The Elder Scrolls Online announced

Feb 6, 2007
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As idiotic as the dialogue can get in Skyrim, do we really want to replace it with a bunch of Xbox Live kids calling everyone "fkn fgt"? I'm thinking that will break immersion ever so slightly...
 

Anteaus

Platinum Member
Oct 28, 2010
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I'm sure there will be mixed feelings on this, but I for one am excited. They have enough lore to last through many expansions and if handled properly, the leveling system can be be adapted to provide a solid alternative to the class system that most MMOs have used up till now. They just need to expand on the number of trainable skills and let users define their character via how they use them, not by some preconceived class.
 

Merad

Platinum Member
May 31, 2010
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Part of me is :(. But OTOH I already know I'll get this game unless it looks utterly terrible.
 

-Slacker-

Golden Member
Feb 24, 2010
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Sounds interesting, and I'm not that worried that this might effectively end the elder scrolls series as a single player video game. I think that it has run it's course already, and that there's nothing much that bethesda can add to it or to the fallout series. It seems pretty obvious to me, so then maybe a MMORPG TES could bring something entirely new to the table (that is, if they don't decide to rip off wow like everybody else and their dog). I don't really like MMORPGS, but I'm a bit optimistic about this.
 

thespyder

Golden Member
Aug 31, 2006
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I'm sure there will be mixed feelings on this, but I for one am excited. They have enough lore to last through many expansions and if handled properly, the leveling system can be be adapted to provide a solid alternative to the class system that most MMOs have used up till now. They just need to expand on the number of trainable skills and let users define their character via how they use them, not by some preconceived class.

The (lack??) of lore and ambiance is not the issue. there is enough back story and world development within the series to keep dozens of games going for years. And continued evolution definitely keeps things going even longer than that.

My personal issues with this are as follows (a) fewer resources on any potential single player games, (b) the easy seduction to simply taking what is built for MMO and alter it to fit into Single player, and thus a crap game, and (c) the clear (miss-)understanding by the head office that marginalizing single player experience will make the company more money is really hurting those of us who actually value that same single player experience.
 

Merad

Platinum Member
May 31, 2010
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Ugh, according to Wiki they're using HeroEngine, the same engine as SWTOR.

SadPanda.png


My personal issues with this are as follows (a) fewer resources on any potential single player games, (b) the easy seduction to simply taking what is built for MMO and alter it to fit into Single player, and thus a crap game, and (c) the clear (miss-)understanding by the head office that marginalizing single player experience will make the company more money is really hurting those of us who actually value that same single player experience.

The MMO is being developed by ZeniMax Online Studios... all the Elder Scrolls games to date have been made by Bethesda Game Studios (both owned by ZeniMax Media). So in theory they're shouldn't be a competition for resources. But the higher ups may still see the single player games as a threat to the MMO and nix them....
 
Aug 11, 2008
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The (lack??) of lore and ambiance is not the issue. there is enough back story and world development within the series to keep dozens of games going for years. And continued evolution definitely keeps things going even longer than that.

My personal issues with this are as follows (a) fewer resources on any potential single player games, (b) the easy seduction to simply taking what is built for MMO and alter it to fit into Single player, and thus a crap game, and (c) the clear (miss-)understanding by the head office that marginalizing single player experience will make the company more money is really hurting those of us who actually value that same single player experience.

I pretty much agree with you. Just look at what happened to Bioware's single player games after they went the MMO route with TOR. Sure you can blame EA, but I also believe that single player games have become a secondary interest now, and Bioware/EA think they can make so much money from a MMO that they devote much less interest/time/effort into single player franchises.
 

clok1966

Golden Member
Jul 6, 2004
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(that is, if they don't decide to rip off wow like everybody else and their dog).

ah....WoW ripped it off from somebody before them.. BLIZZARD is king of the copy, none of the HUGE succesfull games where new ideas.. But one must admit, when they copy they do it well and add more (copied from other places) to it.. Blizz was small time till they copied Dune II, Diablo was inspired by Crusader, WoW (several other games)..

As for elder scrolls.. the stuff that made it great cant be translated to a MMORPG (opinion) so I doubt it will be anything but more of the same as you said. And i doubt it will kill the single player games.. they have been the most succesfull rpg of the last 10 years. Skyrim is still almost always #1 on STEAM except when a big name game is released whren it drops a nothc or two down, only to be back at #1 when hype dies.. and it was released 5 months ago.. pretty impressive.

with all that said.. I'm in.. if for nothing else my love of the old games.... especailly Daggerfall.
 

Anteaus

Platinum Member
Oct 28, 2010
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The (lack??) of lore and ambiance is not the issue. there is enough back story and world development within the series to keep dozens of games going for years. And continued evolution definitely keeps things going even longer than that.

My personal issues with this are as follows (a) fewer resources on any potential single player games, (b) the easy seduction to simply taking what is built for MMO and alter it to fit into Single player, and thus a crap game, and (c) the clear (miss-)understanding by the head office that marginalizing single player experience will make the company more money is really hurting those of us who actually value that same single player experience.

Solid points. What you're describing is actually an overall trend away from offline single player toward online singleplayer/multiplayer games. I'm with you on this, but I'm not sure how it can be avoided. Online gaming of any kind offers them the ability to tap additional revenue (DLC/microtransactions/subs) , control piracy (to a degree) and advertise.

I haven't bought an EA game since Call of Duty 2 was released at $60 for PC, nor have a bought an Ubisoft game since they implimented always on DRM. At some point I'll need to either quit gaming or just deal with it! :D

I wish we could go back 5-8 years before things started getting so stupid, but at this point all I can hope for is that a developer doesn't screw me too bad by taking too much out to dish out as DLC. I may seriously quit gaming by 2015 if it gets too much worse.


Edit: Ok I mispoke. I did buy Mass Effects 2/3. Hey I'm weak!
 
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mindcycle

Golden Member
Jan 9, 2008
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This does nothing for me since i'm not into MMO's, whatsoever, but hopefully it's good for people who are into those. I too hope this doesn't affect Bethesda's single player Elder Scrolls series. I will say that it is a bit concerning though, given how much more potential money there is in a subscription based system if the game turns out to be popular.

I can absolutely see them dropping the single player games and focusing on the bigger market (if that turns out to be the case), but it'a also true that there's room for both. I guess that will just depend on how many resources the want to devote to whichever one brings in the least amount of money..
 
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thespyder

Golden Member
Aug 31, 2006
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Solid points. What you're describing is actually an overall trend away from offline single player toward online singleplayer/multiplayer games. I'm with you on this, but I'm not sure how it can be avoided. Online gaming of any kind offers them the ability to tap additional revenue (DLC/microtransactions/subs) , control piracy (to a degree) and advertise.

I haven't bought an EA game since Call of Duty 2 was released at $60 for PC, nor have a bought an Ubisoft game since they implimented always on DRM. At some point I'll need to either quit gaming or just deal with it! :D

I wish we could go back 5-8 years before things started getting so stupid, but at this point all I can hope for is that a developer doesn't screw me too bad by taking too much out to dish out as DLC. I may seriously quit gaming by 2015 if it gets too much worse.


Edit: Ok I mispoke. I did buy Mass Effects 2/3. Hey I'm weak!

Yeah, unfortunately, I bought ME1-3 and I bought DA2 (horrible mistake on my part). And since they now own Bioware, I don't see anything significant or good coming out of there anytime soon. So maybe that is a good thing. Zero incentive to buy.

But yeah, with always online becoming the new thing due to microtransactions and "Pay to win" type business models ruling the pockets of most companies (i.e. Diablo 3), I am seriously worried about the state of single player in the market today. But what to do?

I am afraid that companies who have adopted the "Pay to win" scenario are going to say "without this model, we can't support continued development on single player games" and thus discontinue if the community balks. They can easily say that "No one (at least no one important) plays Single Player anymore. It's all about social gaming." and thus marginalize and effectively ignore the very real market that exists. And people will take it, at least the 'Wider' market will soak up the difference and we will be left with nothing.

the more I read these forums, the more I despair for my favorite pass-time.
 

magomago

Lifer
Sep 28, 2002
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nope not gonna bite. mmos are too big of a time sink and require monthly pay. if i put down skyrim for 6 months, i can come back without thinking of the 10-15 dollar/month fees associated with it
 

kyonu

Member
Dec 1, 2011
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nope not gonna bite. mmos are too big of a time sink and require monthly pay. if i put down skyrim for 6 months, i can come back without thinking of the 10-15 dollar/month fees associated with it

To each their own, but the biggest thing you get is content. MMO's always have more content than single player games, especially since most single player games these days are lacking a lot of game-time or replayability.

In fact, I played Skyrim for 90+ hours and that was the replayability period. The game only has about 30 hours of physical play, but if they can do that in a single-player game, MMO's can surely beat it.

I've always been a big fan and will definitely make this purchase. :D
 

thespyder

Golden Member
Aug 31, 2006
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To each their own, but the biggest thing you get is content. MMO's always have more content than single player games, especially since most single player games these days are lacking a lot of game-time or replayability.

In fact, I played Skyrim for 90+ hours and that was the replayability period. The game only has about 30 hours of physical play, but if they can do that in a single-player game, MMO's can surely beat it.

I've always been a big fan and will definitely make this purchase. :D

What's the point of more content if it is so generic and sanitized and repetitive? Wait to grind X-monster. PVP some guy who comes back alive 2 minutes later and starts heckling you. Stop the dragon from attacking the village, 16 times in one day. "Oh, let's raid Ragnar's castle. No, wait, did it yesterday. And besides, Fred and company are doing that today. Let's do it tomorrow."

can ya tell I don't like MMOs?