A friendly warning to SE: Do NOT turn FFXIV into an Asia Grinder!

[stupiddog]

When I started to play ARR (as my first MMORPG) in February, I was completely blown away by the beauty and the main storyline. When patch 2.2 came out, I was very pleasently surprised about the content that comes after the main quest (esp. Hildibrand). However, after that, the production values seriously went downhill. Playing the same dungeons again and again and again, repeating the tasks the wild tribes give you again and again and again, the Atma crap (finished it, but definitely will never do that again), and now the Novus impertinence.

SE, when finishing a grindfest like Atma, at least give the player a pretty and long cutscene! I am starting to remember that for the price of 3-4 months subscription of FF14, what I got by paying ~40€ for FF13.3 was: A great storyline, about the same amount of FMV than the whole FF14 content released so far, and complete (!) voice acting in even the most trivial encounter. Your very own company shows that, in terms of production values, you CAN do better if you want (need?) to.

In case you think "oh well, one player yells, just ignore him", here is my prophecy about what will happen in the upcoming months if you proceed this way:

- More and more players will realize that only the names and Levels of their weapons and bosses change. Chasing numbers is not a long-term motivation.
- When the previous grind content is nerfed two months later (like you do now with the Myths of the current dungeons in relation to the cost of Animus maps), the following will happen:
- a) Wait for a patch, then subscribe for a month
- b) Grind new content
- c) Unsub
- d) Wait two months until next patch
- e) Go to step a).

Of course, you could introduce a penalty for returning players (like a reactivation fee or something like that). But that would surely backfire in that players will not return at all.

So, SE, hear my plea:
- Release MEANINGFUL and non-cheap content for the players to play between the big content releases
- Make the release cycles shorter. I would like two medium-size releases every 45 days much better than one big release every three months.
- Do proper voice acting, at least in all the cutscenes. Everything else looks rather cheap these days.

EDIT: Just to clarify: I do NOT have a problem with grinding per se. But I do have a problem if it is used as a cheap excuse for missing content, or for content with very poor production values.

[Nero]

Newsflash: SE is an "Asian" Company.

Also, FFXIV were in need of Grind-Content and as it stands now, the grindcontent is straight optional. IF people feel like they were forced to do it, that is up to them. But yeah, there were a good amount of Threads, which were asking for grinds. Now we have them and a certain group of people is pleased.

It always goes both ways, without grinds that certain group would quit as well.

[ShinkuTachi]

Newsflash: SE is an "Asian" Company.

[stupiddog]

Newsflash: SE is an "Asian" Company. Also, FFXIV were in need of Grind-Content and as it stands now, the grindcontent is straight optional.

I do not mind grinding per se. But I do mind it if it is used as an excuse for poor production values.

[Elazu]

Newsflash: SE is an "Asian" Company.

Oh right, that makes turning the game into an utter grindfest okay. Let's give them a free pass because making an Asian Grinder is normal for an Asian company.

I fully agree, TC. And before the haters start hating: Nobody is asking for instant Novus, but getting it shouldn't be mindless grindfest without any challenge at all.

[Nero]

Oh right, that makes turning the game into an utter grindfest okay. Let's give them a free pass because making an Asian Grinder is normal for an Asian company.

I fully agree, TC. And before the haters start hating: Nobody is asking for instant Novus, but getting it shouldn't be mindless grindfest without any challenge at all.

"Grinds" are essential for a MMO and even more for a JRPG. How Dare a Japanese Company is finally getting back to their roots. They DO NOT have to meet western standards, where time-consuming content is a "no go". Grinds are what they are; Do x amount of this > next stage; Do x amount of this > to get this. That is all there is not it. That is what grinds are; GRINDS. You can call them mindless and without challenge, that does not change anything. Btw.. did you do Novus Maps yet? They are more challenging then doing a Peistemap Solo. ( Yes you can solo a good amount of them, like Hapalit, Peiste, Mandies, Jellies, Cactuars, but also some are not doable due the Time-Limit like Turtle, Chim etc )

So like i did mention a couple month ago allready; As the Questline does progress further, SE is going to implement more "Challenging" Content. I would consider those Maps a "small" Part of what there awaits us next, but correct step in the right direction. And yes.. it is still a grind and not for everyone, like Coil, Soldiery or Primals are also not for everyone.

[Caesir]

Can't agree with you more

[yahhzoo]

Grinding in a MMO. No way. What a surprise.

[Blackcanary]

Grinding in a MMO. No way. What a surprise.

GOD LEARN TO READ WHAT OP WROTE NEAR THE END.

"I do not mind grinding per se. But I do mind it if it is used as an excuse for poor production values."

[Jon_00]

Grinding in a MMO. No way. What a surprise.

Whenever I see this I die inside a little. Genres evolve over time, why should the MMO stick to the traditions of grindy content when other genres look to improve?

MMOs in the day were grindy, that doesn't mean they should be now.