Did Sword Art Online help Final Fantasy XIV?

[Ramesses]

Ramesses, the reason why you can see all those good points is probably because you read the novel and your memories overlap. SAO does have a solid setting and a good story with likable characters - in the novels.

The whole development between the characters was severely cut in the anime's SAO-arc though, which hurt the overall story. Not to mention people were too busy leering about the 16.5 chapter. I have no idea why they decided to squeeze the SAO arc into 12 EPs, in the end the pacing got screwed up completely. And why the hell did they remove nearly every piece of dialogue that showed the main chars getting closer?

Soukyou, sure I liked the novels and sure its what made me view the anime in a favourable light. Matter of fact, I already knew that the pacing for the first twelve episodes got severely cut down from the novels because (as confirmed from several sources), the initial plans was to run the show for only one season (Japanese TV seasons usually run for 12 or 13 weeks).

However, the huge success of the show by the time it entered its 4th week made them re-write some parts of the second season more closely to the novels... and this reflects very clearly in the ALO story arc. Even then, a lot was skipped and glossed over, but lets face it... in the end, the anime did its job perfectly of advertising the novels even more.

You'll just have to accept not everyone likes the anime in the same way as you, all the time skipping, the completely boring romance, then theres that one extremely disturbing scene where two of their guild members(one who is a friend) are killed (literally), Kiritos arms chopped off and they decide it's a good idea to get engaged at that exact point? I pretty much stopped caring about the story at this point, and just enjoyed the action since it's very well animated. So no, a statistical number of sales will not change my mind, the anime is over and I'm done with it. Now I just patiently wait for more Pyscho Pass.

This is why in my previous post I particularly urged you to read the novels as a supplement to watching the anime.... and contrary to belief, statistical numbers DOES play a part in helping a piece of media become successful. Trust me, the publishing industry literally thrives on numbers... its part of why the book is now developed into a PS Vita game.

By the way, the scene with the two guild members dying occurs AFTER a particularly epic battle (which, imho was better delivered in the anime) which made Kirito have to now work with them on a routine mission. Thus, he had no real bonds with them, neither was there any really gruesome images out of place than previously seen. Besides, one of them deserved to die anyway. After that incident, Kirito's subsequent engagement, marriage, honeymoon etc evolves a lot better in the novels.

Speaking of which... Hanemakikaze, while you are waiting for the next episode of Pyscho-Pass (which I believe number 12 is now late by a couple weeks), try watching Jormungand. That's one series that allows you to see the world in a much different light.