Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Skyrim Online MMO-ish mod gaining momentum]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/skyrim-online-mmo-ish-mod-gaining-momentum/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/skyrim-online-mmo-ish-mod-gaining-momentum/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/skyrim-online-mmo-ish-mod-gaining-momentum/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Skyrim Online - The Harbinger and Aela
Skyrim Online isn't really an MMO. Heck, it's not even a fully functioning mod yet, nor will it ever be officially supported. It's pretty cool, though, particularly given that its aim is to enable co-op play within the sprawling world of Bethesda's latest Elder Scrolls epic.

When we first heard of the mod last winter, it was pretty rough, with other players displaying as inanimate prisoner NPCs sans any clothing or armor. Now, though, the devs have managed to add some armor, basic run and walk animations, and general chat. There's still a lot left to do, including a party system, trading, AI synchronization, and PvP, but you can see a video clip of the recent progress after the break.

[Thanks Sandboxer for the tip!]

Continue reading Skyrim Online MMO-ish mod gaining momentum

MassivelySkyrim Online MMO-ish mod gaining momentum originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 May 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>elder-scrollsfantasymodsskyrimskyrim-modsskyrim-onlineskyrim-online-modtamrielthe-elder-scrollsyaySun, 27 May 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Elder Scrolls Online using HeroEngine 'as a whiteboard']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/26/the-elder-scrolls-online-using-heroengine-as-a-whiteboard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/26/the-elder-scrolls-online-using-heroengine-as-a-whiteboard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/26/the-elder-scrolls-online-using-heroengine-as-a-whiteboard/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Elder Scrolls Online - using HeroEngine as a whiteboard
Fan outcry over the announcement of The Elder Scrolls Online was long and loud, not just for the presumed MMOification of a beloved single-player franchise, but for the toolset chosen by ZeniMax Online Studios to bring the world of Tamriel to its new audience.

Game Informer confirms that ZeniMax is using the HeroEngine -- which also powers Star Wars: The Old Republic, and which has come under fire from some in the MMO fan community. Game director Matt Firor says that the firm isn't using the engine like you may expect, though.

"Think of HeroEngine as a whiteboard for us -- a great tool to get some ideas in the game and start looking at them while the production engine was in development," he explains.

[Thanks to Austin for the tip!]

MassivelyThe Elder Scrolls Online using HeroEngine 'as a whiteboard' originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The MMO Report
Heads up, ladies and gents; it's time for a special pre-E3 edition of The MMO Report. That's right, the biggest event in the industry is rolling out the proverbial red carpet next week, and MMOs have plenty on the slate for the big event. G4's fabulous Casey Schreiner has a look at some of the big pre-E3 MMO news, as well as a taste of what players can expect from the convention.

For your appetizer, we have a look at the three factions of ZeniMax's upcoming title, The Elder Scrolls Online. You can wash that down with a tall glass of Trion Worlds' MMO-television crossover game, Defiance. That should be sufficient to prepare you for the main course of PlanetSide 2's delicious MAX suit reveal, as well as a few more post-meal treats. So what are you waiting for? Pull up a seat and check out the full video below.

Continue reading The MMO Report: Pre-E3 edition

MassivelyThe MMO Report: Pre-E3 edition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 May 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casey-schreinerdefiancehumormmo-reportnewsopinionplanetside-2ps2rounduptesothe-elder-scrollsthe-elder-scrolls-onlinethe-mmo-reporttrailertrailersvideovideosFri, 25 May 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Discussing the design of quests in The Elder Scrolls Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/discussing-the-design-of-quests-in-the-elder-scrolls-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/discussing-the-design-of-quests-in-the-elder-scrolls-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/discussing-the-design-of-quests-in-the-elder-scrolls-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Instead of wiping out these skeletons and the dread necromancer animating them, let's go back to the village and wipe out the villagers. Less complaining.
The Elder Scrolls Online has certain player expectations going in, such as an expectation of the sort of quest structure you usually find in the series. More specifically, it's the sort of structure in which you start off on some simple quest and wind up wandering off into some completely unrelated point of interest. A recent interview with creative director Paul Sage and lead content designer Rich Lambert reveals that the team is aiming for just that sort of model in the game.

As Lambert explains, the team wants to move away from the usual hub design in favor of several points of interest, each of which provides a little snippet of content and story. The points aren't meant to be structured as an A-to-B affair; instead, you have several points of interest in a given region which build into a large overarching story. Take a look at the full interview for more information about how quests will work in the game and how players will be guided through objectives as they play.

MassivelyDiscussing the design of quests in The Elder Scrolls Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdabethesda-softworksbethsoftdaggerfallelder-scrollselder-scrolls-onlinefactionsgame-designgame-mechanicsmorrowindoblivionplease-dont-suckpoints-of-interestpvpquest-mechanicsquestingquestsrvrsandboxskyrimtamrieltestesothe-elder-scrollsthe-elder-scrolls-onlinethree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvpvideovideoszenimaxzenimax-mediazenimax-onlinezenimax-online-studiosWed, 23 May 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 202: Rubbernecking at the scene of an MMO accident]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/massively-speaking-episode-202-rubbernecking-at-the-scene-of-an/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/massively-speaking-episode-202-rubbernecking-at-the-scene-of-an/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/massively-speaking-episode-202-rubbernecking-at-the-scene-of-an/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

The Elder Scrolls Online
Massively Speaking Episode 202 is hot at the scene of the 38 Studios disaster, and without hyperbole we can say that this is more tragic than Pompeii, the Titanic, and Showgirls combined. Will Curt Schilling's dream team survive this financial crisis? We brought expert analyst Eliot Lefebvre on the podcast to give us his opinion.

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

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Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 202: Rubbernecking at the scene of an MMO accident

MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 202: Rubbernecking at the scene of an MMO accident originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosaction-rpganetarenanetbattlenetbethesdabethesda-softworksbethsoftblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrantbrianna-roycecash-shopcopernicuscurt-schillingd3daggerfalldiablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiielder-scrollselder-scrolls-onlinef2pfamilyfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgothic-fantasyguild-wars-2gw2humorjustin-olivettikid-friendlykids-mmokingsislekingsisle-entertainmentmassively-speakingmorrowindmultiplayerncsoftobliviononline-multiplayeropinionpirate101please-dont-suckpodcastpodcastingpodcastsproject-copernicuspvproguelikerpgsandboxskyrimtamrieltestesothe-elder-scrollsthe-elder-scrolls-onlinethree-faction-pvpwizard101zenimaxzenimax-mediazenimax-onlinezenimax-online-studiosTue, 22 May 2012 15:00:00 ESTMassively Speaking Episode 202Massively.com Staff01:04:42podcasts<![CDATA[The Elder Scrolls Online Ebonheart Pact faction profiled]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-elder-scrolls-online-ebonheart-pact-faction-profiled/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-elder-scrolls-online-ebonheart-pact-faction-profiled/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-elder-scrolls-online-ebonheart-pact-faction-profiled/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Elder Scrolls Online: the Ebonheart Pact
The flashlight of knowledge has already been directed at two of The Elder Scroll Online's three main political factions, and now the third is getting a little time in the light. We've already told you about the Daggerfall Covenant and the Aldmeri Dominion, and today Game Informer is closing out ouroboros with the third faction, the Ebonheart Pact.

The alliance that makes up the Ebonheart Pact was first forged after an Akaviri invasion, when the Nords and Dunmer banded together and then cut the Argonians in on the friendliness in order to find safety in numbers. While the Aldmeri Dominion is bent on conquering and ruling, the Ebonheart Pact is really just an attempt to stay alive in a world of invasions and power struggles.

The Dunmer, also called Dark Elves, call the familiar lands of Morrowind home. Skyrim, which a few folks may have heard of thanks to a rather underground game that came out last year, is home to the militant and cold-resistant Nords. The reptilian Argonians, or Saxhleel as they like to call themselves, come from the Black Marsh, also known (by way of total coincidence, I'm sure) as Argonia. They share the area with the Hist, a race of sentient trees, and all matter of poisonous and malicious critters and plants.

If you need help keeping all the names straight (the Nords are also referred to as children of the sky, by the way, although apparently that's an informal title), be sure to read the full profile.

MassivelyThe Elder Scrolls Online Ebonheart Pact faction profiled originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 May 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>argonianbethesdabethesda-softworksbethsoftchildren-of-the-skydaggerfalldark-elvesdunmerebonheart-pactelder-scrollselder-scrolls-onlinefactionmorrowindnordoblivionplease-dont-suckpvpsandboxsaxhleelskyrimtamrieltestesothe-elder-scrollsthe-elder-scrolls-onlinethree-faction-pvpzenimaxzenimax-mediazenimax-onlinezenimax-online-studiosFri, 18 May 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Matt Firor on The Elder Scrolls Online's '100% solo' personal story]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-elder-scrolls-onlines-matt-firor-talks-100-solo-personal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-elder-scrolls-onlines-matt-firor-talks-100-solo-personal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-elder-scrolls-onlines-matt-firor-talks-100-solo-personal/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- The Elder Scrolls Online
Games in the Elder Scrolls series have always been about giving players the opportunity to become the game's hero, and it looks like The Elder Scrolls Online will be no different. The title's game director, Matt Firor, has announced that each character's main storyline in the game will be "100% solo."

Firor points back to the previous entries in the series, stating that "in The Elder Scrolls games, you're always the hero... The last thing you want to do is have the final confrontation with Mehrunes Dagon as he's stomping across the Imperial City, and you see like 15 guys behind you waiting to kill him." While it's a good point, we can't help but wonder what kind of an impact this design will have on the social aspect of the MMO, but at this point all we can do is wait and see. Firor's full interview over on Game Informer has plenty of extra information as well, so if you're jonesing for more details, just head on over and check it out for yourself.

MassivelyMatt Firor on The Elder Scrolls Online's '100% solo' personal story originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdabethesda-softworksbethsoftdaggerfallelder-scrollselder-scrolls-onlinematt-firormorrowindoblivionpersonal-storypersonal-storylineplease-dont-suckpvpsandboxskyrimsolostorystorylinetamrieltestesothe-elder-scrollsthe-elder-scrolls-onlinethree-faction-pvpzenimaxzenimax-mediazenimax-onlinezenimax-online-studiosFri, 18 May 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Elder Scrolls Online factions profiled]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/the-elder-scrolls-online-factions-profiled/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/the-elder-scrolls-online-factions-profiled/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/the-elder-scrolls-online-factions-profiled/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Elder Scrolls Online - Daggerfell Covenant
Three alliances control the political scene in The Elder Scrolls Online's Tamriel, and Game Informer is taking a closer look at all of them, starting with the Daggerfall Covenant and the Aldmeri Dominion.

The Daggerfell Covenant is made up of the Orcs (also called Orsimer), Bretons, and Redguards -- although the latter two are coming out of something of a love-hate relationship, with a history of as much internal conflict as external. Apparently time does heal all wounds, though, because the three races have worked out a democratic system of mutual love and respect. The Orcs and Bretons call the beautiful land of High Rock home, while the Redguard are based in Hammerfell.

The Aldmeri Dominion is a more hostile power composed of the Altmer, the Bosmer, and Khajiit and intent on total domination. Also known as Wood Elves, the Bosmer call Valenwood home (surprise: It's a heavily wooded area) and enjoy tramping through forests, living in harmony with nature, and building cities in migratory trees. The Altmer, or High Elves, can be found in the little-known Summerset Isles. The Khajiit, who missed out on the alternative name lottery, live in Elsweyr, whose climate is ideal for the cultivation of Moon Sugar.

Got all that? Study up, there'll be a test. Feel free to read the full profiles, and keep an eye out for Ebonheart Pact information on Friday.

MassivelyThe Elder Scrolls Online factions profiled originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 May 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aldmeri-dominionbethesdabethesda-softworksbethsoftdaggerfalldaggerfell-covenantelder-scrollselder-scrolls-onlinegame-informerhigh-rockmorrowindoblivionplease-dont-suckpvpsandboxskyrimtamrieltestesothe-elder-scrollsthe-elder-scrolls-onlinethree-faction-pvpzenimaxzenimax-mediazenimax-onlinezenimax-online-studiosWed, 16 May 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Translating Elder Scrolls Online dev speak]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/the-soapbox-translating-elder-scrolls-online-dev-speak/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/the-soapbox-translating-elder-scrolls-online-dev-speak/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/the-soapbox-translating-elder-scrolls-online-dev-speak/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Elder Scrolls Online - Giant orchid monster thing
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

Language is a pretty fascinating thing, and studying a second one is something I've long intended to do. Aside from entertaining thoughts of learning Korean to play ArcheAge, though (seriously, I looked into it), I haven't gotten around to much beyond college-level Deutsch.

But as I watched last week's interview with The Elder Scrolls Online creative director Paul Sage, I realized that I already have some pretty good second-language skills. I'm fluent in both English and MMO dev-speak, so as a public service, I'm going to translate some of what Sage said into the former.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Translating Elder Scrolls Online dev speak

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Translating Elder Scrolls Online dev speak originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdabethesda-softworksbethsoftdaggerfalldev-speakdeveloper-speakeditorialelder-scrollselder-scrolls-onlinefeaturedmehmorrowindoblivionop-edopinionpaul-sageplease-dont-suckpvprantrantssandboxskyrimsoapboxsoapbox-jef-reahardtamrieltestesothe-elder-scrollsthe-elder-scrolls-onlinethe-soapboxthemeparkthree-faction-pvptodd-howardtranslating-dev-speaktranslating-elder-scrolls-online-dev-speakzenimaxzenimax-mediazenimax-onlinezenimax-online-studiosTue, 15 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Analyst predicts The Elder Scrolls Online will launch with a subscription fee]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/analyst-predicts-the-elder-scrolls-online-will-launch-with-a-sub/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/analyst-predicts-the-elder-scrolls-online-will-launch-with-a-sub/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/analyst-predicts-the-elder-scrolls-online-will-launch-with-a-sub/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

We're a bit of a ways out from getting dynamic screenshots here.
Are you hoping that The Elder Scrolls Online will be part of the classic subscription model rather than go the free-to-play route? According to analyst Nicholas Lovell, founder of Gamesbrief, the odds are good that you'll get your wish. Lovell notes that since the game began development in 2007, when subscription games were at their apex, Bethesda is likely to launch using the more familiar business model. Whether or not it will remain as a subscription game is another matter.

Of course, the price of play is far from the minds of most fans -- the real question is what the game will look like when it's actually playable. Director Matt Firor recently sat down to discuss the game's earliest stages of development, the relationship between ZeniMax Online Studios and Bethesda, and working within the lore of the established IP. It's an interesting look behind the scenes of development, and if you're interested in the game, watching the video is certain to be six minutes well spent.

MassivelyAnalyst predicts The Elder Scrolls Online will launch with a subscription fee originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Old Massively
Massively Speaking Episode 200 is a nice round number, and people are supposed to celebrate those, right? Join us for a Very Special Episode, during which Shawn joins Justin and Bree to reminisce about the past, talk about the behind-the-scenes activities on the site, and drop a Tabula Rasa reference or two.

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

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Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 200: Bicentennial!

MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 200: Bicentennial! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybehind-the-scenesbethesdabethesda-softworksbethsoftbicentennialbrantbrianna-roycedaggerfallelder-scrollselder-scrolls-onlinefeaturedhumorjustin-olivettimassively-speakingmorrowindnostalgiaoblivionopinionplease-dont-suckpodcastpodcastingpodcastspvpsandboxskyrimtabula-rasatamrieltestesothe-elder-scrollsthe-elder-scrolls-onlinethree-faction-pvpzenimaxzenimax-mediazenimax-onlinezenimax-online-studiosTue, 08 May 2012 13:00:00 ESTMassively Speaking Episode 200Massively.com Staff01:12:11podcasts<![CDATA[Elder Scrolls creative director: We want to make a good game first]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/elder-scrolls-creative-director-we-want-to-make-a-good-game-fir/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/elder-scrolls-creative-director-we-want-to-make-a-good-game-fir/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/elder-scrolls-creative-director-we-want-to-make-a-good-game-fir/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Elder Scrolls Online - Creative director Paul Sage and some guy from Game Informer
The recently announced Elder Scrolls MMO has a lot to live up to. If the initial fan reaction is any indication, it's not doing as well as you might expect in the court of public opinion. Creative director Paul Sage recently stepped in front of the camera to talk at length about the project, and some of what he has to say probably isn't going to sit well with fans who are concerned that ZeniMax is making a generic themepark MMO out of the much-loved single-player sandbox series.

"We have to make our own game," he tells Game Informer. "We want to make a good game first. Not a good MMO, not a good Elder Scrolls game, we want to make a good game first, a great experience for the player."

MassivelyElder Scrolls creative director: We want to make a good game first originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdabethesda-softworksbethsoftdaggerfalldev-speakelder-scrollselder-scrolls-onlinegeneric-mmomorrowindoblivionpaul-sageplease-dont-suckpvpsandboxskyrimtamrieltestesothe-elder-scrollsthe-elder-scrolls-onlinethree-faction-pvpzenimaxzenimax-mediazenimax-onlinezenimax-online-studiosTue, 08 May 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Elder Scrolls Online announcement generates fan backlash]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/elder-scrolls-online-announcement-generates-fan-backlash/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/elder-scrolls-online-announcement-generates-fan-backlash/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/elder-scrolls-online-announcement-generates-fan-backlash/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Elder Scrolls Skyrim - dragon attack
We've yet to see even a hint of gameplay for the newly announced Elder Scrolls Online, but a good portion of the fan reaction to the news has been negative, according to a report at GamesIndustry.biz.

The site says that many of the comments on Bethesda's blog were filled with despair at the prospect of an online title gobbling up development resources or otherwise impacting one of gaming's most beloved single-player franchises. A Bethesda moderator even chimed in to calm down the angst-ridden faithful. "The teams working on these games are separate. Todd Howard's team at BGS will keep doing the type of games they like making, and the ZeniMax Online team will focus on MMO games like this newly announced title," the spokesman said.

ZeniMax is scheduled to release the game's first trailer at some point this morning.

MassivelyElder Scrolls Online announcement generates fan backlash originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 May 2012 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdaelder-scrollselder-scrolls-backlashelder-scrolls-mmoelder-scrolls-onlinefan-backlashtesothe-elder-scrollsthe-elder-scrolls-mmothe-elder-scrolls-onlinezenimaxzenimax-onlineFri, 04 May 2012 09:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Bethesda confirms Elder Scrolls MMO, three-faction PvP]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/bethesda-confirms-elder-scrolls-mmo-three-faction-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/bethesda-confirms-elder-scrolls-mmo-three-faction-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/bethesda-confirms-elder-scrolls-mmo-three-faction-pvp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Elder Scrolls Online logo
Well, one of the industry's worst-kept secrets has been officially put to rest courtesy of Game Informer. There is in fact an Elder Scrolls MMO in the works, and ZeniMax Online has chosen the print magazine for its initial reveal.

Despite a professed lack of interest in MMOs from Elder Scrolls notable Todd Howard, the project has been ongoing for a number of years now, according to the game's first press release. The dev team is headed up by Matt Firor, known primarily to gamers for his work on Dark Age of Camelot. Like DAoC, the new Elder Scrolls title will feature three-faction PvP. We'll keep you updated as Bethesda releases additional details.

MassivelyBethesda confirms Elder Scrolls MMO, three-faction PvP originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 May 2012 12:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdabreakingelder-scrollselder-scrolls-mmofantasymatt-firorplease-be-a-sandboxthe-elder-scrollsthe-elder-scrolls-mmothree-faction-pvpThu, 03 May 2012 12:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Bethesda's Todd Howard not interested in an Elder Scrolls MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/bethesdas-todd-howard-not-interested-in-an-elder-scrolls-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/bethesdas-todd-howard-not-interested-in-an-elder-scrolls-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/bethesdas-todd-howard-not-interested-in-an-elder-scrolls-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Skyrim
Whenever the subject of untapped RPG franchises that could make the jump to MMOs comes up, Bethesda's Elder Scrolls series is almost always mentioned. After all, if Blizzard and BioWare made the jump, why not the folks behind Oblivion?

In talking with our sister site Joystiq at PAX, Bethesda's Todd Howard fields the question with blunt honesty. "I like this kind of game better," he said. "You know, it's what most of us are into. I'm not really an MMO guy. I respect them, I look at them, but I don't play them. It feels more real to me when I'm the hero and it's crafted for that. A community aspect to it, I recognize a lot of people would want that in a game like this, but it changes the flavor for me.

Of course, one man's feelings toward the genre aren't always enough to stave off corporate demands, but Howard says that isn't the case: "We can just do our thing, and it's kind of grown with each game. So there was no pressure from anybody above me to say 'Hey, you need to change this.'"

That doesn't mean Bethesda will forever abstain from MMOs, however. Bethesda's parent company, ZeniMax Media, built an MMO customer support facility in Ireland earlier this year, an indication that online gaming may very well be in the company's future.

MassivelyBethesda's Todd Howard not interested in an Elder Scrolls MMO originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdaBethesda-Softworksbiowareblizzardelder-scrossirelandjoystiqoblivionpaxpax-prime-2011skyrimtesthe-elder-scrollstodd-howardzenimaxzenimax-mediaWed, 31 Aug 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ZeniMax Online Studios builds new MMO customer support facility]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/zenimax-online-studios-builds-new-mmo-customer-support-facility/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/zenimax-online-studios-builds-new-mmo-customer-support-facility/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/zenimax-online-studios-builds-new-mmo-customer-support-facility/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The folks at ZeniMax Online Studios have founded a new support facility in Galway, Ireland with the intent to provide customer service for "players of future massively multiplayer online games." While some of you are probably wondering just who in the heck ZeniMax is, others have no doubt seen the parent company name scrolling by on the startup screens for Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.

ZeniMax Media owns not only ZeniMax Online but also Bethesda Softworks and id Software (the brains behind the Doom franchise). ZeniMax Online is headed by Mythic co-founder Matt Firor, and ex-World of Warcraft dev Rich Barham is serving as the director of customer support. Though the studio has yet to make an official game-related announcement, it's clearly laying the foundation for something big.

MassivelyZeniMax Online Studios builds new MMO customer support facility originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdaBethesda-Softworkscustomer-servicedoomelder-scrollsfallout-3fallout-new-vegasmatt-firorMiscellaneousmmo-industryoblivionrich-barhamthe-elder-scrollszenimaxzenimax-onlinezenimax-online-studiosWed, 16 Mar 2011 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Elder Scrolls MMO in the works?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/18/rumor-elder-scrolls-mmo-in-the-works/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/18/rumor-elder-scrolls-mmo-in-the-works/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/18/rumor-elder-scrolls-mmo-in-the-works/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Just about every MMO player has an IP he'd like to see undergo the MMO treatment. For some of us here at Massively, that IP is Bethesda's long-running Elder Scrolls series. Due to a deep reservoir of lore and the fact that earlier games in the series (notably Morrowind and Daggerfall) were more MMO-like than many modern MMOs, we'd love to see what Bethesda would do with such a beast.

Apparently we're not the only ones, as SystemLink has posted a bit of speculation on a possible The Elder Scrolls V, highlighting a few job postings as evidence in support of its theory. While we're not completely sold on the author's conclusions -- mainly due to Bethesda's plainly articulated stance on the massive genre -- we suspect this won't be the last we hear of an Elder Scrolls MMORPG..

MassivelyRumor: Elder Scrolls MMO in the works? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdaBethesda-Game-Studiosbethesda-mmoBethesda-Softworksbethsoftdaggerfalldo-wantelder-scrollselder-scrolls-mmomorrowindOblivionrumorrumorstestes-mmothe-elder-scrollszenimaxzenimax-mediazenimax-online-studiosMon, 18 Oct 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Court documents say Bethesda's MMO already under dev, rumor says it's Elder Scrolls]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/20/court-documents-show-bethesdas-mmo-already-underdev-rumor-says/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/20/court-documents-show-bethesdas-mmo-already-underdev-rumor-says/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/20/court-documents-show-bethesdas-mmo-already-underdev-rumor-says/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In this most recent round of court scuffles between Interplay and Bethesda over the Fallout MMO rights, it would seem that some details are coming to light about what's going on at Bethesda's MMO "branch", Zenimax Media. According to filings, the word is that there are close to 100 people working on an MMO that costs "tens and tens of millions of dollars" and has been under development since late 2006. Apparently these same filings claim that the title is a "World of Warcraft" type MMO. Of course, considering World of Warcraft is about as equal to McDonalds in terms of brand recognition with its millions and millions served, saying something is like World of Warcraft could mean anything from 'it's a DIKU-based, kill-ten-rats, FedEx, fantasy MMO that looks rather a lot like WoW' on up to 'it's somewhere in the general MMO neighborhood.'

Now, to follow this interesting tidbit up, the word is that Bethesda is moving to have this particular chunk of testimony censored to protect trade secrets. To stir the pot a bit further on why they might be scrambling to block it, VG247 have a source they claim is reliable confirming this is the often-rumored Elder Scrolls MMO. What's more, their source says the Elder Scrolls MMO should have been announced last year.

Continue reading Court documents say Bethesda's MMO already under dev, rumor says it's Elder Scrolls

MassivelyCourt documents say Bethesda's MMO already under dev, rumor says it's Elder Scrolls originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdabethesda-softworksbreakingfallout-3interplaymmommorpgoblivionrumorthe-elder-scrollsunder-developmentzenimax-mediaWed, 20 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Games that should be MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/12/the-daily-grind-games-that-should-be-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/12/the-daily-grind-games-that-should-be-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/12/the-daily-grind-games-that-should-be-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We all have a list of favourite games which we think should be MMOs. My first real exposure to RPGs was The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. I absolutely love this game and it's top of my list of titles (or in this case a franchise) which needs to be turned into an MMO ASAP. Logically (and as a games journalist) I know it's not that simple. I've interviewed several folks at Bethesda over the years and I know that their vision of The Elder Scrolls wouldn't translate too well to a Massively Multiplayer Online game.

But that aside, I'm pretty sure most gamers are stoked that Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is being reinvented as an MMO. I want to know, if graphics, dev wishes and game mechanics weren't an issue, what games would you like to see become an MMO and why?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Games that should be MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdabethesda-softworksmmommosstar-warsstar-wars-knights-of-the-old-republicstar-wars-knights-of-the-old-republic-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicthe-elder-scrollsthe-elder-scrolls-iv-oblivionFri, 12 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: MMO-unfriendly games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/12/the-digital-continuum-mmo-unfriendly-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/12/the-digital-continuum-mmo-unfriendly-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/12/the-digital-continuum-mmo-unfriendly-games/#commentsFiled under: , ,


It's a subject that's been touched on here at Massively not once or twice, but three times. Still, I feel like there's more to be said on the subject of making some non-MMO games into actual MMOs.

Being a constant contributor to Massively means I obviously love MMOs, but that doesn't mean they're all I play. In fact I find myself constantly playing genres of all sorts on various platforms. Still, I do love to end the day (or sometimes spend most of the day) in a great massively multiplayer online game. There have been several occasions where I find myself playing a particular offline game and wonder, "Could this be developed as an MMO?" I eventually come to the conclusion that -- no, it probably can't.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: MMO-unfriendly games

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: MMO-unfriendly games originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Apr 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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