How many people are going to continue playing ESO no matter what they do?

Rivan12 · December 2014

I am in for the long haul or until it goes F2P whichever comes first.

Saw firsthand what F2P did to LoTRO and I wont be going through that again.

Sarielis · December 2014

I'm invested in the game and having fun

otis67 · December 2014

anything up to f2p. Then I will be gone.

HairyFairy · December 2014

Now everyone can look at these numbers, and realize that the player base is behind zos, even though the numbers on this pole are small, it can represent the whole. So stop threatening to leave, stop telling zos that they're going to lose everyone. Because the majority of people are here to stay, and here to play. Stop worrying so much, and just let the chips fall where they may,

RDMyers65b14_ESO · December 2014

I love TES and I have friends here that I would miss too much if I were to go. So, unless the server goes for good, I am here. Fortunately, RP isn't code specific. Us RPers know how to adapt.

MornaBaine · December 2014

Ironically, it is indeed other PLAYERS that keep me here. Because other than looking graphically pretty this game leaves ALOT to be desired and feels a lot like just any other MMO as they've not really gone out of their way to make it a TES game with other players.

xaraan · December 2014

Not sure. I lean back and forth each day. I've never considered leaving before now.

But I enjoy building characters and seeing what's happening with all the xp I've earned so far, i.e. nothing - for the new system makes me wonder what I'm building.

I was all into running dungeons, loved it, did all achieves, they came out with undaunted and now I'm behind the casuals that have already maxed out the undaunted line.

I was into crafting, leveled up in all crafts, etc. Then dyes come out, new achievements added to open dyes in crafting - I still dont have them open because at max level I haven't needed to break stuff down or gather raw mats like I did while leveling. I watched as others cleared these off easily. Same with upcoming provisioning changes. Noobs will be in the same position as my guy that has gathered, bought, stored all the good ingredients - now we'll all have to go out and find radishes and what not and who knows what else in order to make the high end recipes Ive been making for months.

Now, I find out that I have 5 v14s that will get nothing for the 65 million xp they earned while doing silver/gold quests and what actually bothers me more - that I don't have those quests to do anymore! I wish I had just grinded my levels, at least I'd still have the quests.

All I know is every time I get on the game, I get sick of it real fast now. That's not a good sign.

Darklord_Tiberius · December 2014

I hate to be a downer, but this game is going f2p.... They removed the 180 day subscription, major sign it is headed in that direction; regardless of that "reason" aka excuse they gave. The console release is set for about 6 months away from when they made this move; coincidence? No. When other games have removed their 180 day option for payment, within 6 months, they also went f2p or they closed the servers. I do not see ZOS closing the servers, but the money they make on the console releases, they will no longer need to charge a subscription fee for those few left playing it on PC. After it goes f2p they will implement some type of loyalty program like swtor, rift or Archage.

They have lied and mislead this community so many times, I sometimes am in amazement that this game still has people that play it (me included! lol). At least for me, I still play mainly because of my guild and community, but also I am hoping ZOS can turn this game around. It is a daunting task for them tbh. If this game goes f2p I will be done. f2p games bring in a different type of gamer and drastically changes the community within the game. I honestly do not think ZOS cares what the PC community thinks.

Wolfenbelle · December 2014

HairyFairy wrote: »

Now everyone can look at these numbers, and realize that the player base is behind zos, even though the numbers on this pole are small, it can represent the whole. So stop threatening to leave, stop telling zos that they're going to lose everyone. Because the majority of people are here to stay, and here to play. Stop worrying so much, and just let the chips fall where they may,

I hate to break it to you, but the percentage of people who answered either that they are not staying or that they are leaning toward unsubscribing totals 28%. The poll is too small to make any sweeping declarations of what the majority of players think. However, IF (big if) it does accurately reflect opinions among all active players, that 28% indicates ZOS has a severe problem. No business can afford to lose nearly a third of its customers and hope to survive and stay in business. The company would need to attract more than the number of players who quit just to break even, let alone succeed.

It's a complete mystery to me why so many people don't mind being doormats. You fight to the death in a game, but will just lay down and take being stepped on in real life.

redspecter23 · December 2014

I can't participate in the poll because it's a loaded question. Everyone has a tipping point. Asking people if they will stay "no matter what" should be an automatic 100% "no" unless people are lying.

There is always something that will make people leave whether it's F2P, raising the monthly fee to $50, resetting all characters to level 1 or as drastic as shutting the game down. I haven't voted so I can't see the results, but if it's not 100% no, there are some people that are not only lying to themselves, but probably misunderstood the question.

Tandor · December 2014

Lord_Kreegan wrote: »

HairyFairy wrote: »

Because it's the best mmorpg ever created.

No, it certainly is not...

It has promise, but it has a long way to go.

It depends on your perspective.

I've played most MMOs since '98 and based on my preferred play-style (which does not include PvP these days - although I'm no stranger to PvP - so that excuses me from all the Cyrodil-based complaints) this is by some way already the best of them, and it has the potential to be even better yet.

Wolfenbelle · December 2014

redspecter23 wrote: »

I can't participate in the poll because it's a loaded question. Everyone has a tipping point. Asking people if they will stay "no matter what" should be an automatic 100% "no" unless people are lying.

There is always something that will make people leave whether it's F2P, raising the monthly fee to $50, resetting all characters to level 1 or as drastic as shutting the game down. I haven't voted so I can't see the results, but if it's not 100% no, there are some people that are not only lying to themselves, but probably misunderstood the question.

Good point. Here's the results so far:

Question: How many people are going to continue playing ESO no matter what they do?

175 total votes
"Me" received 75 votes, 42%
"Not me" received 23 votes, 13%
"Leaning towards staying" received 50 votes, 28%
"Leaning towards leaving" received 27 votes, 15%

175 total votes is a very small number, so it's unwise to draw any detailed conclusions from this poll other than to repeat what I said above. IF (big if) these numbers accurately reflect the entire number of active players, then ZOS has a serious problem.

Wolfenbelle · December 2014

Tandor wrote: »

Lord_Kreegan wrote: »

HairyFairy wrote: »

Because it's the best mmorpg ever created.

No, it certainly is not...

It has promise, but it has a long way to go.

It depends on your perspective.

I've played most MMOs since '98 and based on my preferred play-style (which does not include PvP these days - although I'm no stranger to PvP - so that excuses me from all the Cyrodil-based complaints) this is by some way already the best of them, and it has the potential to be even better yet.

ESO is the first Elder Scrolls game and first MMO I've ever played. If your opinion is accurate and this is the best of them, it doesn't say much for the others.

Since people on this forum have frequently urged everyone to watch the ESO Live video, I finally did last night. I managed to get through about two-thirds of it before giving up. If it wasn't the worst presentation by corporate representatives I've ever seen, it ranks in the top two worst. The giggling, snickering, talking over one another, interrupting one another and general all around lack of seriousness was so unprofessional that it left me unable to trust anything they were saying. During their attempt to discuss the CP system, the guy on the left interrupted the woman who was speaking so often that it was hard to follow the train of what she was trying to communicate. I'm not entirely sure that guy was sober.

If their disrespectful, childish, boorish behavior is typical of what happens at ZOS during a typical workday, it's no wonder the game is bouncing around from one direction to another willy nilly.

treborrealb14_ESO · December 2014

I'll play as long as I'm having Fun and the Game is fun for me. In the long haul it is about me that is

Jitterbug · December 2014

redspecter23 wrote: »

I can't participate in the poll because it's a loaded question. Everyone has a tipping point. Asking people if they will stay "no matter what" should be an automatic 100% "no" unless people are lying.

There is always something that will make people leave whether it's F2P, raising the monthly fee to $50, resetting all characters to level 1 or as drastic as shutting the game down. I haven't voted so I can't see the results, but if it's not 100% no, there are some people that are not only lying to themselves, but probably misunderstood the question.

Good point.

I think I took it as it was "meant", or at least what it meant to me: "Will you stay through all the crap that's going on right now?"

Obviously, no matter what is impossible to answer. Anything could always happen, although nothing ever really does.

Jitterbug · December 2014

Wolfenbelle wrote: »

Tandor wrote: »

Lord_Kreegan wrote: »

HairyFairy wrote: »

Because it's the best mmorpg ever created.

No, it certainly is not...

It has promise, but it has a long way to go.

It depends on your perspective.

I've played most MMOs since '98 and based on my preferred play-style (which does not include PvP these days - although I'm no stranger to PvP - so that excuses me from all the Cyrodil-based complaints) this is by some way already the best of them, and it has the potential to be even better yet.

ESO is the first Elder Scrolls game and first MMO I've ever played. If your opinion is accurate and this is the best of them, it doesn't say much for the others.

Since people on this forum have frequently urged everyone to watch the ESO Live video, I finally did last night. I managed to get through about two-thirds of it before giving up. If it wasn't the worst presentation by corporate representatives I've ever seen, it ranks in the top two worst. The giggling, snickering, talking over one another, interrupting one another and general all around lack of seriousness was so unprofessional that it left me unable to trust anything they were saying. During their attempt to discuss the CP system, the guy on the left interrupted the woman who was speaking so often that it was hard to follow the train of what she was trying to communicate. I'm not entirely sure that guy was sober.

If their disrespectful, childish, boorish behavior is typical of what happens at ZOS during a typical workday, it's no wonder the game is bouncing around from one direction to another willy nilly.

I wouldn't put it quite as harshly, but I do agree. The show is charming and likable for the people who "know" the people doing the show, but for newcomers it sends a weird message, and for conveying information it's not optimal.

Wolfenbelle · December 2014

Jitterbug wrote: »

I wouldn't put it quite as harshly, but I do agree. The show is charming and likable for the people who "know" the people doing the show, but for newcomers it sends a weird message, and for conveying information it's not optimal.

If I knew any of those four people personally, I would be highly embarrassed for them and would privately give them feedback as to just how awful their behavior was in that video shoot. It's not a "weird" message they are sending. It's unprofessional, disrespectful of their audience, and speaks poorly of the company for which they work. Except for the stuffed toys in the background, there was nothing charming or likable about the video.

RainfeatherUK · December 2014

I actually like their presentational style. It might be a somewhat different stance to most ofcourse, but I find it humanizing.

I accept the lack of formality might not be to everyones liking, to me though - its a fairly casual and warm environment. A nice change from what I'm used to dealing with in the city

With regard to the phrasing of the poll questions; im pretty sure they were written with a tongue in cheek approach. Some people seem overly critical, almost as if the interpretation of it is; 'nothing short of armageddon will get me out of the game.', and thats just silly. Clearly they expected the reader to take a stance of 'it'll take a great deal to put me off', and little more.

Like many I'd be gone with a F2P transition. Only because I dont think the generated revenue would be enough to keep this games quality (steadily improving or otherwise.) from diminishing.

On a positive note, the volume of passionate outbursts suggests that - despite our moans - they have managed to create a game we care about. The real thing to fear is silence. To that end I agree with alot of the forum posts currently, they should listen and be honest about their plans because alot of you do care about the game and you deserve better.

Lets hope for the best. Like most of you I like the game (bar a few tiny things) so fingers crossed for the p2p system

Wolfenbelle · December 2014

RainfeatherUK wrote: »

I actually like their presentational style. It might be a somewhat different stance to most of course, but I find it humanizing.

I accept the lack of formality might not be to everyone's liking, to me though - its a fairly casual and warm environment. A nice change from what I'm used to dealing with in the city

We all have our different tastes and perspectives. Perhaps our difference in this instance is due to where we are from: you from the UK (I gather from your screen name), and me from Los Angeles, CA, USA. I'm also no spring chicken, so it could also be a generational difference. In any case, I've worked for some of the world's largest multinational corporations during my career. In not a single one of them would such a sloppy, disrespectful, marginally communicative presentation to the public be tolerated by management. Not one, ever, over a long career.

There is a vast difference between "fairly casual and warm" and unprofessional to the point of behaving in a boorish manner where four presumably professional adults giggle, snicker, talk over one another, and constantly interrupt one another so that communication with the public takes a back seat to their nonsense. Every single thing about their behavior screamed "don't take me seriously." If it's typical behavior at that company, it speaks to how the executive management at ZOS runs the company. It clarifies for me why the game appears to have been managed if not poorly, then at least not optimally so far.

Zhoyzu · December 2014

PVP has more or less been unchanged and ZoS hates PvPers so itll probably be the same now until servers are shut down

PlagueMonk · December 2014

Xjcon wrote: »

It's a video game that entertains me till it warms up outside,Then I will immerse myself in fun outside activities..... I look forward to learning the new ability's and the way it will effect the current content. So no I won't unsub because of this

Pray tell, what is this....."OUT-SIDE" of which you speak? o.O

Zorrashi · December 2014

Zhoyzu wrote: »

PVP has more or less been unchanged and ZoS hates PvPers so itll probably be the same now until servers are shut down

Hate PvPers? Half of the game's ability and class changes are due to player feedback who play in PvP.
Furthermore, while I do not believe the solution is adequate, they have addressed the lag issue to a degree (that whole population threshold thing) and are still looking into the issue. Forward camps were removed and being looked into as well.

I agree that they should perhaps pay more attention to PvP in the future, but I acknowledge they have a lot on their plate with the upcoming champion system and whatnot. But hate PvP? Nah. The mere fact that they are allowing PvP in any scope to be allowed within the upcoming justice system proves that they do not 'hate PvP'.

Stroggnonimus · December 2014

Only way I'm leaving is if it goes f2p...

Drasn · December 2014

I'll leave when I stop having fun or find something better.

HairyFairy · December 2014

This game better not go f2p, from pc to console entirely..it needs to stay p2p, and they need completely separate teams for pc/console as to keep everything on both sides running smoothly. I play pc, not console and if they did something like that...I would never play a game from ZOS again, solely because I will not be forced to buy a console just to continue playing my favorite game. Someone stated their opinion including statements like these, which is where this comment comes from and it made a lot of sense to me. Kind of scares me because, well...I really don't want to play WoW again, which is the only other game I've enjoyed playing as much....Come on ZOS...What's going on? Please tell me you're not going to do this to us.

sztartureb17_ESO · December 2014

Simply put: I'll stay as long as another game appears on the market that fits my personal needs better. There were two moments in the summer when I was very close to ending my sub.

I switched to ESO from LOTRO and I still take a peek back there from time to time. LOTRO is going downhill, big gear grind, no raids, cr@p PvP so while there was their chance to win me back It did not happen.

I took part extensively in Archeage Beta and while the game has some insanely good ideas the super grindiness drew me away.

WoW, wildstar and alike with cartoony graphics are not my cup of tea

Guild Wars 2 while and excellently made game the ambient and cartoony look also prevented me from diving too deep

In ESO there were/are problems but most of them improved
Questing bugs - mostly fixed
Class Ballance - got much better. Magica builds are still stronger than they should but in Cyrodiil with my solo stamina NB I can have a KB/death ratio above 3 on decent or good nights.

PVP with all the hickups is still the best on the market. Lag is the biggest issue but I have not seen any MMO PvP system that there was no insane lag, zerging, class inballance.

The VR grind is still a huge problem but there are at least plans to address the issue.

I lead a small guild and by the end of summer we were at the brink of dissolution. Then I returned and many of my guild mates have returned or have changed their mind about quitting.

It will all depend on how ESO will evolves further. I can see that some good decisions are made (I hope the 30CP for VR14s will not be implemented though) but the implementation makes me cringe.

We shall see.

sztartureb17_ESO · December 2014

xaraan wrote: »

...

Now, I find out that I have 5 v14s that will get nothing for the 65 million xp they earned while doing silver/gold quests and what actually bothers me more - that I don't have those quests to do anymore! I wish I had just grinded my levels, at least I'd still have the quests.
...

They need to do something about this... 30CP for such effort simply won't do.

kevlarto_ESO · December 2014

About the only thing that would drive me away is the day I am no longer having fun.

Layenem · December 2014

nikolaj.lemcheb16_ESO wrote: »

If they bump everyone to lvl 50 in phase 4 without compensation then I am gone.

Um... this is happening. So either leave or stay. This won't change. Why? Because they gave all the v1's the same amount they were going to compensate us with. They aren't giving out more than 30 nor are they going to give less than 30.

adriant1978 · December 2014

Will keep playing as long as there is interesting solo/duo stuff left. If all future updates follow the Craglorn model then I'll probably call it a day once the alliance content gets really stale from multiple playthroughs.