FFXIV lacks animation

[MariyaShidou]

I too think it would look great for more NPC movement. Even if it was fairly automated. But if it was something like elder scrolls where npc's are walking around and chat with others when they get close (obviously dont show the convo in this case as that would get messy on the screen) but some life to the cities would be great.

Also in the future maybe some city guards on chocobo back in the wild on guard duty

Won't work on MMO, unless important NPC (Shopkeeper, Quest etc.) are static. I don't want to picklock a door at night to talk to the trader to dump my junk, or searching frantically the quest mark for the NPC only to find him 3 stories underground.

[Carzilla]

Won't work on MMO, unless important NPC (Shopkeeper, Quest etc.) are static. I don't want to picklock a door at night to talk to the trader to dump my junk, or searching frantically the quest mark for the NPC only to find him 3 stories underground.

Yeah lets not veer off the point here. The point I am trying to get accross is theres nothing going on in the background. We dont have to uses oblivion as an example. Im just stating have some npcs walking about or chatting among'st them selfs. Take the carpenters guild for example. inside u see workers working. now how about npcs walking whats so evil about that? it makes the game seem more alive, rather than Npcs just standing there like a statue.

[FullMetalBishop]

I too think it would look great for more NPC movement. Even if it was fairly automated. But if it was something like elder scrolls where npc's are walking around and chat with others when they get close (obviously dont show the convo in this case as that would get messy on the screen) but some life to the cities would be great.

Also in the future maybe some city guards on chocobo back in the wild on guard duty

i dissagree with the elder scrolls portion but we are forgetting a very valuable example of what we can hope to see or at least use as an example in itself if only that. HELLO PEOPLE the final fantasy games themselves? final fantasy 8 is good example since i just got done playing it people walking around in there designated paths talking and whatnot but you dont hear what they are saying unless you yourself actually go up and have a chat with em. usually youe butting in towards the end but the chat had some flare in it, etc. all of the FF's are good examples but just thought id use Balamb Garden as a prime example of NPC flare

[Rinsui]

Also dont be a moron, dont compare a single player game to an mmo where multiple npcs moving all around the place would cause such unnecesary lag that its retarded...

...especially when considering that even non-moving NPCs lag into existance when you run through Northern Thanalan or the Market Wards...

[Rimmer]

Our characters should /sigh and stuff when left AFK for too long, get angry and curse at us because they are standing doing nothing, just an idea.

[Rinsui]

Our characters should /sigh and stuff when left AFK for too long

For that, they will need to change their class to "Retainer".

[Carzilla]

the black shrouds needs moon light and an eerie gust of wind during night time

[RisaCooper]

like for example they could add children playing in the streets or with the shopkeepers they could have them change shifts with other NPCs making sure the shops always stay open but it isnt the same NPC always there. And then there could be birds in the sky or landing on the ground to look for food. Or some sort of domestic dog or cat scavenging for food. Homeless people on the streets. People begging for a little gil (nothing too much) just something that makes it look more then a static map that never changes. It would be nice for something to be happening other then your character being the only thing.

[MariyaShidou]

You should be able to attack any and all NPC in town. The older MMOs have this, this make the world really lively, not the scripted "fake" live.

[Secret_Reeve]

i'd like to see some more world enhancements too.

in XI plants moved, gave of light, powders and so on, the mobs movements where different and better in XI too, there was butterflies, birds, freindly mobs, there was so much LIFE in the world in XI.

XIV just feels like a copy and paste wasteland. even the shroud with all the plantlife feels pretty....well dead.

and i think this is what the OP is getting at