Elder Scrolls: Hands On & Studio Tour

Looks like Zenimax invited some of the gaming media to their studios last week for some hands-on play, studio tours, interviews, etc.! The articles are just starting to show up online...

Hands-on with The Elder Scrolls Online
http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/19/hands-on-with-the-elder-scrolls-online/

The Elder Scrolls Online: Hands On
http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=32046

ZeniMax's Paul Sage on The Elder Scrolls Online's endgame, PvP, and crafting
http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/19/the-elder-scrolls-online-interview-paul-sage/

The Elder Scrolls Online: Studio Tour Revelations
http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=32045

Preview: The Elder Scrolls Online
http://www.destructoid.com/preview-the-elder-scrolls-online-248675.phtml

Elder Scrolls Online Previews: First-Person, Exploring, and the Nightblade
http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/game/821/feature/7227/FirstPerson-Exploring-and-the-Nightblade.html/page/1

Questing for freedom in The Elder Scrolls Online
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-03-19-questing-for-freedom-in-the-elder-scrolls-online

The Elder Scrolls Online Preview: It’s Like Skyrim – Online
http://www.gamefront.com/the-elder-scrolls-online-preview-its-like-skyrim-online/

Australian Exclusive: We go hands-on with The Elder Scrolls Online
http://games.on.net/2013/03/australian-exclusive-we-go-hands-on-with-the-elder-scrolls-online/

The Elder Scrolls Online hands-on: first-person mode, skills, stealth and more
http://www.pcgamer.com/previews/the-elder-scrolls-online-hands-on-first-person-mode-skills-stealth-and-more/

The Elder Scrolls Online: What I loved and what I didn’t as a long-time Elder Scrolls fan
http://www.pcgamer.com/2013/03/19/the-elder-scrolls-online-what-i-loved-and-what-i-didnt-as-a-long-time-elder-scrolls-fan/

Elder Scrolls Online nails the “Online,” stumbles on the “Elder Scrolls” during our first hands-on
http://penny-arcade.com/report/article/elder-scrolls-online-nails-the-online-stumbles-on-the-elder-scrolls-during-

What Happens If You Play Elder Scrolls Online Like Skyrim?
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/03/19/experiment-playing-teso-like-an-elder-scrolls-game/

The Elder Scrolls Online preview: proving ground
http://www.shacknews.com/article/78277/the-elder-scrolls-online-preview-proving-ground

The Elder Scrolls Online Just Might Be Awesome
http://au.ign.com/articles/2013/03/19/the-elder-scrolls-online-just-might-be-awesome

VIDEOS

The Elder Scrolls Online interview with Matt Firor and Nick Konkle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD-t_GvYBv4#!

Yogscast: The Elder Scrolls Online - Preview Event #1 Maria Aliprando Interview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGrflK6An6Y

Elder Scrolls Online - Matt Firor on New Features and Beta
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US49X9zFO0c

The Elder Scrolls Online - Synergies, Finesse, Mounts, Vampires, and more!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqRfyfaY-Tg

Also... first person combat!
*breathes into paper bag*

:D it's hard not to get excited about this one. There is a lot of good stuff being put into this one. I am crossing my fingeres everything functions as well as it sounds :).

A couple of recent interviews and videos were concerning to me, first is 4 classes, second is that there will be no raids (which may be offset by "adventure zones" for large groups). The four classes is a very big deal for me. I really don't like magic sneaking into my rogue/thief characters. They had a plethora of classes in Daggerfall and Morrowind, and they would have fit perfectly into a mirror system like DAoC or Warhammer did. I guess I'll wait and see, but I'm apprehensive to say the least

Where did you find the mention of just 4 classes? There were 6 in the build I played. 4 Createable at the time I played 2 were TBA. From what I understood those were ranged classes as they hadn't finished bow models yet in the game when I played. I'd be interested in seeing the article about only having 4 classes. Also keep in mind most of your skills come from how you build your character after creation. Character creation only gives you the base skills and based off how you level and what weapons and armor you use you will gain other skills. Regarding no raiding, thats horse crap. They're is lots of raiding, they didn't even mention the Open Dungeons, and the adventure dungeons scale all the way up to 100 people. Whatever interview you read that said no raiding is full of horse dung. Read: ZeniMax's Paul Sage on The Elder Scrolls Online's endgame, PvP, and crafting http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/19/the-elder-scrolls-online-interview-paul-sage/ He specifically cites progressive gearing, large scale dungeons in the form of adventure dungeons which may have instanced sections to them, and a lot of the end game raiding features.

» Edited on: 2013-03-19 14:52:54

Reading these articles is building antispation for this game. I'm not sure that I actually want to beta this one; I think I might just like to go into it fresh. I was a little disappointed about no dyes so far, but we'll see. As for the different alliances not being able to communicate until 50 and beyond is also a litlle concerning for me. The info also leads me to believe that this game may not be as alt friendly as most others, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Keep the info coming, I guess I'm going to be making a Favorites folder for ESO now.

More articles added to my original post :) A few of the articles do seem to mention "four classes at launch" - Massively, Penny Arcade & Destructoid - but I didn't see any direct quotes from Zenimax on it.

In the very first link in the OP fog. It mentions three classes were available on the day and another primed for launch, specifically referring to the nightblade. Also, I have learnt to take both developer comments and reviews with skepticism Fog, on one hand I could interpret Adventure zones as awesome raid content that caters to upto 100 players, while on the other hand I can interpret that as something like GW2s unstructured PvE massive dynamic events. Structured, challenging raids and unstructured zerg PvE are two very different kettles of fish. Don't misread my post as personal bias, I am trying to look at all info from various angles because I am fully aware of things being lost in translation from interviews. I am interested in ESO as a home for the whole family so I am looking at all angles, if I was looking at games purely on my own preference I would be looking at Pathfinder Online and nothing else, but family comes first. edit: I am looking forward to ESO, however I am trying very hard to look at it objectively not subjectively. Of course my own personal bias (non-magical rogue classes) will try to cloud my judgement but if I sound negative it is purely because I am trying to counter my own excitement.

» Edited on: 2013-03-19 15:49:29

You are so cruel, how am I going to get into GW2 if I'm reading all these?!!

http://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en/news/post/2013/03/18/new-eso-coverage-today there's also that page, i think it's still being worked on.edited: wrong link lol

» Edited on: 2013-03-19 15:42:47

Some of the more interesting stuff in those reviews were being able to quest in the opposing factions at level 50, to support solo or duo players wanting to do challenging content. This is a double positive, meaning you can explore other faction environments but also that you can join and talk with the opposing factions at this point in progression. This should alleviate the faction locking debate somewhat. I'm specifically not mentioning RvR because I am confident that it will be good. I'm not mentioning crafting because there just isn't enough information, but what little information has been mentioned is promising. I am looking at PvE objectively because I have a fair idea what my close friends want out of PvE MMO content and while I don't particularly share all of their desires, I do want them to feel welcome and satisfied with the content that they enjoy.

I will be looking at pve extremely carefully also. I agree with Elth that there is a MASSIVE difference between a pve zerg open world and the type of instanced raiding I love. I also know that until you see what is on offer and immerse yourself, all the media articles mean nothing. The main thing as that we are super objective and base our opinion on fact rather than hearsay. And we take our rose tinted glases off and discuss both positive and negative player reaction in a balanced manner. Hopefully, a lot of us get in and we get a broad spread of opinion as well as more detailed feedback to put into our guild testing matrix. That way we can be very careful and analyse everything with structured objectvity and use facts and stats to our advantage once the time comes.

Nightshade class? UHM YES PLEASE! *Edited* I thought the article said Nightshade, but I guess it is Nightblade. I was having illusions of playing my Nightshade again.

» Edited on: 2013-03-19 16:55:20

So I was promoted today at work. True story. Starting Monday I have a team of 10+ with a whole new line-up of duties and responsibilities. Now ask me what I was talking to my carpool buddy about all the way home (1hour drive)... ..that's right, E freakin S O. That's how jacked I am about this game and all this new info!

Grats on the promotion and gamer subordinates :)

Added two videos to the OP, including one by Sjin & Turpster of the Yogscast!

» Edited on: 2013-03-20 00:01:23

"Nightshade class? UHM YES PLEASE! *Edited* I thought the article said Nightshade, but I guess it is Nightblade. I was having illusions of playing my Nightshade again. " -Pyrrhic I got busted by the same exact term... mouthwatering... drooling... then realised I misread it. heh

Sounds wonderful. Makes me grumpy for no beta access to test and see it in person. (impatient look)

I am really looking forward to this game. Thanks for the links, I enjoyed reading. One of the things I _REALLLLLLLY_ liked about Rift (compared to the game I have played for a LONG time, EQ2) is the customizing of your toon. You weren't locked into a class, you could have a healing mage, go dps or utility.... (EQ2 has added AA and such over the years to help with that sorta but it isn't really all that customizable. A defiler is a defiler is a defiler). Back on topic... I am looking forward to this game and also Archeage. I am excited about the customization allowed for classes in both games. Cannot wait to see them in action and definitely will be keeping an eye out for the updates on both.

Thanks for posting all those links. :) I've only gotten through a couple, but ESO is looking good. It is too bad that you can't play with characters in the other factions until after you hit the endgame, but I usually have a bunch of alts anyway. I like how open it is with choosing armor, weapons, etc, just like with the previous Elder Scrolls. I can see myself cycling between GW2 and ESO in the future, assuming they both come out with multiple expansion in the future, hopefully not at the same time.

This game may do what i said i wouldn't do again......pay a sub fee :). I know I know we don't know the pay model yet but if it is as good as it seems i can't see not playing it.

Added a new video - an interview with Matt Firor - which I'll also link here, as he talks about the endgame. Except, well... "of course, we don't really have an endgame" (0:35). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US49X9zFO0c

Added yet another video – Richie Procopio from Massively talking about game design philosophy, gameplay, and more. Lots of gorgeous in-game footage! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqRfyfaY-Tg

Thanks so much for all the videos. I am very excited about this one and I pray its even half as good as it looks and sounds. I no there arent plans for it now but I really hope they add player housing...i need to fill that gap left by SWG