Final Fantasy XIV Producer Outlines Plans For Extensive Changes

Naoki Yoshida, producer for Square Enix's troubled MMO Final Fantasy XIV, has laid out an extensive list of gameplay changes the development team has planned for the title through the summer. The massive list, posted as part of a series of letters from the producer on the Square Enix forums, highlights everything from tweaked tutorials and user interface refinements to changes in game balancing and crafting recipes. The letter outlines a host of planned new features as well, including achievements, a job system and new modes of transportation "to address the mobility issue." Yoshida said fixing the game's battle system will also be a priority, and that the team will be introducing an auto-attack system designed to reward effort and reduce monotony. The new system will encourage players that perform attacks that fit into their character's role -- either solo or in a party -- and punish players who play "with only half his heart in the battle." Square Enix has not charged a subscription fee for Final Fantasy XIV since its release last September was met with anger over widespread technical and gameplay problems. Yoshida replaced the game's original producer Hiromichi Tanaka earlier this year in an effort to fix these problems, telling Gamasutra in April he would not ask players to pay for the game until a firm plan for improvements was in place. The lack of subscription revenue from the title helped contribute to a $149 million loss for Square Enix in the last fiscal year, the company said.