Elder Scrolls Online - Editorial @ Forbes

crpgnut said:

Is there a way to turn off all other players, so that you don't see anyone else? I'm not much into the MMO stuff, so I have no idea. To me, it would be very confusing figuring out who is an enemy, another person's character, or just an in-game npc.

Click to expand...

Doubt it, only mmo I know of that does this is Guild Wars (the first one).
But don't worry, you'll quickly understand who's the players and who's the npc's. Usually it's shown by different colours on the nameplates. If not, just look for the people running around in all directions in a neverending jump cycle...that's your players

NyxVampiria said:

...just look for the people running around in all directions in a neverending jump cycle…that's your players

Click to expand...

Yeah, I really don't like MMOs anymore...

Drithius said:

I've said it before and I'll say it again: F2P lends itself to shallow, simplistic, and forgettable game design.

So, fuck this guy.

Click to expand...

Maybe so.

But the single player Elder Scrolls going MMO is like a hunting boot company making all their new boots pink with unicorns.

Their customers didn't even remotely ask for this.

Reyla said:

Maybe so.

But the single player Elder Scrolls going MMO is like a hunting boot company making all their new boots pink with unicorns.

Their customers didn't even remotely ask for this.

Click to expand...

Oh, you ARE living in an imaginary reality where you speak for every potential customer

In any case, ESO is a seperate entity by entirely different developers. It's not going to affect what Todd is doing - and it just might introduce more players to the singleplayer franchise. It's certainly not going to chase away fans from future singleplayer games.

That would be stupid to suggest.

Personally, I think the setting has potential as an MMO - but I'm not seeing much from ESO that excites me. That's about execution, not concept.

I agree Dart there was always a segment of Elder Scroll players asking for an MMO. I mean it check the forums from every release since Oblivion. Now they have a chance to play what they always wanted.

I also think people fail to realize this is a different studio so we still get more single player games from Bethesda. Money is not an issue either as they continue to make more off their older games.

DArtagnan said:

Finally got invited to beta test this weekend, so I'll have a better idea if this is going to be worth playing or not.

Seems a LOT of mails were sent out, so if you applied - check your mail/spam filter. Also, it's a huge client - so the sooner you start downloading, the better.

Click to expand...

I recently received one, but not going to DL 27.1 gigs to play for just a limited time. As well for a game charging a monthly fee of $15 isn't for me. But I'm really looking forward to Witcher 3...can't wait to pay a one price for a game including the DLC, the way games should be.

NyxVampiria said:

Not necessarily a bad thing. Standard mmo design is boring and outdated. The mmo scene is in a bad need of change. I'll make my opinion based on the beta design. I know it's not the final product and what not, but truth is: if beta fails to impress then I don't see it getting the major overhaul it would need to make me want to spend money on it.

Here's hoping stress test allows me to play at least a few hours

Click to expand...

We really should have a thread on this this weekend. I loved the first beta and I have played pretty much every MMO. I would really be interested in what you all think.

Best thing about MMOs to me though are questing or combat with friends. Tough to get that right but I really did like the holy trinity game play formula.

afraid you're gonna have to wait a little longer for feedback. ESO is still under nda.

Not excited about ESO but I will try it.

Would have rather seen Elder Scrolls 6 with Co-op.

sakichop said:

Not excited about ESO but I will try it.

Would have rather seen Elder Scrolls 6

Click to expand...

Fixed, to match me instead of saki

If I'm breaking NDA - I don't really care, because this can only benefit the developers and the product:

I'm pleasantly surprised and I'm really looking forward to playing the release version. Wasn't sure before, but now I'm definitely getting it.

As for this team getting us ES6 instead, that would be stupid. I want Todd Howard and his team to work on their own stuff.

This game is by a different team with different developers and priorities. If we didn't get ESO from them, we'd get some other online game or whatever.

I, for one, am very happy to see this setting get the MMO treatment, though I could also have done without it. But I like the world and the setting - and I like MMOs, so…

I for one, have also "suddenly decided" that I'll also be getting ESO at release. Magic how that worked out

DArtagnan said:

If I'm breaking NDA - I don't really care, because this can only benefit the developers and the product:

I'm pleasantly surprised and I'm really looking forward to playing the release version. Wasn't sure before, but now I'm definitely getting it.

As for this team getting us ES6 instead, that would be stupid. I want Todd Howard and his team to work on their own stuff.

This game is by a different team with different developers and priorities. If we didn't get ESO from them, we'd get some other online game or whatever.

I, for one, am very happy to see this setting get the MMO treatment, though I could also have done without it. But I like the world and the setting - and I like MMOs, so…

Click to expand...

I'm fully aware of who's making what. My point wasn't that I want Zenimax to stop making ESO and make ES6 as that would be stupid.

My point was simply that I'd prefer to play co-op over MMO.

Immersion is a major component of ES games for me and that will be compromised with 100 strangers running and jumping around, gathering around the same quest giver then running after each other doing the same quest.

You've played ESO so if they done something to fix that then please tell me.

Co-op with a few friends staying in are roles in the ES universe would be quite excellent IMO.

sakichop said:

I'm fully aware of who's making what. My point wasn't that I want Zenimax to stop making ESO and make ES6 as that would be stupid.

My point was simply that I'd prefer to play co-op over MMO.

Immersion is a major component of ES games for me and that will be compromised with 100 strangers running and jumping around, gathering around the same quest giver then running after each other doing the same quest.

You've played ESO so if they done something to fix that then please tell me.

Co-op with a few friends staying in are roles in the ES universe would be quite excellent IMO.

Click to expand...

It's called massive multiplayer for a reason. If you can't stand having unfamiliar people around you when you play then it's best to stay away either way, unless you can manage to find a way to look past it. If you do, I can tell that this game has a lot of potential. Still too early to say of course, but it didn't take many hours to convince me that it might be time for me to step out of my rather long mmo break and get eso when it's released.

NyxVampiria said:

It's called massive multiplayer for a reason. If you can't stand having unfamiliar people around you when you play then it's best to stay away either way, unless you can manage to find a way to look past it. If you do, I can tell that this game has a lot of potential. Still too early to say of course, but it didn't take many hours to convince me that it might be time for me to step out of my rather long mmo break and get eso when it's released.

Click to expand...

I pretty much buy any game I feel I might be able to get in to. So they will get my money.

Ive yet to play an MMO where I've been able to look past it. It won't stop my from trying though, maybe this will be the one. Maybe not. Who knows.

Other players don't detract from the game in any way in the MMOs I've played. I actually welcome other players to make the game feel less empty and more populated.

That said, ESO is no different. After playing the beta, it's a day-one purchase for me. It was very fun exploring the beautiful, exotic and alien Morrowind again.

The ES lore is more than enough reason for me to support this game. It's intertwined extremely well in ESO.

sakichop said:

I'm fully aware of who's making what. My point wasn't that I want Zenimax to stop making ESO and make ES6 as that would be stupid.

My point was simply that I'd prefer to play co-op over MMO.

Click to expand...

Fair enough. ESO definitely isn't a private co-op game, so you can give that up right now.

You've played ESO so if they done something to fix that then please tell me.

Click to expand...

No, they're not making an open world massively multiplayer game only to have a few people run around in the same space. It's a game meant for people who enjoy socialising and building a reputation for themselves.

That's not to say you can't have a private experience - but you can't remove the other people living in that world.

So, they haven't "fixed" that.

Co-op with a few friends staying in are roles in the ES universe would be quite excellent IMO.

Click to expand...

Agreed, that would be great as well - but I can get great pleasure from several things, and I don't necessarily prefer one over the other - as it's about execution for me. I personally enjoy the feeling of sharing a world with a lot of people - and the sense of community that happens in MMOs. I also like the dynamic economy and the concept of having potential enemies. I like PvP when it's done well - though it's too soon to tell for ESO.

There are times when I'd rather just be by myself - and I can get a bit annoyed with other people running around when that happens. But I find you get used to it and you quickly adapt to the compromises they have to make to make it workable as both a solo and multiplayer experience.

I much prefer an open world with other people to an artificially closed instance. That doesn't feel alive at all, to me.

So far, it looks like a fair blend of traditional ES gameplay with a familiar MMO structure - but it feels rather fresh so far. Unlike SWtOR or Rift, it's not just another WoW with a different skin. It really does seem to have a personality of its own - and that's quite rare.

GW2 had that as well, but it was incredibly shallow and with a horrid story delivery - so that didn't work out. Not for me, anyway.

You never know about these games until you play for a good long while - and it might not last long. But so far, it's looking very good.

But if you're looking for a private cooperative experience, then this genre is most definitely not the way to go.

I would stay FAR away in that case.

I have been playing the beta as well but my impression is soso. To put it another way, in past I have convinced my friends to play certain other MMOs but I don't think I will be doing it this time.

Btw is there any plans to start watch guild or anything like that in ESO?

This has been my third beta and I am planning on buying it the day it comes out if only because I have been on a very long MMO break and could use the change of pace (kinda since I have been playing skyrim for 2 years lol).

That being said I still have spent 80% of my game time this weekend, so far, playing Skyrim. When I sit down at the PC with some free time … that is where my desire takes me.

But I will condition that by saying I have already been through the start -up area 7 times now. I am not a "character-aholic" either. I am only on my third character in Skyrim in 2 years. I played WoW for 6 years and only had 2 real full time characters the entire time. I experiment but when I settle on what I like I invest totally in it.

Hard to play a beta knowing everything is throw away and will just do it again. I will risk NDA to give general feelings that don't actually describe any of the content/mechanics/etc.

In general I like the game but not overwhelmed. It has some unique things I have not seen before and many things I have seen before. After two hours I was like right back into the mmo-pattern although for me that means trying to avoid the grind, immersion wrecking players, and trying to role-play without worrying about getting the best equipment or being the best - one thing I prefer about single player games.

Hopefully the players will be a nice mix and not to horrid. Sometimes you luck out in that area with an mmo and/or server and/or guild.

It has a TES feel to me, I will say that, and I like the lore and setting. I can't be sure if it is my imagination or not … but when I compared making characters from the first beta to last night … I was a lot more impressed.

DArtagnan said:

Fair enough. ESO definitely isn't a private co-op game, so you can give that up right now.

Click to expand...

I know. Given up.

DArtagnan said:

No, they're not making an open world massively multiplayer game only to have a few people run around in the same space. It's a game meant for people who enjoy socializing and building a reputation for themselves.

That's not to say you can't have a private experience - but you can't remove the other people living in that world.

So, they haven't "fixed" that.

Click to expand...

Sorry, fixed was probably the wrong word as I know it's not broken.

I get it's an MMO and I can deal with the other players mostly, it's just annoying when some players are running all over jumping and circling people and just acting crazy or when your fighting a monster and 4 other people run over and kill it then run off, things like that.

DArtagnan said:

Agreed, that would be great as well - but I can get great pleasure from several things, and I don't necessarily prefer one over the other - as it's about execution for me. I personally enjoy the feeling of sharing a world with a lot of people - and the sense of community that happens in MMOs. I also like the dynamic economy and the concept of having potential enemies. I like PvP when it's done well - though it's too soon to tell for ESO.

There are times when I'd rather just be by myself - and I can get a bit annoyed with other people running around when that happens. But I find you get used to it and you quickly adapt to the compromises they have to make to make it workable as both a solo and multiplayer experience.

I much prefer an open world with other people to an artificially closed instance. That doesn't feel alive at all, to me.

So far, it looks like a fair blend of traditional ES gameplay with a familiar MMO structure - but it feels rather fresh so far. Unlike SWtOR or Rift, it's not just another WoW with a different skin. It really does seem to have a personality of its own - and that's quite rare.

GW2 had that as well, but it was incredibly shallow and with a horrid story delivery - so that didn't work out. Not for me, anyway.

You never know about these games until you play for a good long while - and it might not last long. But so far, it's looking very good.

But if you're looking for a private cooperative experience, then this genre is most definitely not the way to go.

I would stay FAR away in that case.

Click to expand...

I've always been intrigued by the MMO potential especially pertaining to exploration. A large open world that's constantly changing and being expanded as you play and the unpredictability of the human element versus scripted AI. Both a possible blessing as well as a curse)

I think my problem is I let the few "crazies" discourage me and never give the game a fair amount of play time.

I've spent 400 hours and counting in Skyrim though, so if there was ever an MMO that can get me to ignore them this should be it.

Not sure what the NDA allows but can you tell me how combat and exploration (in the short time you were able to play) are?