Yoshi Interview at PGS

[Mikki]

Because Square uses their own Engine for this - Crystal Tools. Released in 2007, it has been used for all FF13 titles, FF14 and Dragon Quest X, with FF14 being the last title to having the said engine.

That could mean the FF14 deveopment team is hitting the limit of they can do with Crystal Tools and they carefully try to squeeze every bit out of it nowadays, therefore they might not be able to push the graphics to the current level you see at FFXV, as they use a completely new engine for it (Luminos Studio).

The reason you see other games have better details is usually that they license themselves an existing engine and work with that; mostly going with Unreal Engine 3 or 4 that brings a lot of things for the graphic hungry masses.
And that works usually well on character details and outfits, as you can think.

Interesting. Thanks for the explanation.
Though if the engine is already lagging behind then I think they need to look into switching over to a new engine. That would definitely be a lot of work, of course.... but if they don't do it then they are forcing the lifespan of XIV to have a pretty early expiration date I think. I guess if that's the case, we'll have to look forward to the next FF online experience.

To be honest though, I think it would be interesting to see... if the same team could front it, using everything they've learned from the experience of working on 14, what it would end up looking like.

[Berethos]

Because Square uses their own Engine for this - Crystal Tools.

Not actually true.

They use a proprietary engine (some of the same group that worked on the Luminous Engine worked on it, but it's not Luminous either) after looking at the weaknesses of Crystal Tools (which was used for 1.0) in an MMO, as well as considered Luminous but decided that wouldn't work for an MMO either.

https://gamerescape.com/2011/10/19/g...-is-out-there/

[alimdia]

Stuff from the subreddit discord

【キャラオプションの追加について】Regarding Character Options.
・今のところキャラオプションを増やす予定はない There is no plan in adding any character customization options
・これ以上フェイスオプションを増やしてしまうとリアルすぎてFFらしくなくなる Adding more face options makes it too realistic and no longer feels like a Final Fantasy
・通信量が増えてしまって重くなってしまう問題がある There is also the problem of possibly making the game heavier due to the communication traffic increase.
・選べるパーツを増やすというのは課題なのでフィードバックが欲しい Instead of face options they are looking into adding more character parts. They require feedback on this.

【ギャザクラの追加などについて】About Gatherers and Crafters
・現時点ではマイナーな職になる案しかないのでクラフターの新たな職を増やす予定はない
Due to how they'd think adding other crafters felt like they're adding minor based jobs in it, so they don't have plans in adding new crafters now.

・ギャザラーに関しては追加できる余地がありそう(羊を育成して毛を刈るなど)なので、クラフターよりは追加される可能性はある
There is however some ideas in adding gatherers, citing growing sheep and shaving their hair as wool, et cetra, being an option. So instead of crafters, they can add new gatherers in if they chose to.

・エアシップボイジャーに続く探索コンテンツはパッチ4.2からスタート
Contents regarding Airship Voyager, and airship exploration will start at Patch 4.2

・それが潜水艦かどうかはまだ言わないが期待していて欲しい
Can't say if it's related to submarine type contents or not but please look forward to it.

【パッチ5.0の新ジョブについて】New jobs for Patch 5.0
・新しいジョブの情報は出せない
No new jobs. No new info, no hints.

・青魔道士のラーニングは面白いとは思っているが、FF14はPTプレイがメインなのでソロで楽しむジョブなら楽しそうだなとは思う
The learning system of Blue Mage is interesting, Yoshida thinks, but since FF14 is a party centric game here he felt that Blue Mage is enjoyable if it is used for solo content.

【ミラプリについて】About Glamours.
・パッチ4.2に向けて大きく変更をかける予定
Patch 4.2 is scheduled to see huge changes for Glamours.

・もっと簡単に全身のコーデや複数のミラプリ登録などが実装
A much simplier full body coordination or multiple glamour registration will be implemented.

・みんなが欲しいと思っていたシステムはほとんど入ると思う
Yoshida thinks that almost all request that people have thought up till now may be implemented for this.

【24人レイド装備について】 About 24-man raid
・24人レイドの装備が集まりにくい問題は認識済み、もう少し手に入りやすいように検討したい
Yoshida acknolwedged that it's hard for people to collect equipment rewards for 24-man raid, he'd like to look into allowing people to obtain those equipments easier.

・24人レイド装備の強化版装備を出す予定はない
No plans on allowing 24-man raid gear to be augmented.

【スマホアプリについて】 About Smartphone app
・スマホアプリは現在開発中
Current in development

・初期リリース時は「FC、フレンドなどとチャット」「所持品やリテイナーのアイテムを整理」「マーケットのアクセス」のシステムが無料で実装
Initial release feature would include chat programs for FC and friends, Inventory management for players and retariners, Allowing access to marketboard, those will be implemented for free.

・有料のオプションサービスも存在する
There are options that are optional, and will require small fee to unlock

・将来的にはリテイナーベンチャーや冒険者小隊関連もいじれるようにしない
Yoshida would wish for retainer ventures and Squadrons to be accessible and customizable through this app in the future.

・リリースはパッチ4.2～4.3の間
Release date would be between 4.2 and 4.3

【ストーリーなどについて】About the Story
・メルウィブ提督はリムサ・ロミンサにフィーカスが当たらないと活躍しない
Unless the focus hits on Limsa Lominsa, it'll be hard for Admiral Merlwyn to be the focus character.

・OPトレーラーは吉田Pが字コンテを作っていて、4.0の制作は2015年9月27日から始まった
Stormblood's development started at 2015 Sept 27th, starting from text storyboard created by Yoshida for the opening trailer.

・4.0メインストーリーの評価が高いことは誇りに思っている
Yoshida feels proud and fulfilled when he knew that 4.0 main story receives a high reputation.

・全体的な意味でのメインストーリーのエンディング像はだいたい決まった、メインストーリーが終わるからといってFF14が終わるわけでななく拡張ごとのストーリーにするかも？
The entire main story quest, up to the ending of the said main story, is already decided (talking about the overall), even if the main story ends, it doesn't mean FF14 will end as well, so there might be an expansion of the main story after it ends.

・イヴァリースが帝国以外と関係しているかどうかは松野さん以外知らない
Whether Ivalice is related to FF14 other than Garlean...that question can only be answered by Matsuno-san

【システム関連】System related.
・もっとカメラを引けるようにするのは全てのバトルで再検証しなくてはならないので現状厳しい
Currently it's not possible to have players zoom out the camera further due to how they have to look into and reassess all the battles implemented.

・極蛮神や零式のトークンをカレンシー対応しないのはページが長くなってしまうためであって、今のところ対応は予定していない
They won't be converting Ex Primal Tokens and Savage tokens into currency due to how the page will take longer to load if they do so. So no plans for this.

・モグステの装備を愛蔵品キャビネットに入れたい要望などはパッチ4.2に向けて便利になる予定
Patch 4.2 is scheduled to see Mog Station equipments being able to kept into armoire , and it will be revamped for easier access.

【その他】 Others
・S/M/Lサイズのアパルトメントの実装予定は今はないが、土地の供給などが落ち着いてきたら可能性はある
No plans to implement S/M/L sized apartments, but it's possible once they solved the plot shortage and allowing more people to get their houses.

・パッチ4.2でのオメガはみんながびっくりしてくれると思う
People will be surprised to see what is up with Omega on Patch 4.2. Citing players can expect more past FF references in Omega instead of Rabanastre.

・リスキーモブの更に強いバージョン、何十人が集まらないと倒せないモンスターをフィールドに追加される可能性はないとは言い切れない
Though not entire impossible, but it's also possible for them to implement monsters that are even stronger than notorious monsters (risky mobs) in the field, where you need even more than mere 10s of people to defeat it.

・ウソウソのぬいぐるみグッズは会場にいるグッズ担当が聞いていれば出るかも、もしかしたらナマズオや柴犬が先に出るかも？(笑)
It's possible to make a Otter stuffted toy and sell it in events if they make a request to the Goods team, Maybe they'd like to first release a Shiba Inu stuffted toy beforehand?

・ライトニングリターンズのコラボはリクエストが多ければ再演を検討する
If the request to bring back Lightning Returns collab event is high enough, they'll be looking into bringing it back for a rerun.

[SigmaOZ]

【ミラプリについて】About Glamours.
・パッチ4.2に向けて大きく変更をかける予定
Patch 4.2 is scheduled to see huge changes for Glamours.

・もっと簡単に全身のコーデや複数のミラプリ登録などが実装
A much simplier full body coordination or multiple glamour registration will be implemented.

・みんなが欲しいと思っていたシステムはほとんど入ると思う
Yoshida thinks that almost all request that people have thought up till now may be implemented for this.

If that is true then I hope they haven't forgotten to allow us to save the current hairstyle as part of the glamour so we can use different looks (hair) without having to worry too much about clipping!...

[Canadane]

If that is true then I hope they haven't forgotten to allow us to save the current hairstyle as part of the glamour so we can use different looks (hair) without having to worry too much about clipping!...

Can't wait for each gearset change to cost me 2000 gil and a small aesthetician cutscene.

[SigmaOZ]

Can't wait for each gearset change to cost me 2000 gil and a small aesthetician cutscene.

The whole point is to avoid the aesthetician, charge me once when I change my hairstyle but I get to save it to any glamour I want!...

I'm absolutely sure there's no need for such a lengthy cut-scene to change a simple hairstyle!...

You obviously could not understand what I meant, I hope the idea is clear enough now!...

[Niraves]

I'm getting really tired of the server limitations excuse every time the player base asks for something to be implemented. How the heck is it so difficult to make one or two new faces for each race/gender? At this point, I think they are just being stubborn or lazy. 'Doesn't look like FF anymore' is the dumbest thing I have ever heard in my life.

[Kallera]

I'm getting really tired of the server limitations excuse every time the player base asks for something to be implemented. How the heck is it so difficult to make one or two new faces for each race/gender? At this point, I think they are just being stubborn or lazy. 'Doesn't look like FF anymore' is the dumbest thing I have ever heard in my life.

Didn't you know that Final Fantasy games are known for their lack of customization and restrictive fashions?

[DeaconMoore]

I'm getting really tired of the server limitations excuse every time the player base asks for something to be implemented. How the heck is it so difficult to make one or two new faces for each race/gender? At this point, I think they are just being stubborn or lazy. 'Doesn't look like FF anymore' is the dumbest thing I have ever heard in my life.

I don't know, using server limitations is worse than just saying they don't want to put in the time to add more options.

Every time they say server limitations prevent x, y, z, they remind us all that they opted to not put more forethought into the games core, didn't plan for the future and rushed the game out the door. Basically the core programmers and management that signed off dropped the ball hardcore and the game continues to suffer for it.

[Lewtskie]

I don't know, using server limitations is worse than just saying they don't want to put in the time to add more options.

Every time they say server limitations prevent x, y, z, they remind us all that they opted to not put more forethought into the games core, didn't plan for the future and rushed the game out the door. Basically the core programmers and management that signed off dropped the ball hardcore and the game continues to suffer for it.

Such all can be thanked for the first director, who saw fit to put a bleeding edge core to work to make the most beautiful game possible, that would eventually cave in on itself as actual infrastructure was terrible. ARR and beyond was never planned, it was improvised; used what they could to keep things going, and here we are. If the game was shutdown to develop an actual functional core, it would never have come back, XIV wouldn't exist anymore.

So yes, this is what we have, and possibly always will have. Maybe someday we could see a Sequel-ish on better hardware, but not soon I imagine. Perhaps in the next console generation or after that.