Gender Locks Have Revealed the Worst in Players.

[Melichoir]

Yes, Races are nice. But if it causes something like a new raid, or quest lines gets rush, the actual content of the game gets deprived because of a cosmetic taking up too many resources, I would rather they didn't.

This is a matter of opinion on what is importance. Not that Im detracting from you, but rather (as others have done) pointing out that what counts as content varies from player to player. Like quite literally, there are people who say the only content in the game is the raids. Not even MSQ counts. And on the flipside, glamour is the only real important content. Its all a matter of perspective. With that in mind, deciding where to spend time on 'appropriate' content is going to leave some people unhappy no matter what. I think that is a big part of the difference between people arguing for and against male viera (well people who dont rely on the lore excuse, cause come on, that was a pretty weak excuse).

I think people should consider this facet: Would you prefer they spend time on quests/raids, and forego making another healer? Cause the game is functional without one, adn more people would benefit from the raids/quests. While not quite the same as races, it goes in line with where SE puts their resources. What should take precedence?

[Blessedbythesun]

So why do you even bother throwing the "lore-mace" at all? It's just a lazy excuse.

As a direct response to the person I quoted, maybe? I've never centered any of my statements about the lore. Just acknowledged the argument.

[Blessedbythesun]

What should take precedence?

The practical side of me says that gameplay content takes precedence over personal aesthetic. People who think raids is the only content are, as you stated, viewing the game from there own perspective, same as I. But for on the content side, I like knowing that I can help the efforts to rebuild the Foundation as a BTN. I always look forward to Hildibrand substory. I am excited for more treasure maps to be added. Even for new stuff to be added that strokes my nostalgia real hard, like music added in from other past SE games, including the Nier Automata raids.

Those things matter much more in the game to me. But as stated, that's my perspective on what content means to me.

[Alucard135]

You make it look like races are no content at all. But they are a big chunk of content.

Nope, they're a big chunk of resource taxing content.

Many people want new races, it's a huge demand and the developers know that. If they wouldn't be, why should SE even add new races at all?

Why don't they continue making new races then? Why did they explicitly say this is the last time they add new races?

Just because it's no real content for you, doesn't mean it's not good content for a huge other part of the playerbase.

Yet, the company has to be smart and decide where to allocate its resources and the most important thing for that is playable content that are the major core of the game (MSQ, dungeons, raids etc). You can't say that character creation and specifically genders in races are a major core of FFXIV gameplay. Even if it's content for other players, if it's going to affect the major parts of the game, then SE shouldn't be focusing on it. I'm not against having both genders for all races. If they can do that without affecting major content, then even better for everyone. But I'm against pushing them to do so even after they told us many times how taxing that is and even worse, some resort to name calling them as sexists, homophobes etc (I know you didn't and I know the majority that want both genders didn't do that).

[Lacan]

The practical side of me says that gameplay content takes precedence over personal aesthetic. People who think raids is the only content are, as you stated, viewing the game from there own perspective, same as I. But for on the content side, I like knowing that I can help the efforts to rebuild the Foundation as a BTN. I always look forward to Hildibrand substory. I am excited for more treasure maps to be added. Even for new stuff to be added that strokes my nostalgia real hard, like music added in from other past SE games, including the Nier Automata raids.

Those things matter much more in the game to me. But as stated, that's my perspective on what content means to me.

See, you understand that your perspective isn't universal. I wish more people could realize that. You see people talk as if just because something isn't important to them personally it shouldn't be important to anyone. It is obvious by now that the genderlocks being removed is something that matters to a lot of people.

I just don't get the pushback against it. It just reads like bitterness to me. They see that people want something and are hoping they don't get it. Why be that way?

[Fukuro]

Nope, they're a big chunk of resource taxing content.



Why don't they continue making new races then? Why did they explicitly say this is the last time they add new races?



Yet, the company has to be smart and decide where to allocate its resources and the most important thing for that is playable content that are the major core of the game (MSQ, dungeons, raids etc). You can't say that character creation and specifically genders in races are a major core of FFXIV gameplay. Even if it's content for other players, if it's going to affect the major parts of the game, then SE shouldn't be focusing on it. I'm not against having both genders for all races. If they can do that without affecting major content, then even better for everyone. But I'm against pushing them to do so even after they told us many times how taxing that is and even worse, some resort to name calling them as sexists, homophobes etc (I know you didn't and I know the majority that want both genders didn't do that).

Because adding new races gets more and more difficult, which i wholeheartedly agree with. But reading things like new races are no content at all, is what gets me confused. Seeing SE put so much effort in races, even tho they take so much resources has to mean something. If it would be no content at all, they just wouldn't care about new races at all.
I don't think the whole genderlock fiesta would've got that much of attention socialwide, if it wasn't that important to people.
If you give a glimps at other games (overwatch, cs-go etc.) you'll see that people torn themselves over other customization options. That's why every event lootboxes and such are sold like hot cakes.
Individuality(more optimization/customization options in general) is commonly seen as very welcoming

[Starcallers]

The practical side of me says that gameplay content takes precedence over personal aesthetic.

I just don't get the pushback against it. It just reads like bitterness to me. They see that people want something and are hoping they don't get it. Why be that way?

This exchange about sums it up.

I understand that there are players who have a preference for gameplay with mechanics, but I don't understand why that preference needs to be accompanied with hoping the people who *do* want that aesthetic content are denied. I'm not advocating for them to take resources away from content with mechanics, but I am advocating for content I personally want to see in the same way you might make a thread about them adding a new raid.

Both our opinions are valid. There's really no reason to make posts like 'I don't want them to add this to the game, because they might not add raids then'. Why not just make a post advocating for new raids and be proactive to show interest in more raid / gameplay-mechanical content instead of making counter-posts shooting down other people's gameplay preference precedents?

Like there's a way to go about this where everyone tells the devs what they want and the devs make educated decisions based on those desired expressions for how to spend their resource money, and we can all, literally, do it without advocating for other people not getting what they want.

[Blessedbythesun]

See, you understand that your perspective isn't universal. I wish more people could realize that. You see people talk as if just because something isn't important to them personally it shouldn't be important to anyone. It is obvious by now that the genderlocks being removed is something that matters to a lot of people.

I just don't get the pushback against it. It just reads like bitterness to me. They see that people want something and are hoping they don't get it. Why be that way?

It kinda bitterness though. Before hoping back in the forums, I was talking to FC mates about it. From the facebook group I'm in, to gaming media websites (which I honestly don't subscribe too because game journalism is dead. Prove me wrong!), and youtube videos in which you can feel the salt and bitterness of those individuals and in the comments. And of course, you have the reaction to the reaction of those that either support or don't have a leg in the race weighing in.

Removing my own cynicism with catching choice words that I feel are politically/culture arguments, I can say I only would support removing the genderlock simply so the choice is there. But quite frankly, I don't care. What I have gotten invested in is just the overall narrative and behaviors surrounding the issue.

[spf1200]

"Since it seems like Viera is popular around the world we have been proactively looking into this, but since having a rabbit male might be kind of weird, maybe we’ll look into having a separate race for the male counterpart."

These were Yoshi's own words. Source: https://www.siliconera.com/2013/02/2...jg8o6pCcXIo.99

Whether one cares about the genderlocks or not, let's make one thing clear: if anyone thinks that bunny girls are okay but that bunny guys are weird, they are practicing a toxic, sexist bias.

At this point it is what it is. Nothing we can do about getting genderlocked races for the time being. What we will do is call it what it is.

Sexist.

No no no and no. Bunny boys are wierd for lore reasons. You people need to stop taking everything thing as an attack and just think for a second before assuming these things.

[spf1200]

Thank you for this! <3 The decision to gender-lock a race is unacceptable. The real-world implications about gender and stereotypes are what makes me disappointed the most, in addition to the conflict within the playerbase community. While I understand that cultural differences, lore reasons, and development conflicts (or all of the above) might have influenced a decision to gender-lock each race, many arguments for the decision fall apart as fallacies.

Until given a clear reason for the gender-locking, it is hard to say...although the whole premise IS a regression from a Western-player perspective. Although I was excited for male Viera to be introduced (the option to gender-lock did not even register on my radar), I am more upset about the gender-locking period. If Hrothgar are to be in the game, I also think female Hrothgar need to be introduced! I hope the real-world ripples are not dismissed. (For the record, I don't think any clothing options need to be gender-locked either, but I can maybe hash that out to development reasons...)

I am still a relatively new player and do NOT plan to cancel my subscription, but I am also kind of holding out hope that the developers will correct their mistakes. I am not that familiar with how much SE listens or works to compromise with their playerbase. There was a conscious decision from the developers to not include male Viera or female Hrothgar that I can't justify, but I can hope for some rectification. I would have rather them release a single race or take as much time as they need to develop both races, etc.

I am sad for all of the backlash you (and any others) have received. No matter the situation, there is absolutely no room for hate...Part of the reason I've enjoyed this game so far is the generally supportive community that I have experienced, on and offline, outside of my FC.

Crossing my fingers and sending out those support vibes <3

You have been given a reason. Both races have been highly requested but they didn't have the resources to make both sexes of both. Maybe to some research I to these things before getting offended by nothing.