I only have one question...

[EinSof]

I bought the collectors box on day 1 and have been off and on, usually play for a week after every patch before getting burnt out. Honestly, I know that improvements are on the way and I am sure the game will be just as good if not better than FFXI in time, however I still have a question that either has no answer, or the answer will kill PR:

Why wasn't FFXI used as a base? I am not saying "Why wasn't FFXI copied and refined?" I am saying why didn't the dev team get together on day one, think about what made FFXI a success, and innovate those ideas for a new generation?

I just can't for the life of me figure out how SE justified the idea of pretending FFXI did not exist when they sat down to concept Rapture/FFXIV...

FFXI was a great MMO and they threw everything that made it a good game out the window when conceptualizing FFXIV...why?

Thanks for any insight.

[Neptune]

If you look closely the entire game minus the story is copy and pasted from FFXI. Races, goblins, dragons, puks, nps, npc names, spells, camps, NMs, everything. What is not taken from FFXI is much fewer than what is.

On the other hand, the released game was unfinished and that's why a lot of the console commands and UI are not completely copied from XI yet. So my question to you is: give me an example of them pretending FFXI did not exist that doesn't have to do with this being an incomplete game.

If anything the clear lack of originality is striking. Right now it's just FFXI with a few grinds taken out.

[EinSof]

Well I am not going to say the things they added years later like pvp or anything. Even AF armor came almost a year later. I guess I am talking mostly the conquest system (which I guess companies will be similar to), and party based story missions. Also, I would say a mail delivery system, auction system (i don't mind the current system nearly as much as release but it could still be better), and what they learned in how to balance an economy. FFXIV economy is busted, everyone is rich. level required gear is also important as I am sick of behesting with rank 20 people in rank 50 gear gimping themselves...chocobos and various means of classic FF travel also. Teleporting everywhere is a cop out...I am just saying even at the start, FFXI had a full story mission system with an epic final boss against the shadow lord in his castle...

Maybe I am just nostalgic I don't know...but I know I'm not the only one...

I have a hard time understanding why the dev team said "Let's not put in a mail delivery system, or reinvent the moghouse system whatsoever."

[Randis]

If you look closely the entire game minus the story is copy and pasted from FFXI. Races, goblins, dragons, puks, nps, npc names, spells, camps, NMs, everything. What is not taken from FFXI is much fewer than what is.

On the other hand, the released game was unfinished and that's why a lot of the console commands and UI are not completely copied from XI yet. So my question to you is: give me an example of them pretending FFXI did not exist that doesn't have to do with this being an incomplete game.

Setting and visuals much remind of FXI, I totally agree.
The races, the world, NPC… even a lot of the gear .
The game mechanics however are different…
I really wish it would be the opposite.
Game mechanics build on top of XI with a lot of modernization and improvement but the Setting and Visuals completely new and unique!
It is a bit too late now to change that

[EinSof]

I don't mind setting etc. But an innovation of FFXI is more or less what I was expecting, instead of a horizontal change. I have high hopes for the new high end dungeons and battle revamp though. I hope S E can pull it off.

[gifthorse]

I bought the collectors box on day 1 and have been off and on, usually play for a week after every patch before getting burnt out. Honestly, I know that improvements are on the way and I am sure the game will be just as good if not better than FFXI in time, however I still have a question that either has no answer, or the answer will kill PR:

Why wasn't FFXI used as a base? I am not saying "Why wasn't FFXI copied and refined?" I am saying why didn't the dev team get together on day one, think about what made FFXI a success, and innovate those ideas for a new generation?

I just can't for the life of me figure out how SE justified the idea of pretending FFXI did not exist when they sat down to concept Rapture/FFXIV...

FFXI was a great MMO and they threw everything that made it a good game out the window when conceptualizing FFXIV...why?

Thanks for any insight.

Races are the same as FFXI.

Three starting cities and main scenario quests are tribute to FFXI.

All spells and what they do is basically copy-pasted from FFXI.

NMs are implemented the same as FFXI.

Guildleves are similar to systems in FFXI.


They tried to use FFXI as a base as much as possible without it impinging on their ability to cater to a new demographic (ones who don't like to camp and pull for ten hours straight. Boring!). I think they made many improvements to FFXI, but they just needed more time to make the content more robust (Open Ishgard, add chocobos, add airships). And I think being a Final Fantasy may have actually hampered their ability to make an impressive new game, now that I actually think about it, since FF games come with a lot of baggage (only so much you can do with traditional spell set).

[EinSof]

I think there is a difference in adding FFXI related material to add to aesthetic, and then ignoring FFXI material that actually added to the design of the actual gameplay experience.

[Neptune]

Ok what you just posted like the mail delivery system, that is all on the way. If you look at the back of the box it talks about the mail delivery system. Quite honestly we would have had all that right now. Tanaka was planning a large scale version update for March that would have had all of that. Their UI server problems were too challenging and I don't think the team even got around to working on it before Tanaka's team got the axe. The new leader is addressing why 600,000 people can't be bothered to play the game for free. Once they figure that out that will start making a real game with a mail delivery system. Really the only way to approach the game right now is that you're playing an alpha. I've always been happy to play an Alpha of this game. I think it's a great pleasure.

[EinSof]

Ok what you just posted like the mail delivery system, that is all on the way. If you look at the back of the box it talks about the mail delivery system. Quite honestly we would have had all that right now. Tanaka was planning a large scale version update for March that would have had all of that. Their UI server problems were too challenging and I don't think the team even got around to working on it before Tanaka's team got the axe. The new leader is addressing why 600,000 people can't be bothered to play the game for free. Once they figure that out that will start making a real game with a mail delivery system. Really the only way to approach the game right now is that you're playing an alpha. I've always been happy to play an Alpha of this game. I think it's a great pleasure.

Don't get me wrong, I am in it for the long haul too, brother. Thanks for the insight.

[Mack]

Why does everyone keep saying Companies are gonna be like the conquest system? that's what people really want? I mean I enjoyed the conquest system but I don't ever recall being excited to get signet and go take over a region....has anyone really? Well, either way, I doubt companies will be like conquest because one quest in game relating to companies says that the companies of Eorzea work together or something along those lines, which goes against conquest.

ON topic now, I wonder that myself sometimes because I'm upset that this game may never take off and be the MMO that it should've been. I hope the PS3 release breathes new life into it...I'm optimistic but still upset a little. No point in dwelling I guess.