FFXIV went from being the worst MMO I ever purchased (2 years ago) to being the worst MMO launch I've ever experienced. The game however... I love it!
They have suspended sales until they get some population management down pat. Remember the Diablo III train wreck launch or the 5K Aion queues? Yeah, nothing compared to this mess.
This launch has been very disastrous. While it has been a common issue with various MMOs in the past, this should not have happened as this is a "second launch" of the game. As a result, many people feel like they have been burnt twice by this and that feeling is completely legit.
Thankfully, I am on a lower population server and I play at odd hours so I have no problem getting into the game. I am personally enjoying the game, but I hope that this is resolved soon so that others may actually get to play the game they purchased.
its ntot he second launch fo the game it sa Whole new game everythign is diffreant engine server structure everything
This launch has been very disastrous. While it has been a common issue with various MMOs in the past, this should not have happened as this is a "second launch" of the game.
This should have NOT been a rocky start given that it's failed before. Seriously how could they do something like this after what happened before. I'm just stunned at their complete incompetence at capacity planning.
The game is fun to play once you get in but the nightmare you have to go through to do it is unacceptable.
While I do get frustrated with not being able to log in I have ended up finding workarounds. When I am in the game it makes the frustration all worthwhile at least to me. This game brings back the feelings I had with my first MMO, the adventure and the need to stay on to just see what is around the next corner. As jaded as I have become with all the different MMO's I have played over the years this particular game really makes me feel like there is a new world to explore. I look forward to SE fixing their very obvious server problems so it is even easier to enjoy the experience.
Don't let this bad talk sway you away from buying this game. It's a fantastic game, humans these days have dropped to an all time low in patience, so if you can be a little bit patient and let the server problems smooth out, you will enjoy this game. Don't let some server issues change your mind from playing this game, because they will be fixed.
This is like saying this guy is a great worker WHEN he shows up for work. Well if you don't show up for work is does not matter how great you are. Same applies here. No point in this game being great if you can't provide stable services.
I'm not having too bad of a time with this game when it comes to service. And honestly, I'm so hopelessly addicted that even if they wiped my 30 free game days (which they haven't, and I've properly put my code in with no problem) I would still happily pay for another 30 days just to scratch the itch. This game is downright phenomenal.
I've played MMOs since they first crawled from the mudd pits (get it?), and this is hardly a disastrous launch.
Most of the service issues I've read about are resulting from people very used to a clean account registration experience and just didn't read or watch what they clicked.
The server issues will get sorted out. Good thing is, when you do get logged in, it is a golden experience. No lag, no crashes. Yes, when I do feel like trying to log in, I have to push through the 1017 errors too. I then log out when I'm done so others have a chance. I'm hopeful that free character transfers will be open to all so we can spread out once the new servers are brought online.
Other than the labeling of disastrous, I agree with most of your points.
This has been very interesting so far. My experiences:
The account system sucks, its confusing and you don't really know if you are doing it right. I have had other issues with some of their other games like Sleeping Dogs, I can't get that game onto my account to unlock the special features. I only include this to show you that its not just FFXIV, its their account system in general that sucks. Support is nonexistant.
2) Logging in. I am not to frustrated with this since I am traveling for work and my laptop really isn't ip to snuff to play this game other than to be a fisherman. But generally speaking since I no longer do hardcore raiding and am not racing to max level to get world/server firsts, not logging in does not bother me to much. I expect it with popular MMO's the week of launch. I am patient and play when I get on. Hell, I am even nice and log off instead of staying logged in. I guess with age comes patience
3) The game: To me this is the most important part. I am loving the game play. There is a lot you can do so it can be easy to get distracted. The world looks good, the game play is good. I am truly enjoying myself playing this game when I get in. Now for the short attention span people this doesn't help. they want what they want and the want it NOW!!!! IF you don't give it to them NOW!!!! They are going to scream, cry, beg, and threaten non existant class action law suits. I take solace in knowing that in a week or so I will be able to play a pretty fun game. Patience is the key to this.
I would seriously advocate a phased play date for people for future AAA titles. Something to the effect, the first 10000 get login in priority on the 1st, the next 10000 get access on the 3rd, etc. This would help manage the log in congestion, but I am sure that it would not go over well and people would scream how it wasn't fair.
But for real, be patient, its a good game. Once you get through the stupid website account stuff, you won't think about it again.
1. I must be a genius or very lucky as I've had zero problems with account registration or code entry.
2. 1017 is the bane of my MMO existence right now - those 4 numbers from the Seven Hells suck the very soul out of my fun center.
3. Despite the tedious and confusing systems, it's still better than PlayOnline.
4. The game is worth it once you figure it all out and actually get in - don't deny yourself a chance to play it.
Yes I had no issues until I finally realized my game had not even been registered and somehow I was playing with a 3 day game trial instead of my actual service account. Then I found out about the Mog Station and getting my code from Digitalriver I have been fine but still waaaaaaaay too complicated.
The game is good, it exceeded their expectations which is a good thing. But in doing so it caused chaos on their servers. Given a bit of time this will get resolved. These people have a passion for this game which is rare.
You people are way to demanding when it comes to service. Class action lawsuits, and all the hate it's sad. This is the 2nd day after launch. How many mmo's launches were perfect? You know how many 0.
Awesome article & has (unfortunately) paralleled my experience thus far. Perhaps in a week or two they will have it working as it should have been for beta 4.
I remember reading an article last year about the 10 worst MMO launches of all time and the original FFXIV launch was listed. So this is their second chance for a first impression. And they aren't doing so hot... Beta 4 should have been their clue.
Anyways, due to that article, my wife and I canceled our pre-orders on Monday. If the data center upgrades resolve the issue, we will try again. But I'm not giving them my money for a game I can't even play right now.
I'm looking forward to part two of this article though!
so disastrous have had zero problems playing the game for 72 hours straight. Every single other MMO i have had played in the past had ever worse launches than this, I dont know how people seem to have overcomplicated things.
Most memorable games: AoC(Tryanny PvP), RIFT, GW, GW2, Ragnarok Online, Aion, FFXI, FFXIV, Secret World, League of Legends (Silver II rank)
People, including the OP, are making it sound way worse then it is. I, and almost my whole FC of 40+ have had zero problems. I know some have had problems, but it isn t even close to what some very loud people are making it sound.
Well at least it gives me time to replay Shenmue 2 after replaying one recently. Oddly enough it was phase 4 that tickled the itch to play Shenmue 1 again.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
Originally posted by EndoRoboto Well instead of freaking out we can treat the first week or two of launch like any other MMO knowing it's going to be a rough ride for a fraction of the total time I'll be playing.
Yeah, the first couple weeks will be like this then it will smooth out and people will play and enjoy the game.
But for the people that dislike the game the stories of the bad launch will grow over time like a legendary fishing outing.
Look at WoW, people are now saying its launch problems lasted for a year and a half.
I'm not saying this service is excusable, but already posting a rating based on one day of release is very amateurish, and titling your article "Great game, Poor Service PART ONE" is unprofessional. This is the best MMO experience I've had in a bout 10 years, so give it a couple weeks before labeling it doomsday. Even people who can't access American servers are willing to be patient because the game is worth it, stop getting your panties in a wad Michael Bitton, this is your job--you're not just a raging anonymous gamer anymore.
Originally posted by MisterSr I'm not saying this service is excusable, but already posting a rating based on one day of release is very amateurish, and titling your article "Great game, Poor Service PART ONE" is unprofessional. This is the best MMO experience I've had in a bout 10 years, so give it a couple weeks before labeling it doomsday. Even people who can't access American servers are willing to be patient because the game is worth it, stop getting your panties in a wad Michael Bitton, this is your job--you're not just a raging anonymous gamer anymore.
I did. I find it humourous. Lots of stuff going on here. Some of it I agree with. I'm not sold the 1017 issue (or whatever the number is) is strictly something with the queue. I'm having no issues but someone who has a character on the same server tried and got the error. There was ZERO queue for me. I'm not a special little butterfly. So I dunno what the difference is.
I love the logic of some people: " I had no problems, so therefore everybody that did have problems must be doing something wrong, it couldn't possibly be the horrible design of the system"
Just because you got lucky and had a smooth ride doesn't mean its a perfect system and anybody that had the bad luck of running into these errors are dummy's. I play a lot of mmo's and SE registration has the worst flow of any site I have ever registered for. Even if it's possible to navigate through with no problems, its still way harder than it should be to do so. I love this game, but it feels like I have to fight SE just to get to play the game.
Comments
They have suspended sales until they get some population management down pat.
Remember the Diablo III train wreck launch or the 5K Aion queues? Yeah, nothing compared to this mess.
No bitchers.
its ntot he second launch fo the game it sa Whole new game everythign is diffreant engine server structure everything
Originally posted by Kenichi
This launch has been very disastrous. While it has been a common issue with various MMOs in the past, this should not have happened as this is a "second launch" of the game.
This should have NOT been a rocky start given that it's failed before. Seriously how could they do something like this after what happened before. I'm just stunned at their complete incompetence at capacity planning.
The game is fun to play once you get in but the nightmare you have to go through to do it is unacceptable.
http://www.greycouncil.org/
Cluck Cluck, Gibber Gibber, My Old Mans A Mushroom
Cluck Cluck, Gibber Gibber, My Old Mans A Mushroom
I've played MMOs since they first crawled from the mudd pits (get it?), and this is hardly a disastrous launch.
Most of the service issues I've read about are resulting from people very used to a clean account registration experience and just didn't read or watch what they clicked.
The server issues will get sorted out. Good thing is, when you do get logged in, it is a golden experience. No lag, no crashes. Yes, when I do feel like trying to log in, I have to push through the 1017 errors too. I then log out when I'm done so others have a chance. I'm hopeful that free character transfers will be open to all so we can spread out once the new servers are brought online.
Other than the labeling of disastrous, I agree with most of your points.
This has been very interesting so far. My experiences:
The account system sucks, its confusing and you don't really know if you are doing it right. I have had other issues with some of their other games like Sleeping Dogs, I can't get that game onto my account to unlock the special features. I only include this to show you that its not just FFXIV, its their account system in general that sucks. Support is nonexistant.
2) Logging in. I am not to frustrated with this since I am traveling for work and my laptop really isn't ip to snuff to play this game other than to be a fisherman. But generally speaking since I no longer do hardcore raiding and am not racing to max level to get world/server firsts, not logging in does not bother me to much. I expect it with popular MMO's the week of launch. I am patient and play when I get on. Hell, I am even nice and log off instead of staying logged in. I guess with age comes patience
3) The game: To me this is the most important part. I am loving the game play. There is a lot you can do so it can be easy to get distracted. The world looks good, the game play is good. I am truly enjoying myself playing this game when I get in. Now for the short attention span people this doesn't help. they want what they want and the want it NOW!!!! IF you don't give it to them NOW!!!! They are going to scream, cry, beg, and threaten non existant class action law suits. I take solace in knowing that in a week or so I will be able to play a pretty fun game. Patience is the key to this.
I would seriously advocate a phased play date for people for future AAA titles. Something to the effect, the first 10000 get login in priority on the 1st, the next 10000 get access on the 3rd, etc. This would help manage the log in congestion, but I am sure that it would not go over well and people would scream how it wasn't fair.
But for real, be patient, its a good game. Once you get through the stupid website account stuff, you won't think about it again.
Yes I had no issues until I finally realized my game had not even been registered and somehow I was playing with a 3 day game trial instead of my actual service account. Then I found out about the Mog Station and getting my code from Digitalriver I have been fine but still waaaaaaaay too complicated.
Registering this game isn't that hard.
http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/pr/start_ffxiv/ They even made a guide for those who need it.
The game is good, it exceeded their expectations which is a good thing. But in doing so it caused chaos on their servers. Given a bit of time this will get resolved. These people have a passion for this game which is rare.
You people are way to demanding when it comes to service. Class action lawsuits, and all the hate it's sad. This is the 2nd day after launch. How many mmo's launches were perfect? You know how many 0.
Awesome article & has (unfortunately) paralleled my experience thus far. Perhaps in a week or two they will have it working as it should have been for beta 4.
I remember reading an article last year about the 10 worst MMO launches of all time and the original FFXIV launch was listed. So this is their second chance for a first impression. And they aren't doing so hot... Beta 4 should have been their clue.
Anyways, due to that article, my wife and I canceled our pre-orders on Monday. If the data center upgrades resolve the issue, we will try again. But I'm not giving them my money for a game I can't even play right now.
Most memorable games: AoC(Tryanny PvP), RIFT, GW, GW2, Ragnarok Online, Aion, FFXI, FFXIV, Secret World, League of Legends (Silver II rank)
-Prior story writer for MMORPG.com
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
But for the people that dislike the game the stories of the bad launch will grow over time like a legendary fishing outing.
Look at WoW, people are now saying its launch problems lasted for a year and a half.
This rationalization bullsh*t people use as an excuse for the game's craptastic start is laughable. "Every MMO launch is bad".
1) No. F* you, they aren't. For every bad MMO launch, there's 3 dozen that were well-done, gone off without a hitch.
2) Others' failure is not a pass for you to be a failure.
They couldn't even implement a queue system - a staple of the MMO genre for, oh, I don't know, 10 freaking years now?
These guys have their heads so far up their a**** and their customers are suffering because of their lack of insight.
Did you even read the article?
I love the logic of some people: " I had no problems, so therefore everybody that did have problems must be doing something wrong, it couldn't possibly be the horrible design of the system"
Just because you got lucky and had a smooth ride doesn't mean its a perfect system and anybody that had the bad luck of running into these errors are dummy's. I play a lot of mmo's and SE registration has the worst flow of any site I have ever registered for. Even if it's possible to navigate through with no problems, its still way harder than it should be to do so. I love this game, but it feels like I have to fight SE just to get to play the game.