Good Example of Overhead Chat in ESO

bellanca6561n · October 2014

There was some discussion earlier about how overhead chat would be implemented. Some folks call these chat bubbles too.

Some RP guilds already have it as mod and here's a video of that mod. You may find RP events - in this case a large party in Mournhold on the North American server - not your thing. However I believe this demonstrates how overhead chat can work and work well.

http://youtu.be/GsJqnM1aPl4

ZOS_MichelleA · October 2014

We have announced that there will be chat bubbles coming in Update 5. Our most recent ESO Live show discussed chat bubbles, including a preview, which you can find here: http://www.twitch.tv/zenimaxonlinestudios/b/576785225 (it's at 1:02:30ish). You'll be able to help us test them on the PTS when Update 5 hits the PTS!

bellanca6561n · October 2014

Thanks, Michelle!

Missed that video. Many thanks for the time stamp too. Looks like a great start. The mod in the RP video is very limited and requires removing the HUD when it runs which is why its author never released it to the public.

b92303008rwb17_ESO · October 2014

To be honest, I find the fan made chat bubble mod more appealing and in line with the TES style. Maybe there is something that ZOS can adopt and make some improvements?

bellanca6561n · October 2014

Me too but they only showed us a very brief glimpse of a prototype system in that video.

But they invite us to test it and they ask for our feedback. As parchment strongly supports a roleplaying style, and overhead chat supports roleplaying, I plan on testing it and offering that feedback if it suits.

As most people put lots of work into their characters and their gear primarily for fighting - battle and its outcome being their game story - many develop theirs to experience a very different story. It takes lots of work, imagination, attention to detail and, above all, writing.

And the writing is revealed in the overhead chat.

Another example from an audience held before the Morrowind Grand Council.

http://youtu.be/FrGH4uIN_O4

k9mouse · October 2014

I like the color theme and fact they are out of the way in the main viewing area. More "Standard MMO" way of doing it just crowd up the screen with items. I might be using something like the ADDON does, but I do not like the way the "standard MMO" chat bubbles look.

Side Note: What is "Standard MMO?" Almost all MMOs are WoW clones, thus that is "standard" I do not want to play WoW or a WoW clone.