I think Square Enix can really turn it around. They've almost axed the entire previou team and are basically redoing the entire game. Sadly, billing or not, Skyrim will probably kill subscribers more than anything Square-Enix can do XD

Originally posted by gwbrew

I hope you will understand why those that  are not caught up in the title of the game will be walking away.. I can understand your love for a genre and I think it is good that people like you are out there, loyal to the end. Just don't expect the majority of MMO players to follow.. When a company makes grape juice and promises coke.. don't expect to make many friends from a company perspective.. I wish you great joy in your jouney and hope it works out for you.

I don't care what title a game sports as long as it's fun for me. Even if FFXIV didn't have the FF trademark I'll be playing. No other game besides EVE (I just couldn't stand the spaceship setting) has crafting that is molded into the core of the game where each crafting and gathering profession is it's own class. Even if they're out there, they don't have the nice visuals, music, and slower paced gamestyle that I also like in FF. That's not even going into how I like the armory system and storylines.

Your opinion =/= fact. Not everyone staying is caught up in the name.

Originally posted by gwbrew

Originally posted by Kost

I will be supporting the company with my monthly fee.

They are making a serious effort to restore the Final Fantasy name, and to provide customers with a game worthy of that name and the reputation it carries, you really can't ask for more than that. They made a mistake and they have been completely honest about that fact, and there plans to make good on that mistake, which is more than can be said for most companies that have released mmorpgs over the last half a decade.

I can't wait for the revamped game, and I look forward to participating in the current version until that time comes.

I hope you will understand why those that  are not caught up in the title of the game will be walking away.. I can understand your love for a genre and I think it is good that people like you are out there, loyal to the end. Just don't expect the majority of MMO players to follow.. When a company makes grape juice and promises coke.. don't expect to make many friends from a company perspective.. I wish you great joy in your jouney and hope it works out for you.

Square has provided me with quality entertainment since the early 90s, I don't mind them making a few mistakes.

I've gotten much more than my money's worth from Square and Enix, it has absolutely nothing to do with my love for a genre of games, if that were the case I wouldn't play any modern rpgs.

When a compay has been serving you chilled Dom Perignon for the better part of the last twenty years, I don't mind accidentally getting a single glass of grape juice. They sent a waiter over to the table to make sure I get what I originally ordered, that rates high in my book.

Originally posted by Kost

Originally posted by gwbrew

Originally posted by Kost

I will be supporting the company with my monthly fee.

They are making a serious effort to restore the Final Fantasy name, and to provide customers with a game worthy of that name and the reputation it carries, you really can't ask for more than that. They made a mistake and they have been completely honest about that fact, and there plans to make good on that mistake, which is more than can be said for most companies that have released mmorpgs over the last half a decade.

I can't wait for the revamped game, and I look forward to participating in the current version until that time comes.

I hope you will understand why those that  are not caught up in the title of the game will be walking away.. I can understand your love for a genre and I think it is good that people like you are out there, loyal to the end. Just don't expect the majority of MMO players to follow.. When a company makes grape juice and promises coke.. don't expect to make many friends from a company perspective.. I wish you great joy in your jouney and hope it works out for you.

Square has provided me with quality entertainment since the early 90s, I don't mind them making a few mistakes.

I've gotten much more than my money's worth from Square and Enix, it has absolutely nothing to do with my love for a genre of games, if that were the case I wouldn't play any modern rpgs.

When a compay has been serving you chilled Dom Perignon for the better part of the last twenty years, I don't mind accidentally getting a single glass of grape juice.

I have to agree. Square-Enix wanted to create something new that hasn't been seen before. They didn't want to take their previous MMORPG and just make new graphics. They wanted a brand new game that was different than every other MMORPG. Did they succeed? No. But I commend them for trying.

Originally posted by shr4pnel

Someone PLEASE let them know that SWTOR will launch on the month that they plan to charge for subs!

I played SWTOR beta.... My monthly sub will be going to FFXIV.

Originally posted by ZizouX

Originally posted by shr4pnel

Someone PLEASE let them know that SWTOR will launch on the month that they plan to charge for subs!

I played SWTOR beta.... My monthly sub will be going to FFXIV.

I wouldn't go as far as saying that, however i will be watching ffxiv carefully because those i think 7,........yes 7 new classes how many games can you name that can just launch 7 new classes in Februrary.

Once those databases get updated with the new recipes I will see if I wish to stay, like I said I never liked spending days creating a piece of armor, wear it and have it outdated in levels, and then go to see that prices are insanely high because of the time sink it takes just to craft one piece of damn armor.

 

 http://www.xfire.com/genre/mmo/massively_multiplayer_online/

 

So, Xfire is an accurate metric? Since you were kind enough to include a link for it, I'll talk about what it actually shows. FFXIV is ranked #97. There are 142 x-fire users for XIV. The highest ranking XIV achieved is #37 on October 18th, 2010. Since that time it has fallen to #97. So, by the metrics you've provided me with, I can only come to the conclusion that XIV is losing subsribers.

 

Vanguard has 1 server (which is lower pop than most servers in XIV)

 

Yes, Vanguard has a lower population than XIV. How old is that game?

 

FFXI has 16 servers (but most are much lower pop than XIV)

 

How do you know what the server populations are?

 

EQ1 has 14 servers (but most all are much lower pop than XIV especially since this # includes specialty servers)

 

How do you know what the server populations are?

 

EQ2 has 9 Servers most of which have lower pop than XIV

 

How do you know what the server populations are?

 

Lineage II has 2 servers?  (can't be higher pop than heaviest populated XIV servers)

 

Probably lower than XIV, I agree.

 

Over a decade old?  Really?  Can you not do math?  Other than Ultima and EQ none of these games launched over 10 years ago, most launched within the last few years.  It is an extremely valid comparison because these games are mostly P2P, and because the person I was responding to tried to make the absurd claim that FFXIV had no population to speak of and was less followed than Super something online which I have never even heard of (and isn't listed on any MMO site I could find).

 

I didn't say how many were a decade old. One game that is ten years old is more than zero, so my math skills are intact professor. I mentioned it because I thought it was amusing that you included Ultima Online and EQ.

 

Now would you care to give me some numbers to support the argument that FFXIV is failing in comparison with the majority of P2P or even F2P mmo's on the market?  Or do you have nothing to go on but hate?

 

You should re-read my post because I don't think I claimed that XIV's poulation is falling or that other games are doing better than XIV. Since you bring it up, there's some pretty obvious answers though. You even provided me with the numbers from xfire (you used xfire, not me!) World of Warcraft, Aion, Vindictus, LOTRO, Rift, EVE, APB:Reloaded, Silkroad Online, GW, Maple Story, Need for Speed World, Runescape, Atlantica Online, Runes of Magic, Mabinogi, Forsaken World, CABAL Online, Allods, Age of Conan, CoH, Eden Eternal, Tibia, and Dofus all have more subscribers according to Xfire.

 

 It's greedy to screw over your existing subscribers to make a buck instead of improving your product as Square Enix is doing to try and get more subscribers.  I hear that stealing candy from babies is good business too though so I guess you have a point.... if I was investing in an MMO and not playing it maybe.  I don't care about profitability, I care only about enjoyability and community (both of which F2P destroys). 

 

LOTRO, Age of Conan, and DDO all seem to be doing okay. Freemium isn't indicative of a horrible community and horrible game.

 

 Yes absolutely my experience on Selbina, the number of unique active forum accounts I have seen posting within the last 2 months, the # of endgame shells in the game or non overlapping linkshells in general.  The number of people on my friends list, and the number of people I play with not on my friends list.  Yes all of this is anecdotal, but it is better than your "baseless speculation".

 

I didn't speculate. I just pointed out that I thought your "baseless speculations" are indeed baseless. You presume to talk for every FFXIV server because your experience on one server tells you that populations are high. Do you really need me to tell you why that's a false assumption?

 

How about the fact that I have been in a queue after 1.19, and 1.18 both.  The number of servers. The fact that it specifically says a server has a high population (the population gauge when creating a new character), but I guess those are all the result of Square Enix lying and going to great lengths to manipulate such gauges to cover for themselves right?  I bet 90% of players are bots run by Yoshida to try and make it look like this game has people playing, probably most of my linkshell!!!! AHHHHHHH YOU HAVE LIFTED THE VEIL FROM MY EYES YOU ARE A GENIUS!!!

 

The Chocobo guage that tells you nothing? Three Chocobos could mean a thousand players, or it could mean ten thousand. Yes, that's a great metric tool.

 

Seriously though, You know better I'm sure.  You have ALL THIS EVIDENCE to support the claim that the game has no population and is failing.  Let's see some of it.  Oh you don't have any whatsoever?  Then maybe you should be quiet.

 

You are seriously a strange guy. May I suggest some chamomile tea or something to calm your nerves? I didn't make any claims, I just challenged yours. In turn you attempted to back them up with what amounts to nothing more than anecdotal evidence.

 

 

The screenshots look excellent and that's all well and good, but I wonder how transparent Square-Enix will be with their revival process?

Originally posted by Miles-Prower

The screenshots look excellent and that's all well and good, but I wonder how transparent Square-Enix will be with their revival process?

If the past few months continue, they'll update us very often. Most likely it'll be a big topic in each Letter from the Developer from here on out.

They have a thread on the official forums to leave questions in too about the changes, and they'll be answered in the next live dev chat video.

Originally posted by Zookz1

I think it's incredibly arrogant of them to charge people for a game based on an outline for the future. "If you pay us now, we promise it will get better and here's how." I'm sorry, but I'm a bit skeptical when this game is still developing things that are fundamental to an MMO of it's type i.e. XP, combat, class system, questing structure, crafting, LFG tool, LS management, world design, server structure, game engine, UI etc. Yes, all of that is in the works, but I'm not going to pay them before it is implemented.

They're asking for a lot of faith, and that's a resource that they've used up.

Hahaha, it's pretty much similar to paying for your condo unit while the it's still being constructed....it's a gamble.

Originally posted by Draron

Judging by the response of the XIV community (one's that actually play the game than those acting like they know the situation without having the game on there HDD) have voted in an official forum thread.

So far, a little over 2/3's of the playerbase is staying.

The way I see it is those that are staying will get to experience the storyline arch leading to 2.0, level there classes (which are staying even after 2.0, so it won't be for waste), experience the usual patches that have been changing a lot of the mechanics, while supporting the development of 2.0 in the process.

SE doesn't care on who leaves when they start billing, because it will only get rid of those playing for free that had no intention to support the game at the moment. No doubt a new influx of players will come with the 2.0 PC Client/PS3 release.

FFXIV suffers from the same issue FFXI did. The forums aren't very well done or organised so most that play don't use them. It's mainly the diehards that do. So I wouldn't take that as much of a sign. All it really is showing is that so far 615 of the diehards are going to pay....... thats not very promising imho. You also have to take into account this is what they "say" what they do isn't always the same as what they say. 

To trully know how this will go we will have to wait until Dec. as thats a few months away still.  

Originally posted by Miles-Prower

Originally posted by Kost

Originally posted by gwbrew

Originally posted by Kost

I will be supporting the company with my monthly fee.

They are making a serious effort to restore the Final Fantasy name, and to provide customers with a game worthy of that name and the reputation it carries, you really can't ask for more than that. They made a mistake and they have been completely honest about that fact, and there plans to make good on that mistake, which is more than can be said for most companies that have released mmorpgs over the last half a decade.

I can't wait for the revamped game, and I look forward to participating in the current version until that time comes.

I hope you will understand why those that  are not caught up in the title of the game will be walking away.. I can understand your love for a genre and I think it is good that people like you are out there, loyal to the end. Just don't expect the majority of MMO players to follow.. When a company makes grape juice and promises coke.. don't expect to make many friends from a company perspective.. I wish you great joy in your jouney and hope it works out for you.

Square has provided me with quality entertainment since the early 90s, I don't mind them making a few mistakes.

I've gotten much more than my money's worth from Square and Enix, it has absolutely nothing to do with my love for a genre of games, if that were the case I wouldn't play any modern rpgs.

When a compay has been serving you chilled Dom Perignon for the better part of the last twenty years, I don't mind accidentally getting a single glass of grape juice.

I have to agree. Square-Enix wanted to create something new that hasn't been seen before. They didn't want to take their previous MMORPG and just make new graphics. They wanted a brand new game that was different than every other MMORPG. Did they succeed? No. But I commend them for trying.

And yet, right now, they are removing ALL that what was unique for FFXIV and turning it into FFXI v.2.0 plus themepark features (tired of hearing the WoW word...so I leave it at that).

When patch 2.0 hits end next year.... nothing will be left from the original FFXIV. It will be an entirely new game... or rather just another Themepark game like the rest out there.

FFXIV was a terrrible game when it launched, it shouldn't have launched! BUT! It still had some unique features that just needed to be worked out further!

Instead the new Dev team is just removing it all and replace it with FFXI systems and standard Themepark MMO stuff we all already got tired off.

Originally posted by JeroKane

When patch 2.0 hits end next year.... nothing will be left from the original FFXIV.

Well, yeah, aside from that being completely false.

FFXIV 2.0 is an expansion of the current FFXIV. It's not a new game. It is built on the foundation of XIV.

The aspects being competely removed and then replaced are the User Interface (oh man that sure did make XIV a unique butterfly), server hardware/software and graphics engine. The rest of the game will simply be updated to the now higher standards the servers and engine can provide. Even the world isn't getting completely removed, they will re-use some assets because there's nothing wrong with them per se.

Originally posted by GrayGhost79

FFXIV suffers from the same issue FFXI did. The forums aren't very well done or organised so most that play don't use them. It's mainly the diehards that do. So I wouldn't take that as much of a sign. All it really is showing is that so far 615 of the diehards are going to pay....... thats not very promising imho. You also have to take into account this is what they "say" what they do isn't always the same as what they say. 

 

To trully know how this will go we will have to wait until Dec. as thats a few months away still.  

What do you mean FFXI did? FFXI didn't have official forums until XIV got theres =/

And I was using the link as a reference. I can guarantee more people playing XIV read and post on the official forums than these.