Open letter to the producer

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Originally Posted by Loki_Jortunn

If you read if it was originally programmed correctly then the game should be very modular allowing new object to be added in easily and existing object to be modified without having unforseen knock on effects. I was writing in terms that the general public understand if i started to talk about relational databases, boolean expressions, call back functions or null pointers. Sure Yoshi should understand what i'm talking about but then the fact its an open later would limit the people that would read this post.

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And some things are quite modular. But if you aren't familiar with their tool set, you can't be sure about certain things. While i'm sure certain things are an easy change (stack sizes, for example), others may not be so simple. Mob size? It could be a simple database entry, but if the engine was made to use the model's exact dimensions (some engines do work like this), then you'd have to have that department re-export each model, or you'd have to have a coder go in and create that functionality.

And that is still not accounting for the decision making process. Do these mobs need to be bigger? Why? How much bigger?

While other systems will obviously just take more work. Adding a new NM, even if it uses an existing model, still needs time for the stats to be set, spawn timer and location to be determined, drop table (as well as new gear made/modeled). Adjusting party sizes requires other mechanics of the game to be re-examined, discussed, and fixed.

Oh, and don't forget about all the bit shifting and polymorphism and inheritance!

Things are happening in parallel. The easier of the tasks to complete we have seen already. The complex tasks are obviously taking more time, and we'll have to wait until they are ready before we see them. We shouldn't be rushing anything. It is nice outside (for most of us). Enjoy it a bit while you wait for the game to be up to snuff. At that time, just like I'll do, you can then become a cave dweller and play all day long.

Lets not make this about who knows what about programming, this is about getting information out of the development team.

People want to know what you are up to as it seems to be producing very little results so far. If you have something concrete and big planned for the future let us know what that is.

Companies might as well be a new inventory management system based on the lack of any info we have of them so far. Recently there was a page released where we were directed to learn "all about the companies system" but it gave us no info whatsoever.

Also you KNOW people are talking about jump, real FF jobs and the lack of questlines and good stories. You know you could easily set us all straight by letting us know if jump is coming or not. If the jobs are going to be changed to proper FF jobs with some variety and whether or not we'll see cutscenes or questlines of better quality in the future.

Personally based on this info I could easily decide if there's anything to look forward to in this game or not and continue playing.

Currently I've stopped playing exactly because of the lack of info and no answers to these questions.
If we don't know these features are on their way we can't endlessly "keep the faith" and that's why so many are quitting.

I would love to see more concept art.

I do feel the same way Loki, but I am not a programmer and since the game probably as more lines of code that I can imagine, maybe making 1 small change affects a lot of things? So, they need time to adjust everything?

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Originally Posted by Loki_Jortunn

Updating the game engine to DX11 was mentioned last year [...]

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It would be great to see that!

It seems a lot of things are still going on in Japan and Square-Enix offices, I'll continue to be patient. :)

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Originally Posted by Betelgeuzah

You want != you need.

More information != 'more forgiving' community.

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This I don't understand as if some people see SE as their mom or dad and they will defend it from any angle. Who cares? I NEED more info...hell, the only thing I've been looking forward to since launch is more info...I spend my time on the forums more than I do in the game.

Hi Loki,

I feel your frustration as well (I posted a thread asking about the status of various "big changes" to systems, etc.), but I'd have to say, I disagree with your request to have them post up the results of their weekly development / team meetings, and having more "smaller" surveys / polls to get immediate feedback all the time from players.

While it's important to know what your audience may like or hate in a game, there's also something to be said about "Design by Committee" or having "Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen."

It'd be disastrous, IMHO, to have them post up what they talked about every single week in their meetings and letting the entire public world rain down on their thoughts. We'd inevitably have people who like or hate every single point they're discussing, and you'd end up with a hodgepodge of things designed to try and appeal to everyone.

I'm not saying they don't share information - I think Yoshida-san has been far more communicative and given us more hope than his predecessor - but there's a limit on how much you're asking them to share.

At some we should trust Square-Enix to design and make the game. :)

They've gotten some key feedback from us already, now they go back and iterate and design and come up with something to make Final Fantasy XIV exciting, fun, and great. :)

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Originally Posted by Seif

Currently I've stopped playing exactly because of the lack of info and no answers to these questions.
If we don't know these features are on their way we can't endlessly "keep the faith" and that's why so many are quitting.

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I'm in the same boat. It is not like I'm saying that certain specific information HAS to be shared as in some kind of threat, but my motivation for ranking a class to R50 is = zero as I don't know what i'll be able to do with a R50 class in the near future of this game. So i just stopped logging in altogether. They know rumours are vile on this forum so why not just squash the rumours that aren't going to happen?

Currently playing FFXII Internationel Zodiac Job System and I love it.

I've so far leveled 3 combat classes to 50 almost have my 2nd craft to 50 and leveled pretty much everything up to level 20ish. Look up my lodestone page if you have trust issues. I've either gained alot or i'll loose a lot depending on how the systems are changed, that worries me but its not my main concern. I'm worried that the next month and a half we have to wait till the next patch i'm going to get another job to 50 and be well on my way to 50 on another craft and basic information on what they plan to do with the battle system could strongly influence how i play the next month and a half. It could make me charge through to get more jobs leveled, it could get me to stop leveling so i can fully enjoy the new system when its implemented or it can have no effect to how i've been leveling so far.

When Yoshi P took over information was quick and precise but in the last 3-4 producers letters its become increasing vague to the point that players are speculating wilder and wilder ideas, that will no doubt lead to some people being disappointed with the actual result. I'm not wanting 24/7 fly on the wall coverage on what the developers are doing just a weekly or fortnightly update by the larger teams to say - yes we are progressing as planned and will have this new system in place, or we have hit an issue with balancing that we didn't forsee and will have to spend another week getting the system balance.