Why ZOS created a card game

Reese_Flamelocks · January 2022

ZOS is creating an amusement park. And not in the traditional let's get in the car and go to Wally World idea, but in the virtual world a Disney+/one place to find it all kind of idea. You have these companies creates worlds for us, so I do not blame ZOS in the slightest.

Frankly, it makes sense. Let me throw another analogy at you, cruise ships. You think you're going on a cruise, do some sun tanning, have some drinks, take a dip in the pool, kiss your wife/gf, next thing you know you're at the casino or paying for extras.

I'm actually all for it. Just don't spend too much time in the world others have created for you.

VaranisArano · January 2022

Also because lots of players asked for it over the years. It's a lot more deliverable than some of the other stuff like PVP performance (requires the re-architecture) or new classes/weapons (last-gen console limitations.)

SydneyGrey · January 2022

They've gotten some requests over the years for some games to play in taverns, and I guess this is what they decided to come up with. I never thought it was that popular of an idea, though, and apparently I was right.

Sylvermynx · January 2022

Actually, I would have LOVED to have playable versions of the game furnishings we have in game. That would have been so cool.

I've never had any use for CCGs. Though I'm still holding onto an unopened box of early trading cards from WoW.... It'd be nice if they were ever going to be worth a LOT of money....

Nah. Ain't hap'nin.

phaneub17_ESO · January 2022

FF14 has a card game, WoW has pet battles, bout time ESO have its own built in mini-game too. Antiquities doesn't count since its a solo activity.

SirAxen · January 2022

phaneub17_ESO wrote: »

FF14 has a card game, WoW has pet battles, bout time ESO have its own built in mini-game too. Antiquities doesn't count since its a solo activity.

This. ESO is actually sorely lacking in the 'leisurely activity' department.

jaws343 · January 2022

I've definitely thought some sort of tavern game or mini gambling game would be a great addition. I remember spending hours playing casino games in New Vegas or playing cards in Red Dead.

My only concern is the mixed deck aspect and how that will impact any semblance of deck building strategy. Seems like a wrong direction to go in (with knowing nothing else about how the game plays obviously).

TheInfernalRage · January 2022

phaneub17_ESO wrote: »

FF14 has a card game, WoW has pet battles, bout time ESO have its own built in mini-game too. Antiquities doesn't count since its a solo activity.

I believe FF14 has a casino.

Snogards · January 2022

If this social aspect of game has been asked for, why was it not a part of base game from beginning? After all its a mmo. For me it's just not worth it it except for some new lands and and rehashed quists, go here, collect that, slay so and so. Zeni has become lost.

Araneae6537 · January 2022

But it doesn’t fit within the world of ESO, unlike a playable version of Foxes & Felines or Punctilious Conflict. Or racing (although I don’t think that would work with ESO’s mount system since there’s not the aspect of momentum, but it is a fun side activity in GW2). Or some sort of gold gambling — not my cup of tea, but many enjoy such activity and the game could use more gold sinks. But this sort of collectible card game makes absolutely no sense within the world of an MMORPG. It should be a totally separate game.

spartaxoxo · January 2022

Araneae6537 wrote: »

But it doesn’t fit within the world of ESO, unlike a playable version of Foxes & Felines or Punctilious Conflict. Or racing (although I don’t think that would work with ESO’s mount system since there’s not the aspect of momentum, but it is a fun side activity in GW2). Or some sort of gold gambling — not my cup of tea, but many enjoy such activity and the game could use more gold sinks. But this sort of collectible card game makes absolutely no sense within the world of an MMORPG. It should be a totally separate game.

How does a CCG not make sense for an MMORPG? CCG are a part of plenty of RPGs, so it definitely doesn't offend that aspect. For example, a lot of people loved GWENT in the Witcher. And CCGs have been multiplayer things since before video games even existed.

Reese_Flamelocks · January 2022

It's not a MMORPG, its an amusement park.

Abnaxos · January 2022

Reese_Flamelocks wrote: »

It's not a MMORPG, its an amusement park.

ESO is a so-called "theme park MMORPG". That's an MMORPG, specifically the amusement park kind (as opposed to sandbox MMORPGs like Black Desert). Most big MMOs are theme parks.

Reese_Flamelocks · January 2022

Abnaxos wrote: »

Reese_Flamelocks wrote: »

It's not a MMORPG, its an amusement park.

ESO is a so-called "theme park MMORPG". That's an MMORPG, specifically the amusement park kind (as opposed to sandbox MMORPGs like Black Desert). Most big MMOs are theme parks.

Bingo.

kingsirdrmr · January 2022

Snogards wrote: »

If this social aspect of game has been asked for, why was it not a part of base game from beginning? After all its a mmo. For me it's just not worth it it except for some new lands and and rehashed quists, go here, collect that, slay so and so. Zeni has become lost.

When they first developed and launched the game, it was done as a faction pvp game with a TES skin over it. Over time, they've found more money and a bigger community in catering to TES fans who haven't had any RPG content since Skyrim launched and won't for years to come. Now ESO has retooled into a TES game with multiplayer. That's what the majority of the community wants. Instead of asking for balance and performance fixes, they ask for minigames and $20 emotes. It wasn't always like that, but it is now.

barney2525 · January 2022

they are following the pattern of Might and Magic VII - which had a card game at every tavern. Winning once at each tavern got you an achievement. Also, the parameters of the win changed depending on the tavern you were in.

Urvoth · January 2022

Adding a card game isn’t bad, in fact ESO does need more mini games. The problem is that it’s added as THE chapter feature with no skill lines or new pve/pvp modes, which are what have been asked for. If the card game had been a Q4 dlc feature, it probably would’ve been popular, but people are getting fed up with year after year of mediocre chapter content, especially since it’ll be 3 years in a row at this point with 0 new skill lines and 4 years since the last pvp content was added. Instead of adding a new guild or weapon line PLUS the card game, which would be in line with historically popular chapters, we just get the card game, which isn’t what most pple wanted.

Players were already annoyed that all we got last year was the mostly useless companions system, and this just feels like a repeat.

Caupo · January 2022

As long as the card game is at least as good as it was in FF8 and all the best cards are not behind a massive paywall or worse - loot boxes, this is a good feature.

FeedbackOnly · January 2022

Urvoth wrote: »

Adding a card game isn’t bad, in fact ESO does need more mini games. The problem is that it’s added as THE chapter feature with no skill lines or new pve/pvp modes, which are what have been asked for. If the card game had been a Q4 dlc feature, it probably would’ve been popular, but people are getting fed up with year after year of mediocre chapter content, especially since it’ll be 3 years in a row at this point with 0 new skill lines and 4 years since the last pvp content was added. Instead of adding a new guild or weapon line PLUS the card game, which would be in line with historically popular chapters, we just get the card game, which isn’t what most pple wanted.

Players were already annoyed that all we got last year was the mostly useless companions system, and this just feels like a repeat.

Yes if it was quarter 4 I would be excited. Hell if it was last year I would be excited. But time after time we dropping in quality for quarter 2.

Also look at the art. What in world is happening?

Lysette · January 2022

Snogards wrote: »

If this social aspect of game has been asked for, why was it not a part of base game from beginning? After all its a mmo. For me it's just not worth it it except for some new lands and and rehashed quists, go here, collect that, slay so and so. Zeni has become lost.

Well at start they even had no housing and any furniture in the game could not be used at all. Now we have it and it is a very popular feature - and so would games be, if we get more than just this card game over time. I would like for example something quick and easy like farkle in KCD (eventually even with skill-based fake dices to cheat eventually).

And as far as your idea of an MMO goes - that is not a genre, but just means there are a whole lot of people online at the same time in the same environment - that is all there is to this term - ESO is an MMORPG - a role playing game with a whole lot of people online at the same time in it. So it makes sense to have social aspects in the game beside just grouping up to slay monsters.

I very much hope for the chapter, that those jousting arenas are not just empty places, but will be used for us to have some kind of strategic jousting game - this could as well be done with fencing - I played a strategic fencing game in second life and it was very entertaining, there could be archery contests and stuff like this as well - something what is social and fun at the same time. Or other things like axe or knife throwing - there are plenty of options possible.

Fischblut · January 2022

But it doesn’t fit within the world of ESO, unlike a playable version of Foxes & Felines or Punctilious Conflict. Or racing (although I don’t think that would work with ESO’s mount system since there’s not the aspect of momentum, but it is a fun side activity in GW2). Or some sort of gold gambling — not my cup of tea, but many enjoy such activity and the game could use more gold sinks. But this sort of collectible card game makes absolutely no sense within the world of an MMORPG. It should be a totally separate game.

I am not opposed to card game idea in general. But from the bit of info we got so far (combining decks of both players by RNG during the match), I am not looking forward to this implementation of card game

Although, I agree that playing cards is not near as exciting and engaging MMO gameplay as mount racing would be. Beetle racing in GW2 shows how awesome it can be to gather many players to participate or watch a friendly competition:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntK2ljHkASk

In ESO, it would be much more simple, but I would participate anyway. It's still fun when many players gather around, everyone with different mount. Developers just need to place some checkpoints and add some quest NPC to activate those for a race, and that would already be new entertainment

Playing cards is something really different. It's very quiet activity. And in MMO like ESO, nearby players won't even see anything exciting... Maybe just a new animation for players who are engaged in a card duel. Same as we see animation for other player who is scrying or digging up an antiquity.

dinokstrunz · January 2022

barney2525 wrote: »

they are following the pattern of Might and Magic VII - which had a card game at every tavern. Winning once at each tavern got you an achievement. Also, the parameters of the win changed depending on the tavern you were in.

Arcomage is pretty cool and Might Magic VII was one of the best games ever made.

robwolf666 · January 2022

I'll check it out to see what it is, but honestly, card games hold very little interest for me, so it's probably the first new system I won't bother with.