The Elder Scrolls Online, Again
I participated in the Beta testing of The Elder Scrolls Online in spring 2014. Overall I found the game agreeable enough but chose not to purchase it upon its release, due to the subscription model and a lack of time. Like many MMOs the initial launch was problematic and the game had numerous issues and bugs. Within a year, the game was re-branded with a buy-to-play business model and extensive patching made the overall game more equitable. As a result, I’ve had my eye on The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited for a while and frequently toyed with the idea of buying it. Perhaps one of the reasons I’ve held off from purchasing the game is because I have such fond memories of Skyrim and therefore wonder if I’d prefer a new RPG to an MMO.
I participated in the Beta testing of The Elder Scrolls Online in spring 2014. Overall I found the game agreeable enough but chose not to purchase it upon its release, due to the subscription model and a lack of time. Like many MMOs the initial launch was problematic and the game had numerous issues and bugs. Within a year, the game was re-branded with a buy-to-play business model and extensive patching made the overall game more equitable. As a result, I’ve had my eye on The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited for a while and frequently toyed with the idea of buying it. Perhaps one of the reasons I’ve held off from purchasing the game is because I have such fond memories of Skyrim and therefore wonder if I’d prefer a new RPG to an MMO.
However, to cut a long story short, a deal turned up recently on a key selling site and was still there a week later. So, I took advantage of this favourable offer tonight and bought The Imperial Edition of The Elder Scrolls Online for just under £14. This particular variant of the game comes with the following bonuses and extras:
Imperial Race: Play as an Imperial in any alliances.
Imperial White Horse: This in-game mount has the same stats as any other horses in the game.
Rings of Mara: Receive the blessing of Mara, the goddess of Love, who will bless your union with a partner of your choice (aka friend).
Mudcrab Vanity Pet: A self-explanatory cosmetic pet.
Another thing worth noting about The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited, is that the game client is currently up to a whopping 38GB which is not an easy download, even for those with a decent fibre connection. The game also has an optional subscription service (ESO Plus) that allows access to the various DLC that have been released in the last year. These can be unlocked for a monthly cost of £8.99 or bought permanently using the in-game currency. For the meantime I shall defer both options. It remains to be seen whether I need additional content as there may be sufficient in the base game. The Crown stipend that comes with the sub is not a compelling bonus at the moment.
Because I’m the sort of gamer that likes to know in advance “what’s what”, I’ll probably read a few FAQs and websites before I jump in to the game. It may beneficial for me to join a US rather than European server, as I know several people that play The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited and they are all in North America. Another major plus that this MMO offers, is the opportunity to write about a game again, which is something I’ve been struggling with recently. So, expect to see some posts regarding my initial experience in Tamriel over the next week or two. Hopefully it will be a positive one.
The Elder Scrolls Online and the $1,000,000 Giveaway
In the past an MMO kept players engaged with their game by the psychology of the subscription model and providing content updates. Loyalty and the overall cost of running multiple games meant that most players dedicated themselves to one game and stuck with it. Free to play eliminated these ties and a lot of MMO players became a lot more itinerant. Developers therefore have had to become a lot more creative in finding ways to keep people logging into their games. Hence we now find many MMOs that feature daily rewards, content that has to be unlocked by claiming it and short term events that offer unique rewards.
In the past an MMO kept players engaged with their game by the psychology of the subscription model and providing content updates. Loyalty and the overall cost of running multiple games meant that most players dedicated themselves to one game and stuck with it. Free to play eliminated these ties and a lot of MMO players became a lot more itinerant. Developers therefore have had to become a lot more creative in finding ways to keep people logging into their games. Hence we now find many MMOs that feature daily rewards, content that has to be unlocked by claiming it and short term events that offer unique rewards.
The Elder Scrolls Online launched in April 2014 with a subscription based business model. By March 2015 the game went buy to play and was rebranded TESO: Tamriel Unlimited. Developers ZeniMax now find themselves in a very competitive gaming market in which MMORPGs are no longer the cash cow they were considered to be a decade ago. Like many companies they have been striving to maintain their share of the market and find a way to keep players logging in and playing, as well as encouraging perspective players to buy the base game. I must admit that their latest marketing campaign does have a novel approach and an interesting hook. Bethseda Softworks are to giveaway $1,000,000 to one lucky player, be they an existing or new customer.
The criteria for entry are at first glance somewhat straightforward. You need to log in to the game or complete an entry form available online by January 10th 2016. The winner will be drawn on 1st February and the funds duly paid. At present the base version of the game is currently retailing at its full price, although discounted keys can be found from reseller sites. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were another major Steam sale over the Christmas period. Needless to say the chance to win such a cash prize will definitely cause a spike in account logins. Whether returning players decide to stick around remains to be seen.
Like most competitions there’s a wealth of small print as well as terms and conditions. As each country has its own legislation governing giveways some geographical regions are excluded from entering. As you would expect this has caused those affected to protest most vocally online. As for myself, I briefly considered buying the game and entering but when you consider the initial cost and the approximate odds of winning, this is not a particularly sound gambling proposition. Sure I’d end up with a game that I could play but I have neither the time nor the inclination for another MMO at present. Part of me also thinks this stunt is a little tacky. I’d much rather be enticed to play a game because of some well-made new content. But this is how the gaming industry runs nowadays. Mass appeal has simply lead to greater commercialism. Makes you wonder what the next developer/publisher will do to top this?