A Call For Originality

[Malakhim]

More than anything, I would like the devs to stick to their guns and deliver a unique game experience. Naturally there should be recurring themes(such as transport methods like chocobos, airships) and characters(always gotta have a Cid) with FFXIV and the rest of the series as well as recurring ideas and concepts that are inherent in MMOs, but this is an entry in a series that has thrived off differences. No two Final Fantasy games are ever totally alike.

Regardless of whether or not the shift in the dev team was warranted, I'm glad that Tanaka stepped down as head of the project, not because I was particularly dissatisfied with his work as much as I feel that "new blood" and change have always been beneficial to the series as a whole. FFVI was a big departure from the norm, as was VII, X, and XII. Right now however I'm very much concerned about FFXIV losing that potential to be a really unique thing under the weight of all the "bring back FFXI" feedback.

I'm somewhat split on whether or not Yoshi has a real vision or whether he's going to pander to a certain subset. I guess only time will tell, but I for one don't want to see a game I'm currently enjoying in a series I love be tarnished.

[Kallera]

Just for clarification, I have nothing against them trying for something original, I'm just saying its only natural for games to tweak assets and features from other games in order to do so. I don't want a FFXI-2, I want a new FF Online game.

[AngryNixon]

Just for clarification, I have nothing against them trying for something original, I'm just saying its only natural for games to tweak assets and features from other games in order to do so. I don't want a FFXI-2, I want a new FF Online game.

Kallera this raises an interesting topic of underlying assumptions or mistaken assumptions. I think it is often the case that when anyone references WoW or FFXI there seems to be this automatic hostility in some that manifests as "I don't want a WoW clone!" or "Oh you just want FFXI-2 that's stupid".

You're view is, I think, the real general opinion of most. I don't think many are really saying they want the old games back or for this one to be a carbon copy of other games, they're just using a frame of reference that is familiar to them to make an argument for systems and content that works. Invoking the names of WoW or FFXI to make a point does not logically or automatically lead to the conclusion that they want this game to be a copy of those games.

I read this after the fact but reference this where Blitz0309 has to insert a phrase to cover himself against that automatically hostile response:

Market wards... great idea. However since they released a beta game, people are sick of them and demand an AH (and hopefully an actually auction house and not the 11 system). Even making them searchable and basically turning them into an AH... its just to late.

Hopefully these forums are a step in the right direction of not needing to cover yourself against what should be self evident as has been the case across many 'fan forums'.