New producer/director Naoki Yoshida Speaks!

[Arximiro]

This was linked a little bit ago in the E-maint thread, but I know it won't get any attention there because no one gives 2 fucks about that thread. Anyways there is some sorta interesting stuff in here, like he said he will never do a character wipe, and that he intends to make an auction house.

http://www.1up.com/news/final-fantasy-xiv-boss-speaks

"It seems fair to say that Square Enix would have liked Final Fantasy XIV's launch to go a tad more smoothly. The MMO, which debuted on the PC in September, met with poor reviews and annoyed players worldwide, eventually leading to producer Hiromichi Tanaka's ouster in December. Most of the core development team has since been reshuffled, and the PlayStation 3 port -- originally announced for early 2011 -- has now been put on indefinite delay.

"The decision [to make the team changes] was officially made in late November, although we had been talking along those lines with what are now the core members of the new team," new producer/director Naoki Yoshida told Famitsu in an interview published this week. "I was in a position of responsibility within the FFXIV directorial team, and the state of the game is something that's been concerning me for a long time, so it's not as if this came out of the blue. Ever since we launched last September, we've received a great deal of requests and complaints from players. That certainly played a role in the reshuffling, but there's also the fact that if we're going to call this a Final Fantasy game, then the entire company needs to pitch in and raise the standard of quality."

Yoshida's name likely isn't too familiar to overseas gamers -- outside of his involvement with FFXIV, his main credit in Square Enix is the Dragon Quest Monster Battle Road line of Japan-exclusive arcade trading card games. Since officially taking over as leader of the MMO in December, Yoshida's been actively linking with the userbase via questionnaires and discussions posted on the official website.

How much change does he want out of the game? "My policy is that I'll never do a total wipe of the game," he told Famitsu. "Players have a lot of memories wrapped up in their characters; wiping that out would be unthinkable. It's possible that we'll make adjustments that dramatically redefine skill ranks and player levels, but if so, we would allow players to reroll their parameters."

One possibility that came up in the player questionnaire was implementing an auction house -- a popular feature in Final Fantasy XI that was omitted from the new game. "Up until now, we were too preoccupied with making FFXIV as different from FFXI as we could," Yoshida commented. "However, players plainly need an easy-to-use gameplay system that encourages a healthy in-game economy. If an auction house is that system, then I say we should implement it. Making everything new and original isn't necessarily the right thing all the time."

But what's going to be changed first? "The user interface," Yoshida said. "We can work on other things all we want, but if we don't fix the controls at the same time, then players will be too frustrated to fully appreciate the other improvements. Also, changes to the battle system. Right now, Eorzea is a little too peaceful, isn't it? I'd like to see more chances for players to work together and take down stronger enemies -- more of that Final Fantasy style of play."

How good a leader Yoshida proves to be will be shown in how FFXIV improves and expands in the coming year. In the meantime, though, PS3 owners probably shouldn't be holding their breath for the console port. "I don't think we'll give a firm release date for it until we improve the game's quality," the producer said. We want it up to the point where current players are saying to us 'This is fun!' before we do give one. I promise that we will give PS3 owners a game that's truly worthy of the Final Fantasy name."

[Arximiro]

I found this part amusing personally..

"Since officially taking over as leader of the MMO in December, Yoshida's been actively linking with the userbase via questionnaires and discussions posted on the official website."

[Selamis]

"Up until now, we were too preoccupied with making FFXIV as different from FFXI as we could," Yoshida commented. "However, players plainly need an easy-to-use gameplay system that encourages a healthy in-game economy. If an auction house is that system, then I say we should implement it. Making everything new and original isn't necessarily the right thing all the time."

My number one, main gripe with the way this game was designed (going away from the comfort level of XI players, and MMO players in general), and something that players said from day one of closed beta and probably alpha (but I don't know for sure since I wasn't playing til closed beta.)

[Gwynplaine]

What the hell is new or original about putting everything in bazaars? Isn't that old and outdated?

[Katlan]

My number one, main gripe with the way this game was designed (going away from the comfort level of XI players, and MMO players in general), and something that players said from day one of closed beta and probably alpha (but I don't know for sure since I wasn't playing til closed beta.)

that quote is so accurate. different isnt always better... they spent so much time trying to make it different from XI that the good stuff about XI got lost in transition. But if that's as far as they are looking then they are still missing the big picture. While different isn't always better, what they took from XI, or other mmo's, they did worse. The bazaar system was good in XI... so what do they do.. they make a bazaar system that is -2 from XI's system since you can't even walk and browse at the same time. It's just one of the many examples

[Lazytowner]

User interface? Yoshida needs to have my buttbabies.

And give me some goddamn EXP Chains already. It's the ONLY reason people would level together regularly.

[Caerith]

I'm just glad Yoshida is doing interviews with various Japanese gaming magazines. If not for those articles or their translations, I'd never have guessed he still worked for S-E.

You know, because he doesn't actively link with the community or post anything on Lodestone.

He doesn't even comment on my Yoshida fanfic!

[Elrina]

How much change does he want out of the game? "My policy is that I'll never do a total wipe of the game," he told Famitsu. "Players have a lot of memories wrapped up in their characters; wiping that out would be unthinkable. It's possible that we'll make adjustments that dramatically redefine skill ranks and player levels, but if so, we would allow players to reroll their parameters."

"Up until now, we were too preoccupied with making FFXIV as different from FFXI as we could," Yoshida commented. "However, players plainly need an easy-to-use gameplay system that encourages a healthy in-game economy. If an auction house is that system, then I say we should implement it. Making everything new and original isn't necessarily the right thing all the time."

"The user interface," Yoshida said. "We can work on other things all we want, but if we don't fix the controls at the same time, then players will be too frustrated to fully appreciate the other improvements. Also, changes to the battle system. Right now, Eorzea is a little too peaceful, isn't it? I'd like to see more chances for players to work together and take down stronger enemies -- more of that Final Fantasy style of play."

So much awesome contained there. Now if only he would start actively posting this kind of information on the Lodestone.

[The Q]

I found this part amusing personally..

"Since officially taking over as leader of the MMO in December, Yoshida's been actively linking with the userbase via questionnaires and discussions posted on the official website."

This was exactly what I was going to post.

Still this is better than nothing. I like the part where he said they were just trying to make the game as far from 11 as possible. Just goes to show how bone-headed the direction of the game was from outset. Also his mentioning about ranks/levels being radically changed is interesting. Kind of makes me wonder if I'm not too off the mark from what I said in the complaint thread about the silence being partially due to the changes may cause people to stop playing all together until they are implemented.

Either way doesn't change the fact they are on borrowed time as is and need to light one hell of a fire under their asses. If the next update doesn't make the wait, and I'm talking the cumulative wait since just after release, worth it then they're pretty much going to lose their shot for good, in my opinion.

[Kurokikaze]

Waiting for word on these updates/patches... Needs less talking to the media and more talking to the players. Wtf. lol

[Caerith]

There's a translation of the interview over at Zam. Since the 1up article is just a report about it, here are the links:

Famitsu article
Elmer's translation

That said, I hope they post something to Lodestone that isn't a beginner's guide to using the market wards.

[The Q]

There's a translation of the interview over at Zam. Since the 1up article is just a report about it, here are the links:

Famitsu article
Elmer's translation

That said, I hope they post something to Lodestone that isn't a beginner's guide to using the market wards.

They already had one recently but I would laugh SO FUCKING HARD if they put out yet another redundant one.

Also, while more detailed that's still so vague. AND more surveys? I'm gonna laugh harder if come Friday we get yet another survey.

Please look forward to it!

[Lucavi]

Waiting for word on these updates/patches... Needs less talking to the media and more talking to the players. Wtf. lol

This. The media has already given their verdict. You need to change the players opinions before you go back to the media.

[Fawkes]

By the way, I actually wrote those questions myself, and I purposely referred to Eorzea, not FFXIV, in the question. What do I mean by the "rules of Eorzea?" That is something I'd like you to speculate about.

Or you could tell us, so we could actually answer the question.

[Elrina]

Or you could tell us, so we could actually answer the question.

I agree with you so much on this. Yoshida may be the only hope we have for XIV, but still, it's never fun being asked a question while vital information about the subject of the question is kept hidden.

Edit:

- The survey is touted as the "first," so are there more in store?

Yoshida: Yes. If we started right in with lots of specific questions, it would tough to get a solid idea of what the players want. We plan to gradually move through a number of different topics. Our players need to be satisfied above all else, and so we will focus on interacting with everyone to create an even better experience.

Also, what the hell is the point of this? Wouldn't a more detailed introduction to the survey, along with it broken up into categories, each with a lead-in detailing it's purpose with more specific questions that actually included details about their meaning (i.e. being more specific about reinforcing that they definitely intend to add certain things and are wanting information about what we would like to see prioritized, a section about "an overhaul of fundamental gameplay aspects" with detailed plans and thoughts, as well as the same regarding the "rules of Eorzea") give a better idea of what we want and how? Don't get me wrong, if it was all left with vague inferences then of course it would be difficult to understand what we want, because we wouldn't know what the hell we were getting ourselves into with our answers. But if the questions were thought out and written intelligently, they planned on giving serious consideration to the feedback, and they actually gave us a full measure of what they wanted from the feedback concerning each topic, I'd imagine it would be easier to both give us a better picture of what they were planning at the same time as getting a much more specific overall idea of what we want out of the game.

I mean, hell, if they plan on the feedback from these polls to be a serious part of the process, then I would imagine it would make more sense. Keeps us better informed, makes them better informed, about what the hell is going on. Vague questions suck, even if the general idea is good (did I vote for overhauls and rules changing? sure did, because in general that's what I'd like, but I'd still sure like to know what the hell I was voting for it to be changed to). Having a more detailed survey, including information that they're considering and asking more detailed questions that require more specific answers, wouldn't preclude them from having future polls/surveys. It would be a simple affair to have more later, if they felt more comfortable getting their literal feedback that way than trying to get a general idea off of forums, official or not.

Maybe I'm wrong, he's the newly touted guy in charge, maybe it would just muddle the answers. But thinking about it, and ways I could write it out, in sections if necessary, with more detailed information about what I was looking for information regarding... I'm pretty sure I would be able to get very specific information, and isn't that pretty much the definition of a "solid idea of what players want"? How is making us more informed, and getting more specific information from a large body of people, more confusing than getting a general idea of what people want from vaguely worded questions that don't inform them of the entirety of what they're even answering?

I mean, damn, secrets have their place sure. But they should make the game fun, convince us to trust them again, then start surprising us with shit. Right now we want reasons to play, and I can't imagine remaining silent and keeping secrets from us so that they can surprise us is the best way to go about it.

[kyod]

This. The media has already given their verdict. You need to change the players opinions before you go back to the media.

SE has the shittiest PR department I've ever seen. A freshman taking an intro PR class would realize the biggest key audience, besides shareholders, are the fucking players. Holding interviews with the media is completely off-point at the moment when they are in crisis communications mode. Frequent updates to players, even if they are small, must happen. Addressing players directly needs to happen. And no, none of this 'lol this is how retainers work welcome to FFXIV ^_^' posts crap. Holding these media interviews just alienates players further, "Oh, so they'll talk to 1UP but we can't get any substantial information on their plans at the Lodestone."

The PR firm I work for has offices overseas and most asian clients we have aren't this inept when it comes to communcations and relationship management. Direct communication isn't something to be feared.

/rantoff

[Caerith]

But if ... they planned on giving serious consideration to the feedback....

That is a big if.

I remember that one of the questions was something like "Why did you choose to play this game?" and one of the options was "the Final Fantasy name." My biggest hope here is that anybody who picked that option-- which is to say, any of the raving fanboys who thought "The Spirits Within" is the best movie ever-- is summarily ignored and their answers deleted. There has been far too much feedback given to SE along the lines of "this is the best game ever and nothing should ever be changed about it." At first I suspected this feedback was being submitted by Blizzard's marketing department, but then I learned that mental illness isn't actually an urban legend and these people are for real.

[Blasta]

What the hell is new or original about putting everything in bazaars? Isn't that old and outdated?

It is old, but AH has its fails and copying it right away might have caused whining. Let's not forget that CTRL C + CTRL V has been already used in terrain and other places.

I understand why they wanted an "advanced bazaar system" (compared to XI). It's old system, but it has new features.

P.S, Good post by Yoshida. I think he mentioned all the important factors like battle system, interface and how peaceful Eorzea is. There has to be more teamwork elements.

[Riposte]

A very empty piece of news, not thread worthy. I guess starvation being used as a spice here.

[Blasta]

I guess starvation being used as a spice here.

You could say that since there are no game breaking news, but then again, it's nice to hear some of Yoshida's thoughts. Heck, I have never even heard of him .