Would Final Fantasy XIV be better, if it wasnt a Final Fantasy at all?

[Apoptic]

A philosophical question, if you will. Square-Enix has created an excellent MMO in Final Fantasy 14, and as such it has attracted many players from other online games, who generally enjoy doing MMO standard content such as PVP, Dungeons, Crafting and Selling, Raiding etc. This group of players tends to view the game in the context of other MMO's they have played and post feedback seeking to encourage development of this kind of content. I have noticed there is another group of players who I believe play this game primarily because it is a Final Fantasy Game as opposed to an online game, and seem to resent the other MMO oriented players who play the game in their accustomed fashion. I have heard complaints against a variety of normal MMO activity (PvP, Dueling, Chatting), mostly because it seems some players object to or have a fear of being forced to interact with strangers in an online environment or deal with the impact of human beings interacting with each other in unpredictable ways. So I ask the community, do you think this game would have been better as a non Final Fantasy Title? Is the disconnect between players more interested in a traditionally single player Final Fantasy experience and those looking for an online experience holding the game back? Thoughts?

[Riepah]

If it weren't Final Fantasy, I think much less players would be so forgiving of the ever-present lag/delay.

[Magis]

I wouldn't play. Story and aesthetic are the primarily reason I keep playing (besides friends I met) since the gameplay isn't anything great. If this was some other MMO it would't have been a blip on my radar and I'd have never touched it.

[Blueyes]

I think the fact that it is a Final Fantasy title with a dedicated fan base is the only reason the game survived in the first place. I doubt ARR would have happened otherwise.

[Mugiawara]

I think the fact that it is a Final Fantasy title with a dedicated fan base is the only reason the game survived in the first place. I doubt ARR would have happened otherwise.

This.
This game with any random name I don't think it'll be as good as it is and 1.0 would been a P2P to F2P
mess that was never fixed and bots and rmt's will be 500x worse and eventually closed down.
If it goes F2P too, oh lord save our soul lol.

[Genz]

The brand is saving the game from indifference.
But at the same time, if it wasn't "the 14th final fantasy" (and also if it wasn't "the second try to get the 14th final fantasy right"), the game may have been spared of useless/botched stuff that are present juste to make it look like a Final Fantasy, or look like a RPG (trash quests, leveling, stat attribution, equipments, etc.)

[Calypsx]

Just how Warcraft helped WoW thrive, Final Fantasy helps 11 and 14 thrive as well.

The brands are very important to their success. They are great games on their own but no doubt the games backgrounds really do help.

[synesthetic]

Let's say someone who grew up loving Disney movies goes with a group of friends, who are indifferent to Disney, to a Disneyland theme park. And let's say that group of friends has been to and liked other theme parks.

You can have a variety of responses and interactions.
Some friends may think the place is fun and interesting.
Some may think it's boring because they don't find the rides as exciting as in some other parks.
Maybe it's too big, or too expensive, or maybe it's not educational enough, or there's not enough stuff to pet, or the food isn't to their taste, etc.

If there are people who don't enjoy it, does that make the park not a success, or mean that the park is being held back because it isn't some impossible super theme park that caters to all tastes and has regions that match every other theme park out there?
No. You can't please everyone, and trying will just introduce more problems and bring you to ruin.

The people who don't like the place can exercise their prerogative as adults and just not pay to enter the park again.
If there are enough people who do go there and enjoy it, and can have some fun with the people they bring, then the park is a success and will continue on, regardless of how many people don't like the place. Then only things that can hold it back would be a change in times, poor management, or freak disasters.

[Gilthas]

I have heard complaints against a variety of normal MMO activity (PvP, Dueling, Chatting), mostly because it seems some players object to or have a fear of being forced to interact with strangers in an online environment or deal with the impact of human beings interacting with each other in unpredictable ways.

I'm certain that this isn't exclusive to players that come from the offline FFs.

[FoxyAreku]

Probably less successful.

Though not being an FF could mean they could do away with the mandatory plotline. >_> I'd love that.