Ivalice may not continue

[KizuyaKatogami]

I very much enjoyed the Ivalice storyline and raids, so it's surprising to see how unpopular they were. Especially things like "half assed" when there's definitely more work put into it than Eureka or some of the older raids. It feels like it's one of those things that's trendy to hate because it's "not true to the original", but I could be wrong. Either way I enjoyed it.

I'm personally not a fan of unfinished storylines though. Bozja was clearly set up to continue with further story development. We had Hildebrand scrapped too when that was clearly set up to have a ShB arc and the United Beast tribe quest was scrapped. It's not a good sign. Story is meant to be the selling point of the game.

Thank you for this. I’m surprised too tbh, but again, i feel like a lot of the hate is because it’s partially Garlemald theme and a lot of players can’t stand that. With your latter points though yeah. So many stories and plots are being scrapped. Considering EW has been in the works while we’re losing out on all this content and seeing it all rushed and then knowing that the EW plot was supposed to be extended to 7.0... not a good sign at all and i have very low hopes for the next expansion. This expansion has been disappointment after disappointment for me but Bozja was the one thing that kept me motivated to keep playing and then they just do this.

[Lauront]

Maybe Matsuno should make the next FF MMORPG lol

Despite my opinions about his way of explaining things I'd be down.

Aye, I'd love a proper Ivalice MMO.

[Jandor]

I very much enjoyed the Ivalice storyline and raids, so it's surprising to see how unpopular they were. Especially things like "half assed" when there's definitely more work put into it than Eureka or some of the older raids. It feels like it's one of those things that's trendy to hate because it's "not true to the original", but I could be wrong. Either way I enjoyed it.

Most of the people who dislike it seem to be people who have no knowledge of the original, it's really rather impenetrable for a newcomer.

I suppose it did try though, did better than Nier at least, that one got around the issue of newcomers not having any idea what's happening by just not having any story worth caring about. Man, I just don't think I'll ever stop being salty about that raid.

[Vahlnir]

If the story is over, hopefully they can bring some of these characters over to a completely new story. I'd hate to think we've seen the last of Lyon.

[ReynTime]

Honestly i’d love this option. He’d be less likely to give in to pandering to the community as well, He likes to write his own stories and doesn’t like to let anyone influence the outcome unlike what we’ve seen with msq over and over. I personally love his story themes and ideals so i’d be willing to give it a fair chance if it ever happened in the future for sure.

Well, not trying to defend Yoshida or the writing team, because I'm not a fan of that kind of shift either, but I think the fundamental difference between him and Matsuno is that Yoshida is ultimately really trying to appeal to the masses as much as he can. Which makes him technically a really good producer, after all that's what his job is for, to ensure maximum return is generated from his product and that they get all the resources they need for that.
One is a very good producer. The other is a good creator. It's like the difference between... Shuntaro Furukawa and Satoru Iwata. Similar positions (CEOs) with the same long-term goal but very different philosophies (one thinks strictly as a financial analyst and the other came from being hands-on with game creation).

[KizuyaKatogami]

Well, not trying to defend Yoshida or the writing team, because I'm not a fan of that kind of shift either, but I think the fundamental difference between him and Matsuno is that Yoshida is ultimately really trying to appeal to the masses as much as he can. Which makes him technically a really good producer, after all that's what his job is for, to ensure maximum return is generated from his product and that they get all the resources they need for that.
One is a very good producer. The other is a good creator. It's like the difference between... Shuntaro Furukawa and Satoru Iwata. Similar positions (CEOs) with the same long-term goal but very different philosophies (one thinks strictly as a financial analyst and the other came from being hands-on with game creation).

The thing is though, appealing to the masses has come at the cost of coherent plot threads at times. So someone like me who gets really invested in stories, it just kind of frustrates me because they’re choosing the ideas of the community who a majority aren’t famous writers who know what they’re doing, instead of their own writers who have their own ideas. I’d rather have a producer that trusts his team and their ideas instead of looking to a community who has no idea how to write or make stories just so they’re “happy.” Besides with this community they get happy over any small bone Yoshi throws at them. It’s why i’m looking to leave though after 6.0 hits and new mmo’s come out. I’m tired of the story coming at the cost of the community.

[ReynTime]

The thing is though, appealing to the masses has come at the cost of coherent plot threads at times. So someone like me who gets really invested in stories, it just kind of frustrates me because they’re choosing the ideas of the community who a majority aren’t famous writers who know what they’re doing, instead of their own writers who have their own ideas. I’d rather have a producer that trusts his team and their ideas instead of looking to a community who has no idea how to write or make stories just so they’re “happy.” Besides with this community they get happy over any small bone Yoshi throws at them. It’s why i’m looking to leave though after 6.0 hits and new mmo’s come out. I’m tired of the story coming at the cost of the community.

I know what you mean and I agree. I'm just saying the "masses" usually don't grasp that and just want to see their favorite characters sticking around, for just any reason at all, and the story is just a backstage that lets them see them do cool things (or be cute so they can fantasize about shipping). And the XIV staff (or rather, SE, if KH and FFVII-Remake are any indication) knows that. They give what they want in terms of fanservice, and the fans in return will sing praises on how the XIV staff loves their fanbase and knows what they want so more people hear that and try the game out.

I don't like that approach either. It's the kind of thing I hate in long-running manga and such. How they change their plans regarding fate of characters and direction based on what would make fans sad.

[MiaShino]

After reading some of the stuffs here I am beginning to wonder if my game has a different script or I got sucked into another reality.

People hate the Empire?! Everyone I introduce to FF14 land loves the Empire.. Their characters are the most entertaining and often have more depth. Mah! I remember towards the end of ARR when some stuff occurs you can speak with empire soldiers and they are all hilarious! One even has a crush on Tataru. After that I felt bad about all the soldiers I mercilessly slaughtered for their uniforms moments before. Of all the writing that was actually pretty darn good. This writer has many many fans, I suppose. I wish there was understanding but I cannot theory of mind it, perhaps someone can give examples of good parts of Ivalice raids? What moment did everyone enjoy the most? I am kinda curious now.

Heck! Or anything else they wrote that is not Heavensward (which blasphemous as may be had some pretty low moments). What part of ARR world building felt best?

When me and my partner started playing this we had some trouble immersing ourselves. Here we are in one unfamiliar world and I have already been hit with soooooo many words I do not understand. What is the Echo? What is this big crystal telling me to hear, feel, think? Who are all these people?! I am equal parts interested as I am overwhelmed, I wonder what will happen in the plot next? I am sure all this exposition happened for a reason. "Umm, there are some ladybugs and stuff go kill'em." Alrighty.. "Go fetch my cargo that is two feet away from me." Umm.. okay sure sure. "Something something hooded figure now help me deal with unruly adventurers by throwing water on them." Welp. If ever I doubted I was playing an mmorpg.

Then there is the Haukke Manor ark. By the twelve.. everyone speaks of the Titan ark but what even was this? Why am I helping Ala Mhigo again? I just felled a god and now I am doing this? What kinda pacing.. It takes sooooo long for him to move plot elements along half of the time I forget what was even happening by the time something interesting finally does occur. I managed to get almost ten people playing and I hear the same from them. I remember Fresh into Heavensward right after all the Ul'Dah stuffs happened my first quest in a new land.. deliver sammages. ?!!!!!! Seriously?! Way to kill the mood..

[Theodric]

I'd prefer the fine dining experience to the fast food approach where my MMO of choice is concerned. By their very nature, they're well suited to long term investment and I firmly believe that the pursuit of mass appeal contributed heavily to WoW's fall from grace given that it had everything going for it at one point in time.

I'm not even convinced that FFXIV is actually going for mass appeal in its current form so much as losing itself to whatever gets the most hits on Twitter and Reddit - both of which are platforms that a significant chunk of players do not invest in to any significantly degree due to how much of an echo chamber both sites have become.

True mass appeal comes in offering something for everybody. Just as a good restaurant will have an extensive and varied menu, a good MMO will bring multiple things to the table. Yet recently it seems like more and more content is being cut away from the game altogether.

[KizuyaKatogami]

After reading some of the stuffs here I am beginning to wonder if my game has a different script or I got sucked into another reality.

People hate the Empire?! Everyone I introduce to FF14 land loves the Empire..

I’ve found in my personal experiences a large group of this community will literally crucify you if you find garleans or ascians appealing or share some of their views. They’ll call you multiple irl terms that don’t even fit with the games story(n word sympathizer, genocide sympathizer etc etc.) It really gets in the way of theory crafting and lore curiosity because these people just seem to gate keep despite the devs themselves saying the story isn’t black and white and everyones neither good nor bad in a sense.