Are the update notes enough to get you paying?

[Hyan]

E-mail interviews seem to work a lot better than face-to-face ones... at least for us. I doubt Komoto & Tanaka ever know the exact details since they're just looking at things from the "general" perspective. This way they can flesh this shit out more when they don't have a 30 minute timeframe and aren't nervous, questions can be forwarded to the developers who take care of said features etc.

[Lucavi]

http://www.ffxivcore.com/topic/27553...73#entry422673

Square Enix learned a little bit about PR.

Yes they did. Stop saying only "we hear you and we're working on it", and explained what you learned, citing actual experiences. Its amazing how that simple change can be so effective.

[Hyan]

Only if it sounds good!

If they spewed some BS we'd all QQ just like normal. Even worse, I'd say.

[Lucavi]

I wouldn't really QQ if they fucking explained themselves. There's some stuff in those notes I don't agree with, but I understand where they're coming from, so I can more easily say "hey, its your game, man; go for it."

Its hard to do that when a company is just saying "yeah, we hear you; we're working on it; stay tuned and keep paying!"

You're right in a sense. Look at WoW. The devs explain themselves till they're blue in the face, and people complain. Complaining is human nature for some. I've never posted a complaint on Blizzard's forums, and have always been content to accept what changes they make, because it really doesn't matter to me that much because at the end of the day, playing my class was still fun. I still loved to read every blue post, however, because its fun to pick through the mind of a developer and here what they have to say.

I can't speak for others, but I, personally, won't be complaining about the XIV devs if they continue to participate in interviews like that one.

[Hyan]

I wouldn't really QQ if they fucking explained themselves

While I doubt that, I can guarantee you everyone else would. Tons of people are pissed off at the answer to why there is no Test Server and that's actually rather easily explained and logical. Just think about what happens if they said "we won't upgrade BST because we feel it is too strong already because Charm has such a low cooldown".

The QQ wouldn't end- it would simply change it's shape, lol.

[Lucavi]

QQ anywhere will never end, for anything that's worth people getting semi-passionate about. You make it sound like you want to restrict people's right to complain, or at the very least, express your disgust for it. Why the hate for QQ? Its the other side of praise, both deserved and fanboyish.

[Hyan]

I'm just saying, it's not always more beneficial than being silent. Simply sometimes not knowing why something is (not) done will have a better reaction than saying (retarded) things everyone will disagree with. Either way QQ will happen.

[Lucavi]

People will QQ if they say nothing (and will eventually leave, which is far worse than simply QQing), and some people will QQ when they say something. You have different crowds, but you have to tow the line when you're dealing with the situation, because you cannot continuously favor the silent crowd at the expense of the vocal crowd, which SE has done previously.

Its almost a paradox: in most games, the Hardcore crowd is the vocal QQ crowd, but not so in FF MMOs. The Hardcore has accepted the fact that SE says little, from their time spent in XI, so they're more likely to QQ when SE actually says something.

The "casual" crowd is more vocal when SE says nothing because they aren't used to it and see it as counterproductive to solid growth. SE has admitted to trying to cater to the casual market, and you're seeing them try a lot harder this time around to communicate with players, much to the chagrin of the Hardcores who simply are happy playing the game in silence while waiting for the next updates, just like with XI.

It would behoove SE to pick a side and work with them, and it looks like they're picking the casuals, as there is far more money there than with their run of the mill 150k hardcore subs.

QQ isn't a problem, anyway. QQ is the easiest thing in the world to avoid; just don't read the threads, or block the posters. You can't change QQ unless you're an admin and start perma banning anyone that speaks ill about the game, but what does that accomplish? Apparently, QQ has also helped bring about some of these upcoming changes, so I'm all about QQ, so long as it comes with sensible ideas, which much of it has thus far.

[Hyan]

People will QQ if they say nothing (and will eventually leave, which is far worse than simply QQing), and some people will QQ when they say something.

I don't see why these cases are separated.

People Can and Will leave if SE says something retarded. They will actually become even more convinced that quitting is a good thing to do, as they get "confirmation" that SE "has no idea". When they say nothing, they have no confirmation, and can still cling to their lol-worthy hope of "better things to come" update after another.

Inevitably these people will leave as their hatred takes over the addiction, but later is better than sooner :D

[Lucavi]

You separate them because different people have different classifications of what is considered "retarded".

Casuals consider: "We're working on it. Keep paying us in the meantime! We'll have a version update in 3 months that may address that issue. Stay tuned!" to be retarded, because it says nothing.
Hardcores consider: "We crunched the numbers on X ability and determined that it falls within the scope of what we view is an acceptable percent, so we won't be touching it at this time" to be retarded, because it says nothing in a different way.

Two completely different types of people. Some appreciate the frankness of XI's staff (Hardcores: either change something or don't, and shuddap.), while others appreciate WoW's communication, and see SE's new attempts as refreshing (Casuals: if you won't do something, tell us why. If you will do something, tell us when and what steps you took to arrive at that conclusion). Some fall in the middle, but its different strokes for different folks.

People leave for all types of reasons. Hatred, disillusionment, apathy, jealousy, boredom, ect. SE should either go for the money or go for the "purity of their ideals". If they're lucky, they can go for both and make money while not having to bend outside of their core philosophies too much, but at this point, it seems like they're sliding more towards catering. We'll see, though, because they're still putting out future content that they initially wanted, like guild crafting and cakes.

[Hyan]

Either way my point is that some casuals and hardcore will QQ more if SE says something stupid instead of keeping silent. I don't believe there is an opposite mindset, even if you say you are one of those people. If I see it, I'll believe. What people say and what they do tends to be in conflict from time to time.

Anyway, If SE keeps this up, it'll inevitably happen sooner or later!

[Lucavi]

What, exactly, are they saying that's stupid?

[Hyan]

Nothing, now. lol.

simple change can be so effective.

Only if it sounds good!

It sounds good now, doesn't it?!

[Lucavi]

It sounds very good right now, hence why I want them to keep it up, QQ or no. I never mind QQ unless its trolling or reeks of fat, greasy, mouth-breathing fanboy, which I haven't heard too much of in XI or XIV. That's along the WoW or LotR crowd.

[Hyan]

Yeah, sure seems good. Especially now when the game doesn't. lol.

[Lucavi]

Look at it this way; even though WoW is wildly successful, the most hardcore of the fans like to spout about how terrible the game (always currently) is. Food for thought. Fuck the haters; sensible people can determine how good a game currently is. FFXIV is not good, but can be good, and probably will be good if they keep funding it and working hard.

[Priran]

Since they said the SP adjustments are coming in the November update, I think you'll have a chance to test that yourself during the free trial.

the SP adjustments for november are just reducing the amount it takes to get to rank 20.

[bruiser]

the SP adjustments for november are just reducing the amount it takes to get to rank 20.

Well, technically there may or may not be more. Under the "November/December" category it says "Adjustments to how skill points are awarded." That is definitely referring to something other than the level 20 change. Now, whether or not it's November or December, I guess it could end up going either way. I hope it's November though.

[Lucavi]

the SP adjustments for november are just reducing the amount it takes to get to rank 20.

They also said they're fixing the SP bug. I'd hope they'd think about putting in a base-line SP amount for fights as well.

[Groovebox]

I'll only stay subscribed if they get rid of RNG from SP gain. Getting to 50 is hell, and thinking about SE raising the level cap while keeping the same system makes my skin crawl. Also, if my server (Kashuan) is going to stay ~650-700 players during NA primetime, level sync should be a priority.