Other than the specific announced changes?
What makes any given MMO a success? What are some of the key factors that keep players playing, and more importantly, how can FFXIV incorporate these concepts in such a way as to have what other MMOs have, but in a unique yet functional way?
I have been playing MMOs since about 1998. I started with Ultima Online, then Dark Age of Camelot, Star Wars Galaxies, FFXI, Everquest 2, FFXIV and currently Rift while I wait on the major changes to Xiv. I've been around the block, but certainly don't consider myself an expert. I have gained a lot of insight as to what works well in various games, and what does not.
Tangible Feeling of Progression
More than just progression in terms of leveling up, progression should take you all over the world. Currently, the only thing we have are Guildleves, which only really send us around the starter zone.
* Aetheryte camps should be expanded into larger encampments, which have quest giving NPCs on top of the option of Guildleves. These quests should be more than basic fetch 10x item or kill 10x creature. Currently, the camps are far too similar. It doesn't really give an immersive feeling of progression moving from one to another.
* Coerthas and Mor Dhona need to be more utilized in higher level quests and leves. Levels 40-50 should not be using the initial zones at all.
* Quests at camps should be story based, and level appropriate. However, they should be fun enough to do that a rank 50 would still get enjoyment out of any of them -- even though the rewards (if gear) should be rank appropriate.
Variation of Content
All Guildleves really have a repetitive feel to them. All battle leves are the same overall.
* Guildleves should have their overall scope expanded to include more than just killing. We should have to sometimes interact with our targets in more ways than only fighting. For example, a leve (or quest) could give us a temporary ability or item to use on monsters in a certain manner which would be required to defeat them -- maybe even capture them to bring back to the NPC.
* Guild Tasks should be expanded to Dow / DoM in a FF12 style Mark Board. These marks should work a lot like 12's, in that there are unique mobs specific to the Task, and varied in difficulty (from solo to alliance).
I have more, but it's late...
*****edit****
A Sense of Urgency
In many of the MMOs I've played, there is almost always something important going on. These things would have real benefits & consequences for success or failure.
- Rift has rift invasions (PvE zone-wide events) as well as more group/solo friendly Rift events.
- DAoC had PvP frontiers in which 3 factions fought to control relics, keeps and even a massive dungeon
- SWG had a constant PvP/PvE struggle between the Rebels and Empire
- Ultima Online had GM events as well as PvP faction control of major cities. Also PvE monster invasions of cities
- FFXI had a weekly nation conquest of zones as well as PvE invasions in Al-Zahbi (Besieged).
* There could be monster/NPC invasions of the 3 City-States as well as minor invasions of te Aetheryte camps.
* Bring back XI style nation conquest, but make it dfferent so that it adapts to XIV.
- Create outposts throughout the zones which serve the nation that controls the zone. These outposts could have Crafting Support, vendors, even special quests. Maybe even teleport/chocobo services?
- Create unique bonuses for the nation which is in "1st", but also incentives for underpopulated nations to give them a chance to compete (think Gridania here).
1st place: A small bonus to XP/SP
2nd place: NPCs sell items/services cheaper
3rd place: A small but noticeable bonus to attack power / defense
Now obviously, everyone at endgame will want #3, right? However, the more people that join the losing side, the less they lose! These bonuses are only suggestions, of course.
* Conquest systems should divide the 5 major zones into their sub-zones. Northern Shroud, Southern Shroud, etc etc.
What makes an MMO Successful?
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06-05-2011, 02:27 PMBalbanesWhat makes an MMO Successful?
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06-05-2011, 02:38 PMAngryNixon
These are good suggestions for improving the experience while leveling. I agree with them on the whole but would note that if leves were properly balanced/normalized (which I think they're working on?) in such a way as to not necessitate constantly failing the same 7-8 leves, that that in and of itself would already push you to other areas to do all your 8 leves in a reset.
In addition to this, including leves to do in the other two already existing areas (which I agree completely, are underutilized) would add further variety allowing parties to do yet more leves in more areas.
Finally, I simply add that the "leve link" system adds yet another disincentive to ever doing more than the same 7-8 leves even after they've been normalized for obvious reasons. But as you said it's late... Hopefully whoever reads this can infer the full story with those problems.
Again, on the whole those would all be positive additions/modifications and I apologize for not commenting in a more dialog or conversation evoking manner on your points not directly dealing with guild leves but I'm tired lol. -
06-05-2011, 02:43 PMXeno
Not being FFXIV
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06-05-2011, 02:50 PMRinoa
I could think of only one thing when you mentioned items that help you capture enemies, Poké Ball Go!!!
I like your ideas, and yeah it is late. -
06-05-2011, 03:23 PMviion
Listening to Fans/Customers.
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06-05-2011, 03:50 PMEvangela
Don't listen to oldschool gamers
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06-05-2011, 04:11 PMKilta_Firelotus
Honestly, those suggestions are what make any game successful. Even once ffxiv gets better. There is still something it needs to be a success. And that is a great community. Most people will not play a FUN mmo if it has a crap community.
But basing what you say, more so about levequests. Is They are job orders/ mercenary orders. And are based on how each diciple levels. Pretty much war/magic = kill quests. land= gathering, hand = crafting. They fit their purpose of what is based on lore. Pretty much there are there story wise to give people things to do while keeping prepared for a possible garlean invasion. AkA we use them for leveling up. Pretty much leve= level quest.
IMO the game can be fixed and be so much more better and it still wouldn't last long if the community stay the way it is. :) -
06-05-2011, 10:45 PMXatsh
What does a MMO have to have to be successful
1) A strong community
2) Longevity (A mmo that you can beat in a few month will not last)
3) Challenge
4) Goals
5) Original Concepts (People will not leave an existing mmo if a clone comes)
6) Not be WoW (Ever mmo that has tried has failed, even rift is starting to bleed numbers and they almost perfectly copied it)
People say listen to the casuals only, well every mmo that was designed for casuals has failed in the west so far except WoW.... So I say listen to both. Rift is still on the trial period in my opinion. -
06-05-2011, 10:54 PMMeowyWowieThis.Quote:
Originally Posted by Xatsh
And yea, even RIFT is bleeding subs. They're already adding shard transfers and will likely start mergers very soon as well. WoW did something that will never happen again, developers have to learn to accept that. -
06-05-2011, 11:41 PMQuantaI have to disagree. It's silly to assume that the kind of success WoW enjoys is something that will never be replicated. It'd be more accurate to say that few companies have ever been in the kind of position that Blizzard has been, past or present. I think one of the core issues is that Blizzard has a number of talented individuals who have been there leading development since forever, and they've had basically unlimited freedom ever since the release of the first two Warcraft games. The only company I can think of that's in the same position today is Valve, and I don't think they have any plans to develop MMOs anytime soon.Quote:
Originally Posted by MeowyWowie
I'm sure we'll see it happen again though; it's just a question of when another company will form comprised of experienced devs with proven track records who basically answer to no one. -
06-05-2011, 11:58 PMMeowyWowie
While I respect your opinion Quanta, I still highly doubt we'll see anything as successful as WoW in terms of MMOs. At least not if everyone's stuck on making casual games. There are far more games out there now competing with each other, most trying to emulate what WoW did, how WoW did it.
WoW released when the MMO market was still somewhat fresh and most games available were catered to niche markets. Blizzard's casual approach couldn't have been timed better, and I think this is one of the main reasons it became so popular.
Today, most everyone interested in MMOs has already played at least one in the past. Because of that, people are picky and know what they want in them. With so many options out there now (granted many aren't even worth mentioning,) it's hard to think that the majority will all flock to one game.
I'm no fortune teller, but judging by current trends, I don't see this happening any time soon, or really ever for that matter. -
06-06-2011, 01:03 AMRoaran
It's incredibly hard for new MMOs to compete with established ones. I would think it's nearly impossible.
A game that has had 10+ years of development and content already released offers far more to a new player than most other MMOs available. A company can either release it early, with the basic core elements and a 'playable' game, or they can develop it for several more years to make it more appealing.
Honestly though, the trend lately has been to release betas/early versions of the game, and I'm not entirely sure SE made a bad decision by releasing the game as it was. At least from a player's perspective. It's doubtful that if the game had not been released, as many changes and fixes would have taken place, and it is likely there would have been no player polls to help guide development.
Whether it was a financial mistake or not... in the end, MMOs are only successful several years from their release, and they are successful based on whether the game is good or not. My opinion is, the early release and the additional feedback from the players will contribute to a better game.
I have never thought anything WoW has done was revolutionary at all. I played it for some time, but without my friends playing, I instantly quit. There's nothing spectacular about the gameplay or the lore the environments. I had some fun playing PvP, but it was never really fleshed out into something great.
WoW was successful because it was popular. Addressing why it was popular is hard... They got people to play the game with good advertising, and the got people to stay in the game with constant gear baiting and updates to add goals for people to stay. The game was also accessible to just about anyone. I think more importantly WoW became mostly a Fad. Everyone was doing it, everyone had friends playing it, so everyone at least tried it. I highly doubt there will be another MMO Fad, as most people who experienced their first MMO through WoW either loved it and stayed and are currently playing an MMO, or they hated it, quit and will most likely never return.
The best thing they can accomplish would be to steal a large subscription base from another MMO. Which is nearly impossible at first release. However, there is an opportunity to new MMOs to cash in big and become the new WoW. Eventually Blizz will release it's new MMO. If it turns out to be a typical MMO release, dismal failures and over hyped expectations, people will either return to WoW or jump ship entirely. FFXIV if it has enough content to draw people in, could capitalize on this.
Anyways a billion reasons why there won't be a new WOW, few reasons to expect another one. But it isn't impossible. -
06-06-2011, 08:59 AMBalbanes
A Sense of Urgency
In many of the MMOs I've played, there is almost always something important going on. These things would have real benefits & consequences for success or failure
- Rift has rift invasions (PvE zone-wide events) as well as more group/solo friendly Rift events.
- DAoC had PvP frontiers in which 3 factions fought to control relics, keeps and even a massive dungeon
- SWG had a constant PvP/PvE struggle between the Rebels and Empire
- Ultima Online had GM events as well as PvP faction control of major cities. Also PvE monster invasions of cities
- FFXI had a weekly nation conquest of zones as well as PvE invasions in Al-Zahbi (Besieged).
* There could be monster/NPC invasions of the 3 City-States as well as minor invasions of te Aetheryte camps.
* Bring back XI style nation conquest, but make it dfferent so that it adapts to XIV.
- Create outposts throughout the zones which serve the nation that controls the zone. These outposts could have Crafting Support, vendors, even special quests. Maybe even teleport/chocobo services?
- Create unique bonuses for the nation which is in "1st", but also incentives for underpopulated nations to give them a chance to compete (think Gridania here).
1st place: A small bonus to XP/SP
2nd place: NPCs sell items/services cheaper
3rd place: A small but noticable bonus to attack power / defense
Now obviously, everyone at endgame will want #3, right? However, the more people that join the losing side, the less they lose! These bonuses are only suggestions, of course.
More to come.
* Conquest systems should divide the 5 major zones into their sub-zones. Northern Shroud, Southern Shroud, etc etc. -
06-06-2011, 02:19 PMKaedrianLiangDestroying the principles behind the genre. Remember when MMORPG's required players to put a hefty amount of time into it?Well apparently thats unacceptable now, with reviewers calling everything that isn't WoW "a chore." Don't get me wrong i like WoW for what it is. And i certainly like the direction FFXIV is taking.Quote:
Originally Posted by Balbanes
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06-07-2011, 01:05 AMBalbanesIt is kind of sad how WoW has spoiled so many gamers in that regard.Quote:
Originally Posted by KaedrianLiang
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06-07-2011, 01:09 AMyukikaze_yanagi
Jumping is what make a game succesful.
This game don't have so will fail. Right evangela ? '-' -
06-07-2011, 01:59 AMJackDanielsFFXIV forfeited success when they released an alpha (beta at best) version of this game.Quote:
Q: When will Diablo III be released?
A: It's too early to estimate Diablo III's release date. As with all Blizzard Entertainment games, our goal is to create a game that is as fun, balanced, and polished as possible. We intend to take as much time developing Diablo III as is necessary to ensure the game meets our own high expectations and those of our players.
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06-09-2011, 04:56 AMBalbanesIts actually pretty fun. Another idea would be to disguise onesself as a beastman to infiltrate their area/spy on their plans.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rinoa