If FFXVII is a new online game... would you move inmediately?

[Lauront]

Something with a more flexible character customisation system, good graphics, distinctive races and racial lore/zones, differentiation between classes/jobs with some customisation potential, an engaging combat system with challenging content, and a story less fixated on the character as the Chosen One (tm) would interest me greatly, particularly since it would be unburdened from the many legacy engine issues plaguing XIV. Particularly in a setting like Ivalice, with some darker/grittier story elements and less fixation on being a goody-two shoes.

[Herebedragons]

Something with a more flexible character customisation system, good graphics, distinctive races and racial lore/zones, differentiation between classes/jobs with some customisation potential, an engaging combat system with challenging content, and a story less fixated on the character as the Chosen One (tm) would interest me greatly, particularly since it would unburdened from the many legacy engine issues plaguing XIV. Particularly in a setting like Ivalice, with some darker/grittier story elements and less fixation on being a goody-two shoes.

Where's the fun in walking in the shoes of some inconsequential grunt?

[Lauront]

Where's the fun in walking in the shoes of some inconsequential grunt?

Didn't say an inconsequential grunt. Just not a character with such a defined identity, limiting my own ability to shape the character. I don't find much fun in playing someone else's idea of a character.

Beyond that, some people play MMOs for the fact that they can RP out going on adventures with their friends (in a similar fashion to D&D etc.), without being the centre of attention in every major plot, so I can't really agree with the point underlying your question. There isn't one singular form of fun when it comes to MMOs or RPGs.

[Herebedragons]

Didn't say an inconsequential grunt. Just not a character with such a defined identity, limiting my own ability to shape the character. I don't find much fun in playing someone else's idea of a character.

Beyond that, some people play MMOs for the fact that they can RP out going on adventures with their friends (in a similar fashion to D&D etc.), without being the centre of attention in every major plot, so I can't really agree with the point underlying your question. There isn't one singular form of fun when it comes to MMOs or RPGs.

I think that's more of a problem with FFXIV's story being linear, with a lack of RPG elements. Nothing to do really with our character being the focus of said story.

[Lauront]

I think that's more of a problem with FFXIV's story being linear, with a lack of RPG elements. Nothing to do really with our character being the focus of said story.

I don't disagree really, but the issue you run into IMO is that MMOs which place such a focus require the linearity in order to be able to maintain it, due to the increased work load (as well as issues about which outcome is canon or not as the world moves forward) it entails. Faction-based MMOs (WoW, SWTOR, WAR etc.) tend to be a bit different because you're then tweaking the story a bit for each faction, and I don't think it's an accident that these tend to be the MMOs I enjoy most story-wise. If an MMO could devote the resources to both a story focus and a reasonable degree of non-linearity I'd agree with your point but I think it's difficult to disentangle them in practice.

It's hard to say if I'd even theoretically move considering we have no info about what their next MMO could even be like.

However, I highly doubt that FF17 will be an MMO considering the disinterest SQEX has shown in creating and supporting 4 MMOs at once and creating more competition for themselves, especially since they've very interested in putting more support into FF14 since it's got so much wind in its sails.

Seeing how different what Yoshi has in mind for a future MMO is to XIV, XI and I imagine their DQ MMO, I don't think it'd even compete for the same type of player. Perhaps for their internal resources but they are capable of running multiple concurrent projects.

I'm absolutely sure they'd much more quickly announce a remake of the engine of XIV than make another one. Or do this just the same and rename it whatever new numbered FF it would be.

Certainly for an MMO of XIV's type, I'd agree - and they do seem to be looking into overhauling the engine. Granted, his words are non-committal, but it's much more positive about it than they've been in the past, coupled with this about the textures - a project they previously said would be highly costly.

[MikkoAkure]

I don't disagree really, but the issue you run into IMO is that MMOs which place such a focus require the linearity in order to be able to maintain it, due to the increased work load (as well as issues about which outcome is canon or not as the world moves forward) it entails. Faction-based MMOs (WoW, SWTOR, WAR etc.) tend to be a bit different because you're then tweaking the story a bit for each faction, and I don't think it's an accident that these tend to be the MMOs I enjoy most story-wise. If an MMO could devote the resources to both a story focus and a reasonable degree of non-linearity I'd agree with your point but I think it's difficult to disentangle them in practice.

FFXIV's focusing on the player character for the narrative is actually a spin that I have appreciated more and more, especially with Shadowbringers. It's a nice twist on most MMOs I've played where you're just there and the most you do is run around letting the important characters get together. I think FFXIV's take on it is more influenced by the fact that it's a JRPG than anything else. JRPGs have fewer RPG elements, and less character creation control, if they even have any at all and your character isn't already established with their own appearance and even name and personality. The stories are much more linear and their worlds are less open. Though an MMO, I think a lot of that carries over into the bones of FFXIV since it sits atop a mountain of previous FF and DQ games that the developers and company have made.

FFXIV took a lot of inspiration from WoW and GW2, but abandoned the factions and instead have a storyline about the previous factions uniting together. FFXI does sort of the same thing as the factional storylines converge into the MSQ. This is despite the fact that Yoshi-P was a WoW player, and FFXIV already had existing factions that fought each other, so it seems like that's the direction he wants to take. Being the head of the division that would be making any future FF MMO, we're stuck with him and his ideas so that might be what a future FF MMO would look like if there even is ever another one.

From all your posts in other threads complaining about the narrative and lack of choices, it seems like JRPGs just aren't the genre for you and you might be better suited playing Western RPGs and MMOs.