HD update for FFXI

[Elexia]

New MMOs give you choices. You can solo when you want to solo, and party when you want to party. What's wrong with that? Why does having the choice automatically translate into everyone will just solo? That isn't the case.

Is this why people keep spouting off "Party grinding is such an arcahic game design."? That's basically saying partying to progress is obsolete, which means solo is the preferred playstyle.

[Jennestia]

"Choices" translates into the game itself being unbalanced, which no one can deny none of the MMOs with "solo or group" progression is balanced -- mainly because everything has to be designed for either to be possible. In the time I played FFXI (2001 - 2011) grouping wasn't forced but it was the focus because it was a community based MMO. I didn't have to group to do 90% of my national missions because most are running around from point a to point c. I didn't have to group to do 90% of my expansion missions because most were again point a to point c running except for CoP, which was the only actual true group expansion pack. I did have to group to do events and boss fights.

Nothing wrong with choices, but being realistic, people rather solo than group in MMOs these days or that wouldn't have become a heavy focus of them the past couple of years.