MMOney Talks
So Square-Enix announced a North American release date for their upcoming MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV.
Actually, they announced TWO North American release dates.
That’s right, the game will launch on September 30, unless you buy the Collector’s Edition of the game, in which case you get to start playing September 22 and laugh at all the peasants with their noses pressed against the window, wishing with all their tiny little hearts to be inside.
Honestly, I don’t really know how I feel about this. I want to give Final Fantasy XIV a try, but the benchmark killed my laptop (well, it didn’t KILL it, per se… but I think it was the software equivalent of a swirlie and a wedgie) and I don’t have a PlayStation 3. It doesn’t affect me at all, but man… Squeenix, that’s cold.
It’s like, this isn’t going to make ANYONE happy except the small amount of people who are going to be able to preorder the Collector’s Edition. I’ve worked at GameStop, I know that there are strict caps on the amounts of preorders allowed on Collector’s Editions. So what happens to the fans who have been waiting for this game for years, and all of a sudden are told “Hey, too bad, you should have ponied up the extra 25 smackers.”
In their defense, there are a lot of cool things in the Collector’s Edition, like a behind the scenes DVD, an in-game Onion Helm (which the Final Fantasy fan in me is yearning for desperately without even having seen it), a security token and a cover by Yoshitaka Amano.
But still, I know how MMOs work. Imagine stepping into this gorgeous world on launch day and immediately being surrounded by people who are 15-20 levels higher than you. It’s going to tarnish the experience, for sure, and for a company that has built itself by selling experiences you’d think they’d be a little more compassionate.
Smart business sense though. You won’t find any of these Collector’s Editions sitting on shelves months later like you do with all other games though.
When Star Wars Galaxies launched a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, I bought the Collector’s Edition. I spent $80 on the game in a badass giant leathery box with an art book, pewter figurine, a pin, some in-game clothing and a spiral-bound instruction manual with gold signatures of the design team and George Lucas on the back. I didn’t get to play the game any earlier than anyone else did, though (if anything, I played AFTER most people, since a) the registration servers were borked most of the day and b) it launched on my then-girlfriend’s birthday who refused to understand that I had been waiting for that game for about three years).
Like I said, it doesn’t really affect me and from a business standpoint I can see why they’re doing it. It’s going to generate a lot of interest and they’ll make a ton of money off of these Collector’s Editions. Still, though… sucks for everyone else.
8 Comments
It seems like pretty smart marketing. I don’t think I would be too terribly frustrated if I joined in and there were some people with level 15 or higher characters because there would be plenty of people with the regular edition who would be joining at the same time.
In some sense, it’s good for the game if there are already people at higher levels. It means you can join, see all of this cool stuff going on around you, and want to be a part of it, which is good for sucking people in.
I’ll be the level 15 guy when the second launch day rolls around.
I plan on playing and have just begun to build up a little anticipation for FFXIV but I’m also not (and can’t imagine I will be) desperate enough to pay an extra 25 dollars to play 8 days early. You’re paying like 3 dollars a day! THAT’S LIKE A SANDWICH OR SOMETHING… EVERY DAY.
I don’t think having some people with a jump start will hurt Final Fantasy Online. When I played XI, the community was almost always supportive of low-level characters, and I found a lot of friendy linkshells (guilds) willing to help a newbie get into the game. Hopefully they really have learned some lessons about gilsellers and rare monster campers, and it will be even better than their first try.
I’d also note that a lot of MMOs of recent years gave the beta testers up to a week’s early access without any real downside. It probably won’t hurt things here to much, either.
Objection, Joe.
The Halo 3 Collectors edition I can get at my Local Newbrury comics for a mere 30$, Where I also snagged a copy of brawl for a mere 35.
Gamestop Prices? Normal Halo 3, 30$, and brawl for 45$.
GAME ON!
Mega, I didn’t object to Collector’s Editions in general. I’m a sucker for them and have quite a few myself. I just thought it was lame that people who buy the Final Fantasy XIV CE get to start early.
The way I see it, if you plunk down the extra $25, you deserve to get in early. It’s equally lame to not get some kind of early access.
….Oh.
I believe you just dismissed my claim.