Every inconvenience is a challenge.

[Lior]

For those who don't know him, Raph Koster is a game developer most famous in the MMO space for his work on Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies. He has some great insight when it comes to design elements, whether or not one necessarily agrees with his point of view.

His latest blog post resonated with me on a particular level, and I felt I ought to share it for FFXIV's players and developers alike. Although the meat of the post attacks the traditional auction house system, he finishes with a quote that I think rings true particularly for those of us who remember Final Fantasy XI with fondness: "Every inconvenience is a challenge, and games are made of challenges. This means that every inconvenience in your design is potentially someone’s game."

Personally I hope that Yoshi-P will keep this in mind as development continues on 2.0. I can't say that I'm asking for a return to the brutal inconveniences of FFXI, but neither do I want to see Eorzea become as lacking in challenge and subsequently, character, as some modern games have become.

[TheBlazed]

I agree as well.

[Isaaru]

inb4: THIS IS WHY WE SHOULD ABOLISH ANIMA

[Xoo]

I agree, but unfortunately I don't think FFXIV was/is being designed to be as challenging as its predecessor - To the joy of some, and to the dismay of others.

Blame World of Warcraft or Canada.

[Starlord]

inb4: THIS IS WHY WE SHOULD ABOLISH ANIMA

This IS exactly why we should :P

[Roaran]

I think the poster runs into a critical fallacy if he extends his view ANYWHERE beyond the area he takes it in. Specifically, if your goal is to create an environment for players to play store, and that is what is supposed to be fun; then his argument works.

But if the 'playing store' is not the purpose or the ends of the game itself or those playing it, then it is simply just an inconvenience for those who do not want it, and fun for those that do.

What Yoshi-P should realize is, FFXIV is a very broad game that appeals to many people who place different degrees of value to different areas of the game. His role is to satisfy and achieve the greatest possible amount of enjoyment for the players. In order to achieve this, you will not satisfy everyone to the fullest, so it is essentially a balancing game.

If Yoshi were to flatly accept the methodology of the developer in the OP, I think he would make a huge mistake, as development of an MMO does not allow for such black & white approaches.

[Xoo]

I think the poster runs into a critical fallacy if he extends his view ANYWHERE beyond the area he takes it in. Specifically, if your goal is to create an environment for players to play store, and that is what is supposed to be fun; then his argument works.

But if the 'playing store' is not the purpose or the ends of the game itself or those playing it, then it is simply just an inconvenience for those who do not want it, and fun for those that do.

What Yoshi-P should realize is, FFXIV is a very broad game that appeals to many people who place different degrees of value to different areas of the game. His role is to satisfy and achieve the greatest possible amount of enjoyment for the players. In order to achieve this, you will not satisfy everyone to the fullest, so it is essentially a balancing game.

If Yoshi were to flatly accept the methodology of the developer in the OP, I think he would make a huge mistake, as development of an MMO does not allow for such black & white approaches.

We, as humans, feel most alive when faced with danger and threat. This equates fun for anyone. If there is little danger of failure or 'death', we can safely assume that 99% would not find the event fun.

Right now, I can say that I only play XIV because it's just slightly better than doing nothing at all in my spare time.

[Babydoll]

I wish people would shush with the anima! Let the developers decide what to do with that..that is what we pay them for!

Also..nice post OP.

[Roaran]

We, as humans, feel most alive when faced with danger and threat. This equates fun for anyone. If there is little danger of failure or 'death', we can safely assume that 99% would not find the event fun.

Right now, I can say that I only play XIV because it's just slightly better than doing nothing at all in my spare time.

Yet real life is vastly more dangerous than FFXIV. So if we are to accept your premise, you should choose to do things that are more dangerous in real life than FFXIV.

I also don't agree that danger and threat equate to fun for anyone.

Not everyone has the same idea of fun.

[Xoo]

Yet real life is vastly more dangerous than FFXIV. So if we are to accept your premise, you should choose to do things that are more dangerous in real life than FFXIV.

I also don't agree that danger and threat equate to fun for anyone.

Not everyone has the same idea of fun.

Whether in the real world or a virtual world, loss is loss, no matter what the medium. It's all relative. I never said I led an interesting life, but I do say I play a generally uninteresting game.