Quote Originally Posted by skeletonfingers View Post
That time in addition to the time I detracted others from subbing for this game is worth FAR more than the pennies it cost to store that information on a server.
While you may be right, and I'd personally like to agree you are and agree that you know how a business should be run, the fact is that large development companies and big name titles don't operate on that principle anymore, and they aren't failing either. Final Fantasy doesn't need your word of mouth to bring in new customers, and Square Enix doesn't need your money to keep making a profit. That's why the industry has shifted so much to providing shallow games with large emphasis on hype and beauty, the bait so to speak, with minimalistic development or innovation.

These companies don't want to provide unique games anymore, or try new things, there is too much risk for only a potential of reward(FFXIV 1.0). One fifth of the people who bought this game could bash it on forums, in game stores, or in blogs/vlogs, and it wouldn't change a thing. The name is too popular to stop from drawing people in, and even in cases where the game might be complete and utter trash(not saying this one is, even I don't think it is), if it's a popular enough franchise or series, it will still have hardcore defenders who stick loyally to it.

That also ties into part of the reason why basically every MMO has a cash shop too; there is more money in providing extra content to the short-lived player base than there is in working hard to keep people interested for years of subscriptions. The fact that this game can get away with both is just an example of how it's simply too big of a title to fail. All they need is a token housing system to advertise, just for the draw and to say it's there. Whether it's amazing or broken is irrelevant.