What did FF14 have right, at launch?

[Elexia]

Hmm...

Graphics...

Monsters actually were living breathing creatures unlike other MMOs where they're just kinda plopped down and have no "emotion".

....

[Onisake]

Hmm...

Graphics...

Monsters actually were living breathing creatures unlike other MMOs where they're just kinda plopped down and have no "emotion".

....

What really hooked me, and how i hooked a friend, was the graphics engine. the game looked stunning. very few could come close, or had very ridiculous armor and obvious korean-grinder influences (Aion). the armor was realistic for the most part. how it looks is extremely important. but i think they focused a little too much on that, as gameplay suffered terribly.

I liked how it was unique as well. granted it was a little too unique. there was nothing familiar at all really. you had to create your own classes by essentially leveling everything.

I both liked and hated the fact you could use any ability on any character for the most part. I really didn't like the fact the traditional jobs were not present.

As some other people mentioned. they generated the right amount of hype.
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Having played in Beta, i can say this is where things really really went south. A lot of stuff needed fixed.

The game was broken at that point. it was all over the forums. there was 'feed back' sections but for the most part they were only looking at hardware compatibility. having looked on both the JP and NA sides of the forums it was just sad how much was ignored by the devs at that time.

I think they have learned their lesson this time, but for the most part I saw the beta as an alpha. and the first 6 months were what the beta should have been.

My biggest worry right now is when beta starts for 2.0. The game is a lot more mature, but if they aren't taking all feedback seriously right from the beginning it's going to fail again.