ESO-Five: From Alpha to Present (comparison)

HollHearsGlow

Greetings fellow adventurers!
To celebrate fifth anniversary of Elder Scrolls Online, I set, to make something I've been thinking for years - a comparison!
I take official screenshots and videos of ESO before it was released, from 2012 and 2013, and made my own screenshots of very same places in 2019, 5 years after official release.

Since originally I decided to make it a Twitter posts, they been separated in four volumes, each with small entry words of my. I will keep it same here.
I erect the spine of Gratitude to friends, that aid me in this idea, they are: @roksolana_sowa and @Lord_Umbranox .

Volume I:
Seven years ago i leap into province of Skyrim. But on another side of the world, different project, was lovingly forged to become outstanding jewelry of Elder Scrolls series.


View of Wayrest, Stormhaven (armor doesn't match Breton, which i believe are on official picture, but rather represent what a Covenant soldier can be like those days).


Tribunal Temple, Deshaan


Crypt of Hearts II (however on official screenshots, i believe, is COH1 which is quite dim).


Mournhold, Deshaan

Imgur album (with separate screenshots):
https://imgur.com/a/WvLKMSu

Volume II:
Six years ago, I've meet people behind ESO. And even tho, it's been just a video, i felt like I had chance know them personally, having the feel, best described as: "They making something I want to be part of".
https://youtu.be/KxJTsq2XeKY


Stonefalls


Sentinel, Alik'r Desert


Davon's Watch, Stonefalls (careful, or she will hear you!)


Spindleclutch I

Imgur album:
https://imgur.com/gallery/5JOsH2a

Volume III:
Five years ago, i sit quietly, staring into changing artworks of places I've never been to. Listening Sound-Wizard - Brad Derrick, and thinking: “What am i to do, all this long week, until next beta session...”
https://youtu.be/BPHf9l5odiE


View on Daggerfall, Glenumbra


Mournhold Plaza, Deshaan


Sentinel, Alik'r Desert


Rivenspire

Imgur album:
https://imgur.com/gallery/zWupCUU

Volume IV:
Two years ago, I've meet very special Bosmer girl, that been living in parallel universe of Nirn for years, until One Tamriel change everything. Thank you Zenimages, for those 5 years, and the world, you gift to us.


Eastmarch


View of Elden Root, Grahtwood


View on Wayrest, Stormhaven


City of Wayrest, Stormhaven

Imgur album:
https://imgur.com/gallery/XYGwiHN

Thanks for having a look!

Sincerely,
Hears-Glow-In-Dusk, @Hears_Glow

Hotdog_23

Thanks for sharing!

Anny

Thank you! It's so nice

irragileb17_ESO

Holl, all your screenshots are so beautiful!! Take a photo of my character, please))

Pinesy

Thank you for sharing! It has been so long... I remember being disappointed by how "cartoony" and WoW-esque the early Alpha/Betas were. I'm so happy Zeni and Beth went the way of embracing Elder Scrolls originality and updated the textures/etc to be more "realistic".

shepart

Very Nice!!!!

DarkPicture

Actually its funny some of them looks better from alpha than now e.g. Rivenspire or Eastmarch

Tatanko

Browart wrote: »

Actually its funny some of them looks better from alpha than now e.g. Rivenspire or Eastmarch

Agree to disagree. If I see anything in the "after" shots that I don't like, it's mostly the distant fog -- something I've already remedied for myself since it's easy to do on PC

BoraxFlux

Nice to see the difference between old and more recent, looks definitely improved: better lighting, details, textures.
Thanks for sharing!

Flashygrrl

I can only imagine how spun out players that only started in the last 3 years would be in Mournhold, since the wayshrine moved and everything.

Yes, it actually used to be where it shows in the Deshaan loading screen and there weren't many other options because zones were leveled 😂😂

sirpz

Old ESO looked very WoW-esque

roksolana_sowa

It was really great idea and huge THANK U Holl for this awesome work.
I happy that had chanse to be part of it even if it kept few hours to take right screen in right daytime and motion.
Wish u more and more ideas and time to realise them!

ZOS_GinaBruno

This was really cool and brought back some memories, thank you @HollHearsGlow

Anethum

Nice idea, enjoyed to travel back in time

HollHearsGlow

Thank you, friends! It fills my heart with happiness to see that so many find them interesting, and by this, my work was rewarded with knowledge that it brought something to you.

Rontabs77

Thank you very much. I enjoyed staring at these comparison images.

max_only

The Crypt of Hearts comparison is amazing! I’m so glad they went more realistic with their art

Iccotak

@ZOS_GinaBruno why didn't you guys stick with the White Tribunal Temple?


That would be accurate to the TES III game

HollHearsGlow

@Iccotak As from my perspective, ESO take much of visual influence from latest single ES game - Skyrim, which is more gray and dark in many terms. So in result Temple (and all Dunmer assets) become more "grounded". But on other side, your picture doesn't look unrealistic either, I would be glad to see its white.

Also... Its a Mournhold City, maybe it should look grim? What does Argonian know.