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10 OB Servers at Start - Now 17 Servers.......
Hrayr2148
Member Posts: 649
I'm a realist. FFXIV needs a lot of work. BUT, i'm already seeing a huge difference in gameplay/stability from the first day of OB to now. I'm an LS with 70+ people, who are primarly FFXI vets. So far, we're having a great time. To each his own.
I'm curious, and I don't want to start a flame war, but I find it interesting that SE has created 7 more servers since the start of OB.
If this game is as horrible as everyone on these forums suggest. IF it's the worst thing since Hitler, why do we have seven additional servers added since the start of open beta?
It could mean nothing, or it could mean something. The possibility that more people who enjoy the game are actually playing it rather than complaining about it, is a good possibility. There are such things as a vocal minority, which I believe MMORPG members to be.
Food for thought, or not..... either way, people who are happy have less of a reason to post then people who had their unrealistic expectations dashed by a beta experience.
AS for me, why am i going to stick it through, because when SE polishes this game, and they will (ala FFXI), i'll have a couple of high level classes while everyone else will be behind the curve. Also, my LS is a lot of fun and we'll create our own content as SE continuelly adds more and more things to do. This isn't my fanboism speaking, I actually find the game fun and having a blast thus far.
For those of you soooo disapointed in FFXIV. Just move on, or don't buy the game until you realize one of two things. The game is polished enough to try, or the game isn't for you regardless of the polish/content. Either way, forget it and move onto somethign you'll enjoy.
Comments
I wasn't able to do this during Aion. If the game is truely souless, then there's nothing we could do. In Aion I was part of an awesome guild, but we logged on only to spend time together, despite the game.
That's not the case in FFXIV. There's a lot of fun stuff for us to do. We're not having fun in FFXIV despite the game, on the contrary it has to do with the game. We enjoy the harder leves, we enjoy wiping as we learn. We enjoy exploring. We enjoy learning the game mechanics and the finer points of combat. We enjoy trying out all the different classes or finding good grind spots.
all in all, we see FFXIV being very similar to FFXI i terms of development. Because we were not disapointed in FFXI and have faith in SE, we're going to continue playing and growing with the game. There's definetely a sense of satisfaction in knowing your faith pays off. And if it appears FFXIV is going in the wrong direction, then we'll move on. But that hasn't been the case.
More servers doesn't mean nothing at launch
I'll admit I'm pretty disappointed... disappointed with how poorly my computer runs this game that is... Makes it difficult for me to enjoy, but the bit of running around I've done was pretty fun and maybe it's because I started off as a console gamer or something the controls don't bother me. Sure they took a bit of getting used to since I'm used to them being a certain way when I'm on the computer, but now with a controller in my hands I think they're great. Though the one thing that does bother me is the lack of things to kill and how there's a mob that can easily kill you just a stone throw away from mobs you should be killing, but so long as they're not agro and you learn not to mess with them for now I suppose that isn't really a big issue. Just wish I had the money for a better video card setup as well as a RAID 0 setup at the very least...
Why so condescending? If you are having so much fun with the game and friends, that is good for you. Why the need to even bother to come on a forum and be concerned about others who may be expressing a different opinion because they are dissapointment based on their own experience?
Odd behavior that of people saying they are having such a fun time with the game but nevertheless feel compelled to come on forums to criticize those who are not. Most, if not all, criticism on forums is about issues players are having with the game. They are not, however, criticizing the players having fun in the game. That is in stark contrast to the players who say they are having fun with the game, but instead of coming on forums to praise the game, they chose to come on forums and criticize the players who are not having fun with the game.
Rather interesting indeed.
Lol. I didn't mean it in a condescending way. The reason I posted is the same reason I believe there are now 17 servers from the original 10. If the people who dislike the game are the only ones posting on MMORPG.com, then you get a very skewed view of what the game is like. The people who are having fun, like me, if we dont' say anything, then people won't even try it out and reach a decision for themselves.
I guess I percieve the posts to be extremely one sighted, not because they're accurate, but because they're from a vocal minority. Of course FFXIV has a long way to go, but the people who don't think it's "horrific" are playing the game as we speak. Hence, why 17 servers instead of 10.
I think my perspective is just as important as yours for those people who are on the fence on whether they should try out the game or not. Just trying to balance the playing field, that's all.
I hate to break the news to you but people who post on MMORPG.com on both the negative and postive sid eof any game are both in vocal minorities amongst the gaming population.
I also see just as much insulting,one eyed fanboi posts as I do unreasoning blind hatred posts for this game maybe more as the fanbois ar emore fanatical in their need to screma down any opinion not wholly positive and denigrate those posters and insult thier intelligence.
edit : On topic though,the extra servers only mena that there was more interest in trying the game thna expected by SE it has no bearing right now on how popular the game is or will be at launch or if th emajority of peopel are enjoying it or not.Only time will tell.There's a lot I liek about FFXIV and a lot I don't so I am on the fnece righ tnwo and wiating to see how things pan out in th enext month.
In addition to the servers SE added this week to keep up with demand for Open Beta, pre-orders went up 12,000 to 164,000 for the week ending Sept. 4. And those are NA pre-orders and don't count the bigger audience in Japan. So for those of us who are fans of FFXIV we really don't need to worry about the future for the game. It is financially secure even before launch so we won't need to worry about normal ongoing MMO development.
But all the hate posts that have been going out to new MMOs is taking a toll on the industry I'm afraid. If you look at the top 20 pre-orders last week only 3 of them are for the PC. WoW Cataclysm (#8), FFXIV (#10), and Fallout: New Vegas (#18). Those 3 account for a total of slightly less than 450,000 pre-orders. The rest of the pre-orders are for console games. The top 7 above WoW total 3,600,000 (with 1.6 mill from Halo).
PC games are in trouble and a lot of that can be blamed on PC players, imo. They don't know how to review a game to help people avoid games with features they wouldn't like. They feel the need to attack and trash a game (and the company) that isn't built specifically to their wishes. I'm giving up. I'm going to finally break down and buy a console. FFXIV will be the last new PC game I buy. I just don't believe the PC game industry can survive its fans when the console market is rewarding game companies with massive sales.
I agree with you about people posting on MMORPG are the minority in general. I am not a blind fanboi. I realize what problems FFXIV has. To me, majority of the them are fixable (lag, ui lag, etc etc). Majority of the other "problems" are a matter of preference, so there's no "fix" for that.
I achnowledged the concerns of other people as legitimate. I just believe some expectations are unreasonable. All MMO's start with hickups. What I don't like is when people go into a new mmo and demand that this be changed and that be changed, and how a ceratin mechanic is "broken" when they don't realize it's just different. During closed beta, North Americans provided 4x more "feedback" and "suggestions" than Japanese testers. That goes to show that North AMericans go into a game wanting to change into something its not, whereas Japanese players go into a game to find bugs. Countless times i hear, well "this mmo does it this way, why can't se do it that way." "Why can't SE have mouse/keyboard support that is standard in all MMOS." "SE is 10 years behind the curve, they will never learn."
Arnt' you happy that you're getting a different game? One that provides an mmo experience in a completely different way?
For people who played FFXI, the controller/keyboard/mouse issue is a none issue. The server lag issue has to do with beta programs/scrips in the background. People also complain about lag and instability when the beta is designed for stress tests. FFXI was stable, what makes you think FFXIV won't be either?
Sometimes people go into an mmo hoping it's what they expected, when it's not, all hell breaks loose and they start decrying the game as a spawn of Satan. As for me, I went into FFXIV with an open mind. It needs a lot of work, but it has a lot of potential. SE is known to come through as they did in FFXI, so i'm willing to wait it out.
That's why I say it's pointless to decry a game two weeks from release. IT is what it is. Either stay and enjoy what it has to offer or move on. Not in a condescending way, but in a practical way.
OB is a free, app-in program for people to try the game. This is nothing. Don't forget that WAR had a ridiculous amount of servers at launch and even more so during open beta, more than 17. Aion itself too was the same deal. Server numbers mean nothing for this matter. They are more than likely doing so because of the overflow of new player characters in the starting areas.
A lot of the negativity revolves around the EXP system and leve system, both of which will impact the mid to end game players more than the lowbies such as yourself and everyone else in OB.
For most companies, OB is a free trial (Aion, Warhammer, etc.). I dont' think SE is the same as others.
I really feel that a bulk of content is purposefully left out and that OB is primarily a stress test. IT's also a way of getting to see the games basic concepts, like whether your computer can run it, the combat, the crafting, etc.
You can't dictate your experience of the game based on beta, because it can't be stable and run stress tests at the same time. You have to sacrifice performance to learn what the limits of your servers are. A better indication of the game is a few months after release. I dont' mind the issues at releease and will tought it out. If many feel that OB = Release, then that's your loss.
You may want to wait a few months before making a decision. BUT, I do understand taht people don't want to pay to see if it works. CE preoder allows a friend pass to try out the game. If you have friend's who are willing to give you a key later, that may be the best time to see if FFXIV is the game for you. Or if you're already certain now, then good luck in finding something else you'll enjoy more.
Pc games gets a bad rap because the games constantly force players to go out and upgrade their systems. FFXIV is the first gma ethat has made me look at the hardware and what I need to upgrade. Up to this point I have played every game maxed out without a hitch. Why buy a new piece of hardware when I can buy the system and never worry bout what the devs do cause they have to make it work on my system.
As for pre sales, they always tend to go up in sales the closer you get to launch, not sure why
They added server after AION's official release (remember the 10h+ queue to log in the game ?) (and removed them a few months after)
Do you really think that PC players and console players are really that different? I would think PC players are really no different than console players. They are both gamers and I'd venture to say a good majority of PC players play console games and vise versa. I think it just seems like players criticize PC games more because, like others have said, the console is a much more friendly and stable platform to develop games. I am pretty sure that if a console game company implemented such radical and unpopular features such as developing a console game to be played with a keyboard and mouse, or something equivalent to the clunky console UI that many PC players are complaining about, or lag and graphics, etc., console players would be equally critical. There is just so much more unpredictability that comes with developing a game for a PC. But it's a huge market so it ca't be ignored.
Having said all that though, if you have systems already in place, that work great with a particular system, why mess with them? It just seems like something so arrogant of SE to do because they have to know that the large majority of gamers for that particular system will not like the change, but yet they still do it. And that's why I think you are seeing most of these complaints. Because the systems put forth by SE come across as forced and inconsiderate of established PC gamers preferences.
I disagree.
People dont' complain about console games. If it's bad, they just don't buy it. They don't spend hours and hours trashing the game. Yeah you have people who do, but majority of the time, console game boards are filled getting advice on certain parts of the game.
For PC games, especially mmorpgs, people feel the need to comment so that the game changes in their favor. Because MMORPG's are constantly in development with content patches, they feel the need to put their 2 cents in, hoping it becomes a game THEY want.
People should approach MMO's the same way as console games, either like it or move on. Players are at least a year behind the curve. All the things people are complaining about now ahve been in the works for years. Guess what, SE is working on probably an expansion by this point, rather than the UI. Yeah it will get tweaked here and there, but only on SE's schedule, not ours. So why hit our head against a brick wall. Either play and enjoy what it is, or move on. The same thing you would do for any console game.
Thank you for the great post, Hrayr2148. One other thing, people who like the game just how it is don't post not only because they are happy with the game but also because they know they will get flamed for doing so.
I too find the OP quite a blast and am having tons of fun since the moment I got in. It could run better on my machine and it crashes rarely, and there is a ton of missing content. But it is still beta, I am not paying any money for testing the game right now (even thought CE is already payed for) and the combat system is a blast for my taste, I can't get enough of it. I love pretty much every aspect of the game so far and I know there will only be more to come. My only dilemma so far is I can't decide if I want to play a midlander hyur or roegadyn seawolf on 22
"Only in quiet waters do things mirror themselves undistorted.
Only in a quiet mind is adequate perception of the world."
Hans Margolius
So then you agree that it has nothing to do with PC gamers being any different in particular than console gamers, and everything to do with the difference in dynamics that go into the development of each platform.
You need to understand the back end to your point as well. People dont complain as much about console games because the game is build for that specific hardware. It is impossible to build a PC game for a single hardware setup ad expect it to work 100% efficiantly on all of them. So when a console gamer gets thier game, they dont have to worry about hardware drivers not being right, or thier memory being too small, or thier graphics card not being good enough.
Also, console games do not go with open betas like PC MMORPGs do. So there are not hundreds of thousands of people running out and trying the game prior to its release, and then going to online forums and stating thier opinions prior to them going on sale. Console games are buy/rent after live, not before.
(DISCLAIMER - The use of the word YOU in the above post is not directed at any one person in particular, but towards those who fall into the category itself - there is no personal attack here, neither intentional nor implied.)
I understand your point and it is well taken, but people also need to realize that this game has been in development for 5 years. It is as much complete as a console game would be. What's the point of asking drastic changes in UI or combat, when the game is pretty much what it is?
Didnt read the entire thread, but to respond to the OP. Adding servers pre launch and att launch really has 0 bearing on the popularity of the game.
Take a look at warhammer and Age of conan, both had massive launches, both added a ton of servers, and now both are having massive population issues and downsizing like crazy.
That being said, I havent played FFXIV yet. I dont know if its great, or horrible. I did play the original FFMMO and it felt a bit to much like a console port to me. Most of what I have read makes me believe that FFXIV is basically the same setup. A gorgeous game...but a straight console port.
What do I mean by console port? Basically the controls, menus, movement, combat, etc are all designed around using a controler and not a keyboard and mouse.
That being said the game does look gorgeous...but from what I have read it doesnt seem like its going to be too popular over here. Im sure it will have 100k - 200k subscribers after six months and be healthy, I just dont think its going to be a 500k sub monster.
There are already 160k Preorders in North America alone. It's given it will be much popular in japan than here, especially after PS3 release.
I'm willing to be this game will hve 500-750k subscribers by march of 2011. This isn't a Western MMO. Developers themselves said they're designing it for a generation of FF players who never tried an mmo. This is primarily designed for FF console players.
Par for the course if you ask me.
How many US european subs? At march 2011?
"Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one ..." - Thomas Paine
NA/EU alone I would say anywhere from 200-250k Subs. Japan I would say anywhere from 300-500k. The market is bigger than during FFXI. There's a niche for this type of game. I fall into that niche realizing that a vast majority of people don't. I believe these to be a very conservative estimate, but probably will not go above 1 million subs anytime soon (if ever).
IF this game doesn't get 500k sustained subs worldwide after March 2011, then IMHO, it's a failure compared to FFXI.
Again, not big numbers.
AoC had what, 750k preorders?
Warhammer was huge as well. Pre-orders mean little for long term success of the game. It simply means the marketing hype is doing its job. What matters is 2 - 3 months down the road. If subs are stable, you have a good launch. However, most MMO's lose over 50% of their purchases in the first month, and usually retain somewhere in the neighborhood of 30% of their original purchases.
Then, that 30% either grows or shrinks.
160k preorders to me sounds like a smaller niche market out of the box.
Just to back up my post with some numbers.
AoC breaks pre-order record. Over 700k
Warhammer breaks EA's own sales records with 1.5 million
Aion preorders near 400,000
This shows that marketing and hype can drive an amazing amount of traffic to a game, and that mmo players are extremely interested in NEW products. However, it also shows that MMO players are not willing to stick around if the game is not good, or appealing to them.