[Dyire]

As always, we would like to thank you for choosing to play FINAL FANTASY XIV.

In this Topics, I will speak at length about the forthcoming version update.

Please take the time to read the version update details.

[Dyire]

As always, we would like to thank you for choosing to play FINAL FANTASY XIV.

In this Topics, I will speak at length about the forthcoming version update.



Allow me to begin by stating that the development team plans to release a version update at a rate of once every three months, of which the large-scale version update currently planned for December will be the first. Nothing is more important to us than seeing to the prompt implementation of the various changes and features players desire to improve playing conditions. In that vein, there are several adjustments and additions which we will be introducing before December's version update.

A good deal of the constructive feedback we received was in regards to the market and retainer systems. As previously addressed in an installment of Ask the Devs, several improvements will be brought to both of these features. Among these are a simplification of retainer access which no longer requires use of the interactions menu, and specific reduced taxes in market wards which will serve to reorganize them by item types.

Further changes we have planned for the near future, which will be coming sometime after the first version update, include the following:

• Search feature to allow item searches by individual wards
• Icon display to identify retainers selling sought-after items
• Increase in the number of retainers that may be employed

A version update scheduled for late November will contain a number of other changes and additions as well. Below is a list of the primary points of focus.


User Interface Adjustments
In response to the generous amount of player feedback we received, a number of changes and new features will be implemented in this area. Many players have voiced dissatisfaction with several facets of the user interface, such as the chat feature and targeting mechanism, and we will be working to remedy these issues as soon as possible.

For more details, please read Ask the Devs.


Party-Based Battle Balancing
Party-based battle will be undergoing a number of adjustments and tweaks, but players may rest assured that we have every intention of staying true to our policy of making a game that is enjoyable for solo players as well.

At present, players have voiced concern over a lack of necessity for forming parties, as well as a shortage of situations that demand the execution of multiplayer battle strategies. To address such issues, we will be making modifications to the way in which the enmity mechanism works, in addition to reexamining the Battle Regimen system.


Server Lag
Notable lag has been observed in certain areas of the game, particularly when a large number of players are gathered together. To combat this, such areas will be divided into multiple "sections" for the purposes of server-side processing, thereby reducing concentrated loads and subsequent lag on individual World servers.


Distribution of Enemies
In an attempt to further reduce occurrences of lag, we initially avoided placing a large number of enemies in close proximity to one another. With, however, the implementation of the measures mentioned above to reduce server lag, and as player concentrations are beginning to disperse from the starting areas, we will be looking into a redistribution of enemies that is more conducive to enjoyable adventuring.


Another significant addition planned for the December version update is the introduction of notorious monsters (NMs), which will appear in open areas and on guildleves (faction leves). Coming together with the notorious monsters will be a wide variety of new items and rewards, and future version updates will usher in all-new content centered around these formidable new enemies.

Further details regarding notorious monsters and associated new loot will be released in Topics posts as they become available, so be sure to check in regularly!

We also have several seasonal events scheduled to take place beginning in December, and hope that you will all look forward to those as well!

There are still more changes and additions slated for year's end and early next year as well. We will make sure to release information regarding them as soon as we are able in the ongoing Ask the Devs FAQ.

Thank you again for your time, and we hope that you will continue to enjoy your time in ever-evolving Eorzea!


FINAL FANTASY XIV Director
Nobuaki Komoto

Source: http://lodestone.fin...5f04bf0793632b5

[Darksire17]

FAIL!

[firefeng]

Given how many updates it took FFXI to get up to speed (perusing through version updates for the first year it was released in Japan), one update every 3 months ain't gonna cut it. Screw retainers, add a damn Auction House already. Server lag isn't just isolated to pockets of highly populated areas; it's everywhere and nowhere is this more noticeable than when you try operating a menu, which considering the UI in FFXIV is too damn often.

They also avoid mentioning the other linchpin of dissatisfaction pointed out in reviews and by every player: lack of content.

Still waiting for them to fix FFXIV so I actually want to buy it/play it.

This post has been edited by firefeng: 16 October 2010 - 06:50 AM

[rambus]

firefeng, on 16 October 2010 - 06:48 AM, said:

Given how many updates it took FFXI to get up to speed (perusing through version updates for the first year it was released in Japan), one update every 3 months ain't gonna cut it. Screw retainers, add a damn Auction House already. Server lag isn't just isolated to pockets of highly populated areas; it's everywhere and nowhere is this more noticeable than when you try operating a menu, which considering the UI in FFXIV is too damn often.

They also avoid mentioning the other linchpin of dissatisfaction pointed out in reviews and by every player: lack of content.

Still waiting for them to fix FFXIV so I actually want to buy it/play it.

why does it have to be AH when we know it causes problems?

just because it can work does not mean there is something better.

AH has problems let people experiment in new meatholds please, instated of retorting to be lazy sheepale.

candles work for lighting but it cant be improved? i guess electricity would not be discovered under that mind set.

[.Sotek.]

Are MMOs the only gaming medium where we complain at creativity or something?
Seems kind of weird that people would complain at developers for producing a safe game like Halo v.5 that hasn't changed at all in a decade, but then go beg SE to make FFXIV the same game they produced nearly a decade ago.

[firefeng]

rambus, on 16 October 2010 - 04:13 PM, said:

AH has problems let people experiment in new meatholds please, instated of retorting to be lazy sheepale.

Quote

name='.Sotek.']Are MMOs the only gaming medium where we complain at creativity or something?
Seems kind of weird that people would complain at developers for producing a safe game like Halo v.5 that hasn't changed at all in a decade, but then go beg SE to make FFXIV the same game they produced nearly a decade ago.

It's not that Square Enix must create FFXI v.2; it's that Square Enix should include everything that worked well from FFXI. Seems kind of weird that a game company would ignore all the safe things that worked in favor of things that don't work at all.

Regardless, the information on the lodestone and the fact that they're actually listening to the complaints (even if most people are still pissed that Squenix isn't making enough slurping noises while publicly sucking their customers' cocks over screwing up the release) is enough that I actually finally ordered FFXIV today.

This post has been edited by firefeng: 17 October 2010 - 08:34 AM

[.Sotek.]

firefeng, on 17 October 2010 - 08:29 AM, said:

It's not that Square Enix must create FFXI v.2; it's that Square Enix should include everything that worked well from FFXI. Seems kind of weird that a game company would ignore all the safe things that worked in favor of things that don't work at all.

Regardless, the information on the lodestone and the fact that they're actually listening to the complaints (even if most people are still pissed that Squenix isn't making enough slurping noises while publicly sucking their customers' cocks over screwing up the release) is enough that I actually finally ordered FFXIV today.

With a search function I don't really see a whole lot of difference between the FFXI AH and Retainers/Market Wards. Essentially they've just done the same thing from a different angle.

[rambus]

.Sotek., on 17 October 2010 - 09:29 AM, said:

With a search function I don't really see a whole lot of difference between the FFXI AH and Retainers/Market Wards. Essentially they've just done the same thing from a different angle.

price history.

though people can ask about why xxx costs this much and why, there is a but more power to the crafters NOT HAVING to undercut.

that is actually the good part, people asking and talking , not fucking camping a AH

This post has been edited by rambus: 19 October 2010 - 06:19 AM

[cidbahamut]

firefeng, on 17 October 2010 - 08:29 AM, said:

Not that great an ale honestly. Better than a number of well known beers, but it's a bit lacking when stacked up against comparable breweries.