I think I just had a nerdgasm. O_O

[Rhianu]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...FFXIVnewUI.png

OMG, yes, yes, YES!

This is exactly what I've been wanting to see! This is what an MMO is supposed to look like!

Plus there's also this little gem from the System and Content List:

User Interface --
Global standard for MMO UI when using mouse/keyboard to navigate in-game windows. Will not require a manual for explanation.

I've been trying to tell FFXI players for years that a good UI shouldn't require an instruction manual in order to be understood, but they always retort that if you don't do research on the game before you play it then that's your own fault. But to be quite honest, that's an absolutely neurotic and ignorant stance -- a game should be intuitive and user-friendly enough that it can be understood on its own. If any outside research or reading is required prior to starting the game, that's a huge problem. That Square-Enix understands this fact (even if some of the ignorant fanboys don't) makes me extremely happy.

The new maps also look amazing. I'm a bit disappointed that SE couldn't figure out a way to retain the seamless world while also making the environments unique (Blizzard manages it just fine, why can't SE?), but I suppose a few loading screens here and there really aren't that big an issue. Just so long as the environments are full of engaging and enjoyable content, and there isn't a lot of unused dead space like there is now, I'll be happy.

As for the monthly fee, I personally believe that SE shouldn't start charging until after the version 2.0 update hits and the new PC client is available on store shelves, but I suppose I can understand if they need to start bringing in money right away. The game has been free for over a year now, and I'm sure that can't have been cheap for SE.

My interest in FFXIV has slowly been dwindling over the past few months to the point where I had almost completely lost all interest in the game, but this new info has completely revitalized my hope for the future, and I'm gonna stay on through it because of the one-time quests that they're going to have during the transition period. Yes, I know that'll mean paying the monthly fee, but it's worth it for getting see unique quests that won't be available in the future and no one will ever be able to see or do again.

Version 2.0 can't come soon enough! <3

[Bigglesworth]

+1 for using the term "nerdgasm"

[Jennestia]

I've been trying to tell FFXI players for years that a good UI shouldn't require an instruction manual in order to be understood,

The reason people say research is because it's not a copy-paste interface which is used throughout all MMOs -- Games used to come with instruction booklets for a reason (they used to all be different at one point) :P

So now it seems like they're using the generic interface found in all MMOs.

As for the monthly fee, I personally believe that SE shouldn't start charging until after the version 2.0 update hits

A lot of people feel this way, but I personally felt the reason they're starting is to hopefully try to speed up said version 2.0, since I'm sure people aren't that happy with the 2013 time frame of it being completely finished.

[Reliquia]

Regarding that picture, what are all those colored dot at the bottom right?

[Alhanelem]

I pretty much felt the same way. Also nerdgasm'd at allowing user mods.

[Rhianu]

The reason people say research is because it's not a copy-paste interface which is used throughout all MMOs -- Games used to come with instruction booklets for a reason (they used to all be different at one point) :P

Even a unique interface should still be intuitive and user-friendly. Granted, there's a lot of power in conforming to established standards, as the skills a player learns in one game can carry over to another, but it's still entirely possible for any game, no matter how unique, to teach players how to play all within the context of the game itself, without ever making players turn to outside research.

And the manuals in most games usually seem to be unnecessary anyway, especially in older NES and SNES games, which were often so simple and straight-foreword that no prior instruction was necessary. You would just start up the game and go. That's an ideal that I firmly believe all game developers should strive towards.

This high level of user-friendliness is especially noticeable in First-Person-Shooters, which often teach you so subtly and so effectively, that you don't even realize you're learning.* It's taken MMOs a bit longer to reach this point, and FFXIV in its original launch state especially seemed to be a giant step-backwards for the genre, but this new info has given me hope for the future, and I'm confident that SE is on the right track, and that in due time they'll be able to bring FFXIV to where it needs to be.

*Valve's Portal games are an excellent example of this, because they have developer commentary nodes in-game that explain how they teach players the rules of the game.

[Rhianu]

I pretty much felt the same way. Also nerdgasm'd at allowing user mods.

Oh, I know! That's one of the things that most excites me!

In FFXI I always used the windower program, and I've always been a strong advocate for player-created mods and addons in games, so this makes me extremely happy as well. I just wish Yoshi-P had been FFXIV's producer from the beginning. <3

[Jim]

oh yes,YES , YESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Akira_Tenshi]

That picture is just a concept. The final game may look nothing like that. I would not get to excited.

[Rhianu]

Even if it is just a concept, I doubt they'll make any changes that wouldn't be as good or better than the image.

Plus with player-created addons, we the players will be able to make the UI look and function exactly how we want. Even if the final version doesn't look exactly like this, we'll be able to make addons that do look exactly like this.