does anyone else have friends (or acquaintances, co-workers etc...) who just do not understand the game? Most of my friends either cannot complete anything more than a simple quest because they have no patience to listen to anybody or boast that they got to level 81 in three days or whatever and act like they've "won" something. It personally drives me crazy. When i watc them play I want to rip my hair out.

I understand people are not used too these kinds of games. I remember first playing Morrowind. I think my first fifty or so hours were long pointless wanderings or questing without any idea of what was going on. So I can sympathize with new players because we've all been there. What i have a hard time tolerating is otherwise intelligent people incapable of participating in a world specifically designed to be like reality (to a degree) after hours of gameplay.

As an addendum, id like to say that after 100 hours of play you should not be able to say a game is horrible. It makes no sense. You can get that opinion after ten. Dont come to me with a level 81 character thats beaten every questline and say you did not enjoy it. You clearly have a problem.

Thank you those of you who have read this for allowing me to get this off my chest.

You're not alone. I have a friend like this. No patience whatsoever and wouldn't learn to use some sort of strategy to survive, instead just trying to bash everyone in the face and steal everything, also trying to complete quests as quick as possible; basically trying to be god. He never even reached level 5 and gave up ever since.

For me, I never thought I would enjoy a game like Skyrim because I'm never much of a gamer, but somehow, it got me so addicted since day 1.

However, I succeeded to persuade my other friends (who are non-gamers like I am) to play Skyrim and actually become addicted.

Wow, well my friends will fit in this perfectly. They say they might want to get it, and even one says he is obssessed with Skyrim, and wants it badly. But unfortunately, i don't see them enjoying it. I've watched them with past games, and if it's not a arcade style FPS that runs at a ridiculous fast past, these guys won't get into it. No roleplay, no "getting into it", no exploration, just doing what people tell them to very quickly, don't even look at the world around you, then get bored and start to complain they want to play call of duty instead.

Ultimately, i found myself having one of the greatest experiences myself, with Skyrim, but it seems others...well just can't. Wish they did like it, so i could talk to them about it, and they will know what i'm talking about, but they don't. I do know lot's of people who Love skyrim, but none of my very close friends, it's a little annoying hehe.

the thing is most (yes most, i am making a completely arbitrary assumption, deal with it) modern gamers are approaching these kinds of games with the wrong mindset. thats why streamlining doest work; no amount of simplification is going to change the skinner box mentality modern games have beaten into us. people who know how to play RPGs dont need anything simplified, and people who dont.. still dont. they are used to hopping on matchmaking and killing things for 13 hours getting periodic arbitrary upgrades and levels, so you would think they would know a thing or two about dungeon crawling, but they dont. they dont consider the element of purpose and immersion, instead expecting to pop the game in and start killing things for profit and no other reason... so when the game tries to give them reasons for slaughtering hordes of bandits beyond taking their stuff, they get confused and frustrated.

i dont have friends like that, and i honestly dont know how someone with the mindset of an RPG player could ever find enough in common with someone who doesnt to be friends. i guess with the facebook generation everyone has 1000 friends they barely even know... that might explain it. hell, my cousin borders on a jersey shore character, and even he got into skyrim when i convinced him to get it. i hate to say it, but i think you really screwed up when picking your friends OP.

Yeah I know people like that. The only thing I say to them is, "Good for you, I like the game."

yeah, tes has basically taught me not to be like that. Probably why they are the only games I even bother playing these days. I too know people that want to rush through and try and 'beat' the game - guess it is just a bad side effect of a generation raised on first person shooters.
I think tes games should be played in a relaxing manner, as one might enjoy a fine wine : P
you might say I am quite the elder scrolls snob

i have a few friends on both sides. Sometimes when we're all together the other tes fans and I are talking about skeevers and the COD fans are looking at us like we're speaking martian.

Come to think of it I have a few friends who will tell me "Man I just bought this game and I got like 20 of the achievements for it!"

My response is, "Oh yeah? What's the game about?"

Their response is a blank face.

My coworker has been listening to me talk about FO3, FO:NV and now Skyrim. So this morning he tells me that he bought Skyrim for his brother-in-law. When I asked him if his brother-in-law plays RPGs he answered, "Not particularly. He probably won't play it." When I asked why he would buy a game that he doesn't think that his brother -in-law will probably not play his answer was, "It's one less Christmas present I had to buy and when he says he doesn't like it he'll give it back to me and I can play it."

I stood there with a dumbfounded look and said, "But you only play sports games once in a blue moon. However do you know you are even gonna like it?"

"I don't. But you seem to like all these RPG games and I want to see what they are about. I might actually like it."

I kind of want him to like it. It might keep out of trouble. If he isn't out drinking everynight he's out being robbed by hokers or getting arrested for stupid ish.

you do realize that you need to play more than 10 hours to accurately review a game right?

If most die hard RPG fans had their way, we'd still be playing D&D with dice on a kitchen table.

If most gamers had their way we'd be playing nothing but platformers.

Different strokes, different folks. No accounting for taste

Seems to me that some people can enjoy an open game like Skyrim while others just can't get into it. I've got a few friends who are big Skyrim fans, but I've given up on convincing my brother to play. He plays a lot of FPS shooters mostly and had played Oblivion a bit before and I was curious as to whether Bethesda's concentration on "accessibility" was effective. He ended up playing it more or less lIke he played Oblivion, looking up and using console commands to give his character superpowers and stealing from people in broad daylight, causing them to attack and him to kill or drop them (if essential). Eventually the game crashed to desktop, something that hardly ever happens to me but always managed to happen for him in Oblivion as well (too many console commands I guess?). He got bored and decided to go play more Black Ops after that .

We just look for different things in games I think. I look to immerse myself in the story, the lore, and my own RP, he's fine with just shooting stuff online. We can both enjoy the classics on N64 and some other more modern multiplayer games.

Most of my group are BF3 addicts and wouldn't go near this. They do all say it looks and sounds great but they all hate RPG. A few people in work play it. Not come across a female who plays this though.

If you can't play an Elder Scrolls game you should stick to shooting zombies and aliens, and maybe race a car for variety.

More kindly, it may be the gamer does not want to pay attention as much as required, and wants to relax and have some mindless repetitive fun. Nothing wrong with shooting zombies.

My friends like the huge worlds and setting but cant get into it for different reasons. One feels overwhelmed with all the stuff to use telling me all he wants is a frigging bow and arrow to use. Another one cant get used to moving around in first or third person and is used to a more godlike view like the old Zelda rpgs. My other friend and relative just doesnt have the time and that goes for even linear games like Half Life 2 etc so no way could he see himself putting in the time for The Elder Scrolls.

Interesting that people can like something but unable to get involved in it. I guess its a time priority thing.

The second post had exactly what I was thinking. You're not alone. These games aren't for everyone. They're very detailed and complicated and there's a lot to learn. Not everyone has the patience for that or enjoys that. Some just want to do something simple. I wish it was different too but it is what it is. More than 200 hours here and loving it. I found Shalidor's writings and now I think I must head to Markarth because I just can't carry another ounce and neither can Lydia.

Well the thing is, not all people play games for the immersion (or the art, story, environment, etc). Some people play them purely for the gameplay or the action (racing games for example). Of course, a lot of people play them for both - it's just different strokes for different folks.

The scary part is, these are exactly the kind of people TES is now trying to cater to. (and will probably continue to in future games) The lowest common denominator. The instant gratification/constant hand-hold seeking types of gamers. Coming soon.....TES VI, Scroll of Duty.

^^ Lol...too true...

On topic none of my friends could play this game for more than 5 minutes.

Are they CoD players? Because that'd explain it.

Yup

Yeah, not surprised then. When I play CoD, I can feel my brain cells escaping.

I've played other games (like WoW) and didn't always pay attention to the storyline, but this type of game, it's interesting. In other games, you don't always need to listen/read to figure out what is going on, but in these, you do. I enjoy talking to the people, going on quests, making my own armor, and just being my character. My husband and I have put many hours into this game (and some past TES games) and we enjoy them a lot. I suppose it just depends on what you look for in a game, and realize that certain games are meant to be played certain ways. If you don't like how it's played, I suggest you don't try and make it work how you want, and find something else instead.

Yeah, I know fools like that also. All they play is MW3 and Battlefield 3. Couldn't get them to play a game you have to think about to save their own lives...

My wife can play WoW, COD, BF3 all day long, but, in regards to Skyrim, she can't grasp the concept. Can't quite figure out why. I blame the run and gun tactics used in COD, mostly. While watching her play, I see her sprinting and strafing around corners and always just holding down the right trigger on the controller, which, until your stamina is gone, never swings the sword.