Video: An Introduction to The Elder Scrolls Online
We’re heading back to Tamriel, and this time we’re taking some friends.
For a franchise as notoriously solo-friendly as The Elder Scrolls, moving into MMO territory seems a little odd at first – but when you consider the sheer size of the setting and the depth of its lore, it begins to make perfect sense. A huge gameworld comprised of several vast continents and home to nine different races, countless factions and numerous religions, Tamriel is the perfect setting for a massively multiplayer RPG.
This 9-minute, documentary-style video goes behind the scenes of Bethesda’s upcoming epic, going into detail for the first time about the brand new combat system and a feature dubbed the “Mega-server” that puts all the players onto one enormous server and removes the need to search through countless lists to find your friends. With a huge array of customisation options and the chance to travel all around the world of the Elder Scrolls from Cyrodiil to Skyrim, from Morrowind to Elsweyr, The Elder Scrolls Online is shaping up to be a very enticing prospect indeed.
One of the most important aspects of the gameplay is that Bethesda have removed the element of persistent competition that usually comes with partying up in an MMORPG. Instead of rolling for loot drops or trying to beat each other to tag and enemy for higher XP rewards, The Elder Scrolls Online encourages teamwork by giving all the players in a given party an equal share of loot and props.
The nature of the MMORPG means that you’ll have less freedom in progressing your character and you will be required to select a class to begin with, but from then on all the choices are yours.
Judging by this video, the team have done well to capture the look and feel of Tamriel, but it’s obvious that concessions have been made in terms of graphical fidelity in order to maximise the performance and with an MMO this size that’s only to be expected. The game as a package is looking very attractive and the passion of the team behind it is clear to see.
Check out the video below.
The Elder Scrolls Online will be available in 2013 on PC.
