UlasanAnime.com – American food culture is often criticized, and the concept of “gamer food” further highlights this by showcasing a ludicrous, nonsensical aspect driven by corporate marketing. This marketing prioritizes profit over artistic refinement, dominating mainstream thought. It is unlikely that a US-developed game would ever feature a food culture as rich as that found in Final Fantasy XIV.
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The in-game food options in Final Fantasy XIV are extensive, even within just a few months of the game’s launch. This culinary variety can be quite appetizing for players. The author’s dive into another MMORPG, inspired by Log Horizon, raises concerns about productivity, though veteran players are expected to manage their time effectively. The appeal of Log Horizon, or its greatness, lies in the enhanced experience of playing an actual game with friends. For those observing from the sidelines, it might evoke nostalgia, much like the author’s own experience. The anime’s story is engaging but, like any single narrative, its appeal is subjective, similar to how each of the hundreds of thousands of Final Fantasy XIV players has their own unique story.
Final Fantasy XIV even includes items like pineapple pound cake and cheese souffle, culinary delights not commonly encountered in the daily lives of many programmers or even in general experience. The inclusion of such sophisticated dishes reflects Japan’s approach to presenting its food culture to an international audience, mirroring the offerings of world-class Japanese establishments. This sophisticated food culture is presented as superior to the American equivalent. While America has its own delicious foods, accessing them often requires venturing beyond local areas, as highlighted by shows like “Bizarre Foods America.” The author suggests that a distinct “food culture” exists in the US, separate from the mainstream, but it is not glamorous or fashionable. Consequently, companies tend to create products with the lowest common denominator appeal, resulting in mass-produced items that, while palatable, lack the culinary heart and soul that Americans are capable of creating.
It would be an interesting experience if playing Final Fantasy XIV also involved consuming food appropriate to the game, such as grilled trout. This is also why food plays a significant role in the plot of Log Horizon. The author posits that food culture might be one area where anime surpasses its Western counterparts.
Furthermore, the crafting system in MMORPGs is a notable aspect. Final Fantasy XIV’s substantial budget is evident in its elaborate crafting system, integrated into a traditional dungeon-crawling game. This is another feature that the author doesn’t expect from most Western MMORPGs. A well-designed crafting game isn’t necessarily a sandbox game like Minecraft or Second Life. In the realm of crafting MMORPGs, more freedom doesn’t always equate to a better experience. The author views these more structured crafting games as a distinct form of gameplay, akin to EVE Online, where the gameplay is holistic, encompassing player economies and various game aspects like the demand for trade goods and skills. In essence, crafting should be a game in itself, feeling like a series of quests that test a player’s trade skill mettle, rather than simply clicking to unlock talents or learn spells.
This concept is comparable to tabletop Dungeons & Dragons, where specific reagents are required to cast spells. While reagents might seem simplistic as a requirement for common spells today, they represent how trade skills should be approached in modern MMORPGs. A successful crafting system, according to the author, must effectively integrate these elements.
