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

[ZephyrMenodora]

These forums at this point are just a placebo for those who think their feedback is being read.

[Rolder50]

These forums at this point are just a placebo for those who think their feedback is being read.

Woah now. It's also an excellent source of amusing drama and trolling.

[Jessica_VS]

An internet forum is a place where people may spend their lives arguing with each other unsuccessfully.

[Jojoya]

It's for feedback. It's also for community discussion. Someone could leave feedback and the rest of the community has a chance to discuss their own take on the subject.

The Community team probably scans on a regular basis for new topics that may actually include feedback/suggestions on topics that the development team hasn't already addressed in some way. Some may end up missed in the general chaos but we know some do make it to the developers because we've seen responses.

The problem is the players who demand that their thread become an echo chamber supporting their idea and that those who disagree shouldn't post. That's not the way it works. If you can't handle disagreement with your ideas, then don't post them in the official forums. Post them through the Suggestion portion of the Support Desk instead.

[NekoMataMata]

The problem is the players who demand that their thread become an echo chamber supporting their idea and that those who disagree shouldn't post. That's not the way it works. If you can't handle disagreement with your ideas, then don't post them in the official forums. Post them through the Suggestion portion of the Support Desk instead.

Well, that's ironic considering you're from one of the handful of factions around here that tries to stifle any disagreement.

[MsMisato]

oh they take feedback, but you're better off having someone translate your feedback to Japanese and posting it on the Japanese forums.

[SassyAssassin]

oh they take feedback, but you're better off having someone translate your feedback to Japanese and posting it on the Japanese forums.

Pretty much this, we have complaint megathreads that go on for years still without much change.

[Gemina]

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...

...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?

Where else are they going to go? Even without specific mention to come here to leave feedback and suggestions, these are the official discussion forums for FFXIV. People will naturally gravitate here to mention what is on their minds.

The disconnect comes from thinking that as far as suggestions and feedback goes, that this is the place to go to communicate directly with the dev team. In terms of that, this place is nothing more than a 'suggestions box' in the company breakroom. The term echo chamber doesn't necessarily derive from posters parroting off of each other, but rather that your shouts echo from the vastness of the void, and are to be heard by anyone within your vicinity rather than the devs themselves. It's the term "hivemind" that applies only to those who just repeat what is heard instead of challenging it with their own critical thinking.

What's said here that actually makes it to the dev team is anyone's guess. But to say that none of it does is erroneous thinking, especially when a person's specific suggestion or complaint is not addressed. It is not the job of the dev team to cater to every single person with the next 'ground breaking' idea to add or change the game with. Nor are they obligated to succumb or apologize to a mob of dissatisfied players within its community. When they actually eff something up such as Hrothgar hairstyles, or the last raid series. That kind of feedback is responded to very quickly and addressed. If you're going to talk about how you're going to unsub if they don't bring Kaiten back? Well, I guess "Bye Felicia".