Why is FFXIV so unpopular?

[Mujen]

I didn't pay much attention to the game until recently and decided to not listen to all the talk and see for myself what's up w/ the game. To my surprise , I really like it, ver.1.23b, and am having a ton of fun getting prepped for ARR. Wish I wwould have started a bit sooner tbh.

I think most people were like me and just heard it was bad and skipped the game. It's hard to resist when everywhere you read that a game is horrible.

That being said... they really, really, really need to implement a proper AH. It's an entire part of the game that I can't even partake in because all the wards are full. That really is some 1st class BS.

Just like you I came in prep for 2.0 & to see what the changes have been made. It's been 6 weeks and I have probably done as much if not more than majority of players because I've played so many MMOs I know what I want to do and seek the best/fastest way. I honestly don't know how ppl have been playing this game for even 1yr+.
I've made a post:http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...House-vs-Wards
No AH was an annoyance for me, among a few other things, finally coming down to the server communication issue which had me done w/ the current game.

The way I see it, FFXIV is the first and only MMO I've played and the reason for me why this is the worst game of the Final Fantasy series despite it's verbatim technological advantage is a shift from offline self-paced play to gameplay that introduces elitism and self-pace is non-existent, you either try and get a party together or you can't actually progress in the game, of which there seems to be MANY scenarios that can't be won because no party is available for it.

The social aspect of the game needs to have better infrastructure IMO.

Concept#1: When I 1st heard of Hamlet Defense I thought it would be something like Beseiged from FFXI, nope, requires a PT of 8.. and not just a regular setup, but mostly DoH/DoL, which I am not into lvling. This easily could have been a more open event, I understand having the entire server in a small area would be lag-fest (kinda like Atomos & R0/disconnect issue). But having it instanced for upto 16 players should be doable, perhaps you are able to sign up for the event as solo or a party & when enough players queue up should let you enter battle. This would give organized grps or solo players a benefit. Of course the whole DoH/DoL aspect could not be majority of the event like it is now, other aspects would be changed, but I've provided a good tweak for it. Rewards could be based on a specific currency by points/participation & turned in for rewards: (ex) seals, equip, etc.

Spamming dungeons for 1-2% drops = Craptastic. You can go 4+ hours with nothing to show for it but repair bills, nothing really usable because the AH gear trumps it, so you just sell it. There isn't much gear you can look at in the game and say, "oh wow, this person has that gear!" Actually, besides (Darklight) DL that's about it, no wow factor! You could simply buy gil & be decked out.. Hardly any sense of progression.

I feel I've narrowed down the average FF player to someone who likes to immerse themselves in the FF world. Thus, storyline & plot are a big factor, along with the look of the world & their character. SE needs to make it more customizable, make players feel like a 1yr old character can look a lot different than a 2mo old character. The ability to explore and take part in character changing & world impacting events. (dynamic events??)

Concept#2: Atomos & sense of impending doom on the current world.. If say the event had an impact on the cities, such as city invasions that begin at Aethyrs closest to the city and slowly progress towards the city walls, more players would take part with little to no reward needed other than the gratification of holding off an invasion (yes similar to Besieged in concept of city invasion, but w/ story behind it). Of course make the mobs not hit as hard, but more waves & do not deal damage to players unless "flagged" by 1st dealing dmg to the mobs/healing "actively flagged" players (this saves low lvl players/non-participants). Add some Event Only achievements in, along with event-only drops & you've just made the ending of your game fun, rewarding & people have something to show for it.