I was part of the mass exodus back at release because the game just wasn't fun. At the time there were other games I thought I would enjoy more so I took my 80.00 loss and moved on. A few weeks back I read here that it was free to those that bought it and I'm happy I started playing again. The freedom to switch between classes, crafts and gathers is fantastic.
One major problem I realized was using a gamepad. This might work for some but XIV's current UI and combat system is too "turn-based" for me as it is (luckily the combat system is being changed and YOU WILL FINALLY BE ABLE TO ENTER ACTIVE MODE ON THE RUN!). Combine that with having to push buttons four times to access a window made the process a pain. For those coming from traditional MMOs I would not recommend using a gamepad. Program your scroll button to "Enter" if you can for targetting and be done with it.
As a game you can "buy to play" for 15.00 XIV is a steal. I don't think you have to enter CC info (when I reactivated my account I deleted my CC info and was still able to play) when you sign up. This month they are releasing a major patch and have a bigger list for the end of the summer. I might recoup my 80.00 after all.
I really couldn't get into it... I picked it up a few months ago but found it really limiting and really hard to find some sort of direction. To put it bluntly, I found EVE easier to get into as a new player (which is saying something).
Maybe I didn't give it a fair enough shake - though with SWTOR around the corner my time would be limited even if I did get more into it. I may give it another go over the summer to play casually though... its a shame too - because I LOVED the original final fantasy series (I finished all the American-released ones up to 9). After that I lost interest... never really played FFXI though I heard its very good
Weird. FFXI had no AH at the start and a slightly worse UI than XIV. If you wanted XI-2, you got it. I play casually, and am enjoying myself. The UI with a controller doesn't bother me the slightest (though I played XI for years), and I'm not paying a thing, so it's no loss.
The problem is 'at the start' was many moons ago. The ghost town that is FF11 is testament to the fact that it has not aged well. I know someone is bound to come in here and try to say it's not empty, but I actually played it. It is. Unless of course you're paying to get power leveled in Abyssea then sure, lots of people. Sorta.
Anyway back to my original point, gamers evolve and come to expect a certain standard as time goes on. What worked for games in the past doesn't always work for games that come almost a decade later. Just the way it is.
FFXI a ghost town? It has 17 servers that have ~2000 online at all times. It's still doing well.
And yes, there was no excuse to have the market wards as the sole way to trade at launch. But they way they have them set up now, you can find any item and lowest prices in a minute tops, which is fine enough until they implement the AH (which they mentioned in the last producers letter).
I belive what he means to say is if you don't feel like / or have help to power level a character in Abyssea now days, then basically you are screwed and it has become nearly impossible to find a party level 20-70 in the normal zones. Everyone just power levels now.
I agree and this is actually the reason I decided to leave FFXI after 6 faithful years.
Comments
I was part of the mass exodus back at release because the game just wasn't fun. At the time there were other games I thought I would enjoy more so I took my 80.00 loss and moved on. A few weeks back I read here that it was free to those that bought it and I'm happy I started playing again. The freedom to switch between classes, crafts and gathers is fantastic.
One major problem I realized was using a gamepad. This might work for some but XIV's current UI and combat system is too "turn-based" for me as it is (luckily the combat system is being changed and YOU WILL FINALLY BE ABLE TO ENTER ACTIVE MODE ON THE RUN!). Combine that with having to push buttons four times to access a window made the process a pain. For those coming from traditional MMOs I would not recommend using a gamepad. Program your scroll button to "Enter" if you can for targetting and be done with it.
As a game you can "buy to play" for 15.00 XIV is a steal. I don't think you have to enter CC info (when I reactivated my account I deleted my CC info and was still able to play) when you sign up. This month they are releasing a major patch and have a bigger list for the end of the summer. I might recoup my 80.00 after all.
Just not worth my time anymore.
I really couldn't get into it... I picked it up a few months ago but found it really limiting and really hard to find some sort of direction. To put it bluntly, I found EVE easier to get into as a new player (which is saying something).
Maybe I didn't give it a fair enough shake - though with SWTOR around the corner my time would be limited even if I did get more into it. I may give it another go over the summer to play casually though... its a shame too - because I LOVED the original final fantasy series (I finished all the American-released ones up to 9). After that I lost interest... never really played FFXI though I heard its very good
I belive what he means to say is if you don't feel like / or have help to power level a character in Abyssea now days, then basically you are screwed and it has become nearly impossible to find a party level 20-70 in the normal zones. Everyone just power levels now.
I agree and this is actually the reason I decided to leave FFXI after 6 faithful years.