Idea: Mini-expansions

[Karinya]

Re: Idea: Mini-expansions

Boy, oh boy. A BIG update is still an update. It's SE own choice to not to add new areas through updates and those are the only thing we haven't gotten from updates.

Um, there was a new area added in an update LAST FREAKING WEEK. All Dynamis areas, Limbus, Salvage, and I believe all the sea zones were also added in updates (although some of those may have been in the original expansion dats and just locked until an update allowed players to access them).

The only thing we have never gotten from an update (that I know of) is jobs, which makes perfect sense IMO - adding jobs has a huge impact on the game, and is something they want to fit in with the overall storyline of the expansion (look at how BLU, COR and PUP fit in to the TAU storyline - you couldn't do that if they were split into 3 mini-updates).


I'm not going to respond to the points on new jobs and job balance here, because it's OT and has been discussed in many other threads. New jobs are very likely to come sooner or later, and there's plenty of room for a discussion on what they should be like when they arrive, but I see no good reason for them to come one at a time rather than in real expansions. And if the new jobs are ones that the game needs more players in, then forcing players to pay $$ to unlock them would be a very bad idea, IMO.

IMO, the potential for an "optional" mini-expansion to have the next hot exp camp in it is enough reason on its own to reject this idea, even aside from concerns about mission storylines, the usefulness of the "optional" new job as a sub for existing jobs, and the fact that mini-expansions would inevitably take designer time away from real expansions.

[Hantz]

Re: Idea: Mini-expansions

Hantz is good at disagreeing or agreeing, so he will sort this all out tomorrow. He's awesome.

I agree and disagree on this subject.

I like the idea of a baby expansion pack as long as it includes things that are truly optional, which seems to be relative to the way you play. IMO, things like new jobs, new areas, missions, etc. are pretty vital pieces of the game. The only thing I can think of that seems to be truly optional, that wouldn't be detrimental to not have if you so choose, would be mini-games or (as much as the idea makes me quease) fanboy crossover stuff (like how KH has seemingly "alternate universe" versions of some characters; Gullwings as little fairies?).

Adding a small pub filled with Vana'diel-ized versions of *gag* Cloud and co. to do some arbitrary quests for would not be something I felt was essential at all, but some types would really enjoy it. Being in a mini-expansion would not make it feel like it had been forced on us as a major intrusion (maybe). A little area to be added by mini-expansions, dealing with characters/quests of the older FFs would be a way to cash in, and SE seems to like rehashing older FFs for dough. I mean, I hate this idea, but I can see that as being something in the realm of possibility, but not very probable.

Or if they had a little pack that would allow people to play Triple Triad in-game, for example, I wouldn't feel like I missed out for not getting it, but I could also see others wanting to snatch it up purely for their enjoyment.

Overall, I think the idea could be applied to something and turn out cool, but I think in general it's not likely to happen, much less get worked up about.

[Ziero]

Re: Idea: Mini-expansions

At first, this sounded like a promising idea. But after about two minutes of thinking about it, I realized how craptastic it really was.

Being able to play and level all the different Jobs in this game is one of FFXI's most unique and attractive features. I would *loathe* having to *buy* a new job, which is pretty much what these 'mini-expansions' would boil down to. Buying an expansion is a no brainer, it's almost guarenteed to be worth it for the year and a half of updates to said expansion that will be released *along* with the initial amount of content that comes with the expansion itself. When you purchase an expansion, you don't just buy what comes on the disc, you pay for all the future updates and additions that you will have access to through that original disc. Players paid to be able to do Limbus by buying CoP, we paid to go into salvage by buying ToAU. Mini expansions would just add additional charges on top of the initial costs of the larger expansions for things that should be, and as of now, included with the actual expansion.

And unless all the content on each of these mini-expansions was 100% solo-able, then it would just create more problems with finding groups to do stuff with. If one of these expansions releases a 'pup' like job that proves to be unpopular and very few people actually get it, then those few who do have it will have a tremendously difficult time finding help for that mini expansion.

And hell, how would a player know if they like the content of the mini-expansion or not without buying it first? There were lots of people who wanted a Pirate job, but after trying Cor some people hated it and stopped playing the job. If SE released Geomancer on one of these mini-expansions but people didn't like the way the job worked, then those people just wasted their money. How is that fair to people who want to try all the jobs this game has to offer if some jobs are only accessible through purchasing numerous small expansions?

As Hantz said, the only way something like this could work would be for it to include things that were completely and 100% optional to *everyone* who plays. Or basically, they'd have to be like seasonal events, a nice side distraction but have no real bearing on the game itself.

Yes, I understand the difference between your idea of 'mini-expansions' and SE's use of updates, but there is really no difference between them. Nothing SE can put in a mini-expansion hasn't been released via update one time or another, and updates are free for everyone. I fully feel that purchasable mini-expansions would not work with this game. Why would we want to start paying for things we already get for free?

Edit: Also, the Majority of the JP playerbase uses the PS2 to play. And no, not everyone playing can afford 200-300 dollars for a brand new system just so they can have increased storage in the game. Until the PS3 completely phases out the PS2's usage, PS2 support and our limited inventory space will continue as is.

[eticket109]

Re: Idea: Mini-expansions

As far as bring old FF characters into FFXI, SE pretty firmly stated it will never happen. Actually, I think it was their only concise answer in that last interview. lol

[Hantz]

Re: Idea: Mini-expansions

Thank God.

[Legal Fish]

Re: Idea: Mini-expansions

Um, there was a new area added in an update LAST FREAKING WEEK. All Dynamis areas, Limbus, Salvage, and I believe all the sea zones were also added in updates (although some of those may have been in the original expansion dats and just locked until an update allowed players to access them).

All of those areas, as in the physical make-up of those areas, came with the expansion. They were already there. What SE did/does is let you access them. This is why people can grab screenshots of places that haven't came out yet. I knew how Nyzul looked nearly a year ago.

And Summoner was added in an update.

[Feba]

Re: Idea: Mini-expansions

Just to be clear, SE does NOT release new areas through updates, except possibly behemoth's dominion.

ALL new areas are either part of an expansion (and thus, not free), or already in .dats but locked (not added in update)

SE Has NEVER added an area to game such that these mini-expansions would.

i'm gonna let this thread go, because the few that DO understand it don't like it, and I can respect that.

[Sevv]

Re: Idea: Mini-expansions

in reality idea sounded great but had some flaws all ideas have flaws at first.

[hongman]

Re: Idea: Mini-expansions

Id hate to have the job of the guys at SE who decide on new/updated content. Imagine the stick they get!!

[Kailea]

Re: Idea: Mini-expansions

mini expansions = micro transaction = me laughing and not paying for the BS

the whole idea of micro transactions, is stupid and just another way to take peoples money

[Murphie]

Re: Idea: Mini-expansions

mini expansions = micro transaction = me laughing and not paying for the BS

the whole idea of micro transactions, is stupid and just another way to take peoples money

More power to you, if you decided not to pay for it. Feba wasn't suggesting they make these things required.

[Macht]

Re: Idea: Mini-expansions

No way, I would be PISSED if they started this BS. When you start getting end game players you group with start having this expectancy that you are up-to-date with them. It is hell hearing someone complain that you aren't helping them with quests for a pack you don't have so why should they help you.

The damn idea just destroys unity, it's a greedy nickel-and-diming stratedgy. On top of that you ever see the MMORPGs that go so rediculous with jobs. Doesn't matter how good you are at balancing once you start having so many jobs and all of them start loosing their unique qualities many players lose intrest by the fact they ask "WTF is my purpose". Just read the Anarchy Online boards and you see how rampant that is. By end-game what job you are almost doesn't matter everyone is a freaken tank and everyone is a nuker.

Not to mention I absolutly hate how frequent EQ releases expansions and the content is about that of what FFXI does for a simple update (I've been like 3 expansions behind and I'm still 3 expansions behind, damn guild is hating me because I can't get to the areas they want to go). It's a horrible idea all around.

It would be a stupid move by SquareEnix to go in that direction since their customers already expect differently from them. That is first-hand experience with my company when it changed policies to "save us money" in the end cost us more then it was worth by the customers we lost, guess how long that policy stayed before we chucked it.

Customer already expected a certain level from us, going against what they expected was a horrible idea. As you already see on here with almost everyother post SquareEnix already has a customer expectation and this idea would go against it. Quite frankly the only reason I see the OP suggesting this is because he actually wants to throw money away just so the game can be littered with jobs.

[Murphie]

Re: Idea: Mini-expansions

Not to mention I absolutly hate how frequent EQ releases expansions and the content is about that of what FFXI does for a simple update (I've been like 3 expansions behind and I'm still 3 expansions behind, damn guild is hating me because I can't get to the areas they want to go). It's a horrible idea all around.

Not that I'm saying you can't have an opinion, but you are wrong in saying that an EQ expansion is the same amount of stuff as a FFXI update. That's simply not true.

It would be a stupid move by SquareEnix to go in that direction since their customers already expect differently from them.

I do agree with you here. Quite frankly at this point in the game, a change like this would be a major change to the status quo, and I don't think it would go well at all.

[Macht]

Re: Idea: Mini-expansions

Not that I'm saying you can't have an opinion, but you are wrong in saying that an EQ expansion is the same amount of stuff as a FFXI update. That's simply not true.

I was exadurating, but really I do hate EQs method with the expansions. They just seem to throw them out and hardly fix the ones already there, they only worry if it's something game breaking.

Not to mention I hate the fact that for my character to 'magically' get new abilities I must buy the expansion, it makes it were if you want your character to be strong you must buy them otherwise someone else with the same kind of character is just going to be stronger. Not because they had access to gear in an area you can't go, but because the expansion allows them to be.

It's that kind of stuff added with the expansion that makes it seem like it's more then FFXI's expansion but it's also content FFXI gives you with their updates weather you have the expansion or not.

[Karinya]

Re: Idea: Mini-expansions

On top of that you ever see the MMORPGs that go so rediculous with jobs. Doesn't matter how good you are at balancing once you start having so many jobs and all of them start loosing their unique qualities many players lose intrest by the fact they ask "WTF is my purpose". Just read the Anarchy Online boards and you see how rampant that is. By end-game what job you are almost doesn't matter everyone is a freaken tank and everyone is a nuker.

I just think it's funny that people playing Anarchy Online apparently expect someone to tell them what to do. Do they not know what "anarchy" means?

Nothing else to contribute to the thread topic though - seems like pretty much everyone agrees this would be a terrible idea. Nothing personal, feba, I'm sure you have some good ideas too; this just isn't one of them.