An Elderscrolls MMO? Aye or Nay?

Eyelids

According to VG247's "very reliable" source, Bethesda Softworks is already three years deep into development on an Elder Scrolls MMO. Recent court documents in the ongoing Bethesda/Interplay lawsuit have allegedly revealed that Bethesda has "close to 100 people working on a secret World of Warcraft-type MMO" -- a tasty piece of info that it's said to be currently fighting to have redacted from a 218-page court transcript.



Furthermore, the unannounced MMO is said to be "very close" to being unveiled. We could even be seeing a release of the purported title later this year, as the transcript is said to also reveal a four-year development cycle (starting in late 2006 would put that either later this year or early 2011). Bethesda has commented in the past that it is currently not working on an MMO, though ZeniMax Online (another studio under Bethesda's parent company, ZeniMax Media) is working on a currently unannounced title. We contacted Bethesda for comment and were told, "We aren't talking about what that studio is working on and don't comment on rumors and speculation."

 

- http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/20/rumorang-elder-scrolls-mmo-three-years-into-development/

Not sure what the law suit is about and yeah this was dated Jan this year but i've not dug up anything else on this.

Well those of you that have followed the elderscrolls over the years have almost certainly come across the rumors that Bethesda will not be making a ES V. There have been hints of an MMO but anything but concrete eveidence. Im of two minds on this, on one hand an ES MMO could be an awesome game (need i say it, if done right). There are plenty of people in the ES community that have wanted some way to go head to head against other peoples characters for years, this could be just what they have wanted. And we know Bethesda are more than capable of making detailed and intirguing worlds, of course this is not the same as making a MMO of course but some of that has to be transferable.

However, like so many game developments, there is such potential for dissapointment. And if Bethesda did go ahead and made a failure out of it, that would leave them in a bad way. Would it then be safer for them to just give us a follow up to Oblivion?

Elderscrolls has such a rich amount of lore, an epic bestiary and great race choices. The potential is there for it to grow it to something truely great.

Would be interested to hear what others think about this.

Neloth

I want it, the faster the better. But they better differentiate it from the rest of the crap out there, IMO a first person RPG style mmo, something in the lines of Oblivion scheme.

scottns

Do we really need another fantasy MMO?

Bloodaxes

We need a hybrid sandbox/themepark mmorpg that is not like all sandbox meaning around pvp.

So yes we need an elderscrolls mmo.

Elderscrolls has something other mmos lack, different strategies on certain enemies meaning if you see ghosts don't expect to hit them with your sword or bow you need magic just to name one.

Sovrath

Originally posted by scottns

Do we really need another fantasy MMO?

Actually yes.

I've yet to play the game that I thought mmo's were when I first started.

What did I think they were?  A mixture between morrowind and neverwinter nights.

I essentially thought they were wide open worlds where players explored them in 3rd person.

I also thought they would have richer stories, skills that weren't just attacks such as lighting one's way throug a dungeon or levitating, etc.

Unfortunately, though an elder scrolls mmo might be closer to what I've been looking for and after playing these games for several years now, I think turning it into an mmo might just ruin it.

Fawarendan

Originally posted by scottns

Do we really need another fantasy MMO?

If it is a well done, Mortal Online style (actually Elders Scroll style really haha), then hell yeah we need another one.

uquipu

Just keep in mind the vast changes they'd have to make to make it multiplayer.
.
I certainly try it.

BoombadiL

Nay.  Elder scrolls is one the best franchises that have been made.  I don't want a bunch of people mucking it up.  Not everything has to be turned into an MMo.

3DG.E

TES is one of the few games I could see as being an MMO. Although to be honest, I'm not sure if Bethesda would pull it off. Make another fail MMO and it leaves a black stain.

Normike

The hallmark of an Elder Scrolls game is that leveling is skill based. If you swing your sword alot you will become a warrior, if you electrocute your enemies with lightning from your fingers alot then you will become a better wizard. That's what people like about Elder Scrolls. But skill based levelling isn't popular in the top MMOs.

arctarus

Looking at the recent mmo thats being release, i dont think now its really a good time for release.

BoombadiL

Actually I think my most favorite element of TES are the living  (fer the most part) NPC's they go to work go the bar after work go see friends go to different cities...  etc...  I think that would be a good addition to an MMO.

jaxsundane

Certainly would not mind trying an Elder Scrolls mmo.  I admire the things they tried to accomplish with the offline version of the series enough to give a look at any type of mmo they tried to make based on the ip.  Outside of Elder Scrolls I'm pretty much fantasied out on mmo's so I equally wouldn't be bothered if it didn't see the light of day.

Ihmotepp

Originally posted by Normike

The hallmark of an Elder Scrolls game is that leveling is skill based. If you swing your sword alot you will become a warrior, if you electrocute your enemies with lightning from your fingers alot then you will become a better wizard. That's what people like about Elder Scrolls. But skill based levelling isn't popular in the top MMOs.

 

This actually is what I did NOT like about Elder Scrolls. I liked the world, not the skill system.

I find use it to improve it skill systems to be very unnatural and contrived.

I do this in those systems all the time, and I bet you do to.

I have developed a skill, so it does good damage, like say sword swinging.

But I want some range damage too, like a ranged spell.

So, what do I do when I encounter a mob?

I  COULD easily kill it with my sword, which would be the logical in character thing to do.

BUT, to raise my spell skill, I'll hit it over and over with a weak spell to raise my spell skill.

Why in the world would my character do that? Because of the game system, and that's the only way to raise the skill. Kinda breaks the immersion, that I use my weaker skill instead of my most powerful, just to raise skills.

I prefer getting skill points, and spending them on skills I want.

Gameloading

Originally posted by scottns

Do we really need another fantasy MMO?

Yes, we need another fantasy MMO. What we don't need is another fantasy setting like the Elder Scrolls.

It is just sad that whenever we hear the term "fantasy", the first thing that comes to mind are the usual orcs and elves. Fantasy used to mean imagination. Unfortunately RPG developers, especially western RPG developers, have sucked all imagination out of the fantasy genre with their tolkien and dungeons and dragons knock offs.

SEANMCAD

yes BUT....keep in mind that each iteration of edlers scrolls the map has gotten smaller and more limited in the players experience.

 

I would like it to happen right but I am not very hopeful.

 

By the way,my first reaction when I logged into Darkfall was 'wow, this is what a Morrowind MMO would have been like finally someone got the world right'. I call it Morrowind MMO with warfare.

Arezon

Originally posted by 3DG.E

TES is one of the few games I could see as being an MMO. Although to be honest, I'm not sure if Bethesda would pull it off. Make another fail MMO and it leaves a brown stain.

Fixed.

firefly2003

If the TES mmo allows me the freedom along with a deep crafting system and player housing I would say yes.

Palebane

Originally posted by Ihmotepp

Originally posted by Normike

The hallmark of an Elder Scrolls game is that leveling is skill based. If you swing your sword alot you will become a warrior, if you electrocute your enemies with lightning from your fingers alot then you will become a better wizard. That's what people like about Elder Scrolls. But skill based levelling isn't popular in the top MMOs.

 

This actually is what I did NOT like about Elder Scrolls. I liked the world, not the skill system.

I find use it to improve it skill systems to be very unnatural and contrived.

I do this in those systems all the time, and I bet you do to.

I have developed a skill, so it does good damage, like say sword swinging.

But I want some range damage too, like a ranged spell.

So, what do I do when I encounter a mob?

I  COULD easily kill it with my sword, which would be the logical in character thing to do.

BUT, to raise my spell skill, I'll hit it over and over with a weak spell to raise my spell skill.

Why in the world would my character do that? Because of the game system, and that's the only way to raise the skill. Kinda breaks the immersion, that I use my weaker skill instead of my most powerful, just to raise skills.

I prefer getting skill points, and spending them on skills I want.

It's actually more realistic that you would get better at something the more you practice it, instead of just getting more powerful because you gain a level or get a new piece of gear that makes you better.

 

In level based games you can just run along with a  party of players, not do anything, and still get more powerful because you will share the xp they earn. In a skill-based game, you have to 'practice' everything you do to get better at it, just like real life.

BMoor

If the world can be as massive as Arena and Daggerfall, it'll be great.  The world seems to get smaller with each iteration of the series.

TUX426

Originally posted by scottns

Do we really need another fantasy MMO?

QFE!!!

Enough of the sword and sorcery stuff. Time to get more creative IMO. Wild Wild West, Sci-Fi, modern day, alternate reality, post apocalypse...anything but another sword swinging game.

SEANMCAD

Originally posted by TUX426

Originally posted by scottns

Do we really need another fantasy MMO?

QFE!!!

Enough of the sword and sorcery stuff. Time to get more creative IMO. Wild Wild West, Sci-Fi, modern day, alternate reality, post apocalypse...anything but another sword swinging game.

 as a fantasy genre lover I completely agree with you.

even I am getting burned out on elves.

Sinistrad

Originally posted by Ihmotepp

Originally posted by Normike

The hallmark of an Elder Scrolls game is that leveling is skill based. If you swing your sword alot you will become a warrior, if you electrocute your enemies with lightning from your fingers alot then you will become a better wizard. That's what people like about Elder Scrolls. But skill based levelling isn't popular in the top MMOs.

 

This actually is what I did NOT like about Elder Scrolls. I liked the world, not the skill system.

I find use it to improve it skill systems to be very unnatural and contrived.

I do this in those systems all the time, and I bet you do to.

I have developed a skill, so it does good damage, like say sword swinging.

But I want some range damage too, like a ranged spell.

So, what do I do when I encounter a mob?

I  COULD easily kill it with my sword, which would be the logical in character thing to do.

BUT, to raise my spell skill, I'll hit it over and over with a weak spell to raise my spell skill.

Why in the world would my character do that? Because of the game system, and that's the only way to raise the skill. Kinda breaks the immersion, that I use my weaker skill instead of my most powerful, just to raise skills.

I prefer getting skill points, and spending them on skills I want.

Actually, yes, if you change your mind much later on, that is how it would go realistically. Or, you might toss one or two weak spells every time you fought an enemy while still largely using your sword. OR, you could use some foresight, and develop combat tactics which level each skill to the degree you prefer, thus preventing any "backtracking."

Of course, I don't see how being a little more realistic would break immersion for me. Neurosurgeons do not use their experience to buy levels in Rock Star, though that would certainly be more convenient. Oblivion and Morrowind only had this problem because the world levels with the player. In a world where certain mobs either have no levels at all, or certain mobs have fixed levels, someone wishing to raise a low-level skill could go fight low level/easier monsters and do low level quests. (Let it be said I am more a fan of a pure skill system, without levels at all, but that's just me.)

Back to the OP, though... I think it can be done, and there is a good possibility it is being done. However, for it to work, it will need to be exceptionally well designed, and by its very nature will have some necessary changes that a lot of the old school Elder Scrolls fans will hate. That is a guarantee. Me, I like a lot of different kinds of games, so if and when I get any real information I will have an open mind about any changes.

Andraxx

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by scottns

Do we really need another fantasy MMO?

Yes, we need another fantasy MMO. What we don't need is another fantasy setting like the Elder Scrolls.

It is just sad that whenever we hear the term "fantasy", the first thing that comes to mind are the usual orcs and elves. Fantasy used to mean imagination. Unfortunately RPG developers, especially western RPG developers, have sucked all imagination out of the fantasy genre with their tolkien and dungeons and dragons knock offs.

I agree. However, when someone tries to make a game setting that is not the standard elves- and orcs-type, it usually does poorly. For example: the Asheron's Call games, Ryzom, Chronicles of Spellborn - these have non-standard settings. AC2 is dead, Ryzom died and was resurrected with a small playerbase, and Spellborn is about to be closed. Look at Atriarch - a very non-standard setting, but the game has never even made it to beta and is pretty much dead.

Maybe it's investors only willing to fund games similar to ones that are considered a success, hence the wow-clone-itis we've seen for years now. Personally, I'd think that an MMO with a completely original setting would be a draw for players burned out on the standard, but it just doesn't seem to work that way in reality.

As for an Elderscrolls game - not terribly interested. The world is just rather bland overall. If the game had innovative features I'd take a look.

 

SEANMCAD

Originally posted by Andraxx

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by scottns

Do we really need another fantasy MMO?

Yes, we need another fantasy MMO. What we don't need is another fantasy setting like the Elder Scrolls.

It is just sad that whenever we hear the term "fantasy", the first thing that comes to mind are the usual orcs and elves. Fantasy used to mean imagination. Unfortunately RPG developers, especially western RPG developers, have sucked all imagination out of the fantasy genre with their tolkien and dungeons and dragons knock offs.

I agree. However, when someone tries to make a game setting that is not the standard elves- and orcs-type, it usually does poorly. For example: the Asheron's Call games, Ryzom, Chronicles of Spellborn - these have non-standard settings. AC2 is dead, Ryzom died and was resurrected with a small playerbase, and Spellborn is about to be closed. Look at Atriarch - a very non-standard setting, but the game has never even made it to beta and is pretty much dead.

Maybe it's investors only willing to fund games similar to ones that are considered a success, hence the wow-clone-itis we've seen for years now. Personally, I'd think that an MMO with a completely original setting would be a draw for players burned out on the standard, but it just doesn't seem to work that way in reality.

As for an Elderscrolls game - not terribly interested. The world is just rather bland overall. If the game had innovative features I'd take a look.

 

 the games you mention are still fantasy like (even though in fairness that is likely not why they failed).

given  the technology there isnt any reason why we cant have a huge variety of genres that are radically different. There should be a great deal more sci-fi for example, wild west,detective, modern day, ganster etc etc etc etc.

bunnyhopper

Originally posted by TUX426

Originally posted by scottns

Do we really need another fantasy MMO?

QFE!!!

Enough of the sword and sorcery stuff. Time to get more creative IMO. Wild Wild West, Sci-Fi, modern day, alternate reality, post apocalypse...anything but another sword swinging game.

Sort of want...

 

Changing the setting of an mmo is not  creative, simply making WoW in cowboy boots is not innovating in anyway. But yes, there are too many games with fuggin elves in at the moment. More adult themed (no i don't mean Leisure Suit Larry Online), gritty, modern day, sandbox mmo's ftw.