Why does ESO get so much hate?

GPrestige · January 2015

So, as you may or may not have noticed, I made another thread asking people to sell me on this game. Well, coupled with the controversial "MMO of the year" win, it worked. I purchased the game, but went in with the intention of keeping my expectations low.

I fucking love it. I haven't been this immersed in an MMO for a long time. There are some UI differences I need to get used to, but other than that it is a very fun game. I won't bother getting too much into what it is that makes it feel so immersed, as that is more of a must-be-experienced thing.

But I am curious. Why does this game get so much hate? Was it because of the launch, and that has stuck in people's heads? Am I doing something wrong, not seeing what it is that people don't like? Or is it just that I'm an anomaly and am one of the few people who actually like it?

If someone could explain just what it is that causes the hate from people who don't play, I'm very interested in knowing.

Kaladin · January 2015

It really did come down to a rough launch. nothing more. Most other complaints I would consider minor things that would not kill a game.

Phry · January 2015

Perhaps you should change the title of your thread to 'Why are so many people disappointed with ESO'

I wouldn't say the game has a lot of hate as such, although during launch it certainly garnered a fair amount of dislike due to various bugs and server outages. But mostly i would say that its a case of disappointment, after all, graphically the game is among the best of the current MMO's, its just a shame that so many things about the game were disappointing, though for me, the biggest disappointment was how the Magic in ESO was totally different to any previous TES game, and instead devolved to just waving a destruction staff around, okay that is an over simplification but that's how it felt. And thats before you get into the whole grouping and phasing issues.

BurntCabbage · January 2015

because its not skyrim ..i could careless it not that bad of a game imo

Bladestrom · January 2015

He was referring to the hate, which mostly started building when TSW lost out to ESO in the MMO of the year competition. Game is fine now, had issues at start pretty much like most MMO.

Randayn · January 2015

I think it's a great game, but the killer is a muddied and almost non-exhistent/improperly functioning trinity system....I wanted to be a tank....realized there wasn't much use for one. I left.

Manasong · January 2015

Originally posted by GPrestige
So, as you may or may not have noticed, I made another thread asking people to sell me on this game. Well, coupled with the controversial "MMO of the year" win, it worked. I purchased the game, but went in with the intention of keeping my expectations low.

I fucking love it. I haven't been this immersed in an MMO for a long time. There are some UI differences I need to get used to, but other than that it is a very fun game. I won't bother getting too much into what it is that makes it feel so immersed, as that is more of a must-be-experienced thing.

But I am curious. Why does this game get so much hate? Was it because of the launch, and that has stuck in people's heads? Am I doing something wrong, not seeing what it is that people don't like? Or is it just that I'm an anomaly and am one of the few people who actually like it?

If someone could explain just what it is that causes the hate from people who don't play, I'm very interested in knowing.

Hype

bcbully · January 2015

I honestly believe it's because of it's potential. It threatens the old gaurd. Blizz, SOE, NCsoft. ESO on looks alone is so far ahead of the rest of the genre it's startling. In encourage anyone reading to do a side by side with ESO's Cyrodiil and any of the other big name mmorpgs pvp.

When you add in an exteremely well established IP from a company who has plenty of cash but is not heavy on traditional advertising, ESO threatens upset the apple cart.

Bladestrom · January 2015

It wasn't designed to be a trinity game, not many new MMO are these days, too simplistic in term of choice.

Killtask · January 2015

Elder Scrolls Online is a beautiful and amazing solo game.

Groups only got good group dungeons, but you can't play the main story quests, and any guild quests where you zone in an instance, with a friend. All of that is solo.

Progress in an outside map's main quest enough to where you cause a big change in the environment, and if your friend is in a previous quest before that change, you can't really help them finish it, they phase out to you.

At least that's how it was back at launch.

You're right though it is the most immersive mmorpg ever.

k11keeper · January 2015

It's because Elder Scrolls is a beloved series and if this game wasn't as perfect or as great as others in the series this is exactly what happens.

Edit addition: I think it would have been great to have kept it close to the single player style with a Diablo style group aspect. I've always wanted to play elder scrolls with just a friend or two never needed it be an MMO that would/did require too many changes to the formula.

Bladestrom · January 2015

It's because we are sitting in our lovely new armchair while mr hater looks across from his old chair that has 6 layers of old fabric on it and smells like old dogs?

Bladestrom · January 2015

^^ it's very comfortable though ^^

Belgaraath · January 2015

1) People over reacted to the vocal minority and reviewers about the starter areas and wanted to skip them. I for one loved them and they did exactly what I think they should. Yes, the 3 different factions weren't equal experiences and they could have made the 3 more aligned (less running in one versus another), but in general they were fine. Now I think its more confusing when you pop into an open world for the first time and you are wondering why go backwards into a starter area.

2) The bots and gold spammers were all over the place the first month or two. That has been basically eliminated.

3) The controversial marketing such as the ability to play any race in one of the 3 factions. Also, the ability at level 50 to go play the others even to this day is equally controversial.

4) Even though Zenimax made it very clear this wasn't Skyrim online, many expected that unrealistically.

5) Many thought more should have been offered up front versus the fact that we are getting a lot of the good stuff now.

6) There were many buggy quests and people in the MMO community, especially here on this site, are very impatient even though they basically experience the same thing with every MMO release.

7) Once you hit level 50, it became a grind for veterans (too hard for others, too easy for others) which is why they are overhauling the system.

8) Many didn't like the class templates and wanted the character progression to be classless like Skyrim.

9) Many didn't like the animations or the weight of the combat.

10) Many didn't like that it was subscription.

11) There wasn't enough reason in some eyes to group at all. Grouping was almost a chore and phasing made it quite challenging at times. Dungeons felt like copy and paste of each other. Anchors even today are still repetitive at all levels.

The list goes on on and on. However, from someone who had played since beta, even with all of the above and my grips with the crossing factions at level 50, I felt it was my favorite MMO since LOTRO and the only one that kept me for an extended period of time. I voted for ESO in the poll just barely versus LOTRO and the game continues to march rather quickly into quite the fantastic beast of an MMO. By update 1.8 or 2.0, I think it will be heads and shoulders above all other MMOs..in many cases I feel it already is.

JamesGoblin · January 2015

ESO also gets lots of love (and attention in general), these naturally go hand in hand with hate. I´m fine with ESO hate, in fact I would be worried if rats suddenly started leaving the ship

Bascola · January 2015

~ No big surprise there, if i buy a Ferrari and pay the price for a Ferrari but they deliver a Prius with no steering wheel.

Randayn · January 2015

Originally posted by Bladestrom
It wasn't designed to be a trinity game, not many new MMO are these days, too simplistic in term of choice.

Then, in my opinion, it wasn't designed to be any kind of RPG. It's called a "ROLE"-playing game becauase you take on a role. If dungeons and grouping are end-game, and there is no role to be had without some form of trinity.

PyrateLV · January 2015

Many Elder Scroll fans didnt want a linear Themepark DAoC model MMO with an Elder Scrolls skin thrown over it and would have rather had a Co-Op Skyrim

Bladestrom · January 2015

Yup rand it's a role playing game not a mmotrinityroleplayinggame. Tank is a single dimension role, armoured warrior with healing skills is a role, healing archer is a role etc.

Satyros · January 2015

First impressions matter.

When I learned the whole "Imperial Pack" deal, give real money to get a bonus race, bonus functionality, in game items etc.. I decided I wouldn't play.

To me it was clear. Either you go sub-based, earn your money every month and have no shop / way of getting items outside of the game world, or make a f2p system.

So I thought they planned a money-grab / bail out of the sub thing.

I was wrong. Luckily an article convinced me after many months to try the game.

If not for that, I'ld still be in the "Burn it with fire" mob.

People are too quick to jump into the hype train and too reluctant to forgive. Thats that.

aesperus · January 2015

A few reasons:

#1) It had a very rough launch. Tons of bugs, bots, and lots of bad player experiences (for example falling through the game world, or having half your army crash outa cyrodiil repeatedly).

#2) False expectations. Some people were expecting Skyrim, the MMO. Some people assumed 'Elder Scrolls' means 'sandbox', even though none of the games are true sandboxes (unless you count MODs). Either way many people were expecting a different game, and got angry as a result. The grinding for VR didn't help.

#3) Missing potential. The game could be amazing, but it just falls short on a number of key aspects. Cyrodiil could easily be the best world pvp experience in an MMO, but it falls short. VR content is a huge mistake (one they are finally getting rid of). The combat has a lot of potential, but is flawed in its current implementation (has very little pacing, in favor of more 'spammy' combat actions). PvE phasing makes it very difficult to play w/ friends (they've been improving on this, but it's still not 100% better).

As such the game has a love-hate relationship. With many gamers. It's polarizing. Many people want to love the game, because there's a lot of good qualities to it. Some are able to look past the bad / ignore what's missing, and enjoy the good. Others cannot, and hate that the game isn't better.

Nemesis7884 · January 2015

eso is a very good mmo comparing it to other mmo's not taking into account any history of its franchise - but most people just expected something different from an eso game and didnt feel they got it...they wante the free world single player experience in a multiplayer environment...

Nanfoodle · January 2015

Many reasons.

Bad launch was a big one but there are many more and most of it is because of the IP. Everyone has their fav TES game and when someone thinks of an ES MMO not everyone sees the same vision. Also its a MMO and tastes for MMOs are as different as what brand of beer to drink. Myself, if I cant team the solo content (leveling quests etc) its just not a MMO for me so IMO its a fail as an MMO. For someone else, no FFA PvP means fail. Some even have it in mind that TES is a sandbox game and ESO should not have been a themepark. In the end, more people dislike it then like it, as can be said about all MMOs or everyone would be playing the same one.

DrunkWolf · January 2015

i dont hate on the game, i can care less either way to be honest. i was just dissapointed that it was just another themepark thats all.

and thank god for open beta, saved me some money.

Gardavsshade · January 2015

Short version.....Because it's not Skyrim as much as I would have liked it to be.

On a personal level... because of Zenimax (I won't be their customer) and because Skyrim's Archers use arrows that need to be purchased/looted, but ESO has them make believe magic arrows like other modern MMOs have. (sounds silly but that really did and does bother me). If ESO had kept the "real" arrow game design of Skyrim I would have tried out ESO.

But to be honest I haven't trusted Zenimax for years (long story) and how they handled ESO has not improved my opinion of them as a MMO Provider.

serialMMOist · January 2015

I just resubbed. Getting bored of wow again. I don't give a shit what other people say. I play what I like and I'll pay to do it too!

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