[Usiio]

When we are noobs, it's pretty clear what we want to be doing- we get levels. However, as soon as we a get a job to level 75, we are confronted with the dilemma of what to do next. Do we level another job? Do we focus our attention upon obtaining new gear via endgame events? Or do we work our way through expansion pack missions? There are, of course, many other options that allow us to keep our minds occupied while in vana'diel, however they are all (In my humble opinion) part of the same vicious circle.

Well, different people choose different options, however, it all seems fairly futile to me. If I were to ask an endgame-event-whore why he/she devotes so much time to obtaining new gear...I don't reckon I could expect to receive any reasonable response.
Let's try to sum it up as well as possible:

-We level jobs to 75, so that we are able to participate in endgame events.

-We participate in endgame events in order to obtain new gear.

-We wish to obtain new gear so as to make our participation in endgame events more efficient...remind me, why do we participate in endgame events?

[Twinblades]

For the same reason we do everything else, because we can. Whether people enjoy the experience is up to them

[Cahlum!]

I play for fun.

[akirazin]

It's cheaper than drugs!

[Usiio]

Surely levelling, camping NMs and lfp for countless hours cannot be fun for anyone. FFXI is hopelessly tedious, even at the best of times.

Just my opinion.

Edit: Also, @ twinblades- if people don't "enjoy the experience" then why continue to play? That's what the 14 day trial is for.

[Boldfinger]

It's to meet hot chicks, with a view to marrying them in real life. Right?

[Cahlum!]

I find it fun, if you don't then don't play. There is plenty of things to do in this game and in the years I have played I still have got so much to do.

[Usiio]

Firstly, I don't play anymore, by sheer coincidence.

Secondly, you said you have "much to do." This means you have a lot yet to accomplish. I am fully aware of this as it is virtually impossible to "beat the game." This does not mean you are having fun, it just means you are so addicted to the game that you always feel the need for more gear, more job levels and more gil.

Granted, a feeling of accomplishment when you go to bed after obtaining a new sword or whatever it may be is always nice. But is it really worth it? That is for you to decide, but in my opinion, it cannot be worth the while for anyone, sacrificing so many hours of your day.

[pathwriter]

I level up new jobs either for utility or, more likely, because I want to see what it is like to play from a different perspective. I've been playing Blue Mage lately just to better understand it and because, well, it amuses me, even as I shout about the pain of learning new magic. I do events and collect gear because I want to. Does it need to be complicated? The game is painful and often not rewarding, but I cannot think of a single game ever that does not bear that description without being so simple and boring that I'd never touch it.

Let's ask an opposite sort of question: What do you want from a video game that would compel you to continue playing it?

[Usiio]

The game is painful and often not rewarding, but I cannot think of a single game ever that does not bear that description without being so simple and boring that I'd never touch it.

To me it sounds as if you are referring only to RPG games or similar. I should have specified in my original post that I am making a point about MMORPG's as a genre, not just FFXI.

To answer your question, the satisfaction of triumphing over another human player in a competitive game grants ample feeling of satisfaction for me. And it doesn't take 500 hours.

[Cahlum!]

I have got 3 75 jobs which is all I want, I have all the gear I could possibly want except a few pieces that I am working towards with sea ls. I have accomplished far more than you obviously have completed every mission etc. If you have quit the game why the fuck are you on these forums trolling.

[Usiio]

Because I can.

First, you said you still have much to do. Now you tell me you have all the gear you want and that you've completed every mission? At least that's what I think you're trying to tell me. Your lack of punctuation makes it unclear. (This is not a grammar troll, I'm just giving my reasons.)

P.S. You misunderstood my point. Read the post again.

[Cahlum!]

There is more to do in a game than missions and leveling jobs.

[Usiio]

Yet again, you misunderstand the point I was trying to make. Read it slowly and don't post again until you get it, please.

[Cahlum!]

I fail to see what I am missing. Perhaps you need to evaluate what you want to get out of a game.

[Usiio]

You seem to think I'm trolling FFXI and its players. I'm not. I'm just pointing out how everything we do when we play FFXI (Or any similar game, better or worse) ultimately leads up to nothing.

[pathwriter]

To me it sounds as if you are referring only to RPG games or similar.

That's because that's what you're thinking about. Let's pick a game that a lot of people, myself included, quite liked: Bioshock. There are more than a few points during that game where I want nothing more than to turn it off, but I push on to get back to the bits I'm enjoying. Tic-tac-toe is irritating and unrewarding from time to time. It's just how games are. There's no such thing as perfect.

[Usiio]

I know. Please read what I just said.

Also, FYI- it's bedtime for me. I'll argue some more in the morning.

[Twinblades]

You seem to think I'm trolling FFXI and its players. I'm not. I'm just pointing out how everything we do when we play FFXI (Or any similar game, better or worse) ultimately leads up to nothing.

The same can be said for life. At the end of the day, we're all just marching towards the grave. Whether or not you enjoy the time you have playing a game or otherwise is completely up to the person.

Personally, I played because I had friends who played. I was interested in FFXI since they launched it, but I found it better to play with friends to keep the experience enjoyable. As my friends quit playing the game, I found the experience less enjoyable so I too ultimately quit.

Do I still talk to the friends I made on FFXI? Of course I do. I can still help people with advice on gear selection and whatnot, and I've started to learn about some people on the personal level.

To quote my previous post, I play because I can. Everything else is a direct reaction to my decision. Instead of wondering why other people choose to play, maybe you should question why you chose to play this game and for what reasons.

[.Sotek.]

You seem to think I'm trolling FFXI and its players. I'm not. I'm just pointing out how everything we do when we play FFXI (Or any similar game, better or worse) ultimately leads up to nothing.

Can you name something people do in their free time which doesn't ultimately lead to nothing?