Critical issues that need to be addressed

[Jeeqbit]

I contributed my answer to a similar thread the other day at https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...blems-of-FFXIV

There isn't one problem with the game. There are lots. The longer that goes on, the more problems accumulate. If we are to generalize:

- Lack of cross-DC PF is obviously an issue.

- Lack of QoL and passionate improvements to old patch systems, that you see in a lot of other MMOs.

- Lack of depth to systems in order to keep them simple for casual players, which makes everything boring. Job design and power progression is one example. Island Sanctuary is too rigid, underdeveloped and casualized to be Stardew Valley, Sim City, The Sims or a themepark sim.

- Lack of replayability in systems design. This is partly a consequence of casualization and lack of system depth, but partly due to just not developing things with a view for them to provide a different experience each time like PvP does.

- Saying things are impossible to solve, such as network data limits and database limits. Nothing is impossible. Where there is a will, there is a way. I can think of easy solutions to these issues, and frankly, every other MMORPG has solved them.

- Overhauling the housing system that holds the game back, to separate houses from plots so you can have a house with no plot.

[TaleraRistain]

- Saying things are impossible to solve, such as network data limits and database limits. Nothing is impossible. Where there is a will, there is a way. I can think of easy solutions to these issues, and frankly, every other MMORPG has solved them.

We have an adage in software development. You can have things quick, cheap, or good. Pick two. It's not impossible to have all three. But it's not likely and not the norm.

For your example, you want it quick. So which of the other two do you want? If you want it quick and cheap, it's most likely not going to be good. If you want it quick and good, it's most likely not going to be cheap. And cheap isn't just monetary. It could mean cost in resources like system strain, storage, labor, etc (many more but just to name a few)

Also, say they implement these easy solution of yours. Well, are they creating more technical debt because they're trying to work around a limitation in the system instead of being able to put in the time to rewrite that part entirely to avoid that technical debt in the future? And are all MMORPGS exactly cookie cutter systems that all use the same code, databases, cloud services, etc? You also have to convince the bean counters. Development teams have budgets they have to work with and there are things the business wants so we often have to convince the bigwigs of the value of what we want to do over what they want us to do.

I just hate statements like this because it minimizes all the factors that have to go into good software improvements.