r/ffxivdiscussion: What can Square Enix do to help fix the terrible netcode of FFXIV?

[caffe_macchiato]

A ton of people are okay with the net code as-is. We’ve integrated the lag into our strats, such as managing “snapshots” and “slide casting”. People have made numerous illegal third-party tools that include features like assisted slidecasting, calling out mechanics to prevent snapshotting, drawing maps on the ground, and packet-sniffing to alter server calls. And because most FFXIV players support the modding community (“it doesn’t affect anyone! Who cares!”) people will generally be okay with the game. Because it’s only bearable when people cheat. Of course, Square knows this, and they don’t give a shit. FFXIV has a plug-in architecture that runs circles around most online games despite being “prohibited”. No one cares. Just consume the product.

Suffice to say, Blizzard went from an indie developer to part of one of the world’s largest and wealthiest entertainment companies in history on the back of a single MMO with good net code. Square Enix is falling apart at the seams despite four major MMOs and two of the OG RPG brands. There’s a reason why that is. People won’t care until they look at the past ten years they’ve wasted in this laggy cesspit and realize they’ve gained nothing of value.

[Xaruko_Nexume]

I've seen entire threads on reddit about nothing other than the irony of just how massive and robust this games mod community is...for a game that technically doesn't allow so much as chat bubbles. It's mindblowing.

I dont agree the SE is falling apart at the seams though lol.

[Mosha]

I couldn't agree with you more. I've seen entire threads on reddit about nothing other than the irony of just how massive and robust this games mod community is...for a game that technically doesn't allow so much as chat bubbles. It's mindblowing.

There is a plugin that allows you to click a button on a website and it will automatically download and install the mod during runtime lmao. It's crazy how developed modding FFXIV is these days.

Turning off the game to install a mod isn't part of the optimal rotation it seems.

[Saraide]

People won’t care until they look at the past ten years they’ve wasted in this laggy cesspit and realize they’ve gained nothing of value.

Talking from personal experience?

[caffe_macchiato]

Talking from personal experience?

FFXIV just simply doesn’t seem to have the lasting cultural impact that World of Warcraft had. Even 20 years later, WoW is a titan in the industry. Many look back on their formative years spent entirely in Azeroth rather fondly. Imagine skipping all the traditional rites of passage, like going to parties, getting laid, etc. for a video game—and not regretting it. It takes a very good-quality product to have that effect on people.

Would people say the same for FFXIV? Probably not. The gameplay doesn’t have the same addictive staying power. Content is burned through quickly. Combat is the opposite of addictive—it’s slow, turgid, and clunky. The perfect word to describe raiding in FFXIV is janky. It’s awkward and uncomfortable. It lingers like the aftertaste of aftermarket diet soda when compared to the real thing.

Suffice to say, people make their memories in FFXIV doing anything but what the developers sanction—including modding, ERP, and drama culture. Anything to avoid the actual gameplay. Doesn’t quite have the same ring to it as this game’s predecessors, does it?

Where’s our South Park episode?

[Iyrnthota]

FFXIV just simply doesn’t seem to have the lasting cultural impact that World of Warcraft had. Even 20 years later, WoW is a titan in the industry. Many look back on their formative years spent entirely in Azeroth rather fondly. Imagine skipping all the traditional rites of passage, like going to parties, getting laid, etc. for a video game—and not regretting it. It takes a very good-quality product to have that effect on people.

Would people say the same for FFXIV? Probably not. The gameplay doesn’t have the same addictive staying power. Content is burned through quickly. Combat is the opposite of addictive—it’s slow, turgid, and clunky. The perfect word to describe raiding in FFXIV is janky. It’s awkward and uncomfortable. It lingers like the aftertaste of aftermarket diet soda when compared to the real thing.

Suffice to say, people make their memories in FFXIV doing anything but what the developers sanction—including modding, ERP, and drama culture. Anything to avoid the actual gameplay. Doesn’t quite have the same ring to it as this game’s predecessors, does it?

Where’s our South Park episode?

It sounds like you view any MMO without the lasting cultural impact of WoW to be a failure, which I would consider particularly ignorant.
WoW was the perfect game at the perfect time. There will never be another MMO like WoW.

[caffe_macchiato]

It sounds like you view any MMO without the lasting cultural impact of WoW to be a failure, which I would consider particularly ignorant.
WoW was the perfect game at the perfect time. There will never be another MMO like WoW.

Sure, but it’s just sad how the timeline has basically ended for this genre. Many people such as yourself agree that FFXIV is just kinda “good enough”, it’s not totally remarkable, but we’re okay with that. That’s normal, right? I’m fact, I’m sure everyone here has more fun playing other games because they’re simply more fun to play.

But we HAVE to defend FFXIV for some reason. It’s like an identity for so many people. Sure it’s a good game, it’s great, just do the usual of course. Just slidecast and get snapshotted while doing your usual limit cut and stack in/out mechanic—you know, the same old design you all know and love. It’s all a “dance”. Just memorize the fight, there’s nothing unique to do. Then go play other games once you clear. FFXIV is basically like doing chores but with some great patriotic fervor, because after all, you LOVE this game, don’t you?

Like I said, you’ll only realize the truth when you look back on the time you’ve spent doing this. Once the love affair is over and people are free to think for themselves without fear of being judged.

[GaiusDrakon]

Sure, but it’s just sad how the timeline has basically ended for this genre. Many people such as yourself agree that FFXIV is just kinda “good enough”, it’s not totally remarkable, but we’re okay with that. That’s normal, right? I’m fact, I’m sure everyone here has more fun playing other games because they’re simply more fun to play.

But we HAVE to defend FFXIV for some reason. It’s like an identity for so many people. Sure it’s a good game, it’s great, just do the usual of course. Just slidecast and get snapshotted while doing your usual limit cut and stack in/out mechanic—you know, the same old design you all know and love. It’s all a “dance”. Just memorize the fight, there’s nothing unique to do. Then go play other games once you clear. FFXIV is basically like doing chores but with some great patriotic fervor, because after all, you LOVE this game, don’t you?

Like I said, you’ll only realize the truth when you look back on the time you’ve spent doing this. Once the love affair is over and people are free to think for themselves without fear of being judged.

The fact that half of the counter-criticisms boils down to "it has always been bad so don't complain" says it all really.

[Jeeqbit]

Imagine skipping all the traditional rites of passage, like going to parties, getting laid, etc. for a video game—and not regretting it. It takes a very good-quality product to have that effect on people. Would people say the same for FFXIV?

I've met enough people in the game it has that effect on.

The gameplay doesn’t have the same addictive staying power.

By design. Despite that it has this effect on people still, Yoshi-P is trying to make it not have that effect on people to the degree that many MMORPGs from the past have, by allowing them to be played casually and making it so you don't lose out too much by being away for months.

A good quality product is not something that forces you to destroy your real life to progress in it. A good quality product is something that might make you do that voluntarily when you don't really need to.

And if we have learned anything about World of Warcraft it's that you needed to or you lost out and fell behind.

For example, I don't need to do roulettes every day. But I can because it's fun. I don't need to spam Crystalline Conflict, but I can because it's fun. I don't need to go through Eureka to get all the weapons, but I can because it's fun. I don't need to level all of the jobs, but I can because the variety is fun.

It's not like I can't just log back in after months, click the market board and be fully ready for savage in moments, which is the problem I have heard about in WoW for much of its existence.

[caffe_macchiato]

By design.

You did it! You said the thing!!