Its not sitting in a shop?

At least not yet. It likely will be in there as an account upgrade. Its still not the same as OMG CASH SHOPZ. I'm sure all of those people who didn't want to buy MOP or WOTLK were mad they didn't get access to DK or Monk, but hey them's how the sales packs work. Deal with it. There is nothing new or original happening here.

And people who did want open-race-selection will be ecstatic.

You know as well as I do that they aren't going to make everyone happy.

edit: I just don't see the difference between a Collector's Edition perk and an Expansion I guess.

Carde, I suspect lots of them will like the ability to play any race, but be left with a bitter taste in their mouth for having to pay for it.

Agreed on your last sentence. But I fear they might have pissed off more people than they pleased by implementing it this way.

I am literally laughing so hard.

I hope to see thousands of rich Nords fighting for the Aldmeri Dominion.

(already purchased mine)

<3 ZOS

Thank you! I'm not sure what the uproar is all about. How many threads have we seen asking for Imperials to be playable, or for the ability to play any race in any faction? Now that we actually have it, we're complaining? I realise that the argument will switch to "they said there would be no content behind paywalls," but let's be very honest here. These are purely cosmetic things. They are not content. There is no exclusive quests, rewards, what have you, that these will give, so there is no "content is now behind a paywall" happening. The experience boost from the Rings of Mara will be, at best, marginal, because you can only get that boost when playing with one other player, and that will rarely be every single time you play.

So, since we have yet another example of Zenimax giving us what we asked for, why is this considered a bad thing? Because this time they tied it to a CE or a pre-order? I'm still waiting to be told why this should matter.

The devs screwing over their playerbase before the game even launches and most are fine with it. It is always funny to see that

When you go pay to play you cannot pull off stuff like this, it is why you have a monthly sub in the first place. Giving extra races and benefits is what f2p games do <.<

Paying what, exactly? The box price? Faction lock wipe is a PRE-ORDER bonus. You are paying the same amount for the game as you would have to to play it anyway, you just have to pay it earlier rather than later. There is no change.

The CE package stuff, though, are bonuses for paying extra. The Imperial race is something new entirely for a digital content pack, I admit, but its not any different than just buying the CE for your other favorite games is. Not different at all. And if anyone is pissed off that there are ANY digital content items in the pack, then I tell you to wholeheartedly blow it out of your backside because not all of us want to buy a physical copy, some of us buy 100% digital only, and in game items are the only way this works.

Like I said in another thread, I can't really defend their addition of the Imperial race in the CE pack. But I can admit that it doesn't bother me one bit and I view it as the same as buying a new class or race in an expansion pack. Is it crappy? Yeah, but I've been eating that [censored] sandwich for my entire gaming life. Its just business.

So, my questions is, do we have to pre order the downloadable version through a certain provider? Like, I got an email saying to pre order through uplay, but I hate U Play....a lot. Will we be able to pre order through the official TESO website?

Yup

http://elderscrollsonline.com/en/preorder

At least one other person in this thread understands... And I only came here this morning because I could hear the whining 5,000,000 websites away.

Now I ordered the Digital Version of the Imperial Edition within moments of hearing it was available. Because its worth it to me.

Now all of you can feel free to call me names an such. If that makes you feel any better. But I wanted in on the Early Access program. Heck, I might even decide to create an Imperial character. Though I'm pretty set on what I want to play at the moment.

tl:dr If it's paid content I don't care where they put it, lets call a spade a spade.

I'm very happy that you can any race/ any alliance, and glad that strange race/ alliance combinations will be limited thanks to pre-order only

I hope that it is also a cash shop thing because more revenue to ZOS

I want ZOS to make as much money as possible, so hope they find a balance between # of people playing and $ earned from each player

I expect that revenue generated from ESO will in part go back into future development for more content.

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While there has not been any type of announcement or suggestion of it being in the cash shop, I don't think it's a far leap to make that they might at the very least have a link to it located in the area where you pay ZOS for things. I mean if the money is going to the same place, what is the true difference?

I feel like I might be one of the only people who say this, but I am totally fine with this add-on. I even advocated for $5/ char slot. I know this game won't be the most amazing innovation to gaming since you could slice virtual bread with a wiimote. However what I do know is that I like the neat little package they have of Elder Scrolls and MMO. I'm excited, but understand that a game of this undertaking actually has many on-going costs, especially with a size-able development studio.

Different studios can certainly get by on a one-time $60, some need an additional sub, and others might need a little more revenue past that. Some games subsidize this is in different ways. In Rainbow Six Vegas for example they put real-life ads into the casino. In ESO, it being an MMO there are enough players in the same virtual space that there is going to be a demand for additional content in some form, and ZOS is willing to supply that demand.

I'm getting a little off topic, but really I'm going to go against popular opinion here and advocate for a pay system for whatever. You KNOW that if items aren't all BOA or whatever that there will be an existing market for in game items even if ZOS isn't supplying that option. In every MMO there is a black market, and no matter how many bans you throw out it will continue, and people will find a way to pay irl money for in game advantage. If ZOS has quality content for people to throw their money at, perhaps they don't need to go to black market options, and perhaps that same revenue that would previously be sent to a player breaking the terms of service, that revenue would be used to improve the quality of the game.

I hope that you can't just buy your way out of difficult raiding, etc. I hope that they don't put the most lucrative items in the cash shop. But I don't mind some items of actual value having an irl price tag attached to them. I can't speak for most people, however many don't need an imperial, however anyone that does simply serves to bring in more revenue to help promote a better game.

What's most important to me is the quality of the minute-to-minute gameplay. Even if I didn't pay and am missing some goodies, if the core gameplay is fun and engaging that will be the most important thing. If that means that some people pay some extra money to support the continued development and growth to evolve into an incredible game experience than I am all for it.

--As for the free race/alliance selection tied to a pre-order... :/... Lore-wise I guess I'm gald that the alliances will still be primarily filled with the proper race, however am ABSOLUTELY EXCITED that I will get to play any race/alliance as a pre-order. I just hope they allow such an option in the cash shop, but then that just means that pre-orders get it for free.

I dunno, I don't expect my view/ opinion on the matter to be mirrored/echoed at all, but I feel like I've been waiting much of my teen/early advlt life for the chance to play Elder Scrolls with other people. I know it won't be perfect in my head just the way I want it, but that's okay. I'm gonna roll with the punches, and support ZOS.

I think that people's expectations are a little high for this type of game at launch. In my experience games will continued development plans/ updates/ expansions typically get better and more refined over time, so long as they can keep the revenue machine running. So long as people are willing to buy add-on, cash-shop items, or expansions I think that is a wonderful thing for the growth of ESO as I want to see this little beat-up Caterpillar blossom into something incredible. (And I think that we have an imbalance of Beta opinions as those with a positive opinion probably will keep their mouth shut so they can avoid breaking the NDA and get into future tests)

So... Let me get this straight, the people who are upset about this, obviously haven't seen "Traitors", or any other races aside their own "factions" in any other Elder Scrolls game, so it's wrong for us all of a sudden to say "you can't be a traitor for roleplaying!", "you can't be a traveling Merchant!", "You can't....". I'm under the impression here, people who are against this, haven't played a single Elder Scrolls game in their entire life. Especially when you can clearly make any race you'd like in the Elder Scrolls Series, despite races dislikes of one another. Honestly, I can't see why so many people are crying over this. The only troubling part about this whole issue about being any race, and joining any alliance would be the unbalanced PvP. Which was going to be unbalanced anyways, due to people not wanting to pick certain factions while playing with their friends, due to not wanting to pick a "lame" race in others opinions. For example, my friends want to be a stupid ugly Nord, but I didn't want to be a Nord, so the other choices I had weren't any better, a Dark Elf, and whatever else race is in it. Now I actually have the option to play as whatever race I want to be, and still able to play with friends (not that I wouldn't have succumbed to being a Dark Elf, or Nord anyways). Do I think it's fair only "Pre-Orders" get this option? not really, but I'm sure Zenimax has an idea of how many people they're actually going to have playing this game... And it was due to certain reasons they're adding in pre-order bonuses.

The imperial race however... I'd like to see this not a pre-order bonus personally. I think the only way to obtain the Imperial race should be through beating a factions storyline. This in a way is incentive, and rewarding to players who beat the game, knowing they can unlock a new race to play. Of course, I probably would have only suggested that without the "Explorers Pack". Now it just seems silly. I think the Imperial race should have been the only one freely to swap around from race to race, as contradicting as I do sound.

I don't care, to me a human is a human. Throwing the word "imperial" around does not change anything

Right now it may be the same price, but don't you agree the explorers pack is 100% bound to end up in the CS? People that drop in later will surely have to pay for it. Nothing to pre-order anymore.

And yea, it indeed comes down to just business. Question is if people are willing to deal with it. I don't care too much about getting it tbh, but for the sake of the games quality and reputation I would have prefered them to create a questline that made it logical for people to play in other alliances. Or let them create an expansion for it that people would be willing to pay for. This is both unexpected and cheap if you ask me.

I'm fine with both, I think it's a bit less restrictive now, which is a good thing.

I don't understand what the big deal is? ZOS will eventchually make the Emperial and the ability to play any race with any allience in the future with sales for content and such. All this special offers are just a launching point to make enough money back to keep the game going after launch, as it is with any game developing company...

Brings a while new meaning to "buy before you try" huh?

I'm not sure if it's even crappy, though. The Imperial character offers no unique quest zones and no unique quests, the horse offers no bonuses (yes, I know the word is "boni," but even I can't stop giggling immaturely at that word), and the pet obviously gives no benefits. Unless the Imperial racial skills are way over the top, I'm not sure what the real problem is for a bunch of cosmetic items. I'm like you, I've had to deal with gaming companies who deal backhands to their player base, too, so I'm by nature suspicious, but this doesn't set off any of my "Uh oh" alarms.

The horse depends, if you can spawn the horse right away, then yes it is a bonus since you can travel faster than anyone else.

If you just have the option to buy an Imperial horse, when you can afford the other horses, then it's no advantage.

For what are they taking the subscription money again?

In the video, where they are on stage and Paul is on the mic, the game footage shows them spawning the horse at their location. Kind of like an instant horse call.

The subscription cost is just part of keeping the game going. But the enishall cost don't cover future content expectations or paying employes their contracted amounts. I bet they make less profit/petty cash then what they have to throw at costs...

No, I mean, like where you can spawn the horse at level 1 where others who did not buy the pre-order or collector's edition have to walk until they can afford to buy a horse in-game. That's what I meant by right away.

Yes, I'm sure they will be in the shop. As they should be. I'd be more pissed off if the pre-order bonuses were locked in to only be obtainable at launch day. But I know they won't do that, so I'm not worried and I don't care about an exclusive race, especially Imperials.

"So this is interesting: "Can I upgrade to the Digital Imperial Edition? Starting April 4th, 2014 all customers who pre-purchased the Digital Standard Edition can upgrade to the Digital Imperial Edition by visiting The Elder Scrolls Online Store (https://store.elderscrollsonline.com/). This will allow them to receive the exclusive collection of in-game rewards available from the Digital Imperial Edition. This upgrade service will be available from April 4th, 2014. If players have purchased a physical copy of the Standard Edition but wish to upgrade to the Digital Imperial Edition, our upgrade service is there to help you do so. If you pre-ordered a physical edition at a retailer, please contact that retailer to discuss changing your pre-order."

Lastly, a CE digital bonus pack does not change the quality of the game at all. In my opinion this is still the best MMO I've played in the last decade, and I will be playing the [censored] out of it for a long time. And this is from someone who, barring giving any NDA breaking info, has seen pretty much all of it at this point, numerous times. Buy the CE or don't, but the game will stand on its own actual merits and quality or it won't. Simple as that.

There are a few things that could make the mount a bit OP, but simply getting a mount at level 1 isn't one of them in my opinion. It would depend on if it started leveled up, was faster than all the other mounts in the game, etc. And even then I wouldn't really care. Mount is EXACTLY the type of digital CE reward I wanted.

Ohhh... I'm sorry. I misread that all together.

Calling attention to this point. I need to know what the racials are before deciding to pre-order. If Imperials have the usual racials (extra gold, persuasion and whatnot) I couldn't care less. But chances are they're going to make the imperials more powerful because they're an exclusive race.

Oh, and regarding the topic; I doubt anyone who would be planning to buy the game will be deterred by these things, and the people who weren't going to buy the game have made up their mind already. There's no need to argue, nobody's going to listen, least of all Zenimax.