FFXIV: Different and Unique

[Shikyo]

For you, my friend, it may have been easy, but I am not the only one to attest to the hours of sitting, waiting to play. Perhaps if you played a more desirable job you may have not had these issues, but whenever I played THF or MNK, I sat for a very long time.

Forgive me, but I played FFXI from 2004-2010, in which, I took a few months of leave. I was very active in the community on Sylph for a long time. You do not need to apologize to me for having what seems to be the greatest luck of any player I've ever encountered. When I started the game, I had many, many friends who played, and did not ever have a hard time finding a party. Even in the last few months of play, I was in a still-active linkshell (now on Titan) and we grouped together all of the time.

Regardless of both of our experiences, the same cannot be said for everyone else. I know many, many people who were turned off to the game because of the difficulties of finding a party. The learning curve on XI was pretty high for the average gamer. Not everyone has the resources or the time to waste in front of their computer.

My life is extremely full atm but with some of my downtime i would enjoy playing ffxiv if it were fun, challeging, strategic had a nice sized community or any of the staples ppl who play the mmorpg genre have come to know as the basics of what makes a mmo good.

Saying that i dont have as much time now as I did when i played XI but that doesnt mean i would accept a game that lacks so much just so it can be played by the casual player, I mean they made a terrible game that even a person that doesnt play alot wouldnt enjoy.
I seriously cant stomach this game for more then 20 mins at the most.

I guess some wanted a dumbed down massively multiplayer rpg with no challange i didnt though.
Sure XI required a little skill and some effort, it wasnt for the lazy gamer that really didnt have the time or patience to play.

It just seems this game cant please both the casual player and serious player, I think they have to choose.

Who would make them more money if all i had was 1 hour a day to play i probably wouldnt be willing to pay a monthly fee for a mmorpg... The MMORPG genre and casual players just dont mix.
The serious/hardcore players are where they will make their money longterm IMO,
I would think thats what they need to aim for that group of players, and this "FF for dummies" isnt what will keep the majority of that group playing, thats not opinion as you can see now with the empty servers, ls's, and them neededing to regroup with a new team and try to make it better.

Its very hard for me to understand why they would make a "mmorpg" that has so very little group party play aspects and seems to encourage a person to go it alone w/o a decent story.

Why make a online game like this? Its obviously this not what the majority of the fans wanted or we wouldnt be disscusing any of this right now.

[kaboro]

Regardless of what we want this game to be, it's obvious that it's not working the way it is.

I understand the nostalgiac feelings most have for what an inspiring game FFXI was. I, too, believe that FFXI was great. However, FFXI was, in essence, a giant time-sync, and it does not have any place in today's market for MMOs. When the game came out, it was the cream of the crop, but that was ten years ago. FFXI was out when the PS2 was still a new system. For all of its wonders, FFXI has many flaws.

The "party content" (not including end-game content) consisted of mainly mindless grinding, which is hardly any different from the system many complain about in XIV. And for most jobs, that was the only way you could progress. On top of that, the party system in FFXI (until it went under quite a few changes over its long span of existence) required a giant community of active players. Come on, don't tell me you guys didn't sit in Jeuno or Whitegate for hours looking for parties after 2005. I was just in the game a month or two ago, and as you can imagine, it's even worse now.

MMOs have evolved a great deal since the debut of FFXI. I do believe XIV needs more party-involved content, however, I would not like to sit for hours and hours and hours, killing crabs in Valkurm Dunes again. If you found that fun, go play MapleStory, as I hear the weather is nice this time of the year.

It would be great to see some dungeon content with bosses and an active storyline. Take for example, the large, expansive instances World of Warcraft had when it first came out, like Mauradon and the original Sunken Temple, that took hours (sometimes an entire day) to complete. No one wants the sort of: "Here's your free cookie" game that some MMOs have become today, but XIV cannot afford to go back to old conventions.

Best post i read on these forums, *bows with respect.

[Shikyo]

I feel happier in FFXIV than I have in any other MMO I've tried. I want it to continue to be something unique, interesting, creative, and fun. I like that it is and does feel different, and I don't want it to lose that magic. I know we all feel a bit anemic for content, but I'm confident it is coming. I'm trying to be optimistic and hopeful that it will be way better than many people think it will be. And do it without resorting to being like every other MMO on the market.

Wouldnt it have to start being unique,interesting, creative and fun to continue to be thoes things? O.o;
The content to me isnt as much the problem as the basic fundamental gameplay aspects that they got completely wrong.
I think that SE knows this as well, which is why fixes, tweaks, adjustments, reform w/e else you wanna call it is supposedly more important to implament 1st rather then adding content to the game.

[Nero]

I really need to vent about some of the posts I have read in these forums about changes people want made. Please bear with me as I might rant a little.

I think some people don't understand that FFXIV is not a cookie-cutter mmo. It is a different kind of game, plain and simple. Many of us like that it is different from the norm. If they completely change the game to the run-of-the-mill mmo, I don't think it can compete nearly as well as it can if advertised for what it is.

I've also read replies with people coming to the defense of FFXIV, and I like to see that. And of course constructive suggestions on improvements and innovations to the current system are welcome. I'm just talking about people who log on expecting to play a LoTRO, WOW, AoC, etc, not realizing what they are playing, and then logging onto the forums and making random assertions based on the fact that they are unaware of exactly the type of game FFXIV is.

I'm sure I just pissed off a lot of people, but FFXIV has a lot of charm, and although I am completely anticipating subsequent patches, I also don't want them to change what makes the game unique. FFXIV has a lot of growing to do, but I'd like to see it evolve and grow while retaining it's uniqueness: the things that make it's current fanbase loyal.

FFXIV has an opportunity to be something completely unlike anything else out there. It looks like it can eventually become a game that has a lot of elements of a sandbox mmo, but just enough of the theme park as well.

I like this post. Thumbs up.

[Rinsui]

FFXIV: Different and... fail.

[Quanta]

I think some people don't understand that FFXIV is not a cookie-cutter mmo. It is a different kind of game, plain and simple. Many of us like that it is different from the norm. If they completely change the game to the run-of-the-mill mmo, I don't think it can compete nearly as well as it can if advertised for what it is.

It can't compete now. Mere mention of the game outside of the fansites and these forums generally generates mocking laughter because, for most, the game really is that horrible, even to the people who came from FFXI to play it.

I've also read replies with people coming to the defense of FFXIV, and I like to see that. And of course constructive suggestions on improvements and innovations to the current system are welcome. I'm just talking about people who log on expecting to play a LoTRO, WOW, AoC, etc, not realizing what they are playing, and then logging onto the forums and making random assertions based on the fact that they are unaware of exactly the type of game FFXIV is.

And what type of game is FFXIV? Do you know? I doubt it. I doubt even SE knows what type of game FFXIV is, and they're the ones who made the damned thing. I'd absolutely love to see a FFXIII-style post-mortem of the game's original development; I imagine that there'd be several parallels.

I'm sure I just pissed off a lot of people, but FFXIV has a lot of charm, and although I am completely anticipating subsequent patches, I also don't want them to change what makes the game unique. FFXIV has a lot of growing to do, but I'd like to see it evolve and grow while retaining it's uniqueness: the things that make it's current fanbase loyal.

I'll admit that there are certain aspects of the game that I like--just crafting and fishing, really, and the Armory is kinda neat. That doesn't mean that the rest of the game doesn't make me want to choke a bitch. The zones were seemingly built at a 1:1 scale, which would explain the copy-pasta terrain, but also kills any chance for the kind of visual variance that other games possess. The entire world seems to have a chronic marmot infestation. Leves are boring as shit. The Black Shroud. The only means of reasonably speedy travel is tied to a limited resource. No fucking horsebirds in this gigantic world. The Black Shroud. Trying to make a sword basically requires you to level every profession just to stand a chance at success. 2 of the 3 synthesis commands you start with are completely useless. The Black Shroud. Random aggressive mobs that are 20 levels higher than the players killing shit in that area. No LFG system. Story missions that look awesome and action-packed in the cutscene, but turn into absolute shit once you have a chance to actively participate (seriously, the game plays a cutscene where coblyns swarm everyone and everyone's trying to fight them off, then it goes back to player control and the coblyns stream in one at a time. <plinkett>What the FUCK?!</plinkett>). The combat system keeps track of every button press, so if you misclick and hit the wrong button, you'll have to wait for that action to execute. There's a delay on every button press, unless you queue several actions at once, in which case they all execute at pretty much the exact same time. Oh, and the Black Shroud.

BUT OTHER THAN ALL THAT, I REALLY LIKE THIS GAME AND HOPE IT STAYS THIS WAY FOREVERTY EVER. *derp*

[Ruri]

I'll admit that there are certain aspects of the game that I like--just crafting and fishing, really, and the Armory is kinda neat. That doesn't mean that the rest of the game doesn't make me want to choke a bitch. The zones were seemingly built at a 1:1 scale, which would explain the copy-pasta terrain, but also kills any chance for the kind of visual variance that other games possess. The entire world seems to have a chronic marmot infestation. Leves are boring as shit. The Black Shroud. The only means of reasonably speedy travel is tied to a limited resource. No fucking horsebirds in this gigantic world. The Black Shroud. Trying to make a sword basically requires you to level every profession just to stand a chance at success. 2 of the 3 synthesis commands you start with are completely useless. The Black Shroud. Random aggressive mobs that are 20 levels higher than the players killing shit in that area. No LFG system. Story missions that look awesome and action-packed in the cutscene, but turn into absolute shit once you have a chance to actively participate (seriously, the game plays a cutscene where coblyns swarm everyone and everyone's trying to fight them off, then it goes back to player control and the coblyns stream in one at a time. <plinkett>What the FUCK?!</plinkett>). The combat system keeps track of every button press, so if you misclick and hit the wrong button, you'll have to wait for that action to execute. There's a delay on every button press, unless you queue several actions at once, in which case they all execute at pretty much the exact same time. Oh, and the Black Shroud.

TL : DR most of it. But I do agree with the synths being ridiculous. I leveled Blacksmith so I could make weapons only to realize I needed to level 2 other crafts to get the mats to make a weapon. Same with armor, etc.

[Spitfire]

The entire world seems to have a chronic marmot infestation.

Help control the marmot population, please have your marmot spayed or neutered.

[Shyd]

It has alot of potential.

11 was the first MMO i religiously played because the world was so immense and full of life. Everyday was a new adventure (even though it was typically the same, que up for group and wait).
From the variety of mobs to the content of stuff to do. Given the quests in town where simple, not really worth it then just doing once. Genkais, Dynamis, Sky, HNMS, farming for gils. There was always an adventure waiting around the corner.

I quit 11 after a couple years and started playing WoW with roomates. WoW was different. It was easy. I did not have to find people to do stuff with. There where tons of quests that would raise my level. And tons of zones with life and battle.
Over the years of WoW. From vanilla-WoLK. IT got progessively easier and easier then it had already been. Recycled the same stupid black circles in the ground. Which from a casters standpoint was horrible for the dps. So after hundreds of the same encounters i had to move on to other things. Mainly not to play another mmo lol.

Final Fantasy 14 came out and I flipped out, i really really wanted the feel the 11 had. So i pickd up 14 on the day it came out and honestly even though it was all buggy and unfinished I dug it. The adventure was good at the start. There where tons of ppl in Gridania doing the same thing i was. Starting their adventure. With that in mind i have held onto this game through all its turmoil.

And I know SE will not let this game drop. It has a number behind it to start. And they have never failed me with an adventure yet. From FF 1 - FF 13. Being a unique and different adventure from the rest is what they excel in.

Give the kids some time.

[Ruri]

It has alot of potential.

11 was the first MMO i religiously played because the world was so immense and full of life. Everyday was a new adventure (even though it was typically the same, que up for group and wait).
From the variety of mobs to the content of stuff to do. Given the quests in town where simple, not really worth it then just doing once. Genkais, Dynamis, Sky, HNMS, farming for gils. There was always an adventure waiting around the corner.

I quit 11 after a couple years and started playing WoW with roomates. WoW was different. It was easy. I did not have to find people to do stuff with. There where tons of quests that would raise my level. And tons of zones with life and battle.
Over the years of WoW. From vanilla-WoLK. IT got progessively easier and easier then it had already been. Recycled the same stupid black circles in the ground. Which from a casters standpoint was horrible for the dps. So after hundreds of the same encounters i had to move on to other things. Mainly not to play another mmo lol.

Final Fantasy 14 came out and I flipped out, i really really wanted the feel the 11 had. So i pickd up 14 on the day it came out and honestly even though it was all buggy and unfinished I dug it. The adventure was good at the start. There where tons of ppl in Gridania doing the same thing i was. Starting their adventure. With that in mind i have held onto this game through all its turmoil.

And I know SE will not let this game drop. It has a number behind it to start. And they have never failed me with an adventure yet. From FF 1 - FF 13. Being a unique and different adventure from the rest is what they excel in.

Give the kids some time.

Thumbs up.