Does ZoS view ESO's console release as its savior?

Khan · November 2014

The flip side of the title is -- must they treat their PC player base this poorly?

1.5.3 did not resolve issues it was meant to fix. I'm at an absolute loss for words how this could be so.

Prominent competitor titles are deploying very soon. Think what you want but you'd be a fool to say the ESO player base won't be taking a hit from this. The saddest part of it all is the grim realization that ZoS seems to WANT PC players to uninstall this game.

An unintended release of a patch that locked out EU players. Then the INTENDED release of the patch to fix the things broken by an earlier patch that... basically resolved nothing. Back-to-back. On top of the other things everyone is sick to death of rehashing.

No game can survive this current course of action/inaction.

None.

Not with the current business model adopted by ZoS.

With regards to console release; Even a spike in purchase revenue and subscription base will, in the end, only prove one thing: dead cats do bounce.

Amsel_McKay · November 2014

I dont think it will ever have a console release because by the time they are done the new generation of console will be released.

Khan · November 2014

Amsel_McKay wrote: »

I dont think it will ever have a console release because by the time they are done the new generation of console will be released.

/sigh

HeX7 · November 2014

I don't see how they could hope for the console release to be their savior. At the end of the day, the game will inevitably die if these types of changes and problems continue, no matter what platform it's on. If they can't push a patch now correctly, why would they be able to on a different platform? Also people who play PC have likely played MMOs in the past and are used to games having many bugs and a rocky start. The people who have only played consoles and are new to MMOs might not stick around if they see so many frequent errors, that take so long to fix.

Deheart · November 2014

It seems to me that ESO is basically using this time to polish the little bugs out and see what people really want for the game so that when the console version does come out it will be fully ready.

I mean really, despite any claims to the contrary isn't this game still playable and fun? And if its not, then why is anyone still playing? I find it fun.

HeX7 · November 2014

Deheart wrote: »

It seems to me that ESO is basically using this time to polish the little bugs out and see what people really want for the game so that when the console version does come out it will be fully ready.

Exactly, we are paying money right now so we can be the guinea pigs for a new crowd

Amsel_McKay · November 2014

HeX7 wrote: »

Deheart wrote: »

It seems to me that ESO is basically using this time to polish the little bugs out and see what people really want for the game so that when the console version does come out it will be fully ready.

Exactly, we are paying money right now so we can be the guinea pigs for a new crowd

You are not caged like a Guinea pig you can leave at any time.

Dalexx · November 2014

Khan wrote: »

No game can survive this current course of action/inaction.

None.

Not with the current business model adopted by ZoS.

Oh come on now. There were no end to the doomsayers for WoW's launch problems even a year in, you still folks claiming "Blizz blew it!" Hell, you could probably find plenty of gloom and doom talk for League of Legends and any other popular game. Mistakes happen, they will learn and hopefully put better procedures in place.

If I recall right, I saw a chart that stated that the Xbox360 accounted for 50% of Skyrims 20 million copies sold. To me, the game(for a MMO) feels very console friendly and less PC centric. So yes, I do think consoles could be the game's savior. I just don't know if there is really a market for it.

Khan · November 2014

Deheart wrote: »

It seems to me that ESO is basically using this time to polish the little bugs out and see what people really want for the game so that when the console version does come out it will be fully ready.

I mean really, despite any claims to the contrary isn't this game still playable and fun? And if its not, then why is anyone still playing? I find it fun.

It has potential. No doubting that. I've played since beta straight through to early access.

I understand that MMOs require constant polishing. I accept that. I just question the methods they use as they go about it.

I'm a very patient person and I'm getting worn down.

There's a difference between being patient and being stupid. I find myself checking which side of the yard I'm standing on.

HeX7 · November 2014

Amsel_McKay wrote: »

HeX7 wrote: »

Exactly, we are paying money right now so we can be the guinea pigs for a new crowd

You are not caged like a Guinea pig you can leave at any time.

Really? I don't have to play this game? What a relief.. lol. Unfortunately coming back to the game to check on the status of it requires money, unless I want to take others peoples words for it. Which I do not. Coming back after a break to see the "fixes" and I see the players are more or less still just the test batch.

Pallmor · November 2014

Microsoft and Sony aren't even talking about the game anymore. I don't even think it's on either of their official upcoming releases list.

Gillysan · November 2014

This is a drama/frustration post pure & simple. Your ire should be directed at the entire gaming industry in general. What game do you know of that hasn't had issues? The quality of craftmanship in the entire industry is horrendous. A basic attitude of "release it now, we'll (maybe) fix it later". ESO is hardly in a class by itself. You don't even have to look at MMO's specifically, just open up Steam and start going through all the supposed AAA titles and ZOS has plenty of company.

I rarely now buy new games in Steam. I wait on average a year for a half off sale or better + DLC's. Much less frustration this way.

If ESO gets on your nerves then save your money. You can always check on it later. A one month sub is all you will need. There is a cost to be that cutting edge player. Are you willing to pay it?

Amsel_McKay · November 2014

Gillysan wrote: »

This is a drama/frustration post pure & simple. Your ire should be directed at the entire gaming industry in general. What game do you know of that hasn't had issues? The quality of craftmanship in the entire industry is horrendous. A basic attitude of "release it now, we'll (maybe) fix it later". ESO is hardly in a class by itself. You don't even have to look at MMO's specifically, just open up Steam and start going through all the supposed AAA titles and ZOS has plenty of company.

I rarely now buy new games in Steam. I wait on average a year for a half off sale or better + DLC's. Much less frustration this way.

If ESO gets on your nerves then save your money. You can always check on it later. A one month sub is all you will need. There is a cost to be that cutting edge player. Are you willing to pay it?

Quoted for truth... so many bad games lately. People say EQ and WOW had bugs I played both from beta for a long time, but not I'm nearly as frustrated as ESO has made me.

OrangeTheCat · November 2014

I don't know how ZOS views a console release. But I do feel like ZOS views us early adopters of the game (people who started around release) as expendable and unpaid QA. I feel that they have factored in to their thinking that early adopters will leave the game through normal attrition and it is OK that we are subjected to these fubar moments because at some point, when the game reaches the land of milk and honey, we will have left and new players will be unaware of the pain we have all suffered.

Amsel_McKay · November 2014

OrangeTheCat wrote: »

I don't know how ZOS views a console release. But I do feel like ZOS views us early adopters of the game (people who started around release) as expendable and unpaid QA. I feel that they have factored in to their thinking that early adopters will leave the game through normal attrition and it is OK that we are subjected to these fubar moments because at some point, when the game reaches the land of milk and honey, we will have left and new players will be unaware of the pain we have all suffered.

Problem is most console players just play the newest games... if ESO comes out on console it will be very old news with most of the game "done" by PC players... I guess some people will want to earn achievements on the consoles to grow their epeen though

AlexDougherty · November 2014

Amsel_McKay wrote: »

I dont think it will ever have a console release because by the time they are done the new generation of console will be released.

Possibly, they should have been able to get it out on console by now. The fact they haven't, and each major update seems to undo fixes, means it might be an eternal chase for them.

McLukos · November 2014

Maybe they just dont respect the master race of PC users...

AaronMB · November 2014

Khan wrote: »

...I understand that MMOs require constant polishing. I accept that. I just question the methods they use as they go about it.

I'm a very patient person and I'm getting worn down.

There's a difference between being patient and being stupid. I find myself checking which side of the yard I'm standing on.

Yes. This exactly.

Ranger · November 2014

I believe I read somewhere that console release was slated for Dec. 2015 so they have along wait to be saved.

I haven't owned a console since the Saga Genesis so not familiar with them at all, but cant imagine playing an MMO on one with the control set. ( thumb sticks and all )

Amsel_McKay · November 2014

Ranger wrote: »

I believe I read somewhere that console release was slated for Dec. 2015 so they have along wait to be saved.

I haven't owned a console since the Saga Genesis so not familiar with them at all, but cant imagine playing an MMO on one with the control set. ( thumb sticks and all )

The XBox One and PS4 would be 2 years old by Dec 15? So I would not be surprised if a new console would be around..

AlexDougherty · November 2014

Ranger wrote: »

I believe I read somewhere that console release was slated for Dec. 2015 so they have along wait to be saved.

I haven't owned a console since the Saga Genesis so not familiar with them at all, but cant imagine playing an MMO on one with the control set. ( thumb sticks and all )

I've played a PC game with an xbox controller, it wasn't impossible, and if you practised you could play most PC games with it, but I prefer keyboard and mouse myself.

Dalexx · November 2014

Ranger wrote: »

I believe I read somewhere that console release was slated for Dec. 2015 so they have along wait to be saved.

I think you meant Dec 2014. The original Console release was supposed to be in June of 2014, then they posted that it was going to be delayed 6 months. So unless I missed an announcement (very possible) it should be next month.

But Since we haven't heard much and no news of a console Beta, Dec 2015 may prove to be more accurate.

JoffyToffy69 · November 2014

I have an odd feeling that when the console version is finally released I think the subscription payments may go.
Console gamers (generally speaking) hate the idea of subscription based games.
PC gamers aren't bothered by it so much.
So I think in order for ESO to have the slightest chance of success, they may change it to F2P...

Just a possibility?

jeevin · November 2014

The game is a train wreck. It doesn't matter which platform it's on. No game of this quality with incompetent devs can survive for long.

korwinthale · November 2014

The problem is that ZOS wants 20 million dollars this year instead of 150 million in 5 years They are not making a quality game ... They are trying to appeal to the bottom of the barrel casual players who will LEAVE as soon as the next shiny things pops up instead of focusing on the hardcore players whom would stay indefinitely if it was a quality difficult fun game.

michaelb14a_ESO2 · November 2014

I'll say it again. This game in the near term is going nowhere near a console platform guys. Given the current shape of the game can you honestly say otherwise? For example:

Simple maintenance patches. Microsoft and Sony have to verify and approve any patch or update that goes out over their system. We are talking about deliverables ZOS has to provide weeks and weeks in advance. Its one thing to let us down, those two companies will not stand ZOS wasting their time, plain and simple.

ADDED
It's already been revealed that ZOS has had some trouble meeting the technical demands these two companies have laid out for them, and as a result has had deliverables kicked back to them saying "nope, still not right".

zbtiqua · November 2014

Khan wrote: »

The flip side of the title is -- must they treat their PC player base this poorly?

1.5.3 did not resolve issues it was meant to fix. I'm at an absolute loss for words how this could be so.

Prominent competitor titles are deploying very soon. Think what you want but you'd be a fool to say the ESO player base won't be taking a hit from this. The saddest part of it all is the grim realization that ZoS seems to WANT PC players to uninstall this game.

An unintended release of a patch that locked out EU players. Then the INTENDED release of the patch to fix the things broken by an earlier patch that... basically resolved nothing. Back-to-back. On top of the other things everyone is sick to death of rehashing.

No game can survive this current course of action/inaction.

None.

Not with the current business model adopted by ZoS.

With regards to console release; Even a spike in purchase revenue and subscription base will, in the end, only prove one thing: dead cats do bounce.

This is exactly what they think, unfortunately.

Spottswoode · November 2014

I sincerely doubt ZOS sees consoles as their saviors. The MMO market for consoles couldn't hope to make income anywhere close to PC market. Consoles are becoming more MMO friendly but the gap is way too wide to bank on. I wouldn't expect any more than 150000 players to stick around for more than three months (and I would call that estimate gloriously optimistic) because the majority of console sales revolves around annual sequels, DLC, and premium services. That last one gives some indication there is a market for subscription based services, but they are by no means equivalent.
Game sales will definitely give an income spike, but this is a market that focuses on the long haul. If the console version ever happens, rest assured they will get the @$$ end of everything.

seanvwolf · November 2014

Ranger wrote: »

I believe I read somewhere that console release was slated for Dec. 2015 so they have along wait to be saved.

I haven't owned a console since the Saga Genesis so not familiar with them at all, but cant imagine playing an MMO on one with the control set. ( thumb sticks and all )

You can purchase keyboard and mouse adapters for consoles. Welcome to the World of Tomorrow!

guybrushtb16_ESO · November 2014

Gillysan wrote: »

This is a drama/frustration post pure & simple. Your ire should be directed at the entire gaming industry in general. What game do you know of that hasn't had issues? The quality of craftmanship in the entire industry is horrendous. A basic attitude of "release it now, we'll (maybe) fix it later". ESO is hardly in a class by itself. You don't even have to look at MMO's specifically, just open up Steam and start going through all the supposed AAA titles and ZOS has plenty of company.

I rarely now buy new games in Steam. I wait on average a year for a half off sale or better + DLC's. Much less frustration this way.

If ESO gets on your nerves then save your money. You can always check on it later. A one month sub is all you will need. There is a cost to be that cutting edge player. Are you willing to pay it?

Personally, I hold the customer base responsible for that. People generally are idiots. All those early access programms, all the buy-in "betas", all the overpriced DLCs exist because people buy them. People are literally crying for this *** and they have absolutely zero regard for production value at all.

At that point, it's perfectly understandable why the industy does what it does; the easiest way for them is to just throw that junk out there and shove it down their throats no matter what it looks like.

Sindala · November 2014

Still not heard anything about how they are going to price the console subs. On a PC we have to pay for an Internet connection + game monthly sub.
Consoles will have to pay the Internet connection + console internet sub + monthly game sub. I really can't see many peeps doing this for a game that has been riddled with bugs, balance issues, game breaks, ect since release.

Only way I could see console release ever working is if ESO went F2P.
They should just admit defeat on the console version and concentrate resources into making the PC version atleast a AA game (will never be classed as a AAA game ever again).