Is Final Fantasy XIV the champion of immersion? Or is it easily usurped?

[Lyndis]

Final Fantasy XIV has really good graphics and animations compared to many other MMO games on the market. This really contributes to its immersion (just like in all other Final Fantasys, which utilizes good storytelling and graphics to trick players into feeling like they're inside the game world just like effects and storytelling do in a movie). But I'm afraid that the game might be moving in a direction that sacrifices one of its main appeals to make the game accessible even to the guy who is using free wifi in the McDonalds drive through so that he can play while grabbing a cup of coffee on his way to work.

Like the airship argument that I'd hate you all to forget. A possible blight that could forever taint this game if left instant. An example where game aesthetics and content is being sacrificed for an unnecessary amount of convenience. I think we all agree that three to five minutes is not so much time that it would eliminate any chance of getting something done in your time to play (unless perhaps you're the person in the drive through at McDonalds). Some of you may say that this is a logical fallacy but I would argue that this is a good point: If you really think that airships should be made instant, then it would also make sense to make any fight instant as well. Both are forms of content, whilst some may prefer combat to riding an airship (it's a matter of opinion, why ruin a form content when at least SOMEONE is enjoying it). An ending result of combat may be completely obvious to me, I've killed Tarbh Uisge many times and the fight is about six times as long as what I'd expect the airship ride to be. Why should I have to do it again, isn't there a skip button? But that's not how the real world, or video games work. Rewards are given to those who wade through the context and content given by the developers. If the developers choose to make content skip-able and everything easily gained, even people who do not see immersion as a value in a game will find the game boring.

Enough inciting flame for the sake of an example still worth fighting for.
I know there are other immersive games coming to the world of gaming, for us looking for something that can pull away from this world and make it feel like we are the spirit of a hero in another realm. There's games like Skyrim and Dark souls from developers that have done great things in making their games feel heroic in believable yet fantasy world. But these games lack the scope of an MMO game.

So I ask the question, only in the case that this game DOES indeed go down the path that I fear. Are there any MMORPGs coming out or out already that can compete with Final Fantasy XIV for the most immersive and compelling world?

In the meantime, I still hope this game can be that game for me and I'll stick around to see where it goes. I wish for the best, and there are many aspects of this game here already, and to come that I love.

For the sake of TL;DR
FFXIV is losing one of its main appeals: Immersion
Airship is an example
Any games that can replace it now? or in the future?

[Gramul]

There's that word again.

[Verecund]

The game has no depth and you can barely interact with the world at all. What immersion are you talking about...

[Rhomagus]

The game has no depth and you can barely interact with the world at all. What immersion are you talking about...

See how subjective immersion is?

Add content, not timesinks.

[AmyRae]

We don't need another thread on this. This one is long enough:

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...game-immersion

[Lyndis]

We don't need another thread on this. This one is long enough:

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...game-immersion

There will never be enough topics until the voice is heard. Sometimes a new topic is what it takes to get the gears grinding again and get yourself heard. Now if you're just trying to be neat and tidy and try and pretend to be a forum cleaner, your post has little to do with this topic and I think it's making this post dirty.

Also I think it's worth saying, that my topic is not exactly the same even though it does raise the same concerns. I did ask a question. If you come in here and don't want to specifically talk about immersion in FFXIV then tell me about a game with better immersion.

[Rhomagus]

There will never be enough topics until the voice is heard. Sometimes a new topic is what it takes to get the gears grinding again and get yourself heard. Now if you're just trying to be neat and tidy and try and pretend to be a forum cleaner, your post has little to do with this topic and I think it's making this post dirty.

Also I think it's worth saying, that my topic is not exactly the same even though it does raise the same concerns. I did ask a question. If you come in here and don't want to specifically talk about immersion in FFXIV then tell me about a game with better immersion.

If that's your mentality then your question is disingenuous. You're trying to social engineer dissent and create the illusion that people want the game to be how you like it.

If that's how you want to play this game I'll make a new thread for every thread made on this topic, and not provide my feedback into the topics.

That would be a dick move though and would not further the discussion in any meaningful way. It'd be manufacturing mass opinion.

[Azurymber]

If that's your mentality then your question is disingenuous. You're trying to social engineer dissent and create the illusion that people want the game to be how you like it.

If that's how you want to play this game I'll make a new thread for every thread made on this topic, and not provide my feedback into the topics.

That would be a dick move though and would not further the discussion in any meaningful. It'd be manufacturing mass opinion.

and that's different from posting non stop aruging against multiple people your point of view over and over and over and over again how?

I think it was a good and fair topic

[Rhomagus]

and that's different from posting non stop aruging against multiple people your point of view over and over and over and over again how?

I think it was a good and fair topic

Because my posts are thorough, stay on topic, and don't create massive threads. You think this is easy? You really think I'm manufacturing opinion here? No, not at all. I give people thorough responses because they took the time to make a thread and deserve to at least have the feeling like they've properly communicated their position. I offer up my analysis on every word written in their post and present exactly what I think and feel.

There's very little room for interpretation. It's the best way to get at the truth.

I don't argue just for the sake of arguing. I argue because I see a lapse of logic and try to correct it. I also argue to become enlightened and educated. Arguing in these threads is what birthed the inspiration for the "Future Airship Content Ideas" thread. I don't make threads often because I'm not interested in blasting my opinion. I am interested in providing suggestions for actual game content though.

[syntaxlies]

There will never be enough topics until the voice is heard. Sometimes a new topic is what it takes to get the gears grinding again and get yourself heard. Now if you're just trying to be neat and tidy and try and pretend to be a forum cleaner, your post has little to do with this topic and I think it's making this post dirty.

Also I think it's worth saying, that my topic is not exactly the same even though it does raise the same concerns. I did ask a question. If you come in here and don't want to specifically talk about immersion in FFXIV then tell me about a game with better immersion.

im not really a fan of the self appointed forum police myself. if people don't like the threads why are they always the first ones to bump them.