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An earnest suggestion to SE
Werecool01
Member UncommonPosts: 60
The blurb I'm about to post was already submitted via http://support.na.square-enix.com/contacttop.php?id=902&la=1
But I thought that this would be a good catalyst to get people to write and hopefully let SE know that they're "doing it wrong".
Feel free to repurpose whatever segments of this text that you wish. I only ask that you do submit something. Rather than complaining about a problem, I'd much rather take steps to address it. Even if SE doesn't see my letter, I hope that they will see other people's and make changes.
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Right now Square Enix is facing a public relations catastrophe to put things lightly. It would probably be a good idea to get some effective communications channels out to the general public besides "suggestions & feedback" hidden deep within the Square Enix site...
One simple and effective means of doing this is opening up an official forum for FF14. Another possibility would be to take a page from Sony's blog like with Playstation share http://share.blog.us.playstation.com/
Most importantly though, Square Enix badly needs a community relations manager, someone who will be able to reply to fan feedback as well as relay it to the developers. A voice for the company if you will...
Right now as things are, Square Enix from a publicity standpoint is simply an unfeeling machine with a goal that nobody can fathom, churning out "Ask the Devs" and random tidbits of knowledge without addressing many of the big issues that fans and critics alike are bringing up.
What needs to happen ASAP is that a "State of the Union" needs to be given. Here is an example from another MMO "Warhammer Online":
http://herald.warhammeronline.com/warherald/NewsArticle.war?id=693
Square Enix and the developers of FF14 need to let fans know what issues they're working on. And if they're not working on an issue identified by the fans, why not. Fans like to be in the know, and logistical information is helpful. This way at least we can get a sense where the game is headed.
In this day and age, game developers cannot simply expect to work in a vacuum and make a game. To do so is foolish at best and fatal otherwise.
In taking this course of action, it must be strongly emphasized that in addition to words, actions must be taken too. Clearly problems like UI lag, inability to organize inventory, inability to open up individualized chat tabs, and other numerous issues are very important and need to be addressed posthaste!
The purpose of this suggestion letter is thus to emphasize that both words and action are needed, and now rather than later!
Although this situation can be seen as Square Enix reaping the results of what it sowed,as a longtime fan, I nonetheless wish more than anything for a glorious turnaround to a franchise that has been with me through much of my cherished childhood. I understand that even giant companies can make mistakes, but what is important is that those mistakes are addressed and changes are made in an open and transparent way.
Best of Luck.
Comments
I agree with you but itll never happen. Se's mo has always been if you ignore the problem and those complaining then it/they dont exist.
Individual chat tabs! I knew there was something this game was missing.
Honestly when chatting is as difficult as it is in this game and when there are so many core issues. I think individual chat tabs is probably a little low on their list of priorities. But yes changes are needed. And I'm sure we all have things we'd like to see implemented.
I once tried to make a petition to have voice chat implemented in the game and was told vehemently that that would be a waste of resources. Well I never would have bothered with the idea if I had known how resource-straped the FF14 team was to have released the game in this condition.
I love snails.
I love every kinda snail.
I just want to hug them all, but I cant.
Cant hug every snail.
Can we just all agree that this is just another massive failure of a MMO and move on?
Nothing will save it at this point, don't waste your time on this garbage heh.
I care about your gaming 'problems' and teenage anxieties, just not today.
I don't think this line of reasoning is ever productive, but more importantly by not doing anything even when there are problems you're perpetuating a vicious cycle whereby the problems don't go away and you just keep on complaining.
Between the option where I tried and failed and where I never tried at all, I'd still go for the former.
Tell that to all the naysayers still stalking the forums then heh.
As for me, I think that having been through many MMO launches has given me some perspective. Here's an example of what FFXI was like in the beginning.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2010-08-24-retrospective-final-fantasy-xi-article
Heck even just following gaming news over time has given me perspective (take the PS3 launch for example: hyperexpensive console, poor launch lineup, worse multiplat. game, inferior online capabilities, whole slew of other things). In comparison it's doing quite a bit better now wouldn't you agree?
So I'm not try to be an apologist and saying that what SE has done this time around is "okay" or "the norm" or anything. I'm just trying to show that FFXIV is certainly not the lost cause that you make it out to be.
That and the FF series has really given me some great times throughout my life, I don't think it's too absurd to earnestly try to give some suggestions that will allow this great series to flourish and make a comeback is it?
And I waited for over 3 years before the PS3 was finally worth buying. If I had to wait 3 years for FFXIV to be "worth it", I'd have forgotten about it by then.
-Letting Derek Smart work on your game is like letting Osama bin Laden work in the White House. Something will burn.-
-And on the 8th day, man created God.-
I agree that my example of chat tabs was a poor one. The point of my suggestion though was to emphasize the need for better communication as well as action to fix the numerous problems that currently exist.
I think it is clear that SE is taking steps to fix problems (i.e. market ward patch this Friday). Again, there's still ton of stuff that needs to be addressed but we'll see with time.
So I guess I don't really understand what the point of your post was since it doesn't seem pertinent to the main message I was trying to emphasize, namely: better communication with fans and the public and continued action on issues with more emphasis on openness and transparency....
Hey, quick question, when did FFXI come out? Another quick question, how many people bought FFXI in the year 2005? 2006? 2007?
EDIT: Also, context of an argument is important...
I was only adding to your statement, not arguing or disagreeing with it.
By the way, have you seen any patch notes yet? All I've seen is a "maintenance" announcement for Friday. I know they said last week the shops would be addressed this week, but I'd like to actually have them confirm it.
-Letting Derek Smart work on your game is like letting Osama bin Laden work in the White House. Something will burn.-
-And on the 8th day, man created God.-
1) Yes and I was simply trying to get people to think about the hard numbers "backing up" your opinion that people will have forgotten about FF14 in 3 years.
2) So, I think you should submit a suggestion like I did then since this is a classic case of communication failure don't you agree? Having a Community relations manager or a forum, or even something like the playstation share would go a long way in a situation like this right?
I don't think having official forums or a "Community Manager" will really help in SE's case. What good would a CM be if the CM has no more to tell us than what the devs deem necessary? We'd just have a CM telling us "The devs said they won't talk about it.", which is no different than what we have now.
-Letting Derek Smart work on your game is like letting Osama bin Laden work in the White House. Something will burn.-
-And on the 8th day, man created God.-
No it's not absurd. It's very reasonable. I'll follow up on your good example and submit some things to SE if the update/maintenance in two days holds nothing significant.
You probably can already predict my answer but it bears repeating so here it is again:
I don't think this line of reasoning is ever productive, but more importantly by not doing anything even when there are problems you're perpetuating a vicious cycle whereby the problems don't go away and you just keep on complaining.
Between the option where I tried and failed and where I never tried at all, I'd still go for the former.
A better question would be who'd be hardcore enough to be a CM for disgruntled FF fans.
Oh, I'm not saying it's not worth trying. Hell, I'll send the suggestion to them for ya.
All I'm saying is don't be surprised a year from now when it still hasn't happened.
They couldn't pay me enough, that's for damn sure. lol
-Letting Derek Smart work on your game is like letting Osama bin Laden work in the White House. Something will burn.-
-And on the 8th day, man created God.-
A community manager is only one avenue of many. Who knows though? Maybe they will find somebody that has a groin of steel, enough people are looking for jobs out there, maybe they won't. Shooting down an example is all fine and dandy, it was just an example.
The main point is for SE to start developing better means of communications than are currently available, and to continue addressing and fixing problems. Isn't that a cause that should be heard?
Yes. And that cause was beat to death over the years with FFXI without result. But who knows, stranger things have happened, I suppose.
-Letting Derek Smart work on your game is like letting Osama bin Laden work in the White House. Something will burn.-
-And on the 8th day, man created God.-
I bought FFXI when it released on PC, and I wanted to cry tears of AIDs blood at how boring it was. My character (who was a Galka or whatever) fought tiny fluffy eared rabbits for 20+ levels with maybe a goblin or two thrown in here or there. He also wore armor that almost always had a hole in the midriff to show his navel...which was not my cup of tea. I mean at least if I could've taken him to claire's to get his little belly button pierced I could accessorize! AMIRIGHT!?!!?
The sleeper awakes...and rides his dirtbike to the mall.