Predicting The Biggest Video Game Disaster Of 2014: The Elder Scrolls Online

Forbes - As we head into 2014, it’s an exciting year for gaming with a number of huge, potentially fantastic titles on the horizon from Titanfall to Destiny to Watch Dogs to The Division and many, many more.

But I have a bad feeling about one upcoming title, one that’s never really made sense to me from the start: The Elder Scrolls Online.

[Stringerbell]

Not the same team as Skyrim, pitiful graphics and animations, and a $15 dollar a month price tag to play. No thanks.

[Roccetarius]

Well, there's not much difference between that and Skyrim. Without the modding community, that is.

[il-JumperMT]

Its by the team that made Warhammer Online...which frankly it was horrible.

[zeal0us]

This game will be a train-wreak in its current state. I honestly doubt Zenimax can get the game to where they want it to be in 2-3 months.

P2P model is turning a lot of folks away. They should've at least made it B2P with an optional P2P model. At least then more people would be willing to pay for the game.

[Dungus]

Pointless game.

[_LarZen_]

If the game is good enough it wont matter if it costs $15 a month if the game is good. Only bad mmorpg games are F2P, I have played them all and there is not one, not one single good F2P mmorpg out there.

The only good mmorpg game is World of Warcraft and that is because Blizzard are rock stars when it comes to making games. And that makes it worth paying pocketmoney for.

[Roccetarius]

Honestly, WoW has undergone so many changes by now, that i wouldn't even touch it. I especially dislike the terrible homogenization happening to classes.

[TheFutureIsBlue]

I don't think the paywall will KILL the game, but it will suffer. I think they would make 3x the sells or even more if they just made the game FTP. I play DCUO on ps4 since it's free. If it wasn't I would not of even touched it.

When it comes down to it they should have just stuck with their amazing single player experiences. That's the main reason why people like Elder Scrolls and Fallout. The players feel like it's their own world and that makes the game unique. Now with ESO everyone will go through the same quest and moments.

[thekhurg]

Have you spent any money on DCUO?

[TheFutureIsBlue]

No and I never will/have spend/spent any $$$ on a ftp game. If a game gets to the point where I have to buy something I quit it. Same goes for mobile games if you wanna go that route too.

[thekhurg]

So basically you wouldn't pay for the game anyway, so the developer isn't making anything off you absorbing server space.

Gotcha.

Your opinion on paywalls or subscription fees in general is utterly moot since you clearly aren't the target audience for any type of MMO.

[isa_scout]

So you're liking DCUO but wont spend money on it? You just said you wont spend money on a F2P game, and yet you claim they'd make 3x more if it were F2P? How does that make any sense at all bro?
I love DCUO as well. I've spent a good chunk of money on it as well. I'm a console gamer at heart, but I've spent time on PC games as well, and it really gets on my nerves when console gamers act like $15.00 is a deal breaker. Where were you guys when MS started charging a monthly fee for Xbox Live or when Sony quietly announced that to play online would require a subscription? How is this any different?
I love my PS4 but console gamers(especially in the PS4 and XOne generation) need to become more comfortable with how games have been made for PC for the past decade and a half. I love a great deal of subscription based and F2P games, and believe that as long as the game is kick ass then it doesn't matter.

[TheFutureIsBlue]

So you really think that if they made ESO ftp it wouldn't sell more copies? I didn't start out on PS4 or consoles. I'm 24 years old o.O. I've played MMOs before and I've payed monthly fees. You are missing out on the point why a lot of console gamers are mad is because we would have to pay 15$ a month PLUS our LIVE/PSN subs. That is a lot cheaper than a PC game(which usually sell for less than console games) and a 15$. They don't have to worry about paying for LIVE and PSN too.

I know I didn't explain DCUO that much since it is free anyways with PS+, but I was just using that as an example. If DCUO was 20$ just for the game and ftp I would have bought it..but I wouldn't use any in-game cash for additional items.

[gtxgamer2]

i can see the title going f2p with the option of paying for premium access. 200$ mil development is alot of money, i dont see ot being as successful as it was hyped to be.

[WeAreLegion]

Honestly...I'd be ok with 4 player Elder Scrolls.

[Qrphe]

Because of Tortanic level of budget; it'll suffer the same fate. It's all abouy MOBAs and f2p gakes now