should be able to do so much more.

Also why would FF lose its appeal if we get more faces? That does not make any sense? (And lets not talk about a lot of glamour stuff that destroyed the fantasy feel anyway...like those Yokai things..)

[But at least they put their time and money in making an app..I just feel my salt rising]

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My thoughts exactly. Perhaps it's time for them to actually upgrade their servers so they can account for something as basic as more face options. Wouldn't new armors factor into this as well? They claim that more facial customization would kill data servers, but then they bring in more variety with all the new armor that has to be accounted for.

Also, new hair styles. How can they introduce more hair styles that somehow don't cause incredible stress, but can't justify a new face or expanded customization features?

It's getting a bit predictable and sad at this point :X

I just love all of the armchair devs.

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Originally Posted by Skivvy

My thoughts exactly. Perhaps it's time for them to actually upgrade their servers so they can account for something as basic as more face options. Wouldn't new armors factor into this as well? They claim that more facial customization would kill data servers, but then they bring in more variety with all the new armor that has to be accounted for.

Also, new hair styles. How can they introduce more hair styles that somehow don't cause incredible stress, but can't justify a new face or expanded customization features?

It's getting a bit predictable and sad at this point :X

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I tried to explain how that works earlier, but it has to do with how that character information is stored and then handled in the server software and the database. Things like race, face, and lesser features are basically given less storage. Most options were given a single byte (8 slots max) for options. Some, like hair, were probably given extra storage up front, like a 32 or 64 bit integer (4 bytes / 8 bytes). Since it was designed like that initially, there's extra space to add more options without having to massively remake the database (modifying this improperly can cause data integrity errors, or their database solution might not allow for them to casually modify a column's properties).

To separate faces and horns, as an example, they'd need to add a a new column to the database for EVERY character out there, whether a value is set or not. This is why aside from the height slider, all the "uniqueness" sliders are usually race and/or gender locked, like muscle slider, tail length, etc. It takes up the same space in the database and keeps the amount of data needed to send/receive for a character small and easy to process. Things slow down when there's more data to transfer. And more data to process. And more data to copy (really slow) from one database to another. (Like say, every time your character zones to an instance. Or is copied to a relay server for the lodestone sync. Or is backed up to the main database so you don't lose all your progress and items upon logout.)

So what would happen if you tried to stick a 9th value into something that could only hold up to 8? Well...it crashes. Or overwrites -other- data if we're being extra unsafe.

Now, SE isn't maxing out these options. And some values could definitely store more information. (Like, instead of using a byte for a single slot like 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0, they could process it like a number, which would use a little more cpu, but would honestly be minimal in most tasks.) So they could probably expand our existing features a bit. ...assuming that the spare values aren't used for something else internally like NPC appearance that isn't hardcoded client-side. But those are details we don't have access to.

Apparently the full quote about char customization is being ignored, and people are only focusing on the first line. Found this on reddit.

"Q: I'd like you to increase the number of character face options available!
Yoshida: There's currently no plan to increase the range of option categories available. This is partly because players expect a certain "FF quality" to characters in the game and giving too wide a range of options might compromise that by allowing players to create characters that don't fit into a Final Fantasy setting. This is something that is important to many people. Also, if you broaden the range of options there's a risk that it could impact gameplay as the data sent and received per character increases upon loading a new area.
However, since I think this is more of a request for more available customization options within the categories currently available, we'd like to add more options based on your feedback!"

I am glad they are changing up the glamour system :) I really hope I can wear some of the tank outfits on my Summoner, mainly the Stormblood PVP body..I love it so much ;~;

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Originally Posted by Valkyrie_Lenneth

However, since I think this is more of a request for more available customization options within the categories currently available, we'd like to add more options based on your feedback!"

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So...basically they can add more face types and facial feature options? Well that's fine.

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Originally Posted by dinnertime

So...basically they can add more face types and facial feature options? Well that's fine.

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Basically. What they are saying is they can't add more categories, not options.

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Originally Posted by Valkyrie_Lenneth

However, since I think this is more of a request for more available customization options within the categories currently available, we'd like to add more options based on your feedback!"

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Well, that pretty much changes the context of the answer entirely, like, damn. People were only really asking for more face options anyway.

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Originally Posted by Valkyrie_Lenneth

"Q: I'd like you to increase the number of character face options available!
Yoshida: There's currently no plan to increase the range of option categories available. This is partly because players expect a certain "FF quality" to characters in the game and giving too wide a range of options might compromise that by allowing players to create characters that don't fit into a Final Fantasy setting. This is something that is important to many people. Also, if you broaden the range of options there's a risk that it could impact gameplay as the data sent and received per character increases upon loading a new area.
However, since I think this is more of a request for more available customization options within the categories currently available, we'd like to add more options based on your feedback!"

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Our feedback that we have been asking, suggesting, theorizing for how long now? Its the same response everytime, they ask for our feedback and we give it but then get generic or overly complicated responses to what is asked for. Same old song and dance!

Okay, well then it sounded like a potential misunderstanding if the actual translation is more along the lines of "we can't add new sliders/ categories to customize, but we can expand on new faces/hair/etc." So maybe what they're referring to are any vague "more character customization!" requests. I can fully understand if they don't want to add new separate categories/sliders if they're concerned about players "inventing" their own new races and/or proportions with added customization options.

But yeah, people have been asking for more faces and the like for what seems like years. What feedback have they not been getting?... What feedback have they actually been getting instead?

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Originally Posted by Niraves

I'm guessing the new wards will be released sometime after the servers have already been up. So that way everyone has a chance to be logged in and at the aetheryte.

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I guess that is better than seeing people get houses because they can log in through the queue faster.

Balmung is going to need like 15 wards.

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Originally Posted by Arrius

Because Square uses their own Engine for this - Crystal Tools.

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Not actually true.

They use a proprietary engine (some of the same group that worked on the Luminous Engine worked on it, but it's not Luminous either) after looking at the weaknesses of Crystal Tools (which was used for 1.0) in an MMO, as well as considered Luminous but decided that wouldn't work for an MMO either.

https://gamerescape.com/2011/10/19/g...-is-out-there/

Even with the longer answer it still feels off. A lot of us wanted just more options for the existing ones. Like scars, more paint, more faces yet we got not a single new customization for 4.0. Also still using the FF feel as an example feels bad when you have people running around as pigs or having the Yokai stuff floating around. And FF means no ugly character allowed? I am fine with not being able to create a monster of a character (like hunchback and stuff like that) but that answer just makes me feel that we will never have options that will make a character look less perfect. I really hope that this does not mean that we will never get things like scars.

Also at least now I know why they created the app..another fee..another point to own that sweet money..:/

I am no IT expert but wouldnt the app itself also not just put more stress on the servers? Because people would be able to access some things ingame everywhere?

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Originally Posted by Alleo

I am no IT expert but wouldnt the app itself also not just put more stress on the servers? Because people would be able to access some things ingame everywhere?

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Possibly. FFXIV has multiple servers handling different aspects of the game. It's not just a single box running one program with a single database.

If I had to make guesses at how this is handled, retainers and markets are probably running on their own database tables with their associated processes. That's why we can't just call up our retainer from anywhere and SE's talked about possible sync issues if they increase retainer storage [instead of additional retainer slots]. If it works similar to implementations I've seen, they basically unleash a flood of inventory network packets at your character to load the ENTIRE list any time you want to check. That can get bloated quickly. Especially if people are just casually doing it.

Other things, like Linkshells, FCs, etc are World-level processes. Everything you do in the client that has to make it back to the servers is handled by a proxy to sort the appropriate traffic where it should go. So it's more likely that typing in a zone is sent to your "world" server, which then sends it to your client. Or possibly the other way around. That's why some communication in instanced content doesn't work. Your character is no longer on the same server as the other ones and there isn't a path to direct that data.

But at the end, people on the apps will probably represent somewhere between the same to less strain on the servers than if they were logged into the game fully. But I'm not going to expect that the app is going to work perfectly from the get-go. And I'd plan to see some emergency maintenance if app users overload their servers.

retainers are handled by the database like a regular character (a leftover from 1.0). so yes, if you access them often that will put more strain on the database. since they're overly cautious about such issues I'm pretty sure they already calculated for it (or underestimate demand).



on another note, this whole "server capacity" thing has been grinding my gears for a while now. the problem isn't really the server, but simply the underlying programming. I'm not a wow player, but I know that they had to massively re-engineer some parts of their database as well so the game could keep going forward. they've also redone the original areas with cataclysm which was 6 years after launch.
personally, I think the game right now is probably in its prime and if they don't get all that shit sorted out in the next two years it will probably never happen. I still have some hope left that this game could be so much more, but even if they would be willing to change the status quo (they're not right now) they can't because of all the legacy hindrances.

WoW devs announced they're working on different body types for character creation in next expac. Hmmmm...

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Originally Posted by xxvaynxx

Balmung is going to need like 15 wards.

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And a new rule that you only get one house per account.

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Originally Posted by Naunet

WoW devs announced they're working on different body types for character creation in next expac. Hmmmm...

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Good. About time their simplistic character creation system got some love.

Though should note that it's a pretty short list of things - I believe the only one mentioned so far is being able to toggle whether or not their playable Orc model is hunched over or standing up straight (which a number of NPC orcs do already).

they're most models that already existed in game and or recolors. WoW's more simple model system allow them to alter things in simple ways without much work.

Dark Iron Dwarves already existed, Light forged Draenei are mostly another recolor with slight alterations, etc.

It's literally what we already have, different clans for each race.

Pretty wizard getting to play a Xandalari Troll though.

Actually, something Bliz is doing which is neat is making is so these races aren't immediately available, you'll need to play through the story enough to bring these new clans into the fold of the Alliance or Horde, which then are open for new characters or the race changes. A bold move, but neat considering it doesn't just take a dump on lore. Much respect.

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Originally Posted by Alleo

I am no IT expert but wouldnt the app itself also not just put more stress on the servers? Because people would be able to access some things ingame everywhere?

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Possibly, but the risk is worth it since they'll be making money off of it.
I bet if they decided to charge us for extra customization options the servers would suddenly be perfectly fine and not explode as they said it would.

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Originally Posted by Exiled_Tonberry

Possibly, but the risk is worth it since they'll be making money off of it.
I bet if they decided to charge us for extra customization options the servers would suddenly be perfectly fine and not explode as they said it would.

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Don't give them ideas :( Next thing we'll see are some custom faces on the mogstation..

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Originally Posted by Skivvy

Don't give them ideas :( Next thing we'll see are some custom faces on the mogstation..

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Isn't that basically the same as going to a plastic surgeon? Might be too realistic for Final Fantasy.

I hope they at least separate Au Ra horns from faces. It's the only thing I want.

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Originally Posted by Corue

I hope they at least separate Au Ra horns from faces. It's the only thing I want.

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Clearly this

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【ミラプリについて】About Glamours.
・パッチ4.2に向けて大きく変更をかける予定
Patch 4.2 is scheduled to see huge changes for Glamours.

・もっと簡単に全身のコーデや複数のミラプリ登録などが実装
A much simplier full body coordination or multiple glamour registration will be implemented.

・みんなが欲しいと思っていたシステムはほとんど入ると思う
Yoshida thinks that almost all request that people have thought up till now may be implemented for this.

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If that is true then I hope they haven't forgotten to allow us to save the current hairstyle as part of the glamour so we can use different looks (hair) without having to worry too much about clipping!... :D

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Originally Posted by SigmaOZ

If that is true then I hope they haven't forgotten to allow us to save the current hairstyle as part of the glamour so we can use different looks (hair) without having to worry too much about clipping!... :D

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Can't wait for each gearset change to cost me 2000 gil and a small aesthetician cutscene.

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Originally Posted by Canadane

Can't wait for each gearset change to cost me 2000 gil and a small aesthetician cutscene.

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The whole point is to avoid the aesthetician, charge me once when I change my hairstyle but I get to save it to any glamour I want!...

I'm absolutely sure there's no need for such a lengthy cut-scene to change a simple hairstyle!...

You obviously could not understand what I meant, I hope the idea is clear enough now!...

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Originally Posted by bass9020

Our feedback that we have been asking, suggesting, theorizing for how long now? Its the same response everytime, they ask for our feedback and we give it but then get generic or overly complicated responses to what is asked for. Same old song and dance!

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Some people ask for butt sliders, others for facial/body sliders ("Black Desert does it so FFXIV should do too!"), some ask for new hairstyles, some for new "options" (without going in much detail)...

Feedback is all over the place, so when Yoshi-P is asked a question about character customization, he tries to answer it with as much details and argumentation as he can within the short timespan he has to answer.
For this current question, the answer is: "We can't add new categories or sliders everywhere because of technical limitation, but we can increase the number of items in an already existing category (such as hairstyles). Please give us some clear feedback of what you want".

So, instead of saying "we want more of everything!", players should start to actually give precise ideas in a structured way with other people upvoting said feedback.

The character customisation situation is bizarre. New hairstyles are added with every patch - and sometimes we even get some added through seasonal events - so surely there's room to add different options elsewhere? Scars, tattoos and facial hair at the very least?

I fail to see that since they have not even touched the housing system how in their minds it will be "fair"
Players all work different hours and patch goes live when many are at work. I had taken holiday this past one to try to get a house and failed.
Instanced or nothing or like some had suggested perhaps release some every hour.

As for customization i do not think it is a big deal but then again many other mmos out there have way more options, i guess they do not use ancient code like SE?

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Originally Posted by Maero

I fail to see that since they have not even touched the housing system how in their minds it will be "fair"

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Of course they haven't touched the housing system yet, anything planned will be done for 4.2. Wait and see what they're planning before you grab a pitchfork, which many will do if necessary when the time comes.

Many will do it regardless tbh, however if I can make a wild guess maybe they'll add housing wards procedurally or something akin to what the apartaments in the game work or I dunno, honeslty that thing about fair is very odd it could mean anything

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Originally Posted by Fyce

Some people ask for butt sliders, others for facial/body sliders ("Black Desert does it so FFXIV should do too!"), some ask for new hairstyles, some for new "options" (without going in much detail)...

Feedback is all over the place, so when Yoshi-P is asked a question about character customization, he tries to answer it with as much details and argumentation as he can within the short timespan he has to answer.
For this current question, the answer is: "We can't add new categories or sliders everywhere because of technical limitation, but we can increase the number of items in an already existing category (such as hairstyles). Please give us some clear feedback of what you want".

So, instead of saying "we want more of everything!", players should start to actually give precise ideas in a structured way with other people upvoting said feedback.

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I will ask this until I'm blue in the face, but they could just unlock all features that are currently tied to specific faces within a race. That alone would give all races an option of ~24 eyes, 24 noses, 20 eyebrows, 24 mouths, 4 face shapes, etc. We could have far more unique looking characters, and all of the options are already in the game.

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Originally Posted by Theodric

The character customisation situation is bizarre. New hairstyles are added with every patch - and sometimes we even get some added through seasonal events - so surely there's room to add different options elsewhere? Scars, tattoos and facial hair at the very least?

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Be specific what you want - References, images, sketches, or a decent description always helps in determining of what you imagine to be a good addition.

When Yoshida says "We're currently working on adding more wards and a system where everyone can obtain a new house fair and square for Patch 4.2.", I take that to mean that a player will have the same chance to purchase a home as any other but it is not guaranteed they will get a house. Since they stated they're adding more wards and the strong desire for a lottery system from the JP community and SE's general track record for this matter I'd say you're probably getting your hopes up assuming anything further than that.

Let's hope I'm wrong though.

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Originally Posted by Lewtskie

they're most models that already existed in game and or recolors. WoW's more simple model system allow them to alter things in simple ways without much work.

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The Allied races are not what I was referring to with my post. Blizz specifically mentioned body types. They gave one example of upright orcs, but that was just a single example, as they haven't finished developing. I think it's also notable that for the first time ever, they did not respond to a question about dyeing armor with a flat "no" - that was very intriguing to me. Not now, but maybe in the future, they said.

The core of my point is that I think it's very clear to see where one set of game devs are willing to continue improving and adding to aspects of an aging game, while another set of game devs are stuck on "but our servers" (the new "ps3 limitations", it seems).

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Originally Posted by Skivvy

Don't give them ideas :( Next thing we'll see are some custom faces on the mogstation..

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Ugh. I can totally see them doing this and it is the worst...

Their idea of "fair and square" is not bringing the servers up early