this has to be a joke right?

spartaxoxo · November 3

Elsonso wrote: »

As for the teams being different... I would suggest the possibility that those people could have been working on other art related things besides this. They might not have the instant "ewww, ick" factor that this thing has, but I bet that if they marketed it like they were working on improving the game, there would be a payoff.

They likely make cosmetics and then other teams decide what goes on sale and what is free, and where and when these items are released (if ever). Assuming zos is similar to other companies.

And how would a team that specifically makes these types of cosmetics market a mount as improving the game?

Different teams make different things. If they didn't make this mount it would have been a different one. I get some don't like this one (I don't either) but at least it's not the same thing we've been getting..

ake · November 3

spartaxoxo wrote: »

...
The people who work on making cosmetics to sell probably aren't on the same team as the ones doing bug fixes or making content. And these dumb mounts are the things that fund the other stuff.

Definitely, nothing to say. However, that's money spent on an artist versus an engineer. Let's enjoy the frivolity of the moment instead of planning for a hypothetical future. Legitimate thought that I don't agree.

Juomuuri · November 3

This mount is something I'd consider buying if it had more pleasant colors. It makes me think of mustard and ketchup...

And yes, video game companies have different teams for different sections of development, ZOS pumping out these silly cosmetics has nothing to do with gameplay.

Elsonso · November 3

spartaxoxo wrote: »

Elsonso wrote: »

As for the teams being different... I would suggest the possibility that those people could have been working on other art related things besides this. They might not have the instant "ewww, ick" factor that this thing has, but I bet that if they marketed it like they were working on improving the game, there would be a payoff.

They likely make cosmetics and then other teams decide what goes on sale and what is free, and where and when these items are released (if ever). Assuming zos is similar to other companies.

And how would a team that specifically makes these types of cosmetics market a mount as improving the game?

Different teams make different things. If they didn't make this mount it would have been a different one. I get some don't like this one (I don't either) but at least it's not the same thing we've been getting..

I would be surprised if this wasn't scheduled and sized and allocated to the Crown Store before anyone even picked up a stylus to sketch out the concept art. After that, it probably got assigned to artists, likely sound engineers, UI engineers, and even writers, to assemble this into the final product that graces this month's Crown Store article. My impression is that if it shows up in the game, it was planned, and planned in detail, before any work even started.

I think that every one of those people could have been working on something else related to their particular talents.

SeaGtGruff · November 3

SilverBride wrote: »

A Symphony of Dawn Charger Haiku:

A horse can't have arms
Unless it bred with a man
This is travesty!

In this case, the four arms are part of the armor that's strapped onto the horse, so no unnatural travesty is needed, just some horse armor with four arms that can be waved about by magical means. Not that I don't like your haiku; just sayin' the horse doesn't actually have arms.

zaria · November 3

Alaztor91 wrote: »

We can only loot the headpiece from the Symphony of Blades, but this horse got the whole 4 arms.

Its unfair. This one want more arms. Khajiit want to use 2h, with an shield also couple of staffs at once. And an dagger at the end of tail.

spartaxoxo · November 3

Elsonso wrote: »

spartaxoxo wrote: »

Elsonso wrote: »

As for the teams being different... I would suggest the possibility that those people could have been working on other art related things besides this. They might not have the instant "ewww, ick" factor that this thing has, but I bet that if they marketed it like they were working on improving the game, there would be a payoff.

They likely make cosmetics and then other teams decide what goes on sale and what is free, and where and when these items are released (if ever). Assuming zos is similar to other companies.

And how would a team that specifically makes these types of cosmetics market a mount as improving the game?

Different teams make different things. If they didn't make this mount it would have been a different one. I get some don't like this one (I don't either) but at least it's not the same thing we've been getting..

I would be surprised if this wasn't scheduled and sized and allocated to the Crown Store before anyone even picked up a stylus to sketch out the concept art. After that, it probably got assigned to artists, likely sound engineers, UI engineers, and even writers, to assemble this into the final product that graces this month's Crown Store article. My impression is that if it shows up in the game, it was planned, and planned in detail, before any work even started.

I think that every one of those people could have been working on something else related to their particular talents.

They could not have been working on something else because these items are what funds all other work. They have a team of people who make cosmetics for this type of thing, and those people would not be working on something else necessarily if they weren't working on that. They allocate budgets to things and that's what those funds are used on. So, as a general rule, when something comes out it is not the case that if that thing didn't come out you'd have gotten a completely different type of thing. It would have just been something else to go in the crown crates or in the game, depending on where they wanted the item to go.

zaria · November 3

Jaraal wrote: »

"We were somewhere around Riverhold on the edge of the desert when the skooma began to take hold."

zaria · November 3

fizzylu wrote: »

Ilumia wrote: »

The flower-power kitty has certainly been dethroned by this fortnite atrocity.

While the concept was questionable, at least Sir Sugarplum Daisy was clearly a quality mount.... I mean, every flowers (and there were so many) placement seemed to have thought put into it. And that crown? Come on.... it was well done.

But this....? Nah, someone just threw that together in not even a quarter of a workday.

Agree and its kind of plausible in the world with some illusion magic. He is an khajiit after all.

Muizer · November 3

Certainly a source of inspiration. Here's my idea for the next mount.

Elsonso · November 3

spartaxoxo wrote: »

Elsonso wrote: »

spartaxoxo wrote: »

Elsonso wrote: »

As for the teams being different... I would suggest the possibility that those people could have been working on other art related things besides this. They might not have the instant "ewww, ick" factor that this thing has, but I bet that if they marketed it like they were working on improving the game, there would be a payoff.

They likely make cosmetics and then other teams decide what goes on sale and what is free, and where and when these items are released (if ever). Assuming zos is similar to other companies.

And how would a team that specifically makes these types of cosmetics market a mount as improving the game?

Different teams make different things. If they didn't make this mount it would have been a different one. I get some don't like this one (I don't either) but at least it's not the same thing we've been getting..

I would be surprised if this wasn't scheduled and sized and allocated to the Crown Store before anyone even picked up a stylus to sketch out the concept art. After that, it probably got assigned to artists, likely sound engineers, UI engineers, and even writers, to assemble this into the final product that graces this month's Crown Store article. My impression is that if it shows up in the game, it was planned, and planned in detail, before any work even started.

I think that every one of those people could have been working on something else related to their particular talents.

They could not have been working on something else because these items are what funds all other work. They have a team of people who make cosmetics for this type of thing, and those people would not be working on something else necessarily if they weren't working on that. They allocate budgets to things and that's what those funds are used on. So, as a general rule, when something comes out it is not the case that if that thing didn't come out you'd have gotten a completely different type of thing. It would have just been something else to go in the crown crates or in the game, depending on where they wanted the item to go.

My guess is that they do not have dedicated "crown store" developers. This is based on developer comments, but not direct comments to this subject. Obviously, we don't know unless someone can dig up a quote or statement, or they volunteer that information.

As to how they decide to spend on game vs cash shop, I will agree with anyone suggesting that the scale normally tips in the monetization direction.

fizzylu wrote: »

But this....? Nah, someone just threw that together in not even a quarter of a workday.

Sadly, I will say that it did not take them a quarter of a workday to do this. Obviously, no one has actually seen this in action,. It is possible that they just phoned it in. But... this thing looks like it is an entirely new model, with entirely new textures, and entirely new animation. This thing cost them more than just some recolor.

Again, I say "sadly"...

spartaxoxo · November 4

Elsonso wrote: »

My guess is that they do not have dedicated "crown store" developers. This is based on developer comments, but not direct comments to this subject. Obviously, we don't know unless someone can dig up a quote or statement, or they volunteer that information.

My guess based on other games is there's a team that makes the mounts and other cosmetic items (probably multiple teams e.g concept artists, 3d models, animators, etc). And there's another separate team(s) that decides when and where the item will go. Is it a cash shop item or a reward in game? Fomo or not? Etc. And that each item requires multiple teams and technically months of work to come into fruition.

But, I don't know the specifics of this game and I can't recall them ever speaking to it either. If someone has a link that would be nice. It's also just stuff I picked up on as a player, I'm not in the industry so I could be wrong.

Perhaps @ZOS_Kevin could shed some light into the design process between concept and purchase, and how they decide which items go where?

Jaraal · November 4

SilverBride wrote: »

A Symphony of Dawn Charger Haiku:

A horse can't have arms
Unless it bred with a man
This is travesty!

Well, if cold-blooded egg laying Argonians can have milk producing mammary glands, then a horse with human arms makes just as much sense. But at least they can pick up their own road apples.

ArchangelIsraphel · November 4

Syldras wrote: »

ArchangelIsraphel wrote: »

Syldras wrote: »

ArchangelIsraphel wrote: »

Wait, I figured it out. This isn't a mount.
Its the Tamriel equivalent of a turbo speed blender!
They don't want us to RIDE it, they want us to make smoothies.

So I need an empty tower or tower ruin. Then I lower that thing into it and... then what? Throw down a few prisoners?

Precisely!
As a green-pact bosmer, I highly recommend the Cyrodiil 3 Alliance Smoothie! : D
A dash of confetti for extra flavor, and if you want it warm, throw in a flaming camel lizard.

Interesting, interesting. Is this... pulp suitable for nix-hounds? And what about the metal scraps that certainly must be present? I mean, you don't throw the ingredients into the blender nude, do you?

Sure it is, sure it is! Absolutely, guaranteed, the nix- hounds will just love it! Would I ever sell anything unhealthy just to make a bit of gold on the side? This is pure, organic! The best Cyrodiil has to offer! Totally honest business practices here.

Metal scraps?? What metal scraps? Ohhh...you mean all those totally natural vitamins and minerals! Yes, uhmn, that's just all the iron supplements! : D

Onomog · November 4

Elsonso wrote: »

My impression is that if it shows up in the game, it was planned, and planned in detail, before any work even started.

I don't doubt that your impression is correct. The fact that this was planned with such detail makes it all the more distressing for what that implies.

fizzylu · November 4

Elsonso wrote: »

Sadly, I will say that it did not take them a quarter of a workday to do this. Obviously, no one has actually seen this in action,. It is possible that they just phoned it in. But... this thing looks like it is an entirely new model, with entirely new textures, and entirely new animation.

Really? I don't think it looks like it has any of those new things at all.... could just be me though, I guess (a little doubtful).

vsrs_au · November 4

These ridiculous mounts may make ZOS money, but they're also ruining the game's reputation.

Rowjoh · November 4

Its a costume not a mount.

Elsonso · November 4

fizzylu wrote: »

Elsonso wrote: »

Sadly, I will say that it did not take them a quarter of a workday to do this. Obviously, no one has actually seen this in action,. It is possible that they just phoned it in. But... this thing looks like it is an entirely new model, with entirely new textures, and entirely new animation.

Really? I don't think it looks like it has any of those new things at all.... could just be me though, I guess (a little doubtful).

I am not aware of any four armed horses in the game already. If there are, then yes, they can reuse bits of that. If there are not reusable items, then they had to make new models, textures, animations, and probably sounds and special effects.

Assuming that it was not done by AI in an experiment to replace artists in the studio, this thing probably occupied the attention of multiple people in the studio. Half dozen or so, maybe?

Rowjoh wrote: »

Its a costume not a mount.

Nope. It is a mount, although, it might be a costume for a mount.

mdjessup4906 · November 4

I like it. Its different And not the 12th reskin of a senche/welwa/generic horse model farting tornadoes/rainbows/other eyewatering effect.

Syldras · November 4

Jaraal wrote: »

Well, if cold-blooded egg laying Argonians can have milk producing mammary glands, then a horse with human arms makes just as much sense.

At least we have the Hist as an lore explanation for Argonian breasts.

Which leads to the question: What's the official flavor text for the new abomination horse thing? Magical experiment gone wrong? Or is it another entertaining chimera created by Varkenel to impress Magister Gothren? I have to say I like Vvardvarks better (plus Gothren might have developed a certain dislike for horses).

ArchangelIsraphel wrote: »

Sure it is, sure it is! Absolutely, guaranteed, the nix- hounds will just love it! Would I ever sell anything unhealthy just to make a bit of gold on the side? This is pure, organic! The best Cyrodiil has to offer! Totally honest business practices here.
Metal scraps?? What metal scraps? Ohhh...you mean all those totally natural vitamins and minerals! Yes, uhmn, that's just all the iron supplements! : D

I'm currently wondering about other uses for this... creature. If we would attach more arms to it, could it be used to dig tunnels? We'd have to attach it to something though, to ensure a sufficient rotation.

WhiteCoatSyndrome · November 4

Syldras wrote: »

I'm currently wondering about other uses for this... creature. If we would attach more arms to it, could it be used to dig tunnels? We'd have to attach it to something though, to ensure a sufficient rotation.

Hammer the swords down into plowshares and it could plow fields by itself.

SilverBride · November 4

vsrs_au wrote: »

These ridiculous mounts may make ZOS money, but they're also ruining the game's reputation.

This is exactly what is happening. The more realistic aspect of this game was one of the biggest draws for me, but now it's like walking onto a preschool playground.

Jaraal · November 4

Syldras wrote: »

Which leads to the question: What's the official flavor text for the new abomination horse thing? Magical experiment gone wrong? Or is it another entertaining chimera created by Varkenel to impress Magister Gothren?

.

""The Lady of Infinite Energies lent me a steed to hasten my way to Garlas Malatar. A creature of golden light, gleaming barding, a symphony of blades, and an aura reminiscent of the Colored Room, the charger tested my endurance."—King Narilmor's Journal."

Lugaldu · November 4

Well, I liked them too. When I was 3 or 4...

Jaraal · November 4

Not gonna lie, this is the first thing I thought about when I saw it:

SilverBride · November 4

Jaraal wrote: »

Not gonna lie, this is the first thing I thought about when I saw it:

Great CD!

Not great mount.

Jaraal · November 4

SilverBride wrote: »

Jaraal wrote: »

Not gonna lie, this is the first thing I thought about when I saw it:

Great CD!

Not great mount.

I had the 8-track originally, lol

SilverBride · November 4

Jaraal wrote: »

SilverBride wrote: »

Jaraal wrote: »

Not gonna lie, this is the first thing I thought about when I saw it:

Great CD!

Not great mount.

I had the 8-track originally, lol

Oh the memories!

ESO_player123 · November 4

Jaraal wrote: »

Syldras wrote: »

Which leads to the question: What's the official flavor text for the new abomination horse thing? Magical experiment gone wrong? Or is it another entertaining chimera created by Varkenel to impress Magister Gothren?

.

""The Lady of Infinite Energies lent me a steed to hasten my way to Garlas Malatar. A creature of golden light, gleaming barding, a symphony of blades, and an aura reminiscent of the Colored Room, the charger tested my endurance."—King Narilmor's Journal."

I bet it did. Try to keep all your limbs from being accidentally chopped off while riding all the way to Garlas Malatar.