Comments from the Devs

[Eagleheart]

I do not actually have a dog in this race, but I do wonder at the statement about the level of influence of Penny Arcade.

No slam on any of the folks at PA, but in all honesty, I do not know anyone who actually peruses that site, or kotaku, or ign, with any regularity. Obviously, those folks are out there, but really, to those gathered here, I'd like to ask an honest question: when was the last time a review by a gaming journalist turned you on/off of a product?

Speaking personally, the answer is never. (o.< ) With respect to the OF invading, I'd like to go back a page and reiterate that there are idiots, jackasses, reprobates and crybabies in every corner of the world. I do not particularly worry about a couple of losers from OF turning a large quantity of folks sour on XIV ARR, because I know the nature of the fanbase of WoW, L2, TERA, GW/GW2, SWToR, STO, TSW, Invictus, and for the hell of it, FFXI.

A melting pot of normal folks, self-made societal rejects, sociopaths, asylum escapees, and perhaps a dog or two, just as with every one of the above MMOs, or demographics of human beings, period. (o.O)> There's nothing new under the sun.

EDIT: Been mentioned before, but that article was indeed a not-very-subtly-aimed love letter directed to ArenaNet, but now actually reads as though FFXIV is the topic of discussion. It's quite a turnaround.

EDIT 2:

If you think someone's opinions on a game should "provoke" nasty, aggressive, vile attacks on their person or lead to the bombardment of a forum thread with bile, this conversation is done. I know you think it's unfair to judge the community by its words or actions, but I think that's good evidence to go by.

Frankly, I saw nothing in the nasty reactions of Final Fantasy fans that you sent into this thread that would lead me to take them seriously, and I'm done trying. I'm dreadfully sorry for having spent this amount of time doing so.

*taps finger on chin*

This is kinda amusing. A group of folks from across the entirety of the planet can be judged because of a dozen neckbeards who sauntered over to PA?

I'd also note that, were I to apply this standard to Mr. Kuchera, I would have to wonder at their decision to backpedal so hard on the article whilst complaining that they should judge the entirety of the current ARR playerbase based off of the aforementioned neckbeards who decided to harass them, along with posting ANOTHER comment on the article in question, repenting of all the time spent in arguing with trolls in the comments on said article.

Some kinda mental jujitsu or something. @_@

[arus2001]

The way that the first article's comments got closed off abruptly is disheartening. Say what you will about Penny Arcade but they're influential and a burned bridge like this doesn't help the already difficult task of making a failed game appealing to the public.

What always makes me chuckle is the assumption that the majority not only know of XIV's past, but care. Gaming isn't terribly unlike wrestling in that, 6 months later, the majority are going to forget about something. Sure, you'll have the die hards who feel compelled to dig up old corpses and wave them around, but times change. While I don't expect XIV to be the world's greatest gift to gaming or the proverbial WoW-killer, anyone who wants to proclaim failure without even making mention of the night and day differences between Tanaka and Yoshida is pretty much saying they're gaming neanderthals not worth regarding. If anything, people can't get this full picture unless they played XI actively throughout its lifespan, as well.

[Eagleheart]

What always makes me chuckle is the assumption that the majority not only know of XIV's past, but care. Gaming isn't terribly unlike wrestling in that, 6 months later, the majority are going to forget about something. Sure, you'll have the die hards who feel compelled to dig up old corpses and wave them around, but times change. While I don't expect XIV to be the world's greatest gift to gaming or the proverbial WoW-killer, anyone who wants to proclaim failure without even making mention of the night and day differences between Tanaka and Yoshida is pretty much saying they're gaming neanderthals not worth regarding. If anything, people can't get this full picture unless they played XI actively throughout its lifespan, as well.

*pushes nonexistent Like! button*

In fact, that Yoshi-P has stridently avoided (though everyone knows that all MMO producers hope to be "the WoW-killer") advertising ARR as anything except a Final Fantasy game worthy of the series' standards and the fans' respect is the greatest encouragement for me in this whole relaunch process. Focus on making a great product, think of nothing except quality and longevity, and the subs will come by themselves.

Aim to topple someone else and you lose sight of the real goal. 0.o Yoshi-P understands this. Does he want FFXIV to beat WoW? Of course he does! But that's not his primary objective.

That is why he will succeed in this project.

[Deuce]

Found this article posted in the sub-reddit for FFXIV on Reddit. Has some interesting info including free company airships.

[Stromgarde]

What always makes me chuckle is the assumption that the majority not only know of XIV's past, but care. Gaming isn't terribly unlike wrestling in that, 6 months later, the majority are going to forget about something. Sure, you'll have the die hards who feel compelled to dig up old corpses and wave them around, but times change. While I don't expect XIV to be the world's greatest gift to gaming or the proverbial WoW-killer, anyone who wants to proclaim failure without even making mention of the night and day differences between Tanaka and Yoshida is pretty much saying they're gaming neanderthals not worth regarding. If anything, people can't get this full picture unless they played XI actively throughout its lifespan, as well.

Perhaps I worded it poorly, but the point I was trying to make was that the OF making an enemy of the PA staff when PAX is bigger than E3 these days is not a good thing.

[Grey Jorildyn]

I don't find it the least bit surprising that morons on the OFs would go register on PA just to white knight XIV. In fact that seems exactly like something they would do, right after slamming the game for not being more like XI behind closed doors.

[Takiwaki]

Found this article posted in the sub-reddit for FFXIV on Reddit. Has some interesting info including free company airships.

Sold

JPGAMES: Are there any plans on how the traveling will work in A Realm Reborn? Not only by the Etherites. Will there also be Airships or Ships? Or something new?
YOSHIDA: Yes definitely, with the main storyline you will sort of need airships and also a ship. But not only prepared ships and airships. During the update we will implement a system, so you can build your own ship or airship with your own guild. You can make your own version.

[Elcura]

http://www.penny-arcade.com/report/e...-mmo-but-feels

Is this the original? No search engines have any cached versions so..

Doesn't warrant a new post; think this is the 4th call out by this guy now over the past 2 /vg/ threads:

LOL.

I don't 4chan though; shame. (Assuming that is 4chan, and assuming he's calling me out.)

[Zzsark]

Have we heard this before or is this new?

JPGAMES: Can you tell us about one or two challenges?

YOSHIDA: For example the Crystal Tower. That’s something that maybe Lv.50 Players need to try out – those who completely the Main Scenario. You will need 24 players to challenge this content. And the other one, The Labyrinth of Bahamut, is something that those players, who can actually complete the Crystal Tower, can sort of try out. So these two are really going to be challenging and you can call them hardcore In Game Content.

Main Scenario > Crystal Tower > Labyrinth of Bahamut? I thought they were going to be expanding on both of these over time? Or is he just saying that the Labyrinth is going to be more difficult that the Crystal Tower rather than a pre-req... hmmm

[arus2001]

Perhaps I worded it poorly, but the point I was trying to make was that the OF making an enemy of the PA staff when PAX is bigger than E3 these days is not a good thing.

Trolls are gonna troll regardless, but I'd extend my sentiment even broader. The average gamer doesn't give a shit about E3, PAX, BlizzCon, or whatever--let alone the myriad of self-important gaming sites. If SE puts out a good ad campaign for XIV, you'll see some interest. Heck, the ARR trailer succeeded in that based on some commentary I've seen around here, and it's just CG.

[Kelenae]

Trolls are gonna troll regardless, but I'd extend my sentiment even broader. The average gamer doesn't give a shit about E3, PAX, BlizzCon, or whatever--let alone the myriad of self-important gaming sites. If SE puts out a good ad campaign for XIV, you'll see some interest. Heck, the ARR trailer succeeded in that based on some commentary I've seen around here, and it's just CG.

Big IF on that part there.

[Lucavi]

Trolls are gonna troll regardless, but I'd extend my sentiment even broader. The average gamer doesn't give a shit about E3, PAX, BlizzCon, or whatever--let alone the myriad of self-important gaming sites. If SE puts out a good ad campaign for XIV, you'll see some interest. Heck, the ARR trailer succeeded in that based on some commentary I've seen around here, and it's just CG.

I think you underestimate the average MMO consumer, because the "average" consumer is playing Farmville, not a Paid MMO, but I'll leave it alone so we're not butting heads all night. We'll see how it all turns out.

[Edelweiss]

LOL.

I don't 4chan though; shame. (Assuming that is 4chan, and assuming he's calling me out.)

It's the XIV General; full of nothing but retards, furfags, gay fantasies revolving around Roe M and Miq M, and some dude without a tripcode that comes across as very pchan-like (complete with BG rage). Also lots of XI nostaligia/trolling.

Spoiler: show

[Elcura]

It's the XIV General; full of nothing but retards, furfags, gay fantasies revolving around Roe M and Miq M, and some dude without a tripcode that comes across as very pchan-like (complete with BG rage). Also lots of XI nostaligia/trolling.

Spoiler: show

Business as usual then. Still, I hope to become hated on the OFs sooner or later.

[Seravi Edalborez]

A group of folks from across the entirety of the planet can be judged because of a dozen neckbeards who sauntered over to PA?

Yes, if PA is (for whatever reason) one of the only sources of internet media you consume.

A friend of mine hated French people a few years back. Not enough to provoke any kind of hostility, but it was just a flat-out "I don't like the French". When he brought it up I asked why. I guess some diplomat shit-talked a president he liked or something, don't remember. I brought up that you can't judge a nationality by one person. He's reasonable so he agreed, but why did he even come to that conclusion? Because one guy made a bad "first impression" and soured his opinion of the whole group.

That's what the drooling OF-tards (edit: by even saying "drooling OF-tards" I'm generalizing a population based on the loudest group) did on the PA article. It's reasonable to assume not every XIV player acts this way. It's also reasonable to assume not every black guy is gonna steal your shit, but people make stupid misconceptions all the time. Professionally the PA editorial staff may think differently, but you never know what kind of effect this can have on the game's success.

[Alkar]

Have we heard this before or is this new?



Main Scenario > Crystal Tower > Labyrinth of Bahamut? I thought they were going to be expanding on both of these over time? Or is he just saying that the Labyrinth is going to be more difficult that the Crystal Tower rather than a pre-req... hmmm

He's simply saying that Crystal Tower and Labyrinth are the hardest raids in the game and the latter should be challenged by those who can clear the Tower.

[Gulkeeva]

oh man that 4 chan pic... I had posted that male miqo'te pic like 4 hours ago, sure does spread fast!

[Kelenae]

He's simply saying that Crystal Tower and Labyrinth are the hardest raids in the game and the latter should be challenged by those who can clear the Tower.

Ya thats what i got from it.

I wish we could post some translations Reinheart's been doing for beta, some of them are good stuff =\

[arus2001]

I think you underestimate the average MMO consumer, because the "average" consumer is playing Farmville, not a Paid MMO, but I'll leave it alone so we're not butting heads all night. We'll see how it all turns out.

Eh, not really. How many people visit here? Now many people played FFXI back at its stable height of population? Even if we cut that "established" 500k to 250k people who could speak english, a mere fraction of those players actually come here, and a smaller subset of that actually post. As much as "core" or "loyal" players want to believe they're the backbone of any game, their money is no more important and over time it just warps into them wanting to justify and defend heavy time investments. Yes, any paid sub model should obviously aim for retention, but the general faction-ism tied to casual, hardcore, smart players, retards, and whatever other iteration and combination one can dream of isn't always what I'd consider a good thing. Everyone needs a bone thrown their way to want to keep going, but if XIV does indeed evolve into some raid-centric hardcore grindfest the genre is currently saturated with, then not only are people going to be disappointed, many will quit. Insert hypothetical quandary about whether are not these people who do stick around with their "superior knowledge and tastes" are really good for the industry. Hell, I'm pretty sure you didn't bring up Farmville to assert a positive opinion there and instead represent the "Fuck your fun!" that is a problem with MMOs with lacking progression flexibility and equality.

But I'm also rather burnt on elaborating in all this with respect to other games elsewhere, so if you just want to sum it all up with agreeing to disagree, fine with me. My sore spot is just shitty game design being rooted in nothing more than preserving a minority's ego. Doesn't matter if it's from a hard-headed dev like Tanaka or the 24/7 neckbeards who demand gating and time sinks because they'd blow through content in a week otherwise.

[Obsidian]

Updated testing schedule has been posted on the Beta forums.