The only backlash if from the few people here on these forums. Most major sites, got loads of pre-orders. Just a small vocal few on here starting all the drama.
"The King and the Pawn return to the same box at the end of the game"
I know this is going to sound like I'm hating on it, but look what it's up against.
#1 - Tomb Raider - A game that came out a year ago and is having a sale ($8.99).
#2 - Elder Scrolls Online Imperial - An Elder Scrolls MMORPG that just released it's pre-orders yesterday.
#3 - Max Payne 3 and Grand Theft Auto IV Bundle - Game that came out 2 years ago. Game that came out 6 years ago.
#4 - Bioshock Infinite - Game that came out 10 months ago and is on sale ($13.26). <- Good Deal
#5 - Hitman Absolution - Game that came out 2 years ago and is on sale ($7.49)
I don't know. Since it has like zero competition, I'm not sure we should be singing praises yet based on those stats. I don't think Amazon would be a great indicator anyway, but it this case it might actually be showing how poorly it's doing, not how well it's doing.
The lead designer explicitly stated that a subscription model was the best fit for TESO so that content wouldn't be locked behind pay walls. Locking a full race behind a pay wall (the addition cost of the CE) is certainly locking content behind a pay wall despite the existence of the subscription. It represents a complete disconnect between what was said and the actions taken be Zenimax. That alone *should* be enough not to trust the company.
However, if you would like more. Zenimax is expressly forbidding anyone from talking about actual game play (NDA) while offering presales of the product. While I very much believe it is the consumer's responsibility to educate themselves prior to a purchase, Zenimax is actively attempting to prevent the consumer from educating themselves. Instead, they are attempting to provide only the marketing message they would like available and are asking consumers to make a buying decision based on that. Guess what? That marketing message is designed to make a potential buyer buy, not to educate them about the pros and cons of the product. This, more than anything else, is what warrants a complaint.
If Zenimax would simply drop the NDA, allow EVERYONE to talk about their experience with the game, allow video reviews to be posted to YouTube and run an open beta that allows potential consumers to try before buying, I would remove my complaints for the most part. I still believe the flat out lie about not gating content behind a pay wall as justification for subscription is an adequate reason to not purchase the game, but at least potential consumers can research that themselves.
Making a playable race only available to CE owners is not locking content behind a pay wall, in my opinion at least. It's almost entirely cosmetic, in pretty much the same way as giving people an exclusive mount.
As for initiating pre-orders while the game remains under NDA. I don't see the difference between that and the old days of gaming when you picked a box off the shelf, read the back, looked at the screenshots, and then took it home. Caveat emptor still applies, and if you're not satisfied with the information currently available then wait until you buy, or don't buy at all.
In your opinion, making a race only available to CE owners is not locking content behind a pay wall. However, charging an additional $20 (or whatever the difference is) to access an entire race with unique racial attributes certainly IS locking content behind a pay wall, opinions aside. If any game adds an entirely new race, they will tout it as additional content. They will not say they added a minor cosmetic feature of an entirely new race. The fact that you have to pay more to access that content means it's locked behind a pay wall.
To address your second paragraph, the entire world has changed with the internet. Social media and instantaneous communication means companies have an opportunity to prove their products are good, particularly digital products. Hiding your product behind an NDA and offering presales is very close to the draconian practice of purchasing a game based on what you see on the back of the box. I agree that they are similar. However, I believe that technology and culture has changed enough to make previous practices undesirable.
"An entire race with unique racial attributes" is rather overstating it. It's a character model. As for the racial attributes, they have been designed, along with other systems in the game, to be of such minor importance that there really is no reason to choose a race/class combination on that basis (unless you are one of the 0.001% min/max crowd). You can offset any perceived benefit from a racial with enchantments anyway.
Yes, the world has changed, but it affords opportunity not obligation. An opportunity Zenimax has elected not to take by keeping the NDA in place, for whatever reason. However I choose not to be a conspiracy theorist and therefore not to see the NDA being used solely as a cloak to sell an inferior product. If you do, then best spend your cash down the pub instead I say.
The lead designer explicitly stated that a subscription model was the best fit for TESO so that content wouldn't be locked behind pay walls. Locking a full race behind a pay wall (the addition cost of the CE) is certainly locking content behind a pay wall despite the existence of the subscription. It represents a complete disconnect between what was said and the actions taken be Zenimax. That alone *should* be enough not to trust the company.
However, if you would like more. Zenimax is expressly forbidding anyone from talking about actual game play (NDA) while offering presales of the product. While I very much believe it is the consumer's responsibility to educate themselves prior to a purchase, Zenimax is actively attempting to prevent the consumer from educating themselves. Instead, they are attempting to provide only the marketing message they would like available and are asking consumers to make a buying decision based on that. Guess what? That marketing message is designed to make a potential buyer buy, not to educate them about the pros and cons of the product. This, more than anything else, is what warrants a complaint.
If Zenimax would simply drop the NDA, allow EVERYONE to talk about their experience with the game, allow video reviews to be posted to YouTube and run an open beta that allows potential consumers to try before buying, I would remove my complaints for the most part. I still believe the flat out lie about not gating content behind a pay wall as justification for subscription is an adequate reason to not purchase the game, but at least potential consumers can research that themselves.
Making a playable race only available to CE owners is not locking content behind a pay wall, in my opinion at least. It's almost entirely cosmetic, in pretty much the same way as giving people an exclusive mount.
As for initiating pre-orders while the game remains under NDA. I don't see the difference between that and the old days of gaming when you picked a box off the shelf, read the back, looked at the screenshots, and then took it home. Caveat emptor still applies, and if you're not satisfied with the information currently available then wait until you buy, or don't buy at all.
In your opinion, making a race only available to CE owners is not locking content behind a pay wall. However, charging an additional $20 (or whatever the difference is) to access an entire race with unique racial attributes certainly IS locking content behind a pay wall, opinions aside. If any game adds an entirely new race, they will tout it as additional content. They will not say they added a minor cosmetic feature of an entirely new race. The fact that you have to pay more to access that content means it's locked behind a pay wall.
To address your second paragraph, the entire world has changed with the internet. Social media and instantaneous communication means companies have an opportunity to prove their products are good, particularly digital products. Hiding your product behind an NDA and offering presales is very close to the draconian practice of purchasing a game based on what you see on the back of the box. I agree that they are similar. However, I believe that technology and culture has changed enough to make previous practices undesirable.
"An entire race with unique racial attributes" is rather overstating it. It's a character model. As for the racial attributes, they have been designed, along with other systems in the game, to be of such minor importance that there really is no reason to choose a race/class combination on that basis (unless you are one of the 0.001% min/max crowd). You can offset any perceived benefit from a racial with enchantments anyway.
Yes, the world has changed, but it affords opportunity not obligation. An opportunity Zenimax has elected not to take by keeping the NDA in place, for whatever reason. However I choose not to be a conspiracy theorist and therefore not to see the NDA being used solely as a cloak to sell an inferior product. If you do, then best spend your cash down the pub instead I say.
Except by keeping the NDA in place while trying to sell the game, it does make them look bad, if they really were seroius, they should lift the NDA, that their not, implies, rightly or wrongly, that they are afraid of what might happen if they did.
add that into the mix, and the arguments against can only gather more weight, if they really want people to buy this game, then they should at least have the decency to allow people to see exactly what it is their buying.
Originally posted by Betaguy The only backlash if from the few people here on these forums. Most major sites, got loads of pre-orders. Just a small vocal few on here starting all the drama.
Indeed. It mostly is the same few that have always complained about TESO.
I think the regular preorder bonus and the Imperial Edition bonus are probably the best perks I have seen for an MMO. Most of the time its junk that never get used unless its a mount.
I know this is going to sound like I'm hating on it, but look what it's up against.
#1 - Tomb Raider - A game that came out a year ago and is having a sale ($8.99).
#2 - Elder Scrolls Online Imperial - An Elder Scrolls MMORPG that just released it's pre-orders yesterday.
#3 - Max Payne 3 and Grand Theft Auto IV Bundle - Game that came out 2 years ago. Game that came out 6 years ago.
#4 - Bioshock Infinite - Game that came out 10 months ago and is on sale ($13.26). <- Good Deal
#5 - Hitman Absolution - Game that came out 2 years ago and is on sale ($7.49)
I don't know. Since it has like zero competition, I'm not sure we should be singing praises yet based on those stats. I don't think Amazon would be a great indicator anyway, but it this case it might actually be showing how poorly it's doing, not how well it's doing.
You neglected to mention GTA V.
I can not remember winning or losing a single debate on the internet.
I know this is going to sound like I'm hating on it, but look what it's up against.
#1 - Tomb Raider - A game that came out a year ago and is having a sale ($8.99).
#2 - Elder Scrolls Online Imperial - An Elder Scrolls MMORPG that just released it's pre-orders yesterday.
#3 - Max Payne 3 and Grand Theft Auto IV Bundle - Game that came out 2 years ago. Game that came out 6 years ago.
#4 - Bioshock Infinite - Game that came out 10 months ago and is on sale ($13.26). <- Good Deal
#5 - Hitman Absolution - Game that came out 2 years ago and is on sale ($7.49)
I don't know. Since it has like zero competition, I'm not sure we should be singing praises yet based on those stats. I don't think Amazon would be a great indicator anyway, but it this case it might actually be showing how poorly it's doing, not how well it's doing.
You neglected to mention GTA V.
Where is it? I don't see it on the list.
Edit: Oh, wait. I was using you PC Games link where it was number 2. Grand Theft Auto 5 was a PS3 game that came out 5 months ago.
And it's a false argument. Basically the straw man logical fallacy.
Most of the people that I see calling this out as a money grab are people that have purchased more expensive CEs in the past. Many of them are also supporters of the subscription model.
There is a very large difference between not being able to afford something and feeling like something is designed to take advantage of the consumer.
Take advantage of who? Both people who have been wanting to play as an Imperial all along?
I am one of those two people, and I can confirm that I do not feel taken advantage of. On the contrary, I feel like this is the first well conceived Collector's Edition in a long time, with bonuses that actually matter to me. I especially don't feel taken advantage of because I am getting the physical edition, which for what it provides is extremely under-priced relative to comparable collector's editions.
Originally posted by killion81
The monetization methods of any product or service can be designed in a way to take advantage of the consumer. There are entire consumer advocacy groups designed to prevent this type of behavior and without them, things would be a lot worse for everyone. Why? Because a ton of people take the same stance that you are.
You are welcome to laugh about it all you want. However, laughing at something does not change it's validity.
It is true that laughing at something valid does not change it's validity. It is also true that treating something invalid seriously does not grant it validity.
Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken. The Force shall free me.
When it comes to games your avg gamers don't rally behind a cause, doesn't argue about payment models, don't rage about development directions....or anything else you see go on, on forums.
They buy a game, play it till they get bored and then buy something else.
+1. If anything I feel sad and embarrased for the adults who are buttsore over this. Children get a pass on getting upset.
IMO, any press is good press as it gets people to hear about the game.
Yes because calling people buttsore is a way to show how adult and mature you are. I suppose though children getting a pass is fair enough to explain it away. I don't think most people honestly care about this game enough either way. The problem is that other gamers jumping up to throw good money after bad effects all of us.
I think a lot you are underestimating the knowledge base of people outside of forums. Pretending that you know more about them and acting as if they cannot process the information and come out to the same conclusions is pretty insulting to them. Anyone who is going to agree to buy a game and then subscribe to is going to do a little homework on the subject. Not just randomly throw money away at it.
Buttsore is just meaning upset. If I wrote upset, you might say I was insulting. If I used yet another term, you might make another claim. Deal with it.
Its not insulting its just sophomoric phrase to use when talking about maturity levels. In this case bad press is not good though unless they are planning to come out later and say they have listened to feedback and will address the issue. Which is possibility sense there seems to be a lot of dislike for what they are doing with this. Its difficult to justify when one of your leads has mocked f2p and pay gates.
Kyleran: "Now there's the real trick, learning to accept and enjoy a game for what
it offers rather than pass on what might be a great playing experience
because it lacks a few features you prefer."
John Henry Newman: "A man would do nothing if he waited until he could do it so well that no one could find fault."
FreddyNoNose: "A good game needs no defense; a bad game has no defense." "Easily digested content is just as easily forgotten."
LacedOpium: "So the question that begs to be asked is, if you are not interested in
the game mechanics that define the MMORPG genre, then why are you
playing an MMORPG?"
Originally posted by DSWBeef Yes. Only a vocal minority seems to be upset (im upset) but many players are content with this. Which is sad to me. This pay wall race and any race on alliance crap has left a bad taste in my mouth. Im out for the time being.
"This pay wall race and any race on alliance crap has left a bad taste in my mouth" - again it's Imperials only for the "any faction" race allowance. Secondly, considering the games you listed as playing, the concept of the same races NOT clashing against one another must be a strange one indeed. So, why would this have bothered you had it even been true that any race on the alliance was possible with the CE purchase?
I call drama where I see it - and I wonder how many people are just trying to badmouth this title because it's the one fekken game that has the balls to do something different from all the others (other than Dark Age of Camelot which sadly, is no longer viable in the industry due to negligence and lack of development - congrats EA...).
If you aren't sure what's so different about TESO vs say, GW2 or EQ Next...then I am more than certain this was just troll spam.
Play as an Imperial
Play as an Imperial and play in any Alliance. Gain unique bonuses, crafting styles, gear and more!
Originally posted by CazNeerg Thinking that sentiments on this forum, positive or negative, are in any way representative of general public opinion would be a mistake. Backlash here does not necessarily indicate any kind of "substantial" backlash.
I've seen backlash everywhere and I go on a ton of different ESO sites and forums...
Replace "this forum" with "forums," and I still stand by the point. In the context of the millions of people who might buy this game, the ones hanging out on the internet talking about it two months before hand aren't even a drop in the bucket.
^this^
Not to mention it frequently seems posters on these forums seem to have a bloated self image of their importance. You know as in their opinion is Always the majority, anyone that disagrees with them is wrong, insane, weak willed etc. that there is always only one way to play a game (ie their way) That anything they don't like will always fail because of already mentioned above reasons which to them are facts.
Originally posted by CazNeerg Thinking that sentiments on this forum, positive or negative, are in any way representative of general public opinion would be a mistake. Backlash here does not necessarily indicate any kind of "substantial" backlash.
I've seen backlash everywhere and I go on a ton of different ESO sites and forums...
Replace "this forum" with "forums," and I still stand by the point. In the context of the millions of people who might buy this game, the ones hanging out on the internet talking about it two months before hand aren't even a drop in the bucket.
+1
Not good seeing this from staff. So you consider your own forum meaningless and any discussion on them is meaningless drivel.
Sorry but I have to disagree with this. The backlash seen on various forums and news outlets across the internet on other issues (i.e. The SOE debacle with their currency) were the reasons for the overturn of those decisions. Statistically speaking if you have such a large group of people that are disappointed that number will translate into a larger number when/if you could poll your entire audience.
"In the immediate future, we have this one, and then weve got another one that is actually going to be so were going to have, what we want to do, is in January, what were targeting to do, this may or may not happen, so you cant hold me to it. But what were targeting to do, is have a fun anniversary to the Ilum shenanigans that happened. An alien race might invade, and they might crash into Ilum and there might be some new activities that happen on the planet." ~Gabe Amatangelo
Sorry but I have to disagree with this. The backlash seen on various forums and news outlets across the internet on other issues (i.e. The SOE debacle with their currency) were the reasons for the overturn of those decisions. Statistically speaking if you have such a large group of people that are disappointed that number will translate into a larger number when/if you could poll your entire audience.
Only if it is a representative sample can you expect any meaningful correlation between the stats of the sample and the stats of the public generally. We have no reason to believe these forums are a representative sample.
Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken. The Force shall free me.
So forget about your opinions on whether or not there should be an Imperial race locked to the CE edition, or whether you should be able to play in any alliance with any race. This question is whether or not that choice, in your mind, is worth the backlash and hate that the game is receiving as a result?
Do you think the potential boosted CE sales due to the Imperial race will overshadow the negativity and people no longer buying because of that decision? Or do you think it's the other way around? One thing that can't be denied is this game has received quite a bit of negative press (a lot of which I personally have defended against at one time or another) and this is bringing an extremely large amount more of it.
The comments from people on this forum will have no influence at all because this site has no credibility when it comes to trying to influence people and most of the people moaning wont buy the game anyway and the people who will wont be concerned about the negativity because they will make their own judgement in the open beta. Zenimax will and have charged what they want for each pack and the game will make money and IMO those waiting for it to go F2P could have a long wait.
Sorry but I have to disagree with this. The backlash seen on various forums and news outlets across the internet on other issues (i.e. The SOE debacle with their currency) were the reasons for the overturn of those decisions. Statistically speaking if you have such a large group of people that are disappointed that number will translate into a larger number when/if you could poll your entire audience.
Only if it is a representative sample can you expect any meaningful correlation between the stats of the sample and the stats of the public generally. We have no reason to believe these forums are a representative sample.
Outside the fact that this is an MMORPG forums talking about MMORPGs in the ESO subforum talking about ESO with a poll asking the exact question the sample would be indicative of. Sorry but anyone doing a sample of an audience would love to get their hands on this many people to poll for a general correlation of data.
"In the immediate future, we have this one, and then weve got another one that is actually going to be so were going to have, what we want to do, is in January, what were targeting to do, this may or may not happen, so you cant hold me to it. But what were targeting to do, is have a fun anniversary to the Ilum shenanigans that happened. An alien race might invade, and they might crash into Ilum and there might be some new activities that happen on the planet." ~Gabe Amatangelo
And it's a false argument. Basically the straw man logical fallacy.
Most of the people that I see calling this out as a money grab are people that have purchased more expensive CEs in the past. Many of them are also supporters of the subscription model.
There is a very large difference between not being able to afford something and feeling like something is designed to take advantage of the consumer.
Take advantage of who? Both people who have been wanting to play as an Imperial all along?
I am one of those two people, and I can confirm that I do not feel taken advantage of. On the contrary, I feel like this is the first well conceived Collector's Edition in a long time, with bonuses that actually matter to me. I especially don't feel taken advantage of because I am getting the physical edition, which for what it provides is extremely under-priced relative to comparable collector's editions.
I'm happy for you. I know you're one of the ones who is really looking forward to playing soon. So much the better now you get to be an Imp.
I got the CE as well but the Imperial was not a factor in my decission. Still, it's nice to see a more meaningful perk than usual for the extra $20 of a CE.
"Social media gives legions of idiots the right to speak when they once only spoke at a bar after a glass of wine, without harming the community ... but now they have the same right to speak as a Nobel Prize winner. It's the invasion of the idiots”
― Umberto Eco
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?” ― CD PROJEKT RED
So forget about your opinions on whether or not there should be an Imperial race locked to the CE edition, or whether you should be able to play in any alliance with any race. This question is whether or not that choice, in your mind, is worth the backlash and hate that the game is receiving as a result?
Sadly the two are tied together.
For over a year Zenimax has been telling everyone that's angry that they HAD TO lock the races and factions because its the only way to have faction pride and that sacrifices have to be made to make an SRPG into an MMO.
Now with this, they not only just slapped those people in the face, but also the diehard DaoC fanatics that were rabidly defending it. All this does is solidify that TESO did not have to be made with all its limitations and that we should be getting an open world with no faction boarders or pvp stuck behind walls and even worse, could drive some DaoC players away because they suddenly cant have any pride at all in their alliance.
"People who tell you youre awesome are useless. No, dangerous.
They are worse than useless because you want to believe them. They will defend you against critiques that are valid. They will seduce you into believing you are done learning, or into thinking that your work is better than it actually is." ~Raph Koster http://www.raphkoster.com/2013/10/14/on-getting-criticism/
So forget about your opinions on whether or not there should be an Imperial race locked to the CE edition, or whether you should be able to play in any alliance with any race. This question is whether or not that choice, in your mind, is worth the backlash and hate that the game is receiving as a result?
Sadly the two are tied together.
For over a year Zenimax has been telling everyone that's angry that they HAD TO lock the races and factions because its the only way to have faction pride and that sacrifices have to be made to make an SRPG into an MMO.
Now with this, they not only just slapped those people in the face, but also the diehard DaoC fanatics that were rabidly defending it. All this does is solidify that TESO did not have to be made with all its limitations and that we should be getting an open world with no faction boarders or pvp stuck behind walls and even worse, could drive some DaoC players away because they suddenly cant have any pride at all in their alliance.
I don't think there is much pride in fighting in an arena anyways
So forget about your opinions on whether or not there should be an Imperial race locked to the CE edition, or whether you should be able to play in any alliance with any race. This question is whether or not that choice, in your mind, is worth the backlash and hate that the game is receiving as a result?
Sadly the two are tied together.
For over a year Zenimax has been telling everyone that's angry that they HAD TO lock the races and factions because its the only way to have faction pride and that sacrifices have to be made to make an SRPG into an MMO.
Now with this, they not only just slapped those people in the face, but also the diehard DaoC fanatics that were rabidly defending it. All this does is solidify that TESO did not have to be made with all its limitations and that we should be getting an open world with no faction boarders or pvp stuck behind walls and even worse, could drive some DaoC players away because they suddenly cant have any pride at all in their alliance.
I don't think there is much pride in fighting in an arena anyways
I agree, the idea that pride has to be created by someone else for you is laughable, but that is exactly how the developers feel, and it goes all the way back to DaoC, the only other video game he helped create (no I am not counting his one single MUD without graphics). Point still stands, they just made all their previous arguments to angry TES fans look like the poor game design decisions everyone said they were.
"People who tell you youre awesome are useless. No, dangerous.
They are worse than useless because you want to believe them. They will defend you against critiques that are valid. They will seduce you into believing you are done learning, or into thinking that your work is better than it actually is." ~Raph Koster http://www.raphkoster.com/2013/10/14/on-getting-criticism/
Originally posted by Vonatar "The cost of anything unaffordable is unfair in the eyes of the person who can't afford it."
And they feel as if an injustice has been dealt to them....Gotta love the entitlement generation.
It's accountability we are concerned about, not the money. If you want to think of that as entitlement, go ahead. But, I'm not a blind sheep. Idly standing around will exacerbate the shallow, box sale milking tactics that drive MMO's F2P.
Why couldn't they simply add another cosmetic item to the CE instead of the imperial race?
Why do they have pre-purchase plans before the NDA is lifted? (it shows a definite lack of confidence in your product)
They completely leave out the customer service variable in their marketing equation because they are riding on the coat tails of a popular IP. F. That. SWTOR and Star Trek already tried it.
Of course the decision to play every race in every faction and to pre-order a special race will hurt the sales.
You guys are naive if you think this wont influence sales numbers not at all. Iam not saying this will hurt a lot but there will be people who wont probably not buy TESO because of this decision alone but also combined with other ingame issues seen in the beta or in the upcomming open beta.
When it comes to games your avg gamers don't rally behind a cause, doesn't argue about payment models, don't rage about development directions....or anything else you see go on, on forums.
They buy a game, play it till they get bored and then buy something else.
I really wish we just had +1 buttons on these forums.
When they announced the game there was no plan for first person, but they changed direction and added that due to feedback they received.
Pretty sure the any race/ any faction being a part of the pre order is due to the feedback they've received, as well as the inclusion of the imperial race in the special edition
Developers, every day, use the general feedback they receive to make development decision. Many games now are being directly developed based on feedback.
Almost all of that feedback comes from forums.
The only people who dismiss what gets said on forums, are other players the developers very much keep an eye on how things are received and make decisions based on it.
It seems that most of the people saying it's "no big deal" are the ones that already intended to pre order or get the special edition anyways. Seems like it's been a pretty big deal for those people who aren't interested in dropping a hundred dollars on a game, or for whatever reason don't wish to preorder, and won't be able to get the things they wanted in the game from the beginning.
Kind of cruddy to just disregard the criticism because you don't mind paying for it. In the meantime, as the situation currently stands, Zeni online is asking people to fork over a hundred dollars to play a race an awful lot of FANS have been asking for.
Coincidentally there's been a lot of forum negativety towards many other MMO's, many of which no longer operate or are F2P. I'm pretty sure developers don't share the idea that forum feedback is inconsequential.
When it comes to games your avg gamers don't rally behind a cause, doesn't argue about payment models, don't rage about development directions....or anything else you see go on, on forums.
They buy a game, play it till they get bored and then buy something else.
You are correct.
Heck, I remember waiting in line to play ESO at PAX (twice) and I struck up conversations with the people around me.
Most of them were pretty in the dark with mmo's and pretty much were interested in it becasue it was elder scrolls and they liked those games. It turns out that they didn't really follow forums or "mmo's" and just wanted to play the game.
At first I was surprised but then "light dawned on marble head" and I had to come back to reality that not everyone hung around forums arguing and learning about games.
Like Skyrim? Need more content? Try my Skyrim mod "Godfred's Tomb."
the "backlash" only seems real to those who look at forums often. out in the real world no one even mentioned this game today. there has been no backlash.
Comments
I know this is going to sound like I'm hating on it, but look what it's up against.
#1 - Tomb Raider - A game that came out a year ago and is having a sale ($8.99).
#2 - Elder Scrolls Online Imperial - An Elder Scrolls MMORPG that just released it's pre-orders yesterday.
#3 - Max Payne 3 and Grand Theft Auto IV Bundle - Game that came out 2 years ago. Game that came out 6 years ago.
#4 - Bioshock Infinite - Game that came out 10 months ago and is on sale ($13.26). <- Good Deal
#5 - Hitman Absolution - Game that came out 2 years ago and is on sale ($7.49)
I don't know. Since it has like zero competition, I'm not sure we should be singing praises yet based on those stats. I don't think Amazon would be a great indicator anyway, but it this case it might actually be showing how poorly it's doing, not how well it's doing.
"An entire race with unique racial attributes" is rather overstating it. It's a character model. As for the racial attributes, they have been designed, along with other systems in the game, to be of such minor importance that there really is no reason to choose a race/class combination on that basis (unless you are one of the 0.001% min/max crowd). You can offset any perceived benefit from a racial with enchantments anyway.
Yes, the world has changed, but it affords opportunity not obligation. An opportunity Zenimax has elected not to take by keeping the NDA in place, for whatever reason. However I choose not to be a conspiracy theorist and therefore not to see the NDA being used solely as a cloak to sell an inferior product. If you do, then best spend your cash down the pub instead I say.
Except by keeping the NDA in place while trying to sell the game, it does make them look bad, if they really were seroius, they should lift the NDA, that their not, implies, rightly or wrongly, that they are afraid of what might happen if they did.
add that into the mix, and the arguments against can only gather more weight, if they really want people to buy this game, then they should at least have the decency to allow people to see exactly what it is their buying.
Indeed. It mostly is the same few that have always complained about TESO.
I think the regular preorder bonus and the Imperial Edition bonus are probably the best perks I have seen for an MMO. Most of the time its junk that never get used unless its a mount.
You neglected to mention GTA V.
I can not remember winning or losing a single debate on the internet.
Where is it? I don't see it on the list.
Edit: Oh, wait. I was using you PC Games link where it was number 2. Grand Theft Auto 5 was a PS3 game that came out 5 months ago.
I am one of those two people, and I can confirm that I do not feel taken advantage of. On the contrary, I feel like this is the first well conceived Collector's Edition in a long time, with bonuses that actually matter to me. I especially don't feel taken advantage of because I am getting the physical edition, which for what it provides is extremely under-priced relative to comparable collector's editions.
It is true that laughing at something valid does not change it's validity. It is also true that treating something invalid seriously does not grant it validity.Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory.
Through victory, my chains are broken.
The Force shall free me.
In you option, which doesn't count for anything.
Epic Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAigCvelkhQ&list=PLo9FRw1AkDuQLEz7Gvvaz3ideB2NpFtT1
https://archive.org/details/softwarelibrary_msdos?&sort=-downloads&page=1
Kyleran: "Now there's the real trick, learning to accept and enjoy a game for what it offers rather than pass on what might be a great playing experience because it lacks a few features you prefer."
John Henry Newman: "A man would do nothing if he waited until he could do it so well that no one could find fault."
FreddyNoNose: "A good game needs no defense; a bad game has no defense." "Easily digested content is just as easily forgotten."
LacedOpium: "So the question that begs to be asked is, if you are not interested in the game mechanics that define the MMORPG genre, then why are you playing an MMORPG?"
"This pay wall race and any race on alliance crap has left a bad taste in my mouth" - again it's Imperials only for the "any faction" race allowance. Secondly, considering the games you listed as playing, the concept of the same races NOT clashing against one another must be a strange one indeed. So, why would this have bothered you had it even been true that any race on the alliance was possible with the CE purchase?
I call drama where I see it - and I wonder how many people are just trying to badmouth this title because it's the one fekken game that has the balls to do something different from all the others (other than Dark Age of Camelot which sadly, is no longer viable in the industry due to negligence and lack of development - congrats EA...).
If you aren't sure what's so different about TESO vs say, GW2 or EQ Next...then I am more than certain this was just troll spam.
Play as an Imperial
Play as an Imperial and play in any Alliance. Gain unique bonuses, crafting styles, gear and more!
^this^
Not to mention it frequently seems posters on these forums seem to have a bloated self image of their importance. You know as in their opinion is Always the majority, anyone that disagrees with them is wrong, insane, weak willed etc. that there is always only one way to play a game (ie their way) That anything they don't like will always fail because of already mentioned above reasons which to them are facts.
Not good seeing this from staff. So you consider your own forum meaningless and any discussion on them is meaningless drivel.
Sorry but I have to disagree with this. The backlash seen on various forums and news outlets across the internet on other issues (i.e. The SOE debacle with their currency) were the reasons for the overturn of those decisions. Statistically speaking if you have such a large group of people that are disappointed that number will translate into a larger number when/if you could poll your entire audience.
"In the immediate future, we have this one, and then weve got another one that is actually going to be so were going to have, what we want to do, is in January, what were targeting to do, this may or may not happen, so you cant hold me to it. But what were targeting to do, is have a fun anniversary to the Ilum shenanigans that happened. An alien race might invade, and they might crash into Ilum and there might be some new activities that happen on the planet." ~Gabe Amatangelo
Only if it is a representative sample can you expect any meaningful correlation between the stats of the sample and the stats of the public generally. We have no reason to believe these forums are a representative sample.
Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory.
Through victory, my chains are broken.
The Force shall free me.
The comments from people on this forum will have no influence at all because this site has no credibility when it comes to trying to influence people and most of the people moaning wont buy the game anyway and the people who will wont be concerned about the negativity because they will make their own judgement in the open beta. Zenimax will and have charged what they want for each pack and the game will make money and IMO those waiting for it to go F2P could have a long wait.
Asbo
Outside the fact that this is an MMORPG forums talking about MMORPGs in the ESO subforum talking about ESO with a poll asking the exact question the sample would be indicative of. Sorry but anyone doing a sample of an audience would love to get their hands on this many people to poll for a general correlation of data.
"In the immediate future, we have this one, and then weve got another one that is actually going to be so were going to have, what we want to do, is in January, what were targeting to do, this may or may not happen, so you cant hold me to it. But what were targeting to do, is have a fun anniversary to the Ilum shenanigans that happened. An alien race might invade, and they might crash into Ilum and there might be some new activities that happen on the planet." ~Gabe Amatangelo
I'm happy for you. I know you're one of the ones who is really looking forward to playing soon. So much the better now you get to be an Imp.
I got the CE as well but the Imperial was not a factor in my decission. Still, it's nice to see a more meaningful perk than usual for the extra $20 of a CE.
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?”
― CD PROJEKT RED
Sadly the two are tied together.
For over a year Zenimax has been telling everyone that's angry that they HAD TO lock the races and factions because its the only way to have faction pride and that sacrifices have to be made to make an SRPG into an MMO.
Now with this, they not only just slapped those people in the face, but also the diehard DaoC fanatics that were rabidly defending it. All this does is solidify that TESO did not have to be made with all its limitations and that we should be getting an open world with no faction boarders or pvp stuck behind walls and even worse, could drive some DaoC players away because they suddenly cant have any pride at all in their alliance.
"People who tell you youre awesome are useless. No, dangerous.
They are worse than useless because you want to believe them. They will defend you against critiques that are valid. They will seduce you into believing you are done learning, or into thinking that your work is better than it actually is." ~Raph Koster
http://www.raphkoster.com/2013/10/14/on-getting-criticism/
I don't think there is much pride in fighting in an arena anyways
I agree, the idea that pride has to be created by someone else for you is laughable, but that is exactly how the developers feel, and it goes all the way back to DaoC, the only other video game he helped create (no I am not counting his one single MUD without graphics). Point still stands, they just made all their previous arguments to angry TES fans look like the poor game design decisions everyone said they were.
"People who tell you youre awesome are useless. No, dangerous.
They are worse than useless because you want to believe them. They will defend you against critiques that are valid. They will seduce you into believing you are done learning, or into thinking that your work is better than it actually is." ~Raph Koster
http://www.raphkoster.com/2013/10/14/on-getting-criticism/
It's accountability we are concerned about, not the money. If you want to think of that as entitlement, go ahead. But, I'm not a blind sheep. Idly standing around will exacerbate the shallow, box sale milking tactics that drive MMO's F2P.
Why couldn't they simply add another cosmetic item to the CE instead of the imperial race?
Why do they have pre-purchase plans before the NDA is lifted? (it shows a definite lack of confidence in your product)
They completely leave out the customer service variable in their marketing equation because they are riding on the coat tails of a popular IP. F. That. SWTOR and Star Trek already tried it.
Take the Magic: The Gathering 'What Color Are You?' Quiz.
Of course the decision to play every race in every faction and to pre-order a special race will hurt the sales.
You guys are naive if you think this wont influence sales numbers not at all. Iam not saying this will hurt a lot but there will be people who wont probably not buy TESO because of this decision alone but also combined with other ingame issues seen in the beta or in the upcomming open beta.
When they announced the game there was no plan for first person, but they changed direction and added that due to feedback they received.
Pretty sure the any race/ any faction being a part of the pre order is due to the feedback they've received, as well as the inclusion of the imperial race in the special edition
Developers, every day, use the general feedback they receive to make development decision. Many games now are being directly developed based on feedback.
Almost all of that feedback comes from forums.
The only people who dismiss what gets said on forums, are other players the developers very much keep an eye on how things are received and make decisions based on it.
It seems that most of the people saying it's "no big deal" are the ones that already intended to pre order or get the special edition anyways. Seems like it's been a pretty big deal for those people who aren't interested in dropping a hundred dollars on a game, or for whatever reason don't wish to preorder, and won't be able to get the things they wanted in the game from the beginning.
Kind of cruddy to just disregard the criticism because you don't mind paying for it. In the meantime, as the situation currently stands, Zeni online is asking people to fork over a hundred dollars to play a race an awful lot of FANS have been asking for.
Coincidentally there's been a lot of forum negativety towards many other MMO's, many of which no longer operate or are F2P. I'm pretty sure developers don't share the idea that forum feedback is inconsequential.
You are correct.
Heck, I remember waiting in line to play ESO at PAX (twice) and I struck up conversations with the people around me.
Most of them were pretty in the dark with mmo's and pretty much were interested in it becasue it was elder scrolls and they liked those games. It turns out that they didn't really follow forums or "mmo's" and just wanted to play the game.
At first I was surprised but then "light dawned on marble head" and I had to come back to reality that not everyone hung around forums arguing and learning about games.
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo