Why is everything becoming more cartoony?

Eporem · March 24

it could have been my imagination

I do think though if the voice was heard as childish or joyful then it did suit this character of the fox..

BretonMage · March 25

nightbringer1993 wrote: »

ZOS seriously needs to review their actual audience and act based on it.

Once again this game is aimed at adults, not kids. There “might” be some actions from ZOS concerning the game but I believe they are still failing at doing this and as a result players are leaving, which is a shame.

I wouldn't be surprised if they're trying to broaden their appeal. Even so, pissing off your existing fans and losing what makes your brand unique and special might not be the best way to go about it.

Erickson9610 · March 25

BretonMage wrote: »

nightbringer1993 wrote: »

ZOS seriously needs to review their actual audience and act based on it.

Once again this game is aimed at adults, not kids. There “might” be some actions from ZOS concerning the game but I believe they are still failing at doing this and as a result players are leaving, which is a shame.

I wouldn't be surprised if they're trying to broaden their appeal. Even so, pissing off your existing fans and losing what makes your brand unique and special might not be the best way to go about it.

We still have years of existing stories available in the game, so I'd argue that there's still what makes ESO an Elder Scrolls game here. Just because we have The Fox from the Scribing questline doesn't mean we no longer have our characters being ritualistically sacrificed to Molag Bal in the main questline.

I'd be concerned if the older stories in this game started being rewritten to change their tone. There's something for everyone, TES fans included, in this game.

SilverBride · March 25

What stories do we still have? All I see is a zone that requires a large group to earn cosmetics, and some kind of bazaar to shop at, and no new chapters. It's a good thing I have a lot of zones still to complete on 3 of my characters or I would have no quests at all to keep me going.

BretonMage · March 25

Erickson9610 wrote: »

BretonMage wrote: »

nightbringer1993 wrote: »

ZOS seriously needs to review their actual audience and act based on it.

Once again this game is aimed at adults, not kids. There “might” be some actions from ZOS concerning the game but I believe they are still failing at doing this and as a result players are leaving, which is a shame.

I wouldn't be surprised if they're trying to broaden their appeal. Even so, pissing off your existing fans and losing what makes your brand unique and special might not be the best way to go about it.

We still have years of existing stories available in the game, so I'd argue that there's still what makes ESO an Elder Scrolls game here. Just because we have The Fox from the Scribing questline doesn't mean we no longer have our characters being ritualistically sacrificed to Molag Bal in the main questline.

I'd be concerned if the older stories in this game started being rewritten to change their tone. There's something for everyone, TES fans included, in this game.

It wasn't just the fox, I found the other characters in the quest line rather canned, with the exception of Ulfsild, who was interesting. There are whole other threads about the recent writing too. I just think that the overall direction they're moving in is unfortunate; lots of gaudiness and superficiality. It doesn't need to be dark (I don't like grimdark myself), just a bit less obvious, with a bit more originality. We want quality. Good, thoughtful stories; well-designed cosmetics. The usual.

tomofhyrule · March 25

SilverBride wrote: »

What stories do we still have? All I see is a zone that requires a large group to earn cosmetics, and some kind of bazaar to shop at, and no new chapters. It's a good thing I have a lot of zones still to complete on 3 of my characters or I would have no quests at all to keep me going.

You do realize that just because they stopped Chapters doesn't mean they stopped with the new stories, right?

It's right there in the Roadmap, the first thing under Season One: NEW STORIES AND QUESTS for the Thieves Guild and a Sheogorath questline (I believe they said in one of the streams that one would be Chapter-length, but I don't have the quote) that takes place in basegame zones. The Sage's Vault also has story content involved as well, but they haven't announced anything more about that yet.

Jess also straight up confirmed that a lot more story stuff is coming this year:

ZOS_JessicaFolsom wrote: »

On the new quest and story side of things, similarly we do have new content coming between the Thieves Guild and Sheogorath major questlines, the Night Market (it also has a full story and quests) and new Trial, the High Seas of Tamriel in-game event, as well as new story content tied to systems, old and new, that we haven't expanded upon yet. The solo dungeons coming in Season Two will also provide a great opportunity for players who enjoy story and haven't yet had a chance to experience the dungeon stories before, starting with Moonhunter Keep and March of Sacrifices.

Ordinator199 · March 25

Because devs/designers do not understand the harsh realities of the world of Nirn, the grit and grime of Morrowind for example, the raw atmosphere.

They keep adding generic mmo wow esque mounts and pets and flashy stuff to a world where none of these stuff belong to please gen Z/House wives who can't play an MMO if they don't have a seizure giving flashing pink candy themed pegasus as their mount with a cucumber up its you know what.

BretonMage · March 25

tomofhyrule wrote: »

SilverBride wrote: »

What stories do we still have? All I see is a zone that requires a large group to earn cosmetics, and some kind of bazaar to shop at, and no new chapters. It's a good thing I have a lot of zones still to complete on 3 of my characters or I would have no quests at all to keep me going.

You do realize that just because they stopped Chapters doesn't mean they stopped with the new stories, right?
<snip>
It's right there in the Roadmap, the first thing under Season One: NEW STORIES AND QUESTS for the Thieves Guild and a Sheogorath questline (I believe they said in one of the streams that one would be Chapter-length, but I don't have the quote) that takes place in basegame zones. The Sage's Vault also has story content involved as well, but they haven't announced anything more about that yet.

Jess also straight up confirmed that a lot more story stuff is coming this year:

We know more content is coming. It remains to be seen if the story content will match early ESO writing, like the quest lines in Rivenspire, Wrothgar or Clockwork City.

In any case, while the recent writing is part of our woes, the main topic of the thread is still the overly bright and colourful visuals.

Does anyone have any idea if it might be possible to selectively reduce the effects of some collectibles but not others? For those of us who like some collectibles but cannot abide others, is there hope for us?

twisttop138 · March 25

SilverBride wrote: »

twisttop138 wrote: »

Not everyone likes the same stuff. The part of me that's a dad thought the fix was cute, though I'm with Tom of Hyrule, I'd take a grimdark quest line any day. But, despite what people keep saying about the ES tone and the setting, Zos is going to try to appeal to the largest audience. This will make some of us unhappy. Maybe keeping everything like it was in 2014 would be a real hit or maybe it wouldn't. Probably wouldn't. We'll never know.

How do we know that those who like loud and flashy effects are the largest audience? The number of posts in this thread alone that feel like ESO is moving away from what it once was tells me that is not the case.

Oh sorry, I wasn't more clear. It auto corrected fox to fix. I was speaking about the tone of the scribing quest. As for the number of posts in this thread. You yourself has told me, when the debate was turned the other way, that the population of the forums is a tiny tiny amount of the community. So should anything on the forums be listened to? I jest, of course. I would say that they should continue on as they are. Making cosmetics that appeal to a wide variety of people. From cheetah mounts with zero flash to weird pink things. Plain tradesmen costumes, like the blacksmith one or the innkeeper or crazy polymorphs.

All this stuff, even the new skills. Some people like them and some don't. Who do they listen to? Probably our feedback is the smallest part of the pie in their decisions.

licenturion · March 25

tomofhyrule wrote: »

You do realize that just because they stopped Chapters doesn't mean they stopped with the new stories, right?

Some new quests in old environments we visited hundreds of times is not enough for me.

I want new zones, with new assets, new music, new stories and side stuff to discover.

I stopped playing in January because there is nothing to do. I am not into alts (and that is pointless since subclassing exists). I have 100 percent zone completion (even the PvP zones which I loathe), did all the quests, have all companion keepsakes, all skill lines and subclass skill lines are maxed out and my stickerbook is nearly complete.

So for me there is basically nothing to do because this year there is not any content that I enjoy: no new zone, no new dungeons. Thankfully there are games like Crimson Desert out because I feel I 'finished ESO' for now. And the trial is something to look forward to and will keep me busy for a few evenings this year.

We will see what the future brings, but because all gameplay content is free from now on, I expect only minor live service tidbits like all the other games I played that went on this path. I have seen this before.

SilverBride · March 25

twisttop138 wrote: »

You yourself has told me, when the debate was turned the other way, that the population of the forums is a tiny tiny amount of the community. So should anything on the forums be listened to?

I've seen it posted that it's a small percentage of players that use the forums. Whether or not the number of players that post who are for or against any issue would be comparable to those that don't is unknown.

twisttop138 · March 25

SilverBride wrote: »

twisttop138 wrote: »

You yourself has told me, when the debate was turned the other way, that the population of the forums is a tiny tiny amount of the community. So should anything on the forums be listened to?

I've seen it posted that it's a small percentage of players that use the forums. Whether or not the number of players that post who are for or against any issue would be comparable to those that don't is unknown.

That's the fun of it. You see people say stuff like "the majority agrees with me" "you guys are like 1% of the population" and so on. The fun part is we'll never know. I'd also argue that it doesn't matter in the end. We don't need to know.

AScarlato · March 25

twisttop138 wrote: »

All this stuff, even the new skills. Some people like them and some don't. Who do they listen to? Probably our feedback is the smallest part of the pie in their decisions.

For sure. If you go over the reddit, posts like 'YAY I GOT THE PINK SPARKLE MOUNT!" gets thousands of upvotes lol.

twisttop138 · March 25

AScarlato wrote: »

twisttop138 wrote: »

All this stuff, even the new skills. Some people like them and some don't. Who do they listen to? Probably our feedback is the smallest part of the pie in their decisions.

For sure. If you go over the reddit, posts like 'YAY I GOT THE PINK SPARKLE MOUNT!" gets thousands of upvotes lol.

You wanna know what would be cool. Mount customization but only for horses. Heraldry, all kinds of stuff. These horses exist in high isle. Theres a lot you could do and it only makes sense on a horse. Could make the brown dunn or midnight steed more popular.

That weird pink mount kinda makes me wanna puke. Id argue if doesn't fit any game but they made it crazy looking and they made it super rare and expensive. Those are the trifecta of making people want to get it. I'm telling you, next crates make customizable horses the radiant apex. Put the different accessories in the other tiers if the crate and rewards in game, I'd bet you'd see a lot more horses.

NotaDaedraWorshipper · March 25

BretonMage wrote: »

My point was that if radiant apexes bring in money, then sure, let's find a middle ground between bright and colourful, and realistic/immersive. But there needs to be a limit, and I think the limit has been reached in 2025 with the plethora of hypersaturated skill styles and ultra bright mounts. I used to roll my eyes and laugh too, but it's literally painful now to see these things.

ZOS needs to take a pause and figure out how to design radiant apexes that are attractive and unique without being obnoxious. I brought up the Ardor's Devotion because it was unique, the idea of leaving flowers in your wake, even if it's not to everyone's taste. It's not even that unimmersive because there are literally quests in ESO about love and flowers.

I consider the Ardor's Devotion Senche-Raht as one of the bad ones and obnoxiously cartoony and flashy. It explodes into existence with a flash, it got unnecessary bright glow, and the flowers are almost definition cartoony and don't look like other flowers in the game. There are some radiants which are better than others, but that one is definitely not it imo. At least not in its current design.

AScarlato · March 25

twisttop138 wrote: »

AScarlato wrote: »

twisttop138 wrote: »

All this stuff, even the new skills. Some people like them and some don't. Who do they listen to? Probably our feedback is the smallest part of the pie in their decisions.

For sure. If you go over the reddit, posts like 'YAY I GOT THE PINK SPARKLE MOUNT!" gets thousands of upvotes lol.

You wanna know what would be cool. Mount customization but only for horses. Heraldry, all kinds of stuff. These horses exist in high isle. Theres a lot you could do and it only makes sense on a horse. Could make the brown dunn or midnight steed more popular.

That weird pink mount kinda makes me wanna puke. Id argue if doesn't fit any game but they made it crazy looking and they made it super rare and expensive. Those are the trifecta of making people want to get it. I'm telling you, next crates make customizable horses the radiant apex. Put the different accessories in the other tiers if the crate and rewards in game, I'd bet you'd see a lot more horses.

I'd love to be able to use my guild insignia on my horse for sure. Great customization idea that fits in well with the world - this is a really good one.

SilverBride · March 25

AScarlato wrote: »

I'd love to be able to use my guild insignia on my horse for sure. Great customization idea that fits in well with the world - this is a really good one.

That is a great idea! We need more creative ideas like this! Creative beats out flashy every time!

twisttop138 · March 25

AScarlato wrote: »

twisttop138 wrote: »

AScarlato wrote: »

twisttop138 wrote: »

All this stuff, even the new skills. Some people like them and some don't. Who do they listen to? Probably our feedback is the smallest part of the pie in their decisions.

For sure. If you go over the reddit, posts like 'YAY I GOT THE PINK SPARKLE MOUNT!" gets thousands of upvotes lol.

You wanna know what would be cool. Mount customization but only for horses. Heraldry, all kinds of stuff. These horses exist in high isle. Theres a lot you could do and it only makes sense on a horse. Could make the brown dunn or midnight steed more popular.

That weird pink mount kinda makes me wanna puke. Id argue if doesn't fit any game but they made it crazy looking and they made it super rare and expensive. Those are the trifecta of making people want to get it. I'm telling you, next crates make customizable horses the radiant apex. Put the different accessories in the other tiers if the crate and rewards in game, I'd bet you'd see a lot more horses.

I'd love to be able to use my guild insignia on my horse for sure. Great customization idea that fits in well with the world - this is a really good one.

I've thought for a long time that rewards in this game have gotten stale. They're talking about trying new things and taking risks with content and that is great. I may not like the battle pass approach but I'm ready to be surprised. But you what the rewards for this new content will be? We know some of it from night market pts. Furnishings. Costumes. Pets. Mounts. Style pages or motifs. Titles. Maybe custom actions. Oh don't forgot a blue pair of boots you've gotten already and a style stone. It's the same old thing but in there is room for creativity. Customizable horses is just one thing. Guards that patrol your house or a blacksmith that works at a station that can repair your gear to 125%. Housing items that do something like grow harvestable flowers or some kind of resource collector. Idk. I just think things have gotten stale and have room for the same kind of help that they're saying they're doing for content.

BretonMage · March 25

NotaDaedraWorshipper wrote: »

BretonMage wrote: »

My point was that if radiant apexes bring in money, then sure, let's find a middle ground between bright and colourful, and realistic/immersive. But there needs to be a limit, and I think the limit has been reached in 2025 with the plethora of hypersaturated skill styles and ultra bright mounts. I used to roll my eyes and laugh too, but it's literally painful now to see these things.

ZOS needs to take a pause and figure out how to design radiant apexes that are attractive and unique without being obnoxious. I brought up the Ardor's Devotion because it was unique, the idea of leaving flowers in your wake, even if it's not to everyone's taste. It's not even that unimmersive because there are literally quests in ESO about love and flowers.

I consider the Ardor's Devotion Senche-Raht as one of the bad ones and obnoxiously cartoony and flashy. It explodes into existence with a flash, it got unnecessary bright glow, and the flowers are almost definition cartoony and don't look like other flowers in the game. There are some radiants which are better than others, but that one is definitely not it imo. At least not in its current design.

The glow was manageable to me, and it doesn't give me a headache or eye ache, so I don't mind so much. It's a bit silly, but leagues better than the pink sparkling ornaug.

All the VFX the players were using during Jester's Festival today gave me a splitting headache. The Meridian Charger seemed really popular. That one is BRIGHT, but still more tasteful than the pink ornaug imo. Looks like I'll have to turn off bloom in the graphics setting while the festival is ongoing, not ideal but at least it's only for a few days.

Can't wait for better VFX settings.

Elvenheart · March 25

twisttop138 wrote: »

AScarlato wrote: »

twisttop138 wrote: »

All this stuff, even the new skills. Some people like them and some don't. Who do they listen to? Probably our feedback is the smallest part of the pie in their decisions.

For sure. If you go over the reddit, posts like 'YAY I GOT THE PINK SPARKLE MOUNT!" gets thousands of upvotes lol.

You wanna know what would be cool. Mount customization but only for horses. Heraldry, all kinds of stuff. These horses exist in high isle. Theres a lot you could do and it only makes sense on a horse. Could make the brown dunn or midnight steed more popular.

That weird pink mount kinda makes me wanna puke. Id argue if doesn't fit any game but they made it crazy looking and they made it super rare and expensive. Those are the trifecta of making people want to get it. I'm telling you, next crates make customizable horses the radiant apex. Put the different accessories in the other tiers if the crate and rewards in game, I'd bet you'd see a lot more horses.

Maybe they could start selling horse armor. I don’t think that’s ever been done before. 😉

But seriously, I do think this is a very good idea and could definitely make mounts more interesting without making them explode into all the colors of the rainbow.🌈

twisttop138 · March 25

Elvenheart wrote: »

twisttop138 wrote: »

AScarlato wrote: »

twisttop138 wrote: »

All this stuff, even the new skills. Some people like them and some don't. Who do they listen to? Probably our feedback is the smallest part of the pie in their decisions.

For sure. If you go over the reddit, posts like 'YAY I GOT THE PINK SPARKLE MOUNT!" gets thousands of upvotes lol.

You wanna know what would be cool. Mount customization but only for horses. Heraldry, all kinds of stuff. These horses exist in high isle. Theres a lot you could do and it only makes sense on a horse. Could make the brown dunn or midnight steed more popular.

That weird pink mount kinda makes me wanna puke. Id argue if doesn't fit any game but they made it crazy looking and they made it super rare and expensive. Those are the trifecta of making people want to get it. I'm telling you, next crates make customizable horses the radiant apex. Put the different accessories in the other tiers if the crate and rewards in game, I'd bet you'd see a lot more horses.

Maybe they could start selling horse armor. I don’t think that’s ever been done before. 😉

But seriously, I do think this is a very good idea and could definitely make mounts more interesting without making them explode into all the colors of the rainbow.🌈

I was hoping, really hoping, that someone would bring up horse armor in response to my idea 😜. It's pretty thematically appropriate to our conversation no? We can almost draw a line back there from where we are today.

Elvenheart · March 25

twisttop138 wrote: »

Elvenheart wrote: »

twisttop138 wrote: »

AScarlato wrote: »

twisttop138 wrote: »

All this stuff, even the new skills. Some people like them and some don't. Who do they listen to? Probably our feedback is the smallest part of the pie in their decisions.

For sure. If you go over the reddit, posts like 'YAY I GOT THE PINK SPARKLE MOUNT!" gets thousands of upvotes lol.

You wanna know what would be cool. Mount customization but only for horses. Heraldry, all kinds of stuff. These horses exist in high isle. Theres a lot you could do and it only makes sense on a horse. Could make the brown dunn or midnight steed more popular.

That weird pink mount kinda makes me wanna puke. Id argue if doesn't fit any game but they made it crazy looking and they made it super rare and expensive. Those are the trifecta of making people want to get it. I'm telling you, next crates make customizable horses the radiant apex. Put the different accessories in the other tiers if the crate and rewards in game, I'd bet you'd see a lot more horses.

Maybe they could start selling horse armor. I don’t think that’s ever been done before. 😉

But seriously, I do think this is a very good idea and could definitely make mounts more interesting without making them explode into all the colors of the rainbow.🌈

I was hoping, really hoping, that someone would bring up horse armor in response to my idea 😜. It's pretty thematically appropriate to our conversation no? We can almost draw a line back there from where we are today.

Yes, indeed we can! 😊

P.S. And I bought the horse armor back then. 🤪

twisttop138 · March 25

Elvenheart wrote: »

twisttop138 wrote: »

Elvenheart wrote: »

twisttop138 wrote: »

AScarlato wrote: »

twisttop138 wrote: »

All this stuff, even the new skills. Some people like them and some don't. Who do they listen to? Probably our feedback is the smallest part of the pie in their decisions.

For sure. If you go over the reddit, posts like 'YAY I GOT THE PINK SPARKLE MOUNT!" gets thousands of upvotes lol.

You wanna know what would be cool. Mount customization but only for horses. Heraldry, all kinds of stuff. These horses exist in high isle. Theres a lot you could do and it only makes sense on a horse. Could make the brown dunn or midnight steed more popular.

That weird pink mount kinda makes me wanna puke. Id argue if doesn't fit any game but they made it crazy looking and they made it super rare and expensive. Those are the trifecta of making people want to get it. I'm telling you, next crates make customizable horses the radiant apex. Put the different accessories in the other tiers if the crate and rewards in game, I'd bet you'd see a lot more horses.

Maybe they could start selling horse armor. I don’t think that’s ever been done before. 😉

But seriously, I do think this is a very good idea and could definitely make mounts more interesting without making them explode into all the colors of the rainbow.🌈

I was hoping, really hoping, that someone would bring up horse armor in response to my idea 😜. It's pretty thematically appropriate to our conversation no? We can almost draw a line back there from where we are today.

Yes, indeed we can! 😊

P.S. And I bought the horse armor back then. 🤪

I was a fresh faced 18 or 19 year old back in the horse armor days. I couldn't afford it but I remember thinking it was so novel to buy something for a game that you didn't need a disc for. I also remember a game informer article about it some months after but I would've never expected it to spawn such a monster.

YandereGirlfriend · March 25

licenturion wrote: »

tomofhyrule wrote: »

You do realize that just because they stopped Chapters doesn't mean they stopped with the new stories, right?

Some new quests in old environments we visited hundreds of times is not enough for me.

I want new zones, with new assets, new music, new stories and side stuff to discover.

I stopped playing in January because there is nothing to do. I am not into alts (and that is pointless since subclassing exists). I have 100 percent zone completion (even the PvP zones which I loathe), did all the quests, have all companion keepsakes, all skill lines and subclass skill lines are maxed out and my stickerbook is nearly complete.

So for me there is basically nothing to do because this year there is not any content that I enjoy: no new zone, no new dungeons. Thankfully there are games like Crimson Desert out because I feel I 'finished ESO' for now. And the trial is something to look forward to and will keep me busy for a few evenings this year.

We will see what the future brings, but because all gameplay content is free from now on, I expect only minor live service tidbits like all the other games I played that went on this path. I have seen this before.

This is... the story of literally every MMO in existence. You finish with an expansion and then you wait for the next.

Or you are into an end-game activity like raiding, PvP or housing.

If you are into those things then you have evergreen content basically all year 'round.

But if you play it like a casual theme park then, yeah, you will run out. There is nothing unexpected or new under the sun.