dev1031 You are losing your main playerbase by making things too easy/fast/casual

[Belial]

I don't believe this game is being made to cater to casuals, or that it's too easy, etc., etc. Especially since, and this is the biggest point that people need to understand, the game is not finished. Ground work, trial and error, fixes, content across all level ranges, mechanics issues, etc. are all far more important to the survival of this game than worrying about whether or not 5k-10k worth of people who have no lives are being appeased.

[Shiyo]

Wasn't it stated long before launch that FFXIV was not catering to the "hardcore" crowd of FFXI? I'm pretty sure it was, stop hoping for things that were never stated and when in fact the exact opposite was stated. Their target audience was not the "hardcore" players from FFXI, it was the slightly more "casual" crowd more so in relation to the amount of time spent gaming per day.

FFXIV is not and should never become the hardcore game FFXI once was. If you don't like it go find a game you do like. Cut your losses now, it's not getting any more "hardcore" from here.

There are no MMOs that are for hardcore gamers on the market. We have nowhere to go, yet casuals have tons of games to choose from, it sucks.

[solracht]

There are no MMOs that are for hardcore gamers on the market. We have nowhere to go, yet casuals have tons of games to choose from, it sucks.

EVE, Darkfall. Too hardcore? Not FF-themed? Hopefully this gives you a better view on the problem with niches!


Maybe you don't have such an array of games to choose from because you're not profitable?

[rainfish]

SE, you are losing your main playerbase and main followers(old FFXI players/hardcore players) by trying to make this game more casual and accessible for all players.

You aren't the target audience, for FFXIV or FFXI for that matter. You just think you are ;P

[Smashington]

There needs to be content for casuals AND hardcore players. In time, there will be.

[mistressella]

I was fine with a few changes they made to the game allowing new player get to 20 now ok fine with that new players are good.. but they way the game keeps getting easier! i am waiting for the patch the Se makes that make me mine all day when i go to work. might as well add that botting program would want people to people not to have every thing to 50in every rank.. i fell like there just giving guild points away now

[darkstarpoet1]

There needs to be content for casuals AND hardcore players. In time, there will be.

agreed my post was the same. i am happy to see the casuals get some midrange nm's, but would have lked to see some stuff for the higher level parties and players. this patch was major win with one group, but major fail with the other. i do not see why they cannot add content for both groups. in reality 20 new nm's and not one or 2 major nm's out of them? if they put in 18 casual and 2 bigger nm's i think alot of people would have seen it as a win on both sides.

[Shiyo]

Oh I LOVE the fact they added 20 low level NMs with gear drops for low levels, I hate the fact they're 3-5 min respawns with decent drop rates, meaning the content won't last long at all.

[Thsscks]

I hate it when people whine about "the good old days". And when they act like they speak for everyone or in this case the playerbase.
You should also realise this game should be fun for people who havent played FFXI too. Dont try to demand your version of that game just because you played it and payed for it in the past.
You don't even give them a chance to try to do new things and possibly make the game both fun for hardcore people who want to spend most of their hours playing the game and casual players who play games for some fun when they have some time to spend.
You shouldn't view this with a you are with us or against us logic. The world isn't black and white. A game can be both.
Just at least give them some change with the recent and upcoming updates.

[rainfish]

There are no MMOs that are for hardcore gamers on the market. We have nowhere to go, yet casuals have tons of games to choose from, it sucks.

You wonder why?..both types of player pay the same subscription fee, one is a very small minority.

Harcore player.
Is on the game a lot more using up more server bandwidth.
Is far more demanding of new content.
Is a minority.
Can very often be a bad influence in the community or monopolise content.

Casual player.
Pays the same fee as the hardcore player but is only on for a fraction of the time, there are far more of them and they use up less of the money they pay per month.
Is far less demanding for new content because it takes them longer to actually get through what you give them.
Is the vast majority, and as seen from games like wow and rift they make you a lot of money.
Are generally more friendly because their life doesnt revolve around the game and don't play to be better than everyone else.

No company in their right mind aims a game at a hardcore playerbase or gives that small minority a reason to make the majority feel like the less wanted portion of the playerbase. Nothing turns off players as much as a being unable to attain the same gear everyone else can, like it or not a successfull company does it's best to keep the majority happy.

There needs to be content for casuals AND hardcore players. In time, there will be.

There probably will be but you can bet they won't give the hardcore players gear that far outweights what the casual players can get as they did on FFXI, why would a company go out of it's way to upset the biggest most profitable playerbase? On FFXI for instance they made a lot of content the vast majority of the players could never do, they have since realised this was wrong and now everyone can get everything at endgame, even the highest tier endgame gear.

This is how you make a profitable MMO.