New interview from JP 4gamer site

[_C-a-e-r-i-t-h_]

This is bound to rise some crack-pot-theories for sure but I'd really like to know what they mean by saying they'll revamp the MAP?!

The eternal optimist in me says that yes they'll FINALLY put some FANTASY in this game filled with boring realistic plains that don't look like a FF game at all.

BUT and this is a big but; maybe it's just A) tweaks to the actual map-screen and it's UI OR collision tweaks to environments.

I'm trying hard not to assume anything until they state this in some clear way and show pictures of what they're doing.
Until them I'm thinking this might mean that they're probably saving memory by using the same assets but scaling the copy pasted elements by code so that they'd look less alike.

I didn't see the Kanji for (paper) map in that answer anywhere so at least that gives me hope =)

I think it's a response to this thread. As in, something on a large scale like completely changing the terrain.

[Rydin]

i agree it has a story, but its too far between. They need to come up with a new storytelling concept that meshes better with an open world, but still delivers an interesting story. Also the story isnt very well tied to any progression. In an offline game you go from place to place, exploring different areas, dungeons, fighting bosses, etc, each part revealing a bit more of the story. In ffxiv, the story seems to just occur in a box, when you reach some landmark based on your level.

They should weave story into level progression, as well as dungeons/adventures. A big problem with the side quests they added is most of them dont tell much of a story (related to the overall world and plotline), and dont give you a better understanding of the world. In offline rpgs, a lot of side stories either have to do with your own progression or finding out more about special events or charachters, this is a more useful side story to the game.

Regardless they need to innovate here, IF their goal is a new market, because ffxi already failed for offline rpg fans by and large. most dont consider it a real FF title, and i doubt they were looking at any MMO really as greatness.

however if they want to hit the standard mmo market, then this strategy could theoretically work

Well if you want to use the term "formulaic,"
(Which I try to stay away from most of the time)
Most things (Games, Movies, Television shows)
have to grab you in the first 10% of the game and just pound your face with epic....
I am going to say this and it could be widely flamed.....
But the R46 story quest could (or should) have been the R20 quest.... Because up to that point you really haven't done anything, learned anything, seen anything worthwhile
It was epic and big... but in the way that most opening cutscenes are big
Or how the end of disc 1 was epic in the multi-disc days
It was a beginning....
How can a game end with a beginning....
You can say "thats not end game"
But it is indeed the end of FFXIV as we know it... that is all we have....
I just think it could have come sooner and expanded outward from there

[Physic]

Well if you want to use the term "formulaic,"
(Which I try to stay away from most of the time)
Most things (Games, Movies, Television shows)
have to grab you in the first 10% of the game and just pound your face with epic....
I am going to say this and it could be widely flamed.....
But the R46 story quest could (or should) have been the R20 quest.... Because up to that point you really haven't done anything, learned anything, seen anything worthwhile
It was epic and big... but in the way that most opening cutscenes are big
Or how the end of disc 1 was epic in the multi-disc days
It was a beginning....
How can a game end with a beginning....
You can say "thats not end game"
But it is indeed the end of FFXIV as we know it... that is all we have....
I just think it could have come sooner and expanded outward from there

i agree, and think as well there was a big lull in the story when they got into the echo thing. It was really very sparse, and it literally ends like, now your story begins, 46 levels of inane purposeless grinding(in this context, i mean leveling for the sake of leveling, not for any story related reason), for what is usually the story in the first 3 hours of a regular rpg. That will not entertain most offline rpg players.

[Alaltus]

Well if you want to use the term "formulaic,"
(Which I try to stay away from most of the time)
Most things (Games, Movies, Television shows)
have to grab you in the first 10% of the game and just pound your face with epic....
I am going to say this and it could be widely flamed.....
But the R46 story quest could (or should) have been the R20 quest.... Because up to that point you really haven't done anything, learned anything, seen anything worthwhile
It was epic and big... but in the way that most opening cutscenes are big
Or how the end of disc 1 was epic in the multi-disc days
It was a beginning....
How can a game end with a beginning....
You can say "thats not end game"
But it is indeed the end of FFXIV as we know it... that is all we have....
I just think it could have come sooner and expanded outward from there

I agree, i think i remember this being mentioned somewhere like on the quest board. It doesnt help that the mobs are too weak to be a challenge even on your own either it kind of highlights the lack of story to enjoy on the way up.

[Cyan]

Well..this thread has came a long way since I first looked. Thank you both for your translation skills

Anyway, nothing really constructive to add, but I wanted to add some thoughts for the heck of it.
- Good or bad, I CANNOT wait for 1.18 and 1.19. I'm just hyped to the point of wanting it even if the new adjustments suck.
-On that same note, cant wait to see how jobs work. Im a bit against the whole "job levels with class" but eh, I guess I can get over it. Just means lots of new classes (in theory) will be added in the future to compensate for more jobs. (right...right?!?!)
-The mention about 1.18 being stable really makes me excited. I would flip out in joy if it was released by the end of next week.
-I didn't expect to see airships being implemented so early, but it's nice to hear. I hope maybe that when the story develops to where it gets to all the dragon attacks(because it should naturally get there when we hit more deeply in Ishgard and the Empire, right?) that perhaps they will take the ship and airship ideas from FFXI and cross them. More specifically, short air ride, random chance at being attacked by a randomly roaming dragon. Or perhaps many small whelps. ...I like the idea atleast. :P
-Mystery character is getting to me now. Cid is looking to be the most likely candidate now though. More summoner mobs would be welcome though...coughBAHAMUTcough.
-Why cant everyone get along?
-More people trashing this game because they read the translation wrong... /le sigh.

..Think thats about it. In short, hype, hype, hype, hype, hype, hype, hype, hype, hype..

[viion]

I'm not hyped at all, /cry lol another month to wait for battle changes, then probably another moth after that! Wont be until about September (1yr anna) until I can enjoy the game. Ah well, fortunately im super busy! so it works out

[Scherwiz]

Ok i get it you and everyone else dislike tanaka for whatever reason but hating on him for something he did not do is dumb. Yoshi-p is not done jack for this game due to crystal tool and the servers being cheap like hell. I still think we need tanaka and also have yoshi-p but tanaka not even working on ffxiv anymore he doing work over at ffxi now.

I like Tanaka! I blame people much higher up than Tanaka for the game being released in the state it was because of its name...

[Zenaku]

I like Tanaka! I blame people much higher up than Tanaka for the game being released in the state it was because of its name...

at least someone see that the people higher up is the reason for the game and i also blame crystal tools it seem like they having issue working with it,.

[Rydin]

i agree, and think as well there was a big lull in the story when they got into the echo thing. It was really very sparse, and it literally ends like, now your story begins, 46 levels of inane purposeless grinding(in this context, i mean leveling for the sake of leveling, not for any story related reason), for what is usually the story in the first 3 hours of a regular rpg. That will not entertain most offline rpg players.

yea... in an MMO, most of the content is designed for people who are at or near cap... I guess? (maybe?? opinions?)

But offline games balance the content throughout the game... and most (if not all) you finish the games main story well before max level... So the question is:
How does SE balance MMO style that supports game longevity by making most content "end game"
vs
offline RPG style where you're never even required to get to cap

Perhaps they could have the story more prominent throughout the leveling process...
and yes, have it triggered by certain places as well as levels like you said
But then go the route of console RPG's and make content that just supplements the main story but is purely optional... i.e. FFVII weapons, or FFX monster arena

[Gunghir]

Reinheart, you rock man! Thanks for taking the time to share this with us!