First impressions, good but dying game?

[Mostin]

Finally got the game to work, and it seems like a good game. It's very different in the way you play compared to other mmorpg's like wow, which is exactly what I was looking for.
They seem to have gone a bit back to their roots im some ways with the ff series, like with weapon/magic skill training styles etc.

My only concerns are things like the amount of errors found with this game that have not been fixed even though this game is quite some years old now. This is a bad sign and normally signs of a dying game.
No official forums, or support forums.
The fact that I spoke with a GM in chat with playonline regarding my error trying to launch ffxi from the viewer, and they didn't even try to help and just said I need to e-mail, or call during the support hours. (whats the point of support GM's then?)
The game seems like fun, lots to do and everything but if they are not willing to listen to the fans and update the game accordingly it has very limited potential.

I would hate to put lots of gameplay hours into this only to find out they are going to stop the servers and make a new ff online game, or just none at all and stick with the offline ff's (like xii).

Anybody who has been playing awhile to give me their opinion on these such matters?

[Nazo]

Re: First impressions, good but dying game?

I think if they implemented even 10% of what the fans say they want then the game would be ruined beyond repair very quickly.

[Alshandra]

Re: First impressions, good but dying game?

GM's are formally Game Master's and are there for game support to do with your character, items, harassment in the game, cheating players, etc. The Helpdesk menu states that GM's are not for technical issues and support, but the Playonline Customer support team is the one that will assist you with that. That is probably why the GM told you to email or call them, its not the GM's field of expertise.

I don't believe the game is dying at all, there are still so many people that continue to play, and join the game (like yourself).

While people are still paying for their accounts, and it is profitable for SE, I can't really see them shutting the servers down any time soon.

That's just my opinion though.

[LyonheartLakshmi]

Re: First impressions, good but dying game?

My only concerns are things like the amount of errors found with this game that have not been fixed even though this game is quite some years old now. This is a bad sign and normally signs of a dying game.
No official forums, or support forums.

The fact that I spoke with a GM in chat with playonline regarding my error trying to launch ffxi from the viewer, and they didn't even try to help and just said I need to e-mail, or call during the support hours. (whats the point of support GM's then?)

The error you encountered kept you from entering the game, correct? GMs have the power to correct problems once you are in-game. Since you were stuck outside of the game, the GM didn't have the power to help you anyway.

FFXI is not fraught with unfixed bugs, as your experience might lead you to believe. The game receives regular updates to add content as well as fixing bugs and adjusting game balance. It's not unusual for a big update to be quickly followed up by several small updates as SE attempts to patch bugs.

[DakAttack]

Re: First impressions, good but dying game?

It's surprising how uninformed people coming from WoW can be.

World of Warcraft has a million more bugs than FFXI has ever had. That's really only a slight exageration. You should be used to it by now.

[Samuzuki]

Re: First impressions, good but dying game?

yeah its not a buggy game but there arent many new people joining, i do think its the begining of the end for the game soon.

[Ameroth]

Re: First impressions, good but dying game?

My only concerns are things like the amount of errors found with this game that have not been fixed even though this game is quite some years old now. This is a bad sign and normally signs of a dying game.

Would you mind elaborating on said errors? Where they were/are? How they were encountered? Etc.

[Kaickul]

Re: First impressions, good but dying game?

Dying? Maybe 2 years ago, but SE seems to want to hold onto the playerbase these days with the past year of unexpected surprises and while maybe not the best solutions, but a good start for some old problems. Also based on a recent interview where the question was posed about the end of FFXI the response was along the lines of 'as long as there are players we will continue to develop content.'


No FFXI doesnt have the highest playerbase, and new players dont come in droves, but FFXI is still in the top 3-4 for highest MMO populations.

[Mhurron]

Re: First impressions, good but dying game?

1983 - Death of the Net Predicted

[neokaril]

Re: First impressions, good but dying game?

1983 - Death of the Net Predicted

Scary, that guy was a prophet!

I guess any prediction becomes true if you wait long enough, but FFXI's demise will most probably come when S-E decides to trump it with another ver. There's just no other MMO that competes, that's not to say there aren't other MMO's that are fun, or have a bigger player base, just nothing else that fills this niche and they fill it wonderfully IMO

[LyonheartLakshmi]

Re: First impressions, good but dying game?

In order to qualify as a legitimate MMO, a game needs to have people saying that it's going to die soon.

When people stop predicting that the game is going to die soon... that's when you should start worrying.

[Heartily]

Re: First impressions, good but dying game?

In 1910- the US patent office said- "everything that's going to be invented, has already been invented." That's how easy it is to predict the future of anything.
Just play and have fun. The game has so much to do, you should be worring about
how to make another 500K gil for all the good stuff you want, or reading all the
sites to learn the job specialties, monster abilities, quest helpful hints, etc. I've been playing over two years and I still read up on the details of the game to be a better player and enjoy it even more. I do more research on FF than I do in my job- and I'm an engineer! Get in a good shell group and you will care less about new players- you will have your group to support you .

[Mostin]

Re: First impressions, good but dying game?

Great to hear all this input, it really helps thankyou.

Would you mind elaborating on said errors? Where they were/are? How they were encountered? Etc.

I am only commenting on what I have seen so far, which isn't much. (installation/updating errors, see my other recent posts in this forum for details if you wish.

But first impressions are everything as they say. I can't say anybody else I know irl would spend an entire weekend trying to get this game to work, but I don't like wasting money and because I am a fan of the ff series I kept going until it was working. And even though I have played just a few hours, I think its worth the wait.

My point was (besides the actual bugs) from what I see so far there are many things I am just surprised havn't been changed yet that seem logical to. But as you all say, I am sure they will in time if enough people complain to get their attention like most mmorpg's.

It's surprising how uninformed people coming from WoW can be.



World of Warcraft has a million more bugs than FFXI has ever had. That's really only a slight exageration. You should be used to it by now.

I can't say I havn't been effected by the conformity of the average wow player and their views/opinions on things, after all I have been playing since its original realease to this day.
What I am looking for though is to escape those kind of players gameplay, if possible.
And yes, wow has had millions of bugs and patches to fix them all, I hope this game does the same.

But as the main topic is titled, first impressions not final views.

I slowly stopped playing wow shortly after BC was released, they completely screwed up everything and I know loads of other people who stopped playing also at that time beacuse of the same issues. I can't help thinking to the long term of a game, after all I think most people like to have to have a goal to reach however fun the game is just getting there.

[Malevolent]

Re: First impressions, good but dying game?

My only concerns are things like the amount of errors found with this game that have not been fixed even though this game is quite some years old now. This is a bad sign and normally signs of a dying game.
No official forums, or support forums.
The fact that I spoke with a GM in chat with playonline regarding my error trying to launch ffxi from the viewer, and they didn't even try to help and just said I need to e-mail, or call during the support hours. (whats the point of support GM's then?)
The game seems like fun, lots to do and everything but if they are not willing to listen to the fans and update the game accordingly it has very limited potential.

What "errors" might you be speaking about? if you're going to be concerning yourself with the errors all the time its going to be a waste of $13. plug in play and make sure the right ports are open if need be and enjoy.

Now if you wanted to sit down and point out errors in both games i'd be happy too. I'm sure myself and many others here would be able to point out errors in WOW ten fold compared to FFXI. We'll save that for a different topic.

[Jei]

Re: First impressions, good but dying game?

installing/updating is an old old system designed for PS2. Very inconvenient.

But the game itself is probably the most complete and error-free online game you'll ever find.

Hold on tight. At least you only have to install once hopefully : /