Some MMO we have

[Mcg55ss]

I've yet to see where people are actually asking for content to keep them entertained 24/7. Many people are already taking breaks and playing other games only to come back to FFXIV and find that it isn't adding anything with much in the way of staying power.

It isn't rocket science and it's honestly disappointing to see people deceptively try to frame the concerns and criticism as something entirely different to what it is.

The game has tipped too far in the direction of appeasing those who don't even play the game but instead idle and attend 'venues'. Given that such an approach comes at the expense of content with staying power such as Bozja, Eureka and Ishgard Reconstruction it isn't difficult to see why concerns are being raised.

On these forums I have seen as many people make complaints about bonzja and eureka as I have seen people say it was good content.

[R041]

On these forums I have seen as many people make complaints about bonzja and eureka as I have seen people say it was good content.

The difference is the people that did enjoy Eureka and Bozja played Eureka and Bozja. Where there's no staying power for Island Sanctuary or Variant even if I like them. It's a gaping hole of opportunity. Give those half of players repeatable content to do, and that's less complaining overall. Net positive.

Doesn't really matter if half of us hated it, it's still a loss overall.

I don't do Ultimates, am I gonna sit here and say "Well 99% of people don't do it anyway, and I hate them" no, because it would be a loss for those players that enjoy that content and it would make the engagement in an MMO worse as a whole.

Just like Relic Weapons - I'm not particularly interested in the weapons themselves, but I know it had significant staying power for those that enjoyed that kind of grind. But it's basically nothing now, so it's an overall loss.

[Ath192]

On these forums I have seen as many people make complaints about bonzja and eureka as I have seen people say it was good content.

Well at least people have things to do and have an opinion about, as opposed to... nothing? If anything the devs need to learn they're never going to make anyone happy but that's no reason to stop producing content or keep dumbing it down. They're going to rub folk the wrong way no matter what they do.

The solution? The solution is to have fun while making their content fully aware people are going to hate them for doing it. Now, that leads to spicy content in my opinion. Right now, the game feels like its trying to compromise on too much and focusing on giving the most bland experience possible in the hopes noone is too offended. Well, here we are, and the complaints have only gotten worse haven't they?

Not only is the content bland, but just like Mr Happy said in the video it feels like the game doesn't even want you to play it. And it's true. I do get that vibe. Maybe we've gotten to the point where the devs hate designing gameplay for the game and so they just do whatever the bare minimum is for it.

And I realize this statement is encouraging them to possibly say screw it to my opinions, and so be it. If Endwalker post release is the kind of content they truly want to make, what they are able to make, and what's in their heart to make then boy am I not going to be around for it much longer but I will get the message. But it honestly feels like we're getting the corporate treatment, where everything is just politically correct bouncing around and nothing has any heart in it.

On the other hand if this encourages them to make in depth and interesting systems, jobs, mechanics that may sound crazy or adventures that may be controversial just because they are too scared of criticism then I'll consider it a win. I'm eager for an FFXIV with personality. I don't know about everyone else.

You hear that Yoshi? Maybe its time to do something you've really wanted to do instead of trying to please everyone. When are we going to see some talent here instead of standardization, homogenization, focus groups that say people only like tasteless ice cream because strawberry is way too controversial??

[Mcg55ss]

The difference is the people that did enjoy Eureka and Bozja played Eureka and Bozja. Where there's no staying power for Island Sanctuary or Variant even if I like them. It's a gaping hole of opportunity. Give those half of players repeatable content to do, and that's less complaining overall. Net positive.

As someone who's played MMOs as long as I have I would say this is a funny. People then complain that the quest are too repeatable and it's too boring there wasn't enough diversity in the quest and the developers were too lazy to implement more options. Don't believe me go look at WoW world quest. Completely optional content (in most cases) it's not force on the players that's out there to do but people complain constantly for multiple expansions that the content was too repeated, boring not diverse enough and they constantly bashing the developers for the lack of design. I think MMO players just want to complain regardless of what they have

[Deo14]

As someone who's played MMOs as long as I have I would say this is a funny. People then complain that the quest are too repeatable and it's too boring there wasn't enough diversity in the quest and the developers were too lazy to implement more options. Don't believe me go look at WoW world quest. Completely optional content (in most cases) it's not force on the players that's out there to do but people complain constantly for multiple expansions that the content was too repeated, boring not diverse enough and they constantly bashing the developers for the lack of design. I think MMO players just want to complain regardless of what they have

Or maybe, just maybe there is a middle ground. EW with it's content is heavily skewed towards the one and done side of spectrum, and as a result, players struggle to find people to play current content with, since it dies in a week or two. It's about finding the best compromise.

It's also important that with milions of players, there are milions of different opinions. There will always be someone complaining, nothing wrong with that.

[hunkygladiator]

complain

What is it exactly that you're doing on these forums

[R041]

As someone who's played MMOs as long as I have I would say this is a funny. People then complain that the quest are too repeatable and it's too boring there wasn't enough diversity in the quest and the developers were too lazy to implement more options. Don't believe me go look at WoW world quest. Completely optional content (in most cases) it's not force on the players that's out there to do but people complain constantly for multiple expansions that the content was too repeated, boring not diverse enough and they constantly bashing the developers for the lack of design. I think MMO players just want to complain regardless of what they have

I mean yeah, we complain about everything. But the downturn is when we complain and have nothing we want to even do anymore.

You don't need to worry about me, a complainer. You need to worry about the players that end up forgetting about XIV and stop caring because there's nothing to draw them back. On a normal expac I typically do about half of the content, put it on hold for a month, then come back and finish it after about a month. But now? I just.. Finish it on the day, then I have nothing left I want to come back to.

MMO players usually do that, they take some breaks but know that when they come back, their community will still be alive because they also still have things to do, and contrary to popular belief here, it doesn't require FOMO and a constant chase. It just requires actionable, achievable, fun things that are within reach.

[Alacran]

We are currently in content lul, it happens. With Yoshi p actively working on FFXVI, 6.4 on the horizon, & the game having gone through one of the biggest blowups in history, a drop off is only natural. We still have log in ques & there is so much set to come our way with fan fest, the expansion, & patch on the way.

Doomers that blitz content then cry the world is ending will come & go, let them. They'll be the first to cry over log in ques when the game explodes again... like it has before & will again.

[R041]

We are currently in content lul, it happens. With Yoshi p actively working on FFXVI, 6.4 on the horizon, & the game having gone through one of the biggest blowups in history, a drop off is only natural. We still have log in ques & there is so much set to come our way with fan fest, the expansion, & patch on the way.

The login queues aren't because there's a billion people logging in every second. It's because of the constant server transfers required to even do content.

6AM Marilith, only 100 players on the server, half bots. But I still have a 20 player queue? lol

[Deo14]

We are currently in content lul, it happens. With Yoshi p actively working on FFXVI, 6.4 on the horizon, & the game having gone through one of the biggest blowups in history, a drop off is only natural. We still have log in ques & there is so much set to come our way with fan fest, the expansion, & patch on the way.

Doomers that blitz content then cry the world is ending will come & go, let them. They'll be the first to cry over log in ques when the game explodes again... like it has before & will again.

Problems are that:

- EW didn't capitalize on the blowup because 6.X patches are simply mediocre. There will obviously be drop off, but since it was mostly WoW players that came, which are used to playing game as a job, then obviously player retention will be low, since EW had even more one and done content than previous expansions.
- Login queues are even at 4AM, it's outdated DDOS protection, not actual queue.
- All the features that were supposed to come with EW already came.
- 2 more V&C dungeons should release, but if there won't be meaningful progression, then they will die just like a first one.
- IS which was underwhelming, only has the outdoor furnishing next patch, and no major updates are scheduled for now.
- Relics became alternative tome weapons. Just another participation awards.
- Both Ultimates already released. With the one that was actually meant for EW being underwhelming and bug ridden.
- Both raid tiers were pretty mid. We'll see what last tier brings.
- MSQ is filler. Not even original story, just another 20+ years old FF cameo.
- Last, but not the least, they removed my beloved Kaiten and still didn't say why or responded to feedback

So yes, there is content drought as usual, but we get content with significantly less longevity, on top of 4.5 months long patch cycle. We are already more than half way through expansion cycle, which is by the way significantly longer because of patch cycles. We should be at 6.5 now, but it looks like we are still on the covid pace for some reason. 7.0 better be really good.

As for "blitzing" content - you really don't need to blitz IS to finish it under 2 weeks with very casual 30-60 minutes a day, neither EO or V&C. And I hope that game will explode again - but what I hope the most is that people will stay even at 7.X.

Now the part that I need to put at end of most of my messages nowadays: I love this game, I just want it to be better. I don't want to settle with mediocrity.