Why I started playing FF14

[Secaria]

I played WoW for 5 years then finally quit when it became crap. Been looking for a great MMO since then i found FF:ARR when it launched so i tryed it like most MMO'S expecting to leave after my first month however i really liked it and stayed. I was debating wether or not to continue playing and after seeing what items are going into the cash shop i can say im done with this game. Luckily my sub ran out today, cash shops have no place in a pay to play MMO except transfers etc. Hope the rest of you enjoy the game while you still play

[tocsin]

Please join the other "Cash shop cheapens my gaming experience" threads.

considering This was announced well in advance, and makes a lot of sense since weddings are a big character change, at least if you post in a larger thread, you are more likely to be heard amongst the witch hunt mob.

[Aegis]

Please join the other "Cash shop cheapens my gaming experience" threads.

considering This was announced well in advance, and makes a lot of sense since weddings are a big character change, at least if you post in a larger thread, you are more likely to be heard amongst the witch hunt mob.

Weddings are handled muich better in SE's other MMO.

A sponsor fills in a form for you online, chooses the date/time a GM will be available.

You choose the location (literally any location in the game, just try avoid those with aggro'ing mobs).

You choose to purchase the wedding dress (or not) for gil, not r/l money.

The GM gives you your instructions and walks you through the ceremony, allowing you to substitute your own vows if you prefer.

Your friends attend and buy fireworks.

The GM hosts the ceremony and trades you wedding rings.

Everyone celebrates.

(Note, it was about 7 years ago I got married, so my memory may be a bit blurred, but that was about the gist of it).

Why shouldn't we expect a system introduced over a decade later to be even better?

[tocsin]

Weddings are handled muich better in SE's other MMO.

A sponsor fills in a form for you online, chooses the date/time a GM will be available.

You choose the location (literally any location in the game, just try avoid those with aggro'ing mobs).

You choose to purchase the wedding dress (or not) for gil, not r/l money.

The GM gives you your instructions and walks you through the ceremony, allowing you to substitute your own vows if you prefer.

Your friends attend and buy fireworks.

The GM hosts the ceremony and trades you wedding rings.

Everyone celebrates.

(Note, it was about 7 years ago I got married, so my memory may be a bit blurred, but that was about the gist of it).

Why shouldn't we expect a system introduced over a decade later to be even better?

Agreed. and I wish it were so. however, FFXI also wasn't SE's flagship game, nor was it struggling financially as much as this game is. (mods complaining about server capacity is 100% confirmation that a game is struggling financially, plus the intro of a cash shop in the first place.)

if Weddings in a cash shop means that FFXIV doesn't shut down in 6 months, once the "Expansion pack" money dries up, then I will gladly pay it.

[Aegis]

Agreed. and I wish it were so. however, FFXI also wasn't SE's flagship game, nor was it struggling financially as much as this game is. (mods complaining about server capacity is 100% confirmation that a game is struggling financially, plus the intro of a cash shop in the first place.)

if Weddings in a cash shop means that FFXIV doesn't shut down in 6 months, once the "Expansion pack" money dries up, then I will gladly pay it.

FFXIV has been the company's saving grace financially, that was before the cash shop.

[tocsin]

FFXIV has been the company's saving grace financially, that was before the cash shop.

"Has been". those are key words. We are also talking about a company who has posted a loss in subscription based income for the past 3 quarters. They wont come out and say it, for business reasons, but I have a feeling that declining playerbase issues are starting to impact the bottom line, and cash shop is how they intend to save it.

We do have to face that FFXIV isn't a new game anymore, and despite updates, we are losing players faster than we are getting new ones. it happens to all games, and hopefully ffxiv can survive where so many do not.

[BlaiseArath]

"

Not that I disagree with what you're saying because its true, they're declining like all MMOs do after the initial new rush. But, Isn't adding a cash shop to a declining P2P game a lot like... applying salt to a bleeding wound? I mean sure, you dump enough salt on it maybe it'll stop bleeding but I imagine it did more harm than good in the end.

I know.. metaphors and such, I can see why they're trying to milk money out of us to keep their numbers looking good, But I don't know if it will have a positive impact in the long run. I mean, do you think people who look to play XIV might subscribe and then be turned off to the game once they realize theres a second pay wall they'll probably have to consider in the future if they want any of the good vanity/dye/mounts? I bet theres at least some.

[Enkidoh]

"Has been". those are key words. We are also talking about a company who has posted a loss in subscription based income for the past 3 quarters. They wont come out and say it, for business reasons, but I have a feeling that declining playerbase issues are starting to impact the bottom line, and cash shop is how they intend to save it.

I'm not going to enter into the whole cash-shop debate, but I'm curious to know where you have gotten this information - every indication I've seen has been the game is still increasing in player numbers not declining (I'm seeing new players on Balmung all the time, and until the 2.4 patch they had a "x million players!" banner on the Lodestone that increased steadily - it was last at 3.5 million).

I'm not discounting the possibility, but some actual proof is what is needed, not assumptions based purely on emotional (and arrogant) responses made by whining players who post "I'm leaving the game!" threads purely for the attention.

We do have to face that FFXIV isn't a new game anymore, and despite updates, we are losing players faster than we are getting new ones. it happens to all games, and hopefully ffxiv can survive where so many do not.

That is true, but that's a fact of all MMOs, not just FFXIV - you said so yourself. After the initial rush, the 'me too' players/players with short attention spans will inevitably leave and go onto the 'next big thing'. But FFXIV has for over a year and half still not only maintained it's subscription rates, it's increased steadily. Servers like Balmung are still getting lock outs due to being full most times of the day. But I disagree the game "is losing players faster than we are getting new ones."

We've been hearing that same old tired statement since the very beginning, and will continue to hear it even when all indications are to the contrary. We were told endllessly that <insert overhyped MMO here> was going to slaughter FFXIV. But where are those games now? Apart from Destiny I've heard virtually nothing about these so called "FFXIV killers' other than a few ramblings from disgruntled players saying how boring and dull they are.

Of course, FFXIV isn't perfect. No game is. There are definitely things that can be improved or built on. But to say the game is losing players over minor QoL things or such trivial matters as optional paid items, is just hearsay. Don't listen to Chicken Little! The game is fine sub wise.