Until the actual game comes out we can't say anything for sure. Best to wait and see. Remember that this isn't (primarily) BGS developing the game, it's another studio.

Partly true, but some engine limitations are more visible than others, look at Gamebryo.

http://www.requnix.com/wp-content/oqey_gallery/galleries/rift-basic/galimg/rift-basic-1.jpg and http://cdn.steampowered.com/v/gfx/apps/18500/0000006570.1920x1080.jpg?t=1323283667 run gamebryo, compare them to http://www.cheats.ru/uploaded/e/elderscrolls4oblivion/elderscrolls4oblivion0410.jpg or if you are so aligned http://cms.elderscrolls.com/sites/default/files/tes/screenshots/SolitudeMarsh.jpg. There is a LOT of room for variation.

Proof that TESO will die right there. Bad engine = bad mmo.

Aside from Star Wars: The Old Republic can you point to any other MMO to back up that claim?

Faxion Online was a PC http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massively_multiplayer_online_role-playing_game developed by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UTV_Ignition_Entertainment, the developers of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Shaddai:_Ascension_of_the_Metatron. The areas within the game are themed after the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_deadly_sins. It makes use of the engine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HeroEngine.
It launched on May 26th 2011 and shut down on Aug 24th.^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faxion_Online#cite_note-0}

Never heard of it before now. So I guess it didn't have a strong marketing plan.

Was its shutdown because of the engine, or poor concept implementation? You can have the best engine in the world, but it won't make up for poor design.

I just looked at some screenshots and a review video. Can't say it looked all that impressive. Mediocre are at best.

If it shut down so soon after release, it means that they did not have a strong enough subscriber base to sustain it. And weak marketing, weak design, and mediocre art probably had a lot to do with that.

The engine on the other hand is not a determining factor in an MMO's ability to succeed, but rather the creativity behind the company using it. If TESO fails, it will be because ZOS would not have utilized the IP creatively and propperly, not because of the engine...

Having said that, I will accept Faxion Online as an example of failed MMOs using HeroEngine.

Is their another example?

Exactly what I'm saying. The biggest castle sieges I've been to in Lineage II, personally, had about a thousand people per side actively fighting against each other. for two hours. The recent "Kill Jita" campaign in EVE Online had an estimated 6000 (six thousand) players in and around the Jita solar system fighting for 12+ hours. Lineage II is 8 years old by now, EVE Online roughly the same (I'd have to check to be sure)

"100 vs. 100" is, if we're being very generous, medium-sized. It certainly isn't anything to brag about compared to already old MMOs.

Age Of Conan.

What is the game engine for that game?

I for one, already have a bad taste in my mouth about ESO. Mainly because I was so utterly disappointed with SWToR. And my heart sank when I read ESO had purchased the Hero Engine bioware has developed and is using it for ESO.

What does this mean?
Can we expect the same linear closed in zones? Laggy GCD display and update that took bioware 5-6 hotfixes to make playable? And the same cartoon characters, all of which are voice acted of course. SWToR is performing under predictions, IMO ESO which features the Hero engine should have been a non-starter.

The game's been in development for 5 years. You can hardly criticize them for using an engine that hadn't been critiqued yet.

Also, they've had it for 5 years. It already sounds like they've developed a different style of game with the same engine.

I love it. The Hero engine is amazing! I wouldn't want any other engine for TESO!

@nerevariene11378

You are correct. However from the screens the art style at least looks to be intact from the hero engine. The other Issues I have with it are indeed assumptions. But I have nothing else to go on, and at this point I'm not ready to give the team that chose that art style benefit of the doubt.

Well, you could always, you know... wait until we have more than a handful of screenshots and a single preview article before forming any conclusions at all.

Just to be clear, the art style is not dictated by the engine, but is rather a conscious design choice.

Hero Engine been brought up a few times recently, so bringing this topic up front for people to peruse. Maybe see some answers to questions.

I still think you are a troll....

I'm not well versed on how an engine affects the game as a whole. However I don't believe it's merely coincidental.

The 14 or so screens are pretty clearly not in line with the art style TES franchise has been headed. I am a die hard fan of TES series and am very off put by this 'apparent' choice.

The art style of the Elder Scrolls games has always been designed for a single-player world. MMOs have to take a lot of different things into consideration due to mechanical constraints (and the desire to make the game as playable as possible without having a tricked-out gaming rig).

I feel you are making excuses, I have recently spent about 400 bucks building a new system, using my old tower and monitor. I can play skyrim on ultra settings with enhanced texture and lighting mods. Not implying everyone has the funds, but given another year of price cuts on these already mid level upgrades that is not a good reason to produce such a poor game graphical / art wise.

Before we get into the bit about hero engine being bad and the games made on it being bad etc etc, how about we look at all the downright horrible games that were made with the same engine used to make MW and OB. Use that as an idea of how different development teams can get different results out of the same engine.

This is a fair point.

I guess what it really comes down too is I expected and expect TES titles to be an original game that lives up to our admittedly high expectations. However the feeling I'm getting from this is they are intent on producing a game that will lure ~1-1.5 mil players and just coast by for 5-10 years ending in a significant profit for the company.

I don't feel this is getting the Bethesda touch it deserves.

I'm not making excuses. I'm offering an explanation. MMOs have always had to set their graphical bar pretty low in order to deal with the technical demands inherent to the genre.

My post from the other topic but it fits here perfectly.

Before we get into the bit about hero engine being bad and the games made on it being bad etc etc, how about we look at all the downright horrible games that were made with the same engine used to make MW and OB. Use that as an idea of how different development teams can get different results out of the same engine.