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We’re on the verge of a couple of major launches. The first, The Elder Scrolls Online will already have had its first early access players by the time you read this. The other, WildStar, is coming in just about two months. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to discuss MMO launches, and why, despite the bumps and kinks, it is one of the best times for establishing community.
Read more of Christina Gonzalez's The Social Hub: There's Nothing Like Launch.
Comments
I feel you're only left behind when it's the PVE themeparks with levels, story, quests, etc.
That's because there's a clear direct path one follows on while exploring the game world. Eventually, you complete the majority of the content, as pve is, and you're left with very few things to do. So, as mmos tend to raise the cap by inserting new levels, zones/continents and storylines, it's only natural one would be behind.
However, in a pvp sandbox type mmo, for example, with no levels, the whole world is important, and the addition of new areas doesn't mean the previous ones become deserted.
Of course, there'll always be drop offs after launch for all mmos, but, as long as the game's well designed and there's not too many servers to spread the playerbase, you'll end up with hubs of players to met. And to respond to your point about community, i disagree.
IMHO, the players who stay with a game after the "new and shiny" fase are the ones that'll build the true community. And even then, most will just stick to solo, family, friends, guilds, and rarely play with others. But that's perfectly ok.
I think there must be some misunderstanding. You don't pick a server in this game. Everyone plays on the scalable Megaserver which dynamically instances zones based on population, so overflow servers make no sense.
also take note in eso case even on they closed beta server they servers had problems now people are saying the servers are also not working right, again I still don't know why people try to play at launch days.
better jsut wait 2 or 3 months after launch and see how it going then see if you will want to play or not, doing so you will ahve starting zones free not waiting time.
One's mileage may vary on that.
I've yet to have any problems with the servers. I've had to relog twice to fix quests. And that worked, even though it was annoying.
So not everyone is having issues. It probably depends upon a lot. What computer they have, where they are located, who knows?
I wouldn't say a blanket 'the servers aren't working, the servers are working" response fits.
I'm not saying go out and buy early access but I have early access and no huge problems or errors as of yet.
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
I had 1 DC due to a game error yesterday. I played almost 17 hours. Also, I want to note, only 1 bugged quest out of roughly 60-70 quests.
I think its GW2 and the City is Divinity's Reach
Cluck Cluck, Gibber Gibber, My Old Mans A Mushroom
Had to do /reloadui a few times but apart from that i have had no problems and i been in a group the whole time.
I need sleep now been playing near 20 hours lol
Yes it is
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So far the four biggest problems that I've faced are:
I think a lot of what this column is about has been missed by the commenters. This article is not solely about ESO. It just so happens that ESO is launching soon but this article is about the time of launch for all MMOs
IMO the best and worst time to start a MMO is at the open beta/launch. It is often so frustrating to start playing then because of all the problems with actually playing. There hasn't been a clean release of a MMO for years and often those problems get to the point people don't want to try playing anymore.
However, if you don't start playing at the launch or open beta you often feel behind while playing and it can make it considerably harder to play the game. How many times during FF14 did you get forced to skip cut scenes because the rest of the group had already been through the place 45 times? How many times have you wanted to finish that group quest but cant find a group around cause the majority of people have already passed that point?
Also often the better players are the ones leading the pack (lets face it if you are playing the game knowledgably you will be if you have the time) and thus if you start late you are often playing with not only less people but those that cant do things as easily as the group that is at the leading edge.
One more thing you have to think about is the end game of the game. If the game's end game is raiding, starting at launch is almost a must. By the time you get to end game if you start even a month later it is incredibly hard to get your spot in that raid. Not only do you have to contend with the last two points but you then have to wait for one of the established raids to lose somebody or fill in intermediately -- or start your own which is not easy when you are late to starting the game.
And lets face it when the game is new it is new. There are not 101 guides to how to play the game and where everything is. Exploration of a game is actually quite large for a game but people often discount it.