The Fundamentals of a Game

JackDaniell

When it comes down to it, the only real ting that defines a game is its gameplay. What is the game like to play? How does it challenge/entertain you? What do you experience?
Lots of other aspects (Graphics, sound) can help shape a game, but at its core the gameplay is what matters the most to the games success.

This is why I struggle so hard to understand why Zenimax does not care for the fundamentals of their own game. They neglect the gameplay. Gameplay comes second to a new cosmetic, a new zone or some charming NPCs. Pushing out unfinished content that further damages gameplay is more important then fixing key gameplay issues such as bugs and lag.

The only reason I can think is that they want to chase the short term dollar. They want to bleed as much money as they can from a "Elder Scrolls" title before its a dried up husk. But even this argument makes no sense. ESO is special, its a very unique MMO with very unique gameplay. If they focused on the fundamentals they wouldn't loose new players after a couple months. Old veteran players would come back, due to leaving over terrible gameplay flaws in the past. And importantly, ESO would shed its terrible reputation as a buggy mess.

Hurtfan

Game play >>>>>>>>>>>> cosmetics

Honestly I don't give a crap how my toon looks

Tasear

When you love something ...then it breaks. My feelings of eso this Valentine's.

P.S
It was probably project managers. They push dates not realties.

DieAlteHexe

Tasear wrote: »

When you love something ...then it breaks. My feelings of eso this Valentine's.

P.S
It was probably project managers. They push dates not realties.

And management usually has their foot up the project managers' butts.

Suits, I tell ya...

jaye63

Idea: NEXT DLC... FIXES!

QuebraRegra

This is an interesting thread, that likley wont garner the interest it should...

Here's a pic of the dev team circa 2013:
http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Online:Development_Team

Look at all dem peoples! Obviously when you first stand an MMO up you need more staff, but as I recall, a more recent dev team photo reflects substantially fewer peoples. Job listing for artists and monetization positions are fact.

I think what appears to be the emphasis on crown store and expansions, is likely a reflection of the management focus, and what the capabilities of the remaining staff can accomplish. I suspect this is why even the only class "added" is in fact a class that had already existed in the original Beta... rehashed existing code.

Meanwhile, server issues for years, skills rarely fixed, only to be broken again, etc.

My modest proposal would be since ZOS likes money, they should make an investment to fix the fundamental issues, then use the "new an improved" engine, and reskin it and resell the whole thing as a new fantasy MMO (get a D&D 5e, or LOTOR licence), while maintaining an improved ESO. All they would need are the improvements and a few minor changes to reskin it a a brand new product. Mo money.

Dark_Lord_Kuro

JackDaniell wrote: »

When it comes down to it, the only real ting that defines a game is its gameplay. What is the game like to play? How does it challenge/entertain you? What do you experience?
Lots of other aspects (Graphics, sound) can help shape a game, but at its core the gameplay is what matters the most to the games success.

This is why I struggle so hard to understand why Zenimax does not care for the fundamentals of their own game. They neglect the gameplay. Gameplay comes second to a new cosmetic, a new zone or some charming NPCs. Pushing out unfinished content that further damages gameplay is more important then fixing key gameplay issues such as bugs and lag.

The only reason I can think is that they want to chase the short term dollar. They want to bleed as much money as they can from a "Elder Scrolls" title before its a dried up husk. But even this argument makes no sense. ESO is special, its a very unique MMO with very unique gameplay. If they focused on the fundamentals they wouldn't loose new players after a couple months. Old veteran players would come back, due to leaving over terrible gameplay flaws in the past. And importantly, ESO would shed its terrible reputation as a buggy mess.

The artist that draw the new zone/dongeon dont do in gameplay so keep drawing

While the writer may have to work with who ever make gameplay for quest but the do not create it so he continue to write

The guy who create crownstore stuff has nothing to do with it

And the are many more tha arent involve in creating gameplay so you say they should stop working until there is more gameply element in the game? I dont think so

By the way the same can be said for bug repair