Thanks for the impressions piece, it confirms what I expected FFXIV is slowly moving in the right direction. My plan has always been to return after they add the male Miqo'te by which time FFXIV should be "fixed" or as Square Enix puts it "ready for PS3 release" and it looks like that plan wont be changing. ^^
Because flying a Minmatar ship is like going down a flight of stairs on an office chair while firing an Uzi.
I come to these Final Fantasy threads just to read the infamous die hards that just cannot see wrong in their game. It's truly not bad but the article is pretty much dead on, like it always has been.
Sorry, your CEO said that your game really hurt the brand. That is far from a positive statement.
yeah, because Wada has always been right isn't it? Or maybe he's right only when it's convenient for you?
on the contrary FFXIV did a lot of good for the Final Fantasy brand, as it forced Square Enix to start listening to their playerbase, on the long run, this can only be positive.
of course the most nearsighted will miss this little but critical detail.
It's always massively funny to see the infamous haters (including those that happen to write for this site) scrambling to try and bash the game at every patch, probably panicking because it's improving so much, and at the moment is definitely on par with many others, and well set to improve further.
They invested so much emotionally and personally in bashing this game that they're now frightened by the idea of it becoming good.
LOL? What you see as a hater I see as the opinion of the majority. Since that is the case that means you are one of the diehards that can't see the game for what it is. I'm a huge FF fan going back to the first ff and the ones on the gameboy all the way to when I was older playing ffvi, ffvii and even ffxi. I don't like your precious, at all I mean I've liked most everything w/ the name Final Fantasy on it and I hate the game its not that I'm a hater I just see the game for what it is. The reviewers here are doing the same thing and if you would take off your rose colored shades for a moment you would realize that.
Let me reverse the question for a moment, what makes the game so good? Seriously help all us haters out that can't see the gem that you see. I mean even square said it was a failure and apoligized but apparently you know better than the makers of the game is that it?
OUWAAH? he/she didnt state that the game was good o.o. Am I missing something here O.o. As to why the game is good or not im dont know nor do i care, and now i shall go back into that crowd of quiet readers =D
A reply to a reply to further drive this thread off topic (j/k)
Tabula Rasa was shut down because of legal issues between NCSoft and RG, not because to much money was wasted, NCSoft was right in the middle of a new expansion (already released videos and screens of the expansion). You dont do that when your about to pull the plug due to no more money.
So "IF" FFXIV ever gets canned, and "IF" its due to a lack of funds or tired of wasting funds it will in no way be anything like TR getting canned.
*Sorry, but I have a soft spot for TR and dont like miss information being spread about it*
*Sigh* why cant someone relaunch TR......
I always have a soft spot for TR as well.
The legal dispute wasn't about the game itself. NCSoft "owned" the property of TR! It was developed by NCWest ! So inhouse build and released.
The legal dispute was between Richard Garriott and NCSoft exec's about money. Nothing more.
There was no reason to shut down TR, but they did it anyway.
The "real" reason they shut down was, because NCSoft totally had it with Richard Garriott and wanted to forget it about it and pretend it never existed! So they just shut it down and be done with it!
We can go into all the little details again if you would like? But I have been writing that wall of text too many times already, that I don't feel like doing it anymore.
The game remains F2p , so is ok is still at "beta" stage
Took me a while to get a chocobo , u need to do all the company quests , and finally choose 1 , u get like 2k+ SEALS for doing it ..........but for the choco license u need 3k SEALS
HINT : AFTER u have become a member of a company TALK to the QUEST NPC
REWARD : 1000 SEALS
nothing in the game told u that , i was sad all the traveling around only to find myself with 2300ish seals , but a friend told me talk to the npc and u will get 1000 points! ><
Airships : u need to wait for a while (not like FFXI thanks god!)
Caravan quest : fun , 1 , 2 ,3 maybe 4 times , but then ? bah caravan
Strongholds: looks cool, but are just "grind spots"
IFRIT : AMAZING like the old FFXI primes , and drops weapons
what FFXIV needs , a IMPROVED LFP ! , more Solo and Party content (dungeons or something like "assault" / "campaign"......companys were created for a reason
the PL needs to go will be too late when PL is nerfed so .....
why is SE adding content for 20-45 if ppl are PL to 50 in no time?
still the game isnt "fun" , combat its better now with Autoattack, and no Class levels (only PSY lvls)
the auto stats is nice , u can change jobs and dont be "gimped" because u put all your points in VIT STR DEX
I come to these Final Fantasy threads just to read the infamous die hards that just cannot see wrong in their game. It's truly not bad but the article is pretty much dead on, like it always has been.
Sorry, your CEO said that your game really hurt the brand. That is far from a positive statement.
yeah, because Wada has always been right isn't it? Or maybe he's right only when it's convenient for you?
on the contrary FFXIV did a lot of good for the Final Fantasy brand, as it forced Square Enix to start listening to their playerbase, on the long run, this can only be positive.
of course the most nearsighted will miss this little but critical detail.
It's always massively funny to see the infamous haters (including those that happen to write for this site) scrambling to try and bash the game at every patch, probably panicking because it's improving so much, and at the moment is definitely on par with many others, and well set to improve further.
They invested so much emotionally and personally in bashing this game that they're now frightened by the idea of it becoming good.
LOL? What you see as a hater I see as the opinion of the majority. Since that is the case that means you are one of the diehards that can't see the game for what it is. I'm a huge FF fan going back to the first ff and the ones on the gameboy all the way to when I was older playing ffvi, ffvii and even ffxi. I don't like your precious, at all I mean I've liked most everything w/ the name Final Fantasy on it and I hate the game its not that I'm a hater I just see the game for what it is. The reviewers here are doing the same thing and if you would take off your rose colored shades for a moment you would realize that.
Let me reverse the question for a moment, what makes the game so good? Seriously help all us haters out that can't see the gem that you see. I mean even square said it was a failure and apoligized but apparently you know better than the makers of the game is that it?
OUWAAH? he/she didnt state that the game was good o.o. Am I missing something here O.o. As to why the game is good or not im dont know nor do i care, and now i shall go back into that crowd of quiet readers =D
I was just pointing out the fact that all of us are not haters we just don't like the current product. The author of the article even mentioned it was getting better and the guy I was responding to tore into him talking of how everyone here has a grudge against the game. So I simply posted the question if it isn't bad what makes it good?
I just gotta say that while there are some fair points made in this updated impressions piece... there's a lot of very unfair, and rather misleading hyperbole as well.
Here's just one quote for example regarding the UI:
"While ever this interface remains, the game is carrying around dead weight, and clubbing to death the hopes of anyone that wishes to get near to loving the game. It is just that bad."
For one, the statement is completely presumptuous in that the author assumes to know how anyone will respond to the interface. There are people, believe it or not, who do not suffer nearly the degree of frustration this article asserts. I don't think anyone will say "it's fine as is and doesn't need any improvement" (save for the hopelessly defensive folks who will defend anything about the game), but there are plenty who feel it's perfectly usable and functional for the game at this point. I am among them.
There are people I speak to every single day in game who do, in fact, love the game even with its current interface.
So, share your own opinion, by all means. But please stop presuming to speak for others. You don't.
As far as describing the questing in game... Very very very dishonestly presented aspect for this round in how the article seems to give missions/quests a "gloss over" and focuses instead squarely on Leves and Behests, seemingly because they're easy targets.
Yoshi-P stated a while ago now that they were moving away from having Leves and Behests as the core form of content... 1.18 and 1.19 have gone a long way toward that end already... something the article downplays very conspicuously.
Let me put it this way. I HATE levequests. Hate them. Can not stand doing them. This is one thing that kept me from seriously sticking with FFXIV throughout its earlier months.
However, last Friday evening, several hours on Saturday, almost all day Sunday (was under the weather and had nothing better to do) and most of last night, I played FFXIV. I put on several levels and completed a number of personal goals... I got from level 18 to level 24, I got through all the Grand Company quests and joined Twin Adders and worked toward a few other personal goals... I didn't do a single leve quest, nor behest. Not a one.
When I log in tonight, I already have further goals set that I want to accomplish... not a single one will involve me doing a leve quest or behest. Not a one.
Where before they were basically "all there was to do" aside from crafting, for me, Leve Quests are officially at the level of "an odd activity to do when I feel like doing something a little different" for me.
There are plenty of quests to do as side-activities, as well as job-specific quests, GC quests, main storyline quests... and yes, levequests/behests.
And the content I'm doing is available to everyone.
So, in light of that it is extremely disingenuous for the author of this article to skip over the missions and side-quests as though they don't factor.
They most certainly do.
To the author of this article/series.. If you're going to give the impression of genuinely following the game's updates and giving a comprehensive update on each one.. At least do it the justice of reporting on it accurately. Don't cherry-pick certain things while all but completely ignoring others.
There are those of us playing it who can and will call you out when you're being unfair or inaccurate. By all means, express as negative a personal opinion as you feel it warrants... But at least be thorough and accurate about the details while doing so.
"If you just step away for a sec you will clearly see all the pot holes in the road, and the cash shop selling asphalt..." - Mimzel on F2P/Cash Shops
FFXIV = What you get when you release an MMORPG 3 years before it's ready! Seriously, this game didn't need another six months to a year, it literally needed years more development time.
I still can't understand what confluence of corporate disfunction ever resulted in the game being released in the state it was released in.
The UI is horrible. The game world is horrible. Combat is horrible. The game lacks the magic and aesthetics of a Final Fantasy title. The cities were nice. Crafting had potential. The story cutscenes were pretty decent and the character and mob models and animations were decent as well.
They should have completely scrapped the ui, the combat sytem, the game world outside of the cities and the entire concept of Guild Leves replacing standard quests and PVE content. Instead, they released a complete mess of a game and then tried to "fix it" after launch with limited staff and budget.
I just gotta say that while there are some fair points made in this updated impressions piece... there's a lot of very unfair, and rather misleading hyperbole as well.
Here's just one quote for example regarding the UI:
"While ever this interface remains, the game is carrying around dead weight, and clubbing to death the hopes of anyone that wishes to get near to loving the game. It is just that bad."
For one, the statement is completely presumptuous in that the author assumes to know how anyone will respond to the interface. There are people, believe it or not, who do not suffer nearly the degree of frustration this article asserts. I don't think anyone will say "it's fine as is and doesn't need any improvement" (save for the hopelessly defensive folks who will defend anything about the game), but there are plenty who feel it's perfectly usable and functional for the game at this point. I am among them.
There are people I speak to every single day in game who do, in fact, love the game even with its current interface.
So, share your own opinion, by all means. But please stop presuming to speak for others. You don't.
As far as describing the questing in game... Very very very dishonestly presented aspect for this round in how the article seems to give missions/quests a "gloss over" and focuses instead squarely on Leves and Behests, seemingly because they're easy targets.
Yoshi-P stated a while ago now that they were moving away from having Leves and Behests as the core form of content... 1.18 and 1.19 have gone a long way toward that end already... something the article downplays very conspicuously.
Let me put it this way. I HATE levequests. Hate them. Can not stand doing them. This is one thing that kept me from seriously sticking with FFXIV throughout its earlier months.
However, last Friday evening, several hours on Saturday, almost all day Sunday (was under the weather and had nothing better to do) and most of last night, I played FFXIV. I put on several levels and completed a number of personal goals... I got from level 18 to level 24, I got through all the Grand Company quests and joined Twin Adders and worked toward a few other personal goals... I didn't do a single leve quest, nor behest. Not a one.
When I log in tonight, I already have further goals set that I want to accomplish... not a single one will involve me doing a leve quest or behest. Not a one.
Where before they were basically "all there was to do" aside from crafting, for me, Leve Quests are officially at the level of "an odd activity to do when I feel like doing something a little different" for me.
There are plenty of quests to do as side-activities, as well as job-specific quests, GC quests, main storyline quests... and yes, levequests/behests.
And the content I'm doing is available to everyone.
So, in light of that it is extremely disingenuous for the author of this article to skip over the missions and side-quests as though they don't factor.
They most certainly do.
To the author of this article/series.. If you're going to give the impression of genuinely following the game's updates and giving a comprehensive update on each one.. At least do it the justice of reporting on it accurately. Don't cherry-pick certain things while all but completely ignoring others.
There are those of us playing it who can and will call you out when you're being unfair or inaccurate. By all means, express as negative a personal opinion as you feel it warrants... But at least be thorough and accurate about the details while doing so.
Quoting for emphasis.
In addition, I'll also say that while FFXIV has a glaring number of flaws, as of late I've noticed that a large amount of the bad rap that it receives comes not from the actual problems the game has, but rather some misplaced grudge leftover from former players of the game who haven't touched it in months. Even the score this site gives us seems to be indicative of that. 2.7 points lower than say, Flyff? You've got to be @&;#$ing joking. That wasn't even true at launch, nevermind now.
In addition, I'll also say that while FFXIV has a glaring number of flaws, as of late I've noticed that a large amount of the bad rap that it receives comes not from the actual problems the game has, but rather some misplaced grudge leftover from former players of the game who haven't touched it in months. Even the score this site gives us seems to be indicative of that. 2.7 points lower than say, Flyff? You've got to be @&;#$ing joking. That wasn't even true at launch, nevermind now.
Fanboy much? The game DESERVED that score. It was garbage at launch and now its almost acceptable as a real MMORPG. The fact that this game is still plagued with problems that people reported about during beta and are still not fixed shows how ignorant SE is. I still have hope for this game, but at the rate changes are coming, looks like I won't touch this game for 2 more years it seems.
Let's just be honest as a fan or player of this game alot of you simply will find any criticism of this game unacceptable, the impression I got from the article is that while the game is still not up to playable standards it is moving in the right direction. For a game that the devs are giving away for free what kind of impressions do you expect most people to give it.
I think FFXIV players should simply start their own mmorpg fan site so they can ensure that not a single bad thing is said about the game and then stay exclusively on that site. The sad truth is the average player is going to have a problem with this game as it is until atleast 1.65 and I don't see how you guys will be able to hold up that long if every single critique of the game bothers you this much.
These reviews have no quantifiable statements at all. They are pure opinion pieces. Here is something to illustrate the difference between opinion piece and good journalism:
1. (single fact, no comparison, no quantifyable statement, just opinion)
...the mini-games which envelop gathering are almost forms of torture.
...the mini-games which envelope gathering give you control over which items you can gather as opposed to a random, one click gathering system we know from other games like WoW or LotRO.
This also means that gathering is not just something you do while running around killing, it does require a certain commitment both in getting the right gear and and taking the time to figure it out.
For me personally, this gathering system feels more like a torture and i will stay away from it simply because i don't enjoy it.
In all fairness, it's not the fault of the writers, not everyone has the talent for writing but it is the fault of MMORPG.com editors to let opinion pieces like this make the front page.
"Give players systems and tools instead of rails and rules"
All I ever wanted them to change, and I constantly bitched about it in Beta was the UI. Had the UI not been worse than every other game ever, includinng the other ffonline I would have given the title a shot. Had fun in beta myself. I dont think they realize just how many people refused to buy the game based on the UI alone.
These reviews have no quantifiable statements at all. They are pure opinion pieces. Here is something to illustrate the difference between opinion piece and good journalism:
1. (single fact, no comparison, no quantifyable statement, just opinion)
...the mini-games which envelop gathering are almost forms of torture.
...the mini-games which envelope gathering give you control over which items you can gather as opposed to a random, one click gathering system we know from other games like WoW or LotRO.
This also means that gathering is not just something you do while running around killing, it does require a certain commitment both in getting the right gear and and taking the time to figure it out.
For me personally, this gathering system feels more like a torture and i will stay away from it simply because i don't enjoy it.
In all fairness, it's not the fault of the writers, not everyone has the talent for writing but it is the fault of MMORPG.com editors to let opinion pieces like this make the front page.
Um reviews ARE opinion pieces. Most good ones are mixed WITH fact but in the long run reviews are what one person thinks of what they are reviewing.
Here is a hint since you are clearly trying to talk down his review because you like the game. What he mentioned is what the masses feel about the game. You may not like that because it doesnt fit with what you think and thats fine. But dont tell him his review, which again all reviews are opinion based, is wrong. Its no more wrong than anyone trying to defend a game the masses dont like.
I'll say it one last time so you dont miss it. Reviews ARE OPINION but the good ones DO have facts in them.
Um reviews ARE opinion pieces. Most good ones are mixed WITH fact but in the long run reviews are what one person thinks of what they are reviewing.
Here is a hint since you are clearly trying to talk down his review because you like the game. What he mentioned is what the masses feel about the game. You may not like that because it doesnt fit with what you think and thats fine. But dont tell him his review, which again all reviews are opinion based, is wrong. Its no more wrong than anyone trying to defend a game the masses dont like.
I'll say it one last time so you dont miss it. Reviews ARE OPINION but the good ones DO have facts in them.
I refer you to the definition of a review:
Facts, Quantifyable statements and Comparison: A review is an evaluation of a publication, a product or a service, such as a movie (a movie review), video game, musical composition(music review of a composition or recording), book (book review); a piece of hardware like a car, home appliance, or computer; or an event or performance, such as a live music concert, a play, musical theater show or dance show. In addition to a critical evaluation, the review's author may assign the work a rating to indicate its relative merit.
I am sorry but i am not going to argue with you since you are basing your arguments on your opinion that all reviews are opinions and that i must like the game (both factually wrong assumptions). You clearly have no intend on putting up an argument based on fact hence any further discussion is useless.
Thank you.
"Give players systems and tools instead of rails and rules"
Um reviews ARE opinion pieces. Most good ones are mixed WITH fact but in the long run reviews are what one person thinks of what they are reviewing.
Here is a hint since you are clearly trying to talk down his review because you like the game. What he mentioned is what the masses feel about the game. You may not like that because it doesnt fit with what you think and thats fine. But dont tell him his review, which again all reviews are opinion based, is wrong. Its no more wrong than anyone trying to defend a game the masses dont like.
I'll say it one last time so you dont miss it. Reviews ARE OPINION but the good ones DO have facts in them.
I refer you to the definition of a review:
Facts, Quantifyable statements and Comparison: A review is an evaluation of a publication, a product or a service, such as a movie (a movie review), video game, musical composition(music review of a composition or recording), book (book review); a piece of hardware like a car, home appliance, or computer; or an event or performance, such as a live music concert, a play, musical theater show or dance show. In addition to a critical evaluation, the review's author may assign the work a rating to indicate its relative merit.
I am sorry but i am not going to argue with you since you are basing your arguments on your opinion that all reviews are opinions and that i must like the game (both factually wrong assumptions). You clearly have no intend on putting up an argument based on fact hence any further discussion is useless.
Thank you.
If reviews were truely factual, then everyone would give the same review, since presumably there aren't different "facts" available to one reviewer and not to another.
Um reviews ARE opinion pieces. Most good ones are mixed WITH fact but in the long run reviews are what one person thinks of what they are reviewing.
Here is a hint since you are clearly trying to talk down his review because you like the game. What he mentioned is what the masses feel about the game. You may not like that because it doesnt fit with what you think and thats fine. But dont tell him his review, which again all reviews are opinion based, is wrong. Its no more wrong than anyone trying to defend a game the masses dont like.
I'll say it one last time so you dont miss it. Reviews ARE OPINION but the good ones DO have facts in them.
I refer you to the definition of a review:
Facts, Quantifyable statements and Comparison: A review is an evaluation of a publication, a product or a service, such as a movie (a movie review), video game, musical composition(music review of a composition or recording), book (book review); a piece of hardware like a car, home appliance, or computer; or an event or performance, such as a live music concert, a play, musical theater show or dance show. In addition to a critical evaluation, the review's author may assign the work a rating to indicate its relative merit.
I am sorry but i am not going to argue with you since you are basing your arguments on your opinion that all reviews are opinions and that i must like the game (both factually wrong assumptions). You clearly have no intend on putting up an argument based on fact hence any further discussion is useless.
Thank you.
If reviews were truely factual, then everyone would give the same review, since presumably there aren't different "facts" available to one reviewer and not to another.
Correct, the review has to be based on facts, which are the same for every reviewer. This is the fact part of a review (Features, Benchmarks, PC requirements).
The other parts are the quantifiable statements and comparisons. Simply saying something is horrible or torture does not qualify as a comparison or statement. It's pure opinion and can be included as such, just not as basis for a critical evaluation.
The final ratings are of cause an opinion but based on the facts and statements and as comparison of it's relative merit.
Final ratings also do include multiple categories and every reviewer may weigh them differently (some migh weigh story over graphics) but they at least make it clear in the rating that this is how they came to the conclusion.
The piece we are talking about has no resemblance to a review in any shape or form, beeing purely opinion based and sometimes even factually wrong.
Again, opinions are fine as long as they are clearly stated as such. ( "In my opinion", "personally,...", "the reviewer beeing a fan of x does not like y")
I think you would agree, no?
PS: interstingly enough, most reviewers do agree on the scores within a reasonable margin of error (or opinion) so they must be based on the same facts. Games that score very high usually do so on all but a few purely opinion based reviews. This game has scored very low and rightfully so, no argument about that.
"Give players systems and tools instead of rails and rules"
Um reviews ARE opinion pieces. Most good ones are mixed WITH fact but in the long run reviews are what one person thinks of what they are reviewing.
Here is a hint since you are clearly trying to talk down his review because you like the game. What he mentioned is what the masses feel about the game. You may not like that because it doesnt fit with what you think and thats fine. But dont tell him his review, which again all reviews are opinion based, is wrong. Its no more wrong than anyone trying to defend a game the masses dont like.
I'll say it one last time so you dont miss it. Reviews ARE OPINION but the good ones DO have facts in them.
I refer you to the definition of a review:
Facts, Quantifyable statements and Comparison: A review is an evaluation of a publication, a product or a service, such as a movie (a movie review), video game, musical composition(music review of a composition or recording), book (book review); a piece of hardware like a car, home appliance, or computer; or an event or performance, such as a live music concert, a play, musical theater show or dance show. In addition to a critical evaluation, the review's author may assign the work a rating to indicate its relative merit.
I am sorry but i am not going to argue with you since you are basing your arguments on your opinion that all reviews are opinions and that i must like the game (both factually wrong assumptions). You clearly have no intend on putting up an argument based on fact hence any further discussion is useless.
Thank you.
If reviews were truely factual, then everyone would give the same review, since presumably there aren't different "facts" available to one reviewer and not to another.
Correct, the review has to be based on facts, which are the same for every reviewer. This is the fact part of a review (Features, Benchmarks, PC requirements).
The other parts are the quantifiable statements and comparisons. Simply saying something is horrible or torture does not qualify as a comparison or statement. It's pure opinion and can be included as such, just not as basis for a critical evaluation.
The final ratings are of cause an opinion but based on the facts and statements and as comparison of it's relative merit.
Final ratings also do include multiple categories and every reviewer may weigh them differently (some migh weigh story over graphics) but they at least make it clear in the rating that this is how they came to the conclusion.
The piece we are talking about has no resemblance to a review in any shape or form, beeing purely opinion based and sometimes even factually wrong.
Again, opinions are fine as long as they are clearly stated as such. ( "In my opinion", "personally,...", "the reviewer beeing a fan of x does not like y")
I think you would agree, no?
I just reread the post, and though it is not a review, as is stated at the beginning, it is a "revisiting." I see the author doing exactly what you want a reviewer doing. In addition to opinion, which you agree has a place in a review (even though this isn't one) he states very clearly the things that the patch added and changed. As I don't follow the game that much anymore, I don't know if he missed some additions, though if there are as many as people are claiming, then including them all in such a piece would lead to a very long revisit. I don't see what all the people are upset about.
If I had no clue about the game and read this article, I don't think I would have said "wow I should never think of playing this game." I would have though "hmm, has some interesting things in it, and it sounds like it has improved, I think I'll keep my eye on it." Though I would have also probably thought something along the lines of "if this is an improvement, I wonder what it was like before?" Considering I was there at launch (not purchasing it, but beta) I think that would be a fair question to ask. I think we as readers should be able to tell when someone is stating an opinion rather than fact. I think part of the problem is that so many people present their opinion as fact, that we often assume that is what is happening even if that isn't the intention.
I just gotta say that while there are some fair points made in this updated impressions piece... there's a lot of very unfair, and rather misleading hyperbole as well.
Here's just one quote for example regarding the UI:
"While ever this interface remains, the game is carrying around dead weight, and clubbing to death the hopes of anyone that wishes to get near to loving the game. It is just that bad."
For one, the statement is completely presumptuous in that the author assumes to know how anyone will respond to the interface. There are people, believe it or not, who do not suffer nearly the degree of frustration this article asserts. I don't think anyone will say "it's fine as is and doesn't need any improvement" (save for the hopelessly defensive folks who will defend anything about the game), but there are plenty who feel it's perfectly usable and functional for the game at this point. I am among them.
There are people I speak to every single day in game who do, in fact, love the game even with its current interface.
So, share your own opinion, by all means. But please stop presuming to speak for others. You don't.
As far as describing the questing in game... Very very very dishonestly presented aspect for this round in how the article seems to give missions/quests a "gloss over" and focuses instead squarely on Leves and Behests, seemingly because they're easy targets.
Yoshi-P stated a while ago now that they were moving away from having Leves and Behests as the core form of content... 1.18 and 1.19 have gone a long way toward that end already... something the article downplays very conspicuously.
Let me put it this way. I HATE levequests. Hate them. Can not stand doing them. This is one thing that kept me from seriously sticking with FFXIV throughout its earlier months.
However, last Friday evening, several hours on Saturday, almost all day Sunday (was under the weather and had nothing better to do) and most of last night, I played FFXIV. I put on several levels and completed a number of personal goals... I got from level 18 to level 24, I got through all the Grand Company quests and joined Twin Adders and worked toward a few other personal goals... I didn't do a single leve quest, nor behest. Not a one.
When I log in tonight, I already have further goals set that I want to accomplish... not a single one will involve me doing a leve quest or behest. Not a one.
Where before they were basically "all there was to do" aside from crafting, for me, Leve Quests are officially at the level of "an odd activity to do when I feel like doing something a little different" for me.
There are plenty of quests to do as side-activities, as well as job-specific quests, GC quests, main storyline quests... and yes, levequests/behests.
And the content I'm doing is available to everyone.
So, in light of that it is extremely disingenuous for the author of this article to skip over the missions and side-quests as though they don't factor.
They most certainly do.
To the author of this article/series.. If you're going to give the impression of genuinely following the game's updates and giving a comprehensive update on each one.. At least do it the justice of reporting on it accurately. Don't cherry-pick certain things while all but completely ignoring others.
There are those of us playing it who can and will call you out when you're being unfair or inaccurate. By all means, express as negative a personal opinion as you feel it warrants... But at least be thorough and accurate about the details while doing so.
Just wanted to say thanks for being a constant voice of reason on this site. I always enjoyed your opinions on FFXI, and completely agree with everything you mentioned regarding the state of FFXIV now.
My bf and I recently returned as level 20 conjy and gladiator, and in the course of a week we are up to level 32 and have not done one leve or behest. We did the grand company questlines and joined Twin Adder also btw It was definitely some of the most engaging story I've had the pleasure of experiencing since FFXI and LOTRO. I also can't begin to describe the feeling I got when the battle with Ifrit began. Not only that, but I did the instance with a few people we met and it was really engaging and somewhat difficult, how FF should be.
It's disappointing coming to this site for news on MMOs and I feel like they are outright lying when it comes to how the game is. The game sucked when it came out it's true, but I can feel it slowly turning into the behemoth FFXI was, and this site for a long time ignored that game as well, until it was too popular to ignore. I'm not saying FFXIV is there fully, even Yoshi said it's only 50% of a game even now how he would want it. Jeez tho, it's far from a grind fest. People in the ls I'm in who have statics go from 1 to 50 in a day right now. That's not perfect either imo, but it clearly refutes the "grind" this site claims.
MMORPG.com is becoming the fox news of the gaming community...
How can you give impressions when clearly you haven't played the content? I can look at the patch notes and be oh they took out physical levels and put in chocos, big whoop.
The authors of these impressions need to put in some goddam time with the games they are giving impressions on and give some concrete facts. Saying the game is a grind when you can go from 1 to 50 in a day as a POSSIBILITY in no circumstances can be defined as a grind. It was insanely grindy before the recent patches, but certainly not after 1.18 and definitely not after 1.19 (with XP CHAINS). I swear people are so blind sometimes....
IMO, if SE just use the FFXI systems with FFXIV graphics, it would be a great game. FFXI and Atlantica Online are the only online games that I don't mind grinding since the grind is so darn fun.
Comments
Thanks for the impressions piece, it confirms what I expected FFXIV is slowly moving in the right direction. My plan has always been to return after they add the male Miqo'te by which time FFXIV should be "fixed" or as Square Enix puts it "ready for PS3 release" and it looks like that plan wont be changing. ^^
Because flying a Minmatar ship is like going down a flight of stairs on an office chair while firing an Uzi.
OUWAAH? he/she didnt state that the game was good o.o. Am I missing something here O.o. As to why the game is good or not im dont know nor do i care, and now i shall go back into that crowd of quiet readers =D
I always have a soft spot for TR as well.
The legal dispute wasn't about the game itself. NCSoft "owned" the property of TR! It was developed by NCWest ! So inhouse build and released.
The legal dispute was between Richard Garriott and NCSoft exec's about money. Nothing more.
There was no reason to shut down TR, but they did it anyway.
The "real" reason they shut down was, because NCSoft totally had it with Richard Garriott and wanted to forget it about it and pretend it never existed! So they just shut it down and be done with it!
We can go into all the little details again if you would like? But I have been writing that wall of text too many times already, that I don't feel like doing it anymore.
The game remains F2p , so is ok is still at "beta" stage
Took me a while to get a chocobo , u need to do all the company quests , and finally choose 1 , u get like 2k+ SEALS for doing it ..........but for the choco license u need 3k SEALS
HINT : AFTER u have become a member of a company TALK to the QUEST NPC
REWARD : 1000 SEALS
nothing in the game told u that , i was sad all the traveling around only to find myself with 2300ish seals
, but a friend told me talk to the npc and u will get 1000 points! ><
Airships : u need to wait for a while (not like FFXI thanks god!)
Caravan quest : fun , 1 , 2 ,3 maybe 4 times , but then ? bah caravan
Strongholds: looks cool, but are just "grind spots"
IFRIT : AMAZING like the old FFXI primes
, and drops weapons
what FFXIV needs , a IMPROVED LFP ! , more Solo and Party content (dungeons or something like "assault" / "campaign"......companys were created for a reason
the PL needs to go
will be too late when PL is nerfed so .....
why is SE adding content for 20-45 if ppl are PL to 50 in no time?
still the game isnt "fun" , combat its better now with Autoattack, and no Class levels (only PSY lvls)
the auto stats is nice , u can change jobs and dont be "gimped" because u put all your points in VIT STR DEX
I was just pointing out the fact that all of us are not haters we just don't like the current product. The author of the article even mentioned it was getting better and the guy I was responding to tore into him talking of how everyone here has a grudge against the game. So I simply posted the question if it isn't bad what makes it good?
Okay...
I just gotta say that while there are some fair points made in this updated impressions piece... there's a lot of very unfair, and rather misleading hyperbole as well.
Here's just one quote for example regarding the UI:
"While ever this interface remains, the game is carrying around dead weight, and clubbing to death the hopes of anyone that wishes to get near to loving the game. It is just that bad."
For one, the statement is completely presumptuous in that the author assumes to know how anyone will respond to the interface. There are people, believe it or not, who do not suffer nearly the degree of frustration this article asserts. I don't think anyone will say "it's fine as is and doesn't need any improvement" (save for the hopelessly defensive folks who will defend anything about the game), but there are plenty who feel it's perfectly usable and functional for the game at this point. I am among them.
There are people I speak to every single day in game who do, in fact, love the game even with its current interface.
So, share your own opinion, by all means. But please stop presuming to speak for others. You don't.
As far as describing the questing in game... Very very very dishonestly presented aspect for this round in how the article seems to give missions/quests a "gloss over" and focuses instead squarely on Leves and Behests, seemingly because they're easy targets.
Yoshi-P stated a while ago now that they were moving away from having Leves and Behests as the core form of content... 1.18 and 1.19 have gone a long way toward that end already... something the article downplays very conspicuously.
Let me put it this way. I HATE levequests. Hate them. Can not stand doing them. This is one thing that kept me from seriously sticking with FFXIV throughout its earlier months.
However, last Friday evening, several hours on Saturday, almost all day Sunday (was under the weather and had nothing better to do) and most of last night, I played FFXIV. I put on several levels and completed a number of personal goals... I got from level 18 to level 24, I got through all the Grand Company quests and joined Twin Adders and worked toward a few other personal goals... I didn't do a single leve quest, nor behest. Not a one.
When I log in tonight, I already have further goals set that I want to accomplish... not a single one will involve me doing a leve quest or behest. Not a one.
Where before they were basically "all there was to do" aside from crafting, for me, Leve Quests are officially at the level of "an odd activity to do when I feel like doing something a little different" for me.
There are plenty of quests to do as side-activities, as well as job-specific quests, GC quests, main storyline quests... and yes, levequests/behests.
And the content I'm doing is available to everyone.
So, in light of that it is extremely disingenuous for the author of this article to skip over the missions and side-quests as though they don't factor.
They most certainly do.
To the author of this article/series.. If you're going to give the impression of genuinely following the game's updates and giving a comprehensive update on each one.. At least do it the justice of reporting on it accurately. Don't cherry-pick certain things while all but completely ignoring others.
There are those of us playing it who can and will call you out when you're being unfair or inaccurate. By all means, express as negative a personal opinion as you feel it warrants... But at least be thorough and accurate about the details while doing so.
and the cash shop selling asphalt..." - Mimzel on F2P/Cash Shops
FFXIV = What you get when you release an MMORPG 3 years before it's ready! Seriously, this game didn't need another six months to a year, it literally needed years more development time.
I still can't understand what confluence of corporate disfunction ever resulted in the game being released in the state it was released in.
The UI is horrible. The game world is horrible. Combat is horrible. The game lacks the magic and aesthetics of a Final Fantasy title. The cities were nice. Crafting had potential. The story cutscenes were pretty decent and the character and mob models and animations were decent as well.
They should have completely scrapped the ui, the combat sytem, the game world outside of the cities and the entire concept of Guild Leves replacing standard quests and PVE content. Instead, they released a complete mess of a game and then tried to "fix it" after launch with limited staff and budget.
Just mind boggling.
Want to know more about GW2 and why there is so much buzz? Start here: Guild Wars 2 Mass Info for the Uninitiated
Quoting for emphasis.
In addition, I'll also say that while FFXIV has a glaring number of flaws, as of late I've noticed that a large amount of the bad rap that it receives comes not from the actual problems the game has, but rather some misplaced grudge leftover from former players of the game who haven't touched it in months. Even the score this site gives us seems to be indicative of that. 2.7 points lower than say, Flyff? You've got to be @&;#$ing joking. That wasn't even true at launch, nevermind now.
Fanboy much? The game DESERVED that score. It was garbage at launch and now its almost acceptable as a real MMORPG. The fact that this game is still plagued with problems that people reported about during beta and are still not fixed shows how ignorant SE is. I still have hope for this game, but at the rate changes are coming, looks like I won't touch this game for 2 more years it seems.
Let's just be honest as a fan or player of this game alot of you simply will find any criticism of this game unacceptable, the impression I got from the article is that while the game is still not up to playable standards it is moving in the right direction. For a game that the devs are giving away for free what kind of impressions do you expect most people to give it.
I think FFXIV players should simply start their own mmorpg fan site so they can ensure that not a single bad thing is said about the game and then stay exclusively on that site. The sad truth is the average player is going to have a problem with this game as it is until atleast 1.65 and I don't see how you guys will be able to hold up that long if every single critique of the game bothers you this much.
These reviews have no quantifiable statements at all. They are pure opinion pieces. Here is something to illustrate the difference between opinion piece and good journalism:
1. (single fact, no comparison, no quantifyable statement, just opinion)
...the mini-games which envelop gathering are almost forms of torture.
2. (detailed facts, comparison, quantifyable statement, opinion)
...the mini-games which envelope gathering give you control over which items you can gather as opposed to a random, one click gathering system we know from other games like WoW or LotRO.
This also means that gathering is not just something you do while running around killing, it does require a certain commitment both in getting the right gear and and taking the time to figure it out.
For me personally, this gathering system feels more like a torture and i will stay away from it simply because i don't enjoy it.
In all fairness, it's not the fault of the writers, not everyone has the talent for writing but it is the fault of MMORPG.com editors to let opinion pieces like this make the front page.
All I ever wanted them to change, and I constantly bitched about it in Beta was the UI. Had the UI not been worse than every other game ever, includinng the other ffonline I would have given the title a shot. Had fun in beta myself. I dont think they realize just how many people refused to buy the game based on the UI alone.
Um reviews ARE opinion pieces. Most good ones are mixed WITH fact but in the long run reviews are what one person thinks of what they are reviewing.
Here is a hint since you are clearly trying to talk down his review because you like the game. What he mentioned is what the masses feel about the game. You may not like that because it doesnt fit with what you think and thats fine. But dont tell him his review, which again all reviews are opinion based, is wrong. Its no more wrong than anyone trying to defend a game the masses dont like.
I'll say it one last time so you dont miss it. Reviews ARE OPINION but the good ones DO have facts in them.
I refer you to the definition of a review:
Facts, Quantifyable statements and Comparison: A review is an evaluation of a publication, a product or a service, such as a movie (a movie review), video game, musical composition(music review of a composition or recording), book (book review); a piece of hardware like a car, home appliance, or computer; or an event or performance, such as a live music concert, a play, musical theater show or dance show. In addition to a critical evaluation, the review's author may assign the work a rating to indicate its relative merit.
I am sorry but i am not going to argue with you since you are basing your arguments on your opinion that all reviews are opinions and that i must like the game (both factually wrong assumptions). You clearly have no intend on putting up an argument based on fact hence any further discussion is useless.
Thank you.
Let's avoid baiting guys. Thanks.
If reviews were truely factual, then everyone would give the same review, since presumably there aren't different "facts" available to one reviewer and not to another.
Correct, the review has to be based on facts, which are the same for every reviewer. This is the fact part of a review (Features, Benchmarks, PC requirements).
The other parts are the quantifiable statements and comparisons. Simply saying something is horrible or torture does not qualify as a comparison or statement. It's pure opinion and can be included as such, just not as basis for a critical evaluation.
The final ratings are of cause an opinion but based on the facts and statements and as comparison of it's relative merit.
Final ratings also do include multiple categories and every reviewer may weigh them differently (some migh weigh story over graphics) but they at least make it clear in the rating that this is how they came to the conclusion.
The piece we are talking about has no resemblance to a review in any shape or form, beeing purely opinion based and sometimes even factually wrong.
Again, opinions are fine as long as they are clearly stated as such. ( "In my opinion", "personally,...", "the reviewer beeing a fan of x does not like y")
I think you would agree, no?
PS: interstingly enough, most reviewers do agree on the scores within a reasonable margin of error (or opinion) so they must be based on the same facts. Games that score very high usually do so on all but a few purely opinion based reviews. This game has scored very low and rightfully so, no argument about that.
I just reread the post, and though it is not a review, as is stated at the beginning, it is a "revisiting." I see the author doing exactly what you want a reviewer doing. In addition to opinion, which you agree has a place in a review (even though this isn't one) he states very clearly the things that the patch added and changed. As I don't follow the game that much anymore, I don't know if he missed some additions, though if there are as many as people are claiming, then including them all in such a piece would lead to a very long revisit. I don't see what all the people are upset about.
If I had no clue about the game and read this article, I don't think I would have said "wow I should never think of playing this game." I would have though "hmm, has some interesting things in it, and it sounds like it has improved, I think I'll keep my eye on it." Though I would have also probably thought something along the lines of "if this is an improvement, I wonder what it was like before?" Considering I was there at launch (not purchasing it, but beta) I think that would be a fair question to ask. I think we as readers should be able to tell when someone is stating an opinion rather than fact. I think part of the problem is that so many people present their opinion as fact, that we often assume that is what is happening even if that isn't the intention.
Just wanted to say thanks for being a constant voice of reason on this site. I always enjoyed your opinions on FFXI, and completely agree with everything you mentioned regarding the state of FFXIV now.
My bf and I recently returned as level 20 conjy and gladiator, and in the course of a week we are up to level 32 and have not done one leve or behest. We did the grand company questlines and joined Twin Adder also btw
It was definitely some of the most engaging story I've had the pleasure of experiencing since FFXI and LOTRO. I also can't begin to describe the feeling I got when the battle with Ifrit began. Not only that, but I did the instance with a few people we met and it was really engaging and somewhat difficult, how FF should be.
It's disappointing coming to this site for news on MMOs and I feel like they are outright lying when it comes to how the game is. The game sucked when it came out it's true, but I can feel it slowly turning into the behemoth FFXI was, and this site for a long time ignored that game as well, until it was too popular to ignore. I'm not saying FFXIV is there fully, even Yoshi said it's only 50% of a game even now how he would want it. Jeez tho, it's far from a grind fest. People in the ls I'm in who have statics go from 1 to 50 in a day right now. That's not perfect either imo, but it clearly refutes the "grind" this site claims.
MMORPG.com is becoming the fox news of the gaming community...
the title is FFXIV 1.19 *** IMPRESSIONS ***
How can you give impressions when clearly you haven't played the content? I can look at the patch notes and be oh they took out physical levels and put in chocos, big whoop.
The authors of these impressions need to put in some goddam time with the games they are giving impressions on and give some concrete facts. Saying the game is a grind when you can go from 1 to 50 in a day as a POSSIBILITY in no circumstances can be defined as a grind. It was insanely grindy before the recent patches, but certainly not after 1.18 and definitely not after 1.19 (with XP CHAINS). I swear people are so blind sometimes....
IMO, if SE just use the FFXI systems with FFXIV graphics, it would be a great game. FFXI and Atlantica Online are the only online games that I don't mind grinding since the grind is so darn fun.
LOL Did you mean Big Bird? I don't know why but that made me laugh out loud.
So amazed this game isn't f2p yet...This game seemed to burn down faster the DCUO yet still the price tag and sub..Amazing.
Have you ever visited the planet earth? The game is $15 and is Free to Play! The pure ignorance on these forums is quite impressive.