Early Acess

Royaji

Since we are all enjoying our little conspiracy here... How long does an average PTS cycle take for ESO? 4 weeks. How long is the PTS for Morrowind now? 4 weeks. How long does it take to get the patch on consoles? 2 weeks after PC release. And the same happens with Morrowind.

I do not think it was a last ditch attempt to save the subs/preorders. MorrowInd's PTS testing has started way to early and stuff wasn't adding up. Now it all makes sense though, ZOS obviously planned this "early access" long ago. They probably wanted to make it a surprise for everyone and make PC crowd happy. But in truth it's just marketing fluff. Those release dates were set long before the PTS started.

NewBlacksmurf

Royaji wrote: »

Since we are all enjoying our little conspiracy here... How long does an average PTS cycle take for ESO? 4 weeks. How long is the PTS for Morrowind now? 4 weeks. How long does it take to get the patch on consoles? 2 weeks after PC release. And the same happens with Morrowind.

I do not think it was a last ditch attempt to save the subs/preorders. MorrowInd's PTS testing has started way to early and stuff wasn't adding up. Now it all makes sense though, ZOS obviously planned this "early access" long ago. They probably wanted to make it a surprise for everyone and make PC crowd happy. But in truth it's just marketing fluff. Those release dates were set long before the PTS started.

@Royaji
Xbox one cert can take 0 days to a week depending but they have to submit it first

BuddyAces

I'm actually siding with desperation here. Sure they could have planned this early on but I'm going to have to side with desperation and getting more people to pre order to make up for what they're losing. I've been watching people leave the game left and right and cancelling their pre order (not just on the forums but people in game I know) since their bull *** hit the PTS. I'm not dooming and glooming and saying that the game is going to die but I'm just one guy who can literally see folks leaving and cancelling their pre orders to know that there's way more than what I see.

Personally, I'm still pre ordering Morrowind, this weekend most likely. The changes are going to suck. As someone else posted earlier in this thread: If you like laying down dots and then heavy attacking your way through the game then this next release is going to rock your world. I'm hoping people leave and keep leaving until the idiots in charge of these changes revert things. I'm not expecting changes back to where we are now, but I'm hoping for a lot of buffs for all the classes. Corner the devs and make them fix their crap. After a month of Morrowind I'll see if the devs have had their wake up call and fixed things or I'll just quit the game again and come back when/if they do fix their ***.

Vanthras79

I used to play on console, then I wanted better graphics..

These forums are turning me into a pro-PC person (screams in agony)!

Vanthras79

OP you spelled access wrong.

DaveMoeDee

Kay1 wrote: »

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Just to clarify: All PC players will be getting the base game patch on 5/22. Only those who purchased the Morrowind Digital Upgrade (or Physical CE with the form filled out) will have access to Morrowind on 5/22.

Why only PC players? Why is this information hidden? You said 20 times Morrowind was coming on June 6 for EVERYONE, another lie? Whao.

I don't know if you knew about it but a lot of people were excited about Morrowind getting released the same day so there will finally be a war between platforms to achieve the World First clear of the new Trial, PC players already got an advantage because of the PTS and now this, whao you guys just ruined it.

Don't be daft. If they finish work on the game on May 20, they will still have to submit it to MS and Sony for approval. So if they didn't allow early access to PC, which does not require any approval from a 3rd party, they would just be sitting on the finished version. Are you saying that they should sit on the PC version to not hurt the feelings of console players? Console players should learn how their platforms work.

If you don't like that, get off consoles and you can get games directly from developers. There is no need to make PC players wait just because some players chose to play in walled gardens.

Juhasow

Seriously someone belived that it's possible to release that size major update same day on all platforms without leaving huge hole in ground after servers explosion ?

DaveMoeDee

Talvorian wrote: »

Everyone should not be debating over the Sony and MS thing... It's a smokescreen... wake up..

The real question is WHY the change of heart on release dates? That's what we all want to know.

Why since january has it been June 6th for ALL platforms?

Why today, was it announced that they want to do something 'special'?

I think everyone fully understands that there can be delays between console and pc releases of games and we are letting ZOS and @ZOS_GinaBruno off the hook by arguing with each other when we should be demanding to know WHY this decision was made to go early. To be clear, that's what this is.

Clearly, in the posts made, a decision was made to green light PC earlier than anticipated. We just want to know the WHY??

I am amazed at some of these posts. "Demanding"? What kind of person ends up with the emotions that lead to that kind of reaction to something like this?

It makes complete sense that you don't promise early access until you know that the game will be good to go by that time.

Why early? Because it is ready and there are no barriers to releasing on PC as soon as it is good to go.

ManwithBeard9

Vanthras79 wrote: »

OP you spelled access wrong.

It has been bugging me for a while.

grim_tactics

DaveMoeDee wrote: »

Talvorian wrote: »

Everyone should not be debating over the Sony and MS thing... It's a smokescreen... wake up..

The real question is WHY the change of heart on release dates? That's what we all want to know.

Why since january has it been June 6th for ALL platforms?

Why today, was it announced that they want to do something 'special'?

I think everyone fully understands that there can be delays between console and pc releases of games and we are letting ZOS and @ZOS_GinaBruno off the hook by arguing with each other when we should be demanding to know WHY this decision was made to go early. To be clear, that's what this is.

Clearly, in the posts made, a decision was made to green light PC earlier than anticipated. We just want to know the WHY??

I am amazed at some of these posts. "Demanding"? What kind of person ends up with the emotions that lead to that kind of reaction to something like this?

It makes complete sense that you don't promise early access until you know that the game will be good to go by that time.

Why early? Because it is ready and there are no barriers to releasing on PC as soon as it is good to go.

I think it's because people are:

1. Already angry with the direction the game is headed (I'm waiting to pass judgment when I get to play it)

2. People (we console players and others I'm sure) feel like they were lied to when ZOS stated adamantly several times that PC and Console will launch together with same patch.

Now they're saying that PC will launch and receive another patch on launch. Is this the exact version that console will get? Who knows (and I know it really doesn't matter) but if it's not - ZOS lied directly to their player base which again shows they do not listen nor care.

Another thing is if they would've stated that preorders on PC would get easy access then there wouldn't be as much of a commotion as I already know that PC usually gets stuff first or faster at least when it comes to these things.

Now - without warning - they're rewarding people who preordered and I assume some feel like they're pressured to do so if they want to play early whereas if they would've done this when announced it wouldn't be as big a deal.

I personally believe that console should be given something now for preorders as there is no incentive for us - but there is for PC now. (Aside from the known preorder packages which every person can get if they so chose to)

@ZOS_GinaBruno you all need to address this as your word-of-mouth press is becoming more and more negative with every decision you all make. I hope you have something for console players on the next ESO Live instead of another huge middle finger.

Zvorgin

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

If we sent the console update for certification early, then it wouldn't include most of the fixes and tweaks we add in the later PTS patches which is less than ideal.

"Fixes and tweaks" is the new way to say nerf.

Moiskormoimi

Kyle1983b14_ESO wrote: »

2 week early access wow, that's crazy I thought there wasn't any usually early access for most games is only a few days

Given the state of beta, it's more like beta 2.0.

Syrani

SydneyGrey wrote: »

Not sure why they're allowing early access, knowing that a bunch of people will get upset.
But I've played games before where PC and console versions had different release dates, so it isn't a surprise. It's just how it is sometimes with games.
I'm on PC, so yay me.

My guess? They expected Morrowind to be a smashing success and cash cow. When it was announced, I imagine lots of people preordered, and it probably looked like it WAS going to be a cash cow. Then, patch notes and PTS hit and people began getting refunds/cancelling subs. When they started bleeding subs and preorders began getting returned, they needed a way to stop the hemorrhage - enter the "early access". A last minute decision to get the hype train going again, and try to regain some lost revenue.

Now, that is all purely hypothetical, but it seems to be a reasonable explanation of why this is occurring. If it DID happen that way, then console getting left out was an unfortunate side effect of a desperate measure. If it didn't happen that way and this was planned all along, well, that's just a terrible business practice.

BuddyAces

Syrani wrote: »

SydneyGrey wrote: »

Not sure why they're allowing early access, knowing that a bunch of people will get upset.
But I've played games before where PC and console versions had different release dates, so it isn't a surprise. It's just how it is sometimes with games.
I'm on PC, so yay me.

My guess? They expected Morrowind to be a smashing success and cash cow. When it was announced, I imagine lots of people preordered, and it probably looked like it WAS going to be a cash cow. Then, patch notes and PTS hit and people began getting refunds/cancelling subs. When they started bleeding subs and preorders began getting returned, they needed a way to stop the hemorrhage - enter the "early access". A last minute decision to get the hype train going again, and try to regain some lost revenue.

This is pretty much exactly what I told my wife when she told me the news when I called her on my way home after work. Have an internet cookie bud.

AzraelKrieg

There was an early access period at launch back in 2014 and nobody complained as far as I know. Then again, we didn't console players to worry about back then either. The early access player scope would be quite limited anyway.

Also, the reason behind the FF: ARR patches happening same day on PS4 and PC would be from the cross platform nature of the game where PC and PS4 play together. The patch would go to Sony for approval and then released on both platforms at the same time to keep consistency. Since ESO isn't cross platform but really individual instances on different servers, ZOS don't need to be limited to that similar time frame. If PC and consoles played together than they would have to release all patches and updates simultaneously.

nimander99

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Just to clarify: All PC players will be getting the base game patch on 5/22. Only those who purchased the Morrowind Digital Upgrade (or Physical CE with the form filled out) will have access to Morrowind on 5/22.

WWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whatelse73b14_ESO

Can't you console players just play from a PC for two weeks?

Korah_Eaglecry

Royaji wrote: »

Since we are all enjoying our little conspiracy here... How long does an average PTS cycle take for ESO? 4 weeks. How long is the PTS for Morrowind now? 4 weeks. How long does it take to get the patch on consoles? 2 weeks after PC release. And the same happens with Morrowind.

I do not think it was a last ditch attempt to save the subs/preorders. MorrowInd's PTS testing has started way to early and stuff wasn't adding up. Now it all makes sense though, ZOS obviously planned this "early access" long ago. They probably wanted to make it a surprise for everyone and make PC crowd happy. But in truth it's just marketing fluff. Those release dates were set long before the PTS started.

Companies, including this one make Early Access announcements well in advance of a release of a game or expansion. ESO is no different. There was an early access to this game back when it first launched on PC and it was announced well before the game released that pre-orders would secure such a thing for the player. But three years later they somehow forget to make that announcement and wait just a little over 3 weeks before the expansions release to remember to give it to PC players?

IwakuraLain42

Thesiren wrote: »

Avalon wrote: »

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Just to clarify: All PC players will be getting the base game patch on 5/22. Only those who purchased the Morrowind Digital Upgrade (or Physical CE with the form filled out) will have access to Morrowind on 5/22.

And when will console players get access? We paid just as much as the PC people did.

Okay, console peeps (and I have ESO on PC, Xbone and PS4, so that includes me!): PC players are getting it early because, much like when the game launched originally on PC and we paid to be the beta testers for the console versions, Zenimax wants to make sure the final version is fine before it launches on Xbone and PS4.

I'm hearing that every time this topic comes up and it's still wrong: Console gets exactly the same code that PC/Mac got two weeks prior, there are no additional fixes in our release. In fact we usually have to wait up to 6 weeks to get all the accumulated PC fixes that had been published to that platform.

Zyrudin

Kay1 wrote: »

Why only PC players? Why is this information hidden? You said 20 times Morrowind was coming on June 6 for EVERYONE, another lie? Whao.

I don't know if you knew about it but a lot of people were excited about Morrowind getting released the same day so there will finally be a war between platforms to achieve the World First clear of the new Trial, PC players already got an advantage because of the PTS and now this, whao you guys just ruined it.

There will be a war? For being the first to clear content? Really?

WTF?

No offense intended, I am genuinely baffled - Is this what you people get up for in the morning?

Godeko

So we have basically 2 weeks less being able to play our stamblades? Great...

Zyrudin

Avalon wrote: »

Sigtric wrote: »

I'm not missing the point. I understand what is being said, I just think it is petty and incorrect. It's a pretty well known fact among ESO players in general that console has to wait for certification before they are allowed to push updates to it. They've never hidden this.

The article about early access also clearly states this at the bottom:

Due to the time needed for certification of the PlayStation and Xbox One ESO: Morrowind clients, we are not able to offer early access for our console players. We look forward to seeing you on June 6!

For all we know, June 6th might have been the earliest they could get certification on console for the patch. We don't know that early access was ever even planned, it could have been a recent decision. Seems to me stating early access upfront would have been a really good selling point to get more preorders.

It's only a slap in the face based on your own conjecture.

Apparently, you still do not understand, despite saying you do. They never NEED to tell us anything about certifications, that is, if they thought as much about console players as they did PC players. By adding that at the bottom, they are making excuses for not having thought ahead, and YOU are buying into it. Too many other games do JUST fine coordinating all of the stuff between platforms, no reason that ZOS cannot do the same. It only becomes unfair to PC when they are told the hidden things.

Imagine, if the PC players were blatantly told by ZOS, "Early Access for Pre-Orders on June 6th!! PC guys, you could have had it 2 weeks before, but, certifications on console pushed that back, sorry guys, be mad at the console players, not us!"

To understand the issue, just reverse the positions. PC players would be LIVID! But... only because ZOS felt the need to point out that behind the scenes info and be complete ****s. Instead, they could keep all of that quiet, and simply think ahead, coordinate everything on their end, and have simultaneous releases and early access. Sorry ZOS, but you decided to be big dogs and play in the big dog leagues, that means you now have bigger responsibilities, and that includes being fair to ALL PLAYERS.

daedalusAI wrote: »

If you've read the ptr forums you should be glad that consoles don't get early access.
With the way things are developing the early access is just a renamed public test for which players are paying for.
You have to be crazy to opt for early access for this "expansion".

As for why would anyone want to be in on this, because of all of the bugs and glitches and how it is just a paid beta, etc? Yeah, this game hasn't ever been not-glitchy, and people don't care. Look at how much PC players are hyped for the early access, they know the state of the release, they have been playing the PTS for it, and are still excited... so, don't try and sell that.

I am a PC player. I am neither hyped nor would I be concerned if instead of June 6th I had gotten June 20th.
I would still be getting the expansion I paid for and early access is not really important because I will be playing the content at my own pace and in my own free time anyway.

Why the rush? Impatience is rampant nowadays.

Ojustaboo

DaveMoeDee wrote: »

Kay1 wrote: »

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Just to clarify: All PC players will be getting the base game patch on 5/22. Only those who purchased the Morrowind Digital Upgrade (or Physical CE with the form filled out) will have access to Morrowind on 5/22.

Why only PC players? Why is this information hidden? You said 20 times Morrowind was coming on June 6 for EVERYONE, another lie? Whao.

I don't know if you knew about it but a lot of people were excited about Morrowind getting released the same day so there will finally be a war between platforms to achieve the World First clear of the new Trial, PC players already got an advantage because of the PTS and now this, whao you guys just ruined it.

Don't be daft. If they finish work on the game on May 20, they will still have to submit it to MS and Sony for approval. So if they didn't allow early access to PC, which does not require any approval from a 3rd party, they would just be sitting on the finished version. Are you saying that they should sit on the PC version to not hurt the feelings of console players? Console players should learn how their platforms work.

If you don't like that, get off consoles and you can get games directly from developers. There is no need to make PC players wait just because some players chose to play in walled gardens.

But , I bet if major bugs etc are discovered after early PC release and they say take a week to get them all fixed, they will also be fixed on the consoles on their release date

Ojustaboo

DaveMoeDee wrote: »

Talvorian wrote: »

Everyone should not be debating over the Sony and MS thing... It's a smokescreen... wake up..

The real question is WHY the change of heart on release dates? That's what we all want to know.

Why since january has it been June 6th for ALL platforms?

Why today, was it announced that they want to do something 'special'?

I think everyone fully understands that there can be delays between console and pc releases of games and we are letting ZOS and @ZOS_GinaBruno off the hook by arguing with each other when we should be demanding to know WHY this decision was made to go early. To be clear, that's what this is.

Clearly, in the posts made, a decision was made to green light PC earlier than anticipated. We just want to know the WHY??

Why early? Because it is ready and there are no barriers to releasing on PC as soon as it is good to go.

Someone hasn't played on PTS

Kay1

I don't know what is worse, Zenimax big lie or the PC community making fun of console players and ruining this thread.

I feel very ashamed to play on PC, but I've never seen anything more toxic than a PC community so I'm not very surprised.

I know many of you don't have experience in life but remember to be fair in life, always think about the rest because if you spend your life being as selfish as you guys are in this forum you guys will die alone or around fake tears.

Rosveen

Ojustaboo wrote: »

DaveMoeDee wrote: »

Kay1 wrote: »

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Just to clarify: All PC players will be getting the base game patch on 5/22. Only those who purchased the Morrowind Digital Upgrade (or Physical CE with the form filled out) will have access to Morrowind on 5/22.

Why only PC players? Why is this information hidden? You said 20 times Morrowind was coming on June 6 for EVERYONE, another lie? Whao.

I don't know if you knew about it but a lot of people were excited about Morrowind getting released the same day so there will finally be a war between platforms to achieve the World First clear of the new Trial, PC players already got an advantage because of the PTS and now this, whao you guys just ruined it.

Don't be daft. If they finish work on the game on May 20, they will still have to submit it to MS and Sony for approval. So if they didn't allow early access to PC, which does not require any approval from a 3rd party, they would just be sitting on the finished version. Are you saying that they should sit on the PC version to not hurt the feelings of console players? Console players should learn how their platforms work.

If you don't like that, get off consoles and you can get games directly from developers. There is no need to make PC players wait just because some players chose to play in walled gardens.

But , I bet if major bugs etc are discovered after early PC release and they say take a week to get them all fixed, they will also be fixed on the consoles on their release date

They won't because the console patch will have already been sent for certification.

Chi110ut

Sounds to me that the reason for early access is to try and prevent the mass exodus of cancelled subs / pre-orders!

They were quick to lift the NDA and allow some content creators to YouTube Morrowind...

Calandrae

This is very unfortunate. I don't want Morrowind or the patch that comes with it. The changes to gameplay are pretty horrible. Very disappointing that I'm going to loose my functioning and fun main character/her build two weeks earlier than I thought. Our group is also practicing vMoL atm, the chances of completing that are going to plummet with the patch.

Even less reason to keep logging in. Oh well.

Cpt_Teemo

Zyrudin wrote: »

Kay1 wrote: »

Why only PC players? Why is this information hidden? You said 20 times Morrowind was coming on June 6 for EVERYONE, another lie? Whao.

I don't know if you knew about it but a lot of people were excited about Morrowind getting released the same day so there will finally be a war between platforms to achieve the World First clear of the new Trial, PC players already got an advantage because of the PTS and now this, whao you guys just ruined it.

There will be a war? For being the first to clear content? Really?

WTF?

No offense intended, I am genuinely baffled - Is this what you people get up for in the morning?

You can easily decide who the winner is even with them coming out at different times, just combine all time used in a completed run and whoever has a lower time wins?

Zyrudin

Kay1 wrote: »

I don't know what is worse, Zenimax big lie or the PC community making fun of console players and ruining this thread.

I feel very ashamed to play on PC, but I've never seen anything more toxic than a PC community so I'm not very surprised.

I know many of you don't have experience in life but remember to be fair in life, always think about the rest because if you spend your life being as selfish as you guys are in this forum you guys will die alone or around fake tears.