The current state of the "MMORPG" FFXIV is unsustainable. Here's why

[R041]

So are WoW Players Casuals, or all Hardcore? Why do they get more engaging mechanics? Why are there so many more WoW players even today? Why are we conflating 'Casual' with someone that literally can't do basic video game mechanics?

[Jojoya]

"The game is still here"

Said every SWTOR, Age of Conan, Wildstar, LOTRO, etc. player

SWTOR is still here 11 years later.

Age of Conan is still here 14 years later.

Wildstar did end updying - because it was not casual friendly among other reasons.

LotRO is still here almost 16 years later.

WoW is still here 18 years later. Know what's at the root of WoW's resurgence? They've recognized even raiders are growing older and will enjoy the casual side of the game.

The players who have the problem are those who have invested too much of their identity into playing a specific game that they convinced themselves was hardcore - just to later realize the game was never as hardcore as they imagined.

I can give you WoW and ESO and to a much much lesser extent GW2 but RuneScape is pushing what MAYBE 300k? And lol everquest. You really used everquest.

When WoW was released, Blizzard considered reaching 300k players to be sign of an amazing success. The old guard of the time said they avoided dreaming of 500k, thinking it unreachable.

Even today, MMOs do well enough with 100k players that they continue producing new content.

You've set your bar too high for what constitutes a viable game.

If your ego needs a game to have millions of players before you are willing to play it, wouldn't you better off with something like LoL or Fortnite?

So are WoW Players Casuals, or all Hardcore? Why do they get more engaging mechanics? Why are there so many more WoW players even today? Why are we conflating 'Casual' with someone that literally can't do basic video game mechanics?

Is there really such a thing as being hardcore or casual considering the gaming community in general has never agreed on definitions for those terms? Perhaps we're all just people who enjoy playing games, and that's all that needs to be said.

"Engaging mechanics" is subjective. You should try listening to comments of some of the top raiders who play both games.

WoW still has so many players due to franchise loyalty and sunk cost fallacy. Over half my friends when I was still playing WoW would tell me "I'm not playing this game because I like MMOs. I play this game because it's Warcraft".

[Kyrj]

They're here but they're on their deathbed, if I have to spell that out for you then there's no point in me wasting my time on you.

[MintnHoney]

Is there really such a thing as being hardcore or casual considering the gaming community in general has never agreed on definitions for those terms?

Yes, there are such things as being a hardcore gamer and a casual gamer.
The problem is that people tend to get offended for being identified as one over the other (usually casual), so personal views have changed the presented definitions over time.

[Raven2014]

So are WoW Players Casuals, or all Hardcore? Why do they get more engaging mechanics? Why are there so many more WoW players even today? Why are we conflating 'Casual' with someone that literally can't do basic video game mechanics?

Ever thought about the fact that the majority of gamers don't really give 2 craps about any of those labels? Casual or hardcore is only made up label that outside of a small section of mouthers to argue about, the rest just shrug and move on with their life. Let me reveal to you the magic word that's far more relevant than all of these "buzz" words you're throwing around: fun.

At the end of the day, whether a game can stand the test of time or not isn't because it cater to casual or hardcore, that's just crap some people throw around with their mental gymnastic to argue the point. The truth is much more simple, a game survive as long as it's fun for enough amount of people. If you're among those people, you luck out, you find your match. If not, well, too bad, but there are always other options on the market for you to try your luck again.

[CaedemSanguis]

«* FF14 is casual*»

* Hide Logs *

KEKW

[Jojoya]

They're here but they're on their deathbed, if I have to spell that out for you then there's no point in me wasting my time on you.

Everything dies eventually. Except maybe taxes.

Learn to enjoy what's available while it's available instead of dragging pessimistic luggage around with you.

Yes, there are such things as being a hardcore gamer and a casual gamer.
The problem is that people tend to get offended for being identified as one over the other (usually casual), so personal views have changed the presented definitions over time.

So then what are the definitions of each?

Personally I have no problems being identified as casual. Even when I was a core healer for a realm first guild in WoW (small realm, we weren't world first material outside of one player who retired from that rat race), I considered myself casual. I liked the raiding for the challenge to see how far I could push myself but I liked what was considered casual content even more. But my idea of casual probably wouldn't match what others see as casual.

What I dislike is the people who try to blame casuals for killing MMOs when that has never been the case.

[R041]

WoW still has so many players due to franchise loyalty and sunk cost fallacy. Over half my friends when I was still playing WoW would tell me "I'm not playing this game because I like MMOs. I play this game because it's Warcraft".

XIV definitely suffers from Sunk Cost Fallacy all the same. We'll see how many people stay after the MSQ basically dumpstered itself. :l

"I play because I like Final Fantasy"

I definitely played because it was Final Fantasy. I don't think I would've stayed past Heavensward if it weren't for it. Definitely no longer enjoy combat outside of DDR boss mechanics.

[EgilTheStressedMage]

XIV definitely suffers from Sunk Cost Fallacy all the same. We'll see how many people stay after the MSQ basically dumpstered itself. :l

"I play because I like Final Fantasy"

I definitely played because it was Final Fantasy. I don't think I would've stayed past Heavensward if it weren't for it. Definitely no longer enjoy combat outside of DDR boss mechanics.

I play because it doesn't take hours to days to weeks to get a level up further in the game with dead guilds and inactive friend lists. I'll just go play Last Chaos in 2006 if I want to relive that hell.

[R041]

I play because it doesn't take hours to days to weeks to get a level up further in the game with dead guilds and inactive friend lists. I'll just go play Last Chaos in 2006 if I want to relive that hell.

You haven't played any other MMO in the past.. 5 years have you?