I don't know what can honestly be done for Final Fantasy XIV at this point.

[ZephyrMenodora]

Nothing is gained by turning this into a "my MMO is better than yours" pissing match, friend. Final Fantasy XIV is up there, alongside WoW, and I'd argue Guild Wars 2 and also possibly The Elder Scrolls Online as relatively popular and active MMORPGs. Oh, and Black Desert as well. Lord of the Rings Online is doing rather well for itself from what I've heard. No MMO is going to be for everybody, but comments like these only lead to scenarios where we all lose so maybe let's not do that?

I don't see where I did that. I honestly don't care what MMOs people play - play what's fun for you! I play actually unpopular games that I personally enjoy and don't care who else likes it or not.

But so many posts here act like the game is dead/hopeless/unpopular - I'm surprised these posters didn't turn into dynamis despair blobs by now.

[TowaIsBestGirl]

I don't see where I did that. I honestly don't care what MMOs people play - play what's fun for you! I play actually unpopular games that I personally enjoy and don't care who else likes it or not.

But so many posts here act like the game is dead/hopeless/unpopular - I'm surprised these posters didn't turn into dynamis despair blobs by now.

I see your point, but I personally disagree based on how I typically conduct myself. If a poster isn't being outright antagonistic, I'm usually not overly concerned about their tone. I assume all claims made therein are opinion-based to stem conflict, and ignore any I don't see any advantage in combatting. I imagine the general atmosphere around here may well improve if we all put a little effort into avoiding outright what we cannot influence.

They seem to only want to play this game and are upset because it's not holding them anymore. Imagine that, being so foolish as to think you can only play one MMO, one videogame your entire life.

Once more, I feel inclined to point out that remarks like these don't exactly diffuse the supposed tense atmosphere of these forums. I see many seeking an improvement of attitudes, but how can one expect such when words such as "foolish" (a term with an explicitly negative context) and men of straw are being tossed in the direction of other users like live grenades?

[RyuDragnier]

Once more, I feel inclined to point out that remarks like these don't exactly diffuse the supposed tense atmosphere of these forums. I see many seeking an improvement of attitudes, but how can one expect such when words such as "foolish" (a term with an explicitly negative context) and men of straw are being tossed in the direction of other users like live grenades?

Because any reasonable person would just take a break and not continually sub to a game that they just don't feel holds their interest anymore. I understand wanting them to make changes, but still subbing to a game you don't like playing because "I want them to make changes" is not only ridiculous because money talks more than anything in this day and age, but also because it means you're spending money that could be spent on something else that gives you enjoyment. Do you still have a subscription to magazines or streaming services you don't use or like anymore?

[ZephyrMenodora]

Because any reasonable person would just take a break and not continually sub to a game that they just don't feel holds their interest anymore. I understand wanting them to make changes, but still subbing to a game you don't like playing because "I want them to make changes" is not only ridiculous because money talks more than anything in this day and age, but also because it means you're spending money that could be spent on something else that gives you enjoyment. Do you still have a subscription to magazines or streaming services you don't use or like anymore?

I think for some on this sub, based on my observations - being upset and complaining is worth the monthly sub fee for them. Some spend an inordinate amount of their precious lifespan on finding new ways to be upset here.

[RyuDragnier]

I think for some on this sub, based on my observations - being upset and complaining is worth the monthly sub fee for them. Some spend an inordinate amount of their precious lifespan on finding new ways to be upset here.

It's not mentally healthy for them to be doing that, and just makes them look like they need a therapist. They need to find something to do that they enjoy doing instead of living in their negativity all the time.

[Theodric]

It's not mentally healthy for them to be doing that, and just makes them look like they need a therapist. They need to find something to do that they enjoy doing instead of living in their negativity all the time.

There it is again, that bad faith attempt to frame anyone voicing complaints about a video-game as not being 'mentally healthy' and in need of therapy.

It's such a bizarre leap to make. Especially since this is the very place people are directed to when asked to leave feedback regarding the game itself. It's not like it takes a terribly long time to compose a post or it can't be done in between other activities.

[jameseoakes]

There it is again, that bad faith attempt to frame anyone voicing complaints about a video-game as not being 'mentally healthy' and in need of therapy.

It's such a bizarre leap to make. Especially since this is the very place people are directed to when asked to leave feedback regarding the game itself. It's not like it takes a terribly long time to compose a post or it can't be done in between other activities.

Gotta love how the defence for the state of the game now is just personal abuse

[AwesomeJr44]

There it is again, that bad faith attempt to frame anyone voicing complaints about a video-game as not being 'mentally healthy' and in need of therapy.

The people using this tactic give off more red flags of needing therapy than the posters they're complaining about lol

Because they start with false premises, like saying the game is in a "rut" when every MMO in existence is cyclical, with spikes around launch/patch times and troughs between. FFXIV, meanwhile, is at its highest active playerbase ever during EW. The spikes were the highest, and even the troughs are still significantly higher than at similar points in past expansions. They can't stand the reality that the game is doing well and your typical casual gamer of today loves FFXIV.

Mom said it's my turn with the copium, hand it over.

[TowaIsBestGirl]

I think for some on this sub, based on my observations - being upset and complaining is worth the monthly sub fee for them. Some spend an inordinate amount of their precious lifespan on finding new ways to be upset here.

It's not mentally healthy for them to be doing that, and just makes them look like they need a therapist. They need to find something to do that they enjoy doing instead of living in their negativity all the time.

Did you not just say that you weren't being denigrative towards others? Why the sudden change? What evidence do you proffer that this is what people are doing, and if you have none to offer why make a baseless and inflammatory insinuation to begin with? I wonder if maybe I ought to just stop making the attempt at reconciliation like another poster suggested, the nice approach isn't really getting me anywhere.

Source? Recent articles on MassivelyOP about Blizzard's financials are that it's player counts are rapidly falling from it's recent peak.

Either way, even if XIV is #2, it's still generally at the top of the pile.

https://massivelyop.com/2023/04/26/a...zzard-q1-2023/

I am not convinced that Massively OP can be trusted as a valid source, they are a known malefactor of World of Warcraft. Besides, Dragonflight didn't truly need to become a smash hit to keep pace it just needed to hold people's attention which so far it has. Even if Blizzard is far from it's glory days, and it has been for a while, with Square refusing to release the concurrent subscription statistics for Final Fantasy XIV as Blizzard has in the past we'll never be able to accurately make the supposition that Final Fantasy XIV has surpassed it in playercount.

There it is again, that bad faith attempt to frame anyone voicing complaints about a video-game as not being 'mentally healthy' and in need of therapy.

It's such a bizarre leap to make. Especially since this is the very place people are directed to when asked to leave feedback regarding the game itself. It's not like it takes a terribly long time to compose a post or it can't be done in between other activities.

Yeah, I'm not easily rankled but it's beginning to aggravate me. This goes beyond misconduct, such things should simply put not be stated here. I have no clue if anyone here qualifies as a wounded party, but mental health should be respected and this is the opposite of what's happening here. This is no longer simple rudeness, this is devolving into legitimate slander.

[RyuDragnier]

Did you not just say that you weren't being denigrative towards others? Why the sudden change? What evidence do you proffer that this is what people are doing, and if you have none to offer why make a baseless and inflammatory insinuation to begin with? I wonder if maybe I ought to just stop making the attempt at reconciliation like another poster suggested, the nice approach isn't really getting me anywhere.

Acknowledging it's bad for mental health and that people need to back out of the game and probably seek professional help, something I'm currently getting myself, is not denigrating people. It's being aware of a problem that needs to be dealt with before it spirals out of control. Dunno why you seem to think calling attention to your own mental health is denigrating people...the hell is with Americans having this stupid stigma with mental health?