Moment of Truth: How do you really feel

[captainpicard]

1. How do you feel about the patch frequency?
2. How do you feel about the changes themselves?
3. How do you feel this game will fair against current upcoming titles?
4. Do you think this game will ever exceed niche popularity?
5. Do you think the changes are in the right or wrong direction?
6. Do you think the they have focused on the most important things historically with patches or should the focus have been elsewhere?

[Rau]

1. How do you feel about the patch frequency?
2. How do you feel about the changes themselves?
3. How do you feel this game will fair against current upcoming titles?
4. Do you think this game will ever exceed niche popularity?
5. Do you think the changes are in the right or wrong direction?
6. Do you think the they have focused on the most important things historically with patches or should the focus have been elsewhere?

1. Slow, but expected.
2. Uncertain. Clearly defined path, instead of vague timelines and "we have chocobos."
3. Not very well, probably.
4. Doubt it.
5. Right. I feel like Yoshida is a bit too much of an idealist, but I'm willing to get behind him.
6. Baby steps. I'd prefer them to make bigger sweeping changes, but I know they already said the change will be gradual.

[captainpicard]

1. How do you feel about the patch frequency?
2. How do you feel about the changes themselves?
3. How do you feel this game will fair against current upcoming titles?
4. Do you think this game will ever exceed niche popularity?
5. Do you think the changes are in the right or wrong direction?
6. Do you think the they have focused on the most important things historically with patches or should the focus have been elsewhere?

1. Incredibly slow when compared to many other games. Although I am not a fan of Rift, I did play it when it launched and they were patching things in record time. It was a good example of how fast changes, bug fixes, and so on can happen with the correct team of people in place.

2. Some of the changes have been obvious wins, some of them questionable. Overall at this point, looking back of the history of implemented changes, it feels to me like there is no clear cut direction anymore. Feels more like they are making it up as they go without a real clear picture of what the finish line looks like. I understand they have posted an extensive list of planned changes, but they do not feel cohesive to me, i.e. I don't feel like the planned changes result in a well thought out game.

3. Given the bad PR, the current population with it free to play, and the patch rate, that by the time this game is even close to being competitive with a current generation title as far as interface, content, and so on, that it will be 2 to 3 generations behind the curve. It already feels behind the current generation in almost every way except for character models.

4. I don't expect this game to ever be as successful as FFXI, and it is for the most part a niche game. I do not think this game will enjoy a very long life span, I just don't think it is sustainable. I imagine if SE ever does move it to a subscription model, that it will close within one year of that time.

5. The changes overall feel like the wrong direction for me personally, but I think many people like what the developers are doing with the game. I am still looking for the fun factor myself, as none of the current content, or original systems are particularly engaging for me.

6. I think their focus has been very misplaced throughout the entire life of the game when it comes to what they have changed. It definitely feels like the game was in ICU when it was released, and everything they have done up to this point has been emergency surgery just to keep it going. None of the changes that have been made feel fleshed out and none of the core issues have really been resolved. The client/server interface, user interface, and general lack of basic mmorpg features should have been addressed first. This is my view. It may differ from yours.

[TonyMontana]

1. How do you feel about the patch frequency?
2. How do you feel about the changes themselves?
3. How do you feel this game will fair against current upcoming titles?
4. Do you think this game will ever exceed niche popularity?
5. Do you think the changes are in the right or wrong direction?
6. Do you think the they have focused on the most important things historically with patches or should the focus have been elsewhere?

1. I think the patches have come slow.
2. I hate the auto attack change so much I quit playing combat classes. Of the 7 combat classes my lowest ranked class is R46 so as you can see pre auto attack I loved combat. Now i hate it.
3. I think FFXIV will not lose many of its current subscribers to other MMOs, there is only a hand full of us left and most of us are atleast semi loyal.
4. I think the game is built on such a terrible engine and terrible coding that no, no matter what they do FFXIV will never be more than a niche product.
5. Some changes have been ok and some have been down right terrible.
6. I think the focus was in the wrong areas. Auto attack and a very gimicky timed "avoid all mobs" dungeon arent very much to show for 10 months of leadership under our new team.

[Arcell]

1. The patch frequency is great. Faster than a lot of games I've played in the past.
2. The changes themselves have been numerous and overall great.
3. Once it's fixed up entirely it should be fine. FFXIV has always been a bit of a niche title, it's not for everyone but it will have its own audience.
4. Possibly. I mean as I stated above, it's not for everyone. It will likely have a decent sustainable population once it's fixed up. Anything above that is a bonus.
5. Overall the changes have been going in the right direction. I don't agree with all the decisions but i can generally see the good in them.
6. They've done what they've had to to keep the largest number of people happy. The core of the game is being changed and content is being added.

[Konachibi]

1. How do you feel about the patch frequency?
I've only just joined but from what I've seen and heard they tend to run on a regular 2 month basis, with the possible exception of delays. Given how much content they appear to pour into each patch though, it's an acceptable amount of time to do all the coding, changes, possible model making and testing before integrating it into the game.

2. How do you feel about the changes themselves?
Though I never experienced it the battle system before auto-attack was introduced didn't sound like the kind of thing I'd have liked. I'm also very much looking forward to jobs and future classes as well as adjustments to the crafting and battling systems, so I'm quite excited to see what happens over the course of time.

3. How do you feel this game will fair against current upcoming titles?
It'll never be as popular as Warcraft has been, nor will any changes or expansions be as hyped-up and long-awaited as Star Wars: The Old Republic, but the game offers a more unique and different playing style to other more fast-paced MMO's both currently available and soon to be released, so although it won't rise above them all, it'll still have a nice and steady community that should keep it going, even more so with the PS3 release.

4. Do you think this game will ever exceed niche popularity?
Maybe when the PS3 version comes out. At the moment it's suffering from it's poor launch and many people don't trust it due to bad reviews and word-of-mouth from people who have played it, but I think given time and additional content, an expansion could possibly boost it's popularity if it features something never before seen in other MMO's.

5. Do you think the changes are in the right or wrong direction?
I never really argue with 'right' or 'wrong' with the direction an MMO takes. If I enjoy it I enjoy it, if I don't I concentrate on other parts of the game that I do enjoy. I like the sound of the job system, even though it's been pretty vague, and am looking forward to how it turns out. I'm expecting a lot of forum raging from it, but also a lot of people saying how much they like and enjoy it. Online games can never cater to every single players needs and wants, so there can never really be a right or wrong direction. Though I guess personally I think it is going in the right direction, S.E seem to be taking their time to make sure new content and additions are up to the standard people expect, rather than just throwing out half-finished material like other MMO's have done in the past. (Though many would also say that FFXIV was half-finished material upon release day)

6. Do you think that they have focused on the most important things historically with patches or should the focus have been elsewhere?
I think so far they've concentrated on improving certain things we liked but wanted more of, and changed things we didn't like and wanted a different system for it. That in itself shows they're focusing on trying to make the game something that the players like to play and want to keep coming back to, something that all MMO developers should always focus on. Previous patches made changes to the battle system, this patch is making changes to the leve and travelling system, 1.20/1.21 patch is making changes to the class/job role system. Each patch seems to be centered more on improving one big thing in the game in accordance to the feedback they've received from players, with small tweaks on other things whilst they try to think of ways to improve them overall. It wouldn't surprise me if the 1.22 patch may include a new enviroment to explore or crafting 'jobs' to allow more customisable clothing and equipment. The patches do indeed have focus and I think they're doing the right thing, all they need is patience from the players whilst they impliment all the additional content to make the whole of eorzea that much more fun and exciting to be in.

[Tezz_Xivectro]

1. How do you feel about the patch frequency?
They've been generally fast for an MMO in terms of frequency. For more modern MMOs they come off a bit slower though.

2. How do you feel about the changes themselves?
The quantity & quality has been sub-par & amateur. It's almost like they know they aren't that good.

3. How do you feel this game will fair against current upcoming titles?
A few of the newer ones will easily outshine FF14, even if they're just clones.

4. Do you think this game will ever exceed niche popularity?
In this day & age, No. People are too picky & unwilling to devote time to backwards systems. Especially, now that we have larger selections to choose from.

5. Do you think the changes are in the right or wrong direction?
When you're at rock bottom, there is nowhere left to go but up. It's just very slow & FF14 is going to be dismissed by a bunch of people.

6. Do you think that they have focused on the most important things historically with patches or should the focus have been elsewhere?
Their focus may be in the right direction the whole time, but they have different teams working on different sections all at the same time. The patches we're getting sometimes seem irrelevant because of this.
Going off patches alone, every bit is good, but they should have resolved more pressing matters instead of tid-bits that could have all been placed in a larger patch (but everyone wanted more frequent patches so this is how it is).

Most importantly, i think the sever & core issues need reworked before the game has any hope for longevity. SE needs to be in a position where they can add/edit content without unnecessary trouble.

[HiirNoivl]

1. How do you feel about the patch frequency?
2. How do you feel about the changes themselves?
3. How do you feel this game will fair against current upcoming titles?
4. Do you think this game will ever exceed niche popularity?
5. Do you think the changes are in the right or wrong direction?
6. Do you think the they have focused on the most important things historically with patches or should the focus have been elsewhere?

1. Fine
2. They're okay, generally positive
3.I dunno.
4. I dunno.
5. Right.
6. I think most of the changes have addressed the problems with game play. I'm okay with the focus.

[viion]

1. How do you feel about the patch frequency?
Compared to modern MMO's insanely slow, most likely due to lack of skill or lack of staff in the development team

2. How do you feel about the changes themselves?
Mixed, some like, some dont.

3. How do you feel this game will fair against current upcoming titles?
Everyone whos decided to leave has, everyone who is waiting has most likely already left or stopped playing (myself). It will not compete with the up coming big names ever, it has absolute nothing to compete for, FFXIV is a niche game and always will be.

4. Do you think this game will ever exceed niche popularity?
No, very not. Because they cant make their mind up with what audience they want.

5. Do you think the changes are in the right or wrong direction?
Completely wrong so far but they have to make do.

6. Do you think the they have focused on the most important things historically with patches or should the focus have been elsewhere?
No they haven't focused on the correct things.

[Xatsh]

1. How do you feel about the patch frequency?
2. How do you feel about the changes themselves?
3. How do you feel this game will fair against current upcoming titles?
4. Do you think this game will ever exceed niche popularity?
5. Do you think the changes are in the right or wrong direction?
6. Do you think the they have focused on the most important things historically with patches or should the focus have been elsewhere?

1) Large update every 2 months is good if the can keep it up, previously before 1.18 well that was just hellishly slow.

2) Some changes are really good, some changes are extremly questionable to me. Over all the game is getting better then it was

3) ToR will attract massive people then its population will dive to where just the fans stay, GW2 will have a massive population B2P and massive fan base already, Tera...well it has almost failed everywhere so I see it doing that here as well. Honestly I see very little people leaving the game who are currently playing it, XIV will attract the Fans of the series. Main stream MMO players who want a mainstream experience will go else where.

4) No, This game will only attract those who like Final Fantasy games. Stands no chance at mainstream now. Game will probably cap at ~400-500k subs if they make it as good as XI in the future.

5) For the most part Right Direction.

6) They spent the last patches restructuring the game which has to be done before content is designed. So although the wait for actual content is wearing on people, I feel that they done the right thing. Wasting time adding content, then having to redo/change all of it makes no sense.