I learned to play from sheer curiousity of a huge MMO world that I heard other ppl play. The idea intrigued me. I mainly learned the ropes by asking questions in chat.
But the best system I found was games that have a dedicated Help channel. Or like in FFXI they have a in game Mentors that you can ask questions to. You get in game and ask a question under support, and the gets submitted as a question to the Mentor Linkshell. Only ppl past lvl 30 could equip a LS linkshell and the person had to willfully earn and equip it. So you usually got helpful advice. In game systems like this need to be in more games. Having someone give customized learning experience is far better than any in game tutorial
The dip in the population on FFXIV servers need to have a XIV server merge to take place. I just don't think now is the best of time.
For starters if they are going to go ahead to do server optimization and structure, replace the current game maps and update the game engine for better graphics. It would be better to do the server merges at this time.
These changes are all changes that would require long outages and maintenance to take place. If your going to inconvenience the customer, do so the least amount of times as possible. Lumping it with upgrading server architecture just makes sense. Update the servers and do the server merges all at the same time. It would be the best time to do it. Not now when they are still trickling out updates in game mechanic changes in preparation for the huge graphics/map/server tech overhaul!
Servers need to be merged anyway, so many ppl have left that you can almost login do quest and log off in an hours time and never see anybody online! Sad state for an MMO to get in. I know there is ppl there, they are just all hanging out at the towns.
The game is shaping up to something good, especially when the release the new jobs for the current classes :)
@Space Cobra XIV is a little bit different creature. It almost discourages rolling Alt's since your character can play all classes! Plus their pricing system is structured around paying for each character! Sure it's 10-11.99 a month for 1 character and additional characters is $3.00 extra. So it's cheaper.
But since character can play all classes? Why would you?
Well I initially thought I would play 3 to experience the story quests for each of the City-States and Grand Company quests. Because those are decisions that lock your character into choosing only one!
But when was faced with being charged for each character and paying $16.99 a month. (wish comes out to be a normal MMO sub) I didn't see enough appeal in XIV to go that far.
Maybe when they flesh out the game more for Eorzea 2.0. but right now just not worth it.
Totally agree with you here. What Squenix is doing is unprecedented for any other MMO company out there!
It is also interesting to see a game developed in real time! Although it adds a whole other layer of difficulty to the Devs because they have to do appropriate testing before they release a change to make sure they dont break anything as much as they can because it IS a live game! It would be easier to make a game that is not live, because you can make changes fix the bugs after they break without having to worry about disrupting service!
No game company has suspended a subscription model like this. Yea, they messed up big time, but they are accounting for their mistake and fixing the blunder as best they can!
Keep in mind as well that they are still bringing the game to PS3 and we will be playing on the same servers! This is still a unique feature to FF MMOs They have also promised to have separate interfaces for PC and PS3. As well as server upgrade to take care of inventory lag, brand new maps, and AH like FFXI.
You can't say that what they have right now is F2P because there is no mechanism for them to recoup their loses in maintaince and the service! They are just flat out letting you play the game for free.
There will never be a good time for them to flip the switch for subscriptions! Ppl will be accustomed to playing the game for free and will be faced with the decision "To pay, or not to pay?"
Lines will be drawn, and ppl will leave, but it's the only way they can get back to normal MMO operations.
To go completely F2P they will have to do even more restructuring to make the markets work for F2P. Not to mention it will Probably ruin what they currently have in place for Diciples of Land/Hand! From the patch notes it is obvious they are not going to F2P! The game in 2 years will be appealing game for ppl to join. In the mean time it's just slow steady progress.
The key to survivining the moles is when they burrow run! Run away from where they burrow. Their burrow has an AoE that as long as you are out or range you won't get hit. You still have to retarget, but at least you didn't take the increased damage.
FFXIV has some strategy involved with some mobs.
Puk's have a charge attack that you can see by the glowing they do before they do their tail whip. This tail whip is a cone attack in front of them. If you side step or get behind them they will miss you everytime.
So no, FFXIV requires some knowledge of what you are fighting. You can't just stand still and whack whack, whack on the mob until they are dead. Once you learn the nuances it is slightly more strategically satisfying.
Dev's are working on adding more strategy, currenly they took out Battle Regimes which was like skill chains in FFXI. Which in a party are nice for adding buffs or extra damage on mobs.
Then there is incapacitating skills. you won't get into this until lvl 20-30. But these skills attack specific areas of a mob, depending on a mob they will slow them down, change their behavior etc. In the end using these will make them easier to defeat or change what they drop as loot.
This sort of stuff, once you understand them makes the game a bit more satisfying, as well as having the correct level equipment for your characters level!
Hmm... Could you imagine a Horror game that used the speaker to whisper to get your attention. And the camera to monitor your head movement till you were looking at it. Then BAM! Grotesque zombie flashes on the screen scaring the crap out of you! lol
Or using it for peripheral vision to look at things to the side of you without moving the main screen.
No you didn't miss it. It's not there yet. I'm getting kinda aggravated by the delay. It's been over a month since Ep.1 Now Ep.3 drops for PC. And still nothing. I'm still looking at the preview video for two saying it will be out in Feb. *sigh*
The Daily Grind: Who was your MMO mentor -- and whom did you mentor?
Mar 23rd 2012 10:37AM (Massively)But the best system I found was games that have a dedicated Help channel. Or like in FFXI they have a in game Mentors that you can ask questions to. You get in game and ask a question under support, and the gets submitted as a question to the Mentor Linkshell. Only ppl past lvl 30 could equip a LS linkshell and the person had to willfully earn and equip it. So you usually got helpful advice. In game systems like this need to be in more games. Having someone give customized learning experience is far better than any in game tutorial
Square Enix reassessing Final Fantasy XIV server merges
Feb 13th 2012 6:37PM (Massively)For starters if they are going to go ahead to do server optimization and structure, replace the current game maps and update the game engine for better graphics. It would be better to do the server merges at this time.
These changes are all changes that would require long outages and maintenance to take place. If your going to inconvenience the customer, do so the least amount of times as possible. Lumping it with upgrading server architecture just makes sense. Update the servers and do the server merges all at the same time. It would be the best time to do it. Not now when they are still trickling out updates in game mechanic changes in preparation for the huge graphics/map/server tech overhaul!
Servers need to be merged anyway, so many ppl have left that you can almost login do quest and log off in an hours time and never see anybody online! Sad state for an MMO to get in. I know there is ppl there, they are just all hanging out at the towns.
The game is shaping up to something good, especially when the release the new jobs for the current classes :)
The Daily Grind: When do you alt?
Feb 1st 2012 6:35PM (Massively)But since character can play all classes? Why would you?
Well I initially thought I would play 3 to experience the story quests for each of the City-States and Grand Company quests. Because those are decisions that lock your character into choosing only one!
But when was faced with being charged for each character and paying $16.99 a month. (wish comes out to be a normal MMO sub) I didn't see enough appeal in XIV to go that far.
Maybe when they flesh out the game more for Eorzea 2.0. but right now just not worth it.
Subscription fees return to Final Fantasy XIV on January 6
Dec 7th 2011 11:13AM (Joystiq)Totally agree with you here. What Squenix is doing is unprecedented for any other MMO company out there!
It is also interesting to see a game developed in real time! Although it adds a whole other layer of difficulty to the Devs because they have to do appropriate testing before they release a change to make sure they dont break anything as much as they can because it IS a live game! It would be easier to make a game that is not live, because you can make changes fix the bugs after they break without having to worry about disrupting service!
No game company has suspended a subscription model like this. Yea, they messed up big time, but they are accounting for their mistake and fixing the blunder as best they can!
Keep in mind as well that they are still bringing the game to PS3 and we will be playing on the same servers! This is still a unique feature to FF MMOs They have also promised to have separate interfaces for PC and PS3. As well as server upgrade to take care of inventory lag, brand new maps, and AH like FFXI.
Subscription fees return to Final Fantasy XIV on January 6
Dec 6th 2011 1:35PM (Joystiq)You can't say that what they have right now is F2P because there is no mechanism for them to recoup their loses in maintaince and the service! They are just flat out letting you play the game for free.
There will never be a good time for them to flip the switch for subscriptions! Ppl will be accustomed to playing the game for free and will be faced with the decision "To pay, or not to pay?"
Lines will be drawn, and ppl will leave, but it's the only way they can get back to normal MMO operations.
To go completely F2P they will have to do even more restructuring to make the markets work for F2P. Not to mention it will Probably ruin what they currently have in place for Diciples of Land/Hand!
From the patch notes it is obvious they are not going to F2P!
The game in 2 years will be appealing game for ppl to join. In the mean time it's just slow steady progress.
Choose My Adventure: Do all the levequests!
Nov 9th 2011 6:56PM (Massively)FFXIV has some strategy involved with some mobs.
Puk's have a charge attack that you can see by the glowing they do before they do their tail whip. This tail whip is a cone attack in front of them. If you side step or get behind them they will miss you everytime.
So no, FFXIV requires some knowledge of what you are fighting. You can't just stand still and whack whack, whack on the mob until they are dead. Once you learn the nuances it is slightly more strategically satisfying.
Dev's are working on adding more strategy, currenly they took out Battle Regimes which was like skill chains in FFXI. Which in a party are nice for adding buffs or extra damage on mobs.
Then there is incapacitating skills. you won't get into this until lvl 20-30. But these skills attack specific areas of a mob, depending on a mob they will slow them down, change their behavior etc. In the end using these will make them easier to defeat or change what they drop as loot.
This sort of stuff, once you understand them makes the game a bit more satisfying, as well as having the correct level equipment for your characters level!
Wii U announcement trailer touches on the possibilities
Jun 8th 2011 1:02AM (Joystiq)Or using it for peripheral vision to look at things to the side of you without moving the main screen.
Kinect Star Wars trailer is exactly what you'd think
Jun 7th 2011 12:57AM (Joystiq)Heck yeah, having a lightsaber in your hand that can vibrate to simulate contact is way better than flailing my arms about :P.
Michael J. Fox comes back to Back to the Future for finale
Jun 5th 2011 4:10PM (Joystiq)Back to the Future Episode 3 out now on Mac and PC
Mar 29th 2011 2:51PM (Joystiq)No you didn't miss it. It's not there yet. I'm getting kinda aggravated by the delay. It's been over a month since Ep.1
Now Ep.3 drops for PC. And still nothing. I'm still looking at the preview video for two saying it will be out in Feb. *sigh*