New article with Matt Firor- Millions of new players

Bonzodog01 · May 2016

I think that with this game, they have a lot invested in the console infrastructure, as that where they see their longer term turnover of players as being. Sure, the console has a high turnover on its playerbase (average casual player time is around 3 -6 months), but the game will be there with all the others being sold and re-sold secondhand. Even a secondhand copy will likely make ZOS money as its likely they will buy crowns, if not invest in ESO+.

Its worth mentioning that console is fast becoming an MMO growth area - TERA has just announced that they are now in the process of porting for XB1 and PS4. Star Trek Online will be on console soon. It already now has DCUO and Neverwinter. All of these games are reporting explosive growth with console release.

Console MMO's will be a way forward for at least a few years.

To sum up, its not the PC market thats the main focus, its Consoles. PC's will remain a platform of consideration, but consoles are where the money is.

WalkingLegacy · May 2016

Uriel_Nocturne wrote: »

WalkingLegacy wrote: »

Uriel_Nocturne wrote: »

WalkingLegacy wrote: »

Uriel_Nocturne wrote: »

WalkingLegacy wrote: »

Tandor wrote: »

WalkingLegacy wrote: »

Tandor wrote: »

Milking the playerbase? The whole interview is about how people are now just able to buy the game and not spend another penny on it if they don't want to.

Reread it. They shifted focus to the Skyrim player. They're focusing on Single player content of the game because that is proving to attract the new customer.

Let's also mention how cheap the base game is too.

The question is will they retain all these players, and with the mention of how successful TG was and how they're predicting DB to be the same as they're both heavily SP focused.

I understand and agree with everything you just said, except that I still have no clue what you mean by "milking the playerbase".

Oh well I feel like the little DLCs are milking us. I've enjoyed higher quality mods from fallout and TES games for free. (Not saying ESO DLC should be free, because I'm not)

I want to see more MMO in this "MMO". What's the point of paying monthly or 30 bucks for DLC when the previous TES games are higher quality, infinite content, and cheaper.

Because the other Elder Scrolls games don't have to deal with millions of players all in the same world at the same time and interacting with each other. MMO's also have much higher maintenance costs in order to keep them running even as smoothly as they are now.

That's where the money goes. It's not "milking the player base" as other Elder Scrolls only have to worry about your one singular system. MMO's have to account for every system logged into the game at the same time.

It's the difference between an MMO and a SP RPG.

Besides, the graphics and visuals in ESO are leagues better than any other MMO I can think of.

Captain Obvious alert. Way over your head.

The please enlighten the rest of the populace to the depths of your oceans of thought.

Because by all of your responses, you seem to be having difficulty understanding why the graphics/visuals in an MMO aren't the same crisp fidelity of a Single-Player RPG, and you seem to also be having trouble with understanding why the costs involved in an MMO are higher than a one-off Single-Player RPG.

I simply explained what concepts you seem to have a difficult time grasping.

Where did I say anything about graphics or visual.

You said nothing specific, I was just giving an example between the two types of game, as you mentioned "quality" in a very generic sense.

If you were speaking as to the quality of the writing/Quests in ESO, then that's subjective and cannot be applied as fact in the manner you bring up.

Personally, I think the writing is just fine and that the Quests are just as deep and engaging as they ever were in any of the SP Elder Scrolls.

As to whether the Mods for a single player game are better than the DLC for an MMO? It's laughable that you'd even try to compare the two. Aside from the developers of a SP game having to create DLC on a deadline, think about getting it done in an MMO where they also have to figure in millions of separate systems all vying for precious space and access to the DLC at once.

The modder for a single player game has nothing but time on his/her hands by comparison. No deadlines. No other systems to worry about. No online infrastructure to account for.

Sure those mods can look amazing. They're single-system-contained, and they've got all the time in the world to get them looking pretty.

Again, I am honestly shocked that you would think that the two are somehow comparable...

I don't need you to compare or contrast. You're missing the point.

It is over your head. This article posted and many others before eschew traditional MMO and favor single-player MMO. Matt Firor is trying to change the definition of MMOrpg to fit his vision of what ESO is.

So when a game focuses single player content but it's nowhere as good as a single player game, my posts stands.

Like I said above, the game is trying to cater to all and be all but define itself as single-player friendly. Jack of all trades and master of nothing.

Tandor · May 2016

PurifedBladez wrote: »

Idk if there's a million around right now. I have at least 20 people I started playing eso with and only one of them on my friends list still plays soooo....

Learn how to keep your friends around you

?

There are plenty of players in the game, even if your friends have left.

Kendaric · May 2016

WalkingLegacy wrote: »

Tandor wrote: »

Milking the playerbase? The whole interview is about how people are now just able to buy the game and not spend another penny on it if they don't want to.

Reread it. They shifted focus to the Skyrim player. They're focusing on Single player content of the game because that is proving to attract the new customer.

Let's also mention how cheap the base game is too.

The question is will they retain all these players, and with the mention of how successful TG was and how they're predicting DB to be the same as they're both heavily SP focused.

Well, I'm actually hoping they focus on soloable content. I don't mind the group crowd getting some new dungeons/trials, but group content shouldn't be the focus.

idk · May 2016

Matt Firor's model is designed to bring in new players but fails to retain the existing player base. It's why the only (slightly) challenging dungeons are being nerfed.

The failed model this game now stands on will require any challenging content to be nerfed. New players lack CP and as such cannot put out more handle the same amount of dammage. It's unfortunate they cannot think things through to figure out how mechanics affect the game long term.

Uriel_Nocturne · May 2016

WalkingLegacy wrote: »

Uriel_Nocturne wrote: »

WalkingLegacy wrote: »

Uriel_Nocturne wrote: »

WalkingLegacy wrote: »

Uriel_Nocturne wrote: »

WalkingLegacy wrote: »

Tandor wrote: »

WalkingLegacy wrote: »

Tandor wrote: »

Milking the playerbase? The whole interview is about how people are now just able to buy the game and not spend another penny on it if they don't want to.

Reread it. They shifted focus to the Skyrim player. They're focusing on Single player content of the game because that is proving to attract the new customer.

Let's also mention how cheap the base game is too.

The question is will they retain all these players, and with the mention of how successful TG was and how they're predicting DB to be the same as they're both heavily SP focused.

I understand and agree with everything you just said, except that I still have no clue what you mean by "milking the playerbase".

Oh well I feel like the little DLCs are milking us. I've enjoyed higher quality mods from fallout and TES games for free. (Not saying ESO DLC should be free, because I'm not)

I want to see more MMO in this "MMO". What's the point of paying monthly or 30 bucks for DLC when the previous TES games are higher quality, infinite content, and cheaper.

Because the other Elder Scrolls games don't have to deal with millions of players all in the same world at the same time and interacting with each other. MMO's also have much higher maintenance costs in order to keep them running even as smoothly as they are now.

That's where the money goes. It's not "milking the player base" as other Elder Scrolls only have to worry about your one singular system. MMO's have to account for every system logged into the game at the same time.

It's the difference between an MMO and a SP RPG.

Besides, the graphics and visuals in ESO are leagues better than any other MMO I can think of.

Captain Obvious alert. Way over your head.

The please enlighten the rest of the populace to the depths of your oceans of thought.

Because by all of your responses, you seem to be having difficulty understanding why the graphics/visuals in an MMO aren't the same crisp fidelity of a Single-Player RPG, and you seem to also be having trouble with understanding why the costs involved in an MMO are higher than a one-off Single-Player RPG.

I simply explained what concepts you seem to have a difficult time grasping.

Where did I say anything about graphics or visual.

You said nothing specific, I was just giving an example between the two types of game, as you mentioned "quality" in a very generic sense.

If you were speaking as to the quality of the writing/Quests in ESO, then that's subjective and cannot be applied as fact in the manner you bring up.

Personally, I think the writing is just fine and that the Quests are just as deep and engaging as they ever were in any of the SP Elder Scrolls.

As to whether the Mods for a single player game are better than the DLC for an MMO? It's laughable that you'd even try to compare the two. Aside from the developers of a SP game having to create DLC on a deadline, think about getting it done in an MMO where they also have to figure in millions of separate systems all vying for precious space and access to the DLC at once.

The modder for a single player game has nothing but time on his/her hands by comparison. No deadlines. No other systems to worry about. No online infrastructure to account for.

Sure those mods can look amazing. They're single-system-contained, and they've got all the time in the world to get them looking pretty.

Again, I am honestly shocked that you would think that the two are somehow comparable...

I don't need you to compare or contrast. You're missing the point.

It is over your head. This article posted and many others before eschew traditional MMO and favor single-player MMO. Matt Firor is trying to change the definition of MMOrpg to fit his vision of what ESO is.

So when a game focuses single player content but it's nowhere as good as a single player game, my posts stands.

Like I said above, the game is trying to cater to all and be all but define itself as single-player friendly. Jack of all trades and master of nothing.

lol It's not "over my head".

You want the free content/additions of a F2P MMO, but with the graphics/Quests of a SP RPG, and the technical support of a subbed MMO.

You won't find that combination in any MMO on the market, with content that is engaging and has depth and quality to each one of them.

Ever.

But for what you're paying, either as a B2P ESO or if you Sub ESO, ESO is still one of the better made, better performing MMO's on the market right now.

Just because it doesn't do what you want it to do on the creative or business ends of the spectrum, doesn't mean that it's not "good".

IcyDeadPeople · May 2016

subscription resonated with one half of the audience but not the other half. RPG players, Skyrim players, were just not used to that. They weren't into it. They didn't understand it. They just did not want to do it.

This is so true. Loved Skyrim, Morrowind and Oblivion, and also a fan of some F2P/B2P multiplayer games like Team Fortress 2, BF4, CS:GO, but the concept of paying a subscription fee for a game seemed strange to me.

Briefly tried a couple of MMOs before ESO but they bored me to tears. Something about ESO is a lot more fun, not just the Elder Scrolls setting, but the various game systems are engaging, and I suppose the PVP combat is what really got me hooked.

When the subscription became optional, I stopped paying, as sometimes I get busy with work and I'd hate to pay a monthly fee if I won't play the game very much. Also, the experience didn't seem very different at all once I was no longer a subscriber.

What captured my interest is all the DLC, especially Imperial City - been eagerly waiting to visit this place since the earliest beta, when we could see it in the distance, and we tried various spots to swim across Lake Rumare (no one told us we couldn't).

Love ESO's approach of making it more appealing to subscribe, though, instead of penalizing those who are not subscribing. With all this new DLC content ESO Plus is now perhaps a bit cheaper than buying each one individually, and the upcoming crafting bags are particularly appealing.

I believe this is the perfect approach to reel in those like me who don't have experience playing MMOs or subscription games. Then once people have been playing the game for a bit, I imagine it's quite likely at some point many will buy DLC, perhaps character slots, name/appearance change, etc., or join ESO Plus.

WalkingLegacy · May 2016

Kendaric wrote: »

WalkingLegacy wrote: »

Tandor wrote: »

Milking the playerbase? The whole interview is about how people are now just able to buy the game and not spend another penny on it if they don't want to.

Reread it. They shifted focus to the Skyrim player. They're focusing on Single player content of the game because that is proving to attract the new customer.

Let's also mention how cheap the base game is too.

The question is will they retain all these players, and with the mention of how successful TG was and how they're predicting DB to be the same as they're both heavily SP focused.

Well, I'm actually hoping they focus on soloable content. I don't mind the group crowd getting some new dungeons/trials, but group content shouldn't be the focus.

And that's fine. I reckon the population is split when it comes to solo player or actual MMO.

I for one do not like being connected to the Internet for single-player content.

nimander99 · May 2016

Not surprised. The game is packed. I see new players in the starter zones all the time... and yes I know the dif between a new player and CP Alt.

Plus if you cruise other forums, like BDO or GW2 and Wildstar, people there are talking about ESO... Not to mention MMORPG.com etc..

This is the best MMO on the market, nothing comes close IMO, and it keeps getting better and better.

Ichnaea · May 2016

Tandor wrote: »

WalkingLegacy wrote: »

Tandor wrote: »

Milking the playerbase? The whole interview is about how people are now just able to buy the game and not spend another penny on it if they don't want to.

Reread it. They shifted focus to the Skyrim player. They're focusing on Single player content of the game because that is proving to attract the new customer.

Let's also mention how cheap the base game is too.

The question is will they retain all these players, and with the mention of how successful TG was and how they're predicting DB to be the same as they're both heavily SP focused.

I understand and agree with everything you just said, except that I still have no clue what you mean by "milking the playerbase".

Uriel_Nocturne · May 2016

nimander99 wrote: »

Not surprised. The game is packed. I see new players in the starter zones all the time... and yes I know the dif between a new player and CP Alt.

Plus if you cruise other forums, like BDO or GW2 and Wildstar, people there are talking about ESO... Not to mention MMORPG.com etc..

This is the best MMO on the market, nothing comes close IMO, and it keeps getting better and better.

Agreed, and well said.

scorpiodog · May 2016

To state the obvious (to me):

Mr. Firor was describing to the Gaming Business Community (not the gaming community) that instead of going straight from the Subscription model to F2P as many other MMO's have done, they were able to bring in hundreds of millions of more dollars in revenue by bringing in the single player crowd who might also be curious about this MMO thing.

One might infer from this article that their marketing focus in 2015 was not PvP, nor the traditional MMO player base. But most players wouldn't need an article to spell that out for them.

That's all.

Towards the end of the article you could also see that they have deliberately tried to break the concept of what people expect from an MMO game (much to the frustration of the hardcore MMO crowd). So if you are frustrated that ESO "isn't like an MMO SHOULD be" - yes, they have been deliberately ignoring your cries of pain, frustration and rage.

vyndral13preub18_ESO · May 2016

nimander99 wrote: »

Not surprised. The game is packed. I see new players in the starter zones all the time... and yes I know the dif between a new player and CP Alt.

Plus if you cruise other forums, like BDO or GW2 and Wildstar, people there are talking about ESO... Not to mention MMORPG.com etc..

This is the best MMO on the market, nothing comes close IMO, and it keeps getting better and better.

While i do think it is currently one of the best MMOs on the market, GW2 is pretty close for me, i have a Hard time with the better and better. Mostly seems to keep about the same and the same.

Which isnt bad really it is a very good game. But honestly i dont really see it changing much. But that maybe because I enjoy the heck out of some large scale pvp. And well that part of the game is near unplayable for me and has been for some time. Everything else just feels like here are some more quest to do.

I guess it also doesnt help that the things i have looked forward to the most still havent and some never will make it into the game. Spellcrafting, smaller team pvp with smaller arenas, the complete justice system.

Any way everyone likes different things. I image that is what makes running a stable mmo so hard.

Armitas · May 2016

"I got tear-gassed," he recalls, laughing. "There were gangs fighting. It was crazy. It was a lot of fun." - Matt Frior

Uhhhhh Matt....were you in a gang?

Enemy-of-Coldharbour · May 2016

It seems to me it is more like: "Millions of New Players (to replace the ones we lost)"

Ser Lobo · May 2016

I'll be honest, I didn't know I was part of this new type of 'mostly multiplayer online role playing game.'

Back when World of Warcraft first released, I was deep into MMO's, and the instances and phasing that Warcraft and Guild Wars brought into the genre, in my opinion, made them no longer MMO's.

Today, I much prefer the smaller multiplayer options that games like Destiny, Division, Grand Theft Auto and even Elder Scrolls Online provides. I generally only have time for solo content or small-team content. Destiny's three-man fireteams were simply perfect for me and my social circles.

So I guess I've evolved, eventually, the same as MMO's have evolved. From a one-shard, everyone knows everyone, to a phased, instanced and micro-separated world of limited interactions.

I'd even hazard to say that, outside of social areas, ESO is 'too' invested in large-scale MMO world.

rotaugen454 · May 2016

Armitas wrote: »

"I got tear-gassed," he recalls, laughing. "There were gangs fighting. It was crazy. It was a lot of fun." - Matt Frior

Uhhhhh Matt....were you in a gang?

Yeah, a computer nerd gang that sat on the Wall, using laptops to hack into other people's credit accounts...

Ser Lobo · May 2016

Enemy-of-Coldharbour wrote: »

It seems to me it is more like: "Millions of New Players (to replace the ones we lost)"

Many of the one's I started with during PC beta are still here.

Course, they log in only after new content releases and burn through quickly before going to the next new game release. They tried WildStar, Division, etc.

They keep coming back though. For short bursts. Probably the way it should be in my opinion.

Tiveria · May 2016

nimander99 wrote: »

Not surprised. The game is packed. I see new players in the starter zones all the time... and yes I know the dif between a new player and CP Alt.

Plus if you cruise other forums, like BDO or GW2 and Wildstar, people there are talking about ESO... Not to mention MMORPG.com etc..

This is the best MMO on the market, nothing comes close IMO, and it keeps getting better and better.

I think you mean buggier and buggier......if that's even a word

ZOS_GregoryV · May 2016

Greetings all,

We have closed this thread as the discussion appears to have run its course. We are glad to see all members making use of the Forums, however, we would like to kindly request that the forums be kept civil and constructive. Thank you all for your understanding!