Male Viera as a playable character! show your support

[Lauront]

In the end, they are cutting content they deem low priority, most likely in view of the ARR rework, and also because it has occupied a lot of their text translation stuff. As I said, this is realistically what a company ought to do in the first place, as not all content is made equal, and they know this. I am hoping that we are going to see texture and character customisation upgrades come 6.0, but if they decide to add the missing genders then, I will be pleasantly surprised.

[zeylos]

In the end, they are cutting content they deem low priority, most likely in view of the ARR rework, and also because it has occupied a lot of their text translation stuff. As I said, this is realistically what a company ought to do in the first place, as not all content is made equal, and they know this. I am hoping that we are going to see texture and character customisation upgrades come 6.0, but if they decide to add the missing genders then, I will be pleasantly surprised.

I think its unlikely that they're just cutting content because they dont prioritize them as much. I'd understand it with PVP or things like that, but theyre cutting ultimates, theyre cutting dungeons, we are getting less fashion than ever (and most ofi tsi ts recolors), this patch getting like 4 sets that look decent and arent reworked? we are basically getting story a nieceh system raids and a little tiny bit of fashio nand isde content. This isnt something I think they would just do because. I think there's possibly a reason behind it. I think its kinda unlikely they'll revamp graphics since they look just fine but its possible, and as for customization upgrades, I count missing genders there so I really hope they get to it. Overall, this could just mean the team is tired or that they just are planning something else, but one can hope

[Kobalos]

I think its unlikely that they're just cutting content because they dont prioritize them as much. I'd understand it with PVP or things like that, but theyre cutting ultimates, theyre cutting dungeons, we are getting less fashion than ever (and most ofi tsi ts recolors), this patch getting like 4 sets that look decent and arent reworked? we are basically getting story a nieceh system raids and a little tiny bit of fashio nand isde content. This isnt something I think they would just do because. I think there's possibly a reason behind it. I think its kinda unlikely they'll revamp graphics since they look just fine but its possible, and as for customization upgrades, I count missing genders there so I really hope they get to it. Overall, this could just mean the team is tired or that they just are planning something else, but one can hope

Aye could be I just would not get too over excited. I am disappointed over the gender lock too (Amazon lion waifus when SE?) but also pragmatic in the fact it may never happen. Nothing sucks more then getting hyped up only to be disappointed when 6.0 comes and still no others genders. It is fine to be hopeful but maybe try not to be adamant that bunny bois and lion waifus will ever be a thing

[Lauront]

I think its unlikely that they're just cutting content because they dont prioritize them as much. I'd understand it with PVP or things like that, but theyre cutting ultimates, theyre cutting dungeons, we are getting less fashion than ever (and most ofi tsi ts recolors), this patch getting like 4 sets that look decent and arent reworked? we are basically getting story a nieceh system raids and a little tiny bit of fashio nand isde content. This isnt something I think they would just do because. I think there's possibly a reason behind it. I think its kinda unlikely they'll revamp graphics since they look just fine but its possible, and as for customization upgrades, I count missing genders there so I really hope they get to it. Overall, this could just mean the team is tired or that they just are planning something else, but one can hope

Ultimates are very niche content, though. It was always a "maybe" with 3 ultimates for SHB. Whilst I have no problem with them adding another, the biggest stumbling block to this game for new players is the ARR leveling experience. As for PVP, if you look at the mount figures from Lucky Bancho's latest survey you will see they suggest Frontlines and RW have a fairly decent uptake as game modes when compared to ultimates, and it's fairly decent filler content. Nonetheless, they seem content to have some game modes, like ultimate, where it's not the uptake but the high skill requirement which makes it worthwhile, so I guess it's a very discretionary thing whether to add or remove one for an expansion. On the whole, as a business proposition with resource constraints, prioritisation is nonetheless key.

As for the graphics, it really depends on which part of it we're talking about. The low res textures are not a great look in a game trying to vie for limited consumer time and money in the current day and age. The tradeoffs we are seeing, with the deep dungeon, 2 dungeons over the expansion and Hildibrand quests being cut are indicative of resources being reallocated to projects that will improve the game's overall profitability and attractiveness to new players. I will reserve judgement until 6.0 to see if it's true, but it is consistent with how they have framed such tradeoffs in the past. Overall, I think the content that is making it in, is of a very good quality for the most part.

[zeylos]

Ultimates are very niche content, though. It was always a "maybe" with 3 ultimates for SHB. Whilst I have no problem with them adding another, the biggest stumbling block to this game for new players is the ARR leveling experience. As for PVP, if you look at the mount figures from Lucky Bancho's latest survey you will see they suggest Frontlines and RW have a fairly decent uptake as game modes when compared to ultimates, and it's fairly decent filler content. Nonetheless, they seem content to have some game modes, like ultimate, where it's not the uptake but the high skill requirement which makes it worthwhile, so I guess it's a very discretionary thing whether to add or remove one for an expansion. On the whole, as a business proposition with resource constraints, prioritisation is nonetheless key.

As for the graphics, it really depends on which part of it we're talking about. The low res textures are not a great look in a game trying to vie for limited consumer time and money in the current day and age. The tradeoffs we are seeing, with the deep dungeon, 2 dungeons over the expansion and Hildibrand quests being cut are indicative of resources being reallocated to projects that will improve the game's overall profitability and attractiveness to new players. I will reserve judgement until 6.0 to see if it's true, but it is consistent with how they have framed such tradeoffs in the past. Overall, I think the content that is making it in, is of a very good quality for the most part.

I think two shiny new playable models would make the game very attractive, plsu a lot of people who see the genderlocks as sexism (I dont think it is personally) will also be happy and likely return. Then again, maybe theyre gonna do something else. In 2 daqys theres that developer blog series thing, maybe there we can hopefully learn something

[SieyaM]

I think two shiny new playable models would make the game very attractive, plsu a lot of people who see the genderlocks as sexism (I dont think it is personally) will also be happy and likely return. Then again, maybe theyre gonna do something else. In 2 daqys theres that developer blog series thing, maybe there we can hopefully learn something

I don't think the developers had any kind of sexist intent but it is noticeable that they chose big manly men cats and slim sexual bunny women for their new races. Adding the other sides of these two races though would bring people that are feeling alienated by the current choices.

[Bright-Flower]

I don't think the developers had any kind of sexist intent but it is noticeable that they chose big manly men cats and slim sexual bunny women for their new races. Adding the other sides of these two races though would bring people that are feeling alienated by the current choices.

Yeah, I think it's not so much sexism so much as trying to play to demographics. Male only races tend to be big and burly, female only races slender and curvy. Just look at the prior examples. Roes and Miqo'te (as well as their FFXI equivalents) you had the big strong burly male only race and the cute cat girls. This also extended to highlanders, the bigger and buffer male hyur, where females only had the more slender and dainty midlanders in 1.0. You can sort of see this too in the dimorphism of the au ra.

Given the past portrayals of viera though, if the had to do the gender spliting in order to do two races, it does make sense to focus on female viera and males from the other race. Imagine the viera fan reaction if the genders were the other way around.

Personally I think I would have just gone with male and female viera, but had the male viera be more beastly than the females, to fit the 'beast race' and the 'viera popular request' races at the same time without locking out race/gender options. Sure you'd get complaints from people that don't want that sort of dimorphism, but it could have worked I think.

In theory I'm all in favor of female hrothgar/male viera being added but only if the dev team is able to actually do it without half assing it or forcing the dev team into unhealthy crunch periods.

[reivaxe]

Given the past portrayals of viera though, if the had to do the gender spliting in order to do two races, it does make sense to focus on female viera and males from the other race. Imagine the viera fan reaction if the genders were the other way around.

There is no more thought needed on the matter than this.

Viera were the most demanded race for this game, devs sound like they were just browbeaten into adding them if they could only add 1 more race. But Viera are literally only depicted as female so safe to say most people asking for them wanted that. Beastly race was also highly demanded and what they wanted to add so they did both. Are they gonna add 2 female only races? Nope. And look at the line up of races ... there's definitely room for a big, heroic body type. So we got Hrothgar.

Pretty simple, if you wanna do both Viera and a beastly type race then the female option is already taken up by Viera ... and unless you shatter everyone's bunny girl dreams by making Viera a straight up Beastly bunny race you're gonna have to make the beastly race something else. It's not about sexism at all, this game didn't and still doesn't need more attractive or cute "human+" races running around. They tried to make people begging for Viera happy and that sucks up the one slot for a female as they're depicted as a female only race.

After seeing how everything played out I wish we had gotten just the full Hrothgar race full stop but what's done is done and I'm left wanting Female Hrothgar the same as other folks in this thread are wanting boibuns. :/

[SieyaM]

Yeah, I think it's not so much sexism so much as trying to play to demographics. Male only races tend to be big and burly, female only races slender and curvy. Just look at the prior examples. Roes and Miqo'te (as well as their FFXI equivalents) you had the big strong burly male only race and the cute cat girls. This also extended to highlanders, the bigger and buffer male hyur, where females only had the more slender and dainty midlanders in 1.0. You can sort of see this too in the dimorphism of the au ra.

Given the past portrayals of viera though, if the had to do the gender spliting in order to do two races, it does make sense to focus on female viera and males from the other race. Imagine the viera fan reaction if the genders were the other way around.

Personally I think I would have just gone with male and female viera, but had the male viera be more beastly than the females, to fit the 'beast race' and the 'viera popular request' races at the same time without locking out race/gender options. Sure you'd get complaints from people that don't want that sort of dimorphism, but it could have worked I think.

In theory I'm all in favor of female hrothgar/male viera being added but only if the dev team is able to actually do it without half assing it or forcing the dev team into unhealthy crunch periods.

For all the talk of this outcry for a more beastly race to play in XIV, Hrothgar are still among the least played in the game. I think there was a small community of very vocal players that ended up deciding for the majority.

[SturmChurro]

I think two shiny new playable models would make the game very attractive, plsu a lot of people who see the genderlocks as sexism (I dont think it is personally) will also be happy and likely return. Then again, maybe theyre gonna do something else. In 2 daqys theres that developer blog series thing, maybe there we can hopefully learn something

Yeah! Hopefully about viera hairstyles and a hrothgar update. I couldn't care less about male viera/female hrothgar before that. It's not even your fabled 6.0 yet.