FFXIV expansion (marketing strategy) at E3?

[Zantetsuken]

The way I see it, an expansion may be announced some day that will simply be the form of aaalll these patches they will be adding in the future. It seems like that's the only way they're going to be able to recover from bad press. I mean, what else are they gonna say? Are people REALLY gonna come back if all they do is send out an e-mail to everyone who subscribed saying "OH HEY! You can pay us again!"?

Exactly.

They something significant to mark the point where the can say the game is ready for paid subscription. Patch 1.19b doesn't quite do it for your average gamer -- especially considering the current reputation this game has.

[Seffy]

I think something that would help (at least I think! I'm no marketing major) would be to simply advertise again (no idea how much) when the PS3 release begins to approach. Not only advertise, but add a subtitle. You know, like Final Fantasy XIV: Rise of the Zilart. <.< something like that!

Don't really have to call it an expansion... just let people know that something about the game has changed or things have been added.

[Elkwood]

I have a hunch that SE will announce the first expansion to FFXIV at E3 along with some footage of new job system, and zones (some of it will be really cool looking). The expansion will be also included with the PS3 release and offered free of charge to current players.

I also predict whining on the forums on about how much of the 'expansion' content is really just stuff that was essential to making the game work and how it shouldn't be called an expansion at all.

If this does happen, keep in mind that it will be more of a marketing decision. SE will need to do this to generate some new hype in the game so we should go with it.

Does anyone think this won't happen, or if it does, that it is a bad idea?

I predict you smoked something totally awesome this AM and I really want some of it

[Majidah]

so you are implying that they take so freaking long in releasing patches and content lately because they halved their manpower by assigning people to work on an expansion?

because otherwise, who would be working on this fantasy expansion you hoped for?

there we go.

[Seffy]

so you are implying that they take so freaking long in releasing patches and content lately because they halved their manpower by assigning people to work on an expansion?

because otherwise, who would be working on this fantasy expansion you hoped for?

there we go.

once again, I think it's not that at all. I think it's more so he's saying (at least this is what I'M saying) is that they aren't working on anything we don't know about. They're adding all this stuff in these patches and so on.

HOWEVER. When they are finally done with all these radical changes, it is possible that they are planning to at LEAST add a subtitle to "Final Fantasy XIV" to give the impression that there has been an "expansion". Not in the sense that it's a disc you go out and buy full of instant content, but more so the expansion is made up of all these patches they've added/will add.

That is, simply a marketing strategy by letting people know the game has changed/been expanded.

[Cairdeas]

Well in my opinion this is what SE should do.

2011 Additions

Patch 1.18 (June)
-Finish Remaking the battle system + Balancing of classes
-Adjust Behest and Guildleves to be equal in all regions + put a solution for the things players do like fail leves on purpose.
-Introduce the first set of unlockable jobs.
-Introduce the Materia system.
-Adjustments to existing maps like Black shroud
-Encampments

Patch 1.18b (July)
-Fix bugs
-More balancing
-Introduce new side quests
-New NMs
-Expansion of companies

Patch 1.19 (August)
-Introduce Chocobos
-Introduce Ishgard
-New Dungeons
-Expansion of materia system.

________________________________________________________________________
~Start of monthly fee~
after patch 1.19 I hope all the work the developers have been working on would be ready, that way the game would be at a good state to start charging the monthly fee. and patches should be more bigger since they have to worry less about revamping the game.

Patch 1.20 (September)
-Addons to the whole game. (Leves,Behest,Dungeons,Materia,etc)
-Final set of planned jobs.
-First stage of missing Classes. (Musketeer + Arcanist)
-New endgame activity (Rank40+)
-Lots of new Monsters like tonberries
-Monster Encampments
-A lot of new Quests and Missions
-First rank increase (Rank 60)
-Expansion of companies & city-state tasks.
-Bugs,fixes,adjustments.

Patch 2.0 (December)
-Adjustments + Fixes
-Addition of Missing Classes (Shepherd,Mystic,Bard) (To balance out DOM with DOW)
-Addition to events
-New areas (Paglth'an + O'Ghomoro)
________________________________________________________________________
2012 Additions
~Announcement of first expansion for the end of 2012~2013 that introduce us to the region of the Garlean empire. Plus PS3 release with it and maybe the new Wii or whatever its called.

Patch 2.1 (Feb)
-Adjustments + Fixes
-Addition of Missing Classes (Flayer,Enforcer,Samurai)
-Additions to the game
-New areas (Xelphatol + Gyr Abania)

Patch 2.2 (May)
-Adjustments + Fixes
-Additions to the game
-Airships
-New Activity
-New areas (Dravania + Sharlayan)

Patch 2.3(July)
-Adjustments + Fixes
-Conclusion of main story line of eorzea.
-New areas (Ala Mhigo)
________________________________________________________________________
Then afterwards I expect low content till the release of the expansion around (NOV2012~May2013)

It wont jump to 2.0 until the expansion Just saying

[Zantetsuken]

once again, I think it's not that at all. I think it's more so he's saying (at least this is what I'M saying) is that they aren't working on anything we don't know about. They're adding all this stuff in these patches and so on.

HOWEVER. When they are finally done with all these radical changes, it is possible that they are planning to at LEAST add a subtitle to "Final Fantasy XIV" to give the impression that there has been an "expansion". Not in the sense that it's a disc you go out and buy full of instant content, but more so the expansion is made up of all these patches they've added/will add.

That is, simply a marketing strategy by letting people know the game has changed/been expanded.

This is correct.

Basically, they will package everything planned over the summer, make a big fuss over the new job system, add/open up 2-3 new zones (we've seen art/screenshots for them already), grant access to Ishgard, introduce the beginnings of a new storyline and give the whole collection an expansion name.

It enables them to generate much-needed interest in the game when ramping up to the PS3/payment start date.

[Rinoa]

It never occurred to me how close we where to the materia system being implemented let alone an expansion.