FFXIVstuff, aka monster hunter XIV Options

[Alisha]

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/04/final-fa...new-job-system/

The latest edition of Famitsu Wave recently hit newsstands in Japan, bringing with it a DVD which contains an 8-minute exposé on Square Enix's second stab at the MMO genre, Final Fantasy XIV. The whole video is posted after the break. Fret not -- it sports convenient English subtitles.

Here's some of the more titillating excerpts: The game features a reinvented character progression system which does not include experience points or leveling up. The job system from XI will make an appearance, but in a heavily altered form -- an interview with the game's director, Nobuaki Komoto, revealed that the game will place a focus on the weapons players use, explaining that your armaments will determine "the way you play" and "the way you grow." Sounds reminiscent of Final Fantasy IX. (That's a very good thing.)

In addition, FFXIV producer Hiromichi Tanaka explained that the game takes place in a new region with a more "modern" feel to it -- the mysterious Eorzea which was mentioned in the trailer. The new world features familiar races (albeit with new names), and plays host to a "deep story," which is told through cut-scenes and quests. For more FFXIV info than you can possibly handle, check the video after the jump.


sounds similar to monster hunter no?

Race Scans

Someone translated the text on BG Forums regarding the characters:

"When you make your character, aside from choosing the race, you will also be able to customize their appearance. Head, skin color, hair type etc, there will be multiple factors. Just how exact we will be able to customize their appearance is still unknown, but we mean it in a good way when we say that it seems like it will become a worry to many players."

[Scan_Man]

All really good points.

When it comes MMOs I try to stick up for different people's playstyles. People's reasons for playing these games are never the same. So, when a choice by the developer restricts a particular player's playstyle I hardly ever find it a good thing. Some people like trying all the classes, others don't. Some don't like crafting, others do. Some people, all they want to do is make money by selling stuff; never touching any other part of the game. I see MMOs as giving you options. There should never be something in place to kind of force you one direction or another. It is about freedom within a virtual open world.The people bitching about Surplus, I think deep down feel like this system does not offer the freedom they expect from this type of game.

It is easy to say "go play something else." But if I was Square, I would not want to turn people away from the game. From the interviews they seem to think they know how players will play, and everything will go to their planned design. And they are wrong. Players are creative, inventive, and unpredictable.

They thought their Surplus cap was high enough for their "8 hours" of play. However, experienced players found a way to level more efficiently. Thus, hitting the cap a lot sooner. They admitted this on the front page of the beta forums yesterday. How a MMO is played will always be dictated by the players in end; it is the nature of a virtual world.

How they are played is mostly dictated by the hardcore players. Squares want to shift this balance, much the same way Blizzard has tried in WoW, and I commend them for it. However, the hardcores are the ones that write the efficient leveling guides, they are the ones that figure out which skills are the best for situation A or B, and they are the ones likely to stick with the game to the end. They know the game in and out. People with less time follow what the hardcores say to do because it is the best way, most optimal, or most efficient way of playing the game. Which is very attractive to someone who does not have much time to play comparatively. Besides, no ones wants to be called a "fucking noob." That is the social part of it.



Whether it affects the average player or not, it has hurt this game already. But, people will find a new thing to bitch about if Surplus is not an issue. Before the Surplus, people were bitching about the Market Wards, and there being no Auction House any time soon. It is simple things like this that are usually taken for granted in other MMOs that Square has intentionally left out, or not considered. In my opinion though, it is the system requirements that is going to hurt this game the most once open beta starts.

More on the issue here is Square is telling people how much time they should spend on the game that they are paying monthly for. The majority of people are not going to see it as "well the typical player will never run into Surplus, so there is no problem." They see the possibility of a restriction because a player's play time can vary day to day; like weekends. Generally, people want play at the pace they think they are getting their money's worth. Then you factor in the game being 12 bucks a month for one character. I'm sure for a lot folks out there, this is a lot to ask.


A lot of people are not factoring in that once the game goes live there will still be the 48 guildleve cooldown. When I say the Surplus system will hinder people, I am referring to it in combination with the 48 hour cooldown on quests.

Once you do your 8 guildleves, or whatever the max you can take at live is, you are done. Guildleves is the most efficient way to gain exp. So, after those are done, it depends on the player. Square wants you to group up with others that are running group guildleves, so you can repeat those ones you just did (besides soloing guildleves is more optimal, so how often will you find a group doing them?). Like I said in the other post, doing this for two days will have you reach your caps sooner. However, if you just log off for two days, then you might get some of your time to refresh. It might be better to just use your time on the solo guildleves every two days. You have the option to do other things. Though depending on what else you find appealing in the game, you may be penalized by this system. Basically, if you do not like the other options in the moment compared to your main interest (ie. want to play your main job, and you don't want to craft). I won't be surprised if people complain about there being "nothing to do but log out" because of reaching caps and cooldowns. I worry about player retention with such a system.


Anyway. . . Open beta is next week. I hope the other areas are better. After about 100 hours on this game, I am sick of Limsa Lominsa.

This post has been edited by Scan_Man: Aug 27 2010, 03:50 PM