Gender locked race?

[Kailea_Nagisa]

This seems to be the thread for feedback about gender-locked races so lemme add my two gil here:

I'm extremely, bitterly disappointed.

One of the things I liked so very much about the 2.0 beta, where I started playing, was that they were actually moving away from the awful 'girl races are tiny and cute/male races are big and hulking' thing. You could play a giant Roegadyn lady! You could play a tiny Miqo'te male! Highlanders for everyone! It was a good time, the time where those pictures with "FFXIV is all-inclusive because everyone looks equally ridiculous" and then a male and female model in the harness/subligar set, you know the one, was circling around and hell, it was true.

Then eternal bonds happened, and Square Enix listened and made same-sex weddings a thing that could happen. Then they listened to feedback and opened up a few pieces of formerly gender-locked gear so that both genders can use them. Excellent! And then they kind of dragged their feet on unlocking more pieces, which was less so.

I dunno when I first got the feeling that FFXIV was back-sliding from the inclusive game I knew and loved; it might have been with the Astrologian AF reveal for Stormblood (which, you know, AST main, and it was also one of the first bits of detail we had on the new expansion). The male and female outfits were so different. It's only gotten worse since then; even the flower crown from the Little Ladies' Day event is wildly different for males and females. There's no real reason! But it happened! And I'm frustrated!

This... this isn't helping. Nothing about this was good. The fact that gender-locked races are still a thing, six years after they gave us female roegadyn and male miqo'te due to massive outcry hurts. The fact that the announcement itself was handled so poorly (what seemed like a soft confirm + "wait until next fanfest wink wink nudge nudge" on male viera from EU fanfest to let people build up hype before "yeah no no male viera" at Tokyo fanfest) hurts. The fact that this happens right on the heels of FFXIV sponsoring a float at Sydney Mardi Gras, presumably making a statement about their stance on inclusivity, hurts.

The thing that hurts the most, though? That this doesn't feel like the game I was so excited to play back in 2013 any more. This feels more like the game that game evolved from, both in terms of content and in terms of being receptive to community feedback.

Sure, it's about not being able to play a rabbit dude, but it's also about the fact that I thought Square Enix knew better than this.

They did, at one point.

its a GAME, for pete sake -.- This is not the end of the world, ffxiv is not "against you"

This is getting ridiculous

[Kazran]

its a GAME, for pete sake -.- This is not the end of the world, ffxiv is not "against you"

This is getting ridiculous

But for someone playing since the 2.0 beta this game has been apart of their life for a long time. Media affects us all, if it didn't people wouldn't name their children after characters from books, movies, games etc.

To say its "just a game" is not helpful in anyway to the conversation being had! If it was 'just a game" people should have just been happy with 1.0 cus hey "its just a game" its never just a game its the context and culture surrounding the game, the people who made it, the corporations who fund it, the community that plays its. Its the same for all forms of media! I could say movies like The Godfather" was just a movie calm down people "Titanic is just a movie" "Harry Potter is just a movie" "The Avengers is just a movie" no that's reductionist and ignores everything surrounding the thing in question!

[Kailea_Nagisa]

But for someone playing since the 2.0 beta this game has been apart of their life for a long time. Media affects us all, if it didn't people wouldn't name their children after characters from books, movies, games etc.

To say its "just a game" is not helpful in anyway to the conversation being had! If it was 'just a game" people should have just been happy with 1.0 cus hey "its just a game" its never just a game its the context and culture surrounding the game, the people who made it, the corporations who fund it, the community that plays its. Its the same for all forms of media! I could say movies like The Godfather" was just a movie calm down people "Titanic is just a movie" "Harry Potter is just a movie" "The Avengers is just a movie" no that's reductionist and ignores everything surrounding the thing in question!

I was in alpha of 1.0 been playing longer then anyone for the most part, your point?

[Rokke]

by koko

[Kailea_Nagisa]

But for someone playing since the 2.0 beta this game has been apart of their life for a long time. Media affects us all, if it didn't people wouldn't name their children after characters from books, movies, games etc.

To say its "just a game" is not helpful in anyway to the conversation being had! If it was 'just a game" people should have just been happy with 1.0 cus hey "its just a game" its never just a game its the context and culture surrounding the game, the people who made it, the corporations who fund it, the community that plays its. Its the same for all forms of media! I could say movies like The Godfather" was just a movie calm down people "Titanic is just a movie" "Harry Potter is just a movie" "The Avengers is just a movie" no that's reductionist and ignores everything surrounding the thing in question!

There is so much to enjoy here with the new expansion, new areas, story, characters, gear, jobs, interactions with other players. But no, lets harp on ONE thing you dont like to the point of sounding like a child throwing a fit because they didnot get the color toy they wanted.

Not everything needs to be inclusive, not everything needs to have everything someone wants, not everything is for everyone.

[Kazran]

There is so much to enjoy here with the new expansion, new areas, story, characters, gear, jobs, interactions with other players. But no, lets harp on ONE thing you dont like to the point of sounding like a child throwing a fit because they didnot get the color toy they wanted.

Not everything needs to be inclusive, not everything needs to have everything someone wants, not everything is for everyone.

Of course there is a lot of things to be excited for! And Man a lot of the new areas, music and dungeons look amazing! And this announcement doesn't override that but, for alot of people "glamour is true endgame" and its more then just a tantrum over a different colored toy. But this is a feature among many that a large group of people were looking forward to! And they are allowed to be disappointed in it not happening.

For many (but not all) their character IS a representation of themselves, their creativity, their story telling, and/or the way they want to be perceived in game. Its why they are called avatars. People express themselves through their character and their design as one may choose to express themselves in the way they dress or the way they do their hair. This is just an extension of that! And there are whole industries built around clothes, hair etc.

We judge books by their covers all the time and so people want to look their best as they see it, and to present to others playing the game, because you can see other players and what they choose to wear, how they do their hair and what race they are, and which gender they choose. And they want you to see them as they want to be seen a freedom much more attainable in game then in real life.

and obviously this is just one part of the community, but not a small part. Having Male and Female Viera and Male and Female Hrothgar as choices hurts no one, if you don't want to be one of those, don't, that simple and if you do, then be one of them! Them giving us the choice lets everyone win!

[Kailea_Nagisa]

Of course there is a lot of things to be excited for! And Man a lot of the new areas, music and dungeons look amazing! And this announcement doesn't override that but, for alot of people "glamour is true endgame" and its more then just a tantrum over a different colored toy. But this is a feature among many that a large group of people were looking forward to! And they are allowed to be disappointed it not happening.

For many (but not all) their character IS a representation of themselves, their creativity, their story telling, and/or the way they want to be perceived in game. Its why they are called avatars. People express themselves through their character and their design as one may choose to express themselves in the way they dress or the way they do their hair. This is just an extension of that! And there are whole industries built around clothes, hair etc.

We judge books by their covers all the time and so people want to look their best as they see it, and to present to others playing the game, because you can see other players and what they choose to wear, how they do their hair and what race they are, and which gender they choose. And they want you to see them as they want to be seen a freedom much more attainable in game then in real life.

and obviously this is just one part of the community, but not a small part. Having Male and Female Viera and Male and Female Hrothgar as choices hurts no one, if you don't want to be one of those, don't, that simple and if you do, then be one of them! Them giving us the choice lets everyone win!

you are preaching to the quire here, I live endgame, glamour is life, but you also have to work with what is given to you. It is true that having the other gender of these races would hurt no one, and I in fact was fine with how it rolled out lastnight, or even if we just got m/f Viera. This way we get two races, not just one, more choices for people over all. We could have just not had any new races what so ever, but we got not just one, but two.

[Kazran]

you are preaching to the quire here, I live endgame, glamour is life, but you also have to work with what is given to you. It is true that having the other gender of these races would hurt no one, and I in fact was fine with how it rolled out lastnight, or even if we just got m/f Viera. This way we get two races, not just one, more choices for people over all. We could have just not had any new races what so ever, but we got not just one, but two.

Yes it is amazing we got two new races! That's awesome! I'm happy people have more options with big buff men and pretty bunny ladies. But They released them only for one gender. What about the people who want to be Tuff Buff lion ladies and the ones who wanted be Viera Babe dudes?

If it wasn't for the leak or for the french translation thing Hrothgar would have come out of no where. Viera was on its way to being the only new race and the way they played coy with males at the Pairs Fanfest didn't help the hype for it. Many people had most likely brushed off the leaks as rumor as many leaks are. None of this was helped by the fact they had multiple pieces of concept art for male Vieras that they showed publicly only building the hype.

People are allowed to be upset that instead of getting one whole race, one that was certainly in demand for a long time, they only get half of it and then told that hey instead of doing the full race we did this other race instead! Oh and we made the creation for both these only half of a race super deep and customizable because we didn't do the other gender! And that just makes it suck even more!

While I wanted male Viera I am certainly happy with the fact we are gettin a new Beasty race but with that now I would love to make a cool fierce Lion lady! And now I can't do either. And I think that also has caused a lot of the unhappiness that the choice they wanted was taken then a choice they didn't even know they could have was then taken away as well.

[Kailea_Nagisa]

Yes it is amazing we got two new races! That's awesome! I'm happy people have more options with big buff men and pretty bunny ladies. But They released them only for one gender. What about the people who want to be Tuff Buff lion ladies and the ones who wanted be Viera Babe dudes?

If it wasn't for the leak or for the french translation thing Hrothgar would have come out of no where. Viera was on its way to being the only new race and the way they played coy with males at the Pairs Fanfest didn't help the hype for it. Many people had most likely brushed off the leaks as rumor as many leaks are. None of this was helped by the fact they had multiple pieces of concept art for male Vieras that they showed publicly only building the hype.

People are allowed to be upset that instead of getting one whole race, one that was certainly in demand for a long time, they only get half of it and then told that hey instead of doing the full race we did this other race instead! Oh and we made the creation for both these only half of a race super deep and customizable because we didn't do the other gender! And that just makes it suck even more!

While I wanted male Viera I am certainly happy with the fact we are gettin a new Beasty race but with that now I would love to make a cool fierce Lion lady! And now I can't do either. And I think that also has caused a lot of the unhappiness that the choice they wanted was taken then a choice they didn't even know they could have was then taken away as well.

Well that is the dangers of assumption, people should stop doing that.

[WhiteArchmage]

There is so much to enjoy here with the new expansion, new areas, story, characters, gear, jobs, interactions with other players. But no, lets harp on ONE thing you dont like to the point of sounding like a child throwing a fit because they didnot get the color toy they wanted.

Not everything needs to be inclusive, not everything needs to have everything someone wants, not everything is for everyone.

Funny you should say that! Not everything is for everyone means people are well within their rights to leave if they so choose. Yes, it is "just a game" so it shouldn't bother anyone if people choose to...not buy it

And for many people it's a combination of things: the devs being overly cagey about the gender-lock, tone deaf responses to Eureka, BLU and the general concept of limited jobs, no new healer (Dancer or otherwise, I know I was happy about them being ranged until my hype evaporated like a raindrop in the sun). Think of it as the proverbial straw on the camel's back.