Quote Originally Posted by Hulan View Post
The problem is, I am not all together convinced that the current MMO population could support that style of play anymore. There is an expectation that "fun" content be accessible on a moment's notice. Which, in a way, isn't wrong. Enjoyable content should be easily accessed. FFXIV, though, seems to have forgotten that the journey can be just as fun as the destination. Long, grueling hikes though zones is not fun. But long, exciting ones can be. The balance is incredibly fine.
You make a good point there. The journey is just as fun as it's ever been - for someone who can appreciate it.

What's really changed is the expectations. What more and more people are considering fun these days is "getting better loot" and "leveling up more quickly". The pay-off is the motivator, and the journey is just a "necessary evil" they have to deal with to acquire it. Sad but true.

It doesn't even need to be stated outright, just look at how many arguments there are for higher drop rates, faster leveling, people who don't want PL'ing to be reigned in and, in fact, think the PL level rate is the way it should be anyway. Their sense of enjoyment (satisfaction, achievement, what-have-you) is derived from "getting things", be it levels or a better item drop. This much is abundantly clear just by reading the various arguments and suggestions that pop up time and again in the forums. It's equally abundant in seeing what ideas or gameplay concepts people are against. Many times, what someone has chosen to argue about says a lot more about their point-of-view than the argument itself.


Quote Originally Posted by Hulan View Post
Another thing that SE did that contributed to the uniqueness of FFXI's world was how it was woven together. There are any number of zones that are not just connected to another zone, but woven into it, part of a while. Temple of Uggalepih comes to mind immediately. The temple was not some vestigial appendage of Yhoator Jungle, it was a vital part of it.
Excellent point. You could say the same about Horutoto Ruins and Eldiemme Necropolis, how both of those areas are sort of "woven" into their parent zones.