I wanted to continue sharing ideas that I mused about in my Lodestone blog, such as the "Peripheral Gaming" thread here: http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/threads/56514-Peripherial-Gaming-in-ARR

I realize there is a great divide between what players need/want/expect and the actual ability to deliver it as a game producer. I realize that very well considering I run a comic and game store and so very often hear the fanciful musings of game and comic fans (grumblings too to be fair) about "how things should be". But as my father told me, "If you want to shoot for the moon aim for Mars because even if you fall short you are still on the moon." Colloquialisms aside, I do often give though in how I can improve things. My life, my store, my friends' situations, my community/state (Ohio if you are curious)/nation. This game is no different. I loved participating and lending my input in the ring, voice, and scary story contests!

So what are some other thoughts I have? In another post I will discuss ways to enhance crafting and gathering in-game (my app idea aside). This time I want to get into the "environment" of the game.

A game's environment is very important because it sets the tone, the pace, the expectations of what is to come. It's layout is also important as we have seen with Ul'dah's popularity and the begroaning myself and others have when we feel like we "have" to go to Girdania for something. ARR has addressed this by promising things like three unique features to each zone and to rework the maps. What else could make the new Eorza an even better place in which to live/adventure?

1. Ambient Populations. Just as I would hope weather effects come back, I think a great option of sorts to be able to activate would be ambient populations. More than just the NPCs that hang around to hand out one quest or a line (Wracwulf comes to mind) wouldn't it be neat to see the population of a city as it meanders around? You see them in cutscenes currently. People just walking past as your adventure takes place. But this would actually allow you to see them at all times or as long as you have the option checked (similar to the vanity slot idea of de/activation). They don't have to be interact-able, just there. Walking, talking, gesturing. That is part of what made games like Fallout or GTA so fun. There was a living, wide world beyond you. PCs can fill that slot, yes, but in a different way. The first time I saw a caravan and battle warden wandering around across the lands I thought that was really neat! In FFXI (while a quest NPC) I really liked San d'Oria because it had the kid running errands. You really got a "slice of life" feel.

Plus for those who like making fan videos or just want to enhance their ambient experience (and have a machine to do so) it could be a nice thing to be able to turn on. To that effect a "crowd chatter" feature may be interesting when you are in cities. Whether you see them or not to just be able to hear (or read) a bustling city-state going about its day-to-day life. The occasional "Goods for sale here!" or "Stop, thief!" could be fun. And if it every got too monotonous it could be turned off just as the crowds could.

2. Seasonal Change. Beyond the seasonal and weather effects, wouldn't it be neat to actually see the seasons change around us in each zone? That doesn't mean that there has to be snow on the ground everywhere during the winter. Limsa being located in the south of Eorza may get very little if any accumulation (perhaps the snow weather effect would be rare as well). Whereas in Girdania it would be more prevalent. Perhaps this even switches up the availability of items in places to harvest or fish (mining not so much as rocks don't seem to care much about weather patterns) or even monster populations! The newest generation of Pokemon used this occurrence very well and it added a lot to the game. That you were in a living, thriving world (they had ambient populations, too, remember the people on the busy street also waiting to get ice cream?) that existed every bit as much with you instead of for you.

3. Non-PC-Driven Overland Travel. This would be things like the airship and ferry. I have VERY fond memories of the ferries and other boat rides in XI. Yeah you could fish or do some in-game mechanical things, but I spent a lot of time just riding them for the atmosphere, the sightseeing, and enjoying time in-game. The ferry from Carpenter's Landing was just as pretty in its own way as was the Manaclipper. The music, the ambiance, just the journey itself there and back.

Having things NOT to do in a game like this is just as fun and important as having the world to save and villains to smite. So to add on to that as well a place like Purororororororororongo Isle would be nice, too. A casual, beautiful place to walk around, take screenshots, or go clamdigging with your linkshell mates.

As for the airship I am somewhat torn. I love not having to wait ten minutes or so for it to come in then wait the whole ride to arrive. But I also remember having fun on the ride - and not just trying to glitch over the side. Just watching the world I knew pass by underneath. So perhaps in XIV something like an "air tours" could occur. To get a sky-eye on Eorza. Even if it was a pre-planned route around a zone or even better, being able to "commission" an NPC to take you around almost any other zone you wished so it wasn't bound to a certain zone. It should be noted that this is separate from flying mounts should they be introduced because you don't actively have to steer it. You just get to sit back and enjoy! (Also note: please bring back "/follow" haha.)

I hope that you all enjoyed these ideas and in the case maybe someone at Squeenix sees them maybe they can be considered for future planning. Regardless of implementation I am still a fan of the franchise and will continue to play and dream and make my 14 community the best place I can help it be!