Letter from the Producer LXII

[Gula]

People ask me why I like XIV so much, it's hard to express it's things like this.

Yoshi is the best and golly I'd like to be protected by that Viera.

[Jollyy5]

I feel bad for the character development team, they were probably already working really long days more often than not, and then they went and used their free time to make headgear work on the new races.

True troopers if I've ever seen any.

[SerLuke]

I feel bad for the character development team, they were probably already working really long days more often than not, and then they went and used their free time to make headgear work on the new races.

True troopers if I've ever seen any.

Yeah a lot of times in Japan they work insane hours =(

[LaylaTsarra]

I feel bad for the character development team, they were probably already working really long days more often than not, and then they went and used their free time to make headgear work on the new races.

True troopers if I've ever seen any.

They've made it pretty clear how difficult it is to add two genders/races. One can hope we'll see additional ones at some point but it's certainly not an easy undertaking. Can't wait for the benchmark.

[Kyrausagi]

I'm going to support the devs cause they are working hard! They never said no male viera or female hrothgar. They specifically said "As you play through Shadowbringers, you’ll learn that both male Viera and female Hrothgar exist. While you won’t meet any in person, if we developers can find a way to address the various problems which are preventing us from implementing them, then perhaps someday you’ll be able to see them for yourself. I want to be clear that this does not mean it will eventually happen, and that I cannot make any promises at this time. I hope you will understand and bear with us" That just goes to show they are looking for a way to implement them, just as of late they cannot make any promises. Which I understand. I do not understand what is so hard to understand. It almost as annoying as those who think artist can do a fully colored drawing in 15 mins........

[Vahlnir]

I don't think he really put anything to rest, it just confirmed what many already theorized. SE doesn't really fund FF XIV as much as it should, plain and simple. But on a positive note they appear to at least be open to the possibility of adding male Viera and female Hrothgar. That is probably what people needed to hear the most.

[Kogasan]

So what if people don't like melee dps and caster dps. But want to play a dps. Should they have to be restricted to just bard and mechanist just so you can have your 4th healer. Come off it the game needed another melee ranged dps and I'm glad Yoshi P put in dancer as such.

[UsagiAndCrepes]

I'm glad they are also going to do the normal live letter as well and didn't just focus on responding to player feedback.

[Krotoan]

I am sure there is some sort of "formula" available to batch-stretch or batch-fix much of the stuff.

Please explain why you are so sure of this.

I mean, they can do it for "10,000 items" for already 5 species/"races", but a 6th and 7th is suddenly "absolutely super duper impossible" even with the "tremendous amount of money" we actually throw at the game via game purchases and expansion pack purchases, full-price subscription, high-priced cash shop and overpriced merchandise shop?

So you can make 10 cakes for 10 restaurants everyday. 5 more restaurants open and also want 10 cakes each. however you only have 8 hours every day to bake and now instead of 100 cakes a day you have to make 150 with the same amount of ovens and employees.

this is not a matter of throwing money at it. it's them looking at the workload and noting how exponentially it increases with a new race. There is only so much work they can possibly fit into so much time. Unless you want the price of the cakes to increase, lets not add more restaurants.

[Vahlnir]

Please explain why you are so sure of this.


So you can make 10 cakes for 10 restaurants everyday. 5 more restaurants open and also want 10 cakes each. however you only have 8 hours every day to bake and now instead of 100 cakes a day you have to make 150 with the same amount of ovens and employees.

this is not a matter of throwing money at it. it's them looking at the workload and noting how exponentially it increases with a new race. There is only so much work they can possibly fit into so much time. Unless you want the price of the cakes to increase, lets not add more restaurants.

Using your analogy...if the demand increases, and you have the money (SE clearly does, they're not some startup indie company), it would make sense to employ more "bakers" and maybe invest in some new equipment in order to meet the rising demand. Sometimes you have to spend money to make more money.