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Elder Scrolls Online beta signups now live, six-minute cinematic released [Updated]
Bethesda and ZeniMax want you to know that beta signups are officially open for The Elder Scrolls Online. A new press release trumpets the announcement (though "timing and details of the start of playtests will be provided at a later date"), and the firms have also released a slick new cinematic trailer that will whet your appetite for Tamriel over the course of its whopping six-minute run time. TESO will make use of ZeniMax's megaserver technology to "avoid the hassle of shard selection." The game will also feature a built-in social network which the company says makes the new MMORPG "one of the most socially enabled games ever created." You can sign up for beta via the game's official website, and we've embedded the new trailer just past the break. [Source: Bethesda press release] [Update: ZeniMax has also uploaded an FAQ regarding the beta. Enjoy!]
The Elder Scrolls Online lore video covers the history of war
If you've been keeping an eye on The Elder Scrolls Online, you've probably noticed that its three chief factions are at war. The Aldmeri Dominion, Daggerfall Covenant, and Ebonheart Pact have been established as mortal enemies -- but why? Loremaster Lawrence Schick sheds a little light on the three-way conflict in a new lore video. You're a hip, savvy Internetter; we know you don't have a lot of time. Here's the skinny: All three alliances want to control Cyrodil, the central part of the continent that houses the very heart of Tamriel. The Tharns that rule Cyrodil are weak, and each alliance thinks that it has the power to steer Tamriel in the proper direction. Skip below the cut to watch the video to learn about all the intricate details. [Thanks to groovy webizen Paul for the tip!]
The Elder Scrolls Online answers queries about the Daggerfall Covenant
The word "Daggerfall" has special significance to the Elder Scrolls community, which is perhaps why the Daggerfall Covenant has received considerable interest among those following the development of The Elder Scrolls Online. ZeniMax has a brand-new player Q&A that covers the lore and history of this faction. The Daggerfall Covenant encapsulates the Bretons, Redguard, and Orcs, and is symbolized by a lion. A significant question is why the Orcs would join forces with the other two races. The devs responded by saying that the race feels inferior to others and is trying to get established as an Imperial province, although it's "an alliance of convenience." The developers also talked about the variety that's going into the Alik'r Desert, a plague of werewolves that's a significant part of the game, what towns we'll be seeing in the region (Bergama, Camlorn, and Lainlyn), and how the alliance between the races overcomes their religious differences.
The Perfect Ten: New MMOs to watch in 2013
Oh, I had a great Perfect Ten prepped as the first list of the year, but my meanie-face editor slammed on the veto button and told me, point-blank, that I was going to be counting down the best MMO prospects for the year. Then she drove a lawnmower through a Nordstroms while huffing paint thinner and throwing empty cans at the security personnel. Even so, her idea is probably more interesting than what I had. Let me give you a few notes on today's list because I sense that I'm going to tick more of you off than normal here. My goal was to sift through the possible releases for 2013 and pick the 10 most promising, both in "will it actually launch this year?" and in its potential for success. The combination makes it a tough call because some of these will undoubtedly be delayed to 2014 or beyond and some of these we still don't know as much as we'd like about them. But who cares? Let's have some fun and kick this year off right. Here are my picks for new MMOs to watch in 2013.
The Elder Scrolls Online exalts the Unforeseen Queen
The Elder Scrolls Online's latest lore entry is asking you to read between the lines just a little bit. On its surface, the entry is straightforward enough, giving players a peek at the reigning queen of the Aldmeri Dominion. Ayrenn the Unforeseen Queen is just another one of the Alliance leaders, right? But the fact that the entry is written in the style of an in-game document allows for some additional hints to be dropped along the way. In the official documents, Ayrenn is nothing more or less than the culmination of tradition, a perfectly prepared queen to lead the High Elves. But it becomes clear from the story that this is a queen who left her tradition behind for quite some time until she decided to return, a woman more than willing to break the rules to obtain what she wants. Take a look at the full entry and get ready to bend your knee to the queen in the game, since she may very well bend it for you otherwise.
Elder Scrolls Online's dreugh is one ugly mutha... shut yo mouth!
If you've a taste for anthropomorphic bugs with faces that only a Predator could love, you'll probably enjoy the latest Elder Scrolls Online update. ZeniMax has posted a new entry on its website detailing the creation of the game's dreugh (emphasis on ugh) that features a bit of lore and a brief video clip of the creatures in action. "Dreugh are primarily found in the eastern areas of Tamriel," ZeniMax explains, "but can likely also be found anywhere coastal. Land dreugh can be found as far inland as Cyrodiil." If you've played Morrowind and Oblivion you've likely encountered earlier versions of the dreugh, and if not, well, what are you waiting for? Head past the cut for the clip and then to the official site to learn more. [Thanks to Paul for the tip!]
The Elder Scrolls Online gets some myths dispelled
Are you looking forward to seeing what happens when the developers at Bethesda finish working on The Elder Scrolls Online? Are you unsure how the game's Skyrim-based combat will work when accounting for lag in your aim? Do you have a fear of having everyone grouped on a single server? If you answered yes to any of those questions, it's probably a good idea for you to take a gander at the video below the cut, because all of those questions are based on misconceptions that the video aims to correct. The fansite Tamriel Foundry has put together a short video hitting several of the most common misconceptions about The Elder Scrolls Online, explaining both the inaccurate belief and the truth of the matter. This covers everything from the actual developers (Zenimax Online) to the changes to the combat system (you won't be actively aiming, with the game instead establishing a soft target lock on your selected target). Even if you think you know all there is to know about the game already, it couldn't hurt to sit and watch -- and maybe have a few mistaken ideas cleared out.
The Elder Scrolls Online on Elf cannibalism and the lineage of cat people
The Elder Scrolls Online spotlight has shifted away from the Ebonheart Pact faction and is now shining most brightly on the Aldmeri Dominion. The first part of a new community Q&A peppers the devs with questions about this player faction and how it differentiates itself from the others. The playable races of the Dominion are the central focus of several questions. Players have the choice of the Wood Elf, High Elf, and Khajiit races. The latter feline humanoids may prove to be quite popular, although the devs say that there will be only one subset of the race -- the Suthay-raht -- available at launch. The team isn't avoiding the issue of the Wood Elves' cannibalism, saying that players should find mentions of it while exploring. Both Elf races will be getting plenty of story love: "We've made sure that this kind of lore about the Elves will be included in the game -- in plenty -- in all the classic ways cultural lore is delivered in the Elder Scrolls games: quest dialogue, conversations with NPCs, lore books of all kinds, music, item crafting, and so forth." The lands covered by the Dominion are touched on in the Q&A as well, including the vast jungles of Valenwood and the stunning beauty of High Elf cities.
The Elder Scrolls Online regales us with the history of a king
Pour a tall mug o' mead, my friends, and prepare to be entranced with the tales of The Elder Scrolls Online. ZeniMax's scribes have crafted a particularly cunning tale of Jorunn the Skald-King for you to enjoy. As Jorunn is one of the key figures in TESO, we figure it's a good thing to keep tabs on him and his history. The short story tells of his upbringing and ascension to the throne of the Ebonheart Pact. The team indicated that we should expect two more stories covering the other faction leaders. Give the short story a read and let us know whether this man is the type of fictional character that your fictional character will swear fealty to or not!
The Elder Scrolls Online: All your Ebonheart Pact questions answered, part two
Continuing a tradition of bi-weekly Q&As, the team behind The Elder Scrolls Online has answered another round of questions. This week's AMA continued to look at the Ebonheart Pact. Characters that join the Ebonheart Pact will, if they make certain choices, have the chance to run into Joruun the Skaald-King and other prominent figures like the Nord Companions. All members of the Ebonheart Pact will have a chance to visit the Shadowfen and the Argonian city of Stormhold, which likely means running into the huge, reptilian wamasu that lurk in the swamps. The Great House rivalries that players came to love in Morrowind will figure into TESO, although players won't (initially, at least) be able to formally join a House. Similarly, players who loved Skyrim will find that while the land is familiar, it's got substantial differences as a result of being about 1,000 years younger. Argonian players who're fond of the extremely reptilian look will be pleased to hear that character customization will allow for "much more variety than [the team has] been able to convey in the screenshots released so far." To read the full answers, hit up the official Q&A.
The Elder Scrolls Online grapples with questions of race, story, and setting
You have questions about The Elder Scroll Online (probably many questions, yes?), and ZeniMax has a few answers in return. The developers took on a half-dozen queries from the community, many of which were concerned with setting and story, not to mention why typical adversaries are working together all of the sudden. If you're concerned that the three factions will offer thinly veiled copies of each other's quests, the devs have good news: "Each Alliance's content in TESO is as varied and dynamic as the Alliances themselves are -- your adventures an Argonian in the Ebonheart Pact, for example, will be quite different than those of a Bosmer in the Aldmeri Dominion." Another player asked how similar places will be that are covered in both the single-player titles and the MMO; the devs replied, "The stories and events that unfold in these areas during The Elder Scrolls Online will be different than those in past Elder Scrolls games. The people living in these familiar places won't be too different from their brethren in later times; however, they will have different views and tales to tell, based on the current events that are impacting their daily lives."
Name this Elder Scrolls Online Dunmer
See this strapping Dunmer lad? He's got it all. Youth. Power. Insider status with the Mage's Guild. And of course his handsome mug plastered all over the official Elder Scrolls Online website. One thing he doesn't have is a name, and that's where you come in (provided you've got a lore-appropriate imagination, that is). Yep, ZeniMax wants you to christen this particular NPC so that he can more properly assist adventurers in Tamriel when the fantasy title goes live sometime that isn't today. The naming contest starts on November 13th and runs through November 21st. Read all the entry details via the links below.
ZeniMax releases nine-minute Elder Scrolls Online preview clip
Last month we flew to Maryland to report from The Elder Scrolls Online's first press event. While we were getting some hands-on time with the title, we were also watching a nine-minute video that ZeniMax put together in order to introduce the game to a wide audience. Today the firm has published the clip for the first time, and it features a mixture of fly-through footage, talking head interviews with creative director Paul Sage and lead designer Nick Konkle, and snippets of PvE and PvP gameplay too. See for yourself after the break.
The Elder Scrolls Online gets shiny concept art, bi-weekly Q&A
Have you been searching for a way to represent your favorite fantastical faction? Put down the stencils and spray paint: The fine folks behind The Elder Scrolls Online have seen fit to provide you with Twitter and Facebook avatars representing the Ebonheart Pact and its constituent races. Bear the crest of the Pact, Argonians, Dark Elves, or Nords with pride! While you're at it, you might ogle the fancy concept art that accompanies the avatars. If the Ebonheart Pact isn't your fantasy consortium of choice, maybe you simply don't know enough about it. In that case, an upcoming Q&A about the Ebonheart Pact may be just the thing for you. The TESO dev team is starting a bi-weekly Ask Us Anything Q&A to address questions about the game and its development. Each of the Ask Us Anything sessions will focus on a specific topic, which the team requests you keep in mind while thinking up your "anything" to ask. For the inaugural Q&A, which will go up next week, you can ask whatever you like about the Ebonheart Pact. You can find more information on the official site or submit questions through the official Facebook page.
The Elder Scrolls Online updates its site and adds a story page
The Elder Scrolls Online does not want for backstory. If anything, its biggest obstacle is the surfeit of backstory presented over the course of five games, enough so that even setting the game during a previously unexplored time can cause issues. So it's not surprising that along with a massive overhaul to the official website, the game's team has put together a new story page providing series fans with a solid set of information to place the upcoming game in the context of its fellow installments. Seeing that page may still not entirely comfort longtime fans of the lore, which is why the site has also provided a new article explaining how the team at ZeniMax Online Studios is handling writing for TESO. The short version is that the game has intentionally been set in a time period during which players have plenty of space to shape the world without derailing future parts of the game, and the team has been working very hard to keep the lore of the new game in line with past and future developments.
The Daily Grind: What 2013 MMO are you anticipating the most?
It'll probably be hard to top 2012 when it comes to MMORPG hype. Several big-name games came out this year, and another launched so late in 2011 that it might as well have been a 2012 release. Next year looks much calmer, though the impending arrival of The Elder Scrolls Online and possibly ArcheAge will no doubt register on everyone's hype meter. So how about it, dear readers. What 2013 MMORPG release are you anticipating the most? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
Massively's hands-on with The Elder Scrolls Online
Last week, I ventured forth from the subtropical paradise (read: sweltering wasteland) of the Florida panhandle to the frozen northern wastes of Maryland to visit the studios of ZeniMax Online to spend some time with the studio's premiere foray into the MMO space, The Elder Scrolls Online. The Elder Scrolls Online has caused quite a clamor since it was first revealed back in May. Since then, everything has calmed down, everyone is discussing everything reasonably, and... I can't keep a straight face. In reality, MMO gamers are deeply divided about TESO, and some vocal potential players are most displeased to see the venerable sandbox world of Tamriel being reduced to yet another themepark MMO experience. So after about four hours of hands-on time with the title, I'm here to answer some questions. Have the folks at ZeniMax run The Elder Scrolls off the rails, or have they just taken it in a bold, new direction? Join me after the cut and I'll tell you what I think.%Gallery-168863%
The Elder Scrolls Online hosts lore limerick contest
There once was a High Elf from Tamriel / whose foppishness the villagers did tell / she had many fears / about bees flying in her ears / and thus plugged them with honey so well. Think you can do better? Bethesda is hoping you can, which is why the studio is hosting a "lore limerick" contest for potential players of The Elder Scrolls Online. Fans can submit a single limerick about Elder Scrolls lore to the team by August 31st. Winning warrior poets will receive several different TESO prizes, including canvased and signed concept art, t-shirts, and a mention on the official TESO Facebook page. The contest is restricted to US and European residents who are 18 or older.
The Elder Scrolls Online's Matt Firor on moving the franchise online
There's a lot of pressure on Matt Firor these days as he heads production on The Elder Scrolls Online. Fans of the franchise have a lot of expectations about what the game will look like when it finally launches, but as Firor explains in a recent interview, his main concern is making the best possible game for the widest possible audience. Thus, rather than marketing specifically to everyone who loved Skyrim, the team is concerned with making the best possible overall game for a wider audience. Firor also elaborates on the fact that the success of the game does not determine the future of the franchise. Bethesda and ZeniMax are different studios with different priorities, and the success of either helps the other. If you're interested in the production values behind the upcoming title, take a look at the full interview. It's light on game details, but it's an interesting glance behind the scenes.
The Soapbox: BioWare, meet ZeniMax; ZeniMax, this is BioWare
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. Once upon a time, a group of decision-makers at a big AAA studio set out to brave the wilds of the MMORPG. This studio had several hugely successful single-player RPGs under its belt, and it also had quite a bit of consumer goodwill in the bank thanks to its pre-MMORPG efforts. The studio spent a ton, and I do mean a ton, of money recreating an MMO that already existed in dozens of different games. It also spent a ton of money trying to convince gamers and gaming press that it wasn't making a retread and was instead adding another pillar of awesome to the standard MMO formula. This studio was, of course, BioWare. Unfortunately for Elder Scrolls fans, it's also ZeniMax.
