A Recent Yoshi-P Post that probably needs to be read (Translation)

[Anapingofness]

Holy crap...
er...well...

Thanks for the translation man!

However, as much as I don't want to jump on the "omfg it's a WoW Clone!" bandwagon... err... well it is...

"Content Finder
Language-specific servers (both language-specific and global servers will be in operation)
PvP/Massive PvP"

Reading those three things in a row and taking them into account with what has already been said.... I just can't help but feel that this game is really going to become another WoW clone.

I am so disappointed right now... Disappointed and insulted... I feel downright cheated!
I was looking forward to 2.0 but now I'm at least 90% certain that I won't be playing this game even when 2.0 comes out.

If I wanted to play WoW I'd go and play it again, better yet, if I wanted to play a WoW clone I'd go and find a free to play one.

I just don't understand why they couldn't take things from FFXI and make them even better.

Why do they have to for the WoW version of PvP and not use better version of Ballista?

Why do they have to have language specific servers at all? One of the greatest things in FFXI was the fact that you could play with people from other countries. Yeah, sometimes it sucked but I liked it better than the alternative.

Why does the so called "Content Finder" (aka Dungeon Finder) have to be cross server? Why can't we use it only for that server so that it doesn't destroy the community?

What's worse is this entire plan to move forward to charge the full price for FFXIV the way it is now. I understand that they need money to implement these changes but to not even offer a discount considering that the game is far from even ready for launch?

"As a global title that holds the Final Fantasy name, I feel that we're at a 50% mark before we can compete against other, newer MMOs in the market." <--- Hardly Yoshida-san.

If FFXIV came out last year the way it is now I can guarantee it wouldn't have received much praise, if any. It wouldn't have recieved above a 5/10 mark and the 5 is being generous. After all, how can you expect it to receive a higher score when the game still has -
-no search feature
-no AH
-inability to jump/swim (a standard by now)
-a very uncreative character creation system (look at Aion Online character creation system)
-very little content
-issues with UI and lag

The game the way it is now is at a very bare minimum of anything, including playing...

If any of the reps read this, please, please, please tell Yoshida-san to look at what made FFXI so amazing and unique and to work off of that while looking at other games for inspiration or certain things to take and apply to FFXIV. Turning it into another WoW clone will only kill what chance it has left of standing against such a monolith.

Edit:

For those of you who fail to see the connection.

WoW Gameplay:
-Level via solo play (mostly quests)
-PvP
-Dungeon Finder + PvP

FFXIV Gameplay:
-Level via solo play (The game the way it is now is geared more toward solo play anyway)
-enter PVP
-Dungeon Finder + PvP

The only things that are missing is Horde vs Alliance (although I'm expecting it now) and completely segregated servers. In WoW not only are the servers language specific but they're also grouped into three other categories; PVP, PVE, and RP.

[zed32]

"PvP/Massive PvP" - .... I just can't help but feel that this game is really going to become another WoW clone.

Really... wow. If ANYTHING makes this game NOT a WoW clone its that. PvP? Hell, MASSIVE PvP at that? If you ask people where some of the worst, basic, remedial, laughably bad PvP is located, its uh... WoW. Even the hardcore WoW-heads will agree. Have you ever played WoW? Haha, like... that is just horrible. And if you have, have you ever played DAoC, Ultima, WAR, or any game with actual good PvP where the developers came out, much like here, and said 'We will focus on PvP'? Believe me, it doesn't end up like WoW.

Just short and to the point - good, thought out PvP makes this NOT a WoW clone.

[Zumi]

Why does the so called "Content Finder" (aka Dungeon Finder) have to be cross server? Why can't we use it only for that server so that it doesn't destroy the community?

Obvious answer is lower queue times and much larger pool of players to pick from and this easier for the matchmaking tool to make a group with the correct levels and class roles. How does it destroy the server community when people on their own server don't really do anything outside their own click of friends?

Why do they have to for the WoW version of PvP and not use better version of Ballista?

Ballista was terrible and nobody played if after the initial couple weeks. Having an contested battlefield area where different factions or companies in FFXIV's case fight over is pretty standard in any MMO now.

[Dreadnought]

Obvious answer is lower queue times and much larger pool of players to pick from and this easier for the matchmaking tool to make a group with the correct levels and class roles. How does it destroy the server community when people on their own server don't really do anything outside their own click of friends?



Ballista was terrible and nobody played if after the initial couple weeks. Having an contested battlefield area where different factions or companies in FFXIV's case fight over is pretty standard in any MMO now.

QFT.
no one played ballista. i played for about four years and i literally never once saw a single player take part in those system messages about ballista starting lol i still remember riding my chocobo seeing those messages wondering wtf the battle even looked like.

as for cross server parties, how the hell does that destroy any community? i was in some really awesome parties in cross server groups in WoW, even took some screen shots of some cool ass people and we kept in touch for a few months. that sounds like community building to me.

[Blarp]

Holy crap...
er...well...

Thanks for the translation man!

However, as much as I don't want to jump on the "omfg it's a WoW Clone!" bandwagon... err... well it is...

Both games are in the same genre. They are going to be similar in form. Is a Camaro considered a Mustang clone? No, but they both have four wheels, a steering wheel, a body, and an engine. Stretching this bad analogy a bit further, they are both sports cars, but they feel and look different from one another. Will FFXIV have PVP, a dungeon finder, and raid content? Yes, but it may look and feel different than WoW's version of those systems. It's irrational to be so repulsed by FFXIV adding features that were considered successful in WoW and other games. Yoshi and team aren't developing this game in a bubble. They look outside of their personal experience to what other companies have done and what has worked and what hasn't.