Poor, Poor FFXIV. =(

No subscription fees... player feedback being used by developers to address and fix significant issues with the game... is it just me, or does it sound like XIV is still in its testing phases?

Oh no wait, that can't be right. Because they had the "official release" a while ago and now people have to buy copies of the game to play it don't they? Yeah, silly me.

This is how I imagine it going down (sorry for giant post. I get carried away with these things sometimes).

SE Developers: Okay, here's the plan. FFXIV is our new MMO. It's going to be bigger and better than XI in every way possible. We've had nearly a decade's worth of experience in managing this type of game, so we know what we're doing. But if we're going to achieve this, we'll need time to get everything perfect.
SE Suits: Whoa, whoa, whoa... it sounds like you're saying this game is going to take a long time to produce.
Devs: Well, yeah it is. If we want it to be as good as it can be.
Suits: Hmm, okay. Just don't take too long. We've got quotas and stuff to meet.

*Some time later*

Suits: So, how's XIV coming along?
Devs: Oh you know, it's getting there. Piece by piece.
Suits: Really? That's great. By the way, we're going to open the game to the public for testing.
Devs: But it's not really ready for that yet... there's a few key issues we'd like to get sorted out before we start gathering and working from people's feedback.
Suits: Oh sure, that's fine. Besides, we're not really going to be having them test the game. It's more of a marketing scheme. Give people a taste of what's to come. Whet their appetites, so to speak.
Devs: So... we won't be paying attention to their thoughts on the game?
Suits: Goodness no! As long as we can get people to buy the game, we'll be fine. By the way, we're releasing before the end of the year.
Devs: Wait, what?
Suits: Back to work, you busy little bees! Buzz buzz!

*Leading up to the release date*

Devs: This game is nowhere near ready for this.
Suits: So? It's Final F-ing Fantasy. We'll make millions based on that fact alone.
Devs: We really think that we should give this game a proper beta test. Get some players into the game to take it for a real spin... let them see what they like, see what they don't, and then see what we can do to address those issues.
Suits: Nope, not enough time for that. We want to start selling now; get ourselves nice and rich by the end of the year.
Devs: But-
Suits: Who pays you your wages?
Devs: ... We'll be ready to release next week.

*FFXIV goes on sale*

Suits: Hooray! Finally we can start making some money off this thing. And once that 'free trial' we're expected to offer ends, we'll be rolling in subscription fee profits by Christmas.

*FFXIV is reviewed by critics*

Suits: No... No... Shut up. Shut up shut up shut up. Stop saying things like that! You'll give our product a bad name! You'll damage our sales figures!
Devs: *peeking head around the office door* Everything alright in here?
Suits: Quiet you.

*A few months after the release*

Suits: ****. Big ******ing ****ing ****-stain ****.
Devs: Heya dude. Hows that quota of yours doing?
Suits: *gets down on knees and reaches up at Devs* ... Help me!
Devs: 'Kay, what you want to do first is extend the free trial. People are pissed that the game isn't as good as it could or should have been, so we need to start regaining their trust. A gesture of good will would make a good start.
Suits: But the subscrption fe-
Devs: Do you want to save this game or not?
Suits: *sulking* Fine.
Devs: Next up, we're going to get back to work on addressing that customer feedback you so stupidly decided to ignore. We'll need time to get everything together for the first version update, so expect to extend the free trial again just in case.
Suits: *whimper*
Devs: Once that's done, hopefully we'll have given this game a fighting chance to survive an admittedly shaky start. With a bit of time and effort and a lot less being-greedy-***, this game can still be what we wanted it to be in the first place.
Suits: I suppose that does make sense. You guys get to work on what you do best and let us know how it goes. Oh, and one more thing.
Devs: Yes?
Suits: Wipe that smug little "we told you so" smile off your face.

Good, let it die. Then FFXI will get graphical update like WOW is getting and an expansion to far east, ty.

FFXI is better ok?

FFXIV won't die as a fact lol. FFXI was like this when it came JP release.

Not that I'm anti-XIV as most of you are probably well aware by now.. but as a few others have already pointed out, back when FFXI was released and had all these problems, there wasn't a whole lot of choices for other MMO's.. Now there is. So the argument that "FFXI was ***at first too, and look at it now" isn't really as strong as you think it is.

heh well they giving us 3 months of free play that will last us till the big fix patch and the first big content patch is released. so at least there is that

FFXI isn't all that good anymore, either.

FFXI isn't all that good anymore, either.

MAYBE CUZ ITS GOOOD

FFXI isn't all that good anymore, either.

FFXIV won't die as a fact lol. FFXI was like this when it came JP release.

FFXI is better because it's older, has had more things put into it over the ages, and all the bugs and annoyances have been removed and fixed over the years.

FFXIV will get better as it ages, and the dev teams puts more quests, items, classes, etc etc into it.

This is why I will play FFXIV at least 2 years later (if still exists).

Ok I played FFXI since release...had 9 75 jobs goldsmithing 100+3 and a ton of HNM gear...sold my account for 980 bucks to put towards new computer and game for FFXIV...and I dont regret it one bit. I remember starting FFXI and you couldnt buiy ***unless you farm crystals all day long then you had to die numerous times trying to get to Dunes to party...spent a week trying to get lizzy boots... going to bastok and to dunes took hours...trying to find people to party with and looking for a good setu pwould take hours...one you are done with dunes you have to go to qufim island and that took hours and you might even die trying to get there delvl and end up lvling in dunes again anyway...onlything you could afford was conquest gear...yeah FFXIV starting out 10000000 freakin times better than FFXI and I cant wait for FFXIV to age...I have fun with my friends everyday and we accomplish stuff everyday and it doesn't take up a lot of time and I dont mind paying for the game and being a beta tester kinda haha...they already announced they are going to fix stuff so stop saying FFXI is better cuz if you think that than your a noob who didnt play before Rise of Zilart