Sub-Dividing Patches & Patch Schedule

[NarhiFaunlha]

You go to a sandwich shop and pay for a sandwich. You walk to the end of the line and you're given a piece of sliced bread. You wait 5 minutes. You get a slice of cheese. You wait 5 minutes. You get some meat. You're told that the sauces are coming with the veggies. You get some of the veggies. Then you wait some more. Weren't you promised both? Why wasn't the sandwich made and given to you at once? By the time your sandwich is finished the bread is soggy, the meat is cold, and the cheese is lukewarm.

That's the issue with FFXIV's patch cycle. You're told in the Live Letters leading up to the Expansion's release of all the content you're getting. The X.0 patch arrives and its just MSQ. Then the Raids. Then the Alliance Raids. Then later you're promised more content like Cosmic Exploration or Field Operations- but that's going to be subdivided into mini patches- even though you were promised everything.

The worst part is that we aren't even told how the patches will be organized. If you purchase Dawntrail, you're supposed to be able to play the Beastmaster class. We don't know when or how long until that class will arrive.

Is it too much to ask that we're given an estimate on when these patches will drop? Is it too much to ask to request that when a patch drops, the entire patch is dropped at once? Why bother calling it 7.21 and 7.22? Just call it 7.2 and 7.3.

I just want Field Content. I want to do something more than a weekly grind. I want my money's worth.

I want my gosh dang sandwich.

[Jeeqbit]

If people don't understand that the expansion announcements include what is coming in their patches, then that's really on the person for not understanding it. The expansion release itself has the amount of content as a "whole new game" (in their words) which is why it costs as much as a new game.

It includes the MSQ, which is the sort of length of a single player story game (and costs as much). It includes lots of endgame content such as hunts, a new treasure map, expert dungeons, 2 extremes, 4 normal/savage raids and a new pvp series (this is all on release or within the first mini patches), 2 new playstyles, and grinds for players that want to set goals such as extreme mounts, gemstone rewards, hunt mounts and a leveling all jobs mount.

If you don't like the above you aren't obligated to actually buy it. And if you only want the patch content such as Field Operations - good news, you can resubscribe when that patch drops, or refrain from purchasing the expansion until it drops, and view that as the "real release date".

As far as the patch cycle goes, it's true they aren't usually too clear about the long term plan for this. But realistically, people that have played for 10 years know the release schedule very well - and some of those veteran players have made youtube videos and websites explaining how the schedule work.

You can also just read the patch note history going back to ARR to get a very good sense of when to expect each piece of content:
https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodes...patchnote_log/

[NarhiFaunlha]

It includes the MSQ, which is the sort of length of a single player story game (and costs as much). It includes lots of endgame content such as hunts, a new treasure map, expert dungeons, 2 extremes, 4 normal/savage raids and a new pvp series (this is all on release or within the first mini patches), 2 new playstyles, and grinds for players that want to set goals such as extreme mounts, gemstone rewards, hunt mounts and a leveling all jobs mount. https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodes...patchnote_log/

If its 5 months between patches, and you're paying $15 a month, that's $75. That's almost double the price of the expansion itself. Are you getting 1.5 times the content during that period? Probably not. That's the issue I have. Expansions are being sold as a: "This is what's included!" Except it isn't included; its promised. Its coming. Its a lack of transparency of when its coming. This is especially important as- over the years- the size of each patch has been reduced. Less patch dungeons. Less MSQ. Less optional/extra content in the game and yet a longer period between the patches themselves.

[Ryvick]

Sorry, did you just describe every Sub sandwich shop I have ever been to in the first few sentences as if that is somehow not a successful business model?

A pre-made game is a solo game and you can buy those just about everywhere. MMOs don't come pre-made after the first year.

As for cost/benefit feel free to keep complaining but it wont change anything.

[Jeeqbit]

If its 5 months between patches, and you're paying $15 a month, that's $75. That's almost double the price of the expansion itself. Are you getting 1.5 times the content during that period? Probably not.

If it's 5 months between interesting Netflix program releases, and you're paying $15 a month, that's $75. Are you getting 5 times the programs during that period? Probably not.

Many people unsubscribe from Netflix when there are no programs release that they want to see (myself included).

On the other hand, many people stay subscribed to watch "old stuff" - just like they do in FFXIV.

[ovIm]

If it's 5 months between interesting Netflix program releases, and you're paying $15 a month, that's $75. Are you getting 5 times the programs during that period? Probably not.

Many people unsubscribe from Netflix when there are no programs release that they want to see (myself included).

On the other hand, many people stay subscribed to watch "old stuff" - just like they do in FFXIV.

Except Netflix does not ask you to pay 40$ every 2.5 years to upgrade your Netflix application to keep experiencing newly released series. If you lapse your Netflix subscription, you also won't risk losing digital achievements you have gotten. Its also, obviously, an entirely different medium. (And that is not to say that Netflix is not having its own issues with disappearing media, cancelling series, etc pp)

Really, both business models cant be compared, and your comparison is wobbly at best. The only thing they truly share is a monthly access fee.

[Clockworks]

If it's 5 months between interesting Netflix program releases, and you're paying $15 a month, that's $75. Are you getting 5 times the programs during that period? Probably not.

Many people unsubscribe from Netflix when there are no programs release that they want to see (myself included).

On the other hand, many people stay subscribed to watch "old stuff" - just like they do in FFXIV.

I absolutely love how you conveniently ignore auto demolition of houses.

"yeah just unsub !!! you dont like it just unsub !!!"

Some people have waited months or years to get a house, auto demo keeps them locked in, because if they dared come back in the future, they'd have to go through the lottery again for months or years, stop pretending that the game encourages people to unsubscribe and play other games.

And before you hit me with "well that's people's fault if they care that much about a house even if they dont play the game"

No it isnt, housing scarcity is SE's fault, and they know what they're doing. People dont want to come back to the game after months and see their house used by someone else and their plot gone, only to go through months or years of lottery again.

[Duskane]

You go to a sandwich shop and pay for a sandwich. You walk to the end of the line and you're given a piece of sliced bread. You wait 5 minutes. You get a slice of cheese. You wait 5 minutes. You get some meat. You're told that the sauces are coming with the veggies. You get some of the veggies. Then you wait some more. Weren't you promised both? Why wasn't the sandwich made and given to you at once? By the time your sandwich is finished the bread is soggy, the meat is cold, and the cheese is lukewarm.

actually just subway

[Red-thunder]

The expansion release itself has the amount of content as a "whole new game" (in their words)

AHAHAHAHAHAA

[Jeeqbit]

I absolutely love how you conveniently ignore auto demolition of houses.

It's not that I ignore it. I literally don't have a house, so it doesn't even cross my mind. Lots of people do not have a house. Your problem is kinda limited to people who do like I assume you do.

Except Netflix does not ask you to pay 40$ every 2.5 years to upgrade your Netflix application to keep experiencing newly released series.

While true, that fee is primarily for the "new game" / MSQ aspect which is why I compared it to buying a new game instead.

But the business models and their problems are mostly similar other than that. You subscribe for the content you want on the month it releases, binge watch / consume it, then unsubscribe. That's pretty much the business model they're both using.

Is the business model good? That's up for debate. Many people will similarly say "Netflix has lackluster content, you're just subscribing for the 1 good show" - a familiar argument made about FFXIV.

Both have a lot of other content/shows too, but it's stuff the people complaining don't care for, therefore they don't count it.