Elder Scrolls Multiplayer Possible But Unlikely, Says Bethesda Marketing Boss

Logan Westbrook

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Feb 21, 2008
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Elder Scrolls Multiplayer Possible But Unlikely, Says Bethesda Marketing Boss

Bethesda would have to leave out more than it wants to in order to fit multiplayer in.

Bethesda's marketing boss Pete Hines says that the studio has the technical skills to include a multiplayer mode in the Elder Scrolls games. The fact they it could do it doesn't mean that it actually will, however, as Hines doesn't think it would actually make the game better.

Hines said that he understood that people wanted to play games and share experiences with their friends, but said that when it came to the Elder Scrolls games, Bethesda would have to leave out a lot of features if it wanted to put in a multiplayer mode. "[I}t's all about trade-offs," he said. "One of our mantras here is that you can do anything - you just can't do everything."

"So certainly, we could do multiplayer," he continued. "Unquestionably. It's not a thing we're technically incapable of figuring out. But when we draw up the list of things we'd like to have cut or change in order to support that feature, what we end up with is unpalatable. It'd make a lesser version of the game. And there is no doubt on the dev side that that is the case."

Hines said that Bethesda never demanded that its studios include multiplayer components in the games. In fact, he said that he would tell developers to leave multiplayer out of a game if it didn't fit with the concept, or if the studio was just adding it to tick another box on a feature list. Hines comments echo those of Gearbox's Randy Pitchford, who said [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/109016-Gearbox-Boss-Says-Multiplayer-Is-Not-Always-the-Answer] last week that too many developers were trying to ape the success of games like Call of Duty by sticking multiplayer modes in games where they didn't belong.

The next Elder Scrolls game, Skyrim [http://www.amazon.com/Elder-Scrolls-V-Skyrim-Xbox-360/dp/B004HYK956/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302614980&sr=8-1], comes out for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 on November 11th.


Source: CVG [http://www.computerandvideogames.com/297703/news/bethesda-elder-scrolls-multiplayer-possible-but-would-make-for-a-lesser-game]



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Mar 30, 2010
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Multiplayer? M'Aiq does not know this word. You wish others to help you in your quest? Coward! If you must, search for the Argonian Im-Leet, or perhaps the big Nord, Rolf the Uber. They will certainly wish to join you.
 
Apr 28, 2008
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Yeah, glad they're focusing on single player rather than multiplayer. After Oblivion and Fallout 3, they really need to focus on making the main storyline at least decent.
 

Mahorfeus

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Feb 21, 2011
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Grouchy Imp said:
Multiplayer? M'Aiq does not know this word. You wish others to help you in your quest? Coward! If you must, search for the Argonian Im-Leet, or perhaps the big Nord, Rolf the Uber. They will certainly wish to join you.
I'm gonna go ahead and say This.
 

flaming_squirrel

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Jun 28, 2008
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No multi for Elder scrolls thanks, let someone mod in a basic form of co-operative at a later date but let the developer focus on making an awesome single player title. It's worked well this far without any form of multi so I'm sure it's capable of staying that way.
 

The Imp

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Nov 9, 2009
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It would be one hell of a task to make co-op work in an RPG. Not only gameplay wise but also on the NPC interaction level. Discussions, decisions and so forth. Until they figure that one out i'll stick to my custom companions.
 

Adzma

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Sep 20, 2009
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Why does everything have to have multiplayer these days? Seriously it boggles the mind. Will it ever stop? Are people going to demand multiplayer in the Legend of Zelda? Oh wait, that already happened in Phantom Hourglass. Well perhaps we'll make a flight sim MMO! Ugh.
 

Nikolaz72

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Apr 23, 2009
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Kalezian said:
Temah said:
But still, multiplayer would be reeeeeeeeally good...

not exactly:


*just finish the starting quest*

Player 1: WOOO HOOO! lets DO THI-

*gets bow-sniped by player 2*

-GAME OVER-


OT: If they could do multiplayer and still have a great game, they would of done it by now, and though it could be awesome runnign with your friends around whatever country in The Elder Scrolls world the game happens to be set in....... I think we can all agree on one thing.....


Now now. They would just not include Friendly Fire. Make it a bit like borderlands. . . With different Zones rather than one large world to increase performance and all that.

Forgo multiplayer in an Elder Scrolls game, make an Elder Scrolls MMO.
 

Andronicus

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Mar 25, 2009
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They're right, of course; there's absolutely nothing multiplayer could possibly add to an Elder Scrolls game. If I wanted to play a game with multiplayer, I could walk into any game store and all but be assaulted by bland FPS's. Elder Scrolls never has, and never will, require a multiplayer option to be enjoyed.
 

windlenot

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Mar 27, 2011
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When I first played Oblivion, I knew it would prolly be fun with a friend or something, but I understand how out of control it could all get.
 

icyneesan

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Feb 28, 2010
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Let the fans make it like what they did with Oblivion. Sure its crappy and a less fleshed out version of single player but what multiplayer isnt :p
 

Dr Jones

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Jun 23, 2010
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Kalezian said:
Temah said:
But still, multiplayer would be reeeeeeeeally good...

not exactly:


*just finish the starting quest*

Player 1: WOOO HOOO! lets DO THI-

*gets bow-sniped by player 2*

-GAME OVER-


OT: If they could do multiplayer and still have a great game, they would of done it by now, and though it could be awesome runnign with your friends around whatever country in The Elder Scrolls world the game happens to be set in....... I think we can all agree on one thing.....



Forgo multiplayer in an Elder Scrolls game, make an Elder Scrolls MMO.
Um.. Option for PVP?
 

The.Bard

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Jan 7, 2011
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I'm all for adding campaign coop to games like these. Most of my close friends who I game with have families, and good online coop games are hard to come by. If they could put this in and do it properly, I'd be down.

Buuuut, I agree with most people that if they "threw it in" a la Fable 2 it would be a disservice to the game.

One day, somebody will make an awesome coop RPG. Until then... looks like another round of teh Halos.
 

Vibhor

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Aug 4, 2010
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Temah said:
But still, multiplayer would be reeeeeeeeally good...
It was released.
It is called world of warcraft.
If you hate it then you would obviously hate the Elder scrolls multiplayer.
There is no other way to turn a massive RPG online without making it into an MMO.