Don't change a thing!!!

[ARoy]

I think what most people forget is that the series is over twenty years old now. It has fans spanning over the various generations. There are people who started with the original, people who started with later titles like VII and played older games, and there are people who started with latter games like X, never looked back and unless they get more DS remakes, probably never will. There will and probably already have been people who start with XIV and have no prior experience whatsoever. Given all of these different starting times, the different groups involved in this game are going to have a different expectation of how things should be.

That being the case, Square Enix is never going to be able to bring something to the table that can please every single fan. I find that the perfect example of this situation would be Sonic the Hedgehog - notice how his newer games are notorious for having been widely panned by old fans, but the younger ones gobbled them up?

What SE needs to do is decide what would make the better game - one that most appeases X group of fans or one that appeases Y Group of fans, where can they allow concessions, and how to differentiate it from both other FF games and other MMO games. I don't think the original dev team took any of this into consideration; instead, as has been said by a member of this forum, though I can't quite remember who, they reinvented the wheel as a square and wondered why it didn't roll.

[Krausus]

On the internet "A LOT" means me, and "most people" means me and my friends.

Still though, i do agree with the OP that the general focus of the game could have been something magical (with the proper time and commitment). Unfortunately With the way that things turned out the games going to be a hard sell unless it, turns to, and leans up against tradition at this point.

oh that's a real good idea, instead of being innovating and giving us something new lets just make it like the other MMOs that way everyone can jump ship anyways...brilliant!

[Krausus]

So what exactly did the game do right? The devs need to know the things some people think don't need to be changed all that much and only need tweaking.

The Armory System, The Combat System, The Story, The Graphics.

Game needs balance/tweaks and additions to the above systems but the core/vision is solid.

[ARoy]

oh that's a real good idea, instead of being innovating and giving us something new lets just make it like the other MMOs that way everyone can jump ship anyways...brilliant!

Or, y'know, perhaps something that is more traditionally Final Fantasy than just plain MMO. That could work too.

[Krausus]

Or, y'know, perhaps something that is more traditionally Final Fantasy than just plain MMO. That could work too.

explain whats so nontraditional? You mean that we dont have WHM BLM, etc..? Do you actually think that when we do it is going to make a bit of difference? This game needs to build on what it has and add content making it a clone of XI isn't going to do anything but ensure SE has the same member base as XI. I'm pretty sure they are aiming to increase that player base. Don't get me wrong XI was great but there were plenty of things wrong with it as well. People want to play XIV because it isnt XI but has all the potential to become just as epic.

[Shadowskill]

The game is very solid base to build from. All that is left is for SE to fix the badly implemented tools they used to build with. tweak the battle system, add many different ways to "grind", Lore/story, hell mini games like Tetra, Blitzball, an arena for PvP, etc.

Create a world where we as the FF player base will feel at home, as well welcome players from other franchise with a method of enjoyment.

Not everyone plays for "end game" some even enjoy just role playing. SE needs to open the doors to ideas. add as many of them with their own twist. The "end game" can just be an option. The "role player" can even play a larger role. (just a twist on a way to look at it)

No one is wrong in what should be added. SE just needs to make the ideas work with the world they created. can add say jump in a form that is suited for the world, swimming, instances like Dynamis, Besiege, Spawned world NM's for camping, BCNM/KSNM, augments for armor/weapons, customizable crafting/synergy, enforced group play while leaving a method for causal players to enjoy (Guildleves).

Would like to see an ever expanding world where most everyone can find their own little place they feel they belong.

Cool after thought, SE can have different sections of the team, or add to the team that focus on story lines for all types, one Team focus on Role players (giving out quests that encourage that life style). Another focusing on End game content, Main story lore, mini games, can add pretty much an endless amount of possibilities.

[Linnear]

explain whats so nontraditional? You mean that we dont have WHM BLM, etc..? Do you actually think that when we do it is going to make a bit of difference? This game needs to build on what it has and add content making it a clone of XI isn't going to do anything but ensure SE has the same member base as XI. I'm pretty sure they are aiming to increase that player base. Don't get me wrong XI was great but there were plenty of things wrong with it as well. People want to play XIV because it isnt XI but has all the potential to become just as epic.

I would have to disagree with you there, XI is a great example of how a project with a shaky foundation can have trouble striving to greatness because of a shotty infrastructure. Every x-pac that XI had was an improvement to the game (can't speak for apyssia stoped before it came out), but on a whole each new rendition brought new game elements and such. The problem was though that the core UI the flow of the game and other things were such fundamental problems that no matter what was added afterwards was limited by that. That being said I am not convinced that FFXI has a poor foundation per se but before moving forwarde,I think they should make damn sure that the direction they chose to take it has a strong backing because changes down the line will get harder and harder, and be less effective.

Blindly charging forward is not the way to make a great game, (or to play one for that matter), I think this is SEs greatest challege for this project, how do you analyze if your foundation if correct and what systems are integral, and what decission now will limit our potions in the future. I do this kind of work for projects and policies so I know the metrics for success in that theatre, but I don't know how to make that decission for SE as I do not know what their metrics for success are and how they measure them, but I hope one of them does.