Now Square-Enix wants customers to be happy. how will FFXI make us happy now?

[jenova_9]

Kotaku - What's Square Enix's Plan For Future Growth? Making You Happy - Square Enix

This is interesting, I wonder if this will affect FFXI's management and other details. Who knows, maybe things will improve?

wanna list the things you think would make you happy in FFXI?

[Murphie]

Re: Now Square-Enix wants customers to be happy. how will FFXI make us happy now?

Honestly, I'm pretty happy with FFXI

[godsaiyan]

Re: Now Square-Enix wants customers to be happy. how will FFXI make us happy now?

kill off RMTs though that's near impossible, but perhaps make gil a bit easier to gain eg. more mob types to drop or beastmen to drop larger quantities.

I guess they could give more storage space, though that was done not long ago

[Mhurron]

Re: Now Square-Enix wants customers to be happy. how will FFXI make us happy now?

Honestly, I'm pretty happy with FFXI

The majority of problems in FFXI come from it's players.

They will most likely just have to kill Malacite though, and I think the world will be a better place for it.

[Murphie]

Re: Now Square-Enix wants customers to be happy. how will FFXI make us happy now?

kill off RMTs though that's near impossible, but perhaps make gil a bit easier to gain eg. more mob types to drop or beastmen to drop larger quantities.

I guess they could give more storage space, though that was done not long ago

The thing is, there's nothing wrong with the gil system as it is. If mobs dropped more gil more often, that would just put more money into the system, meaning that the value of an individual gil would go down, which would mean that prices would go up, and honestly, value would be about the same.

Years ago, when inflation was high, people had tons of gil sitting around. But that gil went a lot less far than it does today. More gil isn't the solution.

---------- Post added at 07:48 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:47 AM ----------

The majority of problems in FFXI come from it's players.

Exactly. Though the game would be considerably less playable (if more stress-free) without them, they are a necessary evil.

[Marquisxion]

Re: Now Square-Enix wants customers to be happy. how will FFXI make us happy now?

In my opinion a lot, and really A LOT has changed in the game since its inception, and I feel that the majority of that has been for the better.

Some may argue that perhaps the introduction of a Field Manual by a crag or a zone exit is a bad thing or that EXP rings and the like are making the game too easy but I maintain that things like that are making the game more playable and accesible to those of us who can't spend the sheer amount of time getting from place to place during the myriad Rank Missions and quests that demand it.

As for exp I think the introduction of bonuses is a great idea, pretty much for the above reason - time. I don't want an IWIN button but at the same time it's nice to have improved accessiblity and shortened journey times in order to get to the gravy.

That's going off on a bit of a tangent but it's for these reasons, among many others - new areas, new jobs, new missions and quests (for all people pick holes in them), MMM - that this game makes me happy and keeps me hooked.

[ItazuraNhomango]

Re: Now Square-Enix wants customers to be happy. how will FFXI make us happy now?

First, I want SE to not listen to players' advices regarding the economy; the number of people who think easy gil for all is a great idea is frightening.

Next, I do not want the next MMO from SE to steal from FFXI's player base--so don't make any item or character transferable. If must promote it to FFXI players, make it so playing Rapture gives something nice (but not game breaking) in FFXI, and playing FFXI gives something nice (but not game breaking) in Rapture--give Rapture players incentive to continue with FFXI.

I'd ask SE to clamp down on the stupid RMT /tell's as my last request, but not even one advertisement spam hit me last night. Maybe the company is already implementing something effective.

Instead, I will ask for Mercenary NPCs--NPC tanks I can hire to fill out parties, in particular.

WAR/MNK, provokes every 30 seconds, Boost every 15, until the battle target is defeated. Give them equivalent of more or less level appropriate AH NQ gear; as long as it makes some sense, it's fine. Even a Sword and Shield WAR is OK, too. No need for an amazing AI; toss up Defender when in orange HP, and stop using Provoke when in red. Defense food effect would be nice, too. Make it cost 1k gil/hour at Lv.10, payable in advance, and scale up to whatever SE thinks is appropriate (10k gil/hour at Lv.30? *shrug*)

It's a bit like the Adventuring Fellow, except it won't just leave you mid fight as long as you've paid enough retainer fee in advance. And, no questing involved--just pay gil. (Of course, it shouldn't out perform AF--the quested NPC should remain superior in many ways. Or, maybe I should say the Fellow should be significantly improved...) There are already mercenary armies in the storyline, so why not have its remnants do a bit of small-time soldier for hire work, and rent themselves out to us adventurers desperate for tanks?

Edit:
NPC tanks would be cool in another way; it'll set the bar for minimum performance for human players on tank jobs.

"Dude, even the NPC can tank better. I rather pay 5k gil/hour than keep you in party. " *BOOT*

[Ketaru]

Re: Now Square-Enix wants customers to be happy. how will FFXI make us happy now?

I am much more satisfied with the game than it was back when I first played it. So much more content...And I agree with Marquisxion. Some people use the new content in a way that detriments their ability to learn the game, but I don't think that's really a reason to hurt the rest who are seeking new, novel ways to enjoy it.

I say this a lot about Fields of Valor and Campaign. EXP parties will almost always net more EXP than these (considerable amounts more). Yet people choose to do things anyway...and many of them don't seek while they do them. I think this is enough to tell us that, despite the constant assault on the playerbase as being efficiency whores, the players are not only concerned with end results. I actually consider that one the best contributions of Fov and Campaign. More now than ever, I feel like I'm in control of how I spend my time in-game (I mean, we were technically in control years ago, but the only choices were "EXP or Chat in Town")

I especially liked their recent move with Fields of Valor. It certainly has generated some much needed interest in the old zones of the game. Now to apply it to CoP zones like Lufaise Meadows, Attowah Chasm, or Sea...

[Raydeus]

Re: Now Square-Enix wants customers to be happy. how will FFXI make us happy now?

A few of mine.

- Make Explorer Moogles permanent, they can charge a higher fee (maybe 3-5k) for teleports with a minimum Rank 6 requirement and 300g -available to all- with the Kupower.

Seriously, this should've been added 5 f'ing years ago.

- Teleport NPC in Jeuno that could teleport to the main cities, can make Rank 10 in the city a requirement. Alternatively give players the option to skip the airship travel from and to Jeuno.

- Enhance movement bonus from Sprinter's.

- Enhance Chocobo movement speed.

- Place permanent NPCs in each city/town that would give Teleport/Recall/Warp/Retrace services for a fee.

(Carrying around many Teleport-X items taking inventory space is not what I call a solution unless you are outside town.)

- Remove lottery spawn NMs and make them triggerable instead. Or increase their drop rate after a certain period of time has passed since their introduction to the game (Ra/Ex item NMs only)

- Introduce Solo player assaults/battlefields/quests/missions that would give players the chance of getting items that would be otherwise un-attainable without an endgame LS or a lot of gil.

Make it point system based and rewards Ra/Ex only.

The items I'm thinking about are things like Abjurations, HNM drops, AFv2 and others attainable for a hefty point price that would require time and dedication to get but that were actually attainable eventually.

In other words Campaign system +1.

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As you can see, a big chunk of my "unhappiness" in-game has to do with the pointless time sinks related to travel in XI. It just shouldn't be so inconvenient after you reach a certain point in the game.

Also, my lack of time to play makes it difficult to even consider end-game activities outside of things like Limbus, maybe Assault/Nyzul. But Campaign is by far the most rewarding activity for me.

[Mhurron]

Re: Now Square-Enix wants customers to be happy. how will FFXI make us happy now?

pointless time sinks related to travel

Or as some of us realize, the effects that actually make Vana'diel seem like a large, real world.

[Takelli]

Re: Now Square-Enix wants customers to be happy. how will FFXI make us happy now?

I agree with Kataru's I dea of adding FoV to other areas, but at the same time I don't. With adding them to the other areas, it will make less people seen around the other areas, and will lessen the chance of peopel helping each other when they need it. And even less of a chance of a person running by you when you are dead. (There are times where there is no one in my ls that is online that can raise or, that can raise, but do not have access to the area I am in while dead.)

I agree with it, as it will make less soloers go into areas that are not used by parties. Soloers kill the mobs that parties kill, making it harder to get exp. (I have experianced this first hand. I try to avoid it when soloing as well, but I can't find a better zone to solo in that has the FoV book.)

IfritnoItazura's idea with the mercenary. Paying as you use it I think is a good idea. It will create a gil sink, possibly making the price go down of certain things. But, it will get rid of the part that SE has worked so hard to keep. Team-Work in the game. Most, if not all, MMORPGs have very little team work needed with other players. Hell, I played Guild Wars for a good three years, and the entire time I played it. I NEVER needed to team up with anyone to do anything in that game because of Heros/NPC Henchmen. I just grab a few Hero's, and henchmen and I'd go and kill a few things, do a missions, and be finished.

But, that is just my opinion about what they have said. I like them, then at the same time I don't. It takes away the chance to team up with other people, while adding more soloability.

But what would make FFXI more enjoyable (for me, not sure about others), is following IfritnoItazura's idea. Instead of making them fore higher, make NPCS that act like human players. They go out and kill stuff, they can raise you, they can die, and you can raise them. They can go out and even join your party. They can level up, and gain exp. These types of NPCs will actually make the less used areas for exp and the such, used more.

My other idea(s) are to add a Dual system. You are in town and you want to test how well your character is against another player. You click on them, hit examine, and you can select "Challenge to Dual." FFXI is about other adventueres. In RL they would fight each other as well, for pracitce, or to gain control over a certain area.

Another one is... Town invasions by beastmen, that is NOT Besisged, and NPC's can get captured, but the useless ones. Like a npc thats by the AH, that explains it. You go save them, and they reward you with exp, and a good item. The Beastmen are of a low level so that newer players can take part, but there are higher lvl beastment so that the verteran players don't one-shot kill them. It can happen like two-three times a week. When it does happen, you can leave the town, and face them head on, or wait until they enter the town. Rewards will be money, EXP, and CP. If you do not wish to parttake, and option will show up in your chat log. "Enter Y/N in echo to partake in the invasion." After 30 seconds, the people who did answer, and did put in yes, will be transfered to a different zone (Thats the same as the town), and then the best men invade. The ones that don't answer, are left in the same place as they where before, to prevent afkers from taking party accidently.

Or... The town gets their knights together, and adventueres, and invade the beastmen's strong hold. This will show that there is still a war going on between the Beastment, and the people of Vanadiel, and give the lower lvls a chance to take part in some fun warfare in the game.




"Remove lottery spawn NMs and make them triggerable instead. Or increase their drop rate after a certain period of time has passed since their introduction to the game (Ra/Ex item NMs only)"

Yes! Me and my ls have been talking about soemthing like this for a long time now. Like the 24 hour pop nm that drops the Brown belt items. WTF SE! Why 24 hours!?!? Why cant it be a trigger pop, or a 1 hour spawn with 100% drop chance? -.-;

Just like VE, and The mod that Drops Fuma, and o-kotes. I'd never pay 500k+ for the items, but they are great items to have.

[Raydeus]

Re: Now Square-Enix wants customers to be happy. how will FFXI make us happy now?

Or as some of us realize, the effects that actually make Vana'diel seem like a large, real world.

Not even 2k-tan would believe you.

And also, that is why I want rank and other requirements in place. The large real world effect is pretty good for new players (for many reasons), but after you've been around long enough it becomes a hinderance instead.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Now Square-Enix wants customers to be happy. how will FFXI make us happy now?

- Make Explorer Moogles permanent, they can charge a higher fee (maybe 3-5k) for teleports with a minimum Rank 6 requirement and 300g -available to all- with the Kupower.

I really don't think getting around is that hard, even back then. With OP warps updated and the ability to go from Nation to Whitegate to Jeuno and back, there really isn't a place that's hard to get to quickly. Its just hard to conquest starter zones.

There's making travel reasonable and then enabling people who don't take advantage of the great options that are already there. I think its way too easy to get around now for what little effort has to be put in.

I mean, we had to toil away for Tavnazian Ring and the OP warp to Tavnazia and yet navigating ToA and WotG is so braindead easy. Heck, they added CN, EN and GC warps to WotG zones last update and people still don't go there. I guess the Campaign Allied NPC is "too far" now.

Not to mention I can abuse Campaign warps to fill in the one or two OPs I don't have.

Instead, I will ask for Mercenary NPCs--NPC tanks I can hire to fill out parties, in particular.

Because since you don't trust people to such an anal degree you'll put faith in AI programmed by *gasp* people?

In all seriousness, I'm amazed you log in. If people are a problem for you, there's a plethora of RPGs out there that don't require other people at all. Go play those, MMOs are about playing cooperatively to accomplish goals. Its never going to be perfect so long as other people are involved, but some of us appreciate being surprised by the skills of other players from time to time.

You know, rather than just assume everyone but you sucks at the game.

[Ketaru]

Re: Now Square-Enix wants customers to be happy. how will FFXI make us happy now?

While I agree teamwork is a wonderful ideal to strive for, here is why I talk about Campaign and Fields of Valor as response to EXP parties:

The rewards for them are slow and not really all that good. The EXP for them is worse than what you get from a terrible merit party. Yet people choose to do them over EXP parties anyway. Maybe I'm reading too deeply into this. But that people would choose less EXP over more EXP reflects very badly on the state of EXP parties today, as if no amount of EXP/hour can entice people to join them.

Here are some things about the game:

- People hate pickup groups. They will do whatever they can to avoid them. And more than anything for our event shouts, a pickup healer is not to be trusted. Pickup parties are always referred to in this game with a touch of contempt.
- Communication, "chit chat" if you will, is now frowned upon in EXP parties. Where parties used to be the way we used to meet people in the game, it is now viewed as a detriment to EXP/hour.
- As a result, all the jobs are beginning to try to find loopholes around the need to party. Soloing to 75 has almost become a sport to some people. And for those who did not used to have a way to do it, now they have /DNC.
- The bandwagon approach to leveling jobs. This is one of the reasons I feel that people do not like partying. Many are playing jobs they do not even enjoy. Instead, people are leveling jobs with the ulterior motive of bettering their other jobs. This isn't right or wrong, but if you play a job you don't enjoy, obvioulsy you're not going to like partying.

Once again, complaints about this game inevitably lead back to the players. All these new soloable content has done is shown the face of parties as they exist today, something that is not viewed as an admirable quality of the game, but as a necessary evil. An evil that becomes less necessary with each new update...

[godsaiyan]

Re: Now Square-Enix wants customers to be happy. how will FFXI make us happy now?

Ok one thing that i would like on top of what i said earlier is perhaps when you are KO'd, not to lose exp or at least not as much, as more often than not, most people have gained a level, and been KO'd almost straight after, resulting in a level down