Disappointed With XIV Direction

[GinzoKazama]

Long time player, first time caller sort of, but I just had to get this off of my chest.

I want to preface this with that I am someone who has dabbled in most content (aside from Ultimates) and have done everything from fishing voyages to some of the harder savage content. Not the best player but absolutely not the worst.

And hear me when I say, the direction this game is going is sad. I know Yoshi P said that the game is not meant to be played all the time, but I just finished what was in this content patch and am floored that there is NOTHING else to do. It offers NOTHING worthwhile to engage my friends or anyone else who I have had to watch fall off this game because it is so empty. I waited 4 months for essentially nothing to do.

"BuT tHeRe iS pLeNtY tO dO"

No there isn't. PvP is an EXP machine. Raiding is for a small sect of people (not knocking but stating the percentage of people who raid is much smaller than the whole). Criterion dungeons fell flat. And Gold Saucer is not entertaining when it's the same things (mostly) since it released in ARR.

The worst part of all of this is the player base enables it. There is no evergreen content that keeps the middle 15-80 percentile wanting to even come back. I played WoW SoD FAR LONGER and enjoyed it (with some qualms) than I did this major patch for two days.

Something needs to change because I am tired of seeing the people who I want to play this game with fade away because there is nothing to keep them engaged. And yet, there are people who say there's plenty to do.

Absolutely reprehensible.

[Kaecilius]

I'm sorry to say, this seems to be a common sentiment, I just wanted to comment on one thing.

And Gold Saucer is not entertaining when it's the same things (mostly) since it released in ARR.

I will never for the life of me understand why they keep adding the seasonal minigames (some really good ones too) to the inn toy box thing that no one knows about instead of adding them as arcade machines in the Gold Saucer. You could even have weekly rankings or something as a reward.

[Ritsugamesh]

Gotta agree. Cancelled my legacy sub (yes, Legacy - true ride or die FF player here) because this patch held about 8 hours of engaging content and 1 single boss fight raid I am so-so about tackling (24 man chaotic raid). Ultimates I just don't have the time to do or the supporting friendship group.

Part of the problem is the volume they deliver now, but just as importantly is the areas they focus on. It really feels like they just take one step forward, two steps back, and one step leftways that nobody freaking expected (looking at you stupid 7.1 job hatchet changes).

I don't think 8.0 will be what we're promised either. Nor do I think I have the patience to bother waiting. The game isn't the game I loved and I think I have to make peace with that.

[FudoMyoo]

Perhaps you are bored of FF14 model after 14 years, take a break unsub. I unsubbed twice since 2013.

But I don't find the need to come forum and inform the player base. This is not an airport.

There are still a lot of things for me to do: collecting glams, housing, 2000 S hunt for that tiger mount. PvP mounts. Island Sanctuary.

[Supersnow845]

Perhaps you are bored of FF14 model after 14 years, take a break unsub. I unsubbed twice since 2013.

But I don't find the need to come forum and inform the player base. This is not an airport.

There are still a lot of things for me to do: collecting glams, housing, 2000 S tank for that tiger mount. PvP mounts. Island Sanctuary.

If 14 actually provided a comprehensive exit survey then maybe people wouldn’t feel the need to announce they are leaving

I see these kinds of posts as “the game has lost me I hope they do something before they lose you as well” which wouldn’t be so necessary if 14 had a single shred of transparent feedback gathering

[Kohashi]

If 14 actually provided a comprehensive exit survey then maybe people wouldn’t feel the need to announce they are leaving

I have to say it's been a while since I have laughed so hard while reading something. And who would have the time and resources to read every person's feedback who unsubscribes for whatever reason? Roughly 20 million people are subbed each month.

While having targeted surveys to test the player base trends and how the company is doing in terms of delivery is an excellent idea, what you propose is not feasible.

Also, let me say this: If a company relies on directing people to provide feedback in forums, it's just another way of saying, "We don't care what you have to say." Forums are mostly echo chambers that hardly ever prompt a company to change. They're a space for people to vent and nothing else.

[Supersnow845]

I have to say it's been a while since I have laughed so hard while reading something. And who would have the time and resources to read every person's feedback who unsubscribes for whatever reason? Roughly 20 million people are subbed each month.

While having targeted surveys to test the player base trends and how the company is doing in terms of delivery is an excellent idea, what you propose is not feasible.

Also, let me say this: If a company relies on directing people to provide feedback in forums, it's just another way of saying, "We don't care what you have to say." Forums are mostly echo chambers that hardly ever prompt a company to change. They're a space for people to vent and nothing else.

Someone who can organise a basic AI to read general answers to “on a scale of 1-10” questions and send out targeted surveys at an amount that is feasible for the company

It’s almost like almost every other MMO and live service game has figured this out

[Jeeqbit]

If a company relies on directing people to provide feedback in forums, it's just another way of saying, "We don't care what you have to say." Forums are mostly echo chambers that hardly ever prompt a company to change. They're a space for people to vent and nothing else.

To be fair, they talk about the forums a lot. When you watch development panels and Q&As they often say "I checked the forums and saw x, y or z". There was also that time not too long ago when Yoshi-P had to stop requiring people to read them if they couldn't handle it due to an increase in rudeness. Checking the forums is not just something the GMs tell people to get them off their back, it's frequently mentioned in interviews, live letters, etc. It seems strange to us, with how forums are very dated of a concept, but it's what they genuinely feel works for them. If we think of the forums as an "issue tracker" then they are looking at most likes is my guess.

So, I think they are genuine about the forum but obviously there could be additional things like tracking issues more concisely or regular surveys.

[Kohashi]

To be fair, they talk about the forums a lot. When you watch development panels and Q&As they often say "I checked the forums and saw x, y or z". There was also that time not too long ago when Yoshi-P had to stop requiring people to read them if they couldn't handle it due to an increase in rudeness. Checking the forums is not just something the GMs tell people to get them off their back, it's frequently mentioned in interviews, live letters, etc. It seems strange to us, with how forums are very dated of a concept, but it's what they genuinely feel works for them. If we think of the forums as an "issue tracker" then they are looking at most likes is my guess.

So, I think they are genuine about the forum but obviously there could be additional things like tracking issues more concisely or regular surveys.

Which forums are they exactly looking at? Internal forums? JP forums? I don't personally recall anything they implemented based on most requested things in the forums. Even if they mention it, it doesn't mean anything. Useless, empty words, the same way Yoshi-P says the same PR script each time.

If they truly looked at the forums or had a team that gathered feedback we would have been miles away. While not every suggestion can be implemented in-game, some are good. From accessibility to User Experience, to new player friendliness, to job changes and the list goes on.

Someone who can organise a basic AI to read general answers to “on a scale of 1-10” questions and send out targeted surveys at an amount that is feasible for the company

Why don't you apply to S.E and program that basic A.I tool that can do all of those things, not to mention process the collected data to transform it into something meaningful for them.

People who can program specific solutions for companies are not cheap. Plus it requires scheduled maintenance, continuous development, and deployment.

As for "it's touted as the ultimate social MMO, yet to me, it feels more anti-social than ever. " The community is what players make it to be. it's not SE's job to hold anyone's hand or teach players how to socialize.

I've been in countless FCs with a lot of players online who never utter a word. A great deal of players are very socially awkward, shy, very passive, waiting to be handheld and directed.

[TheGrimace]

Perhaps you are bored of FF14 model after 14 years, take a break unsub. I unsubbed twice since 2013.

But I don't find the need to come forum and inform the player base. This is not an airport.

There are still a lot of things for me to do: collecting glams, housing, 2000 S tank for that tiger mount. PvP mounts. Island Sanctuary.

Square-Enix directs everyone to post their grievances on the Official Forum. The player's post was not necessarily to inform the playerbase of their departure, and more likely a personal exit survey because CS3 does not provide a single better way to post Comments or Concerns.