SE stop doing the "norm"

[Elexia]

To the average MMO player, unfamiliar concepts are unappealing. Can call it SE giving in to the standard, but I think they know well enough that if you want a good chance at those numbers, you need to reel in those new customers with a sense of familiarity, then throw something unique at them.

If FFXIV 1.0 was successful at launch, I doubt that it would of gone over a million, 500k+ at most. While that is a number that makes the game up and going, I believe SE wants to go beyond those numbers and wants FFXIV to last 10+ years, able to make improvements on it to keep it standard. While I think the FFXIV 2.0 audience will be 2 million at most, they have a better chance of reaching that number by standardizing itself instead of being too unique. With the PS3 audience coming in, I definitely think those numbers are a possibility.

In short, I think more numbers will come in being standard than being overly unique. The only real reason Star Wars is doing so poorly is because of it's lack of end game. As long as SE delivers well on the end game content, then I believe it will keep itself up there with WoW and GW2. I doubt it would reach their numbers, but it will keep itself in the competition for a long time.

Indeed, but as we seen with MMO players these days, they're a very finicky bunch compared to the last generation of MMO gamers. This is why it really depends on what SE does to really entice people to it. While GW2 is fun, people got bored of it very quickly mostly due to it's progression setup, people still play it but it went into an extreme in some ways that is normally normalized in a lot of other MMOs, much like MoP in WoW was almost "the opposite" of what they were doing prior to it.

People are more likely to stick around in a famliar setting over a different one, but they are also more likely to leave if it's really nothing new, especially in an age where somehow P2P is the lesser desired model, that's another thing they have to keep in mind how there's becoming more and more MMOs out there compared to even when XIV first launched that are F2P or B2P which is what the basic casual playerbase prefers as seen by social gaming on facebook and the like.

[Velhart]

Indeed, but as we seen with MMO players these days, they're a very finicky bunch compared to the last generation of MMO gamers. This is why it really depends on what SE does to really entice people to it. While GW2 is fun, people got bored of it very quickly mostly due to it's progression setup, people still play it but it went into an extreme in some ways that is normally normalized in a lot of other MMOs, much like MoP in WoW was almost "the opposite" of what they were doing prior to it.

People are more likely to stick around in a famliar setting over a different one, but they are also more likely to leave if it's really nothing new, especially in an age where somehow P2P is the lesser desired model, that's another thing they have to keep in mind how there's becoming more and more MMOs out there compared to even when XIV first launched that are F2P or B2P which is what the basic casual playerbase prefers as seen by social gaming on facebook and the like.

At this point, the biggest selling point to 2.0, like Star Wars, is the name itself. The one issue that FFXIV faces is that it has been released once before. SE has to convince it's new audience that this is a brand new game and not the same game as the current version. So I believe their highest sales and numbers will come from the PS3 release, then word of mouth will get around and PC sales will start rising from there. After that though, it is SE's job to keep them in once they reel them in, which Star Wars failed to do. As long as FFXIV delivers well on it's main storyline, quests, dungeons, and end game, it will be a success in some form.

Star Wars gave me one of the best leveling experiences ever, but end game after two days made me quit. I felt no need to progress after I beat my Bounty Hunter's storyline. It reeled you in with "Star Wars" and "BioWare", but failed to keep you interested in the long run.

The thing with GW2 was as you said, got boring very quickly. The level progression felt very hard for me as it was a series of go in and find events to level on. At least with basic questing systems, I get a chance to read dialogue and get to know the world better. In GW2, the best way for that is the main story line. I am sure the lv.80 end game content is incredible, but that level progression part is very hard for me at least.

Overall I believe FFXIV will be a success compared to the others because of name alone and SE learning from their mistakes and making sure they deliver in all areas. Can call it a "We can't afford to screw up again." situation.

[Warlock]

At this point, the biggest selling point to 2.0, like Star Wars, is the name itself. The one issue that FFXIV faces is that it has been released once before. SE has to convince it's new audience that this is a brand new game and not the same game as the current version. So I believe their highest sales and numbers will come from the PS3 release, then word of mouth will get around and PC sales will start rising from there. After that though, it is SE's job to keep them in once they reel them in, which Star Wars failed to do. As long as FFXIV delivers well on it's main storyline, quests, dungeons, and end game, it will be a success in some form.

Star Wars gave me one of the best leveling experiences ever, but end game after two days made me quit. I felt no need to progress after I beat my Bounty Hunter's storyline. It reeled you in with "Star Wars" and "BioWare", but failed to keep you interested in the long run.

The thing with GW2 was as you said, got boring very quickly. The level progression felt very hard for me as it was a series of go in and find events to level on. At least with basic questing systems, I get a chance to read dialogue and get to know the world better. In GW2, the best way for that is the main story line. I am sure the lv.80 end game content is incredible, but that level progression part is very hard for me at least.

Overall I believe FFXIV will be a success compared to the others because of name alone and SE learning from their mistakes and making sure they deliver in all areas. Can call it a "We can't afford to screw up again." situation.

Other things ppl look for in a FF are also the unique exotic design of everything (clothes,cities,landscapes,monsters) something both FFXI and FFXIV missed at release and then comes the music and Summoner too ofcourse hehe