Would you be upset if the game went offline?

[Rowyne]

I started a thread about this yesterday:

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...en+development

And here's a copy/paste:

Gamebreaker TV TWIMMO Ep 51 - FFXIV Auto-Attack Video Review

--> Fast forward to 48:06

http://www.gamebreaker.tv/this-wweek-in-mmo-51-lol-e3

... I think I died a little inside when he threw the CE box. :/

It's things like this that sometimes make me feel that perhaps it would have been best to take FFXIV back into closed development so it's not under public scrutiny. Keep a test server up for those who want to continue playing since we're basically beta testers right now. For those who don't, refund their Crysta and compensate them with a free game or something.

Not posting to be negative. Just always important to see how gamers review your game. And in this review, the verdict was that it wasn't even on par with F2P games. Why shouldn't they see it this way? Right now, everyone views FFXIV as a game in release state, simply because it's been released and available for purchase.

That's also why everyone on the forums is frustrated, anxious, and tired of waiting.

Perhaps patch 1.18 and this summer's updates will be this game's saving grace. But if not, perhaps it's time to get this game out from under the microscope?

Thoughts?

[Kam]

Yes absolutely bring the game offline if that is what it takes. Keeping servers online cost money. SE is losing money every month, possibly every day as it is and is in real danger of not being able to make up to difference IF the game never regains a whole lot of subs once the monthly is actually instated.

This sort of thing happening right now is unique to SE because they have the funds for it, it was a gutsy move and because it was I thought we would have seen more by now. I've seen Fallen Earth and AoC updated faster with bug changes and those games are still going to a F2P model anyway.

Trying to hang on to our pixel characters may actually kill our game rather then sacrificing them for a better future. I hope they turn this ship around within time but I'm having a hard time understanding how they can pull this off when other companies have shut down MMOs for less problems.

basically Spirits Within x10?

I certainly hope not ^^

[Balbanes]

And that's the rub - if these forums are any indication, you will never have player satisfaction.

I assure you, official MMO forums are NEVER the majority voice. Think about how many people play vs post here. The servers may be low population, but not THAT low.

[Kam]

And that's the rub - if these forums are any indication, you will never have player satisfaction. You can't please all of these people, and the people that post on the forums should not be a true reflection of the entire user base. They're just the most vocal. Unfortunately the most vocal seem to have incredibly bad ideas sometimes.

no one can argue with that, Cairdeas.. Kilta_firelotus.. Gifthorse.. beglianrolf?.. anyone...?

[Nuru]

But some of there best work has been done blindly.

Yes, i agree with you on that. I'm neither for or against it though. If Yoshi can leave a good impression by the end of summer, then I have complete faith that they can blindly make this game satisfactory or beyond.

[Balbanes]

I started a thread about this yesterday:

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...en+development

And here's a copy/paste:

Gamebreaker TV TWIMMO Ep 51 - FFXIV Auto-Attack Video Review

--> Fast forward to 48:06

http://www.gamebreaker.tv/this-wweek-in-mmo-51-lol-e3

... I think I died a little inside when he threw the CE box. :/

It's things like this that sometimes make me feel that perhaps it would have been best to take FFXIV back into closed development so it's not under public scrutiny. Keep a test server up for those who want to continue playing since we're basically beta testers right now. For those who don't, refund their Crysta and compensate them with a free game or something.

Not posting to be negative. Just always important to see how gamers review your game. And in this review, the verdict was that it wasn't even on par with F2P games. Why shouldn't they see it this way? Right now, everyone views FFXIV as a game in release state, simply because it's been released and available for purchase.

That's also why everyone on the forums is frustrated, anxious, and tired of waiting.

Perhaps patch 1.18 and this summer's updates will be this game's saving grace. But if not, perhaps it's time to get this game out from under the microscope?

Thoughts?

Gary Ganon is an idiot. He didn't even bother to mention that that video was a work heavily under construction -- something that was clearly pointed out in the letter. The only good thing about his old XIV Podcast was the hawtness that is Kenzie. Don't lose any sleep over a jackass talking about that vid as if it were the final version.

[Gundammeister]

I think a second launch, or "re-launch" if you will, is needed. And I think a good time for that re-launch would be the console release. But I don't think shutting the game down in the meantime would necessarily help. Although I do agree that, after everyone's initial free 30 days at original launch, they should have shut it down and re-launched maybe around now. Perhaps it would have created some buzz and excitement, as well as saved some face.

But I like the question the thread poses, and to answer it directly: at this point, yes I would be dissappointed if they shut it down, but I'd just play something else if they did, and whether I come back at the second launch would not be determined by how good FFXIV looks but by how much I'm liking whatever mmo I'd be playing. But for now I'm cool playing this as long as they keep the patches coming.

[Cendres]

basically Spirits Within x10?

I certainly hope not ^^

LOL ^_^ If they could and probably would try hard to keep our characters then no, but it's a price I'd be willing to pay if it means a game with substance. Every time they tell us they can't add something because it's too difficult with the way the engine is built I want to punch something. HOW the hell were mail boxes not ready to go? >.>

I just get angry thinking about it, perhaps because my blinders were on for a long time and I just couldn't believe SE would really build something so unfunctional but apparently they did. I've seen some people post they blame the bosses at the top who pushed for a release too soo, but with MMOs they have a set amount of time to be developed and once the time is up that's when they go. That's what happened to Tabula Rasa, the deadline was not met and Garriot screwed the pooch for too long.

I honestly think something similar happened here. Too much time with senior heads in the clouds and not enough on getting things done and working.

It is a very big challenge to bring such a huge change to a game people are actively playing, yes they do have their servers but I'm not convinced that's enough to do the hard testing quickly. And there is the matter of public opinion, I don't know if it can get any lower at this point if this goes on people will forget this game exists and by the time it's in a more enjoyable place no one's really going to care.

And what is SE going to do to bring players back? Similar games have had to give out care packages and bonuses and still failed to rise above. This game needs a new launch, I'll be very happy if the PS3 launch generates more interest, as it is though there's been quite a bit of harm done.

[Rowyne]

Gary Ganon is an idiot. He didn't even bother to mention that that video was a work heavily under construction -- something that was clearly pointed out in the letter. The only good thing about his old XIV Podcast was the hawtness that is Kenzie. Don't lose any sleep over a jackass talking about that vid as if it were the final version.

True, they didn't explain the details (and I sighed when they insulted the 'slide' animation between active/passive mode because it hasn't been rendered yet). But, unfortunately, that's beside the point.

Anything you release to the public is subject to public scrutiny and criticism. And it has been officially released, no matter how many apologies SE makes or how many months of free playtime we get. No matter how many supporters on the forums say we should wait because we should view the game as an open beta, it's still in development, etc. The simple fact is that it is not officially a beta product, it has been released.

Even worse than the reviews is the growing dissent and negativity you here see on the forums from the remaining playerbase. If we had a meter to measure faith and morale around here, you would see it drop daily. Even the loyal fans are having a hard time defending the game nowadays. The natives are restless for changes and content, but a watched kettle never boils. If we were playing as official beta testers, the attitudes would be different. But we're not.

[Xatsh]

This thread proves the stupidity of the forums... IF they keep the game up or take the game down.

The core servers, the core mechanics, content, and what not will not be fixed anyfaster at all. What ever they develop is not even related to the live servers So taking it down will not help "Fix" the game.

People who want the game shut down just need to quit and move on to another mmo if you all hate it that much and see no possible future. Get off the sinking ship and play Rift or WoW... which from reading 7/10 pages seems to be almost everyone except like 4 people in thread.

All I know is if they shut the servers down they should just scrap the project... because it will end the game right then and there.