Gamer Retention: what does FF14 really need?

[Ava]

To answer your first question, I would quit if the game went F2P right now. I can't forsee myself (at the current rate of development) paying for this game anytime within the next 6 months or so. But I do like the direction the game is going and am willing to give it an ongoing chance while it is F2P.

I thought your post was well-thought out and hope a lot of people read it. I agree with mostly every concern brought up. But I feel like some of the concerns are inevitable problems caused by the game's current population situation and will resolve themselves if/when the game gets off the ground. Such as the dead Gridania/LL. I would really like to see the social aspects of the game improve dramatically. There needs to be global chat channels (which may help Grid/LL too) and there needs to be a central market ward. Either allow you to search every ward from any city right now (but require travel if the item is in a different city), or give us some kind of centralized AH ala Jeuno AH in XI.

But I think these things are inevitable and will be addressed, I like where Yoshi-P is taking the game, for now it's just a matter of playing the waiting game. They still have a ways to go, but they'll get there.

[Gasher]

Apparently it's mostly due to the way the server handles players in the game in general. Basically the database is really poorly handled and the game can't handle telling where people in general are. That's why the party system is so separate from the game, and it's also why the LS list updates so slowly and contains no information, why you can't even know what classes people have in your own party unless you're standing right next to them, etc.

This was explained somewhat in the recent interview in the FFXIV-only magazine. They commented that they are working on rebuilding the way the servers handle players in the game, and once that is complete then they will be able to implement search features.

Tsukino, thanks! I had no idea about this. Now I have to admit... even though I thought I could not get any more surprised by the poorly designed and developed software behind XIV this probably is another dent in that perception.

Would you happen to have any relevant links to sources for this information?

[nibelunc]

I think this game needs the time, the devs need to realise their plans and less people whining around and throwing out bad ideas and having the feeling of working in Square Enix.

[Synthesis]

- more lively world, not so copy and pasted terrain
- faster dynamic combat, auto attack every 5 sec is so freaking boring.
- completely different battle UI + different menu UI, less lag in UI
- different retainer UI, maybe an AH
- PvP
- more content and so on...

[Wolfie]

Most of the things Yoshi has mentioned so far will greatly help player retention. I'm still wondering what their progress is with server infrastructure and game engine fixes, because we're still seeing minimal progress in terms of LS management, player/party search, etc.

Few other things that would help a lot:

Player search
Party search
Mail/delivery system
Fully customizable keyboard shortcuts
Redone controller keys; too many actions, not enough buttons.
Mouse + keyboard UI
Allow custom UIs (this has been talked about since before the game went into alpha)
Moving the game config inside the game instead of having separate programs
Alt + Tab crash fix
More optimization of the game client
Lag reduction by letting the game client take care of mundane tasks
Get rid of MW and/or put in a GOOD trading scheme that doesn't revolve around vendor zombies in a dungeon

[ViolentDjango]

Ok, I will play this game again. In the spirit of XIV I copypasta:d this from a post I made in a similar topic.

Ok here are some minor things which would go a LONG way (in no particular order):

- A REAL LFP SYSTEM (please).
- A REAL PLAYER/AREA SEARCH SYSTEM (in the style of /sea [area] [levelrange] [job] [inviteflag])
- No more teleportation to ether camps for party members who have not visited the location earlier. -> Make players work for their progress.
- Skirr up's for weapons (Let's revive the social function of creating and playing in a skill-up party).
- Draw from the overall experience of developing XI (no, not copy it).
- A sense of genuine exploration and achievement.

I am certain that some of these will give a noticeable boost in Eorzea's social life.

[Edit] On the topic of the game not yet having a real zone/world search system: I should probably add that the reason for this is most likely that squeeenix does not want anyone to be able to establish any kind of usage statistics over FFXIV. Hovever, I still hope they come up with a way to improve player searching. [/Edit]

Thx.

I agree with the above for the most part, though I feel that a sense of exploration is something someone can get out of FFXIV even with transportation systems. One, there are things that you can't see/can't get to by teleporting, and the number of things on that list are going to increase as the world expands. Two, you can't force people to enjoy traveling if they don't enjoy traveling. Removing teleportation wouldn't make people who don't care about traveling and exploration explore, and would ultimately just serve to piss them off -- those systems are there for people who can't be bothered.

Real world example: you don't "unlock" cities, in the real world. You just travel to them. Some people travel and like to sight see, some people travel and like to explore. When I lived in Paris, France with my sister for a short time, I did very little sight seeing but I roamed around the city and explored a lot -- found cool dive bars and places to hang out and the like. People who want to explore are going to explore, people who want to get from point A to B will just take the bus.

The problem with most MMO RPGs is that they feel they have to support one side or the other, I think supporting both is a good thing for FFXIV. Example, I knew about Lil Ala Migho long before they marked it on the map, because I like running around maps and seeing the interesting side stuff.

Plus, you can't teleport people to sub-crystals, like the Mawana(sp?) Mines one, last I checked -- so that's one thing to look forward to -- being forced, one way or another, to explore to get all of your subsidiary teleports.

Skill ups == No. Fuck that. Skilling up in FFXI is the most painful and ridiculous element of the game. Unless they revamp the system to make it a lot more common sense based, which would make it so easy it wouldn't be worth doing in the first place. Besides, if the only weapons you can use are the ones that set your class -- your skill is always going to be capped anyway. There would never be a reason or need to skill up.

Parties will become more common place when they add search functions and party mechanics anyway, we don't really have to worry about that.

- more lively world, not so copy and pasted terrain
- faster dynamic combat, auto attack every 5 sec is so freaking boring.
- completely different battle UI + different menu UI, less lag in UI
- different retainer UI, maybe an AH
- PvP
- more content and so on...

Yeah, we're past that. If "copy and pasted" terrain really bugs you -- you're probably going to want to not play any game that's come out in the past 5 years or that will be out within the next 5... because copy and pasting elements of maps isn't unique to FFXIV and FFXIV definitely isn't the only game where it is painstakingly obvious.

As far as faster combat, they're working on that. And they are making auto attacks more unique too. There's not much they can do to turn trash/basic mobs into anything more exciting or amazing though without over complicating the game.

Tsukino, thanks! I had no idea about this. Now I have to admit... even though I thought I could not get any more surprised by the poorly designed and developed software behind XIV this probably is another dent in that perception.

Would you happen to have any relevant links to sources for this information?

Yeah, the problem ended up being that they treated FFXIV too much like an outside, stand-alone project and didn't treat it as a sequel to FFXI (i.e. drawing from the core structure of FFXI) like they should have. The new development engine used, i.e. Crystal Tools, was another problem because they couldn't use any of the key development/programming things they learned from FFXI in the development of the game.

That's why there's the blaring gap between things that are perfectly function-able and seemingly transferable in FFXI to things that make no sense in FFXIV (starting off with no search functions, for example, when FFXI can tell you everything short of a person's current HP and equipment without you even being in a zone with them)

Lodestone, oddly enough, seems to have more access to the game's character database than the ingame functions seem to.

[Esk]

Not 100% on topic but for me..
Top things that need work to keep/gina players/improve the game are basically:
( OK carried away but i had lots more lol)

Combat/content
- Story content, (not just the imperials add a new unknown that causes strange dark monsters to appear and attack everything (players/npcs/mobs everything!), have the imperials flying over head landing attacks at random locations)
- Dynamic attacks on the camps (reworked behest?) via mobs and the imperial attacks on the camps/hamlets
- A more aggressive/adaptive AI with some of the old Mob AI brought back.
- Static NM removal
- Evolving NM's added (un killed mobs have a chance to evolve into nm over time (4 stages/lv's to the NM's).
- NPC hunters added to camps to tell people which way to go to look for Local NM's

Visuals / Game world
- Make Gridania feel like a forest (darker then current, like a deep forest would be)
- Mob placement making scenes
- Mob size reduction on trash mobs
- More lively NPcs, kilds running around the towns Npcs walking from a door somewhere in town then back
- Npcs changing places not just sitting in one spot
- Some npcs only being available in the day/night in towns. (or change location)
- New places (not on the open world map (instanced) for leve's/quests accessible via the camps crystals
- addition of new sub areas around hamlets (mini housing areas (non instanced) for the hamplet population) wtih a small surrounding zone accesable in the say ways as the new quest places)
- plant lfe that reacts to your presence
- Small R0 (un attackable) mobs that run when your near/target them

Misc
- Players housing
- Patch companion becomes a more central figure (can also be customised like your main)
- Reward items of Evolved NM's reward npc
- Npc attacks on ferry (mini game we get to shoot cannons?)
- Mob attacks on ferry quests(add npc guards/crew to the ship like in LL intro)
- Imperial attacks on airships (mini game we get to shoot cannons?)
- Jobs (not directly linked to a specific class no archer=bard only lol)
- Company + company housing

Crafting/Items
- Replacing the removal of parts with a slimming down and improved recipe crafting system and recipe book), but much simpler crafting
- Re addition of crafting guilds focused on HQ items.
- New gear that is crafted from both low and hi rank components
- More dye options
- group crafting protects inside company housing

Character
- More hair, face, marking, scar, eye colour choice.
- free makeover at Ps3 launch
- in game barber shop to redo hair/facial hair/decoration (only)

Missons
- Path companion based misson that are available every 2nd leve reset (GC/Story based)
- Random missions give by pach companion
- Imperial atttack/defence quests (repeatable)
- New thread attack/defence quests (repeatable)
- Airship attack/defence missions (combat & canon mini game)
- Ferry Attack/Defence missions (combat & canon mini game)

Dungeons
- Massive expansion of current dungeons with multipul routs though.
(some choices lock off other ways to complete each one)
- New bosses you fight several times in the dungeon but they always escape (even at the end)

Tools
- Player search
- LFG tags
- mail system

Mini World events (1-2 per week + 2 on the weekend)
Only finish ones they are defeted, npc's in take areas are inacessable
- Copper Coblyn's revence (mass attack on ul'dah)
- imperial foot hold in the north of BS
- Pirace invasion of LL, or the hamlet along the coast.

[Autodidactic]

I want some soloable NMs that don't respawn every 5 min and drop good loot that can be sold. There also seems to be a major lack of different gear, what is it like 80 percent of rank 50 DOWs use tarred leather trousers? I would like more solo player content in general, it is basically non-existent outside of gathering or crafting. I never have any anima so I'm spending an hour to walk to some places, need chocobos ASAP or regeneration of anima needs to be quicker, or quests or something that give it.

The buffs I think should be instant, you have to click on them a few times sometimes for them to even register after their animation, if you are using a few at a time, which is likely. As others have said, I have no clue why square couldn't have had a seek party function in place already, that would seem like a relatively easy programming fix that would make a huge difference to peoples enjoyment. Allow for more things to be put up for repairs at a time.

I don't know about anyone else but I have 2 retainers maxed out on items and my inventory is always near full, stuff doesn't sell fast enough on my server and if you are leveling multiple jobs you need a lot of different gear for them all. Add some gobby bag quests or a mog house or another retainer to store more items.

Overall my biggest gripe is the lack of solo content, I know there is a general lack of content period, but there is very little you can do to progress right now solo.

[Geesus]

Yeah, the problem ended up being that they treated FFXIV too much like an outside, stand-alone project and didn't treat it as a sequel to FFXI (i.e. drawing from the core structure of FFXI) like they should have. The new development engine used, i.e. Crystal Tools, was another problem because they couldn't use any of the key development/programming things they learned from FFXI in the development of the game.

That's why there's the blaring gap between things that are perfectly function-able and seemingly transferable in FFXI to things that make no sense in FFXIV (starting off with no search functions, for example, when FFXI can tell you everything short of a person's current HP and equipment without you even being in a zone with them)

Lodestone, oddly enough, seems to have more access to the game's character database than the ingame functions seem to.

As true as this is it still boggles my mind that, in the 8 years XIV(Rapture) was in production you can't tell me NO ONE at SE thought about this?! That's poor planning in ANY IT field. When you have a model that works it's fine to bring in something new i.e. Crystal Tools which SE developed on their own for XIV if I remember correctly, to create the world of Eorzea. So whether it's server issue or not, I'm sorry, this is not, and yes I know it's been said before but, SE's first time building a MMO from scratch! It's ironic when you look at all they had done in 6+ years with XI and the 8 years of development of XIV that the OP is asking this question and the new folks over at SE are asking for OUR input.

As far as how to keep retention? Well, if XIV went P2P and they asked the full 15$, I'd leave. I like the game now tbh as it's free and gives me something to do till SWTOR releases. I started in OB with XIV and stayed util March this year. I quit because people weren't leaving fast enough<sarcasm> and all my LS mates left from 2 full 70+ players to ZERO. So I hung back and read and watched and while coming back to find some nice things happening in game and DEFINITE improvements, it's dead in here. I would suggest the drastic server transfer or merger but I know realistically that can't happen JUST in case the PS3 launch happens #1 and #2 is actually successful. But I do think one thing they CAN do is allow people to transfer their characters from one dead server to another higher pop server so the dead one's can be shut down UNTIL launch. That helps SE in a lot of ways and would help players move without losing any work they currently have completed and having to grind or what have you all over again.

Things that would help convince me to stay:

Gear and weaps need overhual. This convoluted mess they have for a gear/weaps system is shite imho. I understand the reason for doing what they did with the classes and it's cool idea that generally works. But the gear is such a mess. Wth do I get for this job at this level? Nothing is condensed in any sort of organized manner as is such in ANY other MMO. You should be able to go, hmmm level 7 Con lets go Con gear level 7 Oh snap THERE u go. Not ok ward, lower tailors ok hmmmm yes, a new hat would be....WTF IS THIS MESS? 10 different pairs of freaking hats and NONE are my oh wait there's.... 100K for a Con7?! O.O No thanks. I'm tired of wasting my freaking time searching for so many different options it makes my head spin. Has SE ever heard, "Less is more?" How is it that freaking websites such as FFXIVpro and YG.com have better organization of SE's ward system them they do?! LMAO That's the first thing.

Redo the maps. Been said I know and maybe or may not get done who knows but you would THINK, with so many years and the fact SE stated many many times that XIV was NOT XI-2 then why the hell does Coerthas look like the Konschtat Highlands, LL look like Jeuno, Grid look like Windy and Ul'Dah looks like BASTOK?! That deserves a "Come on mannnn" (football/ESPN fans will get that joke). Same with the mobs. Some of them are really neat and interesting. Others are just hybrids of XI mobs. I seriously doubt anything like that will occur....

That's pretty much it as it SEEMS SE is trying to address other concerns. But I really won't know how I feel till the next big patches come out and when SWTOR is released or I get in the OB to see if I enjoy that game better. Which in ways would be sad. I LOVED XI and had extremely high hopes for XIV. But, I was also a big fan of KTOR before I feel in love with XI so we shall see. Right now, server pop is biggest issue in my book. Get more people onto a few servers rather then across all of them and shut them down temporarily until the PS3 release. Save yourselves a few bucks on cooling and powering those beasts SE. lol