If I could interview Yoshida.

[RushDivine]

Mr. Yoshida, I would like to get some straight answers from you regarding the motivations and reasoning behind the direction XIV appears to be going in.

1. Why was XIV so closely modeled after XI in virtually every aspect except play style? What was the reasoning behind the shift from a game model that was clearly very successful in XI. Why isn't the CoP era of XI the new XIV bible? It appears to me that there is still a struggle going on to try and compromise between what XI was and what XIV should be.

2. When you introduce new content into the game such as the very controversial Goobbue mounts, what considerations are given to the games overall tone, theme and direction -- more to the point, is it intentional, are you using specific kinds of content to appeal to a certain demographic? As many people have commented: if you don't like a game item, you don't have to use it. Which is very true but it's not the heart of the issue for many of us. We want there to be consistency within our fantasy world, when you start introducing items that push the fantasy beyond a certain point it starts to verge on absurd and phony which diminishes the overall immersion for some players.

3. Many of the original players of XI hold the firm belief that at it's prime it was nothing short of a masterpiece; one worthy of a continuing legacy. What is your opinion of XI at it's prime in the CoP era, what lessons did it have to teach you personally about MMO design; are those lessons in any way influencing you as you develop XIV? More specifically, what did you learn from the mechanisms which fostered the rare community inside XI?

4. I would prefer a straight answer to this question Mr. Yoshida. Even a yes or no response would be acceptable. Will XIV ever be what XI was during the CoP era? I see myself playing on a Mithra, I see that there is Sandy, Bastok, and Windy; even Linkshells... It's all so familiar until I begin to move. Can I eventually expect to find the home I left in XI or not?

Thank you for your time Mr. Yoshida.

[neorei]

remember mr yoshida didn't start the game.

[RemVye]

Maybe you should go play FFXI?


2nd post ever /welcome to the forums, prepare your will

[Rokien]

Maybe you should go play FFXI?


2nd post ever /welcome to the forums, prepare your will

FFXI is not the same game as it was... also COP ERA.....

[Douten]

For question 1 I've read that they wanted XI player to feel familiar when playing XIV. They've stated that their primary audience was XI players then other players.

I'm guessing they didn't follow more aspect like XI because they're making XIV, not XI-2 or something, plus doing so would mean that XI will most likely be shut down. It was their goal to have both game running concurrently because there was even a 'deal' when you're paying for both game simultaneously.

Edit:
Also for number 4, expect a high and likely no. Erozea is not Vana'diel nor should it be.

I left XI for XIV because I wanted something new and fresh, for better or for worst, not more of the same.

[Maxthunder]

For question 1 I've read that they wanted XI player to feel familiar when playing XIV. They've stated that their primary audience was XI players then other players.

I'm guessing they didn't follow more aspect like XI because they're making XIV, not XI-2 or something, plus doing so would mean that XI will most likely be shut down. It was their goal to have both game running concurrently because there was even a 'deal' when you're paying for both game simultaneously.

Edit:
Also for number 4, expect a high and likely no. Erozea is not Vana'diel nor should it be.

I left XI for XIV because I wanted something new and fresh, for better or for worst, not more of the same.

FFXI has been going down hill for years and sooner or later no one will play it. The fact is the new systems that they added to ffxiv is not as good as it was in FFXI. I can name a few and I doubt with this new system they will get it right. Some systems as the crafting and the DoL to my surprize was improved upon. At least now I dont have to sit and guess when I will level up. The command bar, the targeting system still needs work and is far from what it should be.

I have said it before and Ill say it again: the devs need to take what was good from FFXI and use it in FFXIV but improve on it. I personally dont care if it is related to FFXI in the least. What I care about is a game that works and works well. FFXIV has many issues and at this point the only way to actually fix this game would be use what made FFXI great and improve on it. Players can say well its too much like FFXI but if we look at the current FFXI, it will be in no way resemble it. Seeing as FFXI has change way to much from its roots (and not for the better) it would still be 2 different games.

The issue at hand is the devs as well as some players dont want to use the things that made FFXI so great. Its all about a completely new game but look at what we actually got in FFXIV. There is nothing wrong w useing something from a preveious game and improve on it, devs have been doing it for years. So I ask whats the problem with them not doing it now? Now you can sit there and say all you want and make excuses but using things from FFXI will not make this FFXI-2. What I would like to see and some may not agree is a game that if you will dares to be different. FFXIV dosent need to be like WoW or other games, but the devs need to take from their previous Final Fantasy titles and use it.

Players want faster combat but than complain about this and that. SE wants to cater to all hardcore and casuals alike but in doing so they have yet to find a way to do it right. It is not the casual players that will support this game in the long run it is the hardcore. So the big question is what dose SE and the devs do to try and make FFXIV the best it can be. The devs and the players know half that answer but they refuse to embrase it and I have said it through this post. I dont say this because I want FFXIV to be exactly like FFXI, I dont. What I want as a player is a game that works, a game that is great and we all know even with the improvements there is a lot of work to go before it gets there. I know SE can make this game great they just need to buckle down and use what they know. Final Fantasy is there flagship, so there reason to do what they need to do but.... do they have the will to do it, or have they become as so many other game companies like sega and akklaim just to name a few?

[Cichy]

Seriously, XI was the XI and there never will be another XI because XI era is done an over. Can we move on?
This seems like another one of those "I want HNMs I can camp all day" threads underneath.

[RushDivine]

neorei:
I understand that. In the aftermath of the rejection to XIV's new style I feel that these kinds of questions are all the more relevant. What is the ultimate direction going to be.

RemVye:
Truthfully I would be playing XI today if there were still parties.
FFXI is not the same game it was during CoP -- in fact it doesn't even resemble it anymore.

Edit*
Why is XI-2 a bad thing? Taking a concept that works and giving it new graphics and upgrades is not a bad thing. This happens in the FPS realm all the time and it's a wonderful thing. In light of the huge rejection XIV has received, I'm not sure how you can so easily dismiss the notion that XIV should have been from day one XI-2. I don't believe anyone can honestly say that had it launched as XI-2 we would be facing the same scale of revisions we are today.

[RemVye]

RemVye:
Truthfully I would be playing XI today if there were still parties.
FFXI is not the same game it was during CoP -- in fact it doesn't even resemble it anymore.

I know this, you know this, everyone knows this. XIV != XI. XI != XIV. Let it go. XIV is going to be like WoW, and you're going to like it or you're going to hate it. Mounts, Instances, Daily Quests (leves), Casual and 'hardcore' content.

I like it, I play games for fun... I'm having fun. If you're not having fun don't expect them to change everything for what you want or how you think it should be... it's not going to be FFXI.

[RemVye]

Edit*
Why is XI-2 a bad thing? Taking a concept that works and giving it new graphics and upgrades is not a bad thing. This happens in the FPS realm all the time and it's a wonderful thing. In light of the huge rejection XIV has received, I'm not sure how you can so easily dismiss the notion that XIV should have been from day one XI-2. I don't believe anyone can honestly say that had it launched as XI-2 we would be facing the same scale of revisions we are today.

I know this, you know this, everyone knows this. HAD xiv been xi-2 at DAY 1 it would be much more successful than it is now. Unfortunately we got a turd with some glitter on it. Now Yoshi and crew is working hard to shape this turd into the Mona Lisa.

You're clearly new but the question you're asking have been answered 1000x over and over again.