Articles
Yoshida Considering F2P As An ‘Alternative Business Plan’
by Orophen , 2012 February 17
In a recent interview with Videogamer.com, Yoshida talked about the development of Version 2.0 of Final Fantasy XIV. During the interview, he actually admitted that he hadn’t tossed the notion of F2P completely out the window.
“Of course I am very interested in F2P as an alternative business plan, and I will continue to look into it,” Yoshida says. “However adopting a F2P model means changing certain aspects of the game design in order to fit to the model since the prices customers have to pay for F2P are different to those they pay for subscription-based games. Therefore, if we do decide to change the business model in the future, it will also be necessary for us to adjust the game design so that it works accordingly.”
This is in stark contrast to the idea that many believed Yoshida had completely abandoned the idea of F2P with the reinstatement of subscription fees. Does this mean that if the game doesn’t perform well under the subscription model, FFXIV might really switch to free to play?
Aetheryte Camp: Ridin’ that Goobbue on home!
by Calaera , 2012 January 22
If you are a currently paying customer of FINAL FANTASY XIV, you most likely know or have seen of the hulking mounted giants known as Goobbue that came with patch 1.20b. We also know that some of you out there are enthusiastic about it, don’t give a damn, or would rather they not be in the game at all. But no matter what you think or feel of the situation, one thing isn’t going to change: these lumbering giants are here to stay as an additional mount to the chocobo.
So, my question to you this time is: What do you think of the Goobbue? Like em? Don’t? State your reasons why. As a bonus if you have ideas for another mount, feel free to include them!
I can already tell you what I would like to see next: a giant fucking Mandragora. That’s right folks. I am taking my epic fights against the giant Mandragora and showing my utter dominance against them by riding on their head while laughing maniacally and burning mobs, people, and towns to the ground. As for the Goobbue; they are damn humongous. I would like them taken down in size a notch or two. Being a Lalafell is scary when someone decides to CHASE you down while riding on their Goobbue (which happened to me before I was able to get mine). The mount is so big that it takes up a majority of my screen real estate even if I zoom out far enough. I like em big, but even big things can be TOO big!
Aetheryte Camp: 2012 Wish List for FFXIV
by Calaera , 2012 January 3
Yes, yes, I know. Its been awhile. But I am back! This week I was mean to that doofus named Orophen, but I feel bad. Really bad. Sorta. Kinda. You get the picture. Anyway, to make it up to him I want to know what YOUR wishes are for SquareEnix and primarily Final Fantasy XIV for this new year. What sort of things do you want to see? Do you, too, want to see a massive campaign to get more players on board? Or do you just want them to introduce baby wyverns for your family to eat?
Aetheryte Camp: Onslaught of Quiet-Time
by Calaera , 2011 December 8
I don’t know about you, but with the onslaught of games coming out, work, school, beta testing an upcoming MMO, and the holiday season spent with friends and family, FFXIV has currently been a sleepy land for me. Yoshi-P admitted things were too quiet on his end, and my friends and I joked he was probably either beta testing the same MMO we were or he was playing Skyrim. You take your pick. It hasn’t helped much some of us are waiting to see how our precious class is going to be affected by the upcoming update. We’ve talked about this on the podcast, “They Have Magic Feet“, but the thoughts there are that of three people and hardly the majority.
Aetheryte Camp: Your Fantasy End Game
by Calaera , 2011 November 22
For many players of an MMO, the game only begins when you have reached the cap of the game and are able to tackle dungeons, raids, or over world monsters of all sorts with more precision, tactical strategies, and team work. Better gear usually helps, and as does a dose of patience, dedication, and skill. For some games, their end game content can be as varied as what is found in FFXI or more consistent and progressive as other MMOs. The current state of FFXIV end game consists of some large NMs, a higher level instanced dungeon, and then the Ifrit Hyper Mode Battle. There is more content to come in the future with the introduction of 2.0, but with a whole year ahead of us… that leaves us with a lot of time sitting, waiting, and imagining.
Opinion: Dragoon Pets Can GTFO
by Calaera , 2011 November 5
I love Dragoons. Final Fantasy IX is one of my favorite games and I really adored Freya Crescent both on the battlefield and in the story. I’ll even admit to having a childhood crush on Kain Highwind from Final Fantasy IV, and thinking how awesome he was with his Jump abilities. So when I say I don’t want to see a wyvern as a damn pet for Final Fantasy XIV’s Dragoon, it’s for a damn good reason.
The aforementioned Dragoons are especially strong characters, and even the current LNC abilities in XIV is powerful enough to warrant some players to employ tactics that include a party largely made up of Lancers. Their Jump abilities is where they especially shine, allowing them to leap up into the air to great heights, avoiding their enemy’s attacks, and come crushing down on their opponent with great damage. In these games prior to XI, none of these Dragoons or Dragoon-like equivalents (more akin to being just a LNC or hybrid) had a pet. They didn’t need it! So then now comes the question regarding XI: But why did DRG in XI have a wyvern!? I’ll be frank; I have no damn clue and I won’t try to play it off like I do. I do, however, remember the time early in a DRG’s career when they were nerfed in the world of Vana’diel. The Dragoons had suffered in its reputation due to the fact their Wyvern easily fell in battle and could not be summoned again until after the two hour ability timer had refreshed. It had gone from awesome to lol to awesome again, but a lot of that took time for SE to fix the reputation that it had given DRG during its dark era. Time that I’m not very confident SE should devote to using for a pet job at this time.
Aetheryte Camp: Taking Back the 50%
by Calaera , 2011 November 5
Last night, after we had recorded an episode of GTD, Rubicon had wondered if Yoshi-P ever regretted having brought up the idea that the current state of FFXIV is only 50% complete because people are wanting to pay for the game at a discounted rate vs. the full blow subscription fee. Immediately I thought of the person that we have come to know as Yoshi-P. Without a doubt he is the most transparent person we know of coming from SquareEnix. Maybe there is someone else out there, but he is notably more transparent than anyone else I can think of. I know that the man himself has strong desires to keep up this image of himself and for a very good reason; right now holding back and being as guarded as Tanaka was has only hurt the Final Fantasy MMO products and frustrated parts of its player base. Being secretive and coy also isn’t in alignment with more modern and more notably western approaches to the game industry. The later being especially important, because lets face it: the Japanese game industry is floundering in the west compared to its western brethren.
Yoshida Does More Interviews, Leaks More Info
by Orophen , 2011 November 2
With the announcement of the Letter From the Producer LIVE Part II broadcast, many FFXIVers are expecting more info about 2.0, as well as the Seventh Umbral Era storyline content promised for the upcoming year. But we may already have a glimpse into some of the things we can expect to hear about during the broadcast, courtesy of a couple of recent interviews that have practically flown under the radar over the past week. FFXIV Producer/Director, Yoshida Naoki sat down with JeuxOnline and FinalFantasy14.eu to answer some questions about the future of Final Fantasy XIV, and revealed quite a bit about what may be coming down the pipeline.
Free Companies Are the Best Companies
For starters, Yoshida spoke a lot about the upcoming Free Company content. In a response to JeuxOnline, he stated that a Free Company is meant to perform the role of a strong community for a group of players. Not only that, but unlike linkshells, you can only belong to one Free Company. That sounds very much like a guild, doesn’t it? Well where does that leave linkshells?
Opinion: the Future of Final Fantasy XI and XIV
by Calaera , 2011 October 21
I know it has been a terribly long time since I have last updated, and I deeply apologize. Things have been crazy. With my cousin visiting, going to PAX (I never did make my write up, did I?), and then changes here and there in my personal life… its been busy at best and downright crazy at its worst. During the time of being back in school since 2006, studying math after a ten year hiatus (hello rationa-wha the hell is that!?), and being sick here and there… I have managed to squeeze in time to play a little but not as often as before. But today’s entry isn’t so much as to talk about my adventures or lack there of, but to talk about my thoughts on the future of both games I have grown to love and hate.
First off…. Final Fantasy XI! I have actually deactivated my account for a few reasons:
a.) I wasn’t as interested thanks to the cooling off period from my cousin visiting.
b.) I was more interested in games such as LoL, XIV, and WoW.
c.) The updates have been lack luster at best.