Letter from the Producer LIVE Part V (02/21/2013)

[Lucavi]

It has been awful quiet from the press front. I don't know that the press tour really got the attention it warranted. Massively condensed like six articles into a single post that ran overnight on Joystiq. Never saw anything on Kotaku other than a reminder that the beta was starting last weekend. Polygon's post got pushed out of the way really quick.

Also seems like the NA community team is too busy putting out fires in the beta forum to post anything new for those that aren't in the beta. I would think that the most prudent thing to do after what seems from an outside perspective to look like a beta pratfall is to try and reveal more shinies. I mean, there's been interesting tidbits courtesy of Reinhart and the press tour, but none of the articles I read until the JPgamer one mentioned custom airships, and that seems like a pretty big reveal to go under the radar.

Hell, I'd have expected newsposts on the Lodestone linking to the various interviews/publications. I mean, at least that's *one* place where Sony couldn't steal their thunder.

It makes sense that there's nothing new on the newsfront. They're focused on within-beta communication and adjustments. I'm so sorry that those that aren't in the beta are so upset that BG has been talking about the beta and OF, instead of all the flurry of new content and events that we're not allowed to discuss. I'm so sorry that those not in the beta are upset that BG hasn't posted the 0 new articles concerning 2.0. that SE has released since last week.

Man, I feel so bad right now.

[Vuitton]

you should. i don't know how you can even look at yourself in the mirror.

[Fievel]

I don't think the comparison of BG::OF is too far off the mark nowadays. That's about as serious as I'll get.

Man, I've been saying this for months.

[Grey Jorildyn]

Sure but the difference is the potential for discussion. BG has a much higher ceiling potential for intelligent discussion than the OF. At least imo, and if we had something to discuss related to math or technical jargon I am sure we'd be generating some sick talk. But we don't so everybody gotta stop getting their panties in a bunch.

[Shimbo]

Needs more Ebon panel talk again. >.>

[Mina]

BG has a much higher ceiling potential for intelligent discussion than the OF.

It's the population of stupid that festers in there that keeps me away. Not even stupid really... it's the lack of common sense, reading comprehension, and ability to listen that bugs me. BG tends to troll those people who are missing those qualities and that delights me.

Edit: I think the Japanese joke was when they were talking about shouting inside the free company houses.

[Cutriss]

Man, I feel so bad right now.

Good, although you should mostly feel bad for construing anything I have to say as butthurt or disappointment, let alone against BG. I'm Legacy, so I'm not out of the loop, but I'm just trying to envision what it looks like to the people who are.

Because if XIV is going to succeed, we need more people to sub than the ones in beta right now.

[Fievel]

It's the population of stupid that festers in there that keeps me away. Not even stupid really... it's the lack of common sense, reading comprehension, and ability to listen that bugs me. BG tends to troll those people who are missing those qualities and that delights me.

The issue is that the majority of the people who post in the XIV section here on these boards are on the same level of intelligence as those on the OF. They just seem to think that because they post on the ALMIGHTY BLUE GARTR FORUMS that they are in some way superior.

The only reason that BG doesn't look so bad at a glance is because there is less tolerance from the mods for troll threads here. Whereas on the OF, almost every thread is made just to "troll".

[Grey Jorildyn]

Because if XIV is going to succeed, we need more people to sub than the ones in beta right now.

I agree with that. The reaction of those people ("legacy hate") is utterly ridiculous though. There's been some really unbelievable shit coming out of people mouths on there. And there'd have to be to generate 110 pages of general discussion in less than a week, almost 10x the posts of ALL the other language's gen. disc. topics combined. Not saying all pf that is non-legacy; it's definitely a combined effort, but it's awful either way.

The issue is that the majority of the people who post in the XIV section here on these boards are on the same level of intelligence as those on the OF. They just seem to think that because they post on the ALMIGHTY BLUE GARTR FORUMS that they are in some way superior.

Maybe there's a "BG Effect", but I think we can concede, at times, that those players are higher quality players than a typical OFer. There are exceptions to every rule however!

[Vuitton]

It's the population of stupid that festers in there that keeps me away. Not even stupid really... it's the lack of common sense, reading comprehension, and ability to listen that bugs me. BG tends to troll those people who are missing those qualities and that delights me.

Edit: I think the Japanese joke was when they were talking about shouting inside the free company houses.

Click like if you agree!

[Lordender]

Good, although you should mostly feel bad for construing anything I have to say as butthurt or disappointment, let alone against BG. I'm Legacy, so I'm not out of the loop, but I'm just trying to envision what it looks like to the people who are.

Because if XIV is going to succeed, we need more people to sub than the ones in beta right now.

I think 2.0 will be a good game but I still see the press in the west Gaijin smashing the shit out of it, regardless of how the game turns out. Hating on SE is just the popular thing to do these days in the media especially the western press. The press in the west still White Knights the shit out of Blizzard and they've been lackluster to their fans for years. The white knightery for Diablo 3(which is a massive disappointment as a day 1 of the series fan who bought the 1st game on release) just astounded me because most of the press didn't even step foot into Inferno to see how horribly executed the game actually was in terms of loot, game balance, they just played a little and said it was one of the great games ever made.

I think regardless of what SE does this time around, word of mouth from those who play needs to be much stronger rather than what the biased media writes about the game, I don't see any western media doing SE any favors.

[Manako]

I don't think the people BSing up in here are doing so for the same reasons people are doing it on the OF, also if you want its easy enough to just ignore the threads that bother you instead of the OF where there are numerous terrible threads and very few of any value. This thread for example, I don't think there will be much actual facts for this live letter anymore. It's getting to the point where there are more people complaining are outnumbering the people they are complaining about.

The "problem" is that people are talking just for the sake of talking, being all communal and stuff. We could play that game where everyone stops talking and whoever talks first loses until there is a new info dump, but that seems rather dull.

[Mina]

The only reason that BG doesn't look so bad at a glance is because there is less tolerance from the mods for troll threads here. Whereas on the OF, almost every thread is made just to "troll".

That too. The day we have 4 grass threads with 50 posts in each of them I'm packing my shit and leaving.
Until then you're kind of stuck with me because I can't find anyplace better to talk about FFXIV with people.

[Cutriss]

The white knightery for Diablo 3(which is a massive disappointment as a day 1 of the series fan who bought the 1st game on release) just astounded me because most of the press didn't even step foot into Inferno to see how horribly executed the game actually was in terms of loot, game balance, they just played a little and said it was one of the great games ever made.

Was going to say that I hadn't really seen a lot of whiteknighting D3, and then I opened Metacritic. Holy fucking noodly appendages, that is some goddamn "Please Activision, don't cut us off!" reviewing goin' on there.

[Sephiroth]

I think regardless of what SE does this time around, word of mouth from those who play needs to be much stronger rather than what the biased media writes about the game, I don't see any western media doing SE any favors.

You mean those same players who keep going on about how bad the game is because it's not V1 or it's not XI? But I like to think these are a minority and the other 700k people who bought the game and quit rather quickly will be the success of the game. That is of course if the asshat community doesn't chase them away with the "I'm legacy I'm better than you" attitude.

[Nadrojj]

Not sure why Churchill is on these boards at all. The last couple dozen posts from him have pretty much just been self-righteous, 5/6-word posts saying BG is terrible.

I'm wondering the same thing, last time he came in and bitched about something I mentioned his is not even worth taking note of. He then responded with quit trolling. He offers nothing useful to any thread at all just likes getting under people's skin.


As for BG at least we can have an intelligent discussion here. Yes sometimes things might get out of hand but I fell like I can come here and talk to people. Yes there might be a few trolls but overall the level of conversation and helpfulness is pretty high. Whereas on the OF's it's a non stop one sided argument for or against something and no one even considers others opinions. The beta forums are even worse, there is currently a thread that is saying "RMTs should have their own server where people who want to pay for things can". It seems all the spammers and idiots from the OF's got invited to beta with all the ridiculous posts there.

[Enkidu]

I think 2.0 will be a good game but I still see the press in the west Gaijin smashing the shit out of it, regardless of how the game turns out. Hating on SE is just the popular thing to do these days in the media especially the western press. The press in the west still White Knights the shit out of Blizzard and they've been lackluster to their fans for years. The white knightery for Diablo 3(which is a massive disappointment as a day 1 of the series fan who bought the 1st game on release) just astounded me because most of the press didn't even step foot into Inferno to see how horribly executed the game actually was in terms of loot, game balance, they just played a little and said it was one of the great games ever made.

I think regardless of what SE does this time around, word of mouth from those who play needs to be much stronger rather than what the biased media writes about the game, I don't see any western media doing SE any favors.

I think it's kind of silly to portray the media as "biased" when SE hasn't really done anything in the last 7 years that deserves praise. Bad-to-mediocre games, vaporware, and rehashes of rehashes has pretty much been their MO as of late.

I have no doubts that if ARR turns out to be a fun game the media will give favorable reviews, perhaps even a full "re-review" of XIV in general. I don't think it'll be enough to get a bunch of players back, but I think it'll find it's niche and live out it's days like XI did after it's prime.

[Alkimi]

Also seems like the NA community team is too busy putting out fires in the beta forum to post anything new for those that aren't in the beta.

To their credit they seem to be ignoring the entirety of General Discussion, bar locking a few gay marriage threads now and again. This is probably for the best.

[Eagleheart]

To their credit they seem to be ignoring the entirety of General Discussion, bar locking a few gay marriage threads now and again. This is probably for the best.

For the best...?

You damned heathen. Don't you know that a lack of gay marriage, double-D lalafells, XP loss on death and beards for the men will spell the death of ARR? ^(O.O)^ How can you not see the truth right before your eyes?!

EDIT: As an addenda, I note that one of the few good threads on the General Discussion board is buried four pages back. >_> I am a little disheartened that the few good threads are being buried under a veritable avalanche of...

Damn, I'm searching for the right words. I do not think I actually have a good analogy for the stupidity of General Discussion.

[Lucavi]

Good, although you should mostly feel bad for construing anything I have to say as butthurt or disappointment, let alone against BG. I'm Legacy, so I'm not out of the loop, but I'm just trying to envision what it looks like to the people who are.

Because if XIV is going to succeed, we need more people to sub than the ones in beta right now.

I get you, but you speak of the NA team being too busy putting out fires than talking to non-beta people, to which I say: "get your priorities right, because SE has them right." The fires of the game are far more important right now than pumping out a daily feed of information for what people may not be in beta but anxiously waiting for more information.

What information could they put out right now? Some PR spin about how everything is lolipops and rainbows? Because it isn't, and if I were them, I'd be far more focused on fixing what needs fixing than PRing the hell out of a beta test for the "benefit" of the public.

"Well why can't they do both?" you ask, with pursed lips? "Because SE," that's why.