Is FFXIV viable as an MMORPG without doing end-game & raiding?

[Kacho_Nacho]

It's a simple question, and I invite you to think about it before answering.


If you were to start now is Final Fantasy 14 viable without even looking at end-game raiding content during it's current patch cycle?

In other words, if you started a new account today and started leveling from 1 on CNJ (for example) if you did not take part in any Savage or EX content from the 3.X patch cycle at all until 4.0 arrives, would FFXIV be a viable game?

The short version of my answer is this; yes, it's very much viable in my opinion.

**SNIPPERS!**

Kosmos, you asked a great question but it's not simple. The tripping point comes from the issue that the word "viable" means different things to different people.

Now, to me, I feel the game is perfectly viable. This is to do with my decision to not rush to the end game in this game as I had been pressured to do in WoW.

In fact, my FC is made up of individuals who like to take their time in the slow lane and just run around a bit. Hence, "Freelance Wanderers."

Now, could there be more "sandbox" content in the game? Sure! However, S.E. has been smart to include a large amount of content for raiders also. Not everyone wants the same thing and it seems to me the most successful MMO's have been those games which have something for everyone.

What I am not sure about is how you market the same game to people on either side of the content divide. There was talk with HW about allowing players to just jump in at lvl 50. In the end though, we allowed the new jobs to start at 30 and accelerated the leveling speed if you start from scratch. But, as the game grows older more content is added and it becomes deeper and broader in scope. Is it time to start leaning on that vastness in the game? Is that a viable way of selling the game? In contrast, could you sell a game like FFXIV based on end-game?

I'd say no. As an ex-WoW player, I feel the game began it's decline when it started allowing players to skip content and jump straight to the end game. To me, the journey is important in a game like this.

Could S.E. develop a FF where players started off powerful right out the gate and the focus was on raiding? Yes, they could but it would hurt their sales. Basically, they'd be splitting their fan base further.