I wouldn't mind FFXIV becoming a WoW clone in the casual/hardcore appeal if...

[kazaran]

O'm npt certain you are playing the same game as others. In WOW and AIOn Mobs had a billion HP. Not XI. Hod fights were based on defense you needed to crack to beat them down. You had to be able to do suffcient damage and know your elements, what to stack, hwhich made it easier to do damage.

Other fights/Dungeons were more based on masses of mobs and pulling them properly. SO had rather low hp, but hit like tanks. It wasn't simply HP, but defense and other aspects.

I think you played WOW more then XI, where bosses had 1000X the hp of general mobs.

In general the XI community was more rounded, and the adverage age of the gamer much higher. There were far less under the age of 20. Many were moms, dads, older couples, older crowds.

Some adults just don't want to deal with childish antics, especially when you are a parent yourself and get daily doses that can be both humorous, and annoying.

[TaalAzura]

O'm npt certain you are playing the same game as others. In WOW and AIOn Mobs had a billion HP. Not XI. Hod fights were based on defense you needed to crack to beat them down. You had to be able to do suffcient damage and know your elements, what to stack, hwhich made it easier to do damage.

Other fights/Dungeons were more based on masses of mobs and pulling them properly. SO had rather low hp, but hit like tanks. It wasn't simply HP, but defense and other aspects.

I think you played WOW more then XI, where bosses had 1000X the hp of general mobs.

In general the XI community was more rounded, and the adverage age of the gamer much higher. There were far less under the age of 20. Many were moms, dads, older couples, older crowds.

Some adults just don't want to deal with childish antics, especially when you are a parent yourself and get daily doses that can be both humorous, and annoying.

To be fair, you can't judge the community based off of the official forums.

[Starlord]

To be fair, you can't judge the community based off of the official forums.

Exactly, and half the forums tend to do that. The over usage of "We" or "Us" is mind blowing! :P

[Xatsh]

People will quit XIV 2.0 if it is a WoW clone simple as that... gamers have 10-30 other mmos both f2p and p2p that have this model with much more development in it. As I tell people if you want to play WoW play WoW or Rift (more or less the same game with a different story and a few tweaks).

SE is borrowing a lot from mainstream western mmos... I just hope they are not stupid enough to copy the game breaking flaws they have as well. All I can say is if this game turns into a solo focused game until endgame with nothing but instant raid dungeons... it is doomed at launch.

[TheRac25]

Confession time: I thought WOW's end game was more difficult than FFXI's.

it was and is

[Velhart]

I would just like to sit back and watch you all further discuss about "WoW clones" and such. Funny how ignorant people are of the MMO genre.

To anyone who thought FFXI was original. It was in certain areas like the world, it's story, and a few neat battle mechanics. Besides that, it's interface and concepts came straight from Everquest. SE even admitted themselves that they used Everquest as a template for FFXI. You know why? Because Everquest's setup was the standard for the "MMO genre".

In 2004 (After FFXI's release), WoW came into existence, taking what concepts were good about previous MMO's and made their own spin to it, later becoming the new standard of the MMO genre. Still holding strong since 2004. What you all don't understand is that when new standards come in, people adapt to it, and the industry understands this. To get someone comfortable into your game, they have to have a sense of familiarity to instantly put them in that comfort zone, and then give them something new to work with.

Lets look at other genres for a moment. First person shooters. Almost every single one of those games uses the exact same user interface. Rather it is Wolfenstein, Doom, Call of Duty, and so on, they all use the same interface. You know why? Because it is the comfort zone for FPS players. It is so they can get into the game. Now the part where the originality comes in is the concepts used around that familiar interface. Take Bioshock for example, isn't it one of the most amazing games you have ever played (I think so at least)? Wait! It has the same interface as other FPS's, it is "obviously" a clone. This is what I am hearing when you all compare FFXIV 2.0 to WoW. You know SE, you know they always bring something exciting and new that makes it stand out from other games within the genre, why doubt them now?

Then I will hear the argument "FF has always been about being an original RPG.". While yes this is true, it isn't it's UI that makes it original. Only thing FF does is stand out from the rest with it's world and story. The one time Square actually brought a whole new concept to the table was the ATB gauge in Final Fantasy IV, which was the game's battle standard until Final Fantasy X, and then reappearing in Final Fantasy XIII. The Dragon Quest series was out before Final Fantasy. So is Final Fantasy an obvious Dragon Quest clone because it used it's UI as a template? No, what it did was use that template and create a unique experience you wouldn't find in Dragon Quest. It offered you a story driven game in a colorful world with colorful characters and it was able to stand on it's own.

So please, before going out and throwing the "WoW clone" thing at people. Just remember, SE believe it or not is a very smart company consisting of a lot of smart people. Not perfect, but smart. They know Final Fantasy is all about the "unique experience", and I guarantee they will not fail on that, rather it be good or bad. They know what is the right interface of this game, and they know how to stand apart from everyone. Just put a tad bit of faith in them on this one.

[TheRac25]

No one has said WoW's graphics are ZOMG SO TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED!!!! It's an aged and ugly game. Graphics aren't in debate here, content is.

i would argue that seamless world and lack of apparent lag make blizzards engine far more advanced than anything SE has ever shown an inkling of producing

slapping bump mapping on everything and using gpu crushing levels of outdated lighting techniques does not an advanced engine make

[Reiterpallasch]

i would argue that seamless world and lack of apparent lag make blizzards engine far more advanced than anything SE has ever shown an inkling of producing

This is one thing that sadly will always be the way it is. When you have all of your servers located in a single region, there's only so much you can do content and game mechanic wise before latency is just too much of an issue. 1-2 seconds (1000-2000 MS) is a long time for info to go to and from the servers especially in comparison to a game such as WoW where your latency will be around the 20-50 MS range.

This is the reason why you need to be running in front of a moving mob to hit it (very noticeable in XI), or why even though you appeared to be standing in the right place at the right time and "obviously" dodged an enemies attack, you still get hit.

[Kiote]

To anyone who thought FFXI was original. It was in certain areas like the world, it's story, and a few neat battle mechanics. Besides that, it's interface and concepts came straight from Everquest. SE even admitted themselves that they used Everquest as a template for FFXI. You know why? Because Everquest's setup was the standard for the "MMO genre".

You did not play Everquest or you did not play FFXI. I played Everquest and FFXI for quite a while. FFXI has literally nothing from Everquest in it, at all. The only thing the two have in common is that they are MMOs and they aren't easy. The UI is different. The combat is differnt. The Story progression is different.

Please, name one thing in Everquest that is remotely similar to FFXI. I would love to hear it. People use this argument all the time. It is Bull. Like it or not, FFXI is arguably the single most original MMO ever made. It shares basiclly nothing with any other MMO.

[Nero]

SE even admitted themselves that they used Everquest as a template for FFXI.

SE never said that. SE said FFXI was made during the "EQ Age". I love how ppl always put their own shit into a simple sentence from an interview. And like Kiote allready said.. EQ was far aways from being similiar to FFXI.