A question to all WoW players coming to XIV

I see some posts here that there are WoW players who dont wanna play because the game is too "weeb" and then I think about the ending of 2.5 and 3.5. And I think about some certain lewd or dark humor npc bubbles that you can visibly see around Limsa and Uldah and then I think... "Really...?"

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Vonleo

I just don't get how WoW players can get off making fun of FFXIV graphics but are playing a game since 2004 that has not had a meaningful graphics update since its release. The game honestly looks like a F2P game and even some F2P games look better then WoW. I can understand people not LIKING the FFXIV style which is fine but then to try and use the words "cute" or "weeb" as an insult just boggles my mind.

I guess the saying "Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones" should apply here?

---

Uhm...?
WoW has gotten A LOT of upgrades. Every addon brought a graphic update within the typical style of the game. That means it stayed cartoonish and very much western styled. It was launched in 2004 which means they possibilities of graphic updates are fairly limited unless they fundamentally change something with the engine but for a game that old, they added plenty of upgrades with each expansion. If you compare videos from the various expansions with each other, the difference should be quite clear.
The graphic in WoW is less about insane details like in FFXIV, where you can see every seam on your clothes etc. and focuses more on landscapes, coloring, contrasts and also a certain "grubbyness" which fits the war-theme pretty well.
Some like it, some don't. That's personal taste and "better" is highly subjective.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Vahlnir

To be completely honest, I have seen more people in FF XIV bashing WoW than people in WoW bashing FF XIV. Most of them had no idea what they were talking about. Over the past couple of years I've seen a fair amount of people who play WoW actually say "this game sucks, go play FF XIV". WoW hasn't been in a good place for some time, though it has nothing to do with the art style.

---

Same here and quite a bit of in this thread.
Nobody has to like a game but bashing it doesn't make the "own" game seem better, it just makes the community look worse overall. There are a couple of diehard fanboys who judge a game without knowing anything about it but stepping down to that level isn't a good idea.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Vahlnir

To me that's pretty rich coming from people who played WoW which has a very cartoony art style. I wouldn't say this game is "too cute" by any means, but I've heard people refer to it as an anime at points. To be honest though I can only really see that in places like the Hildebrand quests, otherwise it just looks like a JRPG but that has been FF since forever.

---

The ending of 2.5 and 3.5 was pretty weeb doe m I rite? lul I feel like WoW players who have that opinion arent aware of such moments. oh and lets not forget the dark humor and lewd thought bubbles from NPCs around certain cities. Yep...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rilifane

Uhm...?
WoW has gotten A LOT of upgrades. Every addon brought a graphic update within the typical style of the game. That means it stayed cartoonish and very much western styled. It was launched in 2004 which means they possibilities of graphic updates are fairly limited unless they fundamentally change something with the engine but for a game that old, they added plenty of upgrades with each expansion. If you compare videos from the various expansions with each other, the difference should be quite clear.
The graphic in WoW is less about insane details like in FFXIV, where you can see every seam on your clothes etc. and focuses more on landscapes, coloring, contrasts and also a certain "grubbyness" which fits the war-theme pretty well.
Some like it, some don't. That's personal taste and "better" is highly subjective.



Same here and quite a bit of in this thread.
Nobody has to like a game but bashing it doesn't make the "own" game seem better, it just makes the community look worse overall. There are a couple of diehard fanboys who judge a game without knowing anything about it but stepping down to that level isn't a good idea.

---

And if you read my post you would know that I watched a current video on the game and the game still does not impress me even with all its graphical upgrades. I just find it funny that when WoW players either its on these forums or else where take shots at FFXIV for being too cute or weeb and when some FFXIV members defend the game we have to "not go down to there level" give me a break. Then we have people like you that detail why WoW is the way it is which is completely fine mind you but we as the FFXIV community cannot get that same courtesy for FFXIV being an eastern MMO and having those same EXACT points you pointed out for WoW done for FFXIV. I just think the standards should be made for both games and like I said I have nothing against WoW just those from WoW that use the words cute and weeb as an insult.

I came from WoW about 4 months ago. It bugged me a bit that all the races looked like generic humans with some extra decorations, such as tails, ears, horns. I'll probably switch to Hrothgar after I give one a try as a new character.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Spratchet

It was also the most hated expansion, aesthetically, specifically because it was asian themed. Other expansions may have destroyed characters and ruined the story for players, but Pandaria was reviled by the majority of the playerbase. If anything all you're doing is proving that they have never particularly liked asian styled content.

---

Here's the thing. I keep seeing people say MoP was widely hated, but I played all through it and did not quit until the end of the next expansion, and I didn't see a particularly noteworthy amount of MoP hate. What I did see was mostly people accusing Blizzard of copying Kung Fu Panda (for those who don't know: they did not). Compared to the hate I saw for Cata and WoD, the criticisms for MoP were very mild. Then again I'm an EU player who played on EU servers. Maybe it was a different story in NA.

But the point is WoW had an entire expansion with intensely strong far eastern influence, yet somehow when SE do similar it is considered weird or unfamiliar. WoW has a race with super cute teddy-bear females who are constantly smiling, yet people complain FFXIV is too cute despite the utter absence of a playable plushie race or a race that has an obvious smile that you cannot remove in character creation.

Like it's fine if FFXIV doesn't appeal to someone, but when a WoW player cites the above reasons I kind of find it hard to take them seriously. Bit of a pot calling the kettle black sort of thing going on. They should just admit the real reason: they are turned off by the game being japanese because of the negative connotations surrounding weebs, and in some cases they don't want to feel like they're validating weebs by playing a game made in Weeb Country. If the game was made by a german studio instead but was otherwise identical...I doubt this thread would exist.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Penthea

Here's the thing. I keep seeing people say MoP was widely hated, but I played all through it and did not quit until the end of the next expansion, and I didn't see a particularly noteworthy amount of MoP hate. What I did see was mostly people accusing Blizzard of copying Kung Fu Panda (for those who don't know: they did not). Compared to the hate I saw for Cata and WoD, the criticisms for MoP were very mild. Then again I'm an EU player who played on EU servers. Maybe it was a different story in NA.

But the point is WoW had an entire expansion with intensely strong far eastern influence, yet somehow when SE do similar it is considered weird or unfamiliar. WoW has a race with super cute teddy-bear females who are constantly smiling, yet people complain FFXIV is too cute despite the utter absence of a playable plushie race or a race that has an obvious smile that you cannot remove in character creation.

Like it's fine if FFXIV doesn't appeal to someone, but when a WoW player cites the above reasons I kind of find it hard to take them seriously. Bit of a pot calling the kettle black sort of thing going on. They should just admit the real reason: they are turned off by the game being japanese because of the negative connotations surrounding weebs, and in some cases they don't want to feel like they're validating weebs by playing a game made in Weeb Country. If the game was made by a german studio instead but was otherwise identical...I doubt this thread would exist.

---

The above is an example of plugging one's ears and going "Nnanananananananana."

People are allowed to not like things you like, and they don't have to justify their preference.

It looks cutsey on the surface, but then you actually dunk your head in and everything is sad, depressing, dark and cruel.

:(

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by van_arn

The above is an example of plugging one's ears and going "Nnanananananananana."

People are allowed to not like things you like, and they don't have to justify their preference.

---

I didn't say they had to justify anything. I said I find it hard to take them seriously when they claim they don't want to play FFXIV for having things that WoW also has in equal measure or more. It's like saying you won't wear a blue shirt while you're already wearing one. I'm stating my opinion on their given reasons. I did not say they must prove anything. And I also did say they can dislike FFXIV.

Please read my post properly :P

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by van_arn

The above is an example of plugging one's ears and going "Nnanananananananana."

People are allowed to not like things you like, and they don't have to justify their preference.

---

Exactly. I have played this game for years, and thousands of hours now (not much to show for it), and I hated the art style; aesthetic when I was first introduced to it - which kept me from picking it up for years. I still don't like it now. As an example I love ESO's Elder Scrolls aesthetic I think it has a more serious tone, the races aren't cutesy, they each look unique for what they are (not humans with animal ears/tails attached), more cool armors, and by cool I mean actual armor sets like yeah this game has SOME cool ones, and maybe I am not finding it, but generally the armors and outfits in a western game like ESO, or WoW in my opinion look WAY better. It's kind of hard for me to explain exactly why, but you can see it in FF at a glance, there is a clear difference with the art direction. I know some people won't like this comment, but I like it when men look like MEN in an mmorpg, and you can find that in a game like ESO, or WoW. Sorry.

I am personally not a WoW player either, I have played it, but not actively. I play this game for the gameplay, not the aesthetic personally. Too bad a lot of people won't look past the aesthetic, but that's how it is.

Like this ranked PvP set in FF does look cool. I don't think this game has a lot of this kind of aesthetic when it comes to armors overall. doesn't necessarily have to be dark and 'edgy', but 'cool', and yeah it's a really opinionated thing.

https://img.finalfantasyxiv.com/lds/...B4K6Ff3dKI.png

You know what after giving it some thought, I think saying I "still don't like it" is too strong of a statement. I think saying, I still don't like certain aspects of the aesthetic, but have embraced others, is a better one. A lot of the game over the years has grown on me, and I am definitely a hypocrite since I almost exclusively play (mostly) female Au Ra, and Miqo'te - Let's be real here Miqo'te have the BEST animations for female races, hands down idles, run/walk. I always go back to the same Au Ra I always play, but with minor changes like eye color. Not to mention I plan on switching both of my characters to Viera when it comes out, and (hopefully) liking it enough to stay. Fantasias are expensive! I am definitely still thoughtlessly still blindly thinking "weeb" in a bad connotation when I make some of these statements, when my actions say otherwise. Something being "weeb" isn't even a bad thing. Just a different aesthetic.

I am not advocating them change anything, I think the aesthetic should stay the way it is, it's what makes it uniquely "Final Fantasy" even if I have never played any of the other FF proper titles. Again, it really is unfortunate that people will miss out, because they take a game at face value, but "it is how it is". Sorry, had about 15-20 minutes of enlightened thought. :p

I'm a big fan of both games yet I only play FF14 now. I think FF14 has better character models and animations but WoW has superior landscapes and overall detail/texture quality. However, I can't understand why some users are so salty towards someone that doesn't like or even mocks this game.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ahribear

For me it’s a few different aspects.

I don’t think it’s the art style in itself, it’s more of how the make use of it. There’s so many dress-like outfits and accessories, which is fine but when I’m looking for instance heavy armor be it for tank or DPS there’s hardly anything good looking around compared to WOW. Hence why some people may refer to it as “too cute”.

Same thing with the races. They feel a bit bland, it feels like they are all humans with different ears. Most bodies are supper skinny, it feels like thy couldn’t even lift a sword. I’d like a bit more difference, that said Hrothgar is looking good.

---

Yes! Exactly. It's the combination of the racial aesthetic mixed with the armor sets, and how many of them are 'cutesy' like. It's a big simplification, and something that is entirely based on personal preference, as you point out. Not to say that there aren't races that I think couldn't handle themselves. We got the strong looking Roe/highlander females who could honestly probably beat up the majority of the males in this game, doesn't even matter the race.

I gotta admit when I was watching my au ra facedown zenos when I did the SB story, the whole time I was thinking "oh my god! My little Au Ra facing down this bad-butt (yes, I am NOT gonna use any "profanity". Don't judge) looking dude who is towering over me. Granted that is my own fault for choosing to play as a little bitty au ra girl in a dang bikini or something. Or when I was a miqo'te with her tail tucked in the chair and her hands on her lap staring down the emperor with the rest of the council, honestly it kind of ruined the scene, and it was all my fault for my racial preferences in this game! :o But the point still stands, at face value this is what outsiders think is the game! Cutesy cat girls, and now bunny girls wearing dresses, thigh high socks, making cute emotes.

I think they ruin a lot of otherwise good outfits by making singular pieces really bad, don't get me wrong, I'm more than happy to glam all day long. I just wish there were more sets or set pieces that I could really say are 'cool'.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Penthea

I didn't say they had to justify anything. I said I find it hard to take them seriously when they claim they don't want to play FFXIV for having things that WoW also has in equal measure or more. It's like saying you won't wear a blue shirt while you're already wearing one. I'm stating my opinion on their given reasons. I did not say they must prove anything. And I also did say they can dislike FFXIV.

Please read my post properly :P

---

He's just looking for a fight. That's what he does. :P

On a different note. Oddly my lady friend refuses to play Wow for the same reasons some of these you tubers won't play FFXIV. She says WoW is to cute and cartoony. She likes the "realistic" looks of FFXIV. At the same time I think part of her likes the anime style and eastern game philosophy with out realizing it.

The only problem I have with FFXIV's art direction is how needlessly gendered everything is.

Sets don't look the same on different characters to the point where some pieces are completely unrecognizable as the same armor - it's just bad.

Having cute/sexy armor is great but not at the cost of a set's aesthetic. Like stockings are fine but you don't need to ruin NIN AF to add them, like... just make a separate item, people can glam it on their own. And let everyone wear it, not just one gender.

I haven't played any other MMOs really, but I did try playing WoW after taking a break from HW. One of my old raid members was playing it so I checked it out. or at least tried. And holy crap.. It's terrible. Just my opinion, but I couldn't find a single thing to rationalize getting over the cartoonish aesthetics.

If someone wants to say FFXIV is too cute or too anime, whatever. At least it's not a cartoon. Lol

(for the record, I'm not a fan of Borderlands either. Fun as the game may be, just can't get over the graphics enough to give it an honest shot. But everyone has their own preferred styles. I've been a long time FF fan so maybe I just give XIV more of a pass than I otherwise might if I wasn't.)

I personally feel that FF's cute aesthetics is its greatest advantage over WoW, ESO and SWTOR (which I guess I could be considered a refugee from). I don't think I would still be playing it, or even been bothered to try it out at all, if the art direction was any different.

Plus...

https://i.ibb.co/Kjqgp3f/mimi.png

There is no other respectable subscription MMO I know of that has a neko race, therefore, no other respectable subscription MMOs exist. Anyone who lives in denial of FF14's unassailable superiority deserves our heartfelt pity for their self-inflicted ignorance and misery. I hope that they will one day make the only correct choice to leave their plebeian substitutes behind and come over to bask in the light of the Miqo'te Meowster Race.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ahribear

No way. Lala master race

---

The potato overlords will rule with fairly but firmly.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Melichoir

The potato overlords will rule with fairly but firmly.

---

You'll have to forgive us for being skeptical after Lolorito.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Alucard135

I know a couple of WoW players that didn't like FFXIV, since all the races looked like handsome anime characters. But they got interested after seeing Hrothgar.

---

Been playing FFXIV since 1.0 closed beta,i also play WoW since launch,i love both but i gotta agree,i am stoked for Hrothgar,will be race changing ,once available.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bonbori

I personally feel that FF's cute aesthetics is its greatest advantage over WoW, ESO and SWTOR (which I guess I could be considered a refugee from). I don't think I would still be playing it, or even been bothered to try it out at all, if the art direction was any different.

Plus...

https://i.ibb.co/Kjqgp3f/mimi.png

There is no other respectable subscription MMO I know of that has a neko race, therefore, no other respectable subscription MMOs exist. Anyone who lives in denial of FF14's unassailable superiority deserves our heartfelt pity for their self-inflicted ignorance and misery. I hope that they will one day make the only correct choice to leave their plebeian substitutes behind and come over to bask in the light of the Miqo'te Meowster Race.

---

And she has the finest miqo of the land.. mmmmmmmhhm. Sorry.. your post made me lol so I had too.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Vahlnir

You'll have to forgive us for being skeptical after Lolorito.

---

Eh, youre probably right. The potato-lords will just rule with an iron fist. You will all be made to be step stools and carry us all around.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Insertcoins

I've been watching youtubers like Sccottzone and Asmongold and the one thing I've noticed is both of their chats mention XIV is too cute for them....

---

I suppose that's fair, I never played WoW because I thought the characters too ugly.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shadygrove

I suppose that's fair, I never played WoW because I thought the characters too ugly.

---

Different aesthetics is what it boils down to it. I think it's semi silly that the go to criticism is its to weeby or cute, where people can rightfully turn around and point to wow and say "look, theyre trying to be that 70s edgey Conan crap". Both are valid and are for certain crowds, so its all just a matter of taste. But you know the online world, there's no such thing as saying "Yeah, not my cup of tea but I can see why people like it." Instead if its not your speed, the thing you have to do is tear it down and be negative.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shadygrove

I suppose that's fair, I never played WoW because I thought the characters too ugly.

---

Funny you say that, I had a friend who absolutely refused to play the horde faction in WoW for several years because in his opinion it had only ugly races. Which was kind of true to be honest...a lot of people thought the original selection of horde races looked cool (giant minotaur-like people, typical orcs, tall trolls that had tusks, and undead humans with rotting flesh and exposed bones) but I can't recall anyone ever saying they looked beautiful :D

These days the most common criticism I hear is how the races look a bit dated now. I think the WoW aesthetic is great, but the game engine is old and it's really starting to show. The rigid character creation is also a turn off for a lot of people who are used to the freedom of more modern mmos.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Vahlnir

You'll have to forgive us for being skeptical after Lolorito.

---

To be fair, we have Nanamo as a counter-example.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Penthea

Funny you say that, I had a friend who absolutely refused to play the horde faction in WoW for several years because in his opinion it had only ugly races.

---

My husband, to this day, will only play Blood Elves on Horde. Makes no sense to me because he likes Dwarves and I think my amazing Zandalari Troll is much more beautiful. :P

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Reap00

Who cares what these youtubers think? I certainly don't.

---

Exactly this.