Snapshot of PF activity on North American data centers

[caffe_macchiato]

DC travel has been devastating for the social life of this game, not just a minor inconvenience in forming parties. You cannot interact with your FCs, linkshells or your friends while using DC travel. FFXIV has turned into a single-player game where the other players might as well be NPCs. The only solution is Discord, which takes game activity outside of the game. Combine that with the widespread popularity of "just play other games!", it's easy to see why people don't like this expansion. Imagine paying $13/month to sit around in a hub city or on Discord. People attack WoW for the same thing, yet somehow we're better because...?

(defending billionaires)

Clever, but this is just a deflection. Because blaming "the players" does nothing since you can't control them other than by implementing design. Which...you oppose. So you blame them but don't want to change their behavior. It's a deflection tactic to defend the company. And it has no rewards, because eventually everyone's friends will leave the game, including yours. While you might say "good! I can just play other games!", you weren't really planning on it happening this soon, were you?

It's normal for MMOs to die out. But with barely any alternatives left, estrangement is a real risk for many players. I don't think this issue should be taken that lightly.

[Caro178]

This is a problem that will be entirely rectified if/when they figure out cross data center party finder and duty finder which YoshiP has mentioned as a real possibility many times. The most recent mention of it involved the admission that they are still encountering bugs but that they will implement it if/when they do get to the bottom of the problems. I'm just playing the waiting game because I really think this will be sorted out eventually and as it is having to data center travel for raid isn't really a big deal.

[Mosha]

DC travel has been devastating for the social life of this game, not just a minor inconvenience in forming parties. You cannot interact with your FCs, linkshells or your friends while using DC travel. FFXIV has turned into a single-player game where the other players might as well be NPCs. The only solution is Discord, which takes game activity outside of the game. Combine that with the widespread popularity of "just play other games!", it's easy to see why people don't like this expansion. Imagine paying $13/month to sit around in a hub city or on Discord. People attack WoW for the same thing, yet somehow we're better because...?



Clever, but this is just a deflection. Because blaming "the players" does nothing since you can't control them other than by implementing design. Which...you oppose. So you blame them but don't want to change their behavior. It's a deflection tactic to defend the company. And it has no rewards, because eventually everyone's friends will leave the game, including yours. While you might say "good! I can just play other games!", you weren't really planning on it happening this soon, were you?

It's normal for MMOs to die out. But with barely any alternatives left, estrangement is a real risk for many players. I don't think this issue should be taken that lightly.

WOW Mentioned!!!!!!!!!!!

A Lot of the things you brought up were already things way before DC travel. People have been sitting in Limsa before I knew what an oGCD was and Discord has been a huge factor in the social side of the game ever since Discord blew up.

FFXIV isn't dying It's just in the end of the expac lull.

[Atelier-Bagur]

DC travel has been devastating for the social life of this game, not just a minor inconvenience in forming parties. You cannot interact with your FCs, linkshells or your friends while using DC travel. FFXIV has turned into a single-player game where the other players might as well be NPCs. The only solution is Discord, which takes game activity outside of the game. Combine that with the widespread popularity of "just play other games!", it's easy to see why people don't like this expansion. Imagine paying $13/month to sit around in a hub city or on Discord. People attack WoW for the same thing, yet somehow we're better because...?



Clever, but this is just a deflection. Because blaming "the players" does nothing since you can't control them other than by implementing design. Which...you oppose. So you blame them but don't want to change their behavior. It's a deflection tactic to defend the company. And it has no rewards, because eventually everyone's friends will leave the game, including yours. While you might say "good! I can just play other games!", you weren't really planning on it happening this soon, were you?

It's normal for MMOs to die out. But with barely any alternatives left, estrangement is a real risk for many players. I don't think this issue should be taken that lightly.

Bro, it already kinda is like that with DF. The only thing thats inconvenient about DC travel is that your retainers or FCs arent linked for communication. Really they shouldve just added cross DC DF and PF and then nobody would have to feel to server hop for queues on a game already filled with a bunch of NPCs like ourselves. Seriously stop kidding yourself about that "social" aspect. It lacks integrity in a game where is all about queueing up with random people you dont know.

[LittleImp]

Some interesting comments thus far!

In particular regarding Thanksgiving holiday travel, that shouldn't be too relevant to this thread, as the question we are looking at is not, "Are people playing?", but rather, "When people are playing, where are they playing?"



I cannot disagree more strongly with the idea that players somehow created or are responsible for, in any way, the problems that arise from unlimited data-center travel.

Server and data center design for a multiplayer game are part of the game design, just as much as the amount of HP a boss has or what abilities our jobs have. And the players did not design this game, SE did!

The stated intent behind enabling data-center travel (allowing you to play with your friends) is not relevant at this point. The game, as currently designed by SE, allows for unlimited travel for all NA players, not just those seeking to play with some pre-existing friends.

Multiplayer games function better with more people. People WILL tend to cluster together given unlimited means to do so. And that is what we currently have. Asking players not to cluster in this environment (doesn't matter where, it's Aether but that is not important, it could be any ONE location) is like asking water not to flow downhill.

Players who want to play together in a multiplayer game will join up with each other. It is the logical, rational thing to do.

Indeed, the current DC travel paradigm, that being unlimited DC travel for any character, actually *incentivizes* people to all play in one location.

What happens to those of us who are bound to other DCs? We weaken our connections in our FCs, we lose our retainers, etc. We have fewer options for people to play with if we stay home.

In other words, we receive a lower-quality experience playing the game as it is currently designed, with unlimited DC travel and the current restrictions on off-worlders.

This is 100% SE's problem to solve.

Jojoya has probably had this explained to them several hundred times across their years of forum use why blaming the players in cases like this is irrational.

They're just here to relentlessly defend every single thing Square does as some kind of bizarre hobby, and conversations with them will frankly never be productive. "Everyone will talk in circles accomplishing nothing while the problem will persist" is more a statement of their intentions, rather than an observation of reality.

Players pissed, moaned and cried about not being able to play with friends, piss moaned and cried about not wanting to transfer worlds. SE gives a way play with friends and avoid paid transfers. Now you piss, moan and cry cause your data centers are suffering. Karma at its finest.

What an incredibly bitter person.

[Atelier-Bagur]

Jojoya has probably had this explained to them several hundred times across their years of forum use why blaming the players in cases like this is irrational.

They're just here to relentlessly defend every single thing Square does as some kind of bizarre hobby, and conversations with them will frankly never be productive. "Everyone will talk in circles accomplishing nothing while the problem will persist" is more a statement of their intentions, rather than an observation of reality.



What an incredibly bitter person.

But still true. Did people seriously forget how much requested this feature was? Id say you get what you deserve.

[NanaWiloh]

This is a problem that will be entirely rectified if/when they figure out cross data center party finder and duty finder which YoshiP has mentioned as a real possibility many times. The most recent mention of it involved the admission that they are still encountering bugs but that they will implement it if/when they do get to the bottom of the problems. I'm just playing the waiting game because I really think this will be sorted out eventually and as it is having to data center travel for raid isn't really a big deal.

Them having probelms getting cross dc groups to work. Makes me think they are going the hop scotch route of doing it.

[NanaWiloh]

What an incredibly bitter person.

Truth hurts sorry not sorry.

[caffe_macchiato]

Seriously stop kidding yourself about that "social" aspect. It lacks integrity in a game where is all about queueing up with random people you dont know.

That's not what the game is advertised for. Also, Free Companies are not "random people", and neither are linkshells. Both of which are rendered useless by DC travel, and yet you need DC travel in order to play content. The need to cut off your social connections is new to Endwalker. I am not the first to bring this up either. It is why Square Enix is looking into cross-DC party finder, which would be a good move (despite the disagreements from other posters).

[CidHeiral]

I cannot disagree more strongly with the idea that players somehow created or are responsible for, in any way, the problems that arise from unlimited data-center travel.

This strikes me as a very odd take. It's like saying "it's not my fault I drank bleach, it's your fault for leaving it on the table!" Are you arguing that the community collectively has the mind of a three year old and can't control themselves or use any level of critical thinking?

Don't get me wrong, SE is equally responsible for not fully thinking through DC travel before implementing it, but even if you concede that everyone clustering on one DC is a no brainer and nothing but beneficial, which I do not think is the case at all, that doesn't absolve the community of any responsibility for its current predicament. People are responsible for their own actions. They weren't mind controlled or coerced into their behavior by anything other than their own short sighted self interest. If everyone decided to stop dogpiling on Aether tomorrow, the problem would cease to exist.

Asking players not to cluster in this environment (doesn't matter where, it's Aether but that is not important, it could be any ONE location) is like asking water not to flow downhill.

Water can't stop and think "hmm maybe what I'm doing is stupid in the long run."

Seriously stop kidding yourself about that "social" aspect. It lacks integrity in a game where is all about queueing up with random people you dont know.

Your social ineptitude is your own problem.