SE You may want to reconsider charging for this

[Meow_Zedong]

Facts:

1. You plan to charge after reducing existing class skill sets but prior to introducing new jobs. This seems designed in a manner that hopes people will pay a premium to experience these new jobs, proverbial carrot on a stick.

2. You don't appear to have much content at all planned in the near term. i.e. its looking like Evil Moogle fight is it until February 2012 or later. Unfortunately a BCNM boss fight isn't much content, its just a boss in a room. Making the loot drops random or rare does not give it replay value, just a higher annoyance value.

3. You have already stated the game isn't up to par.

--
Personal Observations:

1. The game seems to be doing pretty bad lately. It is difficult at times to put together a group to gain experience with (I know your mileage may vary depending on server). On my server, it is pretty desolate. It's the same 100 people every day, and even they are starting to disappear.

2. You have neutered what little content you did add. Darkhold is a time attack with one boss in it. What a waste of a raid. This should have had 5 or 6 bosses in it, no time limit, and the trash should not be trainable. There is no point to run it now, because with the introduction of materia, you made all the darkhold gear inferior.

3. Ifrit - loot system is garbage, fight is based on animation lock and server lag to add difficulty. Epic fail. Its just not fun. Further, its just a boss in a room, there is no raid or content that goes with it.

4. There is very little to do in this game at this time other than grind on crafting jobs or existing DoW/M classes which are sort of going the way of the do-do in the future. In fact I wonder at what point you will either get rid of the old classes out right or just bring them up as equals to the new jobs.
--
Predictions

1. Given the low population, competition from new games coming out in Q4 2011 and Q1/Q2 2012, and a lack of content, this game will face hurdles in retaining the existing tiny player base.

2. As people choose not to pay to play, unfortunately those that are willing to pay to play will find themselves having an ever more difficult time building an exp party etc and many will ultimately leave out of frustration that there is no one to play with, rather than the fact they are paying or lack of content or otherwise.

It is a self-fulfilling prophecy. If your game is the BEST game in the world but it takes 6 to 8 people to effectively play, and it is a real struggle to get 6 to 8 people together to play, then slowly but surely the player base will erode to nothing due to lack of others to play with.

I urge you Square Enix to not charge for this game. It's not a matter of cost to me. The monthly fee is a nominal expense. It is the principal of it for me. For others it may be the cost. For others it may be neither, just simply something else has caught their eye.

Regardless, if your goal is to create a positive aura going into 2.0, then starting to charge people in the middle of a broken job/class system migration is the wrong approach, although it is in step with other historically questionable decisions you have made as a corporation.

Think before you act. I realize that any income from the asset is better than no income financially, but don't forget to measure the more intangible costs associated with this pending fee. A soured audience often sours permanently. You could be doing your IP's, and your org long term damage with those consumers at this point if you start charging, causing a total loss of any shred of respect they may have left for you.

As they say in the restaurant business, an angry customer ultimately gets the word out to 100 other potential customers (pyramid effect), where as a happy customer may never tell a soul.

Consider that before you charge. Is the small tangible income worth the intangible personal currency loss-which translates into long term tangible income?

TL;DR = Move along, nothing to see here.

Facts:

1. They plan to charge after streamlining, simplifying, balancing, and over-all improving the existing class skill sets. They also plan to wait until a later date to introduce job classes, to allow new players to have something to look forward to.

2. They plan to introduce several chunks of new content in 1.20, including a new Primal battle, new quests, new company leves, and end-game Caravan Escorts. In addition to this, the battle class reforms are sure to make all previous content fresh and new.

3. They have already stated the game is not up to bar because the only thing it is missing is a player search function and an auction house. Both of which will be coming in 1.20


Personal Observations

1. I never have trouble finding a party for any purpose. Even if the dozens of people constantly chatting on my ls are all busy,
shouts in Uldah are near constant and I can put together a group with minimal effort. The player search function added in 1.20 will make this even easier.

2. I realize that all gear eventually becomes obsolete, and Darkhold gear is rather old. I also realize that gear is a perk, and shouldn't be the sole reason for running a raid. I continue to run Darkhold on a regular basis because I find the stress involved with the time limit and dodging the eye to be enjoyable and with each try I get closer and closer to the 5-chest time bonus.

3. Ifrit has quickly become the most challenging and strategic battle in the game, and learning the patterns as well as adapting to the animation lock is quite fun, almost like the boss of an old school platforming game. Lag and faulty loot systems are a known problem, and are being addressed as soon as possible. The loot system is being changed in 1.20.

4. There is a plethora of activities to do in the game and it is never boring. Grinding on jobs to achieve higher levels is not only fun, but it opens up opportunities for new quests and activities. This game also includes one of the most interesting and detailed crafting systems out there in the MMO world. I realize classes will never be erased because they are integral to solo play and are just as important as jobs in different situations.


Predictions

1. Given that the population is the best its been for several months, and rising, the addition of payed subscriptions will allow the developers extra assets to make the game better than ever at a faster rate, and the eventual launch of 2.0 will be big contender with MMO's of it's generation (whatever they may be.)

2. While some people will leave after the introduction of subscription fees, most that are still here are dedicated to the game and legitimately find it enjoyable, and will reap the benefits of a tight-knit community playing a game where said community is actually listened to by the developers. This will eventually lead to populations rising once again, due to word of mouth.


Please SE, I urge you to re-think listening to what this guy has to say. He doesn't know what he's talking about. I've seen the stock projections and I realize that you have supported this title for over a year while continually going further and further into the red and accruing zero profit. I appreciate that, and I know that you truly need the money to pay the salaries of the FFXIV team so that you can make FFXIV 2.0 the best it can be. I support your belief that the game IS ready to be paid for.


TL;DR: I can make my opinions look like fact too.

[Corrderio]

You forgot the most important fact:

SE is expecting us to pay for an engine that the current dev team has considered unreliable and is getting replaced in a year when 2.0 happens. (And that's assuming there isn't any delays.)

[KaiKatzchen]

I don't know why I'm answering you, you seem mostly a troll in every thread I've seen you post in but I'll humor you with one post and then leave this thread.

Facts:

1. You plan to charge after reducing existing class skill sets but prior to introducing new jobs. This seems designed in a manner that hopes people will pay a premium to experience these new jobs, proverbial carrot on a stick.

They are redoing the classes to fit more in his vision of FFXIV. He has said many times that alot in this game is based off the old team, and he needs to move things in his direction.

2. You don't appear to have much content at all planned in the near term. i.e. its looking like Evil Moogle fight is it until February 2012 or later. Unfortunately a BCNM boss fight isn't much content, its just a boss in a room. Making the loot drops random or rare does not give it replay value, just a higher annoyance value.

Have you seen all the updates coming? The huge list of quest/fight's/etc they are putting in? Or have you not read all of the Producer's Letters? There is plenty being put in and changed between now and 2.0... plus we are playing a story line and doing quest's no one else will ever see. Also Evil Moogle is not 2012, it's the next fight being introduced, and then Garuda seem's to be right after him. Just fixing your info since you don't seem to know... which could be why you think nothing is coming. Just saying.

3. You have already stated the game isn't up to par.

They have also stated that it's getting there, and should be good about 1.20 with everything we need. They will continue to work on it and gave us a very clear and long outline from now until 2.0. I myself don't mind paying seeing that there is so much coming between now and 2.0, plus the game has gotten leaps and bounds better in my opinion. Also the whole story line bring the end of the world and everything that leads up to that, no one else will ever see after this year. I wan't to experience everything.

--
Personal Observations:

1. The game seems to be doing pretty bad lately. It is difficult at times to put together a group to gain experience with (I know your mileage may vary depending on server). On my server, it is pretty desolate. It's the same 100 people every day, and even they are starting to disappear.

I don't have this issue on my server, so I can't speak on this.

2. You have neutered what little content you did add. Darkhold is a time attack with one boss in it. What a waste of a raid. This should have had 5 or 6 bosses in it, no time limit, and the trash should not be trainable. There is no point to run it now, because with the introduction of materia, you made all the darkhold gear inferior.

Haven't done this so I have no right to speak on it.

3. Ifrit - loot system is garbage, fight is based on animation lock and server lag to add difficulty. Epic fail. Its just not fun. Further, its just a boss in a room, there is no raid or content that goes with it.

They have stated several times they are fixing this, not trying to be rude but do you read the Letter's and Updates?

4. There is very little to do in this game at this time other than grind on crafting jobs or existing DoW/M classes which are sort of going the way of the do-do in the future. In fact I wonder at what point you will either get rid of the old classes out right or just bring them up as equals to the new jobs.

At the moment that might be the case, though I find plenty to do myself... but as stated they have more coming out in 1.20 and beyond until 2.0 so this will change. Also they are redoing the classes to better fit in the world Yoshi is making, and to better fit with the job's that are being introduced. Well also to fix some issues too, heehee. We do not know how the classes/job will fully work after this fix until we get to go in and physically play. Seeing that is the case, this seems to be a pointless comment since they are in fact changing.
--

Considering you had misinformation in your post and don't seem to know what is fully going on, or when game content is coming out, I'll pass on make comments about your predictions.

TL;DR = Move along, nothing to see here.

Gladly... as Yoshi said in my quote... players will either enjoy it or not, its the players choice if you stay you stay, if you go you go. If you don't wan't to pay and play then that is your choice.

[viion]

Besides the crowd that own ff11 for ps2 and xbox... there are more console ff MMO players then pc. always was always will be.

Not to metion this game demands a custom made expensive PC. Not many people who wanted to play played the game yet. (Which is a good thing really lol)

Ps3 and console audience is much bigger then PC.

Well 1st. On v2 it wont demand a custom made expansive PC

Infact my laptop with a 5470 runs this game and my old pc with a 5770 (about $60 now) runs it at 60fps on high. So this expensive talk is pure bullshit. The game is not demanding at all, its just badly optimized, which be fixed by v2 (aka ps3), not to mention hardware be even cheaper then.

Do you know how many people play ff11 on ps2? its so small SE have even considered dropping it due to limitations, the forums beg for it, they put out a poll on playonline, its tiny. Xbox is also tiny, thats partly why SE cant do another deal, because its not worthwhile.

Xbox and PS3 audience is smaller than PC for MMOs because there is very few MMOs on consoles, its audience very unlikely want an MMO as they play SP/Multiplayer games. They dont plan on paying monthly on top of it. Even DC universe has much bigger audience on PC than it does on PS3 and only gained PS3 players lately because it became free, which SE dont plan on doing right now.

If you just think about it with common sense, most people who play MMO will have a PC for it.

[PrettyPrincess]

You forgot the most important fact:

SE is expecting us to pay for an engine that the current dev team has considered unreliable and is getting replaced in 10 months when 2.0 happens. (And that's assuming there isn't any delays.)

.

[Corrderio]

.

Actually the reboot phase seems to happen in November. 2.0 distributation isn't until October.

[Quisi]

I doubt they start charging b/c they want. I bet higher ups simply didn;t want to wait another year for any kind of profit. They were forced to start charging soon. If they really wanted to get money from us when the game is ready they would wait for 2.0.

[PrettyPrincess]

Actually the reboot phase seems to happen in November. 2.0 distributation isn't until October.

Well the distribution of software starts September-October, then the ps3 beta starts in October-November. So I assume the "reboot phase" will happen sooner for PC.

[Yumi_Hibiki]

Facts:

1. They plan to charge after streamlining, simplifying, balancing, and over-all improving the existing class skill sets. They also plan to wait until a later date to introduce job classes, to allow new players to have something to look forward to.

2. They plan to introduce several chunks of new content in 1.20, including a new Primal battle, new quests, new company leves, and end-game Caravan Escorts. In addition to this, the battle class reforms are sure to make all previous content fresh and new.

3. They have already stated the game is not up to bar because the only thing it is missing is a player search function and an auction house. Both of which will be coming in 1.20


Personal Observations

1. I never have trouble finding a party for any purpose. Even if the dozens of people constantly chatting on my ls are all busy,
shouts in Uldah are near constant and I can put together a group with minimal effort. The player search function added in 1.20 will make this even easier.

2. I realize that all gear eventually becomes obsolete, and Darkhold gear is rather old. I also realize that gear is a perk, and shouldn't be the sole reason for running a raid. I continue to run Darkhold on a regular basis because I find the stress involved with the time limit and dodging the eye to be enjoyable and with each try I get closer and closer to the 5-chest time bonus.

3. Ifrit has quickly become the most challenging and strategic battle in the game, and learning the patterns as well as adapting to the animation lock is quite fun, almost like the boss of an old school platforming game. Lag and faulty loot systems are a known problem, and are being addressed as soon as possible. The loot system is being changed in 1.20.

4. There is a plethora of activities to do in the game and it is never boring. Grinding on jobs to achieve higher levels is not only fun, but it opens up opportunities for new quests and activities. This game also includes one of the most interesting and detailed crafting systems out there in the MMO world. I realize classes will never be erased because they are integral to solo play and are just as important as jobs in different situations.


Predictions

1. Given that the population is the best its been for several months, and rising, the addition of payed subscriptions will allow the developers extra assets to make the game better than ever at a faster rate, and the eventual launch of 2.0 will be big contender with MMO's of it's generation (whatever they may be.)

2. While some people will leave after the introduction of subscription fees, most that are still here are dedicated to the game and legitimately find it enjoyable, and will reap the benefits of a tight-knit community playing a game where said community is actually listened to by the developers. This will eventually lead to populations rising once again, due to word of mouth.


Please SE, I urge you to re-think listening to what this guy has to say. He doesn't know what he's talking about. I've seen the stock projections and I realize that you have supported this title for over a year while continually going further and further into the red and accruing zero profit. I appreciate that, and I know that you truly need the money to pay the salaries of the FFXIV team so that you can make FFXIV 2.0 the best it can be. I support your belief that the game IS ready to be paid for.


TL;DR: I can make my opinions look like fact too.

best post in this thread yet, paws down^^

[Corrderio]

I doubt they start charging b/c they want. I bet higher ups simply didn;t want to wait another year for any kind of profit. They were forced to start charging soon. If they really wanted to get money from us when the game is ready they would wait for 2.0.

Which is what put XIV in this situation in the first place.

Well the distribution of software starts September-October, then the ps3 beta starts in October-November. So I assume the "reboot phase" will happen sooner for PC.

Maybe, but still a long ways off.