How do you think Yoshida would react to the following hypothetical regarding parsing?

[QT_Melon]

That's the first thing that crossed my mind. If all parsers are wanted for is self improvement and real time feedback like a lot of people have said, well quietly using one is not going to get anyone in trouble. There is no need for further acceptance.

True unless you're a PS4 player and have to do it within your party.

But to be fair the OP's statement what would happen if thousands did it without a comment following up. Which on itself (well I didn't say anything to shame anyone) can be see as not harmful. The fact it's some kind of odd mass protest would be seen as a form of griefing if organized.

No, the world isn't gonna end if a parse shows up. But that's not the issue. The fact it's done in a targeted way because "I'm gonna snub my nose at authority". I don't think our rights are being violated here. A majority of the content can be passed and have been passed without the numbers posting.

While there aren't that many incidents I can think of where people were targeted for their DPS and a parser was involved was little, the biggest deterrent for this is the fact your account may be banned. So I can't really go for the argument "Well less people are being harassed for a parser" than this reverse victim game people are going to of "well a toxic low DPS said something bad to me" (which for a bunch of people saying they think people should 'man up' has come up in the most childish way possible).

That's why I asked with another hypothetical. How many would do it on their MAIN account? Not some throwaway they got from some game card or something.

I think console players ARE missing out that a tool isn't available to them either.

For the record, I parse on Monster Hunter World on PC - the game is also something of a DPS race as well depending on quest objectives. HOWEVER, the reason I parse on the PC version is because I'm absolutely fascinated by motion value - or KO/Flinching in that game watching the monster get knocked down or flinched is actually more DPS for the party. So it's more of a Crowd Control (CC) than getting those big damage numbers.

Some people ONLY care about it when they parse on that game - and for that whatever. That's why I'm enjoying the game on PS4 where ignorance is bliss. The objective is accomplished with 3 other players (or in a siege it's more) and enjoy the chaos that can happen.

But Monster Hunter has more to it than just a simple DPS race (something I wish FFXIV had more of).

[Sebazy]

Wrong on both accounts. I would ask you to stop projecting ulterior motives onto Yoshi when he has shown very little to be that type of human being. It's outright disrespectful, if I'm to be frank. Now you're getting how I feel. That should be a big difference from how I think.

I'll invite you to watch this link - https://youtu.be/3-WXYg-S05U?t=364

Probably the most open Yoshida has ever been on the matter of parsing. The TLDR from Yoshi is as follows

• It's a very delicate subject
• Officially we're not allowed to use outside tools
• But of course, there is a culture of PC gaming, that people use these addons and whatnot
• He feels that it doesn't make to big of a difference in giving users an advantage, skill is more important
• In terms of different tools that are being used, like hacking tools or bots, those are definitely not good and we would have to go in and ban those people that are abusing the system
• But I'm sure that people on the PC will want to enjoy FF to the best of their gaming environment
• So if they come to the development team and ask if they can use this tool or try this hack, of course not. We officially decline and let them know that it's not allowed
• But just please take responsibility in how you are utilising tools to make your gameplay experience more enjoyable
• There are people who are going round bragging hey look at this tool that I'm using, that's what's going to get you hurt (heard?). People need to take responsibility and be very discrete about what you're doing
• We're all adults here

Take that how you will.

Me personally, I read that as: Parsing isn't allowed, but if you're going to do it, do it quietly and considerately, don't overstep the mark, don't abuse the system or we will ban you, don't bot or we will ban you, don't brag about it or we will ban you. Be mature with it.

This is the stance they've taken since launch and it's remained unchanged and mostly untouched until the recent live letter where things shown in TEA likely made them feel that matters were getting out of hand with the scope of what could be achieved. Things had clearly gone beyond simple parsing and analysis.

My personal opinion, SE's stance on addons and parsing is heavily influenced by lessons learned from FFXI where they eventually settled on a fairly soft touch approach where if you weren't abusive with it, you were probably fine and I'd wager that the percentage of the player base that used Windower to run hi res widescreen was pretty massive towards the end of my tenure there.

[Azure51]

Parsing is double edge sword, some use them to improve themselves others to shame people

[SturmChurro]

It'd be a pretty interesting experiment to see unfold, since it's the sort of thing that would probably be picked up by the gaming media. Which, in turn, would cause the reaction to be scrutinised very carefully. Rival MMO's could also potentially exploit the situation for their own game by highlighting that they allow for the use of certain mods, too.

Besides, if they did ban thousands of players then that'd open the door to people asking why they haven't banned the hundreds of players who hang around in Ul'dah on Balmung and Mateus with explicit search info.

I don't know about that. This is extremely petty, and gaming media couldn't give two.... If this was a gamer "protest" about some issue like gender or something, then yeah they might pick it up.

Most likely it would just be a just mass ban. Good timing too, so they can't play the patch.

[Liam_Harper]

It's interesting.

Of course I don't parse, that's naughty and all that. But if thousands of players did come together and go for it, I'd join them and happily take the ban. I'd like to see how they really feel.

I'm not that attached to the game that I'd care. If they permanently mass banned 10000 players, I'd actually respect them for it. They'd be willing to take a huge loss to take a firm stance on the direction of their game. It's the current pretending it's bad while basically giving the green light as long as you sneak around, don't communicate, don't play on Ps4 and use clunky third party that I have no respect for. They have no real stance at all.

[Bernkastelx]

"We're all adults here" too bad that is far from the truth with our community.

[linay]

"We're all adults here" too bad that is far from the truth with our community.

When the game is rated T for TEENS, can't expect that at all. Sadly, can't expect that for M rated games either.

[LonginusBolg]

Considering parses are like 50% used to crap on other players numbers, I would probably be okay with seeing parsers get reprimanded.

Like, I've seen people join a PF just to get kicked because their numbers in FFlogs weren't good.
I've also had Hades' learning parties up when it came out just to have someone join and ask why my logs are hidden. I even had people upload first blind runs of savages, and then actually talk smack about other people in parties cause their numbers are low.

So, having witnessed it, I can't say I don't disagree with it being detrimental to the community.

[QT_Melon]

This argument can easily go both ways. Its a big problem when neither party wants to meet the other where they are at because they refuse to see where they are at.

I'd disagree in Yoshi P's case considering he's learned a lot of English when he really doesn't have to. He attends fanfests and engages with players in different regions. The only other person I remember in SE actually engaging fans like that in recent times was Tabata but he's since left.

The issue for the arguments is how they're presented. It's a lot of players bickering instead of a more positive interaction. For ONCE I'd love to see a thread that discusses this topic without the "I found the bad player!" or another arguing with a less skilled player by using FF logs against them. I'd like to see a person say "you know what, it's okay to fail, but I will be happy to take the time with you to help you get better" That's a more difficult approach, because "oh you're coddling" Often solutions to getting parsers in the game wants to do an hammer and chisel to the solution when you need a gentler and more patient touch to mold it into something better.

You want your halfway point? Start sharing positive stories on how you were able to help mentor another player and was able to do it thru parsing. You found a DPS that worked their pants off so you gave them the commendation -since DPS is treated like a disposable job - easily replaced.

[hynaku]

Wouldn't be first time seen thousands of players banned on a mmo for using third party programs or mods. When I played Aion I saw it all the time. It be dumb if ones did something like that and all posted them.