Forcing players to pay to keep housing is unfair.

[NaesakiAshwell]

Just make sure to log in early once housing will be available ( it won't be at launch of Stormblood) or you will be sol.
This happened last time they added more plots, i had to work and got back home all were gone and have been since then

I remember the mad rush my old FC leader and me did, for him to get the FC mansion and me darting for a small plot when they added the new wards.

On a positive note, I'll have a new PC / SSD by then so I'll load into the area quick xD

[CosmicKirby]

You can't focus heavily on housing in this game because there is almost nothing to do with it. The customization is extremely limited. The supply is extremely limited. The "extra" features are time-consuming and monotonous, or only available to people with FC housing. Heck, it's even difficult to decorate what you have because decor is ridiculously expensive. That's like making a crap sandwich and then deciding it's not worth improving the sandwich because nobody is liking it much anyway. The extreme popularity of good housing systems in other games makes it beyond clear that this would be a worthwhile investment of time and money.

So, it's NOT worth doubling down and undergoing a large amount of effort to increase the amount of housing, because the Housing system isn't very 'good' and in your words 'extremely limited.'

And yet, other games, with 'good' housing systems and 'extreme popularity' can't pull numbers anywhere NEAR WoW or FF14's subscriber count.

Animal Crossing has arguably less than either FF14 or any other MMORPG with housing worth noting, and that game outsells them all. Good housing, or more housing, isn't a very worthwhile investment for their time until proven otherwise.

Your own logic here is both circular and self contradictory. Again, is the significant undertaking of adding an infrastructure to support many more or possibly infinite housing, worth it in player interest and subscriber counts? I don't think so, and Square's apparent reluctance to jump and fix the issue seems to indicate they don't think so either. In your own words, Housing is 'a crap sandwich' that's 'not worth improving.'

[Naunet]

So, it's NOT worth doubling down and undergoing a large amount of effort to increase the amount of housing, because the Housing system isn't very 'good' and in your words 'extremely limited.'

And yet, other games, with 'good' housing systems and 'extreme popularity' can't pull numbers anywhere NEAR WoW or FF14's subscriber count.

I'd love to see you argue that a good housing system = low subscriber count. <eyeroll> Did you read the post I was quoting? "Not a lot of people use the current housing system very much" is NOT a valid excuse to not improve the system. Period.

We should be encouraging SE to improve the game. The current iteration of housing is terrible and needs improvement.

[CosmicKirby]

I'd love to see you argue that a good housing system = low subscriber count. <eyeroll> Did you read the post I was quoting? "Not a lot of people use the current housing system very much" is NOT a valid excuse to not improve the system. Period.

We should be encouraging SE to improve the game. The current iteration of housing is terrible and needs improvement.

You quoted, 'MY POST'.


It is a significant RISK to focus on improving something that isn't proven or suggested to improve subscriber counts and player interest. MMORPGs with really good housing systems, aren't the most successful. Their own housing system has only had them improving it more and more to a series of ever growing player requests 'and' complaints with each improvement. They have added 'some' housing specific items to the Mogstation, but even those I'm sure fail to even cough at the numbers the Glamour items, fantasias, and dyes put out. Housing, is a risk, to put a massive effort behind. Their current efforts of something 'large' or significant every odd patch. (Airship ventures, gardening, fish tanks, ever frequent furniture, doubling the furnishing count, and a new area entirely) seem to be their scheduled and measured path that, like the rest of their roadmap, I don't see them steering from anytime soon.

If we do get something as massive as 'infinite housing', I forsee it as the big housing update for the next expansion after Stormblood, and not any sooner than that.

[Naunet]

Again: it is not a valid argument to claim that it's not worth fixing something because few people use or like the current crap system. That is why it needs to be fixed.

Aside from that, fully fleshed out secondary systems are what maintain subscribers. A housing system that can engross players for years building unique environments (a la WildStar) is a serious help for player retention.

[NessaWyvern]

They paused the housing for the earthquakes in Japan, but they don't pause the housing for natural disasters in other countries. I don't think that is particularly fair.

[Harukochi]

They paused the housing for the earthquakes in Japan, but they don't pause the housing for natural disasters in other countries. I don't think that is particularly fair.

So if the main developers and staff of squares ffxiv development team has family or housing that involves their immediate attention and they can't be around to produce a crucial partipating factor in the games progression are allowed to have a fair period of time to EXCUSE themselves is not fair?

Let me ask You, after discussing it with my friend,

What has happened recently that did not tear us or a group of people from the network?

[Kewitt]

I disagree with op.
Right now it's not great. but in 5 years time and FFXIV is dieing. people will still want housing. But you want non active players for 3 years to still have there house in case they come back.

Sorry big pictures. I sub I keep my house.

[LadyKairi]

Again: it is not a valid argument to claim that it's not worth fixing something because few people use or like the current crap system. That is why it needs to be fixed.

What you don't seem to understand is how our devs work. Their main concern is the MAJORITY. They don't make super hard content because such a small portion of the player base would actually do it/get through it. This game is very casual friendly. Why? Because they are the MAJORITY. Businesses do that. Why? Because it makes them more money. You may think it is not a good excuse for it to not be "fixed", but I highly doubt SE will risk it. Yoshi won't steer away from our content formula BECAUSE it's safe. It's all about playing safe with them, and I doubt that'll change anytime soon.

[Solarra]

...This game is very casual friendly. Why? Because they are the MAJORITY. Businesses do that. Why? Because it makes them more money. You may think it is not a good excuse for it to not be "fixed", but I highly doubt SE will risk it. Yoshi won't steer away from our content formula BECAUSE it's safe. It's all about playing safe with them, and I doubt that'll change anytime soon.

Player housing is about as casual as you can get and it is very popular, as this and other games have proven. However, there are significant flaws with the implementation in FFXIV, the main one being access.

While getting any sort of housing on a large server is a struggle for the majority of players, the most plentiful types of housing are severely limited, too. Small houses can only have a few utility furnishings (gardens, workstations etc.) and apartments are even tinier, more limited on utilities and have no outside area at all.

I'd argue there is little financial risk to the company in improving access to quality housing, in fact, there is probably a lot to be gained. At the moment, furnishings on the Mog Station like the Eastern Cherry Trees can only be used by a tiny proportion of players, more player housing would mean a lot more sales and would probably help with player retention,too.

Apartments were a step in the right direction, but because they are so limited, they haven't eased demand for 'real' houses. Most people who want housing want a garden or some sort of outside area at the very least.
I don't see instanced housing coming any time soon, though I still think it's the best solution. However, I am hoping they will introduce upgrades to the apartments, including balconies/patio areas and the chance to buy extra/larger rooms.