Bethesda Announces The Elder Scrolls Online

[joe-h2o]

Tentatively excited that it has been announced as a Mac and PC simultaneous release, which suggests strongly that the Mac version won't be a dreadful Cider port.

Also that it could suggest that Oblivion and Skyrim might be seeing native Mac releases in the future (one can only hope). Would save having to reboot into Windows to play, although that *does* help to stave off procrastination

 

[Oroboros]

Really? Well damn. Guess I'm not buying another Elder Scrolls game ever again. Shame they didn't announce this before I got Skyrim. Well @ least now I won't feel the need to spend money for its DLCs as this announcement has ruined the series and every game in it for me.

How the fuck does that work?
Bethesda is not even making the game!
Their still busy with their next game.

Point to where I even said Bethesda in my post. I know its technically another studio making it but there owned by the same parent company and this game s part of the Elder Scrolls series. as such now that an MMO is part of the series I'll no longer buy any of its games no matter who makes it.

Why? Do you have something against the existence of MMO's? Any studio who partakes is some kind of instant sellout? Please explain to me why this matters.

I probably won't be playing it for a long time. Meanwhile they'll continue to have great single player sandboxes for me to play in. What does it matter that there's an MMO?

It matters because MMOs have a great way of stalling the development of further non-MMO games down the road indefinately-see TOR or WoW. The goal of the MMO is to keep folks coming back as long as possible for the monthly subscription fee, as a result, a lot of resources go into making plot development etc for the MMO that otherwise could go into a singleplayer sequel.

MMOs have historically been a way to potentially make a massive amount of money (at considerable investment). Elder Scrolls has historically been a single palyer rpgs sicne its creation almost two decades ago (with the exception of Redguard), therefore it would stand to reason that they are going after a different audience. Focus on a lucrative audience at the expense of the old=sellout.

 

[SajuukKhar]

It matters because MMOs have a great way of stalling the development of further non-MMO games down the road indefinately-see TOR or WoW. The goal of the MMO is to keep folks coming back as long as possible for the monthly subscription fee, as a result, a lot of resources go into making plot development etc for the MMO that otherwise could go into a singleplayer sequel.

MMOs have historically been a way to potentially make a massive amount of money (at considerable investment). Elder Scrolls has historically been a single palyer rpgs sicne its creation almost two decades ago (with the exception of Redguard), therefore it would stand to reason that they are going after a different audience. Focus on a lucrative audience at the expense of the old=sellout.

The thing is though that Blizzard is one company who worked on a MMO stalling their other games because they were focused on the MMO.

BETHESDA AND ZENIMAX ARE TWO DIFFERENT COMPANIES, what one does isn't taking time or people away from the other.

It is a different situation entirely.

 

[zenoaugustus]

Damnit. And I thought I'd be able to save money on videogames over the next couple of years...

 

[Meight08]

*Scratches Elder Scrolls off the list of franchises that haven't been fucked up by multiplayer* Such a shame.

HOW IS IT FUCKED UP WHEN ITS A SPINOFF BY ANOTHER STUDIO AND THE MAKERS OF THE SINGLE PLAYER GAMES ARE STILL BUSY HOW IS EVERYBODY THIS FUCKING RETARDES!
Sorry the amount of idiots here is making be angry.

 

[splayfoot1]

The amount of times I've wanted to play a TES game co-op is just about equal to the times I've played a TES game.

but in my completely uninformed and horribly biased opinion, every change they need to make to turn it into a good MMO, would be a change that takes away one of the best features of the TES universe.

what happened to the wonderful world of lan games?

 

[MorganL4]

Well I guess thats it.... TES will go the way of Warcraft. Can't say I didn't see this coming, I mean people were calling for this after oblivion. There was a time when we all thought Fallout 3 ( before it was announced to be fallout 3) was in fact a TES MMO. So yeah, not happy about it, but nor am I surprised.

ITS SET 1000 YEARS BEFORE SKYRIM!
Read the bloody article its even being made by another studio.
So the single player games will keep coming.

First off, don't get your panties in a bunch, its just a message board. Second, I was unaware that fantasy world timelines had anything to do with videogame releases. Third, its not exactly a different studio, Zenimax Media owns Bethesda.

 

[Oroboros]

It matters because MMOs have a great way of stalling the development of further non-MMO games down the road indefinately-see TOR or WoW. The goal of the MMO is to keep folks coming back as long as possible for the monthly subscription fee, as a result, a lot of resources go into making plot development etc for the MMO that otherwise could go into a singleplayer sequel.

MMOs have historically been a way to potentially make a massive amount of money (at considerable investment). Elder Scrolls has historically been a single palyer rpgs sicne its creation almost two decades ago (with the exception of Redguard), therefore it would stand to reason that they are going after a different audience. Focus on a lucrative audience at the expense of the old=sellout.

The thing is though that Blizzard is one company who worked on a MMO stalling their other games because they were focused on the MMO.

BETHESDA AND ZENIMAX ARE TWO DIFFERENT COMPANIES, what one does isn't taking time or people away from the other.

It is a different situation entirely.

Bethesda is a subsidiary of Zenimax, it's not really that different. The leaked article has Tod Howard overseeing the lore. Even if they are beign done by the same teams, Elder Scrolls online does not exist in a vacuum from the rest of the Elder Scrolls series, and there is definately at least a degree of collaboration. Plots, locations, retcons etc will almost certainly carry over to any new games made by Zenimax or bethesda using the ES IP.

 

[Naqel]

I can't really see it succeeding, though I really wish it would.

The thing is: without modding, half the people that play The Elder Scrolls nowadays won't get what they like the most, be it being able to watch super HD grass, or a their army of half-naked argonian maids...

 

[SajuukKhar]

Bethesda is a subsidiary of Zenimax, it's not really that different. The leaked article has Tod Howard overseeing the lore. Even if they are beign done by the same teams, Elder Scrolls online does not exist in a vacuum from the rest of the Elder Scrolls series, and there is definately at least a degree of collaboration. Plots, locations, retcons etc will almost certainly carry over to any new games made by Zenimax or bethesda using the ES IP.

Zenimax online =/= Zenimax

Zenimax online is a subsidiary of Zenimix like Bethesda, also they said todd "checks in" every now and then , he isnt there constantly spending a good deal of time making it.

Also Es has a nice little thing called a dragonbreak, were time become nonlinear causing countless parallel timelines to spawn and others to be destroyed entirely. Bethesda could dragon-break the entire game out of lore in a snap.

 

[Zydrate]

Well I guess thats it.... TES will go the way of Warcraft.

You mean really, really successful?

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

*Scratches Elder Scrolls off the list of franchises that haven't been fucked up by multiplayer* Such a shame.

HOW IS IT FUCKED UP WHEN ITS A SPINOFF BY ANOTHER STUDIO AND THE MAKERS OF THE SINGLE PLAYER GAMES ARE STILL BUSY HOW IS EVERYBODY THIS FUCKING RETARDES!
Sorry the amount of idiots here is making be angry.

Why am I an idiot because I don't care for multiplayer? It doesn't matter what studio this is. I don't expect it to slow single player releases. I just hate every franchise giving into the money lure of forced multiplayer. A favorite franchise of mine is now going in the opposite direction of what I'd care to see, so I am expressing my distaste of this. That makes me a retard?
Also, something to add in. Zenimax Online is a subsidiary of Zenimax. If it bombs horribly, this can affect all the other studios under Zenimax, which includes Bethesda Softworks.

 

[Oroboros]

Bethesda is a subsidiary of Zenimax, it's not really that different. The leaked article has Tod Howard overseeing the lore. Even if they are beign done by the same teams, Elder Scrolls online does not exist in a vacuum from the rest of the Elder Scrolls series, and there is definately at least a degree of collaboration. Plots, locations, retcons etc will almost certainly carry over to any new games made by Zenimax or bethesda using the ES IP.

Zenimax online =/= Zenimax

Znimax online is a subsidiary of Zenimix like Bethesda, also they said todd "checks in" every now and then , he isnt there constantly spending a good deal of time making it.

They are both under the same parent company. Zennimax online is gettign funds to make the MMO (which are expensive) that could otherwise have been given to Bethesda to make more ES games. So it is a funds sink no matter how you look at it-resources are going to the MMO, which will develop its own version of ES lore, culture, locations etc, and will do so for quite some time as MMOs are intended to keep people paying for as long as possible. These will more likely then not be incorporated into othe ES canon. Therefore, the MMO will be setting what defines the ES for years to come, not Bethesda. The degree to which Tod checks in or not is msotly irrelevent, the important thing to note is that they Have bethesdas consent to do what they will to the series, whcih indicates that whatever they do, it will be in line with whatever Bethesda chooses to do or not do with the IP in the future.

As for Dragon breaks, when was the last tiem we had one? It's obvious that Bethesda is no longer interested in entertaining the idea of using dragon breaks to explain branching storylines.

 

[The Pinray]

If it's F2P I will try it out.

That's all I can say until more details emerge.

Apparently
-The game has a hubless quest system

-Three factions
--Ebonheart pact: Nords, Dunmer, Argoanion
--Aldmeri dominion: Altmer, Bosmer, Khajiit
--Daggerfall Covenant: Orcs, Redguards, Bretons

-the Imperials are "badguys" work with the Tharn family and Manimmarco, Manimmaro is selling everyone out to Molag ball

-120 hours to reach level cap

-Werewolf plauge

-Your Character has had his soul taken by Molag ball, which is why you can come back to life if you "die"

-They take some of Gw2 mechanics were your weapons determine some of your skills, there is also doddging, skill combos, and other GW2isy things.

Care to share a source, mate?

If it's closer to GW2 than WoW then those are points in its favor, I suppose.

 

[scorptatious]

Back when I was into Oblivion, I would have been all over this idea. Now, I'm not so sure.

captcha: mumbo jumbo

No captcha, we're talking about The Elder Scrolls, not Banjo-Kazooie.

 

[Easton Dark]

I'd play it. Could be fun.

Better than than WoW at any rate.

 

[SovietSecrets]

No thanks. The series is perfectly fine as is with just its single player, no need to turn it into an MMO.

 

[SajuukKhar]

Here is a updated list of things in the game


-Three factions
--Ebonheart Pact: Nords, Dunmer, Argoanion
--Aldmeri Dominion: Altmer, Bosmer, Khajiit
--Daggerfall Covenant: Orcs, Redguards, Bretons

-The Imperials are "badguys" who work with the Tharn family, and Manimmarco. Manimmaro is selling everyone out to Molag ball.

-120 hours to reach level cap

-The game has a hubless quest system

-Werewolf plauge quest chain

-Your Character has had his soul taken by Molag ball, which is why you can come back to life if you "die"

-They use some of GW2's mechanics were your weapons determine some of your skills. There is also doddging, skill combos, and other GW2isy things.

-Enemies can also do combos with eachother, and have all the blocking/parrying/dodging skills you can use.

-Fully voiced NPCs

-A radiant AI system

-Mundus stones that work in the same way as guardian stones in Skyrim

-Crafting, alchemy, and soul-gems are in the game

-Mounts

-Wayshrine fast travel

-Dont expect to get a litany of overpowered Daedric artifacts

-Can join guilds

-Helping guilds unlocks skills

-Cyrodiil is a giant three way PVP zone

-Can become emperor

-Cannot become Vampire/Werwowlf, No player housing, no Player/NPC romance, most likely no dragons

 

[Buizel91]

This saounds good and all, but i hope they continue to make the single player games...i'd hate for them just to scrap them all for MMO titles and expansions.

 

[Oroboros]

*snip*

Actually they specifically said no radient AI. Also, and while there is a werewolf quest chain, players cannot become werewolves (or vampires)themselves.

The 'helping guilds' bit for the Mages guild is just finding tomes, and for fighters guild it's pretty much the same thing (except you are destroying 'anchors' instead), so the guilds sound pretty shallow from what we know so far.