Naoki Yoshida's Comment in Regard to Jump Potions/Boost Potions

[Lambdafish]

Most of the solutions suggested are either unrealistic as far as resources or design or don't solve the problem at the core of this situation.

Most of the suggestions work exactly like the jump potion, albeit more selectively.

[B][U]THE ISSUE THAT MOST SPROUTS SEEM TO HAVE ISNT THE QUALITY BUT THE LENGTH OF THE MSQ. THE LENGTH.

My main suggestion was making it possible to entirely cut out patch content, i.e. cutting down the primary gripe that people have about the length (that being 2.1-2.55), this greatly shortens the time it takes to get to both expansion areas.

Removing gating might but it has its own swarm of related issues, not the least of which would be accessibility for RMT/bots and many of the issues with people not knowing their classes (You already have this with people speedleveling in PotD) and frankly we don't know from a system perspective how difficult that would be.

I didn't actually suggest removing gating (except for jobs, but I even admitted that that was unlikely to be possible), what I said was to add new content that was ungated, like PotD. This allows new players to do something current with their friends while enjoying the MSQ (perhaps eureka would work this way? who knows - it is presumably in mor dhona).

I'd be good with "buy the expansion, it includes one complimentary story skip item for free". That would help my friends (not that spending a few extra bucks will sway them one way or another). If they changed it to that, all of your objects ions would be gone?

At best it would be included in the collectors edition I think.

[Imoen]

The issue the game currently has with new player retention has to be resolved.

This I can agree on. I know you are for potions, and I am personally not, but I most definitely agree with this.

I just hope they take other actions beyond this, because this doesn't really solve it, at least not by itself. As I've said before most the people I know that have quit, have quit not because they don't care about story, but because of all the boring fetch quests in it, the second most reason is not being happy with endgame, third fates. Granted I've only known like 25 people or so (not an exact number) to quit so Its not like a huge number, but that's just the ones from ARR and beyond.

I also really wish if they are going to say it's "to help new players", they would give one out for free as an optional thing with game purchase or something... Just don't let them use till after the trial is over, or have it delivered when the trial is over, maybe a promotional deal, first veteran reward for first month of subscription reward?

I don't know I'm just throwing out ideas. Save the pay stuff for already active accounts, I don't know if this is to mitigate RMT or what. Either way it doesn't change my opinion on the business model/practice w/e you want to call it, but this would make it less lame sounding.

Edit: apparently I missed some others saying something similar while I was rendering.

[DrStiles]

I'd be good with "buy the expansion, it includes one complimentary story skip item for free". That would help my friends (not that spending a few extra bucks will sway them one way or another). If they changed it to that, all of your objects ions would be gone?

More or less.

The jump potions are coming. That's not up for debate. SE has made it very clear that their intention is to introduce them. Personally, I do not want them. I don't think level boosts should exist in any form, and I would much rather SE actually fix the problems with the MSQ than add a skip button. But that's just my personal opinion. At the end of the day, my preferences don't outweigh the game's or community's needs. And I would rather have more populated servers so that the game doesn't fall into steady decline. If jump potions are the only way SE is willing to address it, then I suppose I will be willing to make that concession.

[DrStiles]

But don't mistake me. If the MSQ continues along in a sequential fashion, as it has so far, it will become increasingly difficult for new players to join the game without these potions. Anyone with even a fraction of foresight can see that. SE needs to understand that they will make more money in the long term by keeping players subscribed. By offering a story skip potion for free, new players won't feel they're being charged "extra" just to start, relative to other MMOs, and those players will be much more likely to try the game and ultimately subscribe to it. which is more or less the point, isn't it?

[ZhaneX]

The issue the game currently has with new player retention has to be resolved.

Personally, this is part of why I am strongly against the idea of the Jump Potions. They might help increase new players coming into the game, but I worry that they'll make the issue of retention even worse.

The biggest reason for players dropping the game is that they find the current end-game to be a stale, uninteresting grind. And yeah, it can be. It might be plain ol' paranoia, but my worry is that the implementation of the Jump Potions would result in less effort being put into making more interesting end-game content. Thus the new players who jump to the newest content will do so, do the last bit of grinding to hit cap, and then... nothing. They'll get bored, and quit immediately. To say nothing of the exodus of more long-term players for similar reasons of dissatisfaction.

I'd like to see more effort put into content across the board, and my worry, however unfounded, is that these jump-items would present a hindrance to this.

[Averion]

I am definitely disappointed to see that character boosts will be a thing in FFXIV, i don't agree at all with allowing people the ability to pay and skip gameplay but unfortunately the modern gamer is very entitled and sees no issue in actually not playing the video game they pay for. This news doesn't make me want to quit but it does send major signals as to where the game is heading.

[DrStiles]

They might help increase new players coming into the game, but I worry that they'll make the issue of retention even worse.

It is my opinion that many people who play this game don't necessarily do so based purely upon the quality of the endgame. By the time most people reach the endgame, they've made friends along the way, likely joined an FC, and developed an interest in the game's lore and story to the point that they feel invested in the game before they really get into raiding. Remove all of that and, well, the overall experience is far more shallow.

I tend to take breaks between patches during content droughts and I go play other games, including other MMOs. But there's a reason I keep coming back to the game each patch, and it isn't because Alexander is the best raiding experience I've had. I can't say that about other MMOs.

[Frowny]

But there's a reason I keep coming back to the game each patch, and it isn't because Alexander is the best raiding experience I've had. I can't say that about other MMOs.

With my own experience, I respectfully disagree. When patches drop, I bum-rush the story and basically skim over it. Guess it is a habit from when 2.3 was when I snapped and stopped caring. After 2hrs I'm done with story and I'm back working on tomes/leveling other classes.

End-game is a big factor, but the MSQ is a major issue in itself. Sadly, without diverting resources it will likely stay that way. Now, if they could trim the MSQ without hurting new content... that'd be nice. But unless they can dabble in that without harming the future, this is the best we have.

[Bourne_Endeavor]

Wait longer? YES. I'm not an impatient part of the "Instant Getification" crowd. Patience is a virtue, unfortunately it seems in incredibly short supply nowadays.

Less content come Stormblood? That does not necessarily follow.

It would follow if there were no delay. With a delay, people could be pulled off to start working on the ARR/HW content fixes and after the month or two or however long they announce the delay for (remember, we do not even have an announced DATE, they could easily let it slide a few weeks and no one would be the wiser) and then be put back to the Stormblood stuff, continuing work on the occasional ARR/HW bit as time allows in between SB stuff.

Also, no one has stated an expectation that they would *finish* making the ARR/HW content fixes within those several months. Start, yes. Get a decent amount done, yes. Finish? We'd be pleased as punch if they could finish them that quickly, but lets be realistic, its not likely to happen that fast. There are probably a lot of things that need adjustment, then you have to do all the debugging, testing, Q&A, etc. before even a fraction of it gets released.

I for one would welcome a delay, however, if it meant this power-buy (i0 to i120, or i270, is buying power; buying content clear is buying "wins" in that content) was put in the trash and thrown out. I know I'm in the minority opinion in calling this Pay to Win. Reading this thread, I'm not sure whether the "yay its good" or "no its not good" crowd has the majority opinion.

That patience won't be cheap. If they were to announce Stormblood would be delayed until fall of next year, I'd unsub. Why? Because that would mean at least nine months where the only bit of content we receive is 3.5 and 3.55. I'm not going to pay Square Enix for essentially nothing. Considering the vocal outcry people have towards the five month delay of 3.1, I sincerely doubt many would prefer an even longer one. These kinds of changes do not take "a couple weeks."

Because there remains a cost. The delay likely occurs because you're suggesting they do something entirely different than what has been scheduled. Regardless, they still only have a $36 million budget. This accounts for everything. If a sizable portion of their time and resources are dedicated to adjustments towards ARR and HW, we'll inevitably lose new content. That's just how it works. We cannot nor will we get everything, which is what you're demanding. Add insult to injury, unless there was some way to speed through the story, all these adjustments would accomplish nothing as some people just are not interested in grinding through two expansions worth of old content when they want to play with friends or be apart of the crowd. People have to accept not everyone cares about the story and as a business, Square can't afford to simply tell them "too bad." Not if they intend to profit long term from FFXIV.

A jump past what is now current content. Potion won't be released until after SB sometime, maybe not until right before 5.0. All that means is they are waiting for after the goalposts have moved on. Would you be so blasé about it if it was to be released before SB, when the content skipped past is still current?

Actually, I suspect it will be released with Stormblood similar to the free Fantasia we got with Heavensward. It doesn't make sense to release it later since the bulk of game sales happen within the first few weeks. If Square Enix aims to take advantage of attracting new players with a promise they can progress at their leisure-- no old content required. They won't delay implementing this.

To answer your question. Yes, I'll remain indifferent towards it all. It doesn't affect mean how someone else chooses to enjoy the game. In fact, a friend wants to try for a house come Stormblood. As the devs have mentioned housing is tied to the story, we plan to blow through and skip everything fast on alts. I'll then go back and play through it all properly whenever I feel like it. She, on the other hand, doesn't give a damn about it and has skipped every cut scene since early 2.x. We all have different interests and demands from FFXIV. One of the reason I support a skip potion is because it allows the devs to focus on the story without concern over it becoming too overwhelming or irritating for people who don't care for it. Whether we like it or not, they have to consider these players as they are equally apart of the community and paying customers.

[Bourne_Endeavor]

This I can agree on. I know you are for potions, and I am personally not, but I most definitely agree with this.

I just hope they take other actions beyond this, because this doesn't really solve it, at least not by itself. As I've said before most the people I know that have quit, have quit not because they don't care about story, but because of all the boring fetch quests in it, the second most reason is not being happy with endgame, third fates. Granted I've only known like 25 people or so (not an exact number) to quit so Its not like a huge number, but that's just the ones from ARR and beyond.

I also really wish if they are going to say it's "to help new players", they would give one out for free as an optional thing with game purchase or something... Just don't let them use till after the trial is over, or have it delivered when the trial is over, maybe a promotional deal, first veteran reward for first month of subscription reward?
I don't know I'm just throwing out ideas. Save the pay stuff for already active accounts, I don't know if this is to mitigate RMT or what. Either way it doesn't change my opinion on the business model/practice w/e you want to call it, but this would make it less lame sounding.

Edit: apparently I missed some others saying something similar while I was rendering.

As mentioned above, I suspect they will give one free with Stormblood. It wouldn't make sense otherwise. They alleviate one wall (MSQ grind) only to erect another (pay $40 extra). Subsequently putting them on the mogstation is to make a little extra on people who must have all 60s. Personally, I find it silly someone would potential spend $100+ dollars to boost jobs they won't even play. In any event, despite our frequent disagreements in this thread, I do actually agree endgame is among the game's biggest issues. The other reason I support a skip potion is it hopefully allows them to focus on more lasting content. They cannot afford to cater towards new players to the extent they have because their retention rate is abysmal. It certainly doesn't help dungeons and trials have gotten easier for the most part. People were patience in ARR because they were coming off the disaster of 1.x. Heavensward saw that patience erode somewhat with the frequent missteps (Gordias, LoV, Diadem to name a few). There won't be any more waiting around if Stormblood doesn't deliver.