Letter from the Producer VII

[Corrderio]

lol You phrased it backward.

Before trying to say "those two people that worked on this holiday event could have been working on fixing X"... you should probably do your homework on how game developing works.

I know what priorities are and I'd rather save the game than make something that you can consider a "distraction" at best.

[BruceyBruceyBangBang]

No.

And also he said that patches 1.17 and 1.17a are in PREPARATION for High/mid level dungeons... so it really looks like no content still? (besides seasonal event...)

Well, considering you need battle/class changes before you implement an end game instanced event, I'd expect not. I actually won't expect the dungeons to be put in till all of these changes are made and balanced. So... according to a previous letter, the battle and class changes span over two months of patches. Then it'll be implemented.

[Kaedan]

I know what priorities are and I'd rather save the game than make something that you can consider a "distraction" at best.

I wasn't talking about priorities at all.

The amount of time and "manpower" it took for them to design the seasonal events is insignificant. They didn't waste any time on the seasonal events because it didn't cost any significant time in the first place.

[Aion]

I know what priorities are and I'd rather save the game than make something that you can consider a "distraction" at best.

at least just answer this. how do you know that the 1.17 patch ONLY contain seasonal event(or distraction just like you said)?

[Corrderio]

at least just answer this. how do you know that the 1.17 patch ONLY contain seasonal event(or distraction just like you said)?

Maybe, maybe not but since we didn't get a lot of info outside of the split and the event that does has me concerned.

[Kaedan]

Maybe, maybe not but since we didn't get a lot of info outside of the split and the event that does has me concerned.

The letters have never had specifics. So why would you expect them now?

[Aion]

Letter from the Producer, VII (04/01/2011)

Well, the game servers are now back online, and the development is almost returned to full strength, but the effects of the recent Tohoku earthquake and tsunami are far-reaching and profound. Much as those in the areas directly affected by the tragedy, we here in Tokyo must also remain vigilant. We’re continuing with our energy conservation efforts here at the office, and the while hoping that FFXIV might serve to bring smiles to some faces out there.

That being said, I’d like report on recent dev team activity. We were just about to begin testing on the now released patch 1.16a when the earthquake struck, and for that reason delayed its release. In addition, patch 1.17 was initially pushed back to mid-April, but after reexamination we’ve decided instead to divide the content and release it across two patches—1.17 and 1.17a.

Patch 1.17 contains an upcoming seasonal event slated for April. If we keep all of the other initially planned content, however, we wouldn’t be able to have the patch ready in time to coincide with Eas—errr, said seasonal event in the real world. So we’ve reduced the volume of patch 1.17 down to about 70% of its original size, and pushed the remaining 30% over to 1.17a. This way, all of the content can be released with minimal delay in between, and it will also allow us to get this holiday event released in time (don’t worry, there are no bells in this one).

Even so, this still won’t make up for all of the time lost from our original schedule. As a result, unfortunately, we’re going to have to forgo the event planned for a national Japanese holiday in early May. Since the April seasonal event kicks off later than intended, it will continue even after April 24th in the real world—whatever that day may be. I realize this is all less than ideal, but hope you understand and bear with us.

One last thing. A portion of the changes in patches 1.17 and 1.17a are preparations for the mid- and high-rank PvE content planned for later release. As soon as we hammer out the basics of the new dungeon and raid environments, we’ll be throwing out some screenshots and introducing them to you.

Best keep it short to give the translators more time on the quests, so that’s all for this letter. Talk to you again soon!

here I bolded it for you

[Corrderio]

The letters have never had specifics. So why would you expect them now?

True but at least in most of them he did give us some kind of insight on what to look forward to

[Aion]

True but at least in most of them he did give us some kind of insight on what to look forward to

preparation of next update content, which probably means:
-battle system
-party mechanic
-company

[Evangela]

preparation of next update content, which probably means:
-battle system
-party mechanic
-company

and probably means:
- nothing