The Real Problem with Parsers

[Archaell]

But isn't that the point, though? If people are going out of their way to download and use something - it obviously is something that a lot of the player base finds value and in wants - should't it be something the base game just includes?

You see, the problem with parser isn't as much that players would be lazy to close the window, the problem is that the lazy players would show up on parser of their group members and what is even worse - they would be allowed to talk about it.

It is nuts that it is okay to do poor job, but it is not okay for others to see that you do do poor job. *Shrug*

[Aiselia]

If people are going out of their way to download and use something ... should't it be something the base game just includes?

Depends on how it's implemented and how necessary it actually is.

It's definitely not necessary for the vast majority of the game. At most, a parser is only arguably necessary for the high-end raids. But only a small minority of players do those.

But here's the thing: They didn't give TP bars until recently. When they did, they (apparently) had to remove the numbers from the bar and remove the party bonus from the UI in order to reduce system load and allow it. An in-depth parser made to show at all times as part of the UI, which is what a majority of people who want parsers expect, means they'll need to remove probably a good chunk of things to reduce system load for that.

So what are you going to give up for something that's useful enough to be worth it?

People won't accept parsers that only show basic information like a flat number because that's not going to tell you much. People won't accept parsers that only show yourself in order to reduce system load for PS3 players because that doesn't let them call others out. People won't be happy with anything less that what's already downloadable. But that's not going to be implemented without removing something. A lot of somethings, if a TP bar was so taxing that it had to have numbers removed and a part of the UI removed just to add it in.

Adding it to the game fixes that.

At the cost of what?

[Sidra]

SNIP

At the cost of what?

oh cmon. Look at a YouTube video with anyone with ACT. People can place it anywhere, often see it in the bottom right. I'd envision an optional window you can place it anywhere you want or close completely. People fit in ACT's overlays with no problem usually where blank space was prior. This could be the exact same. Frankly, what they implement should be as close to the functionality of ACT as possible - anything less would still have peeps using ACT. And the whole point is to give player who want it the benefit of ACT like info without being forced to utilize a 3rd party tool.

This thread is 79 pages long now. It's clear that some people don't see the benefit and wouldn't use a parser, and some people really enjoy it and enhances their gameplay. The problem is that people who don't personally find it useful also think it shouldn't be in the game, and that's bull. The game is played by a lot of people with diverse interests and opinions. The fact that this thread has become so long is proof that there is some interest, and that's all there needs to be. Because people who don't want it don't need to open it. And the players who do can.

If the Gold Saucer and minions didn't exist. If they never came out with glamour egis, if you couldn't glamour or dye the gear you are wearing - my overall gameplay experience would remain unchanged. I don't care about those things. But that doesn't mean they should not be in the game - because it's obvious some people do enjoy them. Same thing here - whether any one individual feels they would enjoy them is irrelevant. They don't have to use it once it's here. But the length of this thread, popularity of ACT and explosion of fflogs is proof that enough people do enjoy them that SE should probably accommodate.

[Hasmina]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3Qu2zcMPPU Subscribe)

[JackFross]

....
It's not a discussion about physical space on the screen, it's a discussion about the PS3's ability to hold an extra UI component. We had to lose something to gain TP bars, and that was a very small adjustment compared to a parser overlay. We'd lose something in the exchange. Hopefully that something will ~finally~ be PS3 support, so we can actually get some serious improvements to the look and feel of the hud.

[RiceisNice]

....
It's not a discussion about physical space on the screen, it's a discussion about the PS3's ability to hold an extra UI component. We had to lose something to gain TP bars, and that was a very small adjustment compared to a parser overlay. We'd lose something in the exchange. Hopefully that something will ~finally~ be PS3 support, so we can actually get some serious improvements to the look and feel of the hud.

If it comes to that where they can't add more features to the UI (and not just parsers, but other things in general like buff durations which would be really nice), they should consider dropping PS3 support sooner than later, esp if it also becomes a factor for open world events and occurrences (since rendering is one of the primary issues with open world, esp when it came to hunts and PvP)

[Aiselia]

Hopefully that something will ~finally~ be PS3 support

they should consider dropping PS3 support sooner than later

The one chart I really wish they would have shown for their census thing for the anniversary is the split between PS3, PS4, and PC players. I kind of suspect that continued PS3 support is less a matter of "We really want to" and more a matter of "Too many people still play on PS3".

Like, they're not going to send out free PS4s to everyone that still plays on PS3 if they drop PS3 support, so basically saying "Upgrade for a few hundred dollars or have an objectively inferior version and less features" would be a loss of good will against the company if they just flat out dropped something like that. Especially if one of the features they'd have to lose out on is something like a parser if people are going to take parses seriously if it gets implemented.

If the situation with system load really is so bad that they need to remove TP numbers and the party bonus (which admittedly didn't really need to be on the UI) to reduce system load to allow TP bars, I can't imagine that it's a particularly enjoyable thing to have to restrict what they may think is totally useful to have just because hardware.

[Tsilyi]

I mean... FFXI has been out for how long and they aren't even dropping low-end console support until... is it next week? honestly I don't even remember if they're doing it when the final story launches or not.

[Meow9000]

Honestly, as a ps4 player I would love a parser or even a personal one. it wasn't until 3.0 and moving to excalibur and being parsed for the first time that I realized how bad I was doing on my main and proceeded to improve the dps of all my jobs drastically and am a much better player overall for someone calling me out (though this person continued to work with me and provide me feedback on how I was doing, even now). Not to say all players of lesser skill levels would have a similar experience, but being told that you're playing on a subpar level might inspire some to research their job and better rotations/cd usage and work on improving. I feel like a parser, if it ever comes to ps4, should be optional because a lot of players won't even know what to do with those numbers or if they're lower than they should be.

In other words, I'm all for parsers. Heck, if I'm in a party and they tell me my dps is low in a nice way I'm all for that. I'd rather someone call me out and say that I'm lacking a bit then never know ya know?

[Ossom]

They are dropping Ps3 Support starting at 4.0, so after this raid cluster and at the start of the next Raid Cluster.