Another Q&A Session with SquareEnix by Bercus

[Omni]

Re: Bercus gets answers

just checking back into this thread and it's pretty comical thus far. keep it up!

im glad they are acknowledging the faults in the game and trying to keep their players happy.

i can also understand why it takes so long so that doesnt really bother me. i dont think people understand that development is not like your wysiwyg myspace editor. stuff takes a lot of time, even if it is 'simple'.

i hope they do something good with ulli. and with bst. and with sea. yea.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Bercus gets answers

I think I'm entitled to my opinion since I've had experience with interviews in the past, though in my case it was musicians. Sure, don't throw SE softball questions, you should have a question or two to take them by surprise, but don't toss out veiled cynicism as questions and then shape their replies to make your subject look oblivious or stupid. Use their own words.

But Bercus clearly tries to make SE look stupid - let them handle that themselves, they don't need your help on stupid. Present what they said in context and don't skew it to your own liking. The skew is all over the interview, it reeks of it.

If the questions come from members of your site, that's fine, but word them in a professional, objective manner. Check your bias and theirs at the door.

Remember, SE willingly came to you to write about them. They didn't come to you to puff yourself/BG up and you didn't come to them to kiss their asses (though they hope you will, politicians especially. I covered that beat once, never going back).

The art of interviewing is wasted on the Internet, especially in regards to gaming, which is the flimsiest journalistic pursuit on this side of entertainment. While entertainment features and interviews are a bit more loose than other departments, you're still supposed to remain objective - probably hard to believe that I'm capable of that, but when it comes to a journalistic endeavor, I totally am.

I've had Cd's I listened to that made me want to wretch, but the bands that made them were coming to town to play and that was my beat. There are people who enjoy these bands or might become interested in them, I have to consider that every time I interview and represent these bands properly. As a fan of many genres and as a writer - even if I don't like some of the bands - I need to research the band, their history and be able to pose fair questions to them.

I'm neither there promote or pan the band in an interview, just to write something informative and interesting about them for the readers and use the band's own words, not insert my own meaning into them - altering statements and changing their context is the cardnial sin of journalism, aside from mispelled names and libel, those are the other ones.

I am not doing an interview for self-gratification, attention or to look down on the subject at all. The subject takes the stage, when the interviewer takes the stage what you have is a mockery of journalism. There are plenty of talk show pundits to find guilty of that, not to mention the two-bit hacks that write at IGN, Gamespot or or 1-UP.com.

[sdillon]

Re: Bercus gets answers

re bbq's post that's too long to quote:
I think you may need to check some of your bias at the door. I've kept up with Bercus's interviews since 2005 and never once did I think they were 'veiled' with anything. He's just being himself, honest, straight to the point and factual. I think SE appreciates that. If you recall, Bercus was one of the first FEW representative of FFXI end gamers not from major syndicated websites to be invited for an interview. If they really don't like talking to him you think they'd keep inviting him to send in questions on behalf of end gamers? I highly doubt it.


And Bercus, I read your stuff first hand on BG and would have liked to post this there, but since I know it'd just dissapear in the sea of complaints, don't let those people get to you. The fact that SE REPLIED to you is a big deal, they could have just as easily brushed the questions off but chose to give some definitive answers (even if there was a lot of no in there, at least we can move on to new topics now) wherever they could.

So kudos.

[ItazuraNhomango]

Re: Bercus gets answers

altering statements and changing their context is the cardnial sin of journalism, aside from mispelled names and libel, those are the other ones. [...] The subject takes the stage, when the interviewer takes the stage what you have is a mockery of journalism.

I can applaud this standard. Still, your original criticism (short as it was) toward Bercus was harsh and sans context--not to mention directed at a person instead of the interview itself. It's inflammatory.

The skew is all over the interview, it reeks of it.

If you had explained exactly how you see the interview/report as skewed instead of skewering "the reporter", lot's of useless hot air might have been avoided.

Anyway, the cat's out of the bag. (haha) To salvage this, how would you suggest the Q&A e-mail interview with be conducted? Take a question as example, and explain to those of us not familiar with journalism about why it's bad, and how it may be better worded?

It'd be an interesting exercise, I think.

[Kirsteena]

Re: Bercus gets answers

Use their own words.

But Bercus clearly tries to make SE look stupid - let them handle that themselves, they don't need your help on stupid. Present what they said in context and don't skew it to your own liking.

Now, I may be being stupid here, but do what? How is this not what they said? How is this not a reasonable question?

What information can you give us concerning progress of implementing ideas presented in the Interview on August 23, 2006 at the Games Convention 2006 in Leipzig/Germany?
To refresh, the following ideas were presented:
- server immigration(for a small fee like in other MMOs),
- mini games/bcnm/quests involving characters/settings from other games under
Square franchise(ex. Kingdom Hearts, previous Final Fantasy I-X), -
- inventory/storage increase using alternate methods of memory allocation).

Hai guys, hows it going? Remember our last inteview, let's recap where we are!

I feel like you and I are reading different interviews here. Yes, Bercus put some of his own comments in, but they answered all the questions presented. And I didn't find his comments an issue.

The impression I am getting is that from all you have said, the problem is that you think people are placing too much emphasis on endgame, and not enough on "having fun" or whatever. Well, let us take a look on Bahamut, Bercus' own server.

Average /sea all brings up around the 3000-4000 mark. A /sea all 75 brings up probably 1/4-1/3 of the total numbers on the server. And that is those that happen to be on 75s at that time, let alone another job. What do those 75s do? A lot look to bettering themselves first of all. Dynamis groups - I just did a fast look on where we book on Bahamut - seems there are over 40 groups doing Dynamis on our server. Say, on average 30 people per shell. That is 1200 people doing Dynamis twice a week. Similar numbers doing Sky. Lesser numbers doing sea/Salvage. Don't you think those people would love a chance at the 3 kings? Seriously, we had over 100 people on a Day 1 Faf, first window. Good luck against the botting shells. Ok, this may be out of context, but just to give you a flavour of why those questions were asked.

They are looking at things slowly, and the stuff takes time to fix. Not only the endgame problems, but job balance, the simple things, getting rid of RMT... Bercus has worked hard to chase up this interview with patience. He is one of the ones that still loves this game, leads his shell well, and honestly, your bashing is uncalled for.

[Yeargdribble]

Re: Bercus gets answers

How can you continue to say Bercus is expressing any veiled cynicism. He's one of the least cynical people from the BG community and though I don't share his quasi-optimism, I do have to say he seems to take care of his business professionally and for the most part impartially.

What was the point of you making a jab about video game journalism? Was that a personal attack on Bercus? Most of the community greatly appreciates the efforts Bercus makes.

Also, to touch some more on what Kirsteena said about /sea and endgame... Like I've mentioned before, a very large portion of the game is endgame. Try this...

/sea all
/sea all 70-75
/sea all 10-69
/sea all 1-9

It can be assumed that most of the people 1-9 are mules. The biggest result you'll get is in the 70-75 bracket. Take the difference between /sea all and the sum of the remaining factors and you've got all of the /anon people, many of which you can assume by proportion are 75ish. You'll find that in doing this that the vast majority of people are in the 75 range. So endgame really is a big deal and is a very large portion of this game.

SE said it themselves in their interview and Bercus reiterated: We need to complain if we want to see changes. Sitting on our asses and assuming that SE will just get around to it one day isn't going to work. You need to not only make your requests heard, but you actually have to go nearly to the point of harassment to make them listen.

To BBQ:
Your anti-elitism, anti-endgame vitriol often comes of more hateful than the elitist endgamers you so villainously attempt to smear.

[Bercus]

Re: Bercus gets answers

I just googled what veiled means cause it has been mentioned so often in the last posts >.<.

I do not know what you mean by saying:

Present what they said in context and don't skew it to your own liking

The questions were the ones summarised by more then 100 people on BG and various other Forums. When I put them together they were to long and people helped me via PM to make them shorter and more clear.

The answers from SE are 1:1 how I got them. Nothing has been skewed in any way.
Not the questions and not the answers.

Also I try to not puff anyone or anything up with this Interview. The same how premium sites get the chance to Interview SE, I got this chance, on my own, to gather questions from both the NA (not just BG, omg yes iam on more then one Forums and read them) and EU community.

I do NOT profit in any way from this. I do not get send gil or anything you may imagine. Nothing, all it does to me is work. Work I do for people not like you BBQcat, I do it for the people who like to read about that, and the people i get the questions from, and cause I like to do it.

Also remember the Interview is not just about endgame, and the questions are 4 months old. But sadly still up to date.

Iam not journalist, and I do not need to be one to talk to them. You do not even know what they wrote me so how can you say I changed their context lol.

Anyway it is pretty uselss to argue with you imo. Go ahead and do what Ifrit said

Take a question as example, and explain to those of us not familiar with journalism about why it's bad, and how it may be better worded?

It'd be an interesting exercise, I think.

Obviously SE did understand the questions beside a few, you have to remember they have been translated into JP as well and the answers from JP into English, so I do think the help I got was enough to make them understand our problems and concerns.

You take this too serious lol. This is not a Interview I have to do like you do in your job.
I do it for something that is fun to my friends and myself... a game ; ).

I wish you luck with your further posts here(about : ), cause from the PMs I got you are not really much welcomed here

If you do not care about endgame, its maybe your time to start to shut up.

Also SE did not come to ME to write about them. I came to them 2005 private and just chatted and 2006 cause I wanted an Interview and then cause they LIKED the questions from August and the President did like me, 2 people offered me to send them questions and they will take care of it to be answered, cause they care about the "core" players.

Now let´s stop complaining, I am open for critic and will try to make it better the next time. Since most endgame questions have been asked for now, we have some time to focus on a few other things and respond to what they have answered.

If you can help in anyway BBQcat do it. And thank you for the positive comments from all the other people.

[Kirsteena]

Re: Bercus gets answers

Look at the stuff they are doing that isn't endgame. We cried out for windower, it seems to be a matter of time. We cried out for instanced events, casual stuff, assaults, and they keep working on those. We cried out for server transfers - again, a matter of time. We cried out for some job adjustments - paladin and dark have had a whole lot of recently, and I hope it continues (blm next please kk!). More storage - expanding mog lockers (talking of which - anyone know if we get an expansion this patch?) None of which can be call endgame as such.

Yes there is other stuff at endgame which needs to be looked at, but frankly, anything is a start.

[Mhurron]

Re: Bercus gets answers

Look at the stuff they are doing that isn't endgame. We cried out for windower, it seems to be a matter of time. We cried out for instanced events, casual stuff, assaults, and they keep working on those. We cried out for server transfers - again, a matter of time. We cried out for some job adjustments - paladin and dark have had a whole lot of recently, and I hope it continues (blm next please kk!). More storage - expanding mog lockers (talking of which - anyone know if we get an expansion this patch?) None of which can be call endgame as such.
Yes there is other stuff at endgame which needs to be looked at, but frankly, anything is a start.

The problem is, there is no 'we'.

People that are up to their eyeballs in endgame stuff want that fixed and believe that should be SE's top priority. When they don't do exactly what they want, they declare that SE doesn't care about anyone.

People that are more casual players want casual content added and game mechanics fixed as regards to casual play and believe that should be SE's top priority. When they don't do exactly what they want they declare that SE doesn't care about it's players.

Others want graphical improvements, drop support for the PS2, a windowed mode and the like. They also believe these should be SE's main focus. When they don't do exactly what they want, they declare SE doesn't care about anyone.

It goes on, and on and on like that. There is no 'we' players can't see past their own nose and believe FFXI and SE exist simply to please them right now.

[Kirsteena]

Re: Bercus gets answers

Very true. But then, that to an extent will happen in any MMO - there is always the casual player, the hardcore endgamer...

Some of us will do our best to move out of the "zone" we fall into, but it is hard, especially if you are trying to drag everyone else along. The best we can hope for is to put forward a selection to SE from all sections of the FF community.

The point I was trying to make is that some things have been done, it is a start. I would love to see endgame fixed (standing watching shells bot Faf time and time again gets old fast), but I do see the other things that need fixed as well, and that affect as many people.

[Bercus]

Re: Bercus gets answers

Then what do you think are problems for the other people Mhurron?
Iam interested in everything. Like Kirst posted again what I already did, not
everything was about endgame.

[Vyuru]

Re: Another Q&amp;A Session with SquareEnix

Wooo, I didn't know Bercus visited these forums, awesome.

It's also nice to see that SE has responded.

Just hitting on some points here since I'm a little late to the thread:

I have NO idea what Omgwtfbbgkitten is talking about, the questions seem fairly worded to me, any dodging of the question in the answer is due to SE's part and not the question.

And for all the people who are saying that SE has no plans to change the endgame, think about the pictures we got from that new Assault area, we know there is a dragon and a behemoth in there, I think given SE's answers and those pictures, there is a damn good chance that at least SOME of the old HNMs will appear there, or equivilant monsters with similar drops.

And geez, I had no idea about the Hauteclaire, that is an awesome looking sword.

People that are more casual players want casual content added and game mechanics fixed as regards to casual play and believe that should be SE's top priority. When they don't do exactly what they want they declare that SE doesn't care about it's players.

I probably fit in all of the above categories but I am really more of a casual gamer I suppose, I'd really like to see more side quest stuff, or just more of the little things you know?

It's like the change that happened to fishing, it went from boring as all heck to a really fun and exciting minigame. I would love to see the size of a moghouse increased and the ability to let other people into your moghouse, it's not a big thing, probably not that important, but it'd mean the world to me.

I don't know quite how to say this, I'm not into the roleplaying stuff, however having all of the options open for our characters is very important to me.

Bah, that didn't come out right, ok try by example.

For example, SE said that they didn't want to make chocobo breeding/raising too complicated because this wasn't a game about chocobos. Fair enough, I can understand that, but I'd point out that this game SHOULD be around for awhile, look at EverQuest. Do you really expect us to want to run around killing monsters all the time? And because this game should be out for awhile, wouldn't that make it very worthwhile to flesh out all aspects of the game?

To be very honest it is the little things IMO that make or break a game.

[LyonheartLakshmi]

Re: Another Q&amp;A Session with SquareEnix

Before you log into the game, SE implores you to keep your life balanced and not let the game get in the way of spending time with family, friends, and work.

SE's response regarding the 3 Kings and Relic Weapons sounds like SE is tacking on the following: "... but we know a lot of players will totally ignore that message. So here's some content which will enable you in a very effective manner."

[eticket109]

Re: Another Q&amp;A Session with SquareEnix

I think Mhurron's basic point was that the desires and wants of the playerbase are so diverse that SE will never completely please everyone with one update. Group A, C and F may be happy while Group B, D and E feel like they're getting ignored. With the next update it could be the other way around. SE has to do what they can to make the most people happy, but no matter what they do they'll never be able to make everyone happy.

[Nakti]

Re: Bercus gets answers

As a casual FFXI player myself, there are several issues which concern me. However, the biggest concerns for me are:

1) SE says they want to grant rewards based on effort.

The reality is that the rewards are most often based on luck.

Example #1:
Unless I can find a good deal, I simply don't buy NM drops. I prefer to get them on my own. I just spent 12+ hours over the last few weeks trying to get a Fungus Hat. This headgear is nothing to write home about, yet I'm 0/4 tries. And why is that? Because I'm not lucky. It's not because I didn't put enough effort into it.

Example #2:
I've been building my craft skills over the last 3 years. My lowest craft is skill 24, my highest is 61 (fishing is 65). I spent a lot of gil and time goldfish-scooping to get 2 non-stacking EX Goldfish Sets so I could eventually craft matching, signed, Goldfish Bowls for my husband's character and mine.

The synth should've been an easy one for me. And I even made sure the planets were aligned correctly before attempting.

You know what happened? One of the synths was a critical failure and I lost all materials including the available-two-weeks-only-per-real-life-year Goldfish Set. Not to mention the 500 guild points I spent on the signing crystal. How was my effort not worth a successful synth? What should I expect when I eventually try to sign my own Noble's Tunic? Will I need to buy 2 Shining Cloths? Perhaps 3?

(btw, I know the Goldfish Bowl is Rare so I sent one to a mule before I even started the second synth.)

Given the "effort" involved in end-game activities, I'm simply not interested. Because I know that my effort will be a waste of time.

2) SE wants players to work cooperatively in groups.

The reality is that I've spent hardly any time PTing together with friends, family, and nice people I meet.

If I want to PT with someone specific, I have to be lucky (!) enough to have an appropriate job at an appropriate level and have all the equipment for it.

SE makes changes to "encourage" players to play together and yet doesn't make it any easier for them to do so.


Well, that's my 2 gil.

Edit: There are a lot of things that I enjoy about this game which is why I still play it and it's my first MMO so I wanted to see it through, but it may very well be my last MMO.