Auto Demo?

I realize housing is a huge disaster, but when is auto demo returning. Or something implemented to open up more housing. I get that the world is in a state.. but plots shouldn't be locked up by someone who has either quit the game or taken a long hiatus. Why is auto demo a thing if it is just going to be turned on for a short span only to be turned off for a long period of time.

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Originally Posted by LessaDragonfire

Or something implemented to open up more housing.

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On July 10, every ward above 9 becomes available for personal housing.

https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodes...ea1af7ef0cb27b

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Originally Posted by Breakbeat

On July 10, every ward above 9 becomes available for personal housing.

https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodes...ea1af7ef0cb27b

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Auto demo. More houses open to private. More band-aids.

When the invasion of Ukraine is over, I think? That’s how it started.

I have no clue at this point.

SE will be adding a new NA data center with 4 new worlds sometime in August if they're able to stick to their previously announced plan. That will be an additional 28,800 houses for those who wish to play in the NA region if they're willing to transfer to one of the new worlds. SE hinted in their EU/JP announcement that housing may open faster for the new EU worlds than it did for the Materia worlds.

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The purchase of housing will be unavailable on the newly established Worlds at the launch of Patch 6.18. Before we can resume the sale of plots, we must first verify that the Japanese/European data center expansions and the Data Center Travel system are stable, then re-enable the Home World Transfer service. For the latest updates regarding the availability of housing on the new Worlds, please visit the Lodestone.

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Since they will have some wards restricted to FC purchase, there's really no reason why they couldn't open up housing for personal purchase faster as it would not affect the ability of FCs to obtain houses once they're past their 30 day waiting period. It would create an incentive to get more players to transfer sooner to the new worlds.

We can watch to see what they do with EU to get an idea of how they intend to handle NA.

On the existing NA worlds, some houses will become available as other players take advantage of the free transfers to the new worlds.

It's not enough, of course, and it doesn't adequately address need where it currently exists but it's at least an option for those who don't have close ties to existing friends and social circles on their current worlds.

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Originally Posted by Jojoya

It's not enough, of course, and it doesn't adequately address need where it currently exists but it's at least an option for those who don't have close ties to existing friends and social circles on their current worlds.

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The biggest change too is that data center travel will be a thing for the new NA data center launches so you potentially could still do things with existing friends while you are on a different data center, assuming that will be how it works. If it turns out to be a good feature that still lets you play with friends on your old data center, I think there is a strong case to move for a house.

Not a popular opinion most likely, but F it.

I really do understand why auto-demo is on, I get it. But when do you justify turning it off? People who are most immediately affected by the war will likely have their lives upended for YEARS at this rate with things still going. I don't think it was wrong necessarily of them to turn it on, but I think they should maybe send a word of update in the near future, or maybe start looking harder into *FULLY instanced housing.

I know it's the least of their concern, but aside from maybe talking with their wallet, what can Square do? Housing (a smaller issue, obviously) will continue to get worse while things still rage on in the real world. I felt the same way with the pandemic auto-demo turn off, and we're still knee deep in the pandemic and I'm sure there are still a lot of issues with safely getting back to work amongst other things.
Just my two cents.

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Originally Posted by Jojoya

That will be an additional 28,800 houses for those who wish to play in the NA region if they're willing to transfer to one of the new worlds.

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And then you still have no success in all bids... and now you want to go back and have to pay money. As long as its not a 100% guarantee, this is no solution.

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Originally Posted by UkcsAlias

And then you still have no success in all bids... and now you want to go back and have to pay money. As long as its not a 100% guarantee, this is no solution.

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Not sure where you're getting the "pay money" from. World transfers to the new NA worlds should be free from other NA worlds as is usual for new worlds.

I agree it's not a solution, nor did I imply it was. But the OP was asking when we were going to get more houses and that was information no one else had added to the conversation yet.

I think their implication, if I'm not mistaken, is thus: you move to new server, you still lose lottery, then if you want to go back to old server, you have to pay.

Initially auto demo was turned off because of the (sometimes) hours long queue times to get into game at the launch of EW.
That's not an issue any longer.
Then it was turned on due to 'real world events' which everyone assumed to mean the war in Ukraine.
But, if you're unable to access FF14 due to that, then I doubt that your main concern is a virtual house. I understand it sucks, but wars have been raging non stop for decades. Making everyone elses experience lesser for it, for more than half a year now (?) just doesn't make sense.

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Originally Posted by Shazzinoth

Initially auto demo was turned off because of the (sometimes) hours long queue times to get into game at the launch of EW.
That's not an issue any longer.
Then it was turned on due to 'real world events' which everyone assumed to mean the war in Ukraine.
But, if you're unable to access FF14 due to that, then I doubt that your main concern is a virtual house. I understand it sucks, but wars have been raging non stop for decades. Making everyone elses experience lesser for it, for more than half a year now (?) just doesn't make sense.

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Everyone focuses on the Ukraine situation but there was more going on at the time. There was also a major earthquake in JP in March.

No one is getting a lesser experience because demolition is suspended. Resuming demolition would only free up a couple of dozen houses per world compared to the 1000+ players trying to get one.

They're getting a lesser experience because SE isn't taking adequate steps to solve supply problems.

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Originally Posted by Shazzinoth

Making everyone elses experience lesser for it, for more than half a year now (?) just doesn't make sense.

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With an ounce of compassion, it does.

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Originally Posted by Puksi

With an ounce of compassion, it does.

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6 months is more than long enough in my view and I have a house/houses so I don't have a personal stake in it. That war could last years and it could be said for many a natural disaster. It's time SE addressed the supply and stops with band aid fixes for a community that wants to participate in housing.

I'm sure the players who have lost everything in real life would love to trade places with ghouls who can only think of pixel housing in a video game. The hits just keep coming from Balmung lately.

The demo timer IS a bandaid, you know. Once upon a time, Yoshida swore Square would never do that--he pointed out himself it's a cheap tactic that game companies used to keep subscriptions. Maybe the focus should be on the small indie company releasing new wards instead of hovering like vultures over something another player worked hard to earn, hoping their hardship will free it up for your convenience.

Between this, the billboard, and the housing wall person enraged over the roof of a small peeking into their view, the disconnect from reality of this playerbase lately is boggling.

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Originally Posted by Puksi

I'm sure the players who have lost everything in real life would love to trade places with ghouls who can only think of pixel housing in a video game. The hits just keep coming from Balmung lately.

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I have characters on many servers for your information don't need to try and demean Balmung. My home server is Siren. Name calling isn't necessary and you seem to be worried more about them than those actually playing the game. So tell me if the war lasts 3 years should they halt demo for that long? How long is fine with you? 6 months is already more than fair in my view. Now maybe just try and be civil and not try and demean others with another point of view. And I have no stake in this matter I own houses already.

When someone says that the suffering of other players in real life is less important than a pixel house in a video game, that's not name-calling, that's accuracy.

I would prefer the demo timers never come back, considering that is what was promised and that is what respects the time and effort that players put into getting a house. The players are not the problem. Square is, in their greed. The cheap tactic keeps players subbed despite the "caring" advice of Yoshida to take breaks. One of their biggest moneymakers, but somehow, it's still small indie company, please understand--while smaller MMOs have functional housing systems for all.

But you want to punish people for tragedy beyond their control instead. Losing everything in real life isn't enough, take the pixel things, too!

May you never be reduced to an inconvenience for ghouls who look at your pixel house and only care that it isn't theirs.

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Originally Posted by Puksi

But you want to punish people for tragedy beyond their control instead. Losing everything in real life isn't enough, take the pixel things, too!

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It's a game not real life. Demo timers are here for a reason people quit the game and never come back those assets need to go to people who are actually playing the game especially since they're limited. It would be nice if they had more than enough for everyone but they don't. Calling people names doesn't make you right. Pretty childish I might add and the demo timer will return at some point.

Your arm chair activism is dually noted but certainly misdirected if you think reserving a house in a video game is that important. You're entitled to believe that demolition isn't warranted but with limited resources in a game like this it's something that is needed to allow those resources go to people actually playing the game. 6 months is more than generous in my view but we can certainly agree to disagree.

Perhaps it's time for SE to own up to the fact that housing as implemented isn't something a good portion of their player back can partake in and perhaps it's more than time they address the issue by adding instanced houses alongside the ward system like other games have.

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Originally Posted by LaylaTsarra

It's a game not real life.

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Yet you're the one saying "tough luck they lost everything in real life, but people really, really need their pixel house and well, they just should've made sure they got it together faster." I'm not the one who needs their priorities sorted.

It's nice to see this "great community" only cares so long as there's yellow and blue dye to sell on the MB and photo ops to show how great they are on social media. The hits really do keep coming.

Edit: Ah, of course, "armchair activism". No. Personal experience. My husband and I still are not back to our real home after Florence, and we were the fortunate ones in our neighborhood. It doesn't take "armchair activism". Just a shred of common basic decency to want players from our great community to have their game lives still intact when they hopefully can return to it.

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Originally Posted by Puksi

It's nice to see this "great community" only cares so long as there's yellow and blue dye to sell on the MB and photo ops to show how great they are on social media. The hits really do keep coming.

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Oh please cry us a river and stop trying to paint holding a house for people caught up in a war that could last years is what the team needs to do and anyone who disagrees with you somehow doesn't care about the war there or the people affected by it. I can guarantee you that those really affected by the war don't have their personal digital house in FFXIV as a priority concern. Your social activism is misplaced maybe spend some time trying to actually take care of people affected by the war in real life than trying to push an end to demolition here altogether.

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Originally Posted by Jojoya

Everyone focuses on the Ukraine situation but there was more going on at the time. There was also a major earthquake in JP in March.
No one is getting a lesser experience because demolition is suspended. Resuming demolition would only free up a couple of dozen houses per world compared to the 1000+ players trying to get one.
They're getting a lesser experience because SE isn't taking adequate steps to solve supply problems.

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Yes it is about time that the dev team looked at other housing alternatives. The game population has grown to a point where adding more ward houses isn't going to satisfy the demand. Demolition certainly isn't going to solve that supply issue but doing away with it won't help those who can actually play the game.

You can makes a case and still show basic human empathy.

There seem to be several issues at hand. It is absolutely tragic that anyone is suffering through a war. Hopefully we are all contributing to relieving their suffering in whatever way we are able.

Housing in a game has nothing to do with the war, nor should it. The game is an escape from real life. I would seriously doubt that anyone caught up in the war or any other global tragedy honestly cares about something as trivial as a game and a house in said game.

Auto-demo should be reinstated. People who do not subscribe to the game should have no reason to hang onto a handful of pixels. If you need a break, 45 days is plenty in my opinion. If the house is so important to you that you want to maintain it in a game you aren't playing, the cost should be subscription, otherwise why would you even care? What are you hanging onto? Why hang onto something that you aren't using or truly interested in and keep it away from those who would actively use it?

And before I'm attacked, I have owned houses in this game in the many years I've played. I have relinquished a house when I stopped playing. I have had a house demo'd when I stopped playing. Now I'm back and I'd like part of my game to include a house. I wasn't fond of placard clicking, but I'm less fond of this lottery.

Auto-demo won't solve the housing shortage. It will, however, free up a few more houses for people who want them.

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Originally Posted by LaylaTsarra

Oh please cry us a river and stop trying to paint holding a house for people caught up in a war that could last years is what the team needs to do and anyone who disagrees with you somehow doesn't care about the war there or the people affected by it. I can guarantee you that those really affected by the war don't have their personal digital house in FFXIV as a priority concern. Your social activism is misplaced maybe spend some time trying to actually take care of people affected by the war in real life than trying to push an end to demolition here altogether.

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Ah, we've moved on to the other classic chestnut, "wHy NoT hElP IrL????". But as it turns out, one can donate IRL and question the priorities of this thread at the same time. Players>pixels shouldn't even be a controversial opinion, but here we are.

GCBTW. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Puksi

Ah, we've moved on to the other classic chestnut, "wHy NoT hElP IrL????". But as it turns out, one can donate IRL and question the priorities of this thread at the same time. Players>pixels shouldn't even be a controversial opinion, but here we are.

GCBTW. :rolleyes:

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You are certainly making them one. You are entitled to your view as am I. You are not the litmus test for fairness let me add. Your demeaning attitude for anyone who would try and approach the issue of restoring demolition after a 6 month hiatus is certainly your prerogative just don't be surprised if not everyone agrees with you. Your willingness to try and some how demeanize others with another point of view is noted.

I trust the team will eventually address the issue of the hiatus and restore some semblance of fairness to those who are actually playing it given the resource is limited. The real solution is something they need to address by providing the opportunity for anyone who wants a house to be able to get one. Will that ever happen remains to be seen but until that does demolition is a necessary evil in my view to at least free up houses for those who would actually be using them.

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Originally Posted by Jensa

Housing in a game has nothing to do with the war, nor should it. The game is an escape from real life. I would seriously doubt that anyone caught up in the war or any other global tragedy honestly cares about something as trivial as a game and a house in said game.

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There were quite a few concerned posters over at r/FFXIV about how they could keep their sub going through all this, because as the community loves to point out, this game means a lot to a lot of people. And players back then were quick to support and advise. But here we are, in a thread that essentially says "well they should've had this settled sooner, give me their house!" Funny how it's only trivial when it's someone else.

Targeting players who are facing these events is misguided at best. The actual problem is Square, and their system designed to keep players subbed or else likely never recover the house they worked for, especially under this lottery. Square is not valuing the players' time and effort, only their sub money. They can make an instanced WoW Garrison with its own inventory, but somehow they can't do instanced houses, nor more free inventory space. There really is no housing system at this point, just a wad of dirty bandaids, and it boils down to their bottom line.

Yet smaller MMOs somehow have done it better.

So the demo timer turns back on, the vultures pick the bones, then what? Does that solve the housing problem? No. The last medium had well over 500 participants. Square limited it now to one house/one FC per account. They have a good idea of how many players want this thing they advertise as a feature, as though anyone can get one.

So why focus on punishing these players who likely would very much like to be back to playing?