The director of Final Fantasy XIV, Naoki Yoshida, explains in an interview what he believes makes an ultimate MMORPG. He also talks about the many solo contents in his own MMORPG.
Yoshida says: In an interview with colleagues from Eurogamer, director Naoki Yoshida expressed his thoughts on what he understands to be an “ultimate MMORPG”. He refers less to details such as aesthetics, gameplay, or questing, but generally to content.
My idea of an ultimate MMORPG is a game where players can freely choose the content they want to complete. […] A game evolves when it can meet the needs of many players, not just the needs of a specific player type. In my opinion, the ultimate ideal is therefore not ‘to play all the content the game has to offer’, but to be able to choose what content you want to play.
Naoki Yoshida
The type of content that is added to the game is decided according to player feedback by the core development team. This includes in FFXIV himself, the Assistant Director, the Content Director, the Battle Director, and other heads of the various development departments.
Ideally, the developers should respond to as many requests and suggestions as possible. Therefore, when the FFXIV team releases new content, they continually adjust it while keeping an eye on player feedback.
Single-Player Content in MMORPGs
Yoshida also says: Yoshida applies this mindset at least partially to his own MMORPG. With the latest update 6.2, FFXIV became a lot more solo-friendly. The content “The Island Paradise” is a solo instance, and older mandatory dungeons from the expansion Heavensward can now also be completed alone in a group of NPCs.
The point here is not that we are solely focused on single-player content, but that the size of the game, its content, and its development are finally large enough. Now we can also deliver content that is tailored to solo players.
Naoki Yoshida
This is an example of how Yoshida implements his vision of the perfect MMORPG. The new content and the changes to the old are not mandatory, and players can choose whether or not they want to complete this content. In any case, there are no significant disadvantages for them.
At the same time, this strategy, according to Yoshida, aims to alleviate the reluctance of people who normally have little to do with MMORPGs or multiplayer to engage with others.
[…] I want to take care of those who think that connecting with other players in MMORPGs is annoying. So that in the end, they learn to appreciate the fun that comes from playing with others. It is a great advantage at the start of the game that you can play the main story [of FFXIV] alone.
Naoki Yoshida
It serves as an entry point for players who usually avoid group play and gives them the opportunity to take a look at it without being forced.
What do you think of Yoshida’s idea of the “ultimate MMORPG”? Do you think he is right, or should a perfect MMORPG include every type of content that is interesting for everyone? Let us know your opinion in the comments.
By the way, Yoshida also commented on the Island Paradise:
