FFXIV-- the fear of a WoW Clone is real...

[Colvin]

You know what's funny? All the hating on WoW. WoW Isn't really my cup of tea (ive played it). But it is still the top performing app. As a business I would expect them to do what they can to identify the wants of WoW players and build to that. Those of us who have played this and FFXI and pretend that it is better because we do things differently are just hurting the bottom line for SE. At this point, as long as the game is something I can do with my friends for fun with an *optional* side of difficulty for the few who want it, Ill be happy with ARR.

[Colvin]

As long as at the end of the day we can play XIV and agree we are playing a game that feels like Final Fantasy, that is all that matters.

I think I can get behind that!

[Deakka]

Another one of these threads?

Really, I thought we were past this. If you want XIV to stay like FFXI, then there's this really awesome game you should play. It's called FFXI.

I'm all for having a modern UI, solo content, responsive controls, and fast gameplay. I'm not in favor of having FFXI in high definition. The game is old, and while through rose-colored glasses it's still an amazing memory, it's past it's prime. If you had to play a game identical to FFXI without the FF logo, I can guarantee you it'd be shut down within a month and lambasted by players, critics, and the industry within a month.

[Colvin]

I'm all for having a modern UI, solo content, responsive controls, and fast gameplay. I'm not in favor of having FFXI in high definition. The game is old, and while through rose-colored glasses it's still an amazing memory, it's past it's prime. If you had to play a game identical to FFXI without the FF logo, I can guarantee you it'd be shut down within a month and lambasted by players, critics, and the industry within a month.

incidentally, they are going through a complete UI and interface overhaul so FFXI will be more mouse friendly. They wont be rolling this functionality out to PS2 obviously. I can find an article on it if you need.

[Valmonte]

I have no worries going forward that this will just be WoW with a FF skin.

I do, as Ive seen how games like this end up and its usually for the worst, on rare occasions there is a game that's failure has actually boosted its status.

[strallaalaa]

i'm thinking it will depend on how ffxiv launch goes, weather the population rises or not if large scale end game like crystal towers becomes a huge rave then they will probably focus on the path of things like that, even if game failing or not they will probably follow the crowd and i think even now people will bitch that they finish off the 8man stuff way quick and things will move fluidly towards a mmo that is gettign harder and harder not other way around. same with anything wow'ish vs say ffxi'ish. as your playing we will realize it's going in one direction or the other more.

you may say it will stay balanced but numbers will drop quick no matter what they do and they will do what they need to do. following the wow band wagon though i think is a sucky way to go. besides that they have alot of people still playing that are all huge ffxi vets that no matter what they can keep just by not being wow.

[Teakwood]

While I haven't really found GW2 to be compelling enough to keep me playing consistently, taking design cues from GW2 a) is a really good thing for us, not a bad thing, because GW2 is designed very intelligently even if I don't agree with particular implementation details and b) has absolutely nothing to do with "ZOMG WOW CLONE", have you even played GW2?

[Arcell]

You know, there's a difference between keeping up with your competitors and being a WoW clone. I think that terms gets thrown around too often and too easily. MMOs, as part of the same game genre, are going to be similar to a degree. This is not a bad thing. These similarities are often systems that ended up working well or for the best.

I'm not worried unless ARR ends up being a literal WoW clone with better graphics. I don't see that happening.

[Heavens]

After all the passion and hard work Naoki Yoshida has put into this game so far with his team, the fear of a "WoW clone" really crossed your mind?

I think someone has some self-reflecting to do.

[Valmonte]

You know, there's a difference between keeping up with your competitors and being a WoW clone. I think that terms gets thrown around too often and too easily. MMOs, as part of the same game genre, are going to be similar to a degree. This is not a bad thing. These similarities are often systems that ended up working well or for the best.

I'm not worried unless ARR ends up being a literal WoW clone with better graphics. I don't see that happening.

true enough.