Thread: Real Life Final Fantasy XIV 3.0 - Request for Immersion Theme Park (long read)

I know this may seem like a crazy idea, but stay with me and you will see that it would be awesome.

So, having played FFXI and FFXIV, and recognizing the nature of MMOs and the type of ways we gamers feel satisfied, I realized SE is missing out on a big business opportunity. It could be the best thing for FFXIV and gamers in general. Also, it could be a great opportunity to bring Tanaka back into the fold to see him use the skills he is best at.

Theme Park, ultimate fun

Imagine a "theme park", if you will, that you can permanently live at. All you would have to do is save up the money for a one-way ticket to Japan, then SE could put you up in this theme park that would have extensive player housing.

Levels that solve the power leveling problem once and for all

Once there, you start out as a level 1 player. You are given the choice from among several different tasks, like cooking, archery, or woodworking. And of course battle classes. Level curve is established by SE and awarded at certain milestones. The difference between this and the existing FFXIV, is that skill at crafting or battle can be directly observed and recognized. No more "capped noob players" that have been "power leveled".

The Field that serves a real life purpose

Inside the theme park would be a massive "zoo", if you will, but where the animals roam free. Like a giant farm, if you will. Players could hunt the animals, and crafters could separate out the meat from the raw materials that can be sewn into clothes, etc. Players that choose a battle class can level up by going out in the field and killing chickens and whatnot. But watch out, that chicken could kick your ass if not handled correctly. They can return to the central town in the theme park after a day's work of Guildleves and turn in the dead animals. SE could then sell the extra meat to the markets in Japan, becoming something of a food provider whilst providing the ultimate entertainment to gamers and adventurous types everywhere.

A permanent end to RMT

Since access to the theme park would be heavily restricted, RMT would be instantly snuffed out. Everyone would have an equal access to gil and it would be impossible to pay money for it or items, since the player base would be effectively broke, having devoted every waking moment to game time and thus having no time to earn any kind of income.

True Loyalty and Recognition for players' hard work

And of course, loyal paying customers of FFXI and FFXIV could be awarded a loyalty status determined by their cumulative years of playtime. This would unlock access to the most trying, difficult, inconvenient, seemingly meaningless and incomprehensible tasks and restrictions ever designed. <-- This is where you bring Tanaka in.

Real-life Achievements

After several years, say when you kill 100,000 chicken or buffalo or whatever, you are awarded with a real life crown that you can wear to show off your accomplishment. And instead of how it is now, with those 100,000 kills being essentially a meaningless grind, the food and materials could be provided to poor countries to be used for a charitable cause beyond the actual needs of the player base.

Regulated Travel

Travel would be heavily regulated within the theme park. Every player would be issued something like a fast travel pass, which enables transportation to remote locations. You accumulate 1 travel point every 4 hours, and if you use all of them you would be required to walk on foot until you accumulate more points. This keeps transportation maintenance costs in check and assures a healthy social experience on a local level when travel points have run out. It also servers a greater good by assuring that.. well actually I forget just exactly what but you get the idea. And of course no attunement to far away locations that you haven't actually visited.

Truly Meaningful Gear, and an end to sweat shops

Since players would be effectively divorced from the outside world, all clothing would come from the actual animals slain in battlecraft leves. Also ferocious beasts could be placed in dungeons in the theme park, for instance animals that have been kept in captivity for a long time at other zoos or say, just some type of mentally deranged animal or one that developed a tumor and killed a bunch of people in real life somewhere. Parties of proven high-level players could be permitted entrance to such dungeons, and when justice is finally carried out against these opponents, SE could release "gear" (at a befitting drop rate of course) through a box that randomly drops out of a hidden trap door in the ceiling. Rare drops could include weapons with a high degree of craftsmanship and functionality, or very finely crafted clothing that is extremely fashionable, made from the highest quality materials. Picture finely crafted leather garments that allow agile movement while providing adequate protection from the elements and wild animals.

A better social experience and an end to AFKing

Image the social experience! Where you really do have to take real life breaks around a campfire or inn, to discuss your battle strategies or existing quests. No more long strat sessions right in the middle of a quest or dungeon, or afking for food in the middle of a fight.

Main Scenario

Storylines could be acted out by real actors once certain milestones have been attained. This would fix the problem of players struggling to find groups to meet objectives. Since story lines would only be performed at set times, players would find it easy to schedule their play time around them.

An end to sloppy server merges

Since all players would effectively be playing on the same server, this would be a permanent end to low population problems and any confusion over how to manage populations or geographical regions.

Meaning in a world of meaningless tasks and quests

Every game needs to feature seemingly meaningless, inconvenient tasks to keep the player base entertained. This would be a great boon to SE as they could design the tasks in a such a way as to provide a real-world benefit, while technically harnessing the "free" labor of its players. Players could be indulged in tasks ranging from the simplest (lighting lamps on a bridge at night) to complex, like solving mathematical problems that benefit some type of scientific research, for which SE gets to assume some credit.

Total Immersion

For aging players, the theme park could serve as a retirement home of sorts, where all medical needs are taken care of and a complete sense of immersion is established. Veteran adventurers could also serve as guides or instructors to newcomers, or even perhaps community reps or actors eventually.

No Immersion-breaking features or annoying side effects to implementing jump

Also there would be no flaming weapons or flying horses or any of that ridiculous kind of crap that could break immersion. Also, bunny hopping would be effectively limited to a player's real life stamina.

Fishing

And fishing! Oh, the fishing. Large amounts of fish could be populated in the theme park's lakes and streams, for fishers to access. Rare fishing rods could also be hidden behind a series of quests. Think of a treasure hunt that takes years to complete.

Botany

For Botany, real trees could be transplanted from other areas of the world. Think leveling Botanist is too fast? Try cutting down an actual tree with a hatchet. Also, this would end the rumors of people hacking gathering points. Once you cut down a tree I've got news for you, there's no exploiting that node any longer.

Mining

SE could perhaps pick a location for this theme park near a place rich in ores and mines. Miners could try their hand at using actual old school mining equipment (nothing new and fancy) to dig up coal and precious gemstones. All ores and gems found are technically the property of SE of course.

Real-time feedback and a faster patch release schedule

All the while, the SE designers could watch from afar, awarding rare drops where necessary and making changes in real time. Patches would have to go through a minimal QA phase due to the plethora of real-time feedback.

A great way to fix SE's and Final Fantasy's reputation

SE needs to do something drastic to repair its faltering image. Something truly revolutionary to bring to the FF franchise. This could be it.

Imagine such a thing! To me, this is truly the "new" FFXIV.

is this for real? Ah the perks of the joke threads.

If you want to be an adventurer irl, do it. No ones stopping you

This is a nice idea...on a dream world, where money wouldnt be the driver of all things...cuz how would you expecto for SE to make money with this? Who would maintain all the thngs you are saying would be on the theme park....a very good idea to daydream

I want my 3 minutes back.

I'm not reading that.

I read the feedback though, for some reason.

...what the hell did the chickens do to deserve this?! :/