An open letter to Zenimax.
Sou1defiler
✭✭
Dear Zenimax.
I have been extremely patient with the game so far, and have enjoyed playing it when I have played. As an elder scrolls fan I have enjoyed the lore and storylines of the game and quests. Combat has been good fun to play, and my action bars haven't been cluttered with un necessary spells that are more cosmetic than useful.
That was the praise.
Sadly the criticism far outweigh the plaudits. You claim this game is an MMO. In my play time I have seen a mere two facets of MMO play, PVP, which frankly, I am utterly apathetic to, and dungeon crawling. The rest of the time this is just a normal Elder Scrolls single player game where you occasionally see other people run in front of your character.
The bot issues. While I appreciate the time you spend to rid the game of the bots, they seem to getting more and more prevalent. We are not so naíve to believe that botting will be completely eradicated, however when players see a constant swarm of bots it leads them to make a simple conclusion, that they have free rein to do what they want. Right now, they do.
Gameplay issues. Where to begin with this one? On a personal note, allow me to write a small list. If other players have the same issues then they will know what I'm talking about.
Constant crashes to desktop.
Constant relogs to spawn npc's
Constant falling through the world leading to the "/stuck" which costs gold. Why exactly? I am glad to say that appears to have been more or less fixed, and while it still happens albeit rarely, before, falling through stairs every time I went to enter a building and could not get out because I was stuck in the stairs was getting tedious.
Getting "zombified" upon death, where your character suddenly revives, regains all her vital stats but can't interact with the world, leading to a relog to clear where when you reload back into the world you are a ghost at the nearest wayshrine.
Bugged quests to the point of breaking. Far too numerous to list, the current hot potato was the planting the seeds into corpses. Even before I started Coldharbour questing became more and more farcical.
Overpowered enemies in PvE. Forgive me but if this was meant to be a MMO, then wouldn't certain parts of the game be MMO? World bosses in the wilderness OK, you can argue those could be just a random grouping with people in the roughly same area. But the Dark Anchors. Rather than just a random spawning they should have been pre made group content requiring the Dark Anchors to need activation. Another example is the fight with Molag Bal. That was just begging to be a group encounter.
The Molag bal fight leads me to another point. The world interaction leaves a lot to be desired. Currently I cannot complete the Molag Bal fight, because as soon as he picks me up, nothing. No key prompting, no interaction, he just holds me in mid air before dropping me, where my character then performs the falling animations until I relog. I suspect a bug may be involved in that, but there are times when it cannot be blamed by a bug.
Did anyone else say "oh &^%$ this" after their 20th attempt to drink the mead without passing out... only to give up because the interaction with the barrel required absolute pinpoint precision. Mix that in with the fact it was timed...
The release of Craglorn seemed to open a floodgate of bugs and gamebreaks. But. What annoyed me more than anything else was when Craglorn was released, you saw fit to remove all my achievements I had earned from questing in Stonefalls to Eastmarch. Why? Currently I can't even go back to them and go throug the chains again to get the awards. And why have they not been given back?
There is so much more that I could mention, which most will be covered by other topics and posters in the forums.
I'll end by saying this. You have said that you disagree with the articles written on gaming sites on the internet on the bugs and flaws with the game. I can understand that, you are proud of your product and want it to succeed.
You will not get it to succeed, if you continue to place both hands on ears and yell yayayayayayaya when someone comes to you with a complaint or writes of their issues. The fact of the matter is this, ESO has, in a very short time, quickly gained a reputation as a broken game. It has even reached the rumour stage that the game is merely an XboxONE and PS4 beta test. I have considered getting my friends on other MMO's to at least try the game, but they have heard and read the lists of bug complaints and gameplay issues. Mixed in with the fact my friends have less patience than me, it would be a mistake on my part.
Only one group can turn ESO around from the path it seems determined to take. And we all know who that group is.
My subscription is still active and I hope to keep it alive. But Zenimax, you are making it very hard to justify doing so.
Best wishes,
Sou1defiler.
I have been extremely patient with the game so far, and have enjoyed playing it when I have played. As an elder scrolls fan I have enjoyed the lore and storylines of the game and quests. Combat has been good fun to play, and my action bars haven't been cluttered with un necessary spells that are more cosmetic than useful.
That was the praise.
Sadly the criticism far outweigh the plaudits. You claim this game is an MMO. In my play time I have seen a mere two facets of MMO play, PVP, which frankly, I am utterly apathetic to, and dungeon crawling. The rest of the time this is just a normal Elder Scrolls single player game where you occasionally see other people run in front of your character.
The bot issues. While I appreciate the time you spend to rid the game of the bots, they seem to getting more and more prevalent. We are not so naíve to believe that botting will be completely eradicated, however when players see a constant swarm of bots it leads them to make a simple conclusion, that they have free rein to do what they want. Right now, they do.
Gameplay issues. Where to begin with this one? On a personal note, allow me to write a small list. If other players have the same issues then they will know what I'm talking about.
Constant crashes to desktop.
Constant relogs to spawn npc's
Constant falling through the world leading to the "/stuck" which costs gold. Why exactly? I am glad to say that appears to have been more or less fixed, and while it still happens albeit rarely, before, falling through stairs every time I went to enter a building and could not get out because I was stuck in the stairs was getting tedious.
Getting "zombified" upon death, where your character suddenly revives, regains all her vital stats but can't interact with the world, leading to a relog to clear where when you reload back into the world you are a ghost at the nearest wayshrine.
Bugged quests to the point of breaking. Far too numerous to list, the current hot potato was the planting the seeds into corpses. Even before I started Coldharbour questing became more and more farcical.
Overpowered enemies in PvE. Forgive me but if this was meant to be a MMO, then wouldn't certain parts of the game be MMO? World bosses in the wilderness OK, you can argue those could be just a random grouping with people in the roughly same area. But the Dark Anchors. Rather than just a random spawning they should have been pre made group content requiring the Dark Anchors to need activation. Another example is the fight with Molag Bal. That was just begging to be a group encounter.
The Molag bal fight leads me to another point. The world interaction leaves a lot to be desired. Currently I cannot complete the Molag Bal fight, because as soon as he picks me up, nothing. No key prompting, no interaction, he just holds me in mid air before dropping me, where my character then performs the falling animations until I relog. I suspect a bug may be involved in that, but there are times when it cannot be blamed by a bug.
Did anyone else say "oh &^%$ this" after their 20th attempt to drink the mead without passing out... only to give up because the interaction with the barrel required absolute pinpoint precision. Mix that in with the fact it was timed...
The release of Craglorn seemed to open a floodgate of bugs and gamebreaks. But. What annoyed me more than anything else was when Craglorn was released, you saw fit to remove all my achievements I had earned from questing in Stonefalls to Eastmarch. Why? Currently I can't even go back to them and go throug the chains again to get the awards. And why have they not been given back?
There is so much more that I could mention, which most will be covered by other topics and posters in the forums.
I'll end by saying this. You have said that you disagree with the articles written on gaming sites on the internet on the bugs and flaws with the game. I can understand that, you are proud of your product and want it to succeed.
You will not get it to succeed, if you continue to place both hands on ears and yell yayayayayayaya when someone comes to you with a complaint or writes of their issues. The fact of the matter is this, ESO has, in a very short time, quickly gained a reputation as a broken game. It has even reached the rumour stage that the game is merely an XboxONE and PS4 beta test. I have considered getting my friends on other MMO's to at least try the game, but they have heard and read the lists of bug complaints and gameplay issues. Mixed in with the fact my friends have less patience than me, it would be a mistake on my part.
Only one group can turn ESO around from the path it seems determined to take. And we all know who that group is.
My subscription is still active and I hope to keep it alive. But Zenimax, you are making it very hard to justify doing so.
Best wishes,
Sou1defiler.
8
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crowfl56✭✭✭✭✭WOW u need a better computer or something I play on a nothing special computer, average vid card, but 12g or ram.
I rarely have any of your issue's.
Game play seems nice and smooth although I don't play on extreme, I use med to low graphic's.
You need to check your side before u complain like this, because most of the issue's u have are your fault. Sorry.4 -
Ragekniv✭✭✭Regarding Molag Bal, I don't know if your character is vampire but the following is one of a few strategies that does work.
Make use of the stairs leading up to the open area where you fight Molag Bal to control the flow of Titans during the fight.
You can run up and down the stairs and path along the entrance door area and the staircase while fighting Molag Bal.
If you watch the flow of Titans when they spawn, you can limit the number that can reach you. Block and reflect spells if its an option for you or just dps them down quickly.
Its a bit tricky but doable. I did it as a vampire Templar. I will qualify this by saying it was before the fateful patch before the holiday weekend.
If you're a vampire, fire resist on jewelry helps with Titan fire damage.
There is a video on Youtube showing this strategy. Google it and watch it a few times.
I wish you luck 8)
PS With respect to your comments. You're preaching to the congregation. I hope for game stability and balanced classes soon.Edited by Ragekniv on 3 June 2014 15:441 -
Cogo✭✭✭✭✭
✭Hi OP
I respect the well written "letter" you have done and your opinions are free as anyones.
However, I dont agree with a single thing you posted :-(
Zenimax have delivered what they promised in my view. Bugs and fixes are simply the life of any MMO.
I would even say they made an EPIC experience with the main quest line.
Oh, people have to READ, listen, to NPCs to enjoy it.
I think you have missed the greatest feature of all, that Zenimax have not just delivered, but shown us plans how it with develope....the lore.
Every time I play, I feel I am part of a story/movie that keeps surprising me and every day there is something new.
I am glad you expressed yourself so detailed and none "whiny". I am kinda sad I dont agree with you what so ever.
I hope you will get a good experience once Zenimax releases even more content as planed.Oghur Hatemachine, Guild leader of The Nephilim - EU Megaserver
Orc Weapon Specialist and Warchief of the Ebonheart Pact - Trueflame Cyrodiil War Campaign
Guildsite: The Nephilim
"I don't agree with what you are saying, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it"
-Voltaire
"My build? Improvise, overcome and adapt!"1 -
Azzuria✭✭✭✭✭It's terrible that your game play thus far has been sub-par. Sadly, I believe that may be on your end because of the friends and myself who play, those issues have arisen rarely, some never.
Your post is thoughtful and I'm happy to see your thoughts so cogently expressed with none of the seemingly requisite threats to quit or predictions of 'F2P in a week lawl! '
Again, it's terrible that your experience hasn't been all that ZOS promised and I do hope it becomes moreso sooner rather than later.
See you in Tamriel, and keep hope alive!Brunhilda Icehammer - Nord Dragonknight, 'Smith & Enchantress 'What is 'ranged? I need to hit something!!'
Laehl Direthorn - Bosmer Nightblade, Purveyor of fine Clothes, Bows and Staves
Reeza gra-Zuni - Orc Templar 'War Shaman' and Apothecary
Noemi Snowpaw - Kajiit Dragon Knight - I laugh... or I'd have to kill you.
Kitera Dreamon - Breton of The Dominion: Because those Daggers don't appreciate a great Mage.
Lysara Shadowcroft - Dunmer Bloodmage: This will only hurt a lot.2 -
KitLightning✭✭✭✭Wintersage wrote: »We get many more open letters to ZOS, they're gonna need their own Post Office.
They already have, its called Support!
"I'd rather be insane in a sane world, than sane in an insane world!" ~MeWarning - This is a spoiler and looking at it for too long may cause irrecoverable eyesight issues.
◔̯◔
MechWarrior: Living Legends – Total conversion modification for Crysis Wars.
kitlightning.deviantart0 -
Erock25✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭Like others have said, it appears you are experiencing bugs that the vast majority of people do not encounter and I would expect it is something to do with your rig.
You earned the 500 LOLs badge.
You received 500 LOLs. It ain't no fluke, you post great stuff and we're lucky to have you here. +50 points1 -
Sou1defiler✭✭Greeting and a thank you to all who took the time to answer. Your input was greatly appreciated. A number of my correspondents on this discussion have been of the opinion that a few of my problems lay with my PC. After a rather nasty incident which led me to performing a factory settings restore and subsequent re installing games I took the opportunity to not download or install any old rubbish I had before. Once ESO had been reinstalled I immediately attempted Molag Bal and this time dropped the graphics settings down to low. You may or may not be pleased to know that I was successful, and defeated Bal. To my surprise he was easier than I thought. My nightblade simply filled him with arrows while using syphon when needed. But that is not to denigrate for me what was in fact a very enjoyable experience.
Once again thank you for the valued input and I hope to run across you (not literally of course) some time in the near or distant future.
My last word of course should be in thanking Zenimax Studios for developing this game. In all the time I have played games, I have never once played a test version. It is testament to my love and want to success for this game that drove me to play the betas and keep my faith in it's finished product. While the game still has issues, let us all hope that they are all dealt with. While maintenances can be annoying, for every maintenance, a problem or two is resolved.
Best wishes to Zenimax and correspondents,
Sou1defiler.0
