FFXI to FFXIV – Jurassic Park to The Lost World

MMORPG.com:

How do you think that FFXIV will affect FFXI?

Ganen:

Probably population loss first and foremost. I think that a lot of FFXI players will want to at least try FFXIV out when it launches, but if it's too different I think most people will go back to eleven. I think only the biggest fans of eleven will stay and the people who can support having both subscriptions. Other than that, like most games, if people don't like the new one they will return to their old game.

MMORPG.com:

you feel that the western audience will be more inclined to go to fourteen and that the eastern audience will stay with eleven?

Ganen:

No I don't think that it will matter, at least I don't believe that fourteen is being designed for more of a western audience.

MMORPG.com:

Do you think that it is being westernized in the sense that fourteen is being rumored to have more solo content and a finite number of classes at launch?

Ganen:

Not really, I think it's just a design principle stemming from the MMO's that are current in today's market. They want to make the game more appealing to everyone, or at least to the average player regardless of which market they are from. They want to make money in the end and as for the less classes at the start, eleven launched with only a few classes and now it has a ton of options so I'm not worried about variety.

MMORPG.com:

So you think they are taking a more broad approach to their design rather than focusing on niche gaming?

Ganen:

Absolutely, from what I've seen and heard anyway. That's why I think eleven won't have much trouble, because of the hardcore players who like eleven due to the fact that it is brutal and tough on you. They will go back to it if fourteen is too easy and hands you everything. I hope they take a lot of the design elements from eleven and keep them in mind, otherwise I don't think I'll enjoy the game. I have at least some faith in the company however.

MMORPG.com:

What do you like / dislike about fourteen vs. eleven?

Ganen:

Well for one, fourteen has better graphics and coding for it. The reason that I initially quit eleven was because my high end computer couldn't run the game well because of the poor coding. It was also a console port from Playstation Two so hopefully FFXIV will have some PC design elements in it. I just really hope that they keep the subjob system in place, that was the best class system that I've ever played and eleven pulled it off very well.

MMORPG.com:

Are you disappointed with the possibility of having to use a hotbar instead of the original macro system?

Ganen:

No and yes, the simplicity of a hotbar is awesome but the customization of the macro system was pretty great as well. Being able to slot your abilities into a bar and then quickly bind them to your keys will be sweet, I'm definitely looking forward to that. I just hope they do have some kind of macro making system in the background, unless you won't need to gear-change, etc.

MMORPG.com:

Do you think this will alienate some of the players or will it be widely adopted?

Ganen:

I don't think it's such a big issue really, most players will either say it's meh, or awesome. I think they will play the game regardless. I just don't see it being a major decision maker for most; the gameplay will decide that.

MMORPG.com:

What do you think is the biggest sore spot amongst veteran players in regards to FFXVI right now?

Ganen:

The possible "easiness" of the game from what I've heard about it. If there are private instances, that will be a killer for a bunch of people. One of the best things about eleven was being able to go to a zone, see other people there, fight for spots, and fight for mobs. If the game is all instances and privatized, the game will feel less like an MMO and more like a single player game with a chat box.

MMORPG.com:

What do you feel FFXIV has to do right in order to be a good successor for FFXI?

Ganen:

Port a lot of the qualities off of eleven and don't try to change the formula too much. If they just improve upon the rest and don't make the game too watered down, it will be successful.