Gamespot ARR article. HOW DARE YOU DOUBT OUR YOSHI-P!!

[Cendres]

I respect Yoshida's answer a lot more than trying to act like FFXIV is the most innovative shit ever like ANet did/does with GW2, etc.

Quoted again for truth, I was actually very pleased with his answer and his honesty.

I've been burned bad by PR with such games like Vanguard, EQ2 (when it first came out...), and Age of Conan, that I can really appreciate a straight up answer and not embelishments.

[Kallera]

Quoted again for truth, I was actually very pleased with his answer and his honesty.

I've been burned bad by PR with such games like Vanguard, EQ2 (when it first came out...), and Age of Conan, that I can really appreciate a straight up answer and not embelishments.

Didn't Yoshida say that at first, the position of producer doesn't lend itself to PR/hype generation? Could his answers be a side effect of this? (Not to say he hasn't given good answers, but rather, grounded answers.)

[Reika]

Reviews are never good, even the good ones.

[Reaujien]

No simple standard MMO has ever been a great success. Oh they can live just fine, but they mostly just coast on the contrived.

Every MMO that has claimed to be original, to add something new and drastic to the genre, has depended on a gimmick or ultimately small addition to gameplay that does nothing to improve or change the old structure that's set in place. Its never really expanded and it's stagnating. We have seen MMO's do WoW's thing 10 times better but a lack of content to compare and the lack of actual nuance keep people away.

Who is going to be interested in a game that adds nothing new? Pretty visuals and story only last so long as evidenced by every other MMO to come out in the past 5 years. In the end, we're all just doing the same KILL X OF Y questlines and rushing to endgame instances and no one has been brave enough to challenge that no matter the claims of originality.

To actually believe that the basic structure of MMORPGs is something that's already peaked, that you can't or shouldn't change from it is extremely shallow minded and keeps every new release from impressing crowds. No other genre is so hell bound to stick to a formula in the fear that it will fall apart. Even shooters have their occasional Portals and Metroid Primes. Games that aren't afraid to add concepts from other genres to restructure the core into something worth experiencing. Something that actually stands out and still retains popularity.

Bottom line: We've done this before and it has never worked out better than just "okay". If success is determined by playing it safe and resting in the expected, adding only to most shallow aspects of its design, then it's hardly something I would consider worth attaining.

I agree with your comments with regards to FPS and mentioning the Portal and Metroid Prime games; they're great examples of doing something different w/in a genere. I've never been a FPS fan (not that I hate them, just never really interested me as much as other types of games), but I loved playing both those games - and all installments of each.

Though your example was about being different, I think there's also something to say about sticking with what worked or what compelled players to continue to play those games over other games in (for example) the FPS genre. For example, another thing I think about is that though I'm sure those games in their own individuality had a sizable fan base, I highly doubt that it encompassed the vast majority of players who typically play FPSs. And that's okay, and I'm guessing those game developers realized it when they created the other installments of each. I would explain to some friends who might ask me about Portal 2 and the additional Metroid Prime games that if she didn't like how the original played that she wasn't going to like any subsequent ones. Why? Because those game developers didn't try to "reinvent the wheel" (so to speak) with how the game was played when they made the other installments. So players who enjoyed the original/earlier installments could look forward to another game with enjoyable gameplay and with new elements (story, puzzles, monsters, characters, [insert w/e you'd like here], etc.).

My point is that I really feel that since this is SE's second RPGMMO (well, for FF that is) it should be a balance of both: Sticking to what worked, and being different from what's currently out there.

Aside 1: I still fully intend to play and enjoy this game. I just think it's dangerous to not consider what we've learned form release after release of underwhelming MMOs ever sense LOTRO failed to make any lasting impression.

Yeah, I definitely plan on giving it a shot; though, admittedly, I have some skepticism with regards to the gameplay and leveling process. Maybe it'll suck me in for years, or maybe it'll feel like all the other "modern MMOs" (and/or expansions) felt to me since post XI:ToAU/WoW:TBC and find myself bored 6-12 months down the road...

Aside 2: Is your shift key broken?

LOL I'm stuck on a shiddy conference call and this made me laugh while I wasn't on mute - damn you!~

[Lady]

After seeing what Yoshi-p did to fix 1.0 with the 1.23 patch, he has earned a lot of our trust. We have to remember that a lot of the media didn't watch that transformation. They are going to be harsh on this release because 1.0 failed. Its a risk to their reputations to say a game is good, and from their point of view ARR is a high risk investment.

Seeing what this guy said, it seems to me he's merely trying to play it safe. He didn't give any real input about the game, nor did he say it was good or bad. Pretty much sum that interview up as saying "If i say its good and it sucks, I'll be fired. If I say its bad and its great, I'll be fired... best to say neither"

[Pwnagraphic]

He mentioned graphics, he mentioned the game's three story layers, and he mentioned the focus on console players--but not much more. In fact, he suggested that the idea of uniqueness among MMOGs is a bit of a misnomer and that most such games iterate on what came before rather than redefine the genre.

and he's right.. It's hard to be unique in a world with a billion MMO's and a few that already did "it". Making console+PC play ability itself is unique to the FF MMO name.. Okay so Eve and Dust 514 can play together, but not like you can with FFXI/FFXIV.

[Ksenia]

They ignore the crafting.
Oh well, as long as SqEnix doesn't.
It's the main reason I play this game.

And bewbies of course..

[Pooky]

I don't know what you guys read, but that seemed like a very fair and a pretty positive outlook on the game. A lot of the changes that have been implemented are pretty standard MMO stuff which seems amazing to us simply because of how bad 1.0 was. This game isn't really offering anything unique other than the FF name and charm. Which for most of us is good enough.

And seriously, stop hanging your hats on how story makes this game unique. First of all Square Enix really isn't the king of story telling in games anymore. And secondly, while I quite enjoyed 1.0's story, LotrO and SWTOR emphasize story even more and present theirs in a lot more accessible way. The fact that FFXIV has a good storyline doesn't make it unique.

[WHS]

Let's...not go through this again, seriously. There were enough fanboys spouting "FFXIV is getting trashed in reviews because all of the reviewers were bought out! Square refused to play their bribery game!" at the 1.0 launch that we had to deal with.

Disagree with the interviewer's logic or his opinion, fine. But this constant meme of "anyone in the gaming press that I disagree with must be on the take" is really ridiculous.

I really do agree with this point. Let people have their own opinion and don't judge. If you love ffxiv then fine and if you don't that's fine too. Look at it this way. Gamespot didn't create a forum account and come over here to snipe. They put in out on their own. It's fine we all logon here cause we love ffxiv but please don't continue the snipe by being directly obtuse. People will have their opinions and that's what they are is opinions. Not everyone is going to love any particular game but the real truth will come out in paying subscriptions. Let that be the true judge. The saying put your money where your mouth is still applies.

[ZakarnRosewood]

I love Van'Ord's reviews. I know that if i read one of his articles and he dosent like it, I know I WILL like it. Its just an opinion piece, nothing more. This is also a guy who prefers games like COD rating the 500th installment a Top notch playing experience. Really Van'Ord? what new feature did THEY bring to the table? lol, what a mook!