Cutscenes

Neizir

I don't know about anyone else but I think cutscenes would be a really good thing to have in ESO. Pretty much every next-gen AAA game out right now contains enough cutscenes to make a mid-length filn out of, and I think ESO should be following this trend for the betterment of the story, the Main Quest in particular. The MQ does feel a bit lacking at the moment and imo it would really be improved with cutscenes, either pre-rendered cutscenes with the game's engine like WoW and most other games do or cinematic cutscenes like what Halo 2 Anniversary uses.

Nestor

We already have something like this with the Scripted Scenes that the game cranks up during some quests.

Cutscenes take me out of the game, they look different, are presented differently and drop immersion for me. In this case I am referring to immersion in the sense that everything I do is in the same game world. The Scripted Events leave me in the world to watch the scene unfold in the game I am playing.

HeroOfNone

I had a similar suggestion, giving a final cut scene for the player that got theverything final hit on a boss:

http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/discussion/137041/suggestion-epic-boss-fight-ending-animations#latest

SgtPepperUK

Nestor wrote: »

We already have something like this with the Scripted Scenes that the game cranks up during some quests.

Cutscenes take me out of the game, they look different, are presented differently and drop immersion for me. In this case I am referring to immersion in the sense that everything I do is in the same game world. The Scripted Events leave me in the world to watch the scene unfold in the game I am playing.

Depends how they're done. Rendered in the game engine, like TSW or FFXIV, and I think they add depth and immersion.

Ethoir

Skyrim had a cutscene or two, leaving you in 1st person when it happened (the Thieves Guild and Dawnguard questlines come to mind).

Star Trek Online has a lot of cutscenes (some in space, plenty when on the ground).

Most MMO's have some form of cutscenes in them so it would be nice to see some in ESO as well. There's just two things that have to be considered.

The PoV of the cutscenes.
As ESO is an MMO, the game has to be able to tell if you are un 1st person mode or not. This doesn't sound easy to me. Skyrim forced 1st Person mode when you triggered a cutscene as it seemed easier for the devs to have it use the 1st person camera.

Time & Resources
Making cutscenes for ESO takes time and resources, this should be pretty obvious. They did excellent work with the intro cinematic cutscene, but that was a video rather than an in-game scene performed with the engine itself (they did use it to set up shots like the keep siege and the Daedra tromping around in Coldharbor). They'd have to script the scene and create custom animations (such as a character chasing a chicken with a meat cleaver for example). Then they have to decide if it is a scene you view in 1st person or if it is viewed in 3rd person.

They have scenes in the game, but they aren't actual cutscenes. I'd like to see a real cutscene in the game where I trigger an event in the story and have to watch it unfold (in the typical style where I can't control my character until after the scene ends).

Nestor

SgtPepperUK wrote: »

Depends how they're done. Rendered in the game engine, like TSW or FFXIV, and I think they add depth and immersion.

Those are the scripted scenes I am referring to. The NPCs are doing things and talking to each other and I am just standing there, or emoting while they are doing it. I feel like I am still in the game even though for a moment I can't really do anything.

So, I agree, the ones done in the game engine so that they look like they are part of the game are OK for me to advance the story. The cinematic ones? Nah. Opening and closing the game are about the only places for those. And, those can be quite effective if done right.

Iccotak

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_vNkMEk8pc

Sylvermynx

Hate stuff like that. Totally non-immersive for me. If it happens for those who jones on stuff like that, fine - as long as there's a "get me OUT of here" button.

Goratesque

ArchMikem

If you want an example of gaming narrative done right, take the Half Life series. Every story point, line of dialogue, cinematic transition happens in real time, never taking control away from the player. Cutscenes may enhance the story telling but it derails gameplay, removing the player from the world so they can watch the story like a film.

.....oh good lord this is a four year old necro.

Sylvermynx

ArchMikem wrote: »

If you want an example of gaming narrative done right, take the Half Life series. Every story point, line of dialogue, cinematic transition happens in real time, never taking control away from the player. Cutscenes may enhance the story telling but it derails gameplay, removing the player from the world so they can watch the story like a film.

.....oh good lord this is a four year old necro.

Oboy. *rolls eyes* Ugh. I need sleep.

RusevCrush

I prefer load screens to cutscenes. Found Monster Hunter unplayable. There would need to be an instant skip option.

thadjarvis

I hear you but that’s quite an investment into something we won’t see much as there’s so much quest content. It’s also would be a ton of HD space.

However, the voice acting/scripting/editing isn’t what it could be. The most engaging stories enhanced by voice acting are (imo) ICP, WGT, BC 1&2, VoM by a long shot. That’s really really old content and nothing newer gets to that level. I started playing about a year ago so I don’t have nostalgia bias. It’s odd that the old stuff beats the hell out of new.

You know you can quote something from each of those dungeons.

Iccotak

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af0Aw5xMZVI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCF-c2XGX-g

FierceSam

Disagree entirely.

Cutscenes are crap, have nothing to do with playing the game and boring a f. The increase in their use at the end of Elsweyr and Dragonguard questlines made them substantially less enjoyable.

You want movies? Go see a film.

barney2525

I thought we already had cutscenes that last a few minutes...

wait...

those are load screens....

my mistake

JKorr

Neizir wrote: »

I don't know about anyone else but I think cutscenes would be a really good thing to have in ESO. Pretty much every next-gen AAA game out right now contains enough cutscenes to make a mid-length filn out of, and I think ESO should be following this trend for the betterment of the story, the Main Quest in particular. The MQ does feel a bit lacking at the moment and imo it would really be improved with cutscenes, either pre-rendered cutscenes with the game's engine like WoW and most other games do or cinematic cutscenes like what Halo 2 Anniversary uses.

Oh Divines, NO.

I don't want to watch a movie. I want to play a game. Pre-rendered cutscenes? So I get to watch someone else's idea of how my character is equipped? Or would those be made totally generic and not include the player character at all? If I suffered through one playthrough of "cinematic cutscenes", would I have to suffer through the same cutscenes for every one of my alts? I have 18 characters on one account, 6 on a second. When it is time for my newest alt to suffer the torments of oblivion listening to the Prophet's speech {enter my mind vestige} explaining the soulburst/planemeld/who the bad guy is, I last long enough to do the button presses needed, and I go make coffee while he meanders slowly down the path, monologing all the way until finally he finishes and we go back to the harborage. I've actually sent in in-game feedback asking to be allowed to PAY in the crownstore for a way to skip the [more than one] unskippable cutscenes and monologues, and you want to add more?

Ratzkifal

I don't mind cutscenes honestly. Some moments just look way more dramatic and epic in a cutscene than in the game. Of course, I'd prefer if those cutscenes are used sparingly and only where it makes sense, as well as be rendered in the game's engine or at least be made to look like they are.

Think back about how you arrive on Solstheim in Skyrim. You get a small cutscene of the ship entering the harbor from your character's perspective. For these establishing shots, small cutscenes are great.

Addressing some of the criticisms, WoW for an example is making use of their cutscenes pretty well.
They have both the cinematic, which don't include your character as they are not part of whatever is happening, and rendered-in-engine cutscenes which include your character and even show the equipment (or in our case costume and outfit) you have on currently. And all of them are skippable at the press of a button.
Just imagine how much cooler it would be to have an awesome cinematic of Mannimarco betraying the companions instead of needing to wait for the stupid monologue to finish and all characters to move into place before the action starts AND MOST IMPORTANTLY being able to skip it all with the press of a button to just collect your skill point immediately and move on.

FierceSam

Ratzkifal wrote: »

I don't mind cutscenes honestly. Some moments just look way more dramatic and epic in a cutscene than in the game. Of course, I'd prefer if those cutscenes are used sparingly and only where it makes sense, as well as be rendered in the game's engine or at least be made to look like they are.

Think back about how you arrive on Solstheim in Skyrim. You get a small cutscene of the ship entering the harbor from your character's perspective. For these establishing shots, small cutscenes are great.

Addressing some of the criticisms, WoW for an example is making use of their cutscenes pretty well.
They have both the cinematic, which don't include your character as they are not part of whatever is happening, and rendered-in-engine cutscenes which include your character and even show the equipment (or in our case costume and outfit) you have on currently. And all of them are skippable at the press of a button.
Just imagine how much cooler it would be to have an awesome cinematic of Mannimarco betraying the companions instead of needing to wait for the stupid monologue to finish and all characters to move into place before the action starts AND MOST IMPORTANTLY being able to skip it all with the press of a button to just collect your skill point immediately and move on.

This is a great example.

It would not be any cooler.

And that’s why we don’t need them.

This isn’t a single player game or a tv show.

ZOS_Volpe

Greetings,

We have closed this topic as it was originally created in 2014 and the information contained within may longer be relevant to the game. In many cases, it's better to create a new thread on a topic that you want to discuss as opposed to bumping one that is rather old.

Thank you for your understanding.