If you call sight seeing exploring then sure its built for exploration in Tamriel. Again my experience is limited to beta only zones but they weren't certainly designed for exploring like any of the Elder Scrolls game. The world design (especially the terrain) was bland and "safe". It may be better than most MMOs but its no good compared to Elder scrolls games. My point here is simply this, if someone enjoyed Elder Scrolls games for exploring then they certainly won't enjoy ESO for exploring. It just doesn't support it.
I understand your point, but I don't agree with your basis for it.
But we're not going to get anywhere with "I think it's good" and "you think it's bad".
All I can say is that exploration was very engaging and interesting to me, and I didn't enter the game with that expectation at all. It just inspired me to play on and explore - and I found quests, books, dungeons and so on in the wild. I don't know what you think was missing - as you provide zero specifics.
But it's not the sort of thing you can prove or disprove.
I'm saying that if you understand MMOs and you're realistic about the compromises necessary to make a game work for thousands of people sharing a world - then this is a strong exploration experience.
I found the story in beta nothing to write home about but then again story (don't confuse this with lore) is not important for me in a MMO. Plus Elder Scrolls games aren't know for their stories more for their lore. You are setting your bar way too low if you compare any story with GW2
Story isn't vital to me either - and it's way too soon to judge this aspect of the game. I'm talking about story DELIVERY as in how it's presented to you and if it's digestable. I found that to be very much the case.
ESO is linear. They were pretty much leading you from zone to zone. You finish a zone and thats its, you don't come back. This is pretty much the same design as quest hub to quest hub. There is nothing more gamey than this. Do you have this design in Skyrim?
You can leave zones and come back to them more or less as you choose, once you finish the starter area. You can only do that for your own faction zones UNTIL you reach level 50 - at which point the entire world is both open and relevant for exploration, as you keep being able to find books, Skyshards, Anchors and so on.
However, the ENTIRE world isn't open from the very beginning - that's true.
Again, for an MMO - it's a very strong game for exploration.
This is the point I was trying to make initially. You said ESO is "trying to be an Elder Scrolls game" but my point is that its not since it has made too many compromises to be an MMO.
I understand your point. It's a very simple point.
I don't agree with it - once again.
Why? Because I think you're wrong and I don't understand your basis for your point - but it's not like it's important that we convince each other.
I've pointed out quite specifically how I think this game is strong for exploration - and I stand by that 100%.
The only thing I can't know is if the future zones are as densely populated as the first zones.
I explored most of the first starter area and the next large zone with one race - and I spent a couple of hours in both the other starter zones. ALL of them were full of interesting things to find.
If, for whatever reason, that stops being true for the later zones - then it's obviously not what I think it will be.
I just don't see that happening - as that would piss people off majorly.
You see, this isn't new. You can get the same effect in WoW if you want. The difference is its the default option here…
You can't turn off everything like this in WoW, no - and WoW is DESIGNED around having these things.
If you manage to mod them out - you'd be completely lost because it's not DESIGNED for a clean UI.
In summary, my point is simply this, someone who enjoyed single player Skyrim won't enjoy ESO for the same reason. I bet crpgnut, won't enjoy ESO for the same reason as he did Skyrim. ESO makes too many changes to be a MMO…
I don't want to go around telling people what they will or won't enjoy.
All I'm saying is that if you can tolerate the MMO compromises - many of which will be obvious if you're fair and knowledgable about the genre - and you enjoy exploration, then this game is worth a shot.
That doesn't mean it will be great or even your cup of tea - but I certainly wouldn't write it off from the beginning.
As I said, I went in expecting to be bored - and instead I was very engaged and entertained. I found myself wanting the full game right away, which is huge for me - because I'm one jaded son of a bitch.
Doesn't mean it will have that effect on other people. It depends on what you enjoy - and whether you truly understand the design of the game. I'm pretty good with putting myself into the minds of other people - and I have a good idea of what they're trying to do here.
It's right up my alley - but it's not my dream MMO. It's just a really good themepark MMO with a good measure of freedom and exploration.