Is FFXIV a Casual or Hardcore Game? (Thinking About Player Expectations)

[Purrfectstorm]

Hi everyone. Yoshi said in the beginning that FFXIV was going to be a casual game. If that's true, why are hardcore players upset about content nerfs?

If FFXIV is a hardcore game, why are casual players upset that they have to watch video guides?

My opinion is that FFXIV has both casual and hardcore elements. I don't think this is a bad thing. I'm just confused why players have the expectations they do. Why should content remain difficult once the hardcore crowd is done with it? And why do casual players think they can approach difficult content with the same level of preparation that they approach easy content?

[Bawnawgwa]

It is mostly casual. Coil is really the only hard core content (ex primals too, but they are undoubtedly easier than coil). Hardcore players get upset over needs because it makes it "more casual" cuz god forbid other people be capable of doing it...

But yeah, not watching a video is dumb. All you do is waste everyone's time by wiping us all as you learn cuz you couldn't watch a 10 minute video. If you get a full group that wants to figure it out without video, then by all means. Don't try to join others unprepared though.

[Saseal]

I look at it as having both, but easily much more geared towards the more casual. There are only really a hand full of content a casual couldn't (or wouldn't) do - whether it be time to practice, skillset/coordination/reaction time, or lack of time to even join a static. But at the same time it's because there is only a handful of that kind of challenge, that the hardcore are complaining. They certainly like SOMEthing about the game and it's bits of hardcore content, regardless what small amount there is... Otherwise they wouldn't be bothered to complain.

People complain because they can. Someone always wants more than what they have, whether it's complaining in a temporary situation that a person didn't watch the guide vid or complaining that there isn't more hardcore content for them to defeat. It's human nature to want what a person does not have or to seek out new challenges.

[Terrini]

I hate it when people say "Go watch the video" and expect that to make everyone PERFECT at doing the fight. All it does is give people an idea what to expect. You can't DO the content unless people LET you do the content. I've watched the T5 video, and every time I've tried to DF or PF it? Party falls apart after 2 wipes even as a "learning party". Even having seen the video you can't expect us to just be able to anticipate mechanics doing our job and watching everything, it takes practice, but no one has any patience.

And plus? The people that first cleared and first made those videos didn't have videos to watch, THEY had to figure it out and do it on their own. So everyone else is just meant to copy someone else's achievement they way they achieved it?

For those hard contents it seems if you are missing something in your party makeup you just fail.

[Saseal]

I hate it when people say "Go watch the video" and expect that to make everyone PERFECT at doing the fight. All it does is give people an idea what to expect. You can't DO the content unless people LET you do the content.

I prefer watchign the vids just so I have an idea - but yeah, no instance is going to be the same on the harder content - people are the factors of the unexpected.
What annoys me about some content - the vids are out of date. THey'll tell you to do one thing, but by the time you do it, or a newer player does it, they'll go by the video when the methods have evolved. THats what happened to me in T5, for some bits - watched a vid and thought of the mechanics that way upon entering - but the majority of the party attempts went by other methods..... so it was a lot like going int blind with just a "oh yeah, and the monster casts this" - but the reaction to the mechanics are different anyway.

[StrejdaTom]

The game is both for hardcore players and for casuals so both groups can have their expectations.

[DoctorPepper]

As far as I know they are trying to target both audiences and that has always been the case. I've never seen Yoshi-P make a statement saying this game is only intended for casual players.

People get mad about content nerfs because they don't get the chance to complete the content as it was originally designed and intended after the content gets nerfed. For some people, 6 months is not a lot of time to complete the latest coil content, especially if they got a late start on it or have not been able to get a static that stays together. A lot of static groups break up before they even get started or have attendance issues which can hold the more inclined people back.

You made the statement that "hardcore players are done with it" but you have nothing to back that statement. Hardcore and Casual are simply stereotypes, just because it takes somebody a long time to complete something doesn't mean that it should be made easier before they get a chance to complete it.

If people are working on something for, lets say 2 months, are just about to finally beat it, and then they make it easier before those people got the chance to get the win at the original difficulty, it robs them of their victory essentially.

Additionally, it's the only hard content in the entire game so making it easier makes it more boring to a lot of people. There are also a lot of egotistical people that are mad about losing their bragging rights as well once it becomes easier to obtain the gear they spent a lot of time working towards.

[Oraiste]

I think the game is for both and what is needed is a bit more (friendly) communication. If you are new to an instance just say so! If someone in your group is new try to give them as many pointers as is comfortable. The only thing that ever irks me about being new to something is if you don't say you don't know what you're doing. If I haven't done an instance in a long time I will communicate that to my group immediately and ask them to provide pointers if I'm doing something inefficiently. It really isn't a big deal. The things is, when you don't say anything, people assume you know exactly what's up and that's when you get ragers. Not justifying them but, at the same time, the respect has to go both ways. There are different kinds of players out there in ANY game (both casual and hardcore) and we have to learn to work together as best as possible.

[Aerowaffle]

A bit of a bias question, as each person has their own perceptions of what "casual" and "hardcore" content is.

Are you talking mechanical difficulty? This game is pretty easy to learn.
This game requires a certain measure of teamwork and communication to operate at the groups best (depending on the specific content you're trying to clear).

And the other thing this game requires, and that most MMOs share, is that this game takes a lot of time and has very long term goals.

As an Massive Multiplayer Online game, it needs to appeal to massive numbers of players. It's going to have a mixed bag to make different people happy to play the game.

[Purrfectstorm]

I don't like the "hardcore" vs. "casual" dichotomy either. Plus people can't agree on what defines a casual vs. hardcore player. I guess my point is that people seem to rather uncompromising if something doesn't meet their expectations even if it is designed more for a different demographic at the time.