Page 10 • The Elder Scrolls Online • Gaming • MMO • Eurogamer.net

Wavey 19 Apr 2014 21:08:05 1,054 posts
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My fondness of the game is waning. The duping bug has been fixed, but its been found that its been known about for months being reported in the beta. The devs are not very communicative at all, there customer service is horrendous and there forum is one of the worst I have ever seen.

Things like this really put me off mmos as there meant to have a long life cycle with good support, but first impressions and all that. Sad.

Kami 20 Apr 2014 01:23:03 2,711 posts
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@Wavey; Indeed, I think this is one of those horrible times when the overall premise is better than the technical support.

Zenimax have gotten so much wrong; it's not just the lack of communication, nor the constant daily downtime (usually at peak hours too), nor the myriad of bugs, glitches, exploits and dupes (there's a new dupe that's been found - I know, squash one and another one pops up to take it's place *facepalm*).

Today it was revealed that there are no in-game GM's, meaning that people getting stuck, falling through the world or needing something as simple as a quest item that isn't being given to them is that much harder, and means all you get is a cut-and-paste email of utterly useless information you probably already tried. In-game support is essential; I mean, who needs to keep tabbing out or exiting the game just to get a quest fixed? (Not that the quests get fixed right now, mind you...)

There are people being banned for absolutely no reason - Zenimax have at least apologised for this happening, however in their eagerness to IP ban or generally ban all accounts under a certain name bracket, they're hitting genuine customers, who often have to wait days before they get anything done.

Zenimax also have the STUPIDEST way of authenticating you as owner of an account; they request you send them (via email) a bunch of information which is frankly just a little too personally identifiable, like your card details and game time code (?!). People have been asking constantly in forums because they look like phishing emails. Of course, having your account name as your in-game id in guilds and database doesn't help security any.

And there's plenty more to this. Zenimax, bless their hearts, just look so unprofessional right now. They talked a good game, but can't quite deliver at the moment. Joyously, due to the Easter weekend, it's been slower than usual.

Again, I'm not sure why I expected better - Skyrim was by all accounts also a bit of a clusterfuck on release (and so was Oblivion, and Fallout 3, and then there's New Vegas... hoo boy...). But in a sense, the quest glitches and rough landscape would be forgivable because you expect that. You sort of know that's part and parcel of the Elder Scrolls experience at the start.

But the other stuff - support, security, safety, stability - that 100% can't be excused. I can't be bothered with it long term if Zenimax can't be bothered to get things moving, and I certainly can't be bothered if they can't protect my information properly, or use sensitive information to verify account details (that's what the secret question is for, duh!).

It stuns me that in spite of the money already made (something like five million sales so far?), and the money they already have, that it all feels so utterly amateurish.

It's really sad, but it's another prime example of an MMO selling on brand recognition. That works to get people in the door; but then you gotta keep them, for the enterprise to remain profitable. At this rate... the subscriber drop-off is going to be significant to the point of vertical, I fear...

Edited by Kami at 01:24:04 20-04-2014

Deleted user 20 April 2014 03:24:03

Kami wrote:

Zenimax also have the STUPIDEST way of authenticating you as owner of an account; they request you send them (via email) a bunch of information which is frankly just a little too personally identifiable, like your card details and game time code (?!).

Blizzard sends me three mails a day from different domains, asking in terrible English to verify my credit card details, and I'm not even a WoW player, so...

Edited by DrStrangelove at 03:24:36 20-04-2014

Wavey 20 Apr 2014 20:10:06 1,054 posts
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Its rumoured now that another three duping bugs have occurred due to the fixing of the first. I also sat down to play today and was and have been stuck in a loading screen for 4 hours in between reloading, restarting pc, etc.

I think i'm done, which is a shame because I was actually quite enjoying it.

Kami 20 Apr 2014 22:00:27 2,711 posts
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@DrStrangelove; Yes, but you know they're phishing mails. When you ask Zenimax on their forums and the officially marked staff tell you these plain emails with poor spelling, snarky remarks and requests for such sensitive information are GENUINE COMMUNICATION FROM ZENIMAX, it's a bit of a different matter...

And yes, there are more dupes being found. *rolls eyes*

teamHAM 8 May 2014 18:47:25 3,847 posts
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So, a few weeks before release, the console version is.... delayed by six months?!

Wow.

TheMayorOfJugs 8 May 2014 18:48:09 6,489 posts
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Next gen horse armour needs time bro.

teamHAM 8 May 2014 18:49:58 3,847 posts
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TheMayorOfJugs wrote:
Next gen horse armour needs time bro.

Clearly. Luckily we won't be missing much eh.

Orange 8 May 2014 19:59:28 5,170 posts
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dogmanstaruk wrote:
It is far better than the beta, and you place far too much faith in official reviews.

I trust reviews as far as I can throw them. Far more interested in trying stuff first hand, and taking part in discussions with genuine players on forums such as here and gaf.

Amusing to read this inbetween epic moaning about the game

Glad to give this a miss.

ChiefGB 4 Jul 2014 22:54:14 13,815 posts
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So is anyone still playing this?

ChiefGB 5 Jul 2014 13:04:11 13,815 posts
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Thats a good point actually, I had the beta of this and wildstar installed. can I just update the clients and subscribe if I wanted to or would I need to buy a full key.

ChiefGB 5 Jul 2014 18:05:31 13,815 posts
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Hmmm it's just that it's �20 in game atm and I'm tempted to have another look at that price.

YenRug 5 Jul 2014 21:05:43 4,553 posts
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Is it OK to come in and gloat about my purchase, earlier today?

ChiefGB 5 Jul 2014 21:12:27 13,815 posts
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Whhhaaatt was that in game?

ChiefGB 5 Jul 2014 21:16:41 13,815 posts
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YenRug wrote:
Is it OK to come in and gloat about my purchase, earlier today?

Also, only if you go back and get me one

YenRug 5 Jul 2014 21:50:13 4,553 posts
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It's the same price online, albeit no stock at the moment, though you can set up a stock alert on the off-chance:

http://www.game.co.uk/en/the-elder-scrolls-online-imperial-edition-only-at-game-282572

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=810030179015621&set=vb.100000259403037

I was going to post a link to the FB page of my local GAME, but the post that I spotted them in earlier now says they're out of stock, I'm afraid.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=559125270865490&set=a.224415091003178.45223.224400544337966&type=1

Edited by YenRug at 21:52:56 05-07-2014

Deleted user 31 December 2014 17:56:14

Another one for the chopping block?

http://www.pcgamer.com/the-elder-scrolls-online-removes-six-month-subs-f2p-rumours-abound/

FWB 31 Dec 2014 18:22:28 56,369 posts
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Companies need to stop wasting their time with this MMO crap. Either do it like Eve, where the players actually run the world, or don't bother. Wow has everything else sealed up. Focus on the next Elder Scrolls offline.

Knighty 31 Dec 2014 18:35:45 1,326 posts
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To be fair final fantasy 14 is doing alright with a traditional sub model. There are ways.

Deleted user 31 December 2014 18:41:20

They make money, so they get made. People pay for the box, people pay for subs, people pay for stuff in the game when the box and sub cost goes.

Reallysorry 31 Dec 2014 18:48:23 697 posts
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It was always going to be free to play when it came to console IMO so to me this is just them readying that now they've bled some money out of the PC crowd.

Reallysorry 1 Jan 2015 10:35:01 697 posts
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It worked ok for DCUO for about a year but in the height of its popularity (when I was absolutely in love with it) PSN had that major hack and it totally killed it as everyone found new things to do and struggled go back but then they went free to play and from what I've seen it thrived after that.

There's a market there regardless of the model they use but I just think after the terrible launch of the PC version & the huge delay in the console version it'd be in their interest to just go FTP and get the biggest following they can for it & charge for DLC like every other game these days.

The Elder Scrolls Online • Page 10