About Beta invitation

[Abriael]

I know that you're combating my posts just for the sake of it.

No. I'm "combating" your posts because you're making tall assumptions about people you don't know based on your own set of values.

But also at the same time it's sad from all sides, in my opinion, to be upset in any way from being shut out.

Disappointment is an absolutely natural and instinctive reaction when someone hopes something and that something doesn't happen. The extent of that disappointment depends on the individual.

You have no elements to judge if any individual wanted a free trial of the game or simply wanted to provide his feedback, or a mix of the two, so making generalizations or assumptions is a misrepresentation of people's character.

As some already told you, they supported (financially, morally and with their own creativity and ideas) the creation of A Realm Reborn since it was just an idea, and they feel the need to provide direct feedback so that the game is further shaped how they would like it to be.

Considering the undeniable fact that the later feedback is given, the less it'll have a chance to be effective and influential (as the more a MMORPG nears its release, the more its systems are fossilized upon each other giving less wiggle room for change), getting into the beta and being able to give feedback there may not be sufficient for many that supported the game since the beginning and until now, especially considering that they saw themselves excluded in favor of people that refused to provide that support (IE: they quit).

The fact that *other* people are providing their feedback (pushing the game towards what *they* would like it to be) has really no bearing to that, as quality in a MMORPG is largely subjective.

The fact that some people exist that just wanted a free demo doesn't mean that ALL are like that, making your assumptions quite void and honestly not exactly polite.

But hey, keep assuming if it makes your boat float.

[DarkkenMoneybags]

Its very disappointing that we were in fact shut out from testing & info. Due to region, timezone or a simply mistake in there behalf. A company that is continuing to update its players on what is new & coming in ARR on a forum apart from its official forums is like a punch in gut, gasping for a breath of air. The majority of the testers aren't its long term player base from 1.0 Its a simple fact & they do not even give a lick or two cents about the game in feedback. If they were evident about our current situation I'm sure a response would've happened by now. No time to worry or get upset about it. Beta is around the corner or some cataclysmic event will happen sending us back to meet Fred Flintstone & Barney Rebel.

[Miliant]

This has been said multiple times through dev responses and Yoshida himself. This is an alpha test for an alpha build. Testers are not there to find bugs nor test things out. They are there to help find technical issues.

You'll have the multiple Betas to test stuff and look for bugs. In the meantime keep your constructive "Wowclone", "grass" discussions going.

[KiriA500]

The majority of the testers aren't its long term player base from 1.0 Its a simple fact & they do not even give a lick or two cents about the game in feedback.

So, because they didn't stick around and play a game they didn't like means they can't provide helpful feedback for a game they're clearly interested in again? I don't see how that could make any sense ever.

If anything, they're the best option for providing feedback to Square-Enix. What Final Fantasy XIV originally did wrong was what drove them away from the game in the first place. If A Realm Reborn is doing something right to where they're anticipating it's re-release, that means Square-Enix is doing something right. As a "long term player," you're already going to play the game. You stuck by the game when it was awful, so it's pretty clear that you're in this for the long haul. They might as well try and get some feedback from the opposite side of the spectrum.

[Abriael]

So, because they didn't stick around and play a game they didn't like means they can't provide helpful feedback for a game they're clearly interested in again? I don't see how that could make any sense ever.

If anything, they're the best option for providing feedback to Square-Enix. What Final Fantasy XIV originally did wrong was what drove them away from the game in the first place. If A Realm Reborn is doing something right to where they're anticipating it's re-release, that means Square-Enix is doing something right. As a "long term player," you're already going to play the game. You stuck by the game when it was awful, so it's pretty clear that you're in this for the long haul. They might as well try and get some feedback from the opposite side of the spectrum.

they,'ll have plenty time to get that feedback in beta, when there will be enough content to keep those with a lacking attention span interested. If they didn't have the dedication to stick with the game tben, it's very unlikely they'll have any to test 1/100th of a game, let alone to provide feedback. Alphas simply shouldn't be for casual audiences.

[Eekiki]

they,'ll have plenty time to get that feedback in beta, when there will be enough content to keep those with a lacking attention span interested. If they didn't have the dedication to stick with the game tben, it's very unlikely they'll have any to test 1/100th of a game, let alone to provide feedback. Alphas simply shouldn't be for casual audiences.

Alphas aren't for anyone except the developers. The only reason they invite testers is because they don't have several thousand SE employees at their disposal to do nothing but play the game and slam the servers with activity.

[BruceyBruceyBangBang]

These aren't generalizations. This is just calling it what it is. In one way or another everyone is after the same thing or else it wouldn't be an issue.

To claim anything otherwise would be inauthentic.

[moriandrio]

Its a simple fact

How do you wan't to know you not in and i doubt SE gonna tell you about the testers...
Ppl are not allowed to say so, and most just don't want to risk breaking the NDA so besides your friends you will never know how many old players are in and how many others...

[Cegiana]

EDIT: Entire section removed for fear of NDA getting me suspended...oh well Left the part below since it doesn't mention ARR Alpha.


Why redo the graphics engine? WHY??? That's not what needed improvement, the original FF14 storyline and graphics were not things that needed to be redone when they decided to fix FF14. The original story writers were MUCH better than the new team, you can clearly see that because the cutscenes from the Main Storyline were drastically better than the Grand Company storyline, better use of the camera, better NPC reactions, much more dialog and we didn't need a full hardcore party to see the story (which was the BIGGEST failure of the Grand Company storyline,) we should be able to SOLO the ENTIRE storyline and full party for Raids and getting weapons/gear only. It's a FF game, I shouldn't need 7 more people (and dozens of attempts which can easily bring the number of people from 7 to over a hundred total if you count all the retries which involve finding new party members) just to see the storyline. Especially since the storyline acts like you did it all by yourself, so shouldn't you have done it all by yourself? That makes more sense than pretending the other 7 don't exist. I can only imagine the problems ARR is gonna have with alliances, it is gonna have the same problems FF11 does. Finding big parties to do old content will take a ton of time and since it's those that AREN'T hardcore players that usually don't have old content done, because they have less time to play than others, then they don't have the time to find an alliance to do the old content, which will leave it undone. I know a ton of people that didn't get United We Stand done by the time dalmund exploded. This isn't FFXI, alliances are a BAD idea, unless you guys plan on making the content soloable 3 months after the content comes out so all can enjoy it, but that won't happen. Remember Square, you want to keep the non-hardcore players, otherwise ARR will fail like FF14 did.

Seriously Square, this should be a FF game first and a social game second, not the other way around, the original team understood that, the new team does not. It doesn't help that they listened to the social game fans that complained nonstop in the forums.

[ispano]

EDIT: Entire section removed for fear of NDA getting me suspended...oh well Left the part below since it doesn't mention ARR Alpha.


Seriously, why redo the graphics engine? WHY??? That's not what needed improvement, the original FF14 storyline and graphics were not things that needed to be redone when they decided to fix FF14. The original story writers were better than the new team, you can clearly see that because the cutscenes from the Main Storyline were drastically better than the Grand Company storyline, better use of the camera, better NPC reactions, much more dialog and we didn't need a full hardcore party to see the story (which was the BIGGEST failure of the Grand Company storyline,) we should be able to SOLO the ENTIRE storyline and full party for Raids and getting weapons/gear only. It's a FF game, I shouldn't need 7 more people (and dozens of attempts which can easily bring the number of people from 7 to over a hundred total if you count all the retries which involve finding new party members) just to see the storyline. Seriously Square, this should be a FF game first and a social game second, not the other way around, the original team understood that, the new team does not. It doesn't help that they listened to the social game fans that complained nonstop in the forums, why are the ones that know nothing are the first to complain? Ugly FF games are rare, like Mystic Quest and FF7, but usually FF games are known as beautiful pieces of art, don't take the art away from FF14 (although it's pointless to ask now since it's already done...)

Actually the Engine DID need to be redone. It was what was causing the issue of only so many people appearing on screen at once. Also just hinting at the fact you might be a tester is considered breaching the NDA.