Missing Genders: NPC only or Playable Option?

[Oscillate_Wildly]

Ahhh, I'm so glad everyone feels the same way.

I too am skeptical of "We'll see what we can do" as an answer.

Also, agreed. While they could have a specific gender/race modeled that doesn't mean that everything in game is modeled to that model. Weapon animations, armor, emotes, etc. An NPC with specific traits in dress and appearance is not the same as a character modeled for play by a user, sadly.

I do hope that if others show as much enthusiasm on the matter, that we'll get a very concise answer from the Dev team. Perhaps some things were lost in translation. Wanting <insert race/gender> is a little different than Wanting to play <insert race/gender> which is what we want clarified.

[Akumu]

I think they will be playable because Yoshi(if not SE themselves) seems to want to keep his current image and doing a Tanaka move would badly hurt it.
Why would he tease something that has such strong support(like Tanaka) then just smack us in the face with NPC only genders(when unlike XI they aren't rare or non-existent). Why would he also wait until Ps3 release to show missing genders yet a Female roe is the leader of a company(which is being released before ps3)? Also, wouldn't the missing genders provide a positive impact on the anxious ps3 players?

It's a real jerk move to say "Hey ps3 players enter Eorzea and stare at these NPC models of the missing genders that were made just in time for you!"

Edit: I would still like Yoshida but doing this would not have me thinking so highly of him anymore.

[Fleur]

Hmm, I really understand the skepticism, I am feeling it too.

However, being optimistic, I am pretty sure that Grand Companies -- and thus their associated NPC's, including a female Roe -- are going to be introduced quite awhile before the PS3 launch. So that right there will be 1/2 of the missing genders added as NPC's prior to the PS3 launch. And it seems odd that they would mean that they are going to "try" and add missing genders as NPC-only if they can just plop in a female Roe so far ahead of the PS3 release.

But yeah, "try" does not mean it is a sure thing, though I really do think that they will do their best to add playable male mi'qote and female roes.

[Nabiri]

The way I try to live my life is like this: I try not to let myself get my hopes up over something I don't know will happen for sure.
I am excited that we will get to see them at least as NPCs, but I won't get my hopes up about being able to play them yet.
Yoshida-san wasn't clear on how they would be implemented. We can only hope for the best: playable.

Edit: I do THINK he meant playable, and think that would make most sense...(making them playable right before a bunch of new players join the game). But it's never safe to assume anything.

[Jibe]

I would rather them not be playable. Although if they do make them playable they should allow people to change races 1 time when they are released. Many people will be mad if they don't allow them to change races.

[AlexiaKidd]

I think that they are waiting for PS3 release and along with it they will have all the new character customisation options. Hopefully they will allow current players to use a one time character recreate or something and then after that you would have to pay to change race and things like that. Also I think they are adding the barber shop in game so you can change hair style and other little cosmetic things

[Oscillate_Wildly]

Yeah, the ability to change races would probably be preferable.