Other MMO comparisons..

[Robobandit]

I want FFXIV to be fun and interesting like FFXI. But right now its too different from FFXI.
Why would I want to play FFXIV if its different from FFXI? Then I would just play FFXI instead.

FF XI is different than FF XI now... people don't level in regular parties anymore. Nobody wants to do that when the abyssea alliance grindfest way is faster.

As for comparing FF XIV to another mmorpgs... it's going to happen. Particularly to World of Warcraft, as it has been one of, if not the most successful mmorpg ever released.

Having features that have existed in western mmorpgs for years that players enjoy just makes sense from a business perspective. FF XIV was backwards in a number of ways. Being released in an unfinished state certainly didn't help things.

FF XIV: ARR is going to be the mass market FF MMO and that is going to upset some people who enjoyed being in a relatively small exclusive club who played and enjoyed a game that most people wouldn't touch with a 10 ft pole.