I guess it's time

[Istaru]

I'm sure there has been a slight decline, but the game is still healthy. In no way, shape or form is it dying.

That said, I think a lot of upper-midcore/hardcore players are having a rough time right now because they're realizing this game might not be for them -- and that's gotta be a tough realization for anyone who has spent so much time on it.

This thread is essentially a handful of people who want the game's core progression to be changed from vertical to horizontal, and that ain't happening. Not now, not at the expansion, not ever.

Yeah, my inner hardcore player would be delighted if the game went more horizontal, but I've still got FFXI for that. Meanwhile, I've got FFXIV as my game that I can keep up with without having to play for several hours per day. From very early on, Yoshi-P made it clear that FFXIV was designed for players like me. Why would SE change the formula now, especially when it's working?

I am going to say that I am probably in that group that is having a crisis of faith so to speak about my place in this game. I am having enough of one to actually post a bit on the OF when I usually lurk and that is about the extent of my activity here. A few of Yoshi's comments recently have me rattled. The jump potions, his stating that unique stats will not be coming back anytime soon if ever and that 4.0 will pretty much be a rehash of 3.0 which was a rehash of 2.0. I will admit that I am quite a bit bored at times in the game. I have everything at 60, I have all the mounts from Gold Saucer, Kirin. I even started playing my alt again and have her most of the way done too.

I have done a lot of different things and try out new things in each patch. It all boils down to the question that has been nagging me so much lately, "Do I want to spend the next 3 years, doing the same thing over and over?". Which would be chasing the latest tomestone and doing the same raid for 6 months then starting all over again at the end of that period doing the same thing again. They don't have to make it horizontal progression or whatever, just change it up somehow.

Yoshida once talked about the need to amaze, they have not amazed me outside of storytelling, for some time. Another 3 years of the same thing is not something I really want to experience, I may not be here at the end of that and I really want to be in 3 years time. I just need a reason to keep telling myself, it will be worth it and fun to stay.

I want to be amazed again.

[Thayos]

you forgot about the people who want fun dungeons, meaningful gear that don't get replaced quickly and something something.

That's right! Dungeons that don't have hallways, bosses that aren't tanked and DPSed at the same time, and moar gimmickz.

Basically, FFXIV in space, and we attack enemies by running into them with force fields. And meteors.

[LalafellDown]

That's right! Dungeons that don't have hallways, bosses that aren't tanked and DPSed at the same time, and moar gimmickz.

Basically, FFXIV in space, and we attack enemies by running into them with force fields. And meteors.

I like your brain storming, but I think we should leave the Ideas to the professionals.

[KitingGenbu]

That's right! Dungeons that don't have hallways, bosses that aren't tanked and DPSed at the same time, and moar gimmickz.

Basically, FFXIV in space, and we attack enemies by running into them with force fields. And meteors.

Speaking of Phantasy Star Online 2, what did SE ever get from them? Since they got the Odin thing.

[Brannigan]

Speaking of Phantasy Star Online 2, what did SE ever get from them? Since they got the Odin thing.

SE took standing around in a lobby playing dress up from PSO2. They may have gone a little overboard with it, though.

[Iromi]

SE took standing around in a lobby playing dress up from PSO2. They may have gone a little overboard with it, though.

LOL damn, beat me to it.

[Thayos]

I didn't say it was dying i said it was declining since 2.0

You people and your generalizations of everything i'll never understand.

What?!?!?

1) I didn't say that you said it was dying.

2) I didn't even quote anything you said.

If anything, I was responding to the poster above me who also commented how the game isn't dying.

Don't assume everything is about you.

[Thayos]

The decline feels even bigger if we say the game only has 200k players and used to have 500 million accounts.





(Disclaimer: I'm well aware that player-generated estimates two months ago put the active playerbase around 640k.)

[KitingGenbu]

Its like no one realizes that numbers do not completely attribute to success and not even SE knows why the numbers are declining. The population of course affects players but it doesn't mean its not successful on the corporate end just because it has a few hundred thousand subs. The cash shop is honestly updating at the same rate if not more so than the game is and people are STILL asking for more stuff, so if people are spending there, it can at least cover the cost of some people unsubbing. Companies dont bank off of how much money they COULD make but rather what is actually MAKING the money. The formula will remain the same until both the subs and the cash shop revenue decrease, then SE will be forced to do something about it, till then one can only hope.

As for people leaving the game, only people can speculate or get explanations from people that actually voice them, but the reasons are too varied. People could be leaving due to family, work, school, other games peaking their interest, and yes lack of interest in the current game. You'll see people leaving for legion next month, maybe not because this game is bad to them but because WoW has something new to offer or the story. I'll admit that even though I felt WoD failed as a whole, most of the story was pretty good (kinda nice to have good voice acting for everything, hint hint). Tossing speculation into the wind based off of unofficial data that could've easily been skewed because of the 96 hour free log in campaigns that SE has been doing as of late dont hold weight for either side.

[Thayos]

The question is: Do you really want to play the same (old) game over and over again for the next 10 years? Answer: No one will.

I know I'm not the only person here who has played FFXI for more than a decade.

... right? :/