Did Yoshida went a bit too far by cloning WoW?

[Velhart]

The original version didn't have UI elements? I suppose that is pretty unique. Risky move though.

UI in both FFXI and FFXIV 1.xx were built optimally for the controller. It was viable to play on a keyboard (KB/M somewhat on FFXIV), but the design of it was built mostly around the controller in mind.

~~~~~

Only thing the original FFXIV had going for it was it's graphical style, which was still another major flaw to the game. Using an engine that was not built to be optimized for an MMO (used the Crystal Tools engine from FFXIII). Yet they use it anyways, and even the nicest and highest spec PC's at the time could barely run the game it was so poorly programmed.

The seamless world was another major fault. It ended up creating repeated terrain that so obvious that even amateur developers would be embarrassed. Creating zones that also helped create a theme of the area was another brilliant idea by the 2.0 team.

If FFXIV was actually delayed and released when it was ready, it would of still been mediocre at best and not have the amount of numbers that FFXIV:ARR has today. Rebuilding the game from the ground up and its very approachable set up and system was one of the best decisions SE ever made and while I played 1.xx to the fullest, I would never choose to go back to it or it's archaic concepts. Just because you make something unique does not make it good.

[Subucnimorning]

I don't agree that it looks similar to WoW, it looks very close in terms of interface but there is nothing wrong with that. It kills me that people get bent out of shape when Game A borrows ideas from Game B, as someone who has continuously been playing MMO's since EQ1 was released...it is a positive thing to take what works well in other games and apply it to this game.

The game is gorgeous graphically, I can promise you I never said that at any point in WoW, Aion, or Wildstar. The music in the game is iconic, the story is way better than any of those MMO's. There are things that make FFXIV unique while using some of the better parts of other game (like WoW interface).

In my opinion, not everything needs to be unique to FF to make it work.

[Aeyis]

UI in both FFXI and FFXIV 1.xx were built optimally for the controller. It was viable to play on a keyboard (KB/M somewhat on FFXIV), but the design of it was built mostly around the controller in mind.

2.x (and as such 3.0) Is no different. The UI is also optimally build for the controller.
UI is and always has been one of the games weak points. (for a PC user)

[Cervani]

Just.... no. Stop talking.

[WubstahWulf]

Aion kinda copied FF XIV with one of ther expantions also Yoshi P had said that he played various MMO's including WoW, GW2 and what he did was he took the good stuff from thos games and put them in to FF XIV its not a clone its a unique game on its own

[Velox]

If you want to compare MMOs, just use the theme park metaphor (not the one you're thinking of).

All theme parks have roller coasters, all theme parks have carousels, all of them have Ferris wheels, water slides, bumper cars, giant swings, tilt-a-whirls, etc. By the strictest logic, all theme parks are EXACTLY THE SAME. Yet millions of people worldwide visit many different parks during their lives. That's because, while they all share the same base elements, they all have a different theme that packages it all up. Both park A and park B might have roller coasters, but they don't have the SAME roller coasters.

FFXIV is not a WoW clone, because it if was, it would also have the exact same theme. No, both FFXIV and WoW are built around the same MMO base elements and each puts their own icing on the cake.

[Temjiu]

I don't think the issue is just "WoW". And Yoshi didn't make his teams play WoW so they could copy WoW. He made them Play WoW because WoW took allot of the things that an MMO needed to hit success, and capitalized on them. Specifically base mechanics, and design intent. MMO's developed the way they are due to the overall player base. WoW simply streamlined allot of these things, and put them in a package that your average person could get into.

I remember back in early Vanilla days in WoW, it was funny to see all the comments and articles about how "normal" many of the people who played WoW were. This should tell you something about the MMO market as it was then...and as it is now. MMO players tend to me more mainstream now then they were back then, and allot of it has to do with the changing market, technologies, and player base. Not to mention timing....like putting into the market right before a huge growth spurt. it isn't that WoW did this stuff the best...but they had the smoothest and most well rounded package with these things in it. Yoshi simply understood this concept, which is honestly WHAT SAVED THIS GAME.

FFXIV is now currently one of only a few MMO's that can actually keep a sub model. That should tell you something about the direction they took the game. I have my issues still...lots of clunky systems still exist, but I can't say they did wrong with the game.

On the flip side...this is the first FF that I've had an interest in playing...so i could be biased. But I've been playing MMO's solely for long enough that I know what works and what doesn't.

[Velhart]

2.x (and as such 3.0) Is no different. The UI is also optimally build for the controller.
UI is and always has been one of the games weak points. (for a PC user)

That is not the truth. I can do way more in this game on a KB/M than I could hope on a controller.

What I meant was 1.xx/FFXI had -one- set UI and it was built around the controller. 2.0 gave the option for two different UI's, one built specifically for KB/M and one for controller.

[Jayjohn]

Game of Thrones is a Shakespeare clone

[Akiza]

Seeing as it takes 5+ years to develop a Final Fantasy game going the MMO route would probably be a better investment for SE unless they can do an annual or even semi annual release of Final Fantasy.