Do you think that zenimax will improve starter zones? Should they?

Heavy-armor-warrior

MMO starter zones make me fall asleep and TESO is not an exception.

Do you think that zenimax will improve starter zones to grab your attention from the get-go. 

And if they do, should they? Being boring at the start has is ups. It filters out all who is lazy and not wanting an MMO of the ES series.

 

So, what do you guys say. Personally i dont care what they do because i can manage.

BadSpock

Sounds like Zenimax heard that feedback VERY loud and VERY clearly, so I expect them to do something.

What they will do?

I've heard AD is the best/most non-boring to level up in initially, maybe they'll emulate that a bit more in the other two.

Hard this late in the game to do major changes.

arieste

Yes, i think they will.  No, i don't think they should.   I actually liked the starter zones just fine, but i know i'm in the minority.

Purutzil

Well given the "It gets better as you go" excuse being pitched by a few people (which I feel is more for the fact less people are around and you trick yourself mentally that you are playing a mediocre TES game and forget that its an MMO) I would say yes. Its important an MMo hooks you in at the start, to show the potential a game has right from the start. People can get a good idea of the mechanics early on most often (don't try BSing that you have to wait to the end to know, you can get a general idea, from there it could expand yes) so its mostly about having them get into the world presented. That 'hook' is what keeps people into a game. As far as ESO goes, it desperately needs something. I really can't help but feel like (as a non TES fan) "why am I not just playing Skyrim" which isn't a very good thing when trying to get people into your game.

Hengist

With the game being less than 60 days from launch, I don't think there is a single thing that they can do to "fix" starter zones if they keep the same launch date.

I'm not saying what you see is what you get, but there simply is no time to do a massive overhaul and revamp of that much game. I'm sure they can tweak, fix bugs, and do some small things, but I suspect the overall starter zones will be pretty close to what they are at launch.

Belgaraath

I actually don't think they are going to do anything between now and launch, though I think they should. So far I haven't read any evidence that they hear the complaint and they are doing something about it. I think they should let them be optional after you get out of Coldharbor by talking to an NPC, let you skip to like level 6-8ish, start in the 3rd zone, let you assign all your skill points then, and give an optional cutscene you can skip over if you want that shows the main story you would have missed. This could easily be done by Launch.

Alternatively, add some more threat in the starter areas and make them feel more balanced. The latter seems to be a much more difficult proposition from a developer standpoint.

note* I actually like all 3 starter areas, but I understand the complaints I have read about them.

Hengist

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Originally posted by Purutzil
Well given the "It gets better as you go" excuse being pitched by a few people (which I feel is more for the fact less people are around and you trick yourself mentally that you are playing a mediocre TES game and forget that its an MMO) I would say yes. Its important an MMo hooks you in at the start, to show the potential a game has right from the start. People can get a good idea of the mechanics early on most often (don't try BSing that you have to wait to the end to know, you can get a general idea, from there it could expand yes) so its mostly about having them get into the world presented. That 'hook' is what keeps people into a game. As far as ESO goes, it desperately needs something. I really can't help but feel like (as a non TES fan) "why am I not just playing Skyrim" which isn't a very good thing when trying to get people into your game.

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It's got exactly ZERO to do with the fact that less people are around. It's got everything to do with the fact that once you get to that area, the game starts to open up, and what the game does well starts to show. Not to mention that's when people can start getting into AvA.

Cougan

I enjoyed the Daggerfall Covenant starting islands myself, maybe it just takes a few more monsters and some more interesting sounds or background scripts. ie. if a village is under attack I'd like it to feel like a real danger maybe flaming debris falling from the roofs and faint screams etc

Hrotha

Originally posted by BadSpock

Sounds like Zenimax heard that feedback VERY loud and VERY clearly, so I expect them to do something.

What they will do?

I've heard AD is the best/most non-boring to level up in initially, maybe they'll emulate that a bit more in the other two.

Hard this late in the game to do major changes.

Did they replied in some way to the critique?

Heavy-armor-warrior

Originally posted by Hrotha

Originally posted by BadSpock

Sounds like Zenimax heard that feedback VERY loud and VERY clearly, so I expect them to do something.

What they will do?

I've heard AD is the best/most non-boring to level up in initially, maybe they'll emulate that a bit more in the other two.

Hard this late in the game to do major changes.

Did they replied in some way to the critique?

You know, i would not be shocked. Zenimax is actually pretty good on giving people what they want. Well compared to some companies.

Greyif

I loved the start and I don't know what is wrong with people.

You complete a tutorial masked as a prison escape, picking any weapon you want, learning how to block, interrupt and power attack all while rescuing a spirit and learning about skyshards. Then you enter your homeland and begin to create and customise your character how you want, most quests I found seemed pretty deep. Putting out fires, saving people from magic curses, infiltrating enemy strongholds and ransacking them.

You can only be immersed in a game if you want to be, if you enter the game with a critical mindset how are you supposed to enjoy it, you just have to accept something for what it is. Too many people skips through quests and just want to power level to endgame, follow ! and ? while playing on a set path. In ESO it is up to you to explore and find quests, that is the true heart of Elder Scrolls, exploration and becoming immersed.

It's right there in front of you, you just have to open your eyes and take a moment to listen.

BadSpock

Originally posted by Hrotha

Originally posted by BadSpock

Sounds like Zenimax heard that feedback VERY loud and VERY clearly, so I expect them to do something.

What they will do?

I've heard AD is the best/most non-boring to level up in initially, maybe they'll emulate that a bit more in the other two.

Hard this late in the game to do major changes.

Did they replied in some way to the critique?

How it works at a larger MMO dev studio that their community and marketing teams, as actually part of their job is to scour the interwebs at places like MMORPG.com maybe but also definitely at big fan sites and the real big gaming "news" sites like your IGN and Gamespot etc. and they then report what is said about their game to the other department heads during what are probably weekly status meetings.

Also, I'm sure many, many designers and management of all levels goes out and reads articles and watches videos etc. after big preview/beta weekends as well.

So unless Zenimax is doing their very best "ostridge with head in the sand" impression - they know very, very well what is being said.

Knotwood

The fact that the main storyline just to get out of the starting zones is 3 HOURS LONG, and the ENTIRE GAME storyline is 6 HOURS LONG should prove to anyone that starter zones is 50% of the main storyline of the game.

 

WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO SKIP 50% OF THE MAIN STORYLINE OF THE ENTIRE GAME?

 

You can spend WEEKS if you wanted to in the staring zones, why would you rob yourself of all that fun and adventure in the game for those levels?

Ilaya

Originally posted by arieste
Yes, i think they will.  No, i don't think they should.   I actually liked the starter zones just fine, but i know i'm in the minority.

Arieste, you are not alone here! I liked the Start as well as it is. And i can assure you that i know at least 5 others which liked it as well. But these ones are not "Forum ppl", as 70% of Players from a Game not. So, we are just fine Let's enjoy what we get!

Octagon7711

Originally posted by Baikal

With the game being less than 60 days from launch, I don't think there is a single thing that they can do to "fix" starter zones if they keep the same launch date.

I'm not saying what you see is what you get, but there simply is no time to do a massive overhaul and revamp of that much game. I'm sure they can tweak, fix bugs, and do some small things, but I suspect the overall starter zones will be pretty close to what they are at launch.

They could increase the XP so you would get more of a reward for going through them or increase drops.

nerovipus32

Originally posted by BadSpock

Sounds like Zenimax heard that feedback VERY loud and VERY clearly, so I expect them to do something.

What they will do?

I've heard AD is the best/most non-boring to level up in initially, maybe they'll emulate that a bit more in the other two.

Hard this late in the game to do major changes.

That's Odd, i found the ebonheart pact area to be more interesting.

Shodanas

The game is 40 - 42 days away till early access begins, not much time to make significant changes. Personally, i liked Stross M'kai. 

IGaveUp

Starter zones that are skippable would be my suggestion for first change.  To me, TES spirit is "here is the world, go play".  Being locked in a starter zone would feel more like "here is our content, you MUST play it".  I don't like that.

 

Knotwood

I don't think people realize the starting zones are NOT LIKE other MMO's. 

 

The starting zones are so big that reviewers thought that was the whole game and reported on only the starting zones....   haha,  the starter zones are huge and have a lot of gameplay in them.

Hengist

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Originally posted by Octagon7711
Originally posted by Baikal With the game being less than 60 days from launch, I don't think there is a single thing that they can do to "fix" starter zones if they keep the same launch date. I'm not saying what you see is what you get, but there simply is no time to do a massive overhaul and revamp of that much game. I'm sure they can tweak, fix bugs, and do some small things, but I suspect the overall starter zones will be pretty close to what they are at launch.

They could increase the XP so you would get more of a reward for going through them or increase drops.

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How would that address the criticisms that the game is not open and not fun? What is increasing XP going to do for people other than speed thru the area's quicker, and not do the content that is available?

Seems like a minor tweak to me.

MikePaladin

Why to waste developers time with few hours content ? This is not smart ...

I wish they focus their devs to bring Better graphics overhaul and start working on opening rest of Tamriel

Knotwood

Originally posted by Baikal

 

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Originally posted by Octagon7711

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Originally posted by Baikal With the game being less than 60 days from launch, I don't think there is a single thing that they can do to "fix" starter zones if they keep the same launch date. I'm not saying what you see is what you get, but there simply is no time to do a massive overhaul and revamp of that much game. I'm sure they can tweak, fix bugs, and do some small things, but I suspect the overall starter zones will be pretty close to what they are at launch.

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They could increase the XP so you would get more of a reward for going through them or increase drops.

---

 

How would that address the criticisms that the game is not open and not fun? What is increasing XP going to do for people other than speed thru the area's quicker, and not do the content that is available?

Seems like a minor tweak to me.

Exactly,  why would you want to skip that many hours and days worth of content?

goboygo

What's wrong with them?  Are the swords not big enough?  Boobs to small on the female models?  Spell effects not flashy enough?  No fast travel?  Its a starter zone, I would be happy to have a bow and some arrows and a zone to explore.

How much excitement do you want the second you log in?  Can we not easy into an adventure?  Does the game need to show you everything in the first 24 hours of gameplay?

iJustWant

You're not locked into a starter zone. You have the absolute freedom at lvl 1 to run to the next (or any) zone. About the only "Lock" that I saw was that you must be lvl 10 to go to Cyrodil, the PvP area.

Iselin

This late in the development cycle, I can't see them doing much about the content in the noob areas. What they could do is lower the level 10 requirement for Cyrodiil entry since a lot of the hurry to get to 10 is about getting into Cyrodiil.

 

I still don't think that the content itself is at fault, although like others, I also preferred the AD starter area... it just had that feeling of having been developed more recently, if you know what I mean.

 

But this game is a change of pace from recent MMOs that fast track you to 10 or even 20 before the leveling begins to slow down. It's a shock to the system at first, but I quite like the pace.

 

Also (and I'm going to sound like a broken record) except for the Cyrodiil threshold, leveling in ESO is not the big deal it is in other MMOs. It's all about skilling up and leveling is only one of the ways you get skill points. You're going to be skill-point starved for many levels. Taking the time to track down those skyshards and doing the quests and dungeons that give you skill point rewards, are more than worth your while: in the low levels they're pretty well a must do if you want to have a good build and maybe do a bit of crafting.

Sovrath

Originally posted by BadSpock

Sounds like Zenimax heard that feedback VERY loud and VERY clearly,

Wait, they did? How so?!?!?!