Why is the FFXIV fanbase so stubborn and resistant to change?

[Jinko]

I

Example: Auction Houses
The playerbase wants them solely because that's what they're used to from other games. The devs have said that they're investigating an AH implementation, but a few changes to market wards are all that's needed, really. Adding an AH at this point would just be redundant. The market ward system is fine, it just needs functionality. Enlarge the ward area by a factor of 3x, and require retainers to be at a stall instead of cluttering up the floor. Add a price history. Add separate entries for HQ items. Allow us to view the prices of a given item at other cities.

Here's the biggest problem with that, what you are suggesting is basically an AH, all be it with the added effect of character NPC's selling items within an instanced area, if you calculate in the extra processing power and server calls it takes to make the market wards work like an AH on all servers its not worth it, you may as well scrap it completely and make a centralised AH system.

Your assumption that people only want what they are used to is only half right they also probably want what is the the most efficient way to buy or sell something.

[EpicDaze]

I personally think the fan base is low is because SE worked too hard to make this game soo much different then FFXI which was a huge success.

I think they made a game to market to people who have never been a fan of Final Fantasy to draw in new genres of players in the persuit of the all mighty dollar. The game was made so that all ages and skill levels (lack there of) can feel warm and fuzzy acheiving everything they set out to do. I know alot of ppl that have gone back to playing FFXI including myself and I don't think I have heard of anyone that has played all of the FF games speak highly of XIV. You can't throw fish on a bun and call it a hamburger. The result of the extreme changes to the FF template has left a whole lot of final fantasy fans feeling insulted and abandoned.

[Anathiel]

okay, doesn't really tie in but I see where this is going and i want to let everybody know why alot of people want an AH, why they want change. and then my own idea for a change to the MW ^.-

I really hope they put in the AH, it's so much easier to request custom made gear with a constant stream of crafters always hanging around the AH. we all just need to remember that an AH isn't just a place to buy and sell, it's a hub for crafters, it's also a social hub and hub for gathering people for quests. lol, afterall it is basically the town market.

I really don't want to see the market wards removed, but just moved to the OP's and the small towns on the world maps. it would be great, after awhile certain towns would become player run as people went there to peddle their rare wares and do crafting. not too mention it would be great to pick up items on the fly before going into a dungeon or a few hour long sp grind.

BAM change without hurting anybody, keeping the MW, and implementing AH. we're all happy.

[Abriael]

"11. Would you welcome changes to FINAL FANTASY XIV that would drastically alter the rules already set in Eorzea?
85.2% - Yes"

6. What is your biggest expectation for the newly restructured development team?
72.4% - An Overhaul to fundamental gameplay aspects

85.2%; 72.4%

ma·jor·i·ty   
[muh-jawr-i-tee, -jor-] Show IPA
–noun, plural -ties.
1. the greater part or number; the number larger than half the total ( opposed to minority): the majority of the population.

People hate the battle system in this game. There's like 5 people opposed to altering the battle and class systems... The whole mix 'n match thing drives people away.


http://static.finalfantasyxiv.com/to...2/68/620_0.jpg

1. What do you feel are currently the most significant issues with the battle system?
21.9% - Lack of class uniqueness.

6. In addition to enhancing class differentiation with essential attributes and distinct appearances, we are also looking into introducing class and rank requirements for equipping gear. How do you feel about the implementation of such a system?
70.8% - Yes

8. Would you prefer option 1, option 2, or the current system?
56.0% - Removal of physical levels, and the addition of class-specific allotment of attribute points for each class based on rank.

As someone already said (and you promptly ignored):

You conveniently left out question 7, which was the one pertaining to his original point. Good show.

And posted all the questions that do NOT put in direct comparison content with systemic changes. There's only one question that puts the two things in direct comparison. And it's "Which of the following issues you would like to see addressed first? (Choose only one)" the majority responded that they want content.

Can't spin this: In the only question in which poll respondents could chose directly between content and systematic changes the majority chose content. All the other questions are completely irrelevant in the content vs systems issue because don't put them in direct comparison.

The majority of american players think content should be added first. The majority of japanese players think the battle system should be changed first.

Despite what some seem to think, I have to raise your awareness on the fact that the US and Japan aren't the only nations in the world. European respondents also responded in favor of content.
The majority of the overall aggregated playerbase responded in favor of content.

American's just didn't think this option through, and it is apparent because of THIS: http://static.finalfantasyxiv.com/to...5f3c6910b43377 If we americans really wanted more content first, we would have selected "an accelerated update schedule for our biggest expectation for the newly restructured development team"

So because they disagree with you they didn't think the option through?
An accelerated update schedule has nothing to do with content in particular. Accelerated updates include everything, not just content and include systematic changes. And that just shows that (unlike you) most people are quite patient and know that it takes time to bring quality updates.

Yoshi-P said himself that it makes no sense to add all sorts of battle related content when the battle system is going to be changed. Battle content should and will be added afterwards.

Nope. Yoshida talked only about "endgame" content, not about content in general.

It's pretty simple. When explicitly prompted to chose between systematic/combat changes and content, the majority of poll responders answered for content. That's all there's to it and there's no way to spin it, hard as you may try.

Oh and by the way:

People hate the battle system in this game. There's like 5 people opposed to altering the battle and class systems... The whole mix 'n match thing drives people away.

This is absolutely laughable.
You != people.
You often bring in how "critics" gave low scores to the game, but the "whole mix 'n match thing" was one of the few elements that was praised by basically every critic (with reason). There are very few people that would want the armoury system to be removed. Wanting it to be polished and evolved doesn't mean being driven away by the "whole mix 'n match thing" and doesn't mean wanting it to be replaced. As usual, you confuse your own opinion with that of the majority.

Of course this is a pretty much moot debate, because the armory system and the possibility to mix and match abilities aren't going away. Such a possibility isn't even on the radar.
Thankfully, I would add, because the removal of the armory system not only wouldn't bring back any significant numbers, but would cause a mass exodus between the ones that remained.

[Abriael]

1. GW has this to a degree (job/subjob) as did FF11. Games like UO and EVE don't even have classes.

Job/subjob is a completely different setup than the armoury system. It allows a MUCH lower degree of customization. Purely skill-based systems are also completely different from the armory systems. They don't have you chose the *actions* you can perform, but numeric values, unrelated to classes (that don't exist)

2. I hate doing both of these things.

Your personal opinion. Doesn't make it less of an innovation or less relevant.

3. It's a good feature, but not exactly important gameplay-wise.

Innovations don't need to be related only to gameplay to be innovations, or relevant at that.

4. Making the markets more search friendly were a step in the right direction, but this game still needs a true AH instead of this.

Again, your personal opinion. Doesn't make it less a relevant innovation. Economy teaches that impulse purchase are extremely important for a prospering commerce. Pure AH setup kills impulse purchases, the market ward system is pretty much as convenient as an AH (as long as they get polished and evolved), but bring impulse purchases back in the picture -> relevant innovation.

[BelgianRofl]

SE should just leave all systems as is, and just add more monsters and areas. The game will become a huge success. People love the battle system and the mix 'n match class system anyway, and the player polls reflect this.

FFXIV is going to be the most popular mmo of all time, just as long as they don't change anything.

[Abriael]

SE should just leave all systems as is, and just add more monsters and areas. The game will become a huge success. People love the battle system and the mix 'n match class system anyway, and the player polls reflect this.

The one above is a typical example of a Strawman Argument.

There's a lot of difference between keeping the core of the systems upon which the game is based and evolving/fixing/polishing them and "leaving all systems as is".

FFXIV is going to be the most popular mmo of all time, just as long as they don't change anything.

The addition of sizable amounts of content is, by itself, a very significant change.

very little to do -> A lot of things to do = Change/profit.

[BelgianRofl]

Exactly. There's pretty much nothing wrong with the current systems in the game. People love how FFXIV works. Now we just need more of it!

[Abriael]

Exactly. There's pretty much nothing wrong with the current systems in the game. People love how FFXIV works. Now we just need more of it!

Another strawman argument (plus misplaced sarcasm). No one here argued that there's "nothing" wrong with the current systems in the game.

[BelgianRofl]

I argued that. It is my opinion that the systems in the game are pretty much perfect. FFXIV's' 49/100 meta score can only be attributed to the fact that Ishgard isn't opened up, and there aren't more areas to fight monsters.