Let's keep Character Crossovers from other Square-Enix titles out of FFXIV.

[SkyeWindbinder]

Agreed. I know that this Lightning event is obviously going to happen. They probably just allocated a bug chunk of funds toward the development team to simply make this event. They are talking about cutscenes, gear design and character models (even if these already exist on a different game that have to implement it into the current graphical engine) among other things. This gives the team access to more funding but for doing solely for the purpose of creating this content, so they have to do it. Now, none of this is wrong, if they want to make cross promotions with their property that's more than understandable. The difference is the execution.

I've said this before, but if they just came out and said it's a fun event for the fans who want to participate, grab some gear, and just do some extra content, then there's not a problem. All the people who are saying, "Don't like it, don't do it" would be justified in saying so, I would agree, and I wouldn't do the content (since I'm not interested in it). It's the story aspect that opens more doors for these shenanigans that's problematic. Anyways, I've said all this before so I don't want to beleaguer the point, that's pointless. We'll obviously just have to wait and see at this point (obviously) but I can't wait for ARR to come out, most excited I've been for an FF title since IX.

Indeed, this could very well open the floodgates for future advertising of other games using ARR as the proverbial billboard. Which is why I hope this is the first and last time they do this sort of thing. I'm sorry, but it just makes the game seem so... dated. Hopefully it's a timed event that will go away, meaning it won't have any real relevance in the story.

Oh, and this is just mho, but the Snow and Lightning outfits on PCs look really, really stupid. lol

[Yrusama]

Indeed, this could very well open the floodgates for future advertising of other games using ARR as the proverbial billboard. Which is why I hope this is the first and last time they do this sort of thing. I'm sorry, but it just makes the game seem so... dated. Hopefully it's a timed event that will go away, meaning it won't have any real relevance in the story.

Oh, and this is just mho, but the Snow and Lightning outfits on PCs look really, really stupid. lol

Seems temporary. I think we can expect promotional collaborations in the future, including with XV, but I'm starting to feel better about their transience.

[Obsy]

No, it is relevant. It goes to showing that cosmic tie-ins are permissible in this franchise, and that there's nothing explicitly forbidding such a thing.

I didn't say permissible, I said needed. As in required, mandatory, and/or imperative.
I also said it neither promotes nor denies, as in it doesn't matter one way or the other if it exists, and that a story can still stand on its own merits without it.

And thus we get at the heart of our disagreement. You and others choose a position of fear. Things are changing, what was once was is no longer, and that makes you afraid. On the other hand, I choose a position of faith. I find crossovers to be exciting and new. I love the idea of characters from different worlds and even different brands coming together and interacting with each other, and I find it fun and interesting. I see potential, while all you see are pitfalls.

Okay, yes. And? We haven't reached anything new here; the heart of this disagreement was the point of this thread in the first place. What ground is gained by pointing out the blatantly obvious? The fact that one side has a negative "connotation" (read: fear) does not grant the dismissal or invalidity of its points. Things can still be fun from a gameplay perspective while simultaneously damaging the over-arching theme of what a single story is.

With that, I have to say that I'm noticing a trend in your side of the discussion; that if something doesn't have a good or positive outlook, it's somehow of less worth or correctness. I ask that you please try to be mindful of this as we continue.

Back on point, the original intention for this part of the conversation was to highlight that nothing is really gained by cosmic cross-overs besides being able to say, "Look at how we crossed these two seemingly unrelated things together". Yep, you guys sure did, and at the expense of a story's integrity. Bravo.

But they usually are.

The initial point here was to examine whether or not a form of storytelling, while applauded by critics, could still fall under the label, "shoddy writing". We've since devolved into a "yah huh, nuh uh" spiral. It's unfortunate that this can't be further explored, as my points don't seem to be making any impact.

And thus we get back to the word "potential". Yes, it could potentially be bad, but it could potentially be good too. [...] So, where am I wrong? I was pointing out a possibility of such a crossover.

That's all there is to it. You do realize you're arguing my same points right back at me, right? The only difference here is my attempts to explain that these "potentials" are unnecessary. (Not impermissible as you're claiming I'm saying, and not impossible. Unnecessary. I beg you not to misquote me.) They're unnecessary because XIV and all other games like it do not need tie-ins or crossovers. Maybe if I try explaining this from a different angle, I can at least try to help you understand what I'm getting at...

A story told on its own:
- has an identity
- allows for its own growth and evolution over time
- gives its audience a sense of solidarity

A story that is later tied to another, unrelated or barely-related story:
- gives up at least a fraction of its identity to share with the tie-in
- relies on that tie-in to assist in its own growth and evolution
- fragments its sense of solidarity to accommodate the tie-in

Even if that tie-in is added "tastefully", was it needed? Is it acceptable to hurt a portion of the audience's connection to the primary story for a quick gimmick? Perhaps (as you've demonstrated more than once) you're okay with a segue in an otherwise exclusively concrete narrative. What I'm asking is for the acceptance that there are others who can and likely will have their experience(s) damaged by it.

(Never mind that a crossover has occurred already in Final Fantasy canon.

Okay. Going over this again.
Firstly, arguing that it's been done before (a fact that I've gone over in massive detail in this very thread and implore you actually read before attempting to use it as a strawman once more) is by no means an acceptable argument that it should be done here. All it means is "it's been done before". End of story.
Secondly, the state of "canon" does not negate the needlessness of a crossover or tie-in. It's not a band-aid that suddenly makes things okay. This is exactly what I was getting at with my over-the-top Shaq analogy.

I would like to add that I appreciate that this discussion has remained a civil as it has for this long.

[Gucci_Charms]

I think it's kind of neat that they're doing it. Although, I can see how it doesn't really fit with the game for some players. Acquiring the outfits from this event is kind of cool though

[Leowilde]

OP: YES! You worded everything perfectly, I couldn't have said it better myself. I agree with you, I too like references to other FF titles, but please, no actual characters!