Game Informer update with Game Director Matt Firor : Othor Games

» Tue May 15, 2012 1:00 am

Fair enough, fair enough. Most likely I just took something you said out of context, which is my fault. :blush:

Though you're right, the only gripe I really have with the game is the lack of real-time combat. The art style is "meh", but I can live with it. Overall, as long as it's a solid product, I'll be happy with the changes.

Agreed, I have little quibbles with other stuff but if they had the first-person real-time combat/magic/stealth that TES is known for I would be much more forgiving and would probably consider buying/playing it.

» Mon May 14, 2012 7:15 pm

Actually they work just fine and have worked just for RPG's in the past as long as every player has the same mods, many mulltipler rpgs feature modding tools, even as far back as Neverwinter Nights or Dungeon siege and as recent as Mount & Blade Warband, just to name a few.

Minecraft too x)

» Mon May 14, 2012 2:26 pm

'The naming it actually proved to be some what of an exercise'...blah...blah...blah...something...something...'the whiteboard is full of names that didn't make the cut.'

I just can't get past the name. It's so bleh. And if this is the sort of thing that they go through with the rest of the creative process, then well, umm...yeah, good luck! I want to be proven wrong soooo bad though! I'll be waiting. :tongue:

» Mon May 14, 2012 3:22 pm

And yet everyone has been saying how completely divorced they are, including the moderators on this forum, whereas I've been saying they are definitely connected, and Beth approves of everything ESO is doing. Todd approved the combat system and view-point.

This isn't an accurate. ZeniMax Online is the team making the game. Todd and BGS have been available as a resource. They're not approving everything that goes into the game.

» Tue May 15, 2012 2:00 am

This isn't an accurate. ZeniMax Online is the team making the game. Todd and BGS have been available as a resource. They're not approving everything that goes into the game.

Ohhhhh. That's worrying that you've disagreed with someone who said "Todd approved of the combat system."

Interesting, but worrying.

» Mon May 14, 2012 3:36 pm

Ohhhhh. That's worrying that you've disagreed with someone who said "Todd approved of the combat system."

Interesting, but worrying.

Approving the combat is far from approving everything.

» Mon May 14, 2012 2:39 pm

Approving the combat is far from approving everything.

"Todd approved the combat system and view-point."

That's the comment GStaff replied to, and corrected. It's interesting.

» Tue May 15, 2012 1:39 am

'The naming it actually proved to be some what of an exercise'...blah...blah...blah...something...something...'the whiteboard is full of names that didn't make the cut.'

I just can't get past the name. It's so bleh. And if this is the sort of thing that they go through with the rest of the creative process, then well, umm...yeah, good luck! I want to be proven wrong soooo bad though! I'll be waiting. :tongue:

You try coming up with a name for it. It's a lot harder than it seems.

» Mon May 14, 2012 10:41 pm

"Todd approved the combat system and view-point."

That's the comment GStaff replied to, and corrected. It's interesting.

Ok, care to explain to me how that equals everything in the game ?

» Tue May 15, 2012 2:17 am

Actually they work just fine and have worked just for RPG's in the past as long as every player has the same mods, many mulltipler rpgs feature modding tools, even as far back as Neverwinter Nights or Dungeon siege and as recent as Mount & Blade Warband, just to name a few.

Sure, I'm have played Diablo2:Eastern Sun and Magic The Gathering:Manolink on multi-player. Technically Counterstrike and DOTA are mods as well.

But syncing mods between two or more players? You need a bandwidth thousands of times faster than what the average consumer has today. Making TES coop-mode even in just vanilla is already making a 2 dimension problem a 3 dimension one.

» Mon May 14, 2012 6:53 pm

This isn't an accurate. ZeniMax Online is the team making the game. Todd and BGS have been available as a resource. They're not approving everything that goes into the game.

I'm sorry to say this, I know you're a good guy and I have immense respect for you, but...I simply do not believe you (not saying you're lying, but perhaps not privy to everything - as the community manager, they're only going to tell you so much). Certainly not EVERY little decision goes through Bethesda Game Studios for approval (I should have clarified), but I'm sure they are sent quarterly progress reports and Todd signs off on them. For one Pete Hines called ESO "my game" on his twitter. Also, Matt Firor says Todd is "very enthusiastic" about the game. I personally believe Todd is a game-design visionary (far from being infallible) and am just surprised he couldn't see this better.

» Mon May 14, 2012 7:00 pm

They're not approving everything that goes into the game.

Oh man... They're disapproving EVERYTHING?!

» Tue May 15, 2012 2:50 am

Sure, I'm have played Diablo2:Eastern Sun and Magic The Gathering:Manolink on multi-player. Technically Counterstrike and DOTA are mods as well.

But syncing mods between two or more players? You need a bandwidth thousands of times faster than what the average consumer has today. Making TES coop-mode even in just vanilla is already making a 2 dimension problem a 3 dimension one.

Again, full modding like seen in TES games has worked just fine in multiplayer settings, just look at Neverwinter Nights or Dungeons Siege and Mount & Blade as a few small examples.

» Mon May 14, 2012 8:46 pm

You try coming up with a name for it. It's a lot harder than it seems.

Why would I? I have no need to, nor do I know everything about the lore/content of the game to come up with something pertaining to the content. If given more info I can guarantee I'd come up with something better. All I know is anything with the word Online in the name isn't creative. It's a MMO, does that not already tell you something? And from what has been told to us already has nothing to do with The Elder Scrolls in any way besides the name and bits of lore thrown in here and there. Oh and you could possibly be able to loot barrels and crap in towns, etc. Ther'e's possibly other thing's as well that I can't think of atm, but I think you know what I mean. It's all good. Like I said I hope I'm wrong and even a bleh name game can be successful. How ever a small point that is. :wink:

» Mon May 14, 2012 10:34 pm

"Todd approved the combat system and view-point."

That's the comment GStaff replied to, and corrected. It's interesting.

You are missing the rest of the quote. He responded to him saying that Todd approved everything. That was simply not true. When people have an agenda though you can't stop them with truth.

» Mon May 14, 2012 1:07 pm

I'm sorry to say this, I know you're a good guy and I have immense respect for you, but...I simply do not believe you (not saying you're lying, but perhaps not privy to everything - as the community manager, they're only going to tell you so much). Certainly not EVERY little decision goes through Bethesda Game Studios for approval (I should have clarified), but I'm sure they are sent quarterly progress reports and Todd signs off on them. For one Pete Hines called ESO "my game" on his twitter. Also, Matt Firor says Todd is "very enthusiastic" about the game. I personally believe Todd is a game-design visionary (far from being infallible) and am just surprised he couldn't see this better.

I am going out on a limb here and I will state that he is privy to much more than you are, so why do you keep forcing your opinion over his? I think he replied to you the way he did because he is trying to be civil and not disrespectful. You have made it clear though that you are running a very negative campaign and nothing anybody here says will get you to stop.

» Mon May 14, 2012 11:52 pm

I'm pretty curious and excited for how this game will play out. Can't wait for more info! c:

It really seems like the crew in ZO really are passionate about TES and care for it.

» Mon May 14, 2012 10:56 pm

I am going out on a limb here and I will state that he is privy to much more than you are, so why do you keep forcing your opinion over his? I think he replied to you the way he did because he is trying to be civil and not disrespectful. You have made it clear though that you are running a very negative campaign and nothing anybody here says will get you to stop.

He certainly is privy to more information than I, but as I said, not everything.

Also, there is nothing, in my view, necessarily negative about BGS' involvement. I would actually prefer it. My point was, ultimately, that everyone was saying there was no connection whatsoever, and this interview proves quite the contrary.

» Mon May 14, 2012 1:59 pm

I puked in my mouth.

PS: yes if you guys want to try some TES Co-op, play Battlespire :wink:

And yet everyone has been saying how completely divorced they are, including the moderators on this forum, whereas I've been saying they are definitely connected, and Beth approves of everything ESO is doing. Todd approved the combat system and view-point. I just puked in my mouth again while typing that.

I'm sure what was in my mind when looking at your over dramatic posts have already been said by my fellow forumers. We just had a little chat on a different thread about how you care about this game and that you're excited to see this game crash and burn but on the other hand, if Zeni gives the "TES" players what they want you'd be equally excited. But why do you have to be over dramatically hateful. If you want the game to be what you want in an MMO, then discuss it like you want it. You have all the rights to say what you want, but for the sake of the forum, be formal and try to see the up sides and hope for the best in what you want.

» Tue May 15, 2012 3:18 am

Lol. You have no idea the context of that screen. When it was, what it was displaying, etc. For all we know that is an early build of the character renderer and no textures or lighting or anything were applied.

True, but this was a press release montage. Why chose a picture like that if it displays your product in a bad light? Makes no sense. I can only assume that's the product in a semi-current state (not final, mind you). It probably represents a shell of what the end result is going to be - and even if that is the case, it doesn't look great. In fact I'd go as far to say it looks bad. Check out World of Warcraft Alpha footage. Pretty large changes were made to WoW in the alpha-beta stage, but generally it kept the same aesthetic.

That's the first look we've had at the UI, or what is currently implemented as the UI, and it's what I feared. Massive bummer.

» Tue May 15, 2012 12:30 am

Considering that Bethesda owns the Elder Scrolls, approval of things that Zenimax Online does with their game makes sense.

They're not approving everything that goes into the game.

Okay, I am confused. Exactly what aspects of TES:O does BGS approve of? :huh:

All I know is that ZOS and BGS are subsidiaries of ZeniMax Media Inc.. This means that, after all is said and done, ZMI, not BGS, has the final say in how TES:O will be handled by ZOS. So, BGS cannot control how ZOS handles TES:O, if ZMI has given them the freedom to do as they please with TES:O.

The real question is the one which we started with: Is Bethesda Gaming Studios satisfied with how much Zenimax Online Studios is listening to their input and suggestions for TES:O? And, if so, then how would one know if BGS's approval is genuinely the case or not?

As Umrahel said:

Are there differing opinions on certain game elements that will be present in TES Online? No doubt. Everyone has an opinion, devs are no different from that. Are there disagreeing views? We'll never know, because their PR department wouldn't do a good job if internal strive and issues would come out to the open

Source: http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1372668-why-we-are-mad-the-thread/page__view__findpost__p__20756113

» Mon May 14, 2012 10:38 pm

Okay, I am confused. Exactly what aspects of TES:O does BGS approve of? :huh:

All I know is that ZOS and BGS are subsidiaries of ZeniMax Media Inc.. This means that, after all is said and done, ZMI, not BGS, has the final say in how TES:O will be handled by ZOS. So, BGS cannot control how ZOS handles TES:O, if ZMI has given them the freedom to do as they please with TES:O.

The real question is the one which we started with: Is Bethesda Gaming Studios satisfied with how much Zenimax Online Studios is listening to their input and suggestions for TES:O? And, if so, then how would one know if BGS's approval is genuinely the case or not?

As Umrahel said:

Source: http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1372668-why-we-are-mad-the-thread/page__view__findpost__p__20756113

I seen nothing wrong with the UI, it looked fine for such an early version of the game, it was small but functional. I mean cmon what are you actually expecting from a UI ? Its going to be customizable so what more could you ask.

I was actually very relieved to hear it will have a limited space hotbar, much like EQ/GW and not the infinite hotbars most recent mmorpgs have.

» Mon May 14, 2012 1:37 pm

Very minimalist UI from what I can tell. Transparent compass, only 6 skill hotkey (like arpgs). Probably the last thing i'd be worried about at this point.

» Tue May 15, 2012 2:56 am

Pretty sure it was clear in context that Matt Firor was saying that Bethesda and Todd Howard are approving of all LORE details. He didn't say game mechanics or anything like that.

» Mon May 14, 2012 2:37 pm

can someone link the screenshot that includes the UI? i haven't seen that yet.