The Actual Problem With Dawntrail

[Themarvin]

I it is still only the same 75 people that clicks like or whatever, it does not really reflect the game and the player base.

[Sivante]

I agree with your initial point that Wuk isn't the problem, but the length of DT isn't the issue I think: It is involved however. The whole thing felt rushed, uninformed, and poorly written. You're right in that the bulk of the quests are missing, but they've largely been replaced by cutscenes. But that being said:

I it is still only the same 75 people that clicks like or whatever, it does not really reflect the game and the player base.

You're right. You will see repeat faces in the forums as we're a minority of the players in the game. That being said, no FF14 expansion has recieved as low of review scores as this one. No FFXIV expansion has taken this much heat, been regarded by so much of the community as a failure. If you wish to disregard the opinions of those on the forum that's honestly valid: we're a minority. You can instead direct your attention to the User Reviews on Steam, or even the meta critic User reviews.

I don't feel a need to try to impress upon CBU3 how bad this was, as I see all the evidence necessary to tell me that Square Enix is losing face and money alike on this expansion. I don't need forums to tell me that, there are numbers that tell me that. In the event those were not enough I can check Squenix's stock prices.

Regardless of what you or I think, the message is resoundingly far more negative than any other expansion, and it's going to kick CBU3 in the pants. That is to say, in the money, and losing money is the only review that really matters at the end of the day for them.

[ReynTime]

I agree with your initial point that Wuk isn't the problem, but the length of DT isn't the issue I think: It is involved however. The whole thing felt rushed, uninformed, and poorly written. You're right in that the bulk of the quests are missing, but they've largely been replaced by cutscenes. But that being said:



You're right. You will see repeat faces in the forums as we're a minority of the players in the game. That being said, no FF14 expansion has recieved as low of review scores as this one. No FFXIV expansion has taken this much heat, been regarded by so much of the community as a failure. If you wish to disregard the opinions of those on the forum that's honestly valid: we're a minority. You can instead direct your attention to the User Reviews on Steam, or even the meta critic User reviews.

I don't feel a need to try to impress upon CBU3 how bad this was, as I see all the evidence necessary to tell me that Square Enix is losing face and money alike on this expansion. I don't need forums to tell me that, there are numbers that tell me that. In the event those were not enough I can check Squenix's stock prices.

Regardless of what you or I think, the message is resoundingly far more negative than any other expansion, and it's going to kick CBU3 in the pants. That is to say, in the money, and losing money is the only review that really matters at the end of the day for them.

I wonder about this. Player activity is still pretty high in lieu of everyone doing the new raid. It might fizzle soon. But if it doesn't... What kind of message would Creative Studio (guys they're not "CBU" anymore) 3 get from it? That the quality of the MSQ is irrelevant for player retention?

I'm very curious if this might end up being the conclusion.

[Sivante]

I wonder about this. Player activity is still pretty high in lieu of everyone doing the new raid. It might fizzle soon. But if it doesn't... What kind of message would Creative Studio (guys they're not "CBU" anymore) 3 get from it? That the quality of the MSQ is irrelevant for player retention?

I'm very curious if this might end up being the conclusion.

That... is actually a very good question. I do know the Steam concurrent player metric (I'm very aware it's flawed, but using as an indicator) was temporarily at its highest ever, but we also have seen a mass increase of RMT botting which would artificially spike that number. It certainly seems to me like there are more players than usual despite that:

But I'm also seeing an explosion of players fed up with the material. Be it from the loot treadmill beginning to feel boring and flawed, savages being too easy/hard (take your pick, varies per person), to people just being kind of done with the formulaic releases. I would personally think MSQ is relevant given how much people rave about it and always have (I've never actually enjoyed the story, but haven't hated it until DT.) But I suppose only time will tell. What I can tell is that I'm certain they will see less sales in the sense of trying to item shop anything from DT's MSQ, but ... to your point that may be the limit of what causes them to care about that in relation to money.

I do, personally, think they are about to take a kick in the money and Square Enix is not doing well financially to take such a kick to one of their primary monetary generators. Well, let me rephrase, the stock markets in Japan tell me they will get kicked in the money, but I do think a good portion of that is going to relate back to DT: But I have no evidence of that it's just my personal prediction.

Also, good call on CBU3->CS3. I was ignorant of this, I appreciate the correction.