[Dev] FINAL FANTASY XI 2012 Roadmap
[Dev] FINAL FANTASY XI 2012 Roadmap
cool
I swear I heard someone mention at one time that they are planning another expansion, smaller than WoTG but bigger than the combined Abyssea set.
Olzhirya is the Mithra homeland not Tsahya.
Ragnarok.Kongming said: »
A lot of my grievances are personal and based more so on the fact that SE has to give into the necessary evil of dragging out the game as long as possible with minimal financial effort or impact. It's simply the nature of running a business with a game that has long since lost its primary user base and overall appeal therein. The expansion demand was merely a means of my own personal appeal (which luckily reflects many others).
Expansions were what made Vana'Diel feel alive to me. It brought forth new zones, a sense of exciting exploration, with new quests, missions, monsters and experiences therein, including a new soundtrack to match. Not to mention SE has done a fantastic job at writing the primary storyline revolving around everything inside. But alas, such undertakings are expensive and require lots of manpower which SE has little of in terms of dedicated effort and funds exclusively to FFXI. Perhaps it simply bothers me how much vague allusions there are to existing locations and premises we'll never get to see or hear in
I want to see the state of post-war far east, with the cultural and political contrasts from Mindartia and Quon, along with a more in-depth backstory on Tenzen and the slumber and potential revival of the terrestrial avatar Phoenix. I want to see the homeland and mysterious origins of the mighty Gigas and Kindred races to the north. I want to see the lush tropics and state of being the native Mithra continent to the south. But at this point, all of which have become crushed dreams that could never be realized or put into fruition, as MMOs are significantly more business-like in their structure and nature of playstyle, which sadly are contrary to SE's keen storytelling and powerful immersion talents.
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Odin.Tsuneo said: »
Siren.Xenophire said: »
Phoenix.Kirana said: »
I'd rather not have the game flooded with 10 year olds.
Sure, there are rude people in every game, but from what I've played, XI has the least.
EDIT: Not related to Xeno's post, but I'm looking forward to Cait Sith. Sure, it's a bit late to the party, but better late than never. Vanafest could still reveal more, possibly even an expansion. I can understand the let-down for people who have played for years without taking breaks, as I was once in that position too, however I'd hold off until the conventions are done. SE is more likely to announce an expansion during Vanafest than in a roadmap.
I remember going to the Fan Festival in 07' and the introduction from the developers gave a gigantic backdrop of lore on ancient Vana'Diel. Major wars, the rise and fall of various kingdoms, political figures and heroes therein. There is so much life breathing underneath Vana'diel that it's overwhelming and exciting, but there is virtually nothing tangible in-game to accredit the amazing past and potential future of the world other than vague cutscene dialog or reading old Vana'Tribue articles which have long since passed and gone :(
It truly is heart-breaking to me to see the highest quality of lore and detail to such a world that allows you to experience everything with other people be ***-blocked by the passing of time, constricted funds (especially post XIV), and nature of how MMOs must be run to retain consistent subscriber income.
It truly is heart-breaking to me to see the highest quality of lore and detail to such a world that allows you to experience everything with other people be ***-blocked by the passing of time, constricted funds (especially post XIV), and nature of how MMOs must be run to retain consistent subscriber income.
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POWER... UNDERWHELMIIIING
Artemicion said: »
I remember going to the Fan Festival in 07' and the introduction from the developers gave a gigantic backdrop of lore on ancient Vana'Diel. Major wars, the rise and fall of various kingdoms, political figures and heroes therein. There is so much life breathing underneath Vana'diel that it's overwhelming and exciting, but there is virtually nothing tangible in-game to accredit the amazing past and potential future of the world other than vague cutscene dialog or reading old Vana'Tribue articles which have long since passed and gone :(
It truly is heart-breaking to me to see the highest quality of lore and detail to such a world that allows you to experience everything with other people be ***-blocked by the passing of time and nature of how MMOs must be run to retain consistent subscriber income.
It truly is heart-breaking to me to see the highest quality of lore and detail to such a world that allows you to experience everything with other people be ***-blocked by the passing of time and nature of how MMOs must be run to retain consistent subscriber income.
Not usually into out-of-game material such as the books for WoW, however I think XI could greatly benefit from some type of Vana-pedia or even a few novels to tie up any loose-ends in the game, or even to show perspectives of notable NPCs within the world. Like you said, it's a disappointment to know all of this wonderful lore, and not see it reflected in anyway within the game, or even outside of the game within tangible books. I'd buy a book about XI in a heartbeat, or even an encyclopedia or history type book that chronicles all of the main adventures we've been through and gives a comprehensive view of how things have affected Vana'diel, that aren't necessarily possible to implement into the game.
Even little things like a map of Qufim with sea still attached would be interesting to see. I'm sure SE doesn't want to "waste" the money on making stuff like that, but I bet I'm not the only one who would buy something along those lines, especially since I never buy those types of things for other games in the first place, but would for XI.
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Sylph.Shipp said: »
Siren.Xenophire said: »
Phoenix.Kirana said: »
I'd rather not have the game flooded with 10 year olds.
Sure, there are rude people in every game, but from what I've played, XI has the least.
EDIT: Not related to Xeno's post, but I'm looking forward to Cait Sith. Sure, it's a bit late to the party, but better late than never. Vanafest could still reveal more, possibly even an expansion. I can understand the let-down for people who have played for years without taking breaks, as I was once in that position too, however I'd hold off until the conventions are done. SE is more likely to announce an expansion during Vanafest than in a roadmap.
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>.>
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O.o
I don't have a collection of memes >.<
I don't have a collection of memes >.<
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I always viewed the surrounding continents and their respective mythos as framework that gives the primary story context.
Even if we were to one day travel there, I'm positive there would be even further undiscovered lands that frame those stories, and so on. Especially given the nature of MMOs when FFXI was conceived, it would have been counter intuitive to have created a world with a finite end.
Maybe that's just my interpretation, and for the record I am sad we'll never see those places.
Even if we were to one day travel there, I'm positive there would be even further undiscovered lands that frame those stories, and so on. Especially given the nature of MMOs when FFXI was conceived, it would have been counter intuitive to have created a world with a finite end.
Maybe that's just my interpretation, and for the record I am sad we'll never see those places.
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Perhaps I'm too sentimental with the whole thing, but to put everything in layman's terms: I didn't pick up FFXI (even knowing it was an MMO) for fat loot, or even an entertaining means of obtaining said loot. I picked it up because it was Final-***-Fantasy, which I knew could bring promising aspirations of everything that made me love the single player ones. All the more so if it was an open and boundless world that can be experienced with other like minded individuals. You can easily overlook the flaws, shitty mechanics, frustrating timesink activities, and grievances if it meant taking in the sights and sounds of an awesome world with friends.
I suppose, I simply need a lesson in humility and to take it for what it is, now that my friends have long since passed and gone on to other things, and the game slowly but surely becoming is exactly that now: a game. The honeymoon is over and the stale state of marriage begins. Luckily for us, we have the option of leaving whenever we want.
I suppose, I simply need a lesson in humility and to take it for what it is, now that my friends have long since passed and gone on to other things, and the game slowly but surely becoming is exactly that now: a game. The honeymoon is over and the stale state of marriage begins. Luckily for us, we have the option of leaving whenever we want.
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Ragnarok.Kongming said: »
When I think of the possibility of an expansion, the first thing that comes to mind is the nature and quality of our last expansion, WotG, and how it already basically geared us up (down?) towards the twilight-era rehashes that we've all come to despise. Granted, the story was phenomenal, and more people might have taken notice if they didn't stretch it out over 4 years, but that's really all they had to offer over a whopping 6 new zones, 3 of which you might have had the pleasure of being in for 20 some minutes before your BF fight ended.
If that's what we're backed up against, if that's what the FFXI heretofore legacy has built up to, what could possibly be expected of a 5th expansion pack?
Let's shift for a moment and look at Cataclysm. I know it's not in the style here to contrast against the 800 lb gorilla in the room, but allow me a moment to temporarily defect. I had a free trial on WoW right on the precipice of Cataclysm's release, allowing me to see the game both pre- and post- operation. There is no short set of words or phrases to express the awe at the world they completely destroyed to path way for a brand new one that was both the same and vastly different. The easiest way I can put it is that it made WotG look like an amateur 3DCG artists hobby project, if we're to compare the differences between present and past Vana'diel.
I remember reading that the development of Cataclysm cost more than the development of the original game, and it figures completely. Graphical models of characters and their environment have been updated multiple times to match the ever increasing computational power our computers are capable of now vs 6 years ago. And the prettier things get, the more expensive it is to add to that framework with something that fits; more polygons, more textures, and ultimately more money spent developing.
If that's what we're backed up against, if that's what the FFXI heretofore legacy has built up to, what could possibly be expected of a 5th expansion pack?
Let's shift for a moment and look at Cataclysm. I know it's not in the style here to contrast against the 800 lb gorilla in the room, but allow me a moment to temporarily defect. I had a free trial on WoW right on the precipice of Cataclysm's release, allowing me to see the game both pre- and post- operation. There is no short set of words or phrases to express the awe at the world they completely destroyed to path way for a brand new one that was both the same and vastly different. The easiest way I can put it is that it made WotG look like an amateur 3DCG artists hobby project, if we're to compare the differences between present and past Vana'diel.
I remember reading that the development of Cataclysm cost more than the development of the original game, and it figures completely. Graphical models of characters and their environment have been updated multiple times to match the ever increasing computational power our computers are capable of now vs 6 years ago. And the prettier things get, the more expensive it is to add to that framework with something that fits; more polygons, more textures, and ultimately more money spent developing.
I've played WoW since Vanilla, and saw this and had to comment. I don't have any hatred towards WoW, it just is stale to me at the moment. Who knows, I might go back one day. Not eliminating the chance of that happening.
Now onto Cata! Cata did redo a ton of things. However, a lot was also half-assed. Anyone who is not familiar with the woes of Cata can do a google search on "Horde Worgen Lore Alliance" and I'm sure numerous threads will pop up about Horde Favoritism. If not, just google those two words. I played both Horde and Alliance, so I'm not biased. Don't care about one more than the other. Alliance players completely got screwed lore-wise in Cata. Horde got more Worgen lore than the actual Worgen players did.
As an Alliance player, you have no clue what happens once you finish the starter area, you're just thrust into the Night Elf area and treated as if you're one of them. Meanwhile, Horde can go to the Forsaken area of Silverpine and get the entire follow-up story that you never get to see as an Alliance player.
One could argue that this is "barance" as the devs want you to play both factions to see the story. That is, until you take into account the fact that you can play 100% as Horde and get the full Goblin storyline without having to roll alliance.
Next you have the issue of Alliance quests being nothing but broken messes or getting steamrolled by Horde. I had no problem losing 90% of storyline-driven battles as Alliance. I had a complete problem with the quests not even giving a conclusion in places like Swamp of Sorrows for Alliance. As Horde, it's clear that you win the battle. As Alliance, you finish a quest for the battle of Stonard, you aren't told you lose, you think you might go to Stonard for a follow-up quest, and then you're steamrolled by Horde NPCs since the phase is back to normal and Stonard is back to being Horde-controlled. The Alliance quests don't ever even mention this. I'd know, because I did that questline 3 times on both Horde and Alliance characters and wondered if the Alliance side was ever going to get some sort of quest that notified them that they lost the battle.
That's a bit off-topic for this being an XI board, but I really can't stay silent on this subject, since it's a large reason why I left WoW. Aside from the HUGE problem at WoW's convention last year surrounding the gay-slur directed towards Alliance players that Blizzard found no problem with until AFTER the outrage from people, as well as the huge elephant in the room surrounding the mysterious -2million (somewhere around that figure) drop in subs since Cata launched, I don't really think people can claim WoW did it better. They took all of the old zones and made them just as on-the-rails as FF13 was compared to previous games (expansions in WoW's case) and it forces you to redo the exact same storylines you already did. Once you level 2 characters and go through separate zones on them, you've done all the significant quests Cata has to offer. You don't get to switch around and have the option to just visit a different hub, because you typically only have 2-4 open at any given level from 1-60 and 80-85, and two characters is enough to do all of it for the same faction. Four characters is enough to cover all of the major battles of Cata and most of the insignificant side-quests for both factions.
I read all of this for some reason...
Latifah said: »
Sylph.Shipp said: »
Siren.Xenophire said: »
Phoenix.Kirana said: »
I'd rather not have the game flooded with 10 year olds.
Sure, there are rude people in every game, but from what I've played, XI has the least.
EDIT: Not related to Xeno's post, but I'm looking forward to Cait Sith. Sure, it's a bit late to the party, but better late than never. Vanafest could still reveal more, possibly even an expansion. I can understand the let-down for people who have played for years without taking breaks, as I was once in that position too, however I'd hold off until the conventions are done. SE is more likely to announce an expansion during Vanafest than in a roadmap.
I was one of the top 5 posters on KI before they redid their servers a few years ago and my account was one of the ones that got lost in the process. I agree that KI has always been a mixed bag. Sometimes there was good info, sometimes it was nothing but rude responses. I've been author to the first and guilty of the second. Though I tended to keep the second mainly to server drama on Unicorn or Flame Wars. This site reminds me a lot of 2005-06 KI, but really, if you think this is some festering cauldron of rudeness, you should take a look at the official forums of ANY other MMO, especially WoW. Racial, sexual-orientation, and any other slurs you can think of are common-place. XI has had touches of it here and there, but it's never devolved into the cesspit of modern MMO boards.
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Sylph.Shipp said: »
Latifah said: »
Sylph.Shipp said: »
Siren.Xenophire said: »
Phoenix.Kirana said: »
I'd rather not have the game flooded with 10 year olds.
Sure, there are rude people in every game, but from what I've played, XI has the least.
EDIT: Not related to Xeno's post, but I'm looking forward to Cait Sith. Sure, it's a bit late to the party, but better late than never. Vanafest could still reveal more, possibly even an expansion. I can understand the let-down for people who have played for years without taking breaks, as I was once in that position too, however I'd hold off until the conventions are done. SE is more likely to announce an expansion during Vanafest than in a roadmap.
I was one of the top 5 posters on KI before they redid their servers a few years ago and my account was one of the ones that got lost in the process. I agree that KI has always been a mixed bag. Sometimes there was good info, sometimes it was nothing but rude responses. I've been author to the first and guilty of the second. Though I tended to keep the second mainly to server drama on Unicorn or Flame Wars. This site reminds me a lot of 2005-06 KI, but really, if you think this is some festering cauldron of rudeness, you should take a look at the official forums of ANY other MMO, especially WoW. Racial, sexual-orientation, and any other slurs you can think of are common-place. XI has had touches of it here and there, but it's never devolved into the cesspit of modern MMO boards.
My glimpse of WoW was admittedly superficial as I stated, free trial and all, it was just my impression of the change that staggered me far more than more fortifications in Batallia did.
I may as well concede Cataclysm being a horrible expansion, but the point remains that it cost them a ton of money to develop.
I may as well concede Cataclysm being a horrible expansion, but the point remains that it cost them a ton of money to develop.
Silkroad online have some really harsh stuff going on against the Turks but that's another story
Like Reno and Rude? I am confused..
Even if SE had a ton of money to throw in to an expansion, can we trust them to not botch it?
I personally am more interested in the millions of little fixes they could do that would make the game more playable and fun.
Just one example of many... Fix the damned confirmation checks on all content and make it uniform, that alone would save me quite a bit of frustration playing this game.
I personally am more interested in the millions of little fixes they could do that would make the game more playable and fun.
Just one example of many... Fix the damned confirmation checks on all content and make it uniform, that alone would save me quite a bit of frustration playing this game.
Well their previous expansions, aside from the crappy 3 minis before abyssea seemed to be done nicely. I do not consider minor tweeks and fixes to be considered new ground breaking content that brings in players, just something they should have done right in the beginning. Don't get me wrong fixes etc. are nice, but hinging their premiere new content on a lot of it being "fixes" is pretty underwhelming.
Brolli said: »
It stills continue. but ffxi is far from being the less rude mmo in my opinion
Quote:
My glimpse of WoW was admittedly superficial as I stated, free trial and all, it was just my impression of the change that staggered me far more than more fortifications in Batallia did.
I may as well concede Cataclysm being a horrible expansion, but the point remains that it cost them a ton of money to develop.
I may as well concede Cataclysm being a horrible expansion, but the point remains that it cost them a ton of money to develop.
Problem i see with the game at the moment is that, yes you can make a mythic in a third of the time it used to take or less. You can do the same with a relic in a few months and that's not hitting it super hard. Same can be said for properly skilling up and gearing the job. It can all be done in such a small time frame and that's great. For players like myself that have one or more jobs that they consider their "mains" there's nothing to really use them for worthwhile cause we have done it all already. I could make relics till I'm blue in the face, but ever since Abyssea came out, it's been a "only this jobs" kind of phase. Voidwatch sealed this ideal and most people don't realize that most of the mobs can be done a different way but since it's what they are used to it's easier to stick with it so some of the jobs take a back seat or don't even get to go period.
In a way I think that SE did Voidwatch the way they did to kind of force some people to level and gear jobs they never played through the ease of Abyssea. After that though, you're still kinda left with a now what feeling and might kinda fall out of the game or repeat the process all over again.
As far as this road map goes, it's another bone to the players and as I see it, the past few major updates have been really lackluster so another one doesn't get my hopes up at all. Why would I want to play as a monster? I worked my butt off to gear my jobs to play (what little I actually do now). I also don't think that the salvage gear augments that some people are going all goo goo for is going to be anything to get your panties in a bunch over. Only a handful of all the abjuration and sky gear augments are actually good. Most of them being gear swap or very situational. A new expansion is what I would like, but with the pervious ideas, I don't expect much. BUT, like I said this is all my opinion, so be excited, disappointed, don't care a single bit, it's whatever. :)
In a way I think that SE did Voidwatch the way they did to kind of force some people to level and gear jobs they never played through the ease of Abyssea. After that though, you're still kinda left with a now what feeling and might kinda fall out of the game or repeat the process all over again.
As far as this road map goes, it's another bone to the players and as I see it, the past few major updates have been really lackluster so another one doesn't get my hopes up at all. Why would I want to play as a monster? I worked my butt off to gear my jobs to play (what little I actually do now). I also don't think that the salvage gear augments that some people are going all goo goo for is going to be anything to get your panties in a bunch over. Only a handful of all the abjuration and sky gear augments are actually good. Most of them being gear swap or very situational. A new expansion is what I would like, but with the pervious ideas, I don't expect much. BUT, like I said this is all my opinion, so be excited, disappointed, don't care a single bit, it's whatever. :)
personally I'd like to see them add the option to skip the long explanations/cutscenes on the avatar quests, 60k a day isn't much but it's nice pocket change here and there.
I'm not sure how anyone could like at this and get excited. I guess having limbus, salvage, einherjar redone is nice, but they talked about that MONTHS ago and still have to wait 6+ months for it to happen? That road map looks more like something that should be done in 1-2 months, not 6.
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I agree Kimble.
Very lackluster. Seems very chaotic too in a sense. I look at the road map and just think they are confused them selves.
Very lackluster. Seems very chaotic too in a sense. I look at the road map and just think they are confused them selves.
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