The Mog Log: Apparently I enjoy receiving hate mail

[mmorp]

I like Final Fantasy XI, and not just because it was the game that introduced me to how awesome MMOs could be, although that's certainly a part of it. I like the game because it has a lot of things that are genuinely likable, several elements that are well-designed, and some really excellent parts that stand out even now. So keep in mind that everything I'm about to say is said on behalf of a Final Fantasy XI fan.

Specifically, the rant that's about to ensue about how the idea of remaking it is a terrible idea.

This suggestion crops up pretty regularly, largely among people still disappointed that Final Fantasy XIV was what it was at launch. There's some thought that somehow cloning FFXI with the models from Final Fantasy XIV would lead to a glorious revival. And I can understand the thought process, but there are two very good reasons why that shouldn't happen -- not won't, which is already obvious, but shouldn't.

[Churchill]

>>waits for the rant
>>wasn't going to read anyway
wat

[mmorp]

(Continue...)

Reason one: FFXI was a terrible game

Hold on a minute. Didn't I just say that I like FFXI? These things don't seem to go together.

The thing is that for all that FFXI had excellent parts, it had a whole lot of things in it that were dumb, annoying, or just flat-out bad. Sometimes those elements would combine into a single mess, like the fact that the game has never adequately addressed the fact that way more classes can damage stuff than are capable of healers. Other times they just stood on their own as being intensely bad choices.

Forced grouping is one of those design choices. Oh, it's an MMO; you want to be able to group with other players. That's not what we're talking about here. What we're talking about is never being able to play the game so much as logging in and hoping to play the game. It's easy to remember the fun parties that went smoothly. I remember times when playing a White Mage was the most fun in the world. I also remember times when I was the only person who seemed to have even a rudimentary understanding of how the game worked, and times when I just wanted to log in and do something instead of putting on my party flag. And that's not even talking about trying to level Dragoon.

The fact that half of the game's mechanics were hidden behind a wall of handwaving didn't help matters, either. Yes, it introduced an element of mystery into the game, but there are fun mysteries and annoying mysteries. Not knowing exactly where you're going as you crawl through a dungeon can be fun. Not knowing whether or not a piece of equipment is actually improving your performance without extensive testing and theorizing is not fun.

Both of those examples are just samples. Even once you knew what everything did, you'd frequently wind up with equipment for your class that improved totally irrelevant stats. Subjobs have always been functionally limited, so while you can theoretically sub almost anything, there are only a handful with any merit. PvP is a mess. Losing experience, a game economy that was horribly lopsided, broken classes, classes that have never worked as intended, lack of character customization... the list goes on.

FFXI wasn't fun because of all these issues. It was fun in spite of them.


Some of these issues are a product of the times when the game was designed, surely. But they're not merits, and they aren't what I look back on with fondness. Almost none of them has ever really been addressed (some of them have, certainly, like the loss of experience), and they're all a huge barrier to entry for anyone getting into a game or the genre as a whole.

Even if you consider all of these things to be awesome elements, however, there's still another major issue.

[mmorp]

>>waits for the rant
>>wasn't going to read anyway
wat

cant understand..though

[DeathbySnoosnoo]

I would play a graphically updated ffxi, minus everything past wotgs launch. Level 75 is the cap fuck any of you who think otherwise.

Also why is this in general discussion lol.

[Xno Kappa]

[Byrthnoth]

OP obviously hasn't played the game in more than a year. Most of the things you are complaining about were addressed with Abyssea.

[solanis]

like 1% of the people who post in general actually play ffxi bro

[Churchill]

and I already discussed my lack of fucks

[shepardG]

Yeah .... Hey shit fuck, there's an ENTIRE FUCKING SECTION DEDICATED TO YOUR TOPIC.

Moron.

[BadKarma]

Yeah .... Hey shit fuck, there's an ENTIRE FUCKING SECTION DEDICATED TO YOUR TOPIC.

Moron.

umadness 2012

[shepardG]

A vote for day is a Vote for gay(the happiness kind)!

[Conrad]

umadness 2012

probably a stupid trolling competition, anyway

[solanis]

stop giving them attention

[Silenka]

Would have to say anyone who still cares one whit about FFXI already knows why a FFXI remake would be a bad idea and doesn't need random guy #3420 to tell them about it.

[Tajin]

tyven lock this

[Acturus]

A vote for day is a Vote for gay(the happiness kind)!

Best part of the thread right thurr.

[Mertron]

(Continue...)

Reason one: FFXI was a terrible game

Hold on a minute. Didn't I just say that I like FFXI? These things don't seem to go together.

The thing is that for all that FFXI had excellent parts, it had a whole lot of things in it that were dumb, annoying, or just flat-out bad. Sometimes those elements would combine into a single mess, like the fact that the game has never adequately addressed the fact that way more classes can damage stuff than are capable of healers. Other times they just stood on their own as being intensely bad choices.

Forced grouping is one of those design choices. Oh, it's an MMO; you want to be able to group with other players. That's not what we're talking about here. What we're talking about is never being able to play the game so much as logging in and hoping to play the game. It's easy to remember the fun parties that went smoothly. I remember times when playing a White Mage was the most fun in the world. I also remember times when I was the only person who seemed to have even a rudimentary understanding of how the game worked, and times when I just wanted to log in and do something instead of putting on my party flag. And that's not even talking about trying to level Dragoon.

The fact that half of the game's mechanics were hidden behind a wall of handwaving didn't help matters, either. Yes, it introduced an element of mystery into the game, but there are fun mysteries and annoying mysteries. Not knowing exactly where you're going as you crawl through a dungeon can be fun. Not knowing whether or not a piece of equipment is actually improving your performance without extensive testing and theorizing is not fun.

Both of those examples are just samples. Even once you knew what everything did, you'd frequently wind up with equipment for your class that improved totally irrelevant stats. Subjobs have always been functionally limited, so while you can theoretically sub almost anything, there are only a handful with any merit. PvP is a mess. Losing experience, a game economy that was horribly lopsided, broken classes, classes that have never worked as intended, lack of character customization... the list goes on.

FFXI wasn't fun because of all these issues. It was fun in spite of them.


Some of these issues are a product of the times when the game was designed, surely. But they're not merits, and they aren't what I look back on with fondness. Almost none of them has ever really been addressed (some of them have, certainly, like the loss of experience), and they're all a huge barrier to entry for anyone getting into a game or the genre as a whole.

Even if you consider all of these things to be awesome elements, however, there's still another major issue.

[isladar]

The lock that is about to ensue is about how making this thread was a terrible idea.