FFXIV: Do Better

[Ramiee]

Everything they do pushes all the old players away, so they can bring in new players who have no idea about the past, who wont complain cuz they dont know anything or care about anything unless its bright and colorful and flashy and glittery and such wao
youre over 25? get out - square enix

I don't think the new players will even stay around considering how they hated the story. A lot of new players are casual social players who prefer to hang out and talk instead of doing battle content and especially hard battle content, I imagine when vr becomes more affordable all of the social players will go over to VR chat or something instead. Maybe coming back for the X.0 patches for the MSQ.
The game is really bad at guiding new players into the grind content and keeping retention, used to be more balanced with high skill ceiling jobs so some people would remain to try and master their job. Though this has the caviate of scaring people away from them. Sort of damned If you do damned if you don't, I feel bad for modern MMO game developers.

[Jojoya]

I'm not going to say the devs need to do better or anything of that nature. It's their game to make as they want.

I will say I'm not certain it's a game I want to continue to play. It's got nothing to do with job design or how much content they do/don't add.

The theme of the game appears to be changing and it appears to be a direction that just does not appeal to me.

When it comes to RPG and MMORPGs, I'm much more into the sword and sorcery type game. I have no interest in steampunk, cyberpunk, high tech, etc. I gave the game a try when I was looking for a WoW replacement because it was sword and sorcery mixed with what I would consider a low amount of mid-tech. The mid-tech gave me concern at first but didn't end up bothering me as they had done a good job of blending it into the game.

This no longer feels like the same game. The last 2 zones were dumped on us like an avalanche, destroying what had been built up in the past. The aesthetic is totally different.

I'm guessing that was done deliberately. The developers seem to be trying to say the game is going in a completely new direction. While I'm happy for those who want or at least have interest in that new direction in theme and aesthetic, it has no appeal to me. I lost interest in the game once a purple bubble appeared in the sky of a desert frontier. I have little motivation to log in to play anymore.

I'm going to wait to see what the first Live Letter for 7.1 shares (it should be in about 6 weeks based on past scheduling). If what we see in the second half of the 7.0 MSQ is going to be the focus of the game going forward, then it's time for me to find another game to play.

[Isala]

I'm not going to say the devs need to do better or anything of that nature. It's their game to make as they want.

I will say I'm not certain it's a game I want to continue to play. It's got nothing to do with job design or how much content they do/don't add.

The theme of the game appears to be changing and it appears to be a direction that just does not appeal to me.

When it comes to RPG and MMORPGs, I'm much more into the sword and sorcery type game. I have no interest in steampunk, cyberpunk, high tech, etc. I gave the game a try when I was looking for a WoW replacement because it was sword and sorcery mixed with what I would consider a low amount of mid-tech. The mid-tech gave me concern at first but didn't end up bothering me as they had done a good job of blending it into the game.

This no longer feels like the same game. The last 2 zones were dumped on us like an avalanche, destroying what had been built up in the past. The aesthetic is totally different.

I'm guessing that was done deliberately. The developers seem to be trying to say the game is going in a completely new direction. While I'm happy for those who want or at least have interest in that new direction in theme and aesthetic, it has no appeal to me. I lost interest in the game once a purple bubble appeared in the sky of a desert frontier. I have little motivation to log in to play anymore.

I'm going to wait to see what the first Live Letter for 7.1 shares (it should be in about 6 weeks based on past scheduling). If what we see in the second half of the 7.0 MSQ is going to be the focus of the game going forward, then it's time for me to find another game to play.

I can't speak for XIV's choices exactly, but the series has always had high technology mixed with fantasy even from the first game. "Ancient civilization" and whatnot with insane levels of technology. So it would make sense to follow suit here.

[Jojoya]

I can't speak for XIV's choices exactly, but the series has always had high technology mixed with fantasy even from the first game. "Ancient civilization" and whatnot with insane levels of technology. So it would make sense to follow suit here.

Many of are here because we like FFXIV for what it has been until now and not because the game is part of the FF franchise.

Again, I'm not trying to say there's any right or wrong here. It's simply a design choice but it's also one that has high potential to turn some players off of the game. Whether it will draw in new players to replace those that end up leaving is something that only time will tell. Most younger gamers still aren't that interested in MMORPGs because they aren't used to playing games that require longer stretches of time investment. They're used to their mobile games that they can pick up for a few minutes then put back down while they do other things.

[Kes13a]

Many of are here because we like FFXIV for what it has been until now and not because the game is part of the FF franchise.

Again, I'm not trying to say there's any right or wrong here. It's simply a design choice but it's also one that has high potential to turn some players off of the game. Whether it will draw in new players to replace those that end up leaving is something that only time will tell. Most younger gamers still aren't that interested in MMORPGs because they aren't used to playing games that require longer stretches of time investment. They're used to their mobile games that they can pick up for a few minutes then put back down while they do other things.

its why I left WoW years back, I disliked the direction. what SE may not realize, is if people leave for that reason, they rarely return. to this day after 15 years playing WoW from the start... I never look back and think about returning. they lost my money and faith, and its not going back. so if SE is decided on this course, they better be prepared for the result.

[Riastrad]

This reminds me of the days on the old lodestone when people where quitting in droves. To me, the games community has never felt this divided. Be it the story, setting, or gameplay, something fundamental about this game has shifted. Unfortunately, I seem to agree with the detractors more than with the people saying this game is going in a good direction. If anyone feels the need to quit, I understand completely where they are coming from.

It worked with 1.0. It will work again if enough people speak with their wallets. For my part, I will keep going. I personally want to see how SE gets itself out of this rut just as it did all those years ago.

[Aravell]

stop blaming the "casuals" for the game's problems.

This, honestly.

The casual players aren't the problem, most casual players I know are content with being good enough to do the content that they frequently do. The most likely reason that job simplifications happen is because of ease of balancing for the dev team.

Job simplifications also really only benefit the mediocre raiders who think they're better than they are. Those raiders who claim anything that they cannot play around as 'clunk', they then demand the removal of all this 'clunk' so they never have to learn how to play the job well.

[Tunda]

This, honestly.

The casual players aren't the problem, most casual players I know are content with being good enough to do the content that they frequently do. The most likely reason that job simplifications happen is because of ease of balancing for the dev team.

Job simplifications also really only benefit the mediocre raiders who think they're better than they are. Those raiders who claim anything that they cannot play around as 'clunk', they then demand the removal of all this 'clunk' so they never have to learn how to play the job well.

Tank and healer homogenized because it is easier for devs to balance them

I don't think casual player care that much about simplicity but they care about accability there is a clear differnces between these two words and I don't think devs understand what it is

[ThaCa]

Tank and healer homogenized because it is easier for devs to balance them

I don't think casual player care that much about simplicity but they care about accability there is a clear differnces between these two words and I don't think devs understand what it is

If Tanks and Healers need that much homogenization, they should just all in that part of their kits. Distill it until only the absolutely required skills to complete Savage/Ultimate remain and then use rest of the buttons for something more fun.

[Supersnow845]

Tank and healer homogenized because it is easier for devs to balance them

I don't think casual player care that much about simplicity but they care about accability there is a clear differnces between these two words and I don't think devs understand what it is

If tanks and healers need to be 4 shades of the same class to balance them (which they still can’t balance them as there is still >10% discrepancies that pop up regularly) they need to either hire more people or give up, admit they can’t balance supports and do something else