This game needs to be brought to the media's attention again (Post updates)

[xopher]

Topic.

Because of this I have written a request to Kotaku, asking them to give it another shot. I know a lot of you are going to find this corny or ridiculous, but there hasn't been any praise for the game since the updates have fixed a lot of the initial complaints.

Here's a copy of what I sent to Kotaku.

I don't know how often you guys listen to email requests, but here goes nothing;

Everyone know FFXIV is riding low because of bad press right now, but no one in the public media has had any praise for its past two updates that have fixed a lot, if not most of the complaints people initially had about the game. All of the interface lag is gone, the interface makes much more sense, SP gain makes sense(finally), lots of interface tweaks to show you things such as weapon degradation at a glance rather than having to go through every item to find out what's wrong, and much much more.

MMORPGs are living, evolving creatures, and this one is still free to play for everyone who purchased it. I understand there is a lot of animosity toward this game right now, but if word gets out that it's not a lost cause, maybe it can have the support that will encourage its salvation.

I implore you guys to be the first gaming news outlet to get the word out that this game is being fixed. The amount of work that's been done to the game in two months is definitely worthy of acknowledging. There's another Version Update coming at the end of this month that will fix the impossible navigation of the retainer wards by adding a search function. Maybe you guys can mull over this idea until then and at that point, give it another go.

Thank you for your time,

xopher314

Do you guys agree?

[Hyan]

No. They should wait until PS3 version is out (or alternatively when the payments begin).

The #1 complaint still hasn't been addressed properly, the lack of content. Miracles don't happen in 3 months.

[The Q]

Disagree. While a lot of the technical issues from launch have been ironed out there's still the problem of content and severe lack thereof.

Compared to anything else on the market, new or otherwise, this game comes up practically empty handed when it comes to actual things to do.

[Xavier]

Looks good, just be sure to ask them to investigate whether unicorns exist too.

[xopher]

No. They should wait until PS3 version is out (or alternatively when the payments begin).

The #1 complaint still hasn't been addressed properly, the lack of content. Miracles don't happen in 3 months.

There won't be new content when the PS3 version is released either.


I'm not asking them to post a review saying whether or not the game is good right now. Just a review of the updates to show that work is being done.

[Ajit]

I still think the game needs alot of work. I just can’t understand why there are no side quests or events like dynamis, limbus, promys etc. This game is still lacking a great deal. If people are already satisfied then the only other thing to do other than leve quests and grind is camp NMs, I might as well just reactivate XI account and camp kings again.

Also just wondering do you still have to be in a party for behest? Or can you fight mobs that are being fought by someone else?

[Hyan]

There won't be new content when the PS3 version is released either.

................

Except of course

The addition of new guildleves
The addition of new main scenario quests
The addition of new class quests
The addition of new tutorial quests

The addition of notorious monsters (NMs)
The addition of new battle content
The addition of notorious monster-related battle content
The addition of hamlet defense battles
The addition of item exchange quests

The addition of "companies" (player-run guilds)
The addition of company-owned ships
The addition of company-owned buildings

Which were supposed to be ready for PS3 release.. so now there will be even more content when the PS3 version gets here. What rush do you have to re-review the game so soon?

[jPuff]

It's not anywhere close to being worthy of a media relaunch yet. Maybe 6 months. UI issues are like 1/10 of the shit cake and hell, those are still only 1/3 of the way there.

At this point it's still just a bunch of promises.

[Hellfury]

if anything, we should all hope the media forgets all about it, until it's actually worth looking at. which isn't yet. if Kotaku should happen to listen to you, and look again, chances are they will tear it a new one (again.)

[jPuff]

If you give the game to someone who quit 2 months ago they're going to say it's exactly the same game, because it is. People who quit because of the UI (which still is not remotely close to being "fixed" btw) still have nothing to come back to because the game is completely threadbare. The OP fails to realize the astronomical amount of work the dev team has to do. The fact that they are still struggling with the UI should be enough to tell you that.

Again, it's all just promises until the game is actually good.

[Meresgi]

The #1 complaint still hasn't been addressed properly, the lack of content. Miracles don't happen in 3 months.

I honestly don't think this is a valid complaint for an MMO that's only been out for a few months.People seem to base every new MMO launch upon what WoW or other MMO's have established throughout their lifetime with tons and tons of content. They have been trickling in a little at a time (NMs).

There was/is a lot wrong with FFXIV, but talking content is pointless right now. I disagree that March won't add content though, it seems like a good spot to drop a load of end game/mid game shit.

[xopher]

Looks good, just be sure to ask them to investigate whether unicorns exist too.

http://static.ffxiah.com/images/ss/m...6Az3Kyixi4.png


Okay well I see where you guys are coming from.

I just don't want the game to have so much bad press without any good press and end up getting shitcanned.

[Xavier]

Square will undoubtedly push for additional media coverage when they believe the product warrants reappraisal.

[Hyan]

I honestly don't think this is a valid complaint for an MMO that's only been out for a few months.People seem to base every new MMO launch upon what WoW or other MMO's have established throughout their lifetime with tons and tons of content. They have been trickling in a little at a time (NMs).

Well, whether this is a valid complaint or not matters little at this point. To get people's attention, they need to keep making significant adjustments to the design of the game, like the SP change or the upcoming UI. They need to show people clear progress, and while streamlining the existing features is a good thing, it's not enough to win back the ones who left. Keeping people busy would be a crucial step to hold them in the game once they give it another go. Right now, what is valid and what is not is irrelevant, because SE is in the underdog position so they have to be able to do more.

This update came with a lot of good changes, but it's nothing to alert the media about. The lack of polish for existing features is not the reason why people don't play.

I am sure once they announce this "new direction" to us, they'll do it with fanfares so everyone who needs to hear it will hear it. And if it's not anything to write home about, then the game is most likely doomed either way.

[xopher]

This update came with a lot of good changes, but it's nothing to alert the media about. The lack of polish for existing features is not the reason why people don't play.

It was for me lol. Once they started polishing things, the game has become 100% more enjoyable for me.

[Hyan]

But they need to impress us! So far we have mostly received what would be expected to be done (aside from the SP change), it's not enough. The gaming/MMO media will most likely cover the update and that should be enough for now.

[The Blackrose]

Asking the media to take a second look now is asking for trouble. The number one news item stemming from such a review would most likely be SE's admission that they fucked up hard.

It would be better if 14 kept to the shadows for now. The best time to come back to the media and say "Hey, look at us fixing our shit!" would be around PS3 launch or an end to the free months. Right now, the dev team has only started to rebuild. It would be in their best interest to show a fully functional final product than attention whoring right out the gate.

Not to mention if they review now, it's just another opportunity to slam the game. They need to focus on rebuilding, not PR/damage control.

[xopher]

Well, Kotaku will probably not even give my email a second look, but just in case, I sent another explaining that waiting for the PS3 release would probably be best.

[bruiser]

Okay well I see where you guys are coming from.

I just don't want the game to have so much bad press without any good press and end up getting shitcanned.

It'll get the press it deserves, and what happens happens. It doesn't deserve any good press right now, it's a pile of elephant shit. At least you can rest in the comfort that even the people now in charge are admitting that.

[Lucavi]

Square will undoubtedly push for additional media coverage when they believe the product warrants reappraisal.

This. Its far too early, and many of the glaring criticisms have yet to be addressed. The game still plays like a pure console game, despite being on a PC (no PC UI yet), combat is still boring for mages, targeting is still wonky, the menus are still clunky (I'm hearing a lot of complaints about the extra 3 confirmation menus in crafting even when you use a "saved" recipe), and the game still feels largely incomplete.

I'm sure SE will push for a re-review when they feel that the game warrants one. At this point, though, you might only see a half a point raise per review company, or maybe none at all given that some servers are barren and again, the biggest issues outside of UI speed haven't been properly addressed yet.

I don't think anyone at Kotaku was asking for NMs or newly-twinkling stars. Pretty sure they wanted a nice, brisk combat system, a better UI, a better system than retainers, pathing fixes, more freedom of movement, ect.

Its not a bad idea, just waaaayyy too early.