Get the mics warmed up - 2.0: you're going to need voice acting

[Mug]

Voice-overs, if done well, is definitely the way forward in MMO's. How anyone can suggest it isn't, is beyond me.

[ObeiKinstar]

Neptune, how have you been?

I fully support voice acting

[Gramul]

Voice-overs, if done well, is definitely the way forward in MMO's. How anyone can suggest it isn't, is beyond me.

It's not a way forward.
Forward implies movement towards a destination.

It's just a way. Besides, some people actually prefer reading. Not saying I'm against it though. Just don't think it's all that great in an overall sense.

[SniperRifle]

, some people actually prefer reading.

Those people buy books, not video games.

[Kaizlu]

Full voice acting would be nice, but not a necessity.

Voice acting in major quests? Yes, please. And why not, an option to turn off voices for those that don't like VA.

Now, saying that the game will fail if 2.0 doesn't have full VA as SW:TOR, now that's just, no. Yes, Bioware invested a huge amount of money in their game, good for them. I also share the same opinions as others: I would prefer if resources were used in actual content and not in trying to imitate an imitation of another game (which some say is also an imitation).

"BUT DIFFERENT TEAMS, HAVING VA DOESN'T AFFECT ANYTHING IS A PLUS STOP TROLLING"

Seems that Bioware spent so much resources in voice acting that it affected some other stuff in the game like storytelling, getting some alpha engine instead of developing their own or perhaps it affected quality control .

But hey, you can at least have a loved one in the game. http://youtu.be/xoOQdU3zMzM

It's not about bashing SW:TOR, but I find it funny how some people seem to believe that the game will revolutionize the MMO market without admitting some of the flaws of the game. Have fun in both games! And enjoy a trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o08e_xlXAVc

[SniperRifle]

The point here is voice acting can benefit the game. We're trying to sell the idea to SE that we want voice acting, not warn them of all the negative things that come along w/ voice acting...

SO MUCH MONEY! IF VA SUCKS THEN GAME SUCKS! IF U PUT IN TOO MUCH VA, THERE IS TOO LITTLE OF OTHER GOOD STUFF! BE WARNED SE!!!! :@ SO MUCH HDD SPACE MY PC CANT HANDOL AL DAT VA!!! va is good but [SIZE="6"]VA CAN BE VERY VERY VERY BAD!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!!@ [/SIZE]

Only posting on the subject so much because yes, I care that much about having VA in FFXIV. And yes, VA has been revolutionary. I don't care about cutscenes. When I walk through a town it'd be cool to hear some voices, not pure silence, or footstep echoes. It's that simple. I can put faces and names on like 20+ NPCs in Skyrim, yet I can't even remember the elf NPCs name (who gives you the Ifrit/Moogle quest) or a single word of dialogue in FF14, which I've probably sunk over a years worth of time into.

fyi, my logic for VA being revolutionary is not because the 2 most popular MMOS on the market are using it (or 90% of platformers since the release of the N64), it's because there will never be a 'most popular MMO' that doesn't have VA at this day in age.

Those of you willing to argue popularity isn't a necessity;

1) You must love the silence of 14 right now.
2) SE's bank account disagrees.
3) If 2.0 isn't popular, then we have no game.

I'm watching Super Mario 64 on twitch.tv right now and even he has voice acting, (and text).

[Gramul]

Those people buy books, not video games.

No. I'm pretty sure my brother buys both.

[Neptune]

Lol, great post sniperrifle. It's true, some people must love the silence. lol.

[Dreamer]

While I think the main storyline should certainly keep it, I feel that doing it for everything is overkill and a waste of resources that could be better spent on similar things - animations, more music, etc. While having it everywhere in games like EQ2 and SWTOR is nice, it does not in any way make or break a game.

[AreeyaJaidee]

I think we can all agree the opening of FFXIV is spellbinding. From the opening of the ship to Limsa Lominsa to Yda waking up in the forest, that great voice acting really captured the world's attention. How disappointing it was that playing through the next chapter in your story was met by dull text boxes.

The dialogue in this game is so cleverly translated into English (thanks fernehalwes & crew) that it is just a shame so much of it isn't acted out with the great voice talent procured for FFXIV.

As 2.0 approaches, Square Enix has an interesting decision to make. Do they make this the game it always should have been, or recoil even further from their great financial losses by going conservative in regards to putting even more resources into FFXIV? We all know what the noble thing would be do to, and one's thing's for sure: full voice acting would be one way to distinguish the new FFXIV from the old.

As we all know, Bioware invested over $100 million into their MMO, and truly, its great contribution to the MMO genre is the voice acting and its method of group storytelling. Next to it, FFXIV looks like the product of a bygone era, when gamers mashed the controller button to advance lengthy text dialogue boxes. Blizzard is also preparing to launch a major new MMO in the years to come. Is Square Enix ready to show the world that it is a major player in the MMO field?

Square Enix has invested many years into FFXIV, although to be fair it hedged its investment by using the same team that was constantly working on FFXI. It didn't see the financial results it needed to see that year that it posted over a $100 million loss, but let's not forget the $40 million in revenues FFXIV generated through retail sales. Let's be realistic. Expecting to sell another 600,000 copies on the PS3 is truly a longshot. FFXIV has a lot to prove to PS3 owners. FFXIV's only real chance at success is to recapture its PC market. The goal should be to get all 600,000 PC players back along with another 400,000. And if Square Enix truly wishes to command that kind of attention, it had better get with the times and start making the phone calls to the casting directors. Start warming those mics up. Because you're going to need a lot more voice acting if you want this game to really stand out. Even World of Warcraft has a lot of (bad) voice acting in its dungeons and cities.

Yoshi-P, I know I'm preaching to the choir, but I trust you know what needs to be done. It's time to make that phone call to Wada and tell him to suck it up and get out his wallet. I hope he has the balls to look the world in the face with 2.0 and be ready to challenge the major players with a strong offering.

Good stuff :3

Hope to see voice acting in 2.0 as well \ (- o -)/