SE - 2.2 is Going to Cost You Greatly

[Tupsi]

I think it's far too early to even be looking at subscription gains/losses. We are way too close to the release of a major patch; of course there will be a ton of people playing right now.

Not really - Most new MMOs rarely survive past 6 months unless they're pay to win or "Free" to play, it's actually the right time to be paying attention to these numbers more than ever.

[Alym]

Not really - Most new MMOs rarely survive past 6 months unless they're pay to win or "Free" to play, it's actually the right time to be paying attention to these numbers more than ever.

Then you would say it's fair to look at the amount of people playing right before 2.2 also? There were far far fewer people running around in the days before 2.2 hit. We are seeing more players than normal right now because a big patch just released, not necessarily because the game is so amazing that no one ever left.

[Jinko]

It's obvious they are trying to appeal to a different demographic with 2.2 than they were with 2.0 and 2.1. Personally, I can only hope that this patch isn't an indication of how updates are in the future.

What demographics is that though :S

Seems to me they just want to stretch the grind out as long as possible so they have more time between patches.

But I think they will be mistaken because a lot of people will get fed up with the grind and RNG.

[Alym]

What demographics is that though :S

Seems to me they just want to stretch the grind out as long as possible so they have more time between patches.

But I think they will be mistaken because a lot of people will get fed up with the grind and RNG.

I would say to an old school demographic - the ones that grew up with and enjoy this kind of grinding. I don't think it's a bad demographic to appeal to by any means, but it sure isn't what I signed up for based on 2.0 and 2.1.

Also, I think you're right that they are trying to make this content stretch as long as possible and it could potentially harm the game.

[Tsunenori]

I think it's far too early to even be looking at subscription gains/losses.
...
Personally, I can only hope that this patch isn't an indication of how updates are in the future.

I'm definitely with you on this. I've spent over 30 minutes trying to reply to your comment, typing and deleting and re-typing my response over and over trying to express what exactly it is that's bothering me about 2.2 but there's far too much for me to really detail in a forum post, especially when it'll just be met with "get out" comments from people who have a hard time understanding that negative feedback is far more important than an echo chamber. In the end I guess I just feel let down, and if 2.2 is indeed an accurate indication of the future then I'll regrettably have to say goodbye to Eorzea, which is something I really don't want to do. I'll be looking closely at how 2.3 shapes up.

Edit: And maybe it's unfair to lay the blame entirely on 2.2, becase no one really has a turn of faith based on one patch. But there are certainly decisions that have been made since the launch of 2.0 that have left me confused and 2.2 seems to continue that trend more heavy-handedly than previous patches.

[Zarabeth]

For the most part I'm enjoying the new content. However, I'm very disappointed in SE for the real money retainers and I feel that this is a slippery slope. I already pay to play, I shouldn't have to pay to win. Yes, right now it's just some retainer venture loot, but once this starts it usually ends up with more game breaking things being added to a cash shop. RMT is supposed to be against the TOS.

[Zaels]

lol, another "hundreds to thousands of players are unsubbing in rage because i dont like the changes" thread.

[Pinworms]

People asked for things to do besides log in for coil do it and log out for the week. Now you have something, it also helps get your company points for buffs. I have seen triple the people on since patch.

[Zaels]

just another common thing when someone's mad. they try to lie and exaggerate by making it seem as if "thousands of people agree with them"

[Waeksyn]

I feel betrayed. Yoshi has been quoted many times about making sure that what is in his game is fun. How is grinding endless fates with no sense of progress hour, after hour, after hour fun? Yes, there are some masochistic former FFXI players out there that get all steamy eyed about this nonsense but that is certainly not the feeling of most players. I"m all for rewards taking some time to get but I'd like them to be due to things I can measure and predict. When I do well, i get rewarded. Not when I spam mindless, no skill, soul crushing RNG events over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, .......