Transferred from PC -> PS4 at console launch now back; what I learned

Synnastix

As title says, I was in ESO beta and have the monkeys to prove it. I played on PC for the first year then when the console version launched I had my account copied to PS4 and have been there since. This week I reinstalled an unmodded version of ESO on PC and gave it a shot, played a few days, and figured I would share some observations with you all.

Some quick toon stats, same toon on both platforms:

PC Played - 19 days 14 hrs
PS4 played - 64 days 4 hrs (same toon, so prob 45 days played on PS4)

PC Achievement points - 9710
PS4 Achievement points - 16820

Basically I took my toon from PC, spent a few years with progression and hoarding, then went back to my original account on PC to see what it would be like.

Hardware - I liked the PS4 because I could travel with it, I spent a lot of nights in hotels for work and it was easy enough to pack and just works without messing with any settings or configs. When I was running on PC, I was running with an AMD FX8350 proc and GTX 770 GPU, also worked great and looked fantastic. Now I don't have the FX and am running with the same GTX 770 on a dual core Phenom II 550 - the quick answer is that it's very choppy and near 100% CPU utilization full time. Still looks good, but the game play is suffering and nowhere near as smooth as the PS4. As a test I installed it on my laptop which is an i5 w/ integrated graphics; it plays surprisingly well but of course the graphics are a bit crap. I think to stay on PC you need to stick to the recommended system requirements or at least maybe don't expect much from a 10 year old proc, however if you never played before and have any decent CPU you can get it up and running even if it doesn't look the greatest. The frame rate issue is interesting as the game in general looks smoother on the PC than PS4, but it's really difficult to describe. I played both systems on a 55" TV and the PC does look a tad better.

Load times - I get faster load times on PC, though it's not a huge margin. From title launch to login to standing in the world, it loads just a hair faster. HOWEVER, my PC has a SSD while the PS4 has a conventional drive, and one thing I did notice is that when porting around the game world it did take a bit longer to load areas on the PS4.

Population - I stood in multiple locations on both platforms at the same time and overall the population seemed slightly higher on PC, but the population on both seemed healthy. I waited at the Imperfect for others to show up and it seemed to take a little longer for enough people to show up on PC compared to PS4, but banks on PC were more crowded than PS4. The Vivec PVP population was interesting, PS4 was pop locked while PC had openings on all 3. I checked a couple of times and eventually they both ended up pop locked, but I guess console players like to PVP more and don't have Summerset to go grind?

*Note: My first experience on return was to jump straight to dolmen grinding since I left before the CP system came into play and my toon ended up at CP 140, holy crap was that an experience. I'm assuming it's because of Summerset just being released and people grinding for jewelry but there were way too many people in Al'ikir and a ton of people on Auridon as well.

Social experience - Probably the biggest difference was the chatlog on PC was much busier for obvious reasons, but the funny thing was a lot of people were running guild adverts and asking new members to join Discord / voice chat servers. This was a weird thing because I got used to having voice chat built in to the system and IMO one of the funner parts of running ESO on console is just running around looking for people who are hot miking. The more cluttered chatlog has the psychological effect of making it seem like there are more people around though as we can see the chat even if we don't see the people running around. As far as other stuff like stereotypical maturity and what not, it seemed pretty much the same on both platforms.

Crafting bag - I sub on PS4 and didn't have it on PC, so yeah this was a huge quality of life issue. I've spent the past 3 years hoarding every crafting mat I could get my hands on and it got worse with the crafting bag. Going back to PC I will say it was quite...inconvenient to realize that my hoard of supplies wasn't there.

Champ points - Obviously going from max CP to CP 140 was going to be different, I just didn't realize it would be THAT much different. Survivability was way down and I got flattened quite often by mobs that my PS4 toon walks through. Some of that is gear, but a big part of it is investing CP into offensive/defensive enhancements. I understand how some people say the CP system is trivializing content, but this experience gave me a better sense of where the balance is when you take CP off the table. For new accounts, the lack of CP makes things much more challenging and anyone who doesn't believe that should try de-allocating all their CP, grabbing rando gear, then try doing the same things you're used to with your toon. If they geared content for max CP and end-game toons, it would probably turn off new players as they would have a really hard time without a group.

Furnishings - My toon is a crafter and on PS4 I have hundreds of furnishing recipes; my PC toon has 3 now and... yeah it made me less interested in housing (broke anyway so not a big deal).

Cool factor - Three years is a lot of time, and that time includes a lot of motifs, dyes, mounts, costumes, furnishings, and other cosmetics that make the game more fun. I was immediately frustrated that I couldn't make the toons look the same, some of which is due to massive grinds. The Master Angler title and million dollar purple clothing dye don't come quick, and that's not stuff I'm terribly interested in grinding again.

Anyways, it's been an interesting week.

Avalon

Yeah, I've tried a few times to go back to PC, but have had very similar issues as that cool factor part. Realizing my craft bag is just about empty comparatively, that I have almost no colors or motifs due to loss of time and purchases, etc. For me it was a feeling I could only describe as if a guy at 50 years old was told he had to repeat public school, or worse, if his intelligence was reduced back to 8th grade, but he knew he used to know all he used to know... it's awkward, uneasy, empty, frustrating... every time, it made me return to console... I just could not continue on PC without all I had worked for.

Bam_Bam

Sensible people would have stuck with PC.

Avalon

Bam_Bam wrote: »

Sensible people would have stuck with PC.

At the point where I quit, my hands were starting to degrade to the point that I could not use a keyboard reliably for gaming anymore. I requested controller support (because I could still, and can still use them). Despite a console version being announced as in the works, the reply I received was that they were not planning on any controller support for PC. Other players suggested several third party programs to handle it, at which point it was made clear by ZOS that 3rd party programs would NOT be allowed, and if caught using them, would result in account bans.

So, I quit PC and waited for Xbox. I did all I could to stay on PC, ZOS pushed me to console.

DanteYoda

The cp issue you talk about is why a lot here need to start a new account and really understand what its like without everything before they scream content is too easy...

Sigtric

Bam_Bam wrote: »

Sensible people would have stuck with PC.

Sensible people play on the platform that is correct for their needs. That is not always pc.

Synnastix

Bam_Bam wrote: »

Sensible people would have stuck with PC.

Part of my point is that the gaming experience overall wasn’t necessarily better or worse on one platform over another, just small differences. When I left PC I had just gotten shoulder surgery which made using a kb/mouse unreasonable for long periods. The biggest learning point was just how difficult it is to reroll not just a new toon, but pretty much a whole account and how it makes you feel light years behind. Another part are the subtle differences between platforms, like the social experience with more text chat vs integrated voice chat, easy headphone connection vs needing a wireless headphone or being close to the PC, etc.

The game has offered a lot of content over the years and I can totally see how it would be intimidating for new players to try and catch up. It is still fun either way IMO so I am probably going to box on both sides for a while.

ADarklore

Avalon wrote: »

Bam_Bam wrote: »

Sensible people would have stuck with PC.

At the point where I quit, my hands were starting to degrade to the point that I could not use a keyboard reliably for gaming anymore. I requested controller support (because I could still, and can still use them). Despite a console version being announced as in the works, the reply I received was that they were not planning on any controller support for PC. Other players suggested several third party programs to handle it, at which point it was made clear by ZOS that 3rd party programs would NOT be allowed, and if caught using them, would result in account bans.

So, I quit PC and waited for Xbox. I did all I could to stay on PC, ZOS pushed me to console.

I don't know WHERE you heard that, because I still use a third party program called DS4Windows so I can run my PS4 controller on PC. There is nothing against TOS by using a third party program for controller support... ZOS DOES NOT ALLOW 'macro' usage which is where the miscommunication may have occurred. I switch back and forth between keyboard/mouse and controller- using controller for movement/combat and keyboard/mouse for menu, chat, etc. I also use a couple of addons that work well with my setup- Advance Disable Controller UI and Arch's Enhanced Gamepad.

devan0216

When I made the switch from xbox to pc, I knew that I'd want to use a controller so I bought one of those microsoft controller dongles. I'll use the keyboard for writs, etc and pick up the controller for mobs, etc. I like that the addons which show map-markers still work in gamepad mode.

Synnastix

I got a Logitech F710 that works pretty much exactly the same as the PS4 controller except sometimes the wireless connection can be picky depending on where I am. That was another point of surprise - it was weirdly difficult to use a kb/mouse to play a game since I hadn't done any PC gaming at all for the past few years except on rare occasion. The Logitech controller is nice because you can just plug it in and at least with Windows 10 it just works, but it doesn't feel as comfortable as the PS4 controller.

SoggyBizkit

I started on PS4 and after hitting the old Vet rank cap, around 150cp and having cleared all the content I quit just before imperial city released. I came back on PC after shadows of the hist and would never go back to console. The graphics are completely different. And I would never give up half my mods now. But I know how you must feel about the collectables especially crown create mounts etc which you could never get back.

kylewwefan

if The PC version would have started with controller support, I might have stayed on it. But it didn’t. So, as grand as it looked, I barely played.

exeeter702

ADarklore wrote: »

Avalon wrote: »

Bam_Bam wrote: »

Sensible people would have stuck with PC.

At the point where I quit, my hands were starting to degrade to the point that I could not use a keyboard reliably for gaming anymore. I requested controller support (because I could still, and can still use them). Despite a console version being announced as in the works, the reply I received was that they were not planning on any controller support for PC. Other players suggested several third party programs to handle it, at which point it was made clear by ZOS that 3rd party programs would NOT be allowed, and if caught using them, would result in account bans.

So, I quit PC and waited for Xbox. I did all I could to stay on PC, ZOS pushed me to console.

I don't know WHERE you heard that, because I still use a third party program called DS4Windows so I can run my PS4 controller on PC. There is nothing against TOS by using a third party program for controller support... ZOS DOES NOT ALLOW 'macro' usage which is where the miscommunication may have occurred. I switch back and forth between keyboard/mouse and controller- using controller for movement/combat and keyboard/mouse for menu, chat, etc. I also use a couple of addons that work well with my setup- Advance Disable Controller UI and Arch's Enhanced Gamepad.

Hes not talking about that. Once upon a time before console ui and controller support were a thing, people used third party programs to emulate mouse and key board inputs on a controller interface, which could land you in hot water because said third party software often had macro utilities and other disallowed features embedded in them whether you used them or not.

Davor

Avalon wrote: »

Bam_Bam wrote: »

Sensible people would have stuck with PC.

At the point where I quit, my hands were starting to degrade to the point that I could not use a keyboard reliably for gaming anymore. I requested controller support (because I could still, and can still use them). Despite a console version being announced as in the works, the reply I received was that they were not planning on any controller support for PC. Other players suggested several third party programs to handle it, at which point it was made clear by ZOS that 3rd party programs would NOT be allowed, and if caught using them, would result in account bans.

So, I quit PC and waited for Xbox. I did all I could to stay on PC, ZOS pushed me to console.

I believe this is why you have left PC. That is why I went to Xbox since I as much as I try I play easier with a controller. Now I am back with PC a few weeks ago because I can use my Xbox Controller on PC now. I don't know if you know this or not, or if you even care to go back to PC but just letting you know just in case you didn't.

Avalon

Davor wrote: »

Avalon wrote: »

Bam_Bam wrote: »

Sensible people would have stuck with PC.

At the point where I quit, my hands were starting to degrade to the point that I could not use a keyboard reliably for gaming anymore. I requested controller support (because I could still, and can still use them). Despite a console version being announced as in the works, the reply I received was that they were not planning on any controller support for PC. Other players suggested several third party programs to handle it, at which point it was made clear by ZOS that 3rd party programs would NOT be allowed, and if caught using them, would result in account bans.

So, I quit PC and waited for Xbox. I did all I could to stay on PC, ZOS pushed me to console.

I believe this is why you have left PC. That is why I went to Xbox since I as much as I try I play easier with a controller. Now I am back with PC a few weeks ago because I can use my Xbox Controller on PC now. I don't know if you know this or not, or if you even care to go back to PC but just letting you know just in case you didn't.

I have so much time and money invested into the game on Xbox, that to go back to PC would be to waste all of that, in addition to leaving the social network I have built up over the last 3 years. So, no, it isn't as easy as everyone seems to claim it would be. All I want is for all platforms to be treated equally, everyone has their own reasons for playing where they do, and have time/money invested. So, instead of everyone offering solutions, like "Stop playing on X-Platform" how about we just accept those platforms exist and we hold ZOS to the standards of "You put the game on those platforms, you have a responsibility to those versions", instead of requiring add-ons to 'fix' problems, tell ZOS, "The fact that we need, or feel the need for, these add-ons is proof that X needs fixing or improved".

Just tired of the obvious being ignored. People should not need outside assistance, and should not need to migrate platforms, to get around broken crap, that is THEIR job to fix, not ours, we PAY them to play, they don't pay US, let's stop doing their job, and expect them to do it.