Where does the idea that Forums are for posting feedback to SE come from?

[DPZ2]

I've read messages like the following on any number of threads, more so in the last year or two:

"I've posted a lot of feedback in the forums over the years ... but they're very critical of the direction of the game, and the devs just didn't really care for it."

I find nothing in the Forum Welcome to Topic X messages to indicate the various forum topics are an official means of communication with Square Enix developers. Still, I've found a lot of complaints that say developers ignore their feedback, despite the clear topic descriptions that indicate it is for communication between players.

And yes, there are whole sections of topics that are specifically a means of communication with Square Enix. The Information, Technical Support, and Bug Report sections come to mind.

So, where does the idea that the forums are for posting feedback to SE come from? Was there an official posting or Live Letter comment that lead to this belief? Are players coming from other games simply used to communicating directly with developers? Has feedback in other games' official forums resulted in such great changes that players figure it should work here?

[Nizzi]

The game itself literally says to come here to post feedback and suggestions regarding the game.

[Renathras]

The game itself literally says to come here to post feedback and suggestions regarding the game.

I feel like that's pretty vague and probably more relates to the support sections of the Forum. For example, the "Lore" section or "New Player Help" section wouldn't make sense for posting "suggestions". General Discussion is for General Discussion, not suggestions. The role threads are for, as stated here - https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...ealer-Roles%21

Welcome to Forum: Healer Roles!

The purpose of this forum is for players to hold discussions on Healer roles and its tactics with other players.

Please take time to read the following rules and the FINAL FANTASY XIV Forum Guidelines(North America/UK) before you post or start a discussion.

General Forum Rules:
Please refer to the following thread: http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/threads/63104

Discussions on the Healer Role and tactics.

...not endless negativity and black knighting or attacking positive posters or some combination of asking for and demanding changes to the Jobs within the role - the things that ACTUALLY happen there. I feel like the Mods don't even go there, as if they did, 99% of the threads there would be shut down for not falling under the point of the thing.

[Saraide]

This is why the complainers are correct about white knights running around here, it's just not an echo chamber.

[CelestiCer]

Yoshi-P and Dev's themselves said that we should go to the Forums and give them their Feedback, encouraging us to try out ( whatever good or horrendous changes they made ) and post it on the Forums. Format apparently doesn't matter. Western Forums use endless amounts of Threads and the JP forums use Mega-threads. We even have Video feedbacks of x topics in multiple languages, it doesn't really matter? because its not clear what feedback they actually listen to exactly where. A lot of unwanted changes to Jobs they claimed were based on Player-Feedback, but when they happened? are met with negative feedback that got ignored by Square. So the way I see it? They do listen, but what they do with it? is not in our interest for best player-experience.

It's " Their wallets and Status-quo first " then " Whatever makes x easier to develop or Balance for the Devs " then " Our desires as the Players " in that order. The customer is not right. So the Forums, while it should be the source of feedback? somewhat devolves into a place for Venting and Sharing frustrations by many that feel like their voices aren't ever being heard no matter how loud they try to be.

[Nizzi]

I feel like that's pretty vague and probably more relates to the support sections of the Forum. For example, the "Lore" section or "New Player Help" section wouldn't make sense for posting "suggestions". General Discussion is for General Discussion, not suggestions. The role threads are for, as stated here - https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...ealer-Roles%21

You can feel like it's vague if you want I guess, but it's where the game tells you to come leave feedback, and the stickied post in this subforum says the same as well. General Discussion is literally for suggestions and feedback on the game.

Welcome to the official FINAL FANTASY XIV forums!

Welcome to the official FINAL FANTASY XIV forums!

These forums are a venue for players of FINAL FANTASY XIV to communicate with each other and submit feedback on the game, as well as being a centralized location for the development and operations teams to gather user suggestions concerning current and future game content.

[Stormpeaks]

I feel like that's pretty vague and probably more relates to the support sections of the Forum. For example, the "Lore" section or "New Player Help" section wouldn't make sense for posting "suggestions". General Discussion is for General Discussion, not suggestions. The role threads are for, as stated here - https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...ealer-Roles%21



Discussions on the Healer Role and tactics.

...not endless negativity and black knighting or attacking positive posters or some combination of asking for and demanding changes to the Jobs within the role - the things that ACTUALLY happen there. I feel like the Mods don't even go there, as if they did, 99% of the threads there would be shut down for not falling under the point of the thing.

"feedback and suggestions regarding FFXIV can be posted on the FFXIV official forums"

bro ? Lol, please explain in what way its vague ?

[Axxion]

dont forget this one https://support.na.square-enix.com/c...382&la=1&fty=3

and in the live letters. Yoshi said himself that it easier to see post if its a mega post. however as you can see in the na side of things, we cant keep one post going until it gets swallowed(pause) by some trolls posts etc

million dollar question is were they pulling the feedback from cause its not here.

[Hurlstone]

I feel official forums have always had a feedback element to them, since my days of vanilla WoW. How much feedback they take is another question. We are always a very small percentage of the games population, and never free from trolling, bias and the threat of becoming an echo chamber. One would hope they gauge opinion from a number of places, both official and not, plus the in-game metrics we are blind too.

[BaconBits]

Typical Midqo'te L.