Merchandising

[MicahZerrshia]

I am wondering/hoping if SE has any intentions of merchandising ARR if it is as successful as we all hope it will be. I know after playing xi for years I always wished I could get an official life-size San d'orian flag, replicas of some in-game items or even clothing/accessories outside the standard keychains. I can understand them not going too crazy with the merchandising of standard games but the mmo genre with people who keep playing for years its fun to show your allegiances.

Games like WoW have faction items you can buy and such but the FF series always just had knock offs from sites with low quality merchandise like cafepress or a few replicas of summons. I know for myself I would gobble up alot of merchandise if it was offered.

So is this perhaps a possibility in the future?

[Ryuko]

FFXI had a few items that they marketed. I own some. I have two black mandragoras (although I am told they prefer the term "African Mandican"), a carbuncle, a byakko... I've seen tonberries and goblins for sale. I'm sure most exist. There was, at one point, shirts for each nation... I don't remember how you could get them. I think they had a website or a limited run.

I could see them doing this for ARR.

What I'm most interested in seeing is... is there going to be an event similar to "Live Vanadiel?" I always wanted to go, but it being in California basically made that unrealistic for me.

[Punainen]

FFXI did have the city rings. I wanted a Sandorian ring, but it was way too expensive.

[Vilhem]

FFXI had a few items that they marketed. I own some. I have two black mandragoras (although I am told they prefer the term "African Mandican"), a carbuncle, a byakko... I've seen tonberries and goblins for sale. I'm sure most exist. There was, at one point, shirts for each nation... I don't remember how you could get them. I think they had a website or a limited run.

I could see them doing this for ARR.

What I'm most interested in seeing is... is there going to be an event similar to "Live Vanadiel?" I always wanted to go, but it being in California basically made that unrealistic for me.

Ya there's been a buttload of XI merchandise releases...admittedly most of it has been in Japan only :/ There's been numerous OST releases, as well as books and plushies. Then there's the TradeArts figurines of the 4 main tarus.

As for the concert, I think it was a one-time deal. I'm surprised we even got a concert here in America. The original concert was held in Japan on 11/11/11 and it was called "Vana Con". They've since released a DVD of it, but its Region 2. I was lucky enough to go to the one in Berkley and whoa....it was so great. ;_;

I'd give XIV a few years to start seeing some merchandise for it. XI took off pretty slow from the start as well.

[MicahZerrshia]

I'm not sure about the market but I dont understand why they don't have much marketing for their product in this manner. You can go on websites and find whole sections devoted to some games and Final Fantasy as a whole, with a fan base large enough to get 14 games plus tons of spin offs and side games has very little. I'd still buy a San'dorian flag even though I do not play xi much these days. You also see tons of WoW, GW2, EQ2 and so on merch in comic/game stores but very little of the FF genre and nearly nothing to nothing ffxi which I never understood.

If they do have something either in the way of merchandise or otherwise they need to make it available stateside too and in EU, I know they are Japan based but they have a huge following around the world and to keep thing exclusive to Japan is kindda silly imo. I would travel to Cali for something like Vanafest (Eorzafest!) but Japan is out of my budget/language range. But like I said there may not be enough profit in it to do so. Still I hope they look into it if ARR is a success.

A larger presence for thier mmos in the na/eu marketplace would likely garner them a larger playerbase.

[JusticeReborn]

I'd be down for some merch! Definitely want the Meteor survivor shirt, but I'd love action figures, if reasonably priced, and also the soundtrack!

[MicahZerrshia]

I'd be down for some merch! Definitely want the Meteor survivor shirt, but I'd love action figures, if reasonably priced, and also the soundtrack!

They released a soundtrack but they didnt include ANSWERS! I was like...what the frak? no main theme? /cry

[Majidah]

I remember XI had merchandising alright... it was all REALLY expensive but the keychains.

If they do release XIV merchandising I hope they don't stick to their 100 US$+ price tags.

[Ryuko]

Oh, you just reminded me. I have a FFXI watch! Someone bought it for me as a gift, but it's more of a man watch, and I'm a really petite female... it didn't fit on my tiny wrists. But it did exist!

[Vilhem]

I'd be down for some merch! Definitely want the Meteor survivor shirt, but I'd love action figures, if reasonably priced, and also the soundtrack!

Action figures like...like....Thancred.... /swoon

Ahem...of course, soundtrack would be on my most wanted list (itunes dun count, it was incomplete ;_; ) There's already posters of XIV and wall scrolls..and uh.. mousepads and leve keychain things. Action figures tho... DO WANT