Apartment windows with a (nice) view

[tinythinker]

Apologies if I missed a thread specifically on this. I did see in a search on it that many people mentioned window views, such as these examples (out of many) in threads on larger topics.

I would like to suggest two features for the apartment system. The first is to add balconies so that players with apartments can get an outside view, use outdoor furniture, and garden. The other is to allow players to expand their apartments, making them wider and potentially adding full or partial second floors.

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...ew#post4441578

BIG scenic windows in private chambers with view of outdoors, roof deck access for gardening, chocobo stable access

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...=1#post4568686

I'm just focusing on windows with views in this thread because:

1. I would like to have this feature.
2. Threads can be derailed over small quibbles/side issues, but this is just the one topic.
3. It is a specific thing that is less of a hassle for developers than many grander ideas.

There is nothing wrong with grander ideas, but for those living in-game with apartment life, if there is an option for a large window showing off the local scenery it would be very welcome.

It could even be "lazy", or as devs tend to call it, economical or efficient. All apartments in all wards and all floors could just have the same view. A nice view above the ground of something pretty that still shifted with the weather patterns and day/night cycle outside.

This would allow for more value to the apartment through its aesthetic appeal while being less of a coding hassle to implement than a more involved situation where you had to be realistic based on ward and floor level. Plus, honestly, like real-life apartments some "real" views would be quite bad. The simpler option gives everyone a nice view no matter where your apartment is located.

It would still take a decent amount of work to implement, though, so it would be understandable if other issues for the game in general or housing in particular are given a much higher priority than this request, but I wondered if anyone else would be interested in such an incremental quality of life improvement.

Thank you for taking the time to read (or at least skim) my suggestion. Apologies if it's been discussed to death already, but I did do a quick search for it.

[Jojoya]

I'm hoping they add such a feature if they expand apartment options to include sizes. We've seen it with the inn room in Kugane so certainly they're capable of doing it. I doubt they would change current apartments and FC rooms to include it, though.

[BiffWellington]

This is a great idea! And I think there'd be a lot fewer complaints about the housing shortage if an apartment could provide more of the same amenities as a house.

[not_ya_wify]

A balcony with access to outdoor furniture is different from just a view. You can fake a view. A lot of people do open window set ups. But people in apartments don't have access to yards and gardening

[tinythinker]

A balcony with access to outdoor furniture is different from just a view. You can fake a view. A lot of people do open window set ups. But people in apartments don't have access to yards and gardening

Yes, but there was interest expressed in that quote for having a view. I was looking to see if anyone else had suggested the value of an apartment view, not suggesting the quotes were identical to my own. Just having a window is more practical. You could even change which wall it was on.

And my suggestion would mean the view is a representation of a nice view of the area rendered by SE's coding and art team matching that housing area, one that changes with the day cycle and the weather. One single, representational view would be sufficient, but they could even add multiple choices (would probably have to be a cash shop thing for such options). I'm just proposing the one look through a large window. Those who don't want it could toggle it off or cover it up.

[not_ya_wify]

You know if you just want a view for aesthetic reasons, you can make one.

[tinythinker]

You know if you just want a view for aesthetic reasons, you can make one.

Which is very cool. Those are awesome. Having the option to see a view of the actual zone where the housing is located -- one that changes with the day and weather cycles to give the illusion of being a "real window" -- would also be very cool.

The latter option as proposed in this thread would be especially nice for people who like the added realism ("oh look it's raining now") as well as those who don't have the time, crating skill, or gil to make the type of DIY views you thoughtfully shared.

In any case, I'm impressed how creative some people can be

[Beckett]

I'm no expert, but I think that making a window, with a proper view that reacts to the time of day and the weather, would essentially take the same effort to make as a balcony. Either way they need to make a new (if limited) outdoor area. The only difference would be that with the balcony, you could walk a foot out into it.

In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if the balcony was actually easier to develop, since you would have to click on a door and travel from your apartment instance and into the outdoor instance, as opposed to having the outdoor area in the same instance as the apartment. There's probably a reason why even inn rooms and NPC rooms just have white windows that shine or dim depending on the time of day.

[tinythinker]

I'm no expert, but I think that making a window, with a proper view that reacts to the time of day and the weather, would essentially take the same effort to make as a balcony. Either way they need to make a new (if limited) outdoor area. The only difference would be that with the balcony, you could walk a foot out into it.

In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if the balcony was actually easier to develop, since you would have to click on a door and travel from your apartment instance and into the outdoor instance, as opposed to having the outdoor area in the same instance as the apartment. There's probably a reason why even inn rooms and NPC rooms just have white windows that shine or dim depending on the time of day.

For a balcony you would have to go to an instance through a door as you say, because the current apartment building structure doesn't have localized, fixed spaces of realistic size mapped out for the rooms "inside" of it. So that means building a whole new instance, with all of the attendant art and animation. And then every time someone visits their balcony, a new instance must be created and tracked on the server for each unique visitor, including any items placed there or interactions performed, as we would all want our own balcony. That's quite a bit of work to do for creating the balcony and having it work live on the servers.

For the window, you essentially need a painting of a view that is animated, with the animations responding to day and weather cycles. The window view would the same for every apartment in every district in the Mists. And another window view would be the same for every apartment in the Lavender Beds. And so on. No need to be instanced, just show the same asset in every apartment. Unless they wanted to offer options feom which view you could chose for The Goblet, or for Shirogane, etc. But even then, if you choose "Shirogane Window 1" as opposed to "Shirogane Window 2" it would be exactly the same view as everyone else who chose "Shirogane Window 1".

I can't say which is harder for the team to develop, an instanced balcony or an animated window, but the former could add to server load. As I am also not an expert on these matters I can't say whether such additional load would be significant. Either option though would be nice to have compared to the current situation.

However, as I mentioned at the start of the thread, I don't think this is a priority issue for housing let alone a high priority. Just something that would be greatly appreciated and value to the apartment option. Either the window or the balcony would help apartments feel more connected the zone in which they are located rather than like some random box people put their stuff inside of.

As to why the windows are the way they are at the moment -- that option was easier than either the instanced balcony or the animated window.

[InkstainedGwyn]

I had something of the same idea, it would take a lot of work but I think it would be doable given that they already have the current windows bringing in light depending on time of day.

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...ynamic-windows