Holding Off Playing, Holding on to Hope;
I’ve read enough posts to realise that a fair number of players are holding back like myself on truly committing to the game in the hope that their intended ‘Main Class’ is released soon, thus affording them the opportunity to pour their efforts into the laborious in-game tasks and content progression. For some, this includes story-immersion as though their Main character is themselves and thus their preferred style of fighting is reflected in their chosen Class. For others it might be about progressing and experiencing all that the game has to offer for the first time as the character they resonate with the most. While this number may indeed be a minority as some boldly state, this does not necessarily negate the points they make.
Don’t you know they have a plan?
Many argue against these forum posts asking for the release of as many classes as can be delivered in a finished state by suggesting their is an obvious Developer strategy to drag out content release to retain the player base and make money over time. The thing I ask myself is, if I’m not playing their game, what kind of strategy is that? If they released all classes right now, I would likely purchase at least two new character slots and two skins I’ve seen on YouTube videos for the Lance Master and Scouter (Sywo Costume video). That’s money they can make off me right now and encourage me to play the game again. If on the other hand, I find out Scouter is last to release in even 6 months time, I’m likely going to lose interest in hanging around. Okay you say, bye bye, this game isn’t for you and other such flippant remarks. That’s not the point. Even if I be in a minority, its money they can make right now on classes they’ve already released elsewhere at no extra development cost. The idea that losing player interest and holding off on their ability to purchase skins for the classes they really want is the best business strategy doesn’t seem so logical after all.
Show Me The Money!!!
Retain players right now, when interest is collectively higher rather than marketing to attract new players or retain the player base in months time with smaller releases. The demand for skins along with the classes that match them is here right now with the player-base at what must surely be the highest numbers the game will know. Profit from this right now under these conditions while giving a sizeable number what they desire. Even if you lose those players in a few months, they get to have a bit more fun right now while the game has captured their interest and you rake in more money, rather than risk missing those sales down the line with a strategy which backfired or worked, but for a much smaller playerbase.
How do you know you’ll even like them?
There is another argument, that if we haven’t played these remaining classes, how do we really know we will Main them. We don’t, until we get a chance to play around with the remaining classes we already know exist through YouTubers showcasing them, thus enticing us to believe that’s the class for us. All the end-game content to come is distant in my mind and can happen in due time, but if the classes are released now, I can play around with them to my heart’s content no matter where each character is in the progression of the game or story. I can switch between each, discovering if the Scouter is indeed going to be my chosen Main and the Lance Master my primary Alt Class. Then I can happily carry on playing through the story for the first time with my preferred and chosen Class.
Why not just play an Alt?
I will add that some kinder commenters have suggested that those waiting for their preferred Main Class, play for now with an Alt in order to gather up materials and achieve such things as will pave the way for their chosen Main upon release. While this is a more understanding and useful point of view in response to those calling for the release of all classes, it doesn’t necessarily refute the arguments made above nor does it change someone’s preference for how they want to play the game. For most players, this is our first play-through, our first experience of each new land, of each story-quest and NPC conversation. Every play-through thereafter with a follow-up character will likely result in the player skipping conversation windows or rushing through quests already familiar. Many players want to pour all the effort they know must be invested in this game and the time they know must be committed, into one or two characters they have decided will be their chosen Main and Alt Class. I think with this understanding of the inevitable investment required in this game, we can understand why some players are holding off playing in the hope that those one or two classes are released and all their efforts and their first play-through are with those classes they most prefer.
I may very well be in a minority as some suggest, however arguments against the release of all classes don’t seem as strong or as convincingly obvious as their proponents seem to indicate. If I’m not playing, they’re not making easy money right now. If others are also holding off on certain progression, then in relation to the release schedule, something is wrong.