Unofficial Census 2016 for FFXIV

[Enkidoh]

So, only 225k players finished 3.3 story, eh? Which can be done actually in 1 day and takes no effort at all.

So, where are those 5 millions accounts registered / 2.7 millions playing game / 700k active players?

Looks like doomsayers were right after all, the game is dead.

Wait, back up - because not everyone finished the 3.3 story the game is automatically 'dead'? You do realize not everyone has the expansion installed? Not to mention there has been a significant amount of new players entering the game who are nowhere even near the start of 3.0 let alone 3.3. Enough with the doomsaying already - it wore thin back when people were saying the game "was dead" even during launch when servers were overloaded with too many players trying to login, and now it just seems a worn out and tired argument.

Hells, where did this 'unofficial' census get it's information from? Not server info that's for sure save of taking info from the Lodestone which is usually inaccurate anyway due to how slowly it updates. A little reality is needed here.

EDIT: and it seems I have my answer:

I just said in the OP. They were gathered through Minions and Achievements because most of the story quests end with you getting a minion/achievement so counted how many had that minion. Alexander Savage gives you a minion so it counts how many have the minion same with Yokai Watch.

You do realize that is totally inaccurate given the fact players can hide their achievements on the Lodestone from anyone but themselves? So if this 'census' can take that information even when it's locked for viewing shows that this is virtually hacking and thus is a violation of the ToS. And minions? Not everyone bothers actually using the minion items believe it or not (many players find them annoying), so again this is NOT a good way of getting an accurate snapshot of the game.

Maybe I'm just overthinking this though.

[Iromi]

Wait, back up - because not everyone finished the 3.3 story the game is automatically 'dead'? .

It just means while they may keep getting new players, they aren't really retaining subs the way they should be.

[Kosmos992k]

It just means while they may keep getting new players, they aren't really retaining subs the way they should be.

Actually, I think it means that the pace of gear progression at end-game is far oustrippIng the progression of players who don't participate in end-game resulting in a group of players who are well behind the curve because gearing is not easy unless they grind tomes or do older 'end-game' content, which they may have no interest in. For a while now it's felt like the progression in FFXIV is being dragged around by the end-game community and despite being very accessible to all players as a game, more recent content (in terms of new dungeons and high ilvl gear) is no where near as accesssible. There is a tendency on this forum and elsewhere to think that end-game is all there is in terms of active players, that's far from the truth.

[Niwashi]

It just means while they may keep getting new players, they aren't really retaining subs the way they should be.

They've retained my sub, and kept me playing fairly actively ever since ARR launched. It doesn't mean I've completed 3.3 (or even 3.0). I'm still finding plenty of other things to do.

Of course, I'll eventually get through 3.3, but it's not likely to happen before 4.0 or possibly even 5.0 are out. If I ever reached the point of completing the last of the story quests that have been released, that's probably when I'd decide I've finished the game and it's time to move on to something else.

[Remus]

snip

Or... not take it seriously? I clearly said this isn't official so meaning it wont be accurate but your just going a bit over board lol.

[FoxyAreku]

925 midas clears on chocobo omg

So, only 225k players finished 3.3 story, eh? Which can be done actually in 1 day and takes no effort at all.

So, where are those 5 millions accounts registered / 2.7 millions playing game / 700k active players?

Looks like doomsayers were right after all, the game is dead.

A bit of a fun fact for you: Endgame players are a minority in all MMOs. You will always find more people leveling than anything, and that has always been the case, in this game especially.

[Blackcanary]

That's really interesting. I know why I'm hardly ever on any more waiting for the MSQ update. After that I'll be gone again since I'm slowly getting board of this game.

[Kosmos992k]

Mounts/minions aren't hidden and its the ONLY way to get an accurate snapshot of the game since numbers aren't being released.

I don't understand where this foaming at the mouth defensiveness comes from. People are just trying to understand more about the state of the game. Calm down.

"foaming at the mouth"? Post proof or retract.