[Column] Elder Scrolls Online: Zenimax - A Good Guy Developer

SBFord

A lot of people gave Zenimax a hard time when they first announced The Elder Scrolls Online. They were a new company that had no experience developing a game on the scale that ESO (with the exception of the team members' pedigree, of course)I have to admit, even I was a bit skeptical as well at the start. Even though Zenimax Online Studios is a sister company to Bethesda, it is a grand undertaking to take such a beloved series and convert it into a MMO. I’ve been playing these games for years and this series is one that has some of the most dedicated, involved fan base I’ve ever seen (some truly take the term fanatic to the extreme). In this week’s article we’re going to ask a bold question, could Zenimax be the perfect company to develop ESO after all?

Read more of Ryan Getchell's Elder Scrolls Online: Zenimax - A Good Guy Developer.

JJ82

wow...seriously? Are things so bad that something like this needs to be written?

"So I ask you, is Zenimax one of the best companies that has developed an MMO? I think so"

Literally made my jaw DROP. Its like something off of Infowars.

bcbully

So far, so good. Fast reaction time and competent development. 

 

edit - for the record OP,  I've been thinking about this too.

raiders95

Personally I think they did and are doing a great job.

I just don't care anout people opening new thread about the why they won't buy or play the game.. "don't want to pay a monthly fee, can"t swim under water, can,'t this or can't that" .. nobody care !

If you don't like the game just move on.. feel free to return to your previous mmo or any FTP !!

so many people will play ESO anyway.

Dev reacted pretty fast and I'm sure they still react fast in needed after April 4th thanks to the monthly fee.

CazNeerg

Certainly better than having Bethesda do it in house, they have been going downhill for years.  They should farm out all future Fallout games to Obsidian, and try to hire some of the dev team from ZOS to take over development on the main ES series.

maddog15a

There a company nether good or bad.  They're not your friend, they just want your money, like any other company.  Keep in mind only select few have tested the current version of the game.  The beta version is 3 months old(which makes no sense stress testing it but whatever).  So we have no idea how the current version will due with a the launch load.  Then there is the frequency of updates, we have no data on that, no history even.

So calling Zenimax one of the best companies the has developed an mmo is silly.

orbitxo

Quality game reflects the company.

 

orbitxo

"You’ve spent years designing the game, building it the way you want, feeling it is ready for release. Launch is less than two months away and you’ve produced a top quality game. You’d be feeling pretty good about yourself. Now let players review the game you’ve dumped your heart and soul into.

They tell you the game is boring at the start, it isn’t as good as it can be. Those are pretty harsh words and some other developers might have looked the other way,"

 

well said, the mmo community are really oblivious to this.

 

ive only experience this kind of dev  commitment with CCP eveonline.

 

Daxamar

Im glad they are making these changes. I found the starting isle OK, but Id like to swing right into it after Coldharbour. Only reason to go back to KR is to gather mats for the early levels.

I like there commitment to a better game. This is why Im paying a monthly fee. I hope they can keep up the good job they are doing so far. My faith in MMOs has been renewed!

 

Righteous_Rock

This is the mmorpg.com covers thier ass save face article. If this isn't icing on the cake before launch, then I might as well be playing mmorpgs with a bunch of dead dogs.

MintberryCrunch

The starter islands had some interesting quests, but it's true, once you get past them the game really opens up and begins to feel more like an Elder Scrolls game where you can head off in any direction and do whatever you want. This was a bold choice to do this so close to launch, I was impressed!

Originally posted by CazNeerg
Certainly better than having Bethesda do it in house, they have been going downhill for years.  They should farm out all future Fallout games to Obsidian, and try to hire some of the dev team from ZOS to take over development on the main ES series.

 

Yep they really went downhill with that little Skyrim game that sold over 20 million copies.

Celdryn

Originally posted by Righteous_Rock
This is the mmorpg.com covers thier ass save face article. If this isn't icing on the cake before launch, then I might as well be playing mmorpgs with a bunch of dead dogs.

 

MMORPG.com really hasn't been (overly) critical of the game as a whole. There have been plenty of sites that have been. Sorry if that makes me less than a dead dog... :-|

RemyVorender

First person in ES games is probably the most important thing for me as far as combat goes. I'm one of those in the very small minority that LOVES mandatory first person while in combat.

 

orbitxo

Originally posted by Righteous_Rock
This is the mmorpg.com covers thier ass save face article. If this isn't icing on the cake before launch, then I might as well be playing mmorpgs with a bunch of dead dogs.

evilized

You should have no pity for anyone in a creative field that can't take criticism. Zenimax doesn't need an ego stroking article, they need to take all of the negative feedback they have been getting and start working towards addressing the issues presented. Zenimax has listened to some degree but there are still major problems that they need to acknowledge and tackle.

Give Zenimax and every other developer as much criticism as you can, otherwise there will never be any change from the status quo. There's a reason addicts are separated from enablers, because if they only ever hear good things they wont change their behavior.

Saxx0n

all about the dollas

EndoRoboto

If you played Morrowind (or bless you, Daggerfall or Arena) then yeah Skyrim may have sold a lot, but it's considered the easiest and most casual game of the series. Sure, Skyrim is beautiful and huge, but lacks the storytelling and character of previous games, at least in personal opinion.

Back to the topic, this Zenimax love is stupid: their only game hasn't even released yet and we're getting all warm for them already? Seriously they've done well so far for what they were given, but reading this reminds me this site is paid for by the newest MMO flavor of the month.

CazNeerg

Originally posted by MintberryCrunch

Yep they really went downhill with that little Skyrim game that sold over 20 million copies.

Yeah, and man, look at all the customers McDonald's has every day.  They must make the highest quality, best tasting food in the world!  Or those Twilight movies, those must be great art, look at how many tickets they sold!  And that Dancing with the Stars, it's definitely the best show on tv.

JJ82

Originally posted by orbitxo

That photo should be for the Zenimax is the best company to ever make an MMO comment in the article.

There is no defense for such a comment and really makes the entire site look like it now has no credibility at all. Such articles should be for blogs and propaganda sites like Infowars.

Seriously to even THINK that a company that hasn't even RELEASED an MMO yet is the best ever.......my god. This is the saddest thing I have ever seen on an actual gaming site before. If there was a hall of shame for gaming articles, this would be the centerpiece.

Ilaya

Muahahaha.......

So Funny. So much ppl say; "Starter Island is boring" so they changed that. And now? All the ppl which said that, will run back to these "boring" Islands to get the Skyshards.

LOL. Changed for nothing.

I feel sry for the Zenimax ppl.

Communitys can be so dumb.

BadSpock

Originally posted by CazNeerg

Originally posted by MintberryCrunch

Yep they really went downhill with that little Skyrim game that sold over 20 million copies.

Yeah, and man, look at all the customers McDonald's has every day.  They must make the highest quality, best tasting food in the world!  Or those Twilight movies, those must be great art, look at how many tickets they sold!  And that Dancing with the Stars, it's definitely the best show on tv.

I absolutely hate this argument. 

Pointless. So pointless. Logically fallible as well. So easy to break down and invalidate.

dadown

I've had some fun in the beta, but even last weekend's beta event still had a lot of significant bugs that prevented quest completions. With the release coming next month, the bugs should have already been fixed, especially the one where the UI gets stuck after a dialog so you can't move.

If it was f2p, I'd be there on release day, but I'm not paying for a box + sub when it still needs work.

blazzen67

Originally posted by maddog15a

There a company nether good or bad.  They're not your friend, they just want your money, like any other company.  Keep in mind only select few have tested the current version of the game.  The beta version is 3 months old(which makes no sense stress testing it but whatever).  So we have no idea how the current version will due with a the launch load.  Then there is the frequency of updates, we have no data on that, no history even.

So calling Zenimax one of the best companies the has developed an mmo is silly.

i cant think of many developers that would change their game this close to launch, can you??, try hundreds that have been testing the current build of the game, not "a select few". google the .180 patch notes to ESO and you will see they have changed and fixed a ton of things in game..they have stated they will have meaningful updates added to the game every 4 weeks, they have already finished with 4 updates for after launch and they continue to work on more. If they arent one of the best companies now, they are headed in the right direction in my opinion. and by the way, they will have one more beta test with the current build of the game before early access on the 30th of this month. If you actually did some research and asked the right people you would find all the data you want on this game.

CazNeerg

Originally posted by BadSpock

Originally posted by CazNeerg

Yeah, and man, look at all the customers McDonald's has every day.  They must make the highest quality, best tasting food in the world!  Or those Twilight movies, those must be great art, look at how many tickets they sold!  And that Dancing with the Stars, it's definitely the best show on tv.

I absolutely hate this argument. 

Pointless. So pointless. Logically fallible as well. So easy to break down and invalidate.

Then why didn't you?  Please, explain to us how the mere fact of something being more popular proves that it has higher quality.

Telondariel

Originally posted by JJ82

Originally posted by orbitxo

That photo should be for the Zenimax is the best company to ever make an MMO comment in the article.

There is no defense for such a comment and really makes the entire site look like it now has no credibility at all. Such articles should be for blogs and propaganda sites like Infowars.

Seriously to even THINK that a company that hasn't even RELEASED an MMO yet is the best ever.......my god. This is the saddest thing I have ever seen on an actual gaming site before. If there was a hall of shame for gaming articles, this would be the centerpiece.

"..is Zenimax one of the best companies that has developed an MMO? I think so, strictly because they are concerned about their player experience"

 

I think if you are going to criticize someone's article, you should at least get the quote and context right.  Otherwise, you just end up with egg on your face.

 

Ryan posed a question:  "IS Zenimax ONE of the best companies.."    <---- notice the stressors there.

 

You translated that into him saying that "Zenimax is the best company ever", and proceeded to rant.  Nice try though.

 

SetEssential

I don't really think that change was needed or praiseworthy. Most Elder Scrolls games are slow leveling at the start which may seem boring for some people. It seems like no one has any patience anymore.