Um.. summer release?

[Abriael]

Before someone actually naively believes the enormous lie by the OP, let me officially state something as the news editor of one of the news outlets that was authorized to release a preview of the beta of A Realm Reborn (this one to be precise).

We signed absolutely no contract about anything (the only thing we had to agree to was the NDA, which was exactly the same used for every other beta tester, and I mean literally the same: same site and all). There was absolutely zero pressure from Square Enix to give FFXIV a positive preview, or "to not give honest feedback about FFXIV".

The only restriction received from the publisher was to use the screenshots provided on the press kit (which is common practice for early betas). Nothing else was restricted, recommended or even mentioned.

As a matter of fact the mail we received was a very brief communication that basically amounted to "The press embargo about phase 1 and 2 falls from this date and time, please use the provided screenshots".

It was actually so lacking in detail that I had to mail back asking if was really ok for me to write a full preview (didn't really expect the embargo to go down that early), and no further guidance or recommendation of any sort was provided.

In conclusion: the OP's point is entirely false and misleading.

He's probably mad that his personal feedback hasn't been addressed and he's doing the usual misguided equation that since his feedback hasn't been considered everyone's feedback isn't. It's rather obvious that Square Enix can't implement all the feedback they receive, including conflicting matter-of-taste suggestions. This doesn't mean they don't consider any or that they don't listen to it all.

[Solace]

Before someone actually naively believes the enormous lie by the OP, let me officially state something as the news editor of one of the news outlets that was authorized to release a preview of the beta of A Realm Reborn (this one to be precise).

We signed absolutely no contract about anything (the only thing we had to agree to was the NDA, which is the same used for every other beta tester). There was absolutely zero pressure from Square Enix to give FFXIV a positive preview, or "to not give honest feedback about FFXIV".

The only restriction received from the publisher was to use the screenshots provided on the press kit (which is common practice for early betas). Nothing else was restricted, recommended or even mentioned.

As a matter of fact the mail we received was a very brief communication that basically amounted to "The press embargo about phase 1 and 2 falls from this date and time, please use the provided screenshots".

It actually so lacking in detail that I had to mail back asking if was really ok for me to write a full preview (didn't really expect the embargo to go down that early), and no further guidance or recommendation of any sort was provided.

In conclusion the OP's point is entirely false and misleading.

Seriously thought this topic just seems to be on edge, has an aggressive tone and warrants little to no real concern..
More of a rant than an actual topic, with real insight..

/Thread.

[Abriael]

Seriously thought this topic just seems to be on edge, has an aggressive tone and warrants little to no real concern..
More of a rant than an actual topic, with real insight..

I preferred to clarify, since I don't appreciate plain lies.

[Atomisk]

First and foremost, FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn will be released in summer 2013. It will be a worldwide release for the PC and PlayStation 3, available in Japanese, English, French, and German. At the end of the month we'll announce the release date, along with pricing and details on the collector's edition. We'll also start accepting preorders at the end of the month. ~ Yoshi P

So at the end of May, before P3 hits we will have an official release date.

It is my WISH that they would not give one. No matter how confident you are. I Thought, Yoshi origionally stated he would not give out a release date until ffxiv:arr officially hit the shelves. Same day notice that Today is release day, and it is on the shelves today. You want Early Access? Sign up for Beta, I'm doubt anyone is getting denied in phase 4, which will roll over to official release.

If you don't understand why some people are weery and leery of a release date being given. It is more likely than not because of how 1.0 alpha/beta/launch went. Or maybe that is just my feelings. I was in 1.0 alpha and did not get into 1.0 beta until it was open beta. When i got to open beta nothing seemed to have changed from alpha. . . With announcements on beta forums saying don't worry, it's only beta. Official release tomorrow will be better. Just my theory's. Even throughout ffxi the later expansions seemed timed to release just before Blizzard came out with some other expansion for WoW. The release of ffxiv 1.0 just felt like they were only trying to beat out WoW expansion release (Cataclysm), and worrying about quality later.

So yes, when they say they are going to give a release date, and sounds like it is gonna happen right before TESO release date, I do worry that SE is again rushing to try and beat some other companies release date. There will always be more than 1 good to play mmorpg out there at the same time. And it is the quality of the game, and experiences, not the release date that hold players in the game. I don't believe SE will release another crap version of this game. But just hearing that there will be a release date before P# hits, with changes being announced for lots of things in P3. Does make me worry.

[Kallera]

So at the end of May, before P3 hits we will have an official release date.

It is my WISH that they would not give one. No matter how confident you are. I Thought, Yoshi origionally stated he would not give out a release date until ffxiv:arr officially hit the shelves. Same day notice that Today is release day, and it is on the shelves today. You want Early Access? Sign up for Beta, I'm doubt anyone is getting denied in phase 4, which will roll over to official release.

If you don't understand why some people are weery and leery of a release date being given. It is more likely than not because of how 1.0 alpha/beta/launch went. Or maybe that is just my feelings. I was in 1.0 alpha and did not get into 1.0 beta until it was open beta. When i got to open beta nothing seemed to have changed from alpha. . . With announcements on beta forums saying don't worry, it's only beta. Official release tomorrow will be better. Just my theory's. Even throughout ffxi the later expansions seemed timed to release just before Blizzard came out with some other expansion for WoW. The release of ffxiv 1.0 just felt like they were only trying to beat out WoW expansion release (Cataclysm), and worrying about quality later.

So yes, when they say they are going to give a release date, and sounds like it is gonna happen right before TESO release date, I do worry that SE is again rushing to try and beat some other companies release date. There will always be more than 1 good to play mmorpg out there at the same time. And it is the quality of the game, and experiences, not the release date that hold players in the game.

Ever hear of a game called Age of the Beast? It's (presumably) being developed by Senile Team, an indie 2.5 fighting game system that looked to be light years ahead of its previous iteration, Beats of Rage. Unlike its predecessor, Age of the Beast was supposed to be an original game, with its own system and ways to mod into other products. the most recent video of its gameplay from YouTube was from 2006.

7 years later, and it has no release date. The game might not be dead, but the interest sure is, and Senile Team is currently a lost memory of gaming, with no expectations,and little hope.

You need to get over 1.0's release, because time does not wait for any company. The business needs to perform the launch with confidence; if they release it in secret or as a surprise, then it will affect sales and the subsequent launch experience. The release date for a product matters significantly from a business standpoint as it gives the product time to act through the market without interference from another product's release, perhaps even affecting the success of competitors.(like TESO, for example)

It could be the best game since sliced bread, but if it takes till doomsday before you want to release it, you'll have missed success altogether.

[yoshikwalla]

So far, sites have posted in-depth impressions of the Beta (while following the NDA, something that you clearly don't understand). When it comes to information on the various game systems, Yoshi-P and his entourage have been more transparent than other developers on their respective games. The game will be at E3, the largest gaming press conference for upcoming games, to be tested by the press.

So please explain to me how the gaming press - people who are paid to write about any game-related thing shortly after it happens - won't have time to write their impressions of Realm Reborn before it launches. Your logic here is ridiculous.

The biggest difference between the original game's development and ARR's development is that with 1.0, Square was releasing a shitty game to begin with. Almost everything inside and out, from its engine to its server architecture, was a broken mess. All that Yoshi-P did was make the game's faults easier to deal with - they still existed, but in a lesser form - while working on the product Square should have released in the first place. Suggestions from players and the press couldn't stop a disaster of such magnitude from happening back during 1.0's launch simply because it would have required Square to scrap the entire game and start from scratch - something the producer and CEO adamantly didn't want to happen.

And the mainstream gaming press's complete lack of journalistic integrity? Congratulations - you finally understand how sites like IGN keep food on their contributors' plates. But not for the reason you think.

There are plenty of reasons, but the NDA is not one of them. A game journalists's impressions of a game are as simple as this: I like this part, I do not like this part. Any of the extra details are just ways for the writer to prove his point. There is no need to explain it in NDA-breaking detail - that's for later, when the game launches. Plus, anything that is released at E3 the journalists can write about - NDA doesn't apply there.

If you think the NDA will stop journalists from posting their general impressions on Final Fantasy XIV before it launches, then you are clearly wrong.