This just goes back to the discontent many feel with the info we've been given on TES:O. TES has been about choices since its inception, even simple things like the choice of point-of-view (since Morrowind, was it?).

Now, it feels as if the Devs are needlessly limiting things do to how they want to design this MMO. And it is a design that many here, like me, feel is the wrong overall direction... I guess it is our fault for wanting a vastly superior, less pvp oriented version of Darkfall... It could have worked, but I guess it would have been too risky in this industy....

It isn't needless, its good game design to not include a gameplay feature that would be bad.

People need to look beyond the immediate and think about things more

Also you dont know darkfall could have worked.

Thing is, it is assumed that first person would be bad. Why? Why assume that? Is it because its implementation left something-to-be-desired in other MMOs? Why would it not work at all if there is a large, talented and passionate team that has significant financial backing?

Darkfall may have left much room for improvement, but many of its basic aspects could have been much better if there was as much backing the Darkfall team as there is backing Zenimax online. While a superior, TES-ified design reminiscent of Darkfalls is risky, it could work. Not saying it would be a success.... But we will never know now will we...

And it seems to me all of it comes down to one main reason: This industry is afraid of risk. Zenimax is not above anybody else in this regard. Too bad.

Well the sad thing is that today attempting to clone WoW is extremely risky, since you have so many historic failures including SWToR that have diminished the expected the return (if you use historic return as expected return). People expect everything in a game that fills WoWs niche and it's hard to provide everything that a game that has been in development for 12+ years does.

In 2007, it probably seemed like a good idea; they just underestimated the competition. SWToR marked the end of the WoW era, more or less.

-Limited field of view
-Requirement of voice chat to plan things even remotely well
-Turning the game into "not who is the better player" but "who can hide more"
-General dizziness that first person views can cause
-Generally awful combat, with poor weapon impact on enemies Skyrim is the perfect example

first person melee is bad in general.

Good thing it isnt a WoW clone, but a GW2 clone

You know what the bad thing about that is? GW2 is B2P (no subscription fee). Competing with another big title is something you never want to do. You might argue that since most people will have GW2 that they will not mind paying a subscription fee for something else, but then they have less utility for more of the same and of course people who are looking for the GW2 experience will buy the cheaper GW2 over TESO.

The thing is though that by the time TES ONline comes out people will have beaten most of GW2's content.

Arena Net is notoriously slow a making content, and TES Online oculd be a "ill play this while I wait for GW2 stuff" game.

TEs Online wont need a lot of constant players do stay alive.

1) Can be overcome via usage of the cool option of third person.

2) Only a problem in a game that is exclusive to first person. However, social difficulties would persist for those in first person. Overcoming those difficulties would require people actually thinking of solutions.... Which is unheard of in this industry.

3) Again, like the majority of main TES games, there would be both first and third person options. Also, it could be overcome by thinking of solutions. Said solutions would mainly be in how environments are designed.

4) Irrelevant, as first person is a choice that can be overcome via usage of the third-person pov.

5) Mount and Blade does first person combat well. It all lies in how things are designed.

Again, first person would be a choice. A viable one if done right. And it can be done right with enough work and passion.

TES:O could have been a hybid of first and third-person, just like 3/5 of the main entry TES games. Alas, first person point-of -view presents problems. Too bad problems can't be solved, right? Game creators can't solve problems, as it requires creativity and thinking...

Anywho, nice having a non-rant/hate-filled discussion. Time for me to be off to bed. Cheers.

I find it funny all of your solutions are "use third person"

Well adding to that.
-you need higher res textures in first person for things to look good. So 3rd person could have a performance increase and look better for less effort.
-you have to make an extra set of animations for the hands in 1st person as it won't be able to use the same animations for 3rd person. Also a different set of textures as well. Same with different models for the weapons. A first person model AND a third person one.

It just is not worth the extra effort to basically do the same mechanic twice. It is a lot of work.