Patch 1.18: Thank you Yoshi for helping fit a busy lifestyle

Currently I'm finding myself overloaded in my college studies working on a biology major and after reading the latest letter from the producer I can't say it enough that I am joyous overhearing Yoshi's changes made in the game.

By NO means do I ever want this game to become a WoW-esque, easy casual game where you can reach the cap in a week, but with the new solo centered leve playstyle alongside more in depth content things are looking bright for the future :). I was worried I would have to give up being a halfway decent player in this game with my hectic lifestyle because I truly wished I could play this game more often and be a hardcore player, but sadly I cannot and I know others have this same issue.

So anyways, I'm feeling optimistic and appreciative of the direction this game is headed in and can't wait to see the way things will continue to grow :D. Thanks Yoshi-P and keep up the good work!

How can you thank him for something you've yet to see?

Current track record, etc...

He deserves my thanks just for throwing the idea out there. Appreciated as well. As fun as it is, there are drawbacks to being sucked disproportionately into one game.

Indeed. As someone with a 9-5 job, Yoshi-P's philosophy of "casual during the week, hardcore on the weekends" was music to my eyes.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LateReg

How can you thank him for something you've yet to see?

Current track record, etc...

---

Marked as troll comment.

Yes, I think his now somewhat better enunciated philosophy with respect to the game is a very sensible one.

When it was FFXI didn't have no kids, still had lots of time so ran HNMLS and Dynamis LS been doing it for years but now married with 1 son with another one due in October, I can't play hardcore like I used to so what YoshiP said about the goals of this game really made me happy. Gotta thank him for that :D

It is a refreshing thing to see,

working 9hours five days a week, only have time for 2 hours weekdays.
mmo are fun but we should not have to spend our life in it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fredtma

working 9hours five days a week, only have time for 2 hours weekdays.
mmo are fun but we should not have to spend our life in it.

---

Lots of people spending most of their lives now on different type of MMO - smart phones messaging constantly, twitter constantly, facebook constantly, forums constantly...lol Even my mom + grandma doing facebook.... /facepalm

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Eekiki

Indeed. As someone with a 9-5 job, Yoshi-P's philosophy of "casual during the week, hardcore on the weekends" was music to my eyes.

---

You listen to music with your eyes?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fated

You listen to music with your eyes?

---

I suffer from synesthesia. Your posts smell like ham.

I find it funny that everyone claims that no one has time anymore. Think about it... if you had time 4-5 years ago but don't now, those who are 4-5 years younger than you now have that time and the process will repeat. Someone still is willing to play that type of game even though you can't. It's not like EVERY gamer can't put in those hours. If anything, it's the same number of people as it was back then... if not more since the recent MMO boom.

With all that being said, it's nice to know that at least solo players will be doing their own content while more dedicated players will have their own. The more people that are able to spend their time effectively in game, the happier those people will be

I hope you have something really good!
I still believe in the SE

If this is pulled of correctly and I sincerely hope it is. This could well be the MMO of choice for many poeple. I can't play more than 1-3 hours a night weekdays. But at weekends I may want to play 12hours+

It's looking good people, looking good indeed.

I've been nearing level 30 forever. Partly because I haven't played as much as I anticipated because I am bored out of my skull with this grind, I don't like to mob grind personally and there's only so many leves I can do before asking myself why am I here? It doesn't help the SP starts to sloooooow down at this level. And partly because I work odd hours and sometimes can't play at all for days in a row.

With this letter we've been told we are actually getting things fun to do with a purpose, reasons to get your butt online and spend time in Eorzea. This is what I've personally been waiting for the light at the end of the tunnel is actually starting to appear in the distance.

Yes it sounds great. Now the question is, how will it turn out?

Quote:

---

Thank you Yoshi for helping fit a busy lifestyle

---

Agree!!!!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LateReg

How can you thank him for something you've yet to see?

Current track record, etc...

---

Unlike AngryNixon, who seems very angry and hostile, I can agree with you.
Don't thank him yet. We haven't played what's planned yet.

It's like thanking a cook before you taste the food. Could be poisoned, spoiled, bland, ect. Won't know till you try it, same goes for XIV. We have to wait and see how it's implemented first before thanking him.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Reinheart

Lots of people spending most of their lives now on different type of MMO - smart phones messaging constantly, twitter constantly, facebook constantly, forums constantly...lol Even my mom + grandma doing facebook.... /facepalm

---

I agree. This game can be play at one's time :D. With no need to be worrying about omg I gotta level fast so I can etc etc etc.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DeadRiser

Unlike AngryNixon, who seems very angry and hostile, I can agree with you.
Don't thank him yet. We haven't played what's planned yet.

It's like thanking a cook before you taste the food. Could be poisoned, spoiled, bland, ect. Won't know till you try it, same goes for XIV. We have to wait and see how it's implemented first before thanking him.

---

Yeah, I have no idea why he called me a troll for that lol...

I mean... for all we know the casual features could be terrible, and I really wouldn't be surprised if they were. What reason do we have, so far, to believe that it'll be good? Seriously...

If you have a busy lifestyle and cannot afford to spend the time playing an MMORPG then you shouldn't play it, go buy an offline game. Casual gamers ruin the gameplay and rewarding features of MMORPGs for more dedicated players. Also Casual players = noobs for the most part so.... no real loss.

Artist's depiction of Seraphita.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Seraphita

If you have a busy lifestyle and cannot afford to spend the time playing an MMORPG then you shouldn't play it, go buy an offline game. Casual gamers ruin the gameplay and rewarding features of MMORPGs for more dedicated players. Also Casual players = noobs for the most part so.... no real loss.

---

Translation: We should make a game that ignores a considerable ammount of otherwise interested players because "hardcore" players consider that "casuals" ruin everything and that making a few gameplay aspects tailored for them somehow means the whole game will suck and be casual - even the stuff that has ALREADY been said to be targetted towards those who have more time to play and can dedicate themselfs to reach harder / longer content.

Also, we are not losing anything ignoring casuals....except the guy who plays 1 hour per day pays the exact same as the one who plays 12h, therefore causing less load to our servers while generating the same revenue.



Makes perfect sense.

I'm excited even more for 1.18, and while I'm trying to keep my expectations in check for the patch the thing that excites me the most is that it's the first big patch with many things to come.

I like the casual on the weekdays hardcore on the weekends, as long as that's just a saying as my gaming weekends right now are on Tuesday and Wednesday. :)

I like the targeting of the Casual demographic. I feel it's easier to get things done and with leves and a bit forceful asking at camps, parties too.

@Jayvir, the competition for gamer attention seems to have more options today. Greater gamer awareness, other MMOs, consoles with online and headset, social networking apps, and smartphone apps (that people will do at home too).

@Sephitia, there may be a misunderstanding of casual being referred to here. Folks that still have the dedicated gaming spirit, but have other responsibilities to family, friends, and society that take precedence before the game, especially on weekdays. They still want to spend free time gaming with friends and want to enjoy themselves. The weekend or off day comes along, then it's gaming time. I guess we get lumped into the Casual gamer category en masse, since we're limited on time.

Whether casual, dedicated, or hardcore, a game should be enjoyable to you (achievement over a challenge, social, advancement, story, gameplay, etc.).

you don't need to be cordial to him, he's being a troll

I like the direction it's going as well, catering to different types of gamers is fine for me. Hardcore 12H a day players will have their content soon enough and casual gamers will be able to gain their levels slowly during the week with an occassional Dungeon on the weekend. I'm on the borderline, because I will play when I have time, sometimes up to 4 hours at a time on weekends. But I don't want it to become something like FFXI with the only way to stay equally equipped was to hunt HNMs at 24hr spawn intervals. I liked the introduction of Einherjar, where you choose the time when you entered and it wasn't set around a certain time of the day....sometimes that being 4AM your time...Orz. I'm hoping these Dungeons are similar as to where you can set a good time for where everyone will be available and do em.

"Casual players = noobs" - Seraphita

This statement is rediculous, because I think most of the casual gamers on this game today were hardcore back in the day. Now we just don't have the time to devote like we did 4-5 years ago, many have moved on in their careers and life...sorry for thinking RL > Game...There is a way to make both parties happy and that seems to be what SE is aiming for.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fated

You listen to music with your eyes?

---

You can read music off of paper ya know . . . .

so the term actually works

@ OP
got to agree with you. its fantastic because my play time is limited right now because of a busy work schedule. Yoshi-P is awesome.

I'm on boat here as well. 9-6 Mon-Fri
Add in any social life, and that leaves really little time. I appreciate that I can jump in and do something.

Its great there making the game more casual. I'm a student so this really is great for me and lets me focus more on my studies then the game.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Seraphita

If you have a busy lifestyle and cannot afford to spend the time playing an MMORPG then you shouldn't play it, go buy an offline game. Casual gamers ruin the gameplay and rewarding features of MMORPGs for more dedicated players. Also Casual players = noobs for the most part so.... no real loss.

---

http://www.blogadilla.com/wp-content...stdetector.jpg
I think I'm detecting a Troll near by... hmm

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LateReg

Yeah, I have no idea why he called me a troll for that lol...

I mean... for all we know the casual features could be terrible, and I really wouldn't be surprised if they were. What reason do we have, so far, to believe that it'll be good? Seriously...

---

Because anytime you are opposite of the majority, you are a troll. Trust me, I'm one too lol. It gets old seeing troll this and troll that every other comment

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Seraphita

If you have a busy lifestyle and cannot afford to spend the time playing an MMORPG then you shouldn't play it, go buy an offline game. Casual gamers ruin the gameplay and rewarding features of MMORPGs for more dedicated players. Also Casual players = noobs for the most part so.... no real loss.

---

And by dedicated players, I'm sure you mean unemployed reefers.

See how easy it is to make unbased assumptions? You could always just not play with 'em.

The best thing about Final Fantasy XIV is that it IS(or will be) taking into account a wide spectrum of playstyles and such. In fact, I tihnk "playing your way" is an excellent tagline for the game, and I'm also glad Yoshi P is taking all of that into account.

I nearly jumped up for joy when I saw the mention of tutorial content for early ranks such as rank 10- 18 dungeons. Help people get into the game naturally. I'll never forget how damned frustrating it was to teach my friends how to play FFXI simply because not only was there so much fluff, but it was all so damned abstract and vague. We don't need another repeat of that.

Just got my Redelivery position back, so working 2am-11am/12pm every day of the week. 9-10 hours a day working, 6-8 hour sleep, and school coming up in Fall.

Yeah i'm going to be a little behind ;-;

I am also very thankful that Yoshi and the team are committed to making this game fun and enjoyable for casual players. At the same time, I also think the game is currently lacking any kind of enjoyable endgame content for the hardcore players and I hope that also changes rather quickly.

One of the ways that FFXIV currently caters to the casual player is how basically anyone can have any item in the game with very little effort. I believe that is not good for the game in the long term. We need to start seeing a few rare and desirable items it give the casual player and the hardcore player alike something to look forward to.

I really enjoy that I can hop on after work, knock out a few leves, then go to bed feeling accomplished and not have to spend 6hours playing. If I want to dump in 10hours (like I did in FFXI throughout school) I have to find a weekend day. Which is fine, because most of the people I talk to are on then and we can do group things (grind, NMs, etc). I think they will continue to add to the game so that there is content for hardcore (relics, HQ gears, titles, maat cap, etc) but also have things for less hardcore to do (leves, behest, small man dungeons).

Also, personally, I cannot even make it through all my leves in one night after work, so the leve system to me gives plenty to do (and probably most casual gamers).

they should just make pve mmo's that you can only log in 10 or 20 hours max a week, each week. or better yet make separate servers for people who actually like the 24hour grinds. why throw them out the game completely, give them 1 server. less they realize most casuals spend most there time afk waiting for those who play 6-8hours a day to set everything up for them from party grinds to dungeons.

as you can tell i'm not for the solo play all day long and then the 2times a week party play events. i like my mmo's full of party play, it's all i do them for. i don't log in with my gf or wife and play with just them all day. i don't like statics, i like new people to play with all the time so for me this is just a let down. if you compare the sp grinding of the old battle system and now they are complete 360's. i rather have the 6-15man grinds all day on big ol mobs.

the direction alot of mmo's are going are upsetting to me, it's all solo this and solo that. i'll pay 16bucks for a gamefly account and solo real games all day if i wanted solo play. busy lifestyle or not they need real party play in mmo's it is the most important factor along with lots of content that is challenging. ty.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Seraphita

If you have a busy lifestyle and cannot afford to spend the time playing an MMORPG then you shouldn't play it, go buy an offline game. Casual gamers ruin the gameplay and rewarding features of MMORPGs for more dedicated players. Also Casual players = noobs for the most part so.... no real loss.

---

Really. If it were not for casual players so called hardcore/power gamers you wouldn't have MMORPGs to play. Who do you think has the cash to support these things? Kids who go to school/stay at home? Please. Try again.

And I could say that for MY playstyle which is about adventuring and discovery you people keep ruining my sense of discovery with your databases and constant min maxing calculations. But I don't say this out loud because you know what, it sounds pretty stupid now doesn't it???

Yeah it does.

I noticed some interesting things during my "hardcore" days of WoW. I had far too much free time and I spent far too much of it on that game. Additionally, I found that the game took so much of my time, I had little to no time for playing anything else. Heck, there was likely a two year sprint that I never finished a single player game. I HATED that. As much as I enjoyed the game I hated trying to keep up with it.

Seeing the mass shift to accommodations for casual players across the whole of the mmo scene is a good thing in my eyes, and many others as this thread makes clear. Someone made a remark about a generation of mmo'ers becoming older and having less time now than they did 4-5 years ago, but the people who are 4-5 years younger have that time. <-- A lot of truthiness to that statement. Working during the summer and working my tail off during the school year at the University... I can certainly believe that statement is true for me. But, something to keep in mind: the age group of gamers is going to become wider and wider as the current generations age. I, as well as many others plan to keep playing games their entire life.

When you have the time and commitment, it is an absolute blast to invest crazy amounts of time into a fun and complex game, but when you get busy with life and still want to have some of that experience... They're are compromises. There is nothing wrong with casual gaming becoming a larger part of mmo's. Games that aim to target the largest audience possible need to work towards accommodating for differing play and lifestyles. I for one embrace that idea and hope to see it expand in the future.

Reading what Yoshi-P had to say about casual play styles makes perfect sense to me. The developers want a large audience, so they are being realistic and understanding.