The Image of FFXIV

[aveyond-dreams]

FFXIV seems to be undergoing an aesthetic change of sort, that has impacted both story beats and more recently marketing material/guides. It’s come to my attention that a series of guide videos intended for newer players has recently been released, but I am not sure that their general style is really indicative of what a player would seek out in a guide video or to get a better feel of the game. However, with sequences such as the 6.1 Y’shtola scene and 6.0’s overall focus on more modern aspects rather than high fantasy, it really does seem that something has changed with FFXIV.

To briefly touch on the video series, I think it is important to consider that the players of FFXIV are of a mostly adult or late teen audience. A key factor in the way in which we consume media or guides especially video ones is when we seek out creators who give more of a feel of talking with us rather than at us, which was a very prominent critique as well during WoW’s Dragonflight showcase videos. The art style and general behavior of the characters in the first video alone seemed a bit too cheery, for lack of a better word, and if I were a new player I don’t understand why I would prefer watching those guides as opposed to Mr. Happy, Zepla, Xenos, or Preach. These creators I feel do a better job of speaking in ways and visuals that are more palatable, to me at least. Moving forward I think it would’ve been better to try and do more things the way they go about their content creation.

It all sort of links back to each other, from the new direction and tone of the MSQs to these videos...this feels so much different to the Heavensward and Shadowbringers eras. Even though in the leadup to Shadowbringers there was an ad that included the likes of Tom Holland, that ad was still very different compared to this new video series.

[Theodric]

Same energy:

[Kaurhz]

Uh, cool story.

[AwesomeJr44]

FFXIV seems to be undergoing an aesthetic change of sort, that has impacted both story beats and more recently marketing material/guides. It’s come to my attention that a series of guide videos intended for newer players has recently been released, but I am not sure that their general style is really indicative of what a player would seek out in a guide video or to get a better feel of the game. However, with sequences such as the 6.1 Y’shtola scene and 6.0’s overall focus on more modern aspects rather than high fantasy, it really does seem that something has changed with FFXIV.

It's the classic 'appeal to a new audience at the cost of your current one' play. We've seen plenty of companies use this strategy recently and it never works. SE is probably trying to get more younger people to play the game even if it pushes older fans out the door. This is a stupid idea and it going to blow up in their face if they continue doing this. Hopefully this was a couple of small incidents where SE was just out of touch, but this has happened to lots of other companies so I'm not sure if I have any confidence in this not being an intentionally different direction they're taking.

To briefly touch on the video series, I think it is important to consider that the players of FFXIV are of a mostly adult or late teen audience.

Considering some of the... more mature content that's in the game itself, I'm inclined to agree.

A key factor in the way in which we consume media or guides especially video ones is when we seek out creators who give more of a feel of talking with us rather than at us, which was a very prominent critique as well during WoW’s Dragonflight showcase videos.

^ This. This is why corporations never connect with the common person well. This kind of content isn't meant to connect with us as people but as customers. We're not people to them, we're just numbers.

if I were a new player I don’t understand why I would prefer watching those guides as opposed to Mr. Happy

To be fair, I don't think anyone should be listening to Mr Happy for guides on anything. That guy is horrible at giving good information and he's boring as hell.

if I were a new player I don’t understand why I would prefer watching those guides as opposed to ... Zepla, Xenos, or Preach. These creators I feel do a better job of speaking in ways and visuals that are more palatable, to me at least. Moving forward I think it would’ve been better to try and do more things the way they go about their content creation.

Exactly. That's why SE should have taken trusted members of the community to make the videos. They could have commissioned them and worked out a deal where the content creator makes a guide then gets paid for it. Although, if they did, they'd probably pick Mr Happy for it so maybe not a great idea. SE loves Mr Happy because he's a sheep for them on the daily.

It all sort of links back to each other, from the new direction and tone of the MSQs to these videos...this feels so much different to the Heavensward and Shadowbringers eras. Even though in the leadup to Shadowbringers there was an ad that included the likes of Tom Holland, that ad was still very different compared to this new video series.

The game itself has taken a massive tone shift ever since Endwalker. Shadowbringers and the expansions before were all about laying down an intricate story, now Endwalker is just anime tropes upon anime tropes and simple stories that even toddlers can understand (Hence why I believe they're trying to appeal to a younger audience). When you view it like that, these 'guides' fit in rather well with EW.

Same energy:

The devs would probably love it if the average Cocomelon enjoyer was their average payer for the game.

[Shibi]

Fresh blood is always good, and there is a huge part of the gaming community who are daunted by MMOs due to the toxic reputation of online play. While I am not much into the millenial-kiddy style of the videos they do have some solid information in them once you get past the #0 of them.



It's weird there is a UK version and USA version that are exactly the same. Are USA people that offended to click on a video with a UK flag?

[Cach]

That video had a "Corporate Art Style" vibe that my designer friends meme often. Made me chuckle a bit.

[Bunnycake]

Same energy:

My toddler niece watches that, can't unsee now lol

[DrWho2010]

seems to be a lot of copium and hopium being sniffed around here....

[aveyond-dreams]

seems to be a lot of copium and hopium being sniffed around here....

I don't think it's unreasonable to ask that marketing material/guides be more appropriate for FFXIV's demographics. However, as others have mentioned, that too seems to be changing.

[AwesomeJr44]

seems to be a lot of copium and hopium being sniffed around here....

Ah yes, I am on copium for wishing that SE created their marketing to target their audience instead of radically changing their marketing (and I'd argue the game) in an attempt to get 4 year olds to play the game.

How long before people start saying "FFXIV is a kids game, you can just leave if you don't like it"?