With all this housing drama going on...

[Melchar]

(Note that I am deeply sorry if you are a social gamer. Don't feel targeted by this generalization). So it's normal that everyone want their little nest.

First, congrats on your house! I don't think that having a different preference towards housing is wrong, if you want a personal house, great. Play the way you want to play. It only becomes a problem when the devs create systems that allow it to be a problem. In this case, pairing personal with FC housing. We were so excited for the release of the personal housing system. The minute it was released and we realized it would put FCs in direct competition with enterprising individuals it was apparent we would run into this problem. I wish they would recognize this and apply a resolution in a timely manner rather than stumbling from one ineffective measure to another. Overhaul the thing if you have to guys, what exists right now is a mockery of what was proposed. Do the right thing.

[Ashkendor]

Overhaul the thing if you have to guys, what exists right now is a mockery of what was proposed. Do the right thing.

Q4: We have the auto reclamation this month, but can you please let us know about future addition of land?

A4: We have confirmed that we will be increasing the amount of land for existing housing areas in Patch 3.3. After this we’re planning to introduce mansion type housing, and housing in the Ishgard area. These two are being developed in parallel, but in order to meet everyone’s demand, we will implement the mansion-type housing as a first priority. Currently it’s being planned that one mansion will be able to hold 512 residences. As for gardening, we think this will be difficult, but we’re currently developing new pots that will allow gardening, so please look forward to this.

Pretty sure this fits the bill, no? They always said the housing reclamation was only the first step.

[Melchar]

I realize its the first step but the current timeframe for resolution seems too stretched out and we don't have more information about it. In this case its an issue of transparency and initiative.

[HalfLegend]

The issue always have been know to some point. That is a fact. The issue at this moment that make drama, is the people owning multiple plot not for their use but for their monetary gain. Hoarding plot to sell them at "ridiculous" price is what people are mad about. But I get your point when you say that the system is flawed.

[Melchar]

A flawed system ultimately leads to the abuse of it towards a monetary gain in games like this. SE has had more than a year to fix it. The fact we are seeing such ineffective measures taking place to address them now makes me want to have a voice to hold them to a real resolution this time. Not some Mickey Mouse band aid that sounds good on the wrapper but serves only to backfire.

[HalfLegend]

I think you are wrong. SE putted their priority at the right place. Have you seen that chocobo plushie in the SE store?!???!

SWEET MOTHER THERESA ON THE HOOD OF A MERCEDEZ BENZ!!!!!!

[Melchar]

Hahah clearly I was wrong. Merchandising above all else, yes.

[Ashkendor]

I realize its the first step but the current timeframe for resolution seems too stretched out and we don't have more information about it. In this case its an issue of transparency and initiative.

The problem they run into with having too much transparency is that even if they're only throwing around ideas it tends to get twisted by people into word of gospel and once that information's been given out it can't be taken back. If the ideas end up drastically changed, delayed due to issues with implementation, or even just end up on the cutting-room floor for one reason or another, people will still pester them about it months or even years later. At least they've given us a loose time frame at this point, and that's probably all we're going to get. There's also a matter of being unable to move forward with too many things at once given that they do have other content to develop as well. I don't think people would be happy if, for example, we didn't get any dungeons or raids until the housing issue was resolved. As far as why they can't implement new wards in the existing housing areas in patch 3.2 (this seems like it'd be a copypasta job but who knows what goes on behind the scenes there), your guess is as good as mine.

Maybe they're prioritizing the housing transfer system they've talked about a few times? It's hard to say.

I get it, people are unhappy with the current system. Even though I own a house already I can completely understand why, especially after seeing a PF full of vultures opportunists reselling the few plots that did open up on the first day of reclamation. But seriously, people keep complaining that SE needs to admit they screwed up, they need to fix it, blah blah blah. The fact of the matter is they are putting measures in to fix it, but since they have to develop some of those measures from the ground up people are going to have to be patient for a little while longer. I view the development of mansion/apartment housing to be an admission of sorts that the ward layout simply doesn't work when you throw personal housing into the mix. I dunno. I guess it just comes down to the fact that you're asking them to "do the right thing" and "take ownership of this mistake and spend the resources necessary to fix this glaring issue" when they've already announced steps to do exactly that. Dunno, I guess I just appreciate the "feel" they were trying to establish with the FFXIV housing system and I can't really blame them for being loath to let go of that vision in favor of instanced housing. I know I'm looking forward to seeing what the apartments and Ishgard housing end up being like.

I think you are wrong. SE putted their priority at the right place. Have you seen that chocobo plushie in the SE store?!???!

SWEET MOTHER THERESA ON THE HOOD OF A MERCEDEZ BENZ!!!!!!

Right, cause the guys that came up with the idea of a chocobo plushie are the same ones that code housing additions. -.-

[Sterne]

Although I may just be another drop in the bucket, I hope eventually we will overflow onto the devs desks.

For such an aware community and dev team, to see this fall this through cracks feels like falling onto spear. I'm not one to discount the work that has been done, but there are many things about this that tell me the devs have just turned a blind eye, relying on weak excuses or worse.

Not only was the reclamation system they designed to alleviate the problem undermined by a free log-in campaign, but the timing was specifically on Christmas. A holiday that is celebrated around the world - one that puts family and a sense of giving at the heart of everything. Christmas this year may have been ruined for quite a few people: And no, not because they didn't get a house, but because they spent hours of their morning afternoon and evening waiting for a chance to get a house. I for one abandoned a family dinner, breakfast and a generally good holiday waiting for housing to benefit not just myself, but the many people in my Free Company that will also benefit from it.

Can you see how this felt like spit in the eye from the dev team?

I appreciate the phases they've discussed, the wanting to fix the problem, but these 'fixes' have also left me wanting. I do not have much faith that the next phases will alleviate this problem anymore than this first one has. I fully expect this "expansion of wards" in phase 2 to bring a pittance of new houses. One that will be crowded with login congestion and more missed opportunities. Phase 3 may very well be the same.

As said before me: FC housing and Personal Housing need to be separated in some way. To lock a plethora of content behind such a wall that people will viciously take advantage of is no doubt the worst possible feeling in a game that I for one have followed and been dedicated to as much as I could.

Some aggressive action must be taken to give those without, plenty. Be the Robin Hood of developers you have been, team! Make us proud!

[Ashkendor]

Not only was the reclamation system they designed to alleviate the problem undermined by a free log-in campaign, but the timing was specifically on Christmas. A holiday that is celebrated around the world - one that puts family and a sense of giving at the heart of everything. Christmas this year may have been ruined for quite a few people: And no, not because they didn't get a house, but because they spent hours of their morning afternoon and evening waiting for a chance to get a house. I for one abandoned a family dinner, breakfast and a generally good holiday waiting for housing to benefit not just myself, but the many people in my Free Company that will also benefit from it.

Can you see how this felt like spit in the eye from the dev team?

Yeah, I have to admit I facepalmed when I saw timing of the the free login campaign.

Someone didn't think that through very well at all.

As said before me: FC housing and Personal Housing need to be separated in some way. To lock a plethora of content behind such a wall that people will viciously take advantage of is no doubt the worst possible feeling in a game that I for one have followed and been dedicated to as much as I could.

I strongly feel that this is where they went wrong with housing and broke the ward system completely beyond repair. I say this as someone that owns a personal house: the housing wards never should've been opened up to personal housing. If they'd looked into developing instanced housing for personal use instead of simply combining FC and personal housing, the demand for the houses in the wards would be a lot lower and the problem would be a lot less overwhelming. Of course, hindsight is 20/20 and all. :/