If ffxi started with a small map size and little content, then this game has hope!

[Doctor]

I asked these questions to those who played ffxi.

1. How do you compare ffxiv map with ffxi map on release date?
2. How do you compare ffxiv map with the current ffxi map?

and I got optimistic answers.

Correct me if I am wrong, but from what I understand, when ffxi got released in Japan, the map size was as small as the current ffxiv map or even smaller. Also, the content was greatly lacking. The reason why ffxi did not get harsh reviews like ffxiv is because ffxi was released in the US one year after the original release date.

All I hear is good stuff about ffxi in its current state. So I have a good feeling that one day this game will be as good as ffxi. The only problem is that I don't think it is going to happen soon. I will give it 3 or more years. I am really hoping that the developers will continue to support this game and add more content.

So do you guys and gals agree that there is hope in this game and it could be as good as ffxi or do you think this game is greatly damaged beyond repair?

[Forbin]

I played during JP Beta > Launch... up until Rise of Zilart the only "end game content" that existed was; Roc, Simurgh, Serket w/ a 50 cap.. so yea.

[Malakhim]

One of the biggest reasons that FFXI was a success whereas FFXIV wasn't is because the gaming space was much different back then. Not everyone had broadband internet yet, there weren't a lot of MMOs out(WoW didn't hit 'til a few years later), and so there was room for FFXI to be a hit. FFXIV doesn't have that luxury, although it does have the chance to come up from the ashes, as the MMOs that people thought were gonna be gangbusters are only slightly lukewarm(DC Universe, APB, Rift, etc.).

As for the game itself if patch 1.19 is any indicator, the game is gonna do just fine. I already have 3 new buddies signing up 'cause of the changes.

[Forbin]

One of the biggest reasons that FFXI was a success whereas FFXIV wasn't is because the gaming space was much different back then. Not everyone had broadband internet yet, there weren't a lot of MMOs out(WoW didn't hit 'til a few years later), and so there was room for FFXI to be a hit. FFXIV doesn't have that luxury, although it does have the chance to come up from the ashes, as the MMOs that people thought were gonna be gangbusters are only slightly lukewarm(DC Universe, APB, Rift, etc.).

As for the game itself if patch 1.19 is any indicator, the game is gonna do just fine. I already have 3 new buddies signing up 'cause of the changes.

i dunno about your server but since 1.19 Selbina has been BOOMING.. every town is full of people.

[Malakhim]

Well I haven't been on Mysidia too long, but I'm seeing more and more low-ranked players popping up here and there, so that's gotta be a good sign.

[Denmo]

FFXI also didn't release in the US until after it had a full year's development in Japan. And WoW wasn't out yet, so there wasn't competition to consider for a while. By the time WoW did appear, FFXI already had a solid player base to carry them through for another 8 years.

XIV has competition, and not only that it's been soured by a poor launch. Turning people back to that and revitalizing the game for PS3 launch is a daunting if not impossible task.

I still wonder how many of you would stay if SE told you you had to pay for the game.

[Doctor]

FFXI also didn't release in the US until after it had a full year's development in Japan. And WoW wasn't out yet, so there wasn't competition to consider for a while. By the time WoW did appear, FFXI already had a solid player base to carry them through for another 8 years.

XIV has competition, and not only that it's been soured by a poor launch. Turning people back to that and revitalizing the game for PS3 launch is a daunting if not impossible task.

I still wonder how many of you would stay if SE told you you had to pay for the game.

I would pay for this game after jobs will be implemented. I am not sure if the rest would.

[Vaer]

It was a different world when XI was released. Generally the people in Japan are way more forgiving than the ones in the U.S, especially to a company like SE. (Even now, of course.) The MMO genre was still relatively new and many games had a really big "grind." The word "grind" wasn't even used. It was the norm, shocker I know.

This comparison to the state of XI at launch vs XIV at launch was done during launch. Yeah, they were similar, and by the same producer (Which is why he probably thought it was ready, when it was not.) If this was released when XI was released, it would probably still be doing reasonably well if not great.

XIV launched in a world when F2P games are booming, there have been countless "failed" launches already, (WAR, AoC) cash shop is booming, etc. No point in paying for/playing a broken game when there are so many options out there. I think the normal MMO player is just tired of all these AAA games launching unplayable with all these bugs and glitches. RIFT took advantage of this, and released a well polished and relatively bug free game, which resulted in a pretty good launch.

Also, XIV was launched right before Cataclysm, so once the game fell flat, a lot of people left. This is the same problem WAR had, they launched a month before Wrath of the Lich King with a broken and buggy game. Everyone left in droves.

You have to give SE credit for postponing payment indefinitely. Many other companies don't have the assets to do so. They pretty much can't just shut it down, because their brand is at stake here. If this game was titled anything other than Final Fantasy, it would probably be shut down by now. SE might be the only AAA company left that doesn't have a blatant cash shop and pay to win options. Hopefully never.

[Yumi_Hibiki]

I still wonder how many of you would stay if SE told you you had to pay for the game.

I even would have payd if they started charging you after 1.18, if not even earlyer

[Wolfie]

Let me tell you, FFXIV is the last game I'll ever buy that has Tanaka's name on it anywhere.

FFXI lucked out big time because it released at a point where MMOs were a novelty and online console gaming an even bigger one. If it would have released just two or three years later, it would have been a flop.