Now, I know I'm not the only one that uses FFXI as a model to compare FFXIV to, but please hear me out.
First, please take the time to watch these two videos:
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzrmwcSizIY
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iesY1XssACM&feature=related
That is the world where I spent 6 happy years exploring, making friends, and having a grand adventure. The memories I've collected throughout my travels in Vana'diel have stuck with me since the first day I started playing. I remember being excited every time I wandered into an unknown area, witnessed one of the many awesome landmarks spread about the world, or discovered something interesting about Vana'diel's history. I remember the sense of relief and wonder of finally reaching a new city after the long and dangerous walk from one to the other. I remember the sense of triumph that came over me when my ragtag group of friends and I managed to win a difficult fight. I remember doing quests not because they gave a small reward, not because I needed the fame, but because I was genuinely interested in Vana'diel, its inhabitants, and the stories that each quest revealed. To me, FFXI was the closest any video game came to providing an adventure. When it came to creating an interesting setting I believe the game to be second to none.
Of course, I was ecstatic when FFXIV was announced. I thought that with all that they did in FFXI, they would manage to do so much better in FFXIV. Boy was I disappointed. Instead of a collection of varied and vibrant zones, we get a few gigantic, bland, and repetitive ones. In FFXI I could explore any zone at random and there would be several features that make the zone unique, send clues to the player about Vana'diel's past, and sometimes even provide insight to that past when tied to a quest. What am I rewarded with when I explore Eorzea? About a thousand small caves with moles, a tiny altar here and there that say nothing about Eorzea, and of course the miniscule "towns" containing about five NPCs that speak one line of dialogue. The walk from Bastok to Windurst in FFXI takes you through SEVEN unique zones and involves a ferry ride which could be attacked by pirates or dreadful sea monsters. Traveling from Ul'dah to Limsa Lominsa involves a short walk through ONE zone to a ferry that drops me off right at the city! As a player who seeks adventure in an MMO, was I expected to be satisfied with this? Five enormous maps that constantly reuse features? Teleporting everywhere as a main method of transportation? Small outposts with absolutely nothing of interest? All three cities packed right next to each other? The sad part is that the other problems like the lackluster battle system, the armory system, and the market wards can all be fixed. I can't expect every map to be redesigned (One can only hope) but I do expect the newer ones to be a major improvement. Quite frankly, it feels as if there was absolutely no amount of creativity involved in creating Eorzea. The world feels lifeless, ESPECIALLY when compared to Vana'diel. I am not asking for FFXI-2 (Even though I would love that), but I am asking for a game that meets the quality of its predecessor. Put your heart and soul into creating an improved Eorzea and I will put my heart, soul, and wallet into exploring it. I don't want FFXIV to continue being "that disappointing game that I wasted $80 on".
For those who don't want to read my wall of text: The zones are boring and the world is poorly designed. Please make it better.
What happened to the adventure?
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03-08-2011, 04:17 PMDemaciaWhat happened to the adventure?
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03-08-2011, 04:20 PMelkhorn
This game will be nothing like XI, I believe the SE teams have stated this serveral times that they wish to take a different approach
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03-08-2011, 04:22 PMDemacia
Is that supposed to make it okay to have a bad setting? How they go from FFXI zones to the ones we have now is beyond me.
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03-08-2011, 04:31 PMelkhorn
The zones arent really the issue they the same as ffxi was back in beta for the most part. difference is player population, lacking content. & the fact the game was release WAY to prematurely. FFXIV was rushed onto the market because the new star wars mmo, WoW expansion, DCU, APB(or w/e) where all comming out as a fight or flight response Tanaka rushed FFXIV out trying to 1 up the compition. and he failed.
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03-08-2011, 04:31 PMQuinidar
I need to agree with Demacia.
The world is very hollow and dosent have that feeling that adventuring is worth it.
There is nothing realy to see from point A to B or learn about the world. -
03-08-2011, 06:00 PMDarkshade
I just wanted to let you know OP, that I agree with you entirely. You summed up my feelings exactly.
If I may add;
I felt like Vana'Diel was a real world. I had genuine interest in the world, it's people, it's history, and it's lore.
I feel like Eaorzea is a shallow empty place. While the game is beautiful there isn't much variety, everything is re-used, there are next to no landmarks, there is hardly any story outside of the main quest line [can we just call this the mission line?.] The world feels dead, uninteresting and boring.
This latest patch had me really excited; "New Quests" you say? I got my hopes up again, only to have them devastated. The latest quests both in story and reward are, in my opinion, not fun nore interesting. I almost feel like they're desperate stall attempts. "Here have something!"; I don't agree with the execution or design of these quests either. Added mob sets that don't yield EXP, SP or items and are bunched together at some random area of the map?
I'm trying real hard. I'm trying REALLY hard to be patient. I really WANT TO BELIEVE that the game will get better. I want to believe that SQUARE ENIX hasn't lost face, hasn't gone down hill. It's getting real hard to continue lying to myself. -
03-08-2011, 06:08 PMBetelgeuzah
# SITE FEEDBACK
Not the game.
Just saying.. -
03-08-2011, 06:10 PMDemaciaWelcome to Forum: Feedback & Suggestions!Quote:
Originally Posted by Betelgeuzah
The purpose of this forum is for players to submit feedback and suggestions on FINAL FANTASY XIV, The Lodestone, FINAL FANTASY XIV Forum and other official websites concerning FINAL FANTASY XIV. In order for us to be able to offer a better service, we would like to hear your opinions.
Sup dog. -
03-08-2011, 06:16 PMDarkshadeQuote:
Originally Posted by Demacia
Told Status:
Not Told [_]
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03-08-2011, 06:18 PMBetelgeuzahThe official name of the lodestone is... wait for it...Quote:
Originally Posted by Demacia
FINAL FANTASY XIV, The Lodestone. Not The Lodestone.
So yes, what I say still applies, dawg.
Quote:
Told Status:
Not Told [_]
Told [X]
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03-08-2011, 06:26 PMDarkshade
And I suppose you think it was a typo on the exact same forum on the XI thread?
"Welcome to Forum: Feedback and Suggestions!
The purpose of this forum is for players to submit feedback and suggestions on FINAL FANTASY XI, the FINAL FANTASY XI Official Website, the FINAL FANTASY XI Forum and other official websites concerning FINAL FANTASY XI. In order for us to be able to offer a better service, we would like to hear your opinions."
"Welcome to Forum: Feedback & Suggestions!
The purpose of this forum is for players to submit feedback and suggestions on FINAL FANTASY XIV, The Lodestone, FINAL FANTASY XIV Forum and other official websites concerning FINAL FANTASY XIV. In order for us to be able to offer a better service, we would like to hear your opinions."
I think it's pretty clear with both of them. I'm pretty confident the feedback section is for topics related to the game, the forum, and any official websites. A mod can feel free to correct me if I'm somehow wrong. -
03-08-2011, 06:35 PMSuirieko
Sorry, guys, but the thread all about the subject of this forum section is in another castle!
That said, while I like the concept of the zones in FFXIV, I feel that they are very empty and bland, and I feel they need to add more to the zones. It needs more structure, it needs more uniqueness, it needs more wow factor. -
03-08-2011, 06:37 PMBetelgeuzahIt is quite clear with the XI forums, but it doesn't change the fact that it doesn't list XIV game properly in the XIV forums, making it unclear what exactly do they mean. If it was a typo on the admin's part, then there is not much else to be said here.Quote:
Originally Posted by Darkshade
Except to suggest that they fix the typo, if that's what it is. -
08-21-2012, 01:22 PMVassteel1
adventureing is dead. nobody solos stuff any more