The Direction of FFXIV

[Akumu]

Akumu: I purposely used words like innovative and thinking outside the box so posters who replied to this would get the idea that I don't want an FFXI clone. Just a game that continues its spirit. Bring something immersive and beautiful. A work of art.

The problem SE is having with thinking outside the box is mistakenly recreating the wheel(they can't afford to mess up again). I believe they should be innovative by building on what already works but my judgement on that is reserved for the future.

[Lyndis]

The problem SE is having with thinking outside the box is mistakenly recreating the wheel(they can't afford to mess up again). I believe they should be innovative by building on what already works but my judgement on that is reserved for the future.

I'm afraid of that. :/

[Betelgeuzah]

One demographic is going to be alienated no matter what.

MMO's are, in the end, casual experiences. They don't offer enough legitimate challenge to deserve being tailored to those looking for a such a challenge. It would be good for S-E if they kept this in mind. Their main demographic (FF players) are used to games that don't challenge them, only entertain.

[solracht]

One demographic is going to be alienated no matter what.

To add to this, since it's something people seem to be missing: no matter what they do, someone is going to open a thread like this. Guess what? the key is whether you alienate the big demographic or the small demographic.

If you belong to the small one, then tough luck. The way the MMORPG market has evolved definitely hints at the casuals being the bigger demographic.

[Aramil]

(This post is a direct answer to the op, i haven't read the rest of the topic yet)

First of all, i think it's a well written post so I'll take the time to answer it completely. I don't really agree with you but i understand the problems you have with the system. Anyway here are my comments.

Personally, I don't think aggro icon and difficulty are related at all for many reasons.

First, all that information is available on different website so it's just a matter of seeing it in game instead of opening a web browser.

Second, The difficulty of traversing an area with aggro monsters won't change because of the icon. Seeing the icon tell you it's aggressive but you still have to avoid it. It also won't prevent monsters from poping near you or from sneaking in the dead angle of your camera.

Third, once you're kill by an aggro monster, normally you'll remember it, so the aggro icon become nothing more than a visual reminder for something you already know. It's the same as the skill description on screen, the stamina indicator on the stamina bar when you select a skill and many other visual indicator.

Difficulty don't come from knowing if the monster can attack you or not but from actually fighting it. At least that's my opinion.

Now, I agree with you about it killing the immersion. That was my personal problem with the current icon. I'm waiting to see how the new one will look in-game and if it's too intrusive I'll just turn it off. However, I don't fully agree about the part were you want to know the other will see the same thing. I understand and to a certain point will feel the same thing but honestly, that's just selfishness. I don't believe we should force our game style on the other players. After all, the opposite could also be true. As much as you want other not to use it for "immersion" and "fairness", they could also want you to use it for "convenience" and to make sure you won't be kill by a monster you didn't knew aggro and slow down people in party. It's a tool and it's up to the player to use it or not. IMO, SE took the right choice by deciding to make it toggle-able and we can't ask for more.

Next about your solution.

I doubt color code or level indicator would make a difference. Colors are based on the level difference so with one you have people fighting if there's less than x ranks between them and the monster and with the other you have people fighting if it's yellow or less. Same thing, different way to show the information.

The libra skill, I'd like to see it be implement. I think it's a good idea but for a different purpose. The return of enemies able to change their weakness. I know it's off topic but I'd like to see some monster against whom you'd need to change you strategy during the battle. Also just like the aggro icon, a libra skill would reduce the need of using a web brower for those who want to check that information. And like for the aggro icon, it'd be up to the player to use it or not.

The rest of your post being about your opinions about games and not game mechanics, I won't comment it.

[Lyndis]

Kilta_Firelotus: Again you're not addressing my post at all just my character. The reason I'd be selfish in this is because you and the people you represent have a lot of alternatives. There are a lot of games aimed at the casual audiences. I've seen what Square Enix is capable of. I know they are one of the few companies out there that can make a game that I will enjoy. If Square Enix doesn't, I'm stuck with a very low number of MMORPGs to play and all of them outdated.

[Kilta_Firelotus]

Kilta_Firelotus: Again you're not addressing my post at all just my character. The reason I'd be selfish in this is because you and the people you represent have a lot of alternatives. There are a lot of games aimed at the casual audiences. I've seen what Square Enix is capable of. I know they are one of the few companies out there that can make a game that I will enjoy. If Square Enix doesn't, I'm stuck with a very low number of MMORPGs to play and all of them outdated.

SE said from day 1 that ffxiv will be casual friendly and less time consuming. Those games are also outdatesd fir a reason. Am i happy about that? tbh not really. But i also though back to my first days of ffxi and how i wasn't having much fun. I just want a fun game. I also want it to get in new players daily.

I posted about your point in a past thread you msde typing the same thing out. Sorry but I think I had enough of the elitist mindset. Elitist do not make games fun, they make it work.

[Rokien]

They're 100 WoWs, if you want a casual game then go play one of those. There is only one FFXI. I think we want some more variety just like WoW has. Thats not being selfish at all. In fact all you casual players are the selfish people. There are tons of casual games out there. Go play those. I for one like hardcore games, and I know some of you do as well. Square enix is one of those companies that satisfies my tastes, and they are putting to much pepper on this sandwich. Soo, stop saying hurp durp, and leave if you don't have something intellectual to say.

[Kilta_Firelotus]

They're 100 WoWs, if you want a casual game then go play one of those. There is only one FFXI. I think we want some more variety just like WoW has. Thats not being selfish at all. In fact all you casual players are the selfish people. There are tons of casual games out there. Go play those. I for one like hardcore games, and I know some of you do as well. Square enix is one of those companies that satisfies my tastes, and they are putting to much pepper on this sandwich. Soo, stop saying hurp durp, and leave if you don't have something intellectual to say.

Are you "special" or something? ffxiv was advertised in advance to being casual friendly. thats what ppl are not seeing. Also ffxi basicaly died when WoW launched. It barely bran in new players till the 360 launch. And it wasn't even a large increase. no one wants to play ga,es like ffxi or everquest anymore. They are too time consuming.
I never said I was happy about the way mmo are becoming. But its high time we accept it.

[Peregrine]

I support the OP 100%.
These new changes and content indicate no inspiration and direction, and the players they're focusing on right now are a poor choice. Where are we going? Nothing unexpected happens because that makes certain players angry and frustrated. There are no surprises. Everything new has become a mod of something that already exists because that's the standard and standard is 8/10. Instead of beating expectations with content we didn't expect to see voluntarily, we have to drag them kicking and screaming just to get something done half-right.

And as far as the kind of players SE seems to be catering to, I agree again. That demographic simply has skills issues. They're underdeveloped players. They will leave you as soon as WoW beckons them back.
MP regen is now out of control, placing mage content at about the fifth grade level. It is not even remotely interesting to play a mage any more. Good players have become overqualified for these entry-level jobs.
Agro icons pander to bad players who need to improve their own skills instead of again rendering ours overqualified in a junior-level game.

The game is becoming more and more attuned to the inattentive, lazy players who couldn't complete the Limsa opening cutscene without being told what to do by a fairy godmother.

My advice to Square Enix is to forget the players who constantly struggle with simple things. We and they can only coexist if you just keep telling them to get better and pay more attention. We can't dumb ourselves down for their kind of product.

Yes, there are a lot of them. But their game is never going to be good.