A small 4-6 player co-op mode would be awesome.

MMO? No thank you.

KeyMaster45:
I'd been unable to think of any property that might be able to eclipse WoW in MMO success.

People said the same thing about Star Wars...
Well, at least Yahtzee did... mind you I hoped SWTOR could've done it...

OT: Really... TES MMO?
I mean, I won't complain... But, Elder Scrolls is all about the single player experience and being dipped into it's own lore so much that you forget which world is real or not...

Mind you, I'll probably play it like everyone else... But if there's a subscription fee, I'll stick with GW2

Well Warhammer failed. Star Wars failed if there is an active franchise out there that has a legitimate shot at taking the crown from WoW it would be the Elder Scrolls i guess.

BUT we cannot forget Titan! IF a wow killer doesnt present itself soon then i bet Titan will overtake and destroy any competition. And after that people will still try to kill WoW but will be aiming for the 2nd spot. . . . eitherway its a win in my eyes since the games have to be both really good in order to get top spot.

People, the article says it's subscription-based, so stop holding out hope. The dev team has clearly decided it refuses to learn the lesson of TORtanic.

TheDrunkNinja:
So far, The Old Republic has been able to barely compete with WoW, and I keep hearing its in steady decline as well.

That's being rather generous, actually. Last I recall, it went from over 1 million subscriptions in the first few days....to stopping pretty much dead still under 2 million subscriptions in March. That's MUCH too early for an MMO to stop its exponential growth and it doesn't bode well for TOR's future.

Tanakh:
Funcom and NCSoft seem to disagree with you, they both do WoW flavoured MMOs, they both are successful, NCSoft actually is VERY successful.

I assume you're referring to Aion or some such thing, because the only other title under the NCSoft label that immediately springs to mind is GW2, which is not a subscription-based title and whose dev team isn't even looking to compete with WoW anyways. Or perhaps you mean Lineage or something. I'm not exactly sure. But I wouldn't call any of those games "competing with WoW" by any stretch of the phrase, so I'm actually not sure what you're talking about.

So then several hundred thousand Khajiit rogue thieves running around stealing everything and being generally OP? Pass.

John Funk:

KeyMaster45:

I'll be watching with interest to see if Bethesda can manufacture the fabled WoW killer the peasantry has spoken of in whispered legends for the last 8 years.

Short answer: No.

Long answer: No, because while this is a fantasy property beloved by gamers (an excellent seeding ground for an MMO, to be sure), TES Online is up against WoW with 8 years of content upgrades, streamlining, and development under its belt. That is quite literally an impossible hurdle to surmount. If *Star Wars* couldn't kill WoW, what chance does TES have?

WoW will slowly decline on its own over time. At this point, I remain skeptical that any game could ever dethrone it via force - maybe not even Blizzard's own "Titan" project.

WoW is declining fairly rapidly, with it's user base continues to drop. With so many free MMO's (and a couple of good ones) their is less and less reason to fork out 15 bucks a month for an eight year old game who's gameplay mechanics are at least a decade older than that. MMO's are finally trying to make combat FUN (such as Terra online) and more about reaction then skills with hot keys. So many high profile MMOs are coming out all just this year, each fighting for dominance with an advantage that WoW just completely lacks.

Elder Scrolls online isn't going to be the WoW killer, WoW will be on life support by the time it comes out.

PC only? They should've dragged it out and put in on the next gen consoles.

I'm skeptical. They'll have to change a lot. No killing NPCs at all. Leveled areas, possibly meaning it won't be fully open-world. A lot more monsters than they currently bother to put in. All potentially good things. But will they get it right?

Sigh, doesn't Bethesda understand that the only reason their games are popular is because modding is incredibly easy for them? There writing is sub-par at best, and they game play is mediocore. Apart from brand recognition, this MMO has nothing going for it.

Except maybe it will look pretty.

You know what would be cool? Multiplayer Elder Scrolls like what was done in Neverwinter Nights.

Just because I like raining on people's parades, read a bit of this post (http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=472749).

If that is to be believed, we're apparently looking at nothing more than The Elder Scrolls: Azeroth. I just can't see this working out very well. When I picture an ideal ES MMO, I think of something like UO. But no, apparently we get a WoW clone.

Azuaron:
Sigh.

I don't want to play Elder Scrolls online. I want to play Elder Scrolls BY MYSELF.

*grumpy old man*

I actually agree with you one hundred percent. I am pretty sure I will be checking out of gaming sooner rather than later. I have no desire to spend any time with other people I do not know online playing a game I like to play by myself!

k7avenger:
Just because I like raining on people's parades, read a bit of this post (http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=472749).

If that is to be believed, we're apparently looking at nothing more than The Elder Scrolls: Azeroth. I just can't see this working out very well. When I picture an ideal ES MMO, I think of something like UO. But no, apparently we get a WoW clone.

Except the ES MMO has some obvious differences with WoW

-Limited skillbar
-Weapons that determine certain skills
-Use of blocking/dodging that drains a fatigue bar
-combining of skills, such as oil slick and fireball to make a firewall

All things that the ES mmo has more in comming with GW2 then WoW

Caramel Frappe:
.. Um .. wh-what?

I really could of sworn Bethesda announced that The Elder Scrolls series shall never have a multiplayer experience (maybe I heard wrong, but.. I saw something about multiplayer being brought up and the company shot the question down). Now it's trying to be an MMO next game around? Why?

.. Mmmmm.. I don't see this as good. I'm to happy with how Skyrim came out and everything about it sums up perfection due to being all about me. With an online co-op, the game will be balanced and the game might be horrible in the long run. But I can't just assume that, I need to stick with my guts and trust the people working on this.

Bethesda said they wouldn't make/aren't focusing on a multiplayer game..... Bethesda isn't making the MMO..... So..... they are sticking to what they said.

Cry Wolf:
Sigh, doesn't Bethesda understand that the only reason their games are popular is because modding is incredibly easy for them? There writing is sub-par at best, and they game play is mediocore. Apart from brand recognition, this MMO has nothing going for it.

Except maybe it will look pretty.

You know what would be cool? Multiplayer Elder Scrolls like what was done in Neverwinter Nights.

Technically, it is being by Zenimax Online, but since Zenimax Online and bethesda are both subsidiaries of Zenimax, the distinction is rather slight. Bethesda makes wide open sandboxes with pretty graphics and robust modding communities. morrowind also had good lore, but ESO looks to have only the first one of those four, and seriously, wide open sandboxes can be found in any MMO. They are throwing out everything that set ES apart from the herd by making it an MMO. I have to wonder why they thoguht this would be a good idea.

Oroboros:
Technically, it is being by Zenimax Online, but since Zenimax Online and bethesda are both subsidiaries of Zenimax, the distinction is rather slight. Bethesda makes wide open sandboxes with pretty graphics and robust modding communities. morrowind also had good lore, but ESO looks to have only the first one of those four, and seriously, wide open sandboxes can be found in any MMO. They are throwing out everything that set ES apart from the herd by making it an MMO. I have to wonder why they thoguht this would be a good idea.

well they are keeping the guilds, and random dungeon exploring of the ES series.

You wont be led to many dungeons, and many of them dont have quests, its a game with a large emphasis on exploring on your own, which is what the ES series has been about.

Caramel Frappe:
Apologies, but.. what is your input on this whole ordeal? You corrected me on who's making the game but would you like to add anything else? Not being rude I hope, but I like people giving me full on opinions rather then just correcting me on one matter I got wrong on.

Im not really caring...... since its being made by a different company the normal SP games will still be made regardless.

It seems like a in-between of WoW and GW2. Using features of both.

Michael Kirkbirde, one of the biggest lore writers of the series, and probably the most respected person who has ever worked on the ES series, says he thinks its in capable hands.

This is terrible. A sad day for the Elder Scrolls franchise.

My primary concern is that the MMO will flop and the hard work the Bethesda guys put into creating the Elder Scrolls brand will all go to nothing. If the MMO is bad, most people won't know that it was by a different studio (just look at this thread for proof) and will assume that anything with the "Elder Scrolls" label is bad.

Goddamitsomuch.

I find it hard to see how people DONT know its being made by someone else.

But then again the fact so many dont know Dishonored and New Vegas weren't made by Bethesda makes me more sad and more worried then the potential damage the ES series could suffer from this MMORPG.

I freely admit... I'm interested. And that's not something I've said about an MMO announcement in a long time.

How the bloody hell they'll make it work is anybody's guess, but... you have my attention, Zenimax Online. Do something awesome with it.

Why does World of Warcraft deserve to be top dog? I'm sick of WoW. bring on the reign SWTOR. and this if its any good.

Just as long as they at least try to keep gameplay and feel closer to its TES origins as opposed to following the WoW model like so many others, I'm interested.

Not really excited, it's not like it'll have similar game-play to previous games or anything. Probably the same grind as every major MMO.

ALL OF MY HATE

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

This COULD go well. It COULD be fun to play. It COULD have a story that isn't balls.

None of these things will happen. Another high-res WoW clone will come out, and suck just as much as all the rest do.

They need to do something different...standard click and wait mmo combat is a deal-breaker for me.

KeyMaster45:

Star Wars never had a chance it's not a property that's fanbase would be exclusive to games. I say TES:Online would have a chance half jokingly because I realize WoW has 8 years behind and that gives it a huge advantage over any newcomers in the market. I don't think "WoW killer" is the appropriate thing for people to be looking for. (though I've always found the constant praying some people do for such a thing to be weird) Instead I think we're simply waiting to see what will be WoW successor, and I think the time is right for TES:Online to possibly claim that spot since we can be assured it's at least 4-5 years away. (a 2013 release is very optimistic and if they do meet it the game will be a smoldering pile of crap.

TES Online has been in development for nearly 5 years already.

Has anyone pointed out that even though in theory Zenimax Online and Bethesda Game Studios should be working on their respective projects independently, in practice, because parent company Zenimax will have to fund two projects now, money will end up getting leached out of the primary Elder Scrolls franchise?

"In their tongue, he is trollvahkiin, grieferborn!"

Seriously though, it's hard to feel important in an MMO, seeing as there's 1000's of characters doing exactly what you are. I mean, in the other elder scrolls games, you know that people depend upon you. You are THE ONLY ONE that can save them. Meanwhile, in MMOville:

"You have to help me! My great grandfather's ancestral sword was taken from us by bandits, and the only way you can get it back is to-"

"$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!$ELL1NG ANSRL SWRD 4 15gp!!1!1!"

Hard to feel compelled to get the guy's "unique" sword when there's a guy down the road with a pile of them. Not to mention the whole thing where you're talking to someone about a quest. "Oh, hey. Have you saved the world yet? I did it last tuesday. Might do it again because I need the xp."

It can/does work in some games, but the Elder Scrolls games kind of depend on making the player feel important/unique. "Only one they fear," "Nerevarine prophecy," and all that good stuff. I'd be hard to shake the feeling that the guy telling you you're the uber most important hero of all time would be tired of telling that to thousands of people each day.

...

Plus, you know that pretty much every new player is going to think they're absolutely the most hilarious thing ever for running around shooting people in the knees with arrows.

"OH MAN. I BET NOBODY HAS DONE THIS BEFORE!"

Spectrum_Prez:
Has anyone pointed out that even though in theory Zenimax Online and Bethesda Game Studios should be working on their respective projects independently, in practice, because parent company Zenimax will have to fund two projects now, money will end up getting leached out of the primary Elder Scrolls franchise?

Zenimax is actually pretty rich.

They are funding Bethesda, Zenimax Online, ID and another company I believe.

Console please Zenimax?

I'm cautiously optimistic. If the combat system is something akin to the single-player games and not just /click enemy to autoattack, num keys for specials, it'll be an interesting experiment. Hopefully the first thing to be tested extensively will be stealth kills. Stealth is crazy OP in almost any TES game and that would only get magnified in an MMO as a roving band of assassins could demolish any target they lay eyes upon.

SajuukKhar:

Spectrum_Prez:
Has anyone pointed out that even though in theory Zenimax Online and Bethesda Game Studios should be working on their respective projects independently, in practice, because parent company Zenimax will have to fund two projects now, money will end up getting leached out of the primary Elder Scrolls franchise?

Zenimax is actually pretty rich.

They are funding Bethesda, Zenimax Online, ID and another company I believe.

No company has infinite pockets. And no company just sits on its extra cash for no reason; it pays it back to investors.

This game will flop, trust me. I say that as a devoted Elder Scrolls and Bethesda Game Studios fan. When it does, the investors will ask why, and the answer will be, "Well, the Elder Scrolls just isn't as great a franchise as we thought. It couldn't pull its weight."

And the result will be less funding for the main franchise.

This will not end well.

THE GOOD: The Elder Scrolls universe is well-established and has a lot of unique, interesting locations to go to.
THE BAD: How do you adapt a sole-savior-of-the-world single-player RPG into a multi-user RPG?
THE UGLY: Elder Scrolls Online will have to not try to replicate WoW in order to make any meaningful impact. I'm sorry, but if you just take WoW, put it in Cyrodil and slap the Elder Scrolls name on it, it's still going to be WoW. Now if they were to take the gameplay from Elder Scrolls V, that might work...but then you run into the fact that MMOs just fundamentally work differently than the Elder Scrolls games we've had up to now. The Elder Scrolls, no matter how many companions they gave you in Skyrim, is a single-player affair, so how do you translate that into something intended for multiple users at the same time? Plus, despite what games like DC Universe Online and Invictus would have you believe, being a graphically-less-than-stellar game is a point in an MMO's favor since you have to render often tens or hundreds of characters in the same area at a given time without having the player's processor take it without lube. Elder Scrolls has a near-legend status for its graphic requirements.

Do I want a plays-like-Skyrim Elder Scrolls MMO to succeed? Yes. Do I think it's a good idea? No. Do I think it will succeed? I can't say.