Sigh, people and their eternal quest for instant gratification.
Let's face it. You just don't have what it takes to build an FF in-game economy from the ground up. You're either new, or comming from FFXI, where the economy was already pre-built by all the Japanese players before you even touched the game. It even came with an expansion.
Take a break and come back in a year. You might even like the game when it's actually set up propper.
What are you talking about ingame economy? It doesn't exist. Well it does, but it doesn't.
Take for instance Armorer, I'm level 23(about to hit 24) unless I crafted super fast and produced my product in the first couple weeks, sales are dead.
The second problem is simple. For some classes(armorer in particular) I craft items above my crafting level. Bronze Haubergeon for example is a level 28 item, yet it requires 23 to craft. Others are worse such as the Celeta or whatnot helm that is 38, crafted at 18. To make matters worse. It provides more protection even with the %cut than level equal items such as the level 23 bronze helm. So really, the scale percentages are killing quality item
So this whole economy you speak of is actually quite shallow. You go 10 levels and by an upgrade or two. Infact there is so much Gil floating around the economy is already ruined. Shards are the only sellable item and will be as long as people view it a point to craft. Insert searchable marketwards, and guess what? I think you will start to see a drastic amount of crafters stop for the simple fact, you can then finally find things easily and then the crafting depenancy will work with randoms just as well. Your starting to see it in some of the specific wards. So it'll get more redifined, but prices will be sky high since the demand is low.
Now I'd like to point out your whole "instant gratification" statement. You do realise there is something called gratification without the "instant" right? The game doesn't have it. Really what are you playing for? To have fun right? Well fun=gratification in my book. More fun=more gratification. So if you have instant fun playing the game you have instant gratification? Sure I guess that is one hell of a strecth on that instant part. Then again maybe you define leveling to 50 in a month to be instant gratification. Maybe I define it by knowing that if I kill a mob I am getting a set amount of exp, not some random number between 0-250 with heavily weighted to be at around the 100, then <50, and finally with a small % to be >200. See whats going on? You can't even properly grind in this game. I kill one guy I get good exp, then the next ten provide a quater of that one. Wow fun!
See people aren't complaining about anything but core features that seem slapped together and the use duck tape to hold it. Like for instance, when you are killing something it says, "you gained 100 axe skill" and of course this keeps popping up every hit or so, but when you finally kill it you gain 25 exp and 65 axe skill. Where the hell is the others? That is shoddy programming there. Why not remove the statement so it doesn't confuse people. Cause believe me I'd rather have that 100 during combat, now maybe its there for group splitting or something, but it doesn't matter to me if its a behind the scenes math problem, doesn't tease me.
According to SE your the issue an not the game. you know why? because they are getting paid right now still from FFXIV no matter what you say. these servers are up an running as of right now lol. They also said don't talk about our game you noob reviewers. SMACK! play it longer... heres another free month, no excuses, an go level up!
you should be like TY SE for letting me have a free month, don't be ungrateful about the game you purchased. It was a thanks to the players who bought the game. They don't care about a release date nor how polished it is for beggars they can't be choosers. they are watching ff14 because they have no choice but to bow down an watch SE behind the scenes because their previous games raped their childhood weekends with chocobos an ancient magic that was used on dragons.
Free month wasn't to thank people who played it was to retain the players so there is no mass exodus and hope they bring in new players. As for SE FF XIV box sales have tappered off at 600k they already revamped their earning 10% lower (which goes to show they were expecting 1mil+ sales)
They should have limited their beta access more if they wanted more sales. If they kept the game as much a mystery as possibe, more poeple might have been inclined to buy it to satisfy their curiosity.
Err...you're kidding...aren't you?
That's EVIL
No joke. There are plenty of companies that do just that.
The only downside, is that there is a lot of stigma involved with doing that if the game happens to fail.
SE realized early on that the game has a fairly high chance to flop on release, so they made it as transparent as possible in order to salvage as much of their reputation as possible.
They will most certainly not give up on it though. They will continue to improve on the game because they already have so much invested in it to quit now.
To date no MMO has ever turn around after poor release and gotten back its original subscription numbers (the only exception is Eve) AO, Vanguard, SWG, AC the list goes on.
I think good release or bad, no one retains all or most of their box sales. Probably not even WoW(speculation, but look at the number of people who say they dont play it)
I'd say I'm pretty damn close to a troll when it comes to this game. But, it's not a failure, yet.
I think there are some really easy fixes they can implement today:
1. Be more transparent with how game systems work. Seriously it took over a month to say what stats do...
2. Release the Chocobos and Airships.
3. Reduce anima costs, now.
4. Patch in the damn content.
---
Things that wont be fixed for a while.
Interface lag. I'd say 6 months to sort that.
Drop the next-gen marketing and people will argue if the game itself has merit.
I think good release or bad, no one retains all or most of their box sales. Probably not even WoW(speculation, but look at the number of people who say they dont play it)
I'd say I'm pretty damn close to a troll when it comes to this game. But, it's not a failure, yet.
I think there are some really easy fixes they can implement today:
1. Be more transparent with how game systems work. Seriously it took over a month to say what stats do...
2. Release the Chocobos and Airships.
3. Reduce anima costs, now.
4. Patch in the damn content.
---
Things that wont be fixed for a while.
Interface lag. I'd say 6 months to sort that.
WoW certainly did in its first 3 months sold 1 mill copies in NA, its subscriber # at when BC came out in NA was 2 million ( 8 mill WW).
Lotro, CoH, DAoC all had more subcribers year after release than their initial box sales.
Take a break and come back in a year. You might even like the game when it's actually set up propper.
Did you really just say "Take a break for a year"? Seriously? Wow.. Whew.. Laughing here. Sorry, I mean no disrespect towards you or anything.
Ahem.. Anyway. I really don't understand why ANYONE would say that. It makes no sense! Is this how we are justifying everything these days? The only response to any negativity is "wait a year and try again"?
Reminds me of Contra Arcade machines. "Come back when you have 7000 quarters if you want to enjoy the game!"
"Disclaimer: Buying the game does not allow one to have fun until 1 year after intial service. S-E is not responsible for any side effects as a result of playing this game prior to the 1 year mark. Play at your own risk. Includes a Free Month!"
~Miles "Tails" Prower out! Catch me if you can!
Come Join us at www.globalequestria.com - Meet other fans of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic!
According to SE your the issue an not the game. you know why? because they are getting paid right now still from FFXIV no matter what you say. these servers are up an running as of right now lol. They also said don't talk about our game you noob reviewers. SMACK! play it longer... heres another free month, no excuses, an go level up!
you should be like TY SE for letting me have a free month, don't be ungrateful about the game you purchased. It was a thanks to the players who bought the game. They don't care about a release date nor how polished it is for beggars they can't be choosers. they are watching ff14 because they have no choice but to bow down an watch SE behind the scenes because their previous games raped their childhood weekends with chocobos an ancient magic that was used on dragons.
Free month wasn't to thank people who played it was to retain the players so there is no mass exodus and hope they bring in new players. As for SE FF XIV box sales have tappered off at 600k they already revamped their earning 10% lower (which goes to show they were expecting 1mil+ sales)
They should have limited their beta access more if they wanted more sales. If they kept the game as much a mystery as possibe, more poeple might have been inclined to buy it to satisfy their curiosity.
Err...you're kidding...aren't you?
That's EVIL
No joke. There are plenty of companies that do just that.
The only downside, is that there is a lot of stigma involved with doing that if the game happens to fail.
SE realized early on that the game has a fairly high chance to flop on release, so they made it as transparent as possible in order to salvage as much of their reputation as possible.
They will most certainly not give up on it though. They will continue to improve on the game because they already have so much invested in it to quit now.
To date no MMO has ever turn around after poor release and gotten back its original subscription numbers (the only exception is Eve) AO, Vanguard, SWG, AC the list goes on.
Shortly after receiving my VIP Rift code I mysteriously lost the drive to continue playing FFXIV. I will check in after the next 2 patches, but I lack confidence as to the salvage-ability of 14.
There is a difference between having room to grow, and needing to reinvent your self entirely just to achieve mediocrity.
Sadly this game falls into the latter, I was in Beta from an early stage and was amongst the voices that cried out for some quality of life fixes, less draconic leveling restrictions and more group / community tools. Sadly SE took the approach of "if we dont fix it the players will have something extra to do".
This approach may have been ok when XI came out but its not ok now.
Challenge =/= coping with a flawed and broken game
There is a difference between having room to grow, and needing to reinvent your self entirely just to achieve mediocrity.
Sadly this game falls into the latter, I was in Beta from an early stage and was amongst the voices that cried out for some quality of life fixes, less draconic leveling restrictions and more group / community tools. Sadly SE took the approach of "if we dont fix it the players will have something extra to do".
This approach may have been ok when XI came out but its not ok now.
Challenge =/= coping with a flawed and broken game
Maybe some people don't want a game where everything is handed to them. Maybe people like to have a sense of accomplishment?
I can still remember the day when I finally ran all the way to Jeuno all on foot. Dodging all the monsters, timing every pass just perfect so as not to get agro. That was like ecstasy for me.
The LFG tool takes some getting used to, but as soon as people break out of their shells and actually start using it, I think it can actually work quiet well.
Sure this game can use some tweaks like sorting of inventory and such, but it's not a bad game.
What I think most people fail to understand, is that this isn't exactly a quest-driven game. Sure there are a few you can do, but that is not meant to be the primary source of your gameplay. The game is not going to walk you through each zone, you are actually supposed to go out and explore, and grind mobs like the good games of old.
Just cuz you can't play right-handed with a left-handed golf club, doesn't mean it's broken, it's just not for you.
There is a difference between having room to grow, and needing to reinvent your self entirely just to achieve mediocrity.
Sadly this game falls into the latter, I was in Beta from an early stage and was amongst the voices that cried out for some quality of life fixes, less draconic leveling restrictions and more group / community tools. Sadly SE took the approach of "if we dont fix it the players will have something extra to do".
This approach may have been ok when XI came out but its not ok now.
Challenge =/= coping with a flawed and broken game
The LFG tool takes some getting used to, but as soon as people break out of their shells and actually start using it, I think it can actually work quiet well.
Sure this game can use some tweaks like sorting of inventory and such, but it's not a bad game.
What I think most people fail to understand, is that this isn't exactly a quest-driven game. Sure there are a few you can do, but that is not meant to be the primary source of your gameplay. The game is not going to walk you through each zone, you are actually supposed to go out and explore, and grind mobs like the good games of old.
Just cuz you can't play right-handed with a left-handed golf club, doesn't mean it's broken, it's just not for you.
>>>>> That was brilliantly written. This game is shedding players (and fans of FF in general) like a cat sheds hair in the Spring.
>>>>> People usually don't feel the need to get vested in the community of a game they don't think they are going to be playing very long. When the sub fees come in we will see who thinks it's worth making pals in the game. They can go to any "complete" and functional game and have all the conversations they want and don't have to be miserable.
>>>>> The other 80% of people that play the game disagree with you, including the CEO. (I upgraded my original 70% estimates to reflect the new information being released.)
>>>>> I played "all the games of old" and none of them required you to grind mobs as a primary source of "fun." Even though these games were made many years before FF14 and the MMO genre existed.
Also, I laugh at the use of the term "explore" in relation to FF14. The game has copied areas all over every map. What are you exploring for? The same sights and discoveries as you found 15 minutes ago? Some of these areas are so close you can actually walk from one right onto another and it's immediately noticeable. I use the term walk as in "stuck" to a path, because you are not allowed to jump up the side of a mountain or slide down a hill into an unknown area. There is no jump, or even a skip function to allow "exploring".
What you are allowed to do is walk down a guided path to your next square of copied terrain. That's the opposite of exploring.
>>>>> No, the game is not for you. It was designed for everybody. Hense the millions of dollars invested in it. If it were designed for a 25k player base then the development would reflect it. It was designed for everybody but failed for most is the correct way to describe the game.
"I'm not cheap I'm incredibly subconsciously financially optimized" "The worst part of censorship is ------------------"
Sigh, people and their eternal quest for instant gratification.
Let's face it. You just don't have what it takes to build an FF in-game economy from the ground up. You're either new, or comming from FFXI, where the economy was already pre-built by all the Japanese players before you even touched the game. It even came with an expansion.
Take a break and come back in a year. You might even like the game when it's actually set up propper.
I'm honestly not certain a year is going to make a whit of difference here. The game was going to be niche even if it succeeded and succeeded it has not. NOw it's more like..a niche of a niche, and that isn't a population large enough to really make a difference for.
The CEO said it himself, the players, the customers, they lost faith and rightly so. Now they either can restore that faith and bring people back or the game itself won't be worth sustaining.
MMO gamers are a fickle crowd and we will abandon something much faster than accept it. Sure SOME people may come back IF SE manages to actually do something worthwhile (Which with their track record of slow development and lack of communication I seriously doubt). However I don't see the return of the playerbase that the CEO is so hoping for.
It's far more likely that the next wave of MMO's is going to scoop up the refugees fromt his debacle and those refugees aren't going to look back, they're either going to stay in the new game (GW2, DCUO, SW:TOR, WoW Cata..etc etc), or leave that new game like they left the last one and look for the next new one. It's not typical (in my opinion obviously) that a gamer who is disheartened by a game come back after a month or two, no I suspect it's far more likely that the very small amount of gamers who are willing to look back, won't do so for a good year.
This game will not survive that long, oh I'm not saying the plug would be pulled (but I wouldn't be surprised) I just don't see this game getting any real money to develop and improve it in a timely enough fashion.
It's a stinker, they know they made a stinker (now, but they must've thought they actually had something come release) and we most definitely know they made a stinker. Yea yeah, some people enjoy it, there's always a handful that do, but even those that do cannot deny the net-wide (worldwide I'll add as the japanese players haven't taken to this steaming pile anymore than we have) reaction to this is akin to a gamers plague.
You can say the game had potential or even HAS potential to become something great. Sure, I'll agree that it HAD potential, but now it will no longer have the money to HAVE potential any longer. It takes $ to improve something and this one is in DIRE need of improvement and $..sadly the $ it gets won't be anything anywhere NEAR what it needs.
There is a difference between having room to grow, and needing to reinvent your self entirely just to achieve mediocrity.
Sadly this game falls into the latter, I was in Beta from an early stage and was amongst the voices that cried out for some quality of life fixes, less draconic leveling restrictions and more group / community tools. Sadly SE took the approach of "if we dont fix it the players will have something extra to do".
This approach may have been ok when XI came out but its not ok now.
Challenge =/= coping with a flawed and broken game
Maybe some people don't want a game where everything is handed to them. Maybe people like to have a sense of accomplishment?
I can still remember the day when I finally ran all the way to Jeuno all on foot. Dodging all the monsters, timing every pass just perfect so as not to get agro. That was like ecstasy for me.
The LFG tool takes some getting used to, but as soon as people break out of their shells and actually start using it, I think it can actually work quiet well.
Sure this game can use some tweaks like sorting of inventory and such, but it's not a bad game.
What I think most people fail to understand, is that this isn't exactly a quest-driven game. Sure there are a few you can do, but that is not meant to be the primary source of your gameplay. The game is not going to walk you through each zone, you are actually supposed to go out and explore, and grind mobs like the good games of old.
Just cuz you can't play right-handed with a left-handed golf club, doesn't mean it's broken, it's just not for you.
This game could use some TWEAKS? really? Ok, I'll admit I love a sense of accomplishment, something I've yet to feel at all in FFXIV. I'm only a rank 21 pug with a few other 20s and a skew of 10's but so far there's been NO accomplishment. I'vve never felt that I strived to get or do anything, merely grind out the only crap the game has allowed me to.
I can remember a lot of shiny fun happy moments in others games too, but that has nothing to do with this one at all. I've used the LFG tool since the first week and that's all well and good, but the fact that you're still up against a repetative and goalless grind with or without a group is still very much there. I won't even begin to get into the RNG Skill gain joke.
So the game isn't quest driven..what drives it I ask you? Is it the over all storyline? Hmm, well I sure do have to grind out a vast gap of boring levels in order to get to 30 minutes of semi-interesting storyline. The game doesn't need to walk me through each zone (Hell it didn't walk me through basic tutorial crap why would I expect it to walk me through anything) but the game does have to have a purpose for you other than GO KILL MOAR! GO CRAFT MOAR! Sorry but what good games of old have you mindlessly and purposelessly grind out mobs? I can't think of one...sure I can think of a lot of grindy games but they all had a reason to do so, this ones reason is because there's nothing else? NOT a good reason.
As for your explore thing. Yeah, done that nothing to see here. The zones are all copy and paste, hell I get confused sometimes thinking I'm by a certain camp when I'm actually somewhere else because the landscape looks exactly the same there as it does here. It's not fun to explore this game because there's nothing worth seeing. There's what...a castle city you can't go to and a crashed out wreck..end of points of interest. I guess there's a bunch of empty meaningless villages...OH and a few caves with some shiny plants.....man talk about fullfilling, who needs fun gameplay when I can watch COLORS (note..you may only watch shiny colors after trudging through about 30+ mins of boring same ol' territory that you've already seen.)
This game most definitely isn't for me, nor for the other poster...frankly this game isn't really for gamers at all. It's for a handful of hopefuls and massochists. She's a stinker and no time is going to fix it. You can't say your game is got what it takes to be great when the CEO of the company says this puppy is a sunk ship unless we can finnagle a LOT of people to come back to her..
Comments
What are you talking about ingame economy? It doesn't exist. Well it does, but it doesn't.
Take for instance Armorer, I'm level 23(about to hit 24) unless I crafted super fast and produced my product in the first couple weeks, sales are dead.
The second problem is simple. For some classes(armorer in particular) I craft items above my crafting level. Bronze Haubergeon for example is a level 28 item, yet it requires 23 to craft. Others are worse such as the Celeta or whatnot helm that is 38, crafted at 18. To make matters worse. It provides more protection even with the %cut than level equal items such as the level 23 bronze helm. So really, the scale percentages are killing quality item
So this whole economy you speak of is actually quite shallow. You go 10 levels and by an upgrade or two. Infact there is so much Gil floating around the economy is already ruined. Shards are the only sellable item and will be as long as people view it a point to craft. Insert searchable marketwards, and guess what? I think you will start to see a drastic amount of crafters stop for the simple fact, you can then finally find things easily and then the crafting depenancy will work with randoms just as well. Your starting to see it in some of the specific wards. So it'll get more redifined, but prices will be sky high since the demand is low.
Now I'd like to point out your whole "instant gratification" statement. You do realise there is something called gratification without the "instant" right? The game doesn't have it. Really what are you playing for? To have fun right? Well fun=gratification in my book. More fun=more gratification. So if you have instant fun playing the game you have instant gratification? Sure I guess that is one hell of a strecth on that instant part. Then again maybe you define leveling to 50 in a month to be instant gratification. Maybe I define it by knowing that if I kill a mob I am getting a set amount of exp, not some random number between 0-250 with heavily weighted to be at around the 100, then <50, and finally with a small % to be >200. See whats going on? You can't even properly grind in this game. I kill one guy I get good exp, then the next ten provide a quater of that one. Wow fun!
See people aren't complaining about anything but core features that seem slapped together and the use duck tape to hold it. Like for instance, when you are killing something it says, "you gained 100 axe skill" and of course this keeps popping up every hit or so, but when you finally kill it you gain 25 exp and 65 axe skill. Where the hell is the others? That is shoddy programming there. Why not remove the statement so it doesn't confuse people. Cause believe me I'd rather have that 100 during combat, now maybe its there for group splitting or something, but it doesn't matter to me if its a behind the scenes math problem, doesn't tease me.
To date no MMO has ever turn around after poor release and gotten back its original subscription numbers (the only exception is Eve) AO, Vanguard, SWG, AC the list goes on.
I think good release or bad, no one retains all or most of their box sales. Probably not even WoW(speculation, but look at the number of people who say they dont play it)
I'd say I'm pretty damn close to a troll when it comes to this game. But, it's not a failure, yet.
I think there are some really easy fixes they can implement today:
1. Be more transparent with how game systems work. Seriously it took over a month to say what stats do...
2. Release the Chocobos and Airships.
3. Reduce anima costs, now.
4. Patch in the damn content.
---
Things that wont be fixed for a while.
Interface lag. I'd say 6 months to sort that.
Drop the next-gen marketing and people will argue if the game itself has merit.
WoW certainly did in its first 3 months sold 1 mill copies in NA, its subscriber # at when BC came out in NA was 2 million ( 8 mill WW).
Lotro, CoH, DAoC all had more subcribers year after release than their initial box sales.
I may have phrased it wrong.
Player retention rates for new games is much lower than box sales.
So while WoW subscription numbers went up, so did the numbers of people who didn't subscribe after buying the box.
What I'm basically saying is you can get people to try a new game (buy the box), but a large percentage won't subscribe.
Drop the next-gen marketing and people will argue if the game itself has merit.
Did you really just say "Take a break for a year"? Seriously? Wow.. Whew.. Laughing here. Sorry, I mean no disrespect towards you or anything.
Ahem.. Anyway. I really don't understand why ANYONE would say that. It makes no sense! Is this how we are justifying everything these days? The only response to any negativity is "wait a year and try again"?
Reminds me of Contra Arcade machines. "Come back when you have 7000 quarters if you want to enjoy the game!"
"Disclaimer: Buying the game does not allow one to have fun until 1 year after intial service. S-E is not responsible for any side effects as a result of playing this game prior to the 1 year mark. Play at your own risk. Includes a Free Month!"
~Miles "Tails" Prower out! Catch me if you can!
Come Join us at www.globalequestria.com - Meet other fans of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic!
Hey buddy I loved Contra!!!!
~glares~
Drop the next-gen marketing and people will argue if the game itself has merit.
I love it too! But it's so unforgiving. =(. I spent so many quarters on it that I thought I'd have to sell the Tornado to cover my debts!
~Miles "Tails" Prower out! Catch me if you can!
Come Join us at www.globalequestria.com - Meet other fans of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic!
Maybe so, but XIV has a lot of room to grow.
Shortly after receiving my VIP Rift code I mysteriously lost the drive to continue playing FFXIV. I will check in after the next 2 patches, but I lack confidence as to the salvage-ability of 14.
There is a difference between having room to grow, and needing to reinvent your self entirely just to achieve mediocrity.
Sadly this game falls into the latter, I was in Beta from an early stage and was amongst the voices that cried out for some quality of life fixes, less draconic leveling restrictions and more group / community tools. Sadly SE took the approach of "if we dont fix it the players will have something extra to do".
This approach may have been ok when XI came out but its not ok now.
Challenge =/= coping with a flawed and broken game
Maybe some people don't want a game where everything is handed to them. Maybe people like to have a sense of accomplishment?
I can still remember the day when I finally ran all the way to Jeuno all on foot. Dodging all the monsters, timing every pass just perfect so as not to get agro. That was like ecstasy for me.
The LFG tool takes some getting used to, but as soon as people break out of their shells and actually start using it, I think it can actually work quiet well.
Sure this game can use some tweaks like sorting of inventory and such, but it's not a bad game.
What I think most people fail to understand, is that this isn't exactly a quest-driven game. Sure there are a few you can do, but that is not meant to be the primary source of your gameplay. The game is not going to walk you through each zone, you are actually supposed to go out and explore, and grind mobs like the good games of old.
Just cuz you can't play right-handed with a left-handed golf club, doesn't mean it's broken, it's just not for you.
>>>>> That was brilliantly written. This game is shedding players (and fans of FF in general) like a cat sheds hair in the Spring.
>>>>> People usually don't feel the need to get vested in the community of a game they don't think they are going to be playing very long. When the sub fees come in we will see who thinks it's worth making pals in the game. They can go to any "complete" and functional game and have all the conversations they want and don't have to be miserable.
>>>>> The other 80% of people that play the game disagree with you, including the CEO. (I upgraded my original 70% estimates to reflect the new information being released.)
>>>>> I played "all the games of old" and none of them required you to grind mobs as a primary source of "fun." Even though these games were made many years before FF14 and the MMO genre existed.
Also, I laugh at the use of the term "explore" in relation to FF14. The game has copied areas all over every map. What are you exploring for? The same sights and discoveries as you found 15 minutes ago? Some of these areas are so close you can actually walk from one right onto another and it's immediately noticeable. I use the term walk as in "stuck" to a path, because you are not allowed to jump up the side of a mountain or slide down a hill into an unknown area. There is no jump, or even a skip function to allow "exploring".
What you are allowed to do is walk down a guided path to your next square of copied terrain. That's the opposite of exploring.
>>>>> No, the game is not for you. It was designed for everybody. Hense the millions of dollars invested in it. If it were designed for a 25k player base then the development would reflect it. It was designed for everybody but failed for most is the correct way to describe the game.
"I'm not cheap I'm incredibly subconsciously financially optimized"
"The worst part of censorship is ------------------"
I'm honestly not certain a year is going to make a whit of difference here. The game was going to be niche even if it succeeded and succeeded it has not. NOw it's more like..a niche of a niche, and that isn't a population large enough to really make a difference for.
The CEO said it himself, the players, the customers, they lost faith and rightly so. Now they either can restore that faith and bring people back or the game itself won't be worth sustaining.
MMO gamers are a fickle crowd and we will abandon something much faster than accept it. Sure SOME people may come back IF SE manages to actually do something worthwhile (Which with their track record of slow development and lack of communication I seriously doubt). However I don't see the return of the playerbase that the CEO is so hoping for.
It's far more likely that the next wave of MMO's is going to scoop up the refugees fromt his debacle and those refugees aren't going to look back, they're either going to stay in the new game (GW2, DCUO, SW:TOR, WoW Cata..etc etc), or leave that new game like they left the last one and look for the next new one. It's not typical (in my opinion obviously) that a gamer who is disheartened by a game come back after a month or two, no I suspect it's far more likely that the very small amount of gamers who are willing to look back, won't do so for a good year.
This game will not survive that long, oh I'm not saying the plug would be pulled (but I wouldn't be surprised) I just don't see this game getting any real money to develop and improve it in a timely enough fashion.
It's a stinker, they know they made a stinker (now, but they must've thought they actually had something come release) and we most definitely know they made a stinker. Yea yeah, some people enjoy it, there's always a handful that do, but even those that do cannot deny the net-wide (worldwide I'll add as the japanese players haven't taken to this steaming pile anymore than we have) reaction to this is akin to a gamers plague.
You can say the game had potential or even HAS potential to become something great. Sure, I'll agree that it HAD potential, but now it will no longer have the money to HAVE potential any longer. It takes $ to improve something and this one is in DIRE need of improvement and $..sadly the $ it gets won't be anything anywhere NEAR what it needs.
This game could use some TWEAKS? really? Ok, I'll admit I love a sense of accomplishment, something I've yet to feel at all in FFXIV. I'm only a rank 21 pug with a few other 20s and a skew of 10's but so far there's been NO accomplishment. I'vve never felt that I strived to get or do anything, merely grind out the only crap the game has allowed me to.
I can remember a lot of shiny fun happy moments in others games too, but that has nothing to do with this one at all. I've used the LFG tool since the first week and that's all well and good, but the fact that you're still up against a repetative and goalless grind with or without a group is still very much there. I won't even begin to get into the RNG Skill gain joke.
So the game isn't quest driven..what drives it I ask you? Is it the over all storyline? Hmm, well I sure do have to grind out a vast gap of boring levels in order to get to 30 minutes of semi-interesting storyline. The game doesn't need to walk me through each zone (Hell it didn't walk me through basic tutorial crap why would I expect it to walk me through anything) but the game does have to have a purpose for you other than GO KILL MOAR! GO CRAFT MOAR! Sorry but what good games of old have you mindlessly and purposelessly grind out mobs? I can't think of one...sure I can think of a lot of grindy games but they all had a reason to do so, this ones reason is because there's nothing else? NOT a good reason.
As for your explore thing. Yeah, done that nothing to see here. The zones are all copy and paste, hell I get confused sometimes thinking I'm by a certain camp when I'm actually somewhere else because the landscape looks exactly the same there as it does here. It's not fun to explore this game because there's nothing worth seeing. There's what...a castle city you can't go to and a crashed out wreck..end of points of interest. I guess there's a bunch of empty meaningless villages...OH and a few caves with some shiny plants.....man talk about fullfilling, who needs fun gameplay when I can watch COLORS (note..you may only watch shiny colors after trudging through about 30+ mins of boring same ol' territory that you've already seen.)
This game most definitely isn't for me, nor for the other poster...frankly this game isn't really for gamers at all. It's for a handful of hopefuls and massochists. She's a stinker and no time is going to fix it. You can't say your game is got what it takes to be great when the CEO of the company says this puppy is a sunk ship unless we can finnagle a LOT of people to come back to her..
That is putting it mildly. I guess a completely new UI is kind of a tweak.
It is anyways what makes the game almost unplayable.
And in the UIs case I don't think it was the release time, that would have made it simpler, not overly complicated and clunky.
Really, SE must fix that. I can live with the rest, and those things can be patched in but a crappy UI makes any game unplayable.