Bad decision by SE

[Barristan]

"2 months I can agree with being a suitable delay, not 2 weeks.".

What the actual hell? You would rather wait 2 months, than 2 weeks for the expac to drop? What kind of mental gymnastics is this?

But going to your point, look at it this way, Blizzard dropped 9.1.5 on 11/2, this gives the WoW refugees a month to see that there isn't much content and they come back to XIV in time for Endwalker to drop. Everyone knows that BS was intentional on Blizzard's part, so SE is playing tit for tat.

[Gemina]

Hmm I see it a bit differently Gemina, tho I get your point. I think in individual cases you have to judge based on their individual merit, and not automatically compile it with general issues. In this case, has SE been slacking and delaying a lot more often? If no, I can perfectly understand that yes, they probably have a solid reason if they are out of options this time, regardless of the general state of the gaming industry as a whole. Just like if I generally greatly enjoy someone’s service, I’ll not go look elsewhere if there is an issue once or twice that is understandable. They have earned my goodwill and trust.

Besides that I do have sympathy for the tribulations that come with Covid. A lot of companies have figured out ways to optimise some parts of the challenges it has brought, and some parts of it turned out to be even better with working at home for example. But some things simply do suffer from delays, because the element of the easy and quick communication that you have when you work next to each other, is hampered by the pandemic. While that’s hardly ‘new’ news, that doesn’t make it a less valid argument while it’s still ongoing.

If your angle is to be a bit forgiving if instances are kept at a minimum, I'm afraid that FFXIV and SE as a whole has a really bad history with not meeting deadlines, and pushing dates out. If this was the first or even second occurrence, I would be singing a different tune I assure you. However, I can admit that these kind of failures on a global scale and not just with the gaming industry has influenced my last couple of posts. I am one of many frustrated people out there, so I am not looking at things from an individual case.

I feel that the point has been breached where it is time for us to be done with being so complacent with providers. That we, all of us have been more than what's required to be considered patient with companies of many types and services. It is our money that fund these places, it is our voices that should be heard. A year ago, I was far more tolerant as a result of the bug and now successes have become so rare that they are seen as an exception rather than the rule. We're not progressing. We're not improving. We're not learning the lessons that are trying to be taught to us.

When delays like this become commonplace and accepted, what happens is that people start to become skeptical and question whether or not dates are being used to sell the product. The validity in that is entirely irrelevant. It doesn't need to be to do the damage. In short, the more you like FFXIV, the less accepting and accommodating you should be when this team fails to meet a commitment. I can't tell anyone how to feel, but those who are just livid about this news aren't getting any shame fingers pointed at them from me.

[Lihluh]

I don't want Yoshida-san to feel bad about this, he's working very hard.

Same...
It broke my heart to see him cry

[cactusbees]

I would rather have a fully working game, instead of something freezing up mid-patch. It's understandable and frustrating that this is happening during holiday black-out, but think about how much sweeter getting off of your shift to sink into your chair will be when you get home. It also says a lot about our current corporate workforce, but that's another rant for another board.

I'm also kind of glad for this delay, because now it won't be a huge interference between this and the KoF XV beta.

[Kes13a]

As a consumer, it is of no relevance to you what caused the delay. All that should matter to you is am I, or am I not getting my product on time, because when I pre ordered, I am pretty sure there was a date attached to that. It was actually quite large on the display. Pretty darn sure that it was one of the selling points that convinced me to buy.

As a human, of course I am concerned for their health, and truly hope they are not being overtaxed, even though I know they are. The lack of accountability and consequence I spoke of earlier is infectious, and compromises a lot of things they truly don't have any control of over there. It's a snowball effect the just spins out of control until we have what we have now. The bleeding can be stopped though, but accountability and consequence need to return to cauterize it.

I'm not saying to boycott FFXIV, or anything extreme like that. But I am trying to remind the players here the value they have being a subscriber to this game. There are a lot of people out there who are definitely just fine if you forget that fact.

well, as a consumer, lets say you were promised a car by a certain date, they are unable to get brakes for the care for whatever reason, lets say all the brake parts failed quality checks.

so, the manufacturer sends you the car anyway so as not to miss their promised date. using your example, the company fulfilled their promise of delivery, even if driving the car is unreliable if not possibly life threatening to anyone around when you drive it. so you should be overjoyed, even if it is just lawn art.

I am willing to bet that people that got a fully functioning car would enjoy their product more.

software bugs dont warn in advance of issues. if something failed in the last week of testing, the process is they need to assess it, they need to assign how many units of developer time are assigned to it, and then see if QA can test it before release. sure, you can be angry all you want, but what does it accomplish exactly? the gaming industry is FULL of examples of companies putting things out that are "good enough", one prominent one puts out releases that are at that stage and then expects the player base to essentially playtest while subscribing.

is it a disappointment, yes, but as a consumer myself, I would FAR RATHER play something that works the first time I start it, than go through potentially game breaking bugs just so you can have delivery on time. I pay for the game too....

As for developers and QA, I am positive they were looking forward to the 19th as well, since after that date, they could maybe take some time off.... not any more...

[Ayer2015]

When watching the Live Letter I felt bad for Yoshi, he clearly really cares and far more than I would if in his position. Delays happen all the time, and most would prefer a polished product. Also you have 3-4 months to complete all the content before 6.1, so there is plenty of time to enjoy the expansion at a slow pace whether you have time over the holidays or have to wait until the new year.

This is just a video game people.

[Lunalepsy]

It's just a private company. You cannot hold them accountable because of your personal choices.

[Nishira]

Yeah in that case I understand your conclusion Gemina It does seem a general issue with mmo’s that either they delay or on launch you end up in the ‘open beta test’, and if you’re particularly lucky you get both! Maybe deadlines simply don’t work well for mmo’s. I know from friends who work on the development of certain (non game) platforms that they run into very similar issues, just on a much smaller scale so in that sense it’s never a big surprise for me when game developers bump heads with their creations. I fully understand specific dates set up for expectations, and disappointment when they are not met. Maybe more vagueness would be better with large, creative projects like these? I have no idea.

[Anya_Synia]

As I retail worker myself I understand that sometimes things dont go to plan and sometimes things are delayed.
I also understand that entitlement gets me nowhere and that as a retail worker I know how ridiculous customers can look.

You dont speak on the behalf of retail workers.

[Valkyrie_Lenneth]

As I retail worker myself I understand that sometimes things dont go to plan and sometimes things are delayed.
I also understand that entitlement gets me nowhere and that as a retail worker I know how ridiculous customers can look.

You dont speak on the behalf of retail workers.

Yeah, having worked as a retail employee, it's a real eye opener into the behavior of consumers.


The thing I hated most was the "I'm the customer, you have to do what I say" crowd. Always resolved to never be that person. 7 years of hell does that to you.