To the Devs: Communication is failing!

[Rubicon]

The negativity has been a slow burn since the combined announcement that they're charging us but that the game won't be up to snuff for another year.

That said, there's not much they can do. No amount of information will be enough as there will be more questions than answers till 2.0 is out.

This negativity is the reaction that comes from people slowly realizing that they can do no more than wait and choose to pay about $160 for some prequel lore or pack it in and come back next year.

The development team is between a rock and a hard place. They can make detailed promises now, and possibly disappoint later; or keep quiet now, and seem methodical and concise later. Either way, they're going to lose people. What it boils down to is acceptable loss, which staying tight-lipped now will provide.

What they really need to do is focus on meeting their own deadlines. Since 1.18 they've had a terrible time doing so. Which looks far worse than keeping specific information a secret.

After all, no one but themselves are setting these goals, so attaining them should be easy.

Ignore dude because you are 100% right. SE can either lose players due to trying to please people and under-delivering later or by disappointing us now and making a tight product in the end. I'd rather leave now and come back when it's ready. It goes back to the devs meeting the deadlines which is hard to do with so much QQ-ing over the rebuilding the team is trying to do. Why don't we accept that FFXIV 1.0 is not the game we are looking for.

[Ferth]

Altareon, the irony of your posts amuse me... only dampened somewhat by the fact that I am pretty sure that irony is unintentional.

[Fiosha_Maureiba]

Misinterpreted the headline as "Communication is a tactic that leads to failure" I.e. dying is failing

Slowly catching up on topic.

[Fiosha_Maureiba]

I think it's important that SE balances their adjustments with the encounters as well. One thing I would hope not to see is that enemies represent the older mechanics that SE is altering, while newer enemies might not be able to cast Water, Slow, or other such abilities.

The less older mechanics intermingle with the new, the better picture we can see in-game. For this, it may be best to see the ramifications of the next major update, formulate the questions that you may be able to influence a fansite to pose in the next interview.

For me, I'm less interested in things SE is considering for 2.0 and more interested in what they have in the works before then.

[TinnySnips]

I can partially agree, but I don't think SE gets all of the blame or even most of it. This last dev post that was made about water was... stupid (as you stated, it only added confusion and cleared nothing up). As for the ability lists, it is going to be ambiguous to a degree unless they put damage and cost calculation formulas up there. I find that the community is mostly to blame for a few reasons:

1) Inadequate reading comprehension skills: I will continue to invoke Barbara Bush as necessary to get the point across. So many threads have been started and extended over people not comprehending what dev posts have stated in no uncertain terms. I don't know why, but I did expect better reading comprehension from this community.

2) Inadequate reasoning skills: The new combat mechanics and class roles seem clear enough to me. There are details missing, but the intent is clear: Remove unnecessary complexity, increase the utility of all abilities, build well-defined class roles, create a well-laid foundation upon which to grow.

3) Resistance to change: People get comfortable in their situations, even if that situation is less than desirable. Battered women stay with (and defend) abusive husbands, even when adequate escape routes present themselves. Overworked people pass on good job opportunities because they have hit a stride that is acceptable. MMORPGers will cling to a dated and boring combat system, even when presented a future that offers more depth and utility.

These 3 items do not apply to the entire community, but to a vocal minority. There are plenty of reasonable people playing this game, but we rarely hear from them because they have the good sense to stay off the forums. Damn my wandering browser!

[Fiosha_Maureiba]

I can partially agree, but I don't think SE gets all of the blame or even most of it. This last dev post that was made about water was... stupid (as you stated, it only added confusion and cleared nothing up). As for the ability lists, it is going to be ambiguous to a degree unless they put damage and cost calculation formulas up there. I find that the community is mostly to blame for a few reasons:

1) Inadequate reading comprehension skills: I will continue to invoke Barbara Bush as necessary to get the point across. So many threads have been started and extended over people not comprehending what dev posts have stated in no uncertain terms. I don't know why, but I did expect better reading comprehension from this community.

2) Inadequate reasoning skills: The new combat mechanics and class roles seem clear enough to me. There are details missing, but the intent is clear: Remove unnecessary complexity, increase the utility of all abilities, build well-defined class roles, create a well-laid foundation upon which to grow.

3) Resistance to change: People get comfortable in their situations, even if that situation is less than desirable. Battered women stay with (and defend) abusive husbands, even when adequate escape routes present themselves. Overworked people pass on good job opportunities because they have hit a stride that is acceptable. MMORPGers will cling to a dated and boring combat system, even when presented a future that offers more depth and utility.

These 3 items do not apply to the entire community, but to a vocal minority. There are plenty of reasonable people playing this game, but we rarely hear from them because they have the good sense to stay off the forums. Damn my wandering browser!

You are absolutely and depressingly right on point 3.

[Coglin]

They tittle themselves community reps, and community relations managers. Thus, they are our only link to information. Either way, said information, should be "informative", and not leave the amount of room for confussion that has occured lately.

That being said, I think this has been an one of the few times it is an issue. They have done well for the most part in communicating information to and from us. They may not be perfect, but they are a far shot better then most MMO forums reps.

[Geesus]

No it's entirely the fault of the community. If they can't resist pointless speculation and whining then how is it anyone's fault but their own?
If this community had proven itself mature and capable I could understand blaming SE for being needlessly opaque but I've been here since day 1 and this community has done nothing but whine and moan even when they got their way.
This community is like a spoiled, petulant child upset that their new toy isn't three new toys.
I can't believe SE even bothers to post because it's not like anything constructive is coming out of this forum.

This ^ and ...

Pretty much this.

This ^

[OMEGA_HACK]

After reading the entire thread and everyone's thoughts who has posted thus far, I think I would finally like to add my thoughts.

First and foremost, I am a man of logic and science, and usually do my research before posting (I know, I'm such a nerd :/ ), but I would like to post this image. Most people will probably be familiar with it if they have taken any kind of voice/speech class in school.

The Break Down
Source: Square-Enix Rep
Encoding: typing the message to be given (in our cases)
Channel: The Lodestone Forums
Decoding: Receiver reading the message
Receiver: The Reader (us, the players)
Feedback: The Receiver's reaction to the information sent back to the Source
Context: In which light the information is being delivered (the status so to speak)

That is how most people see it, however, you forget this is the actual path the information travels.

Source: Square-Enix Development Team
Encoding: Telling the message to the Square-Enix Reps
Channel: verbal face to face or email (not sure which of the two)
Decoding/Encoding: Square-Enix reps taking the notes given and translating it to us
Channel: Lodestone Forums
Decoding: Receiver reading the message
Receiver: The Reader (us, the players)
Feedback: The Receiver's reaction to the message sent to the Source
Context: The "status" in which the atmosphere is in when the message is created and received

That is the true path of the message. Confusion happens ONLY in the encoding and decoding aspects of the message, the problem is, who is at fault? Well if you want to look at the percentages and nothing else, you will see you have:

Encoding from the 1st Source (Square-Enix Devs)
Decoding from the 1st Receivers (Square-Enix Reps)
Encoding from the 2nd Source (Square-Enix Reps)
Decoding from the 2nd Receivers (The players/Readers)

Statistically there is a 3:1 ratio that Square-Enix [the company] is causing the Confusion, as statistically shown above they have three times more likely to jumble the message (on accident or not it matters not). That is just the statistics, this is fact (I will provide links at the end).

Now since we know there that is just basic we have to look a little deeper at what might be happening and who is to blame for this mess of a forum some claim to see. First, and most importantly, the lack of concise information that gets handed down from the very beginning of the message (Square-Enix Development Team), that first encoding portion of the message seems like a hot spot for this error to me personally. Look at what the Development Team gives us (assuming that the Square-Enix Representatives are not accidentally leaving out any information, which I don't think they are) to use as information. They are very vague with that which they give. Ability 1, Ability 2 and a small description that could possibly be 1 or 2 different abilities or hell a new ability altogether, but we don't know because we don't have a name to associate it with.

Also the lack of details given: MP costs, Recast Timers, COMPLETE INFORMATION, will always lead to confusion, there is no if, and or but about it it will lead to confusion. And we shouldn't confuse this with people whining or acting like the information is entitled to us (the players). The point is, if Square-Enix Development Team, wants to share information it needs to be complete information to prevent confusion. Why would you not do this is beyond me, the game is in a state where it needs any and all praise to attract new players (don't confuse this with its not fun, because the game is fun, but new people to the game saw the old reviews and it gave them a bad taste in their mouths, we have to remember that).

That being said, its also the fault of some of the Receivers (Players) lack of comprehension skills on some of the information given, but this last batch of information is far from being concise, to prove the point there has been no mention of the 11 Traits we will get and what they might entail, that might answer some of the confusion roaming the forums.

In closing, I stick with the statistics on that its a 3:1 ratio that Square-Enix is the one providing the confusion. One cannot comprehend what is not known. Sorry for the long post but I hope this helps.

LINK
Communication Skills

[Starlord]

Communication or Getting Work done.. Would you want them to blab all day long about what they are going to do and barely get anything done ( in 4 different Langauges mind you) or Get stuff done first THEN post stuff on the lodestone? I think the answer is quite Obvious.. Stuff is not posted because... wait for it.. THEY ARE WORKING! -.-