Elder Scrolls Online is one of the newer MMORPGs (massively multiplayer online role-playing games). Since its release last year, the game has gained a substantial audience. It has been reported that around 350,000 people log in to the game every day.
Even though this might not seem like a lot, this is nearly double the audience that World of Warcraft had at its peak. Considering that WoW is now available for free, it’s clear that Elder Scrolls Online is a game that many people are actively playing and enjoying.
The Game Is Popular Because It’s a Good Fit For A Lot of People
If you’re looking to make a lot of money in a short amount of time, it’s best to check out Elder Scrolls Online. The game has been designed with a lot of flexibility, allowing gamers of all experience levels to enjoy themselves. And, considering that it’s free to play, it’s probably one of the safest bets for generating quick cash.
Even if you’re new to gaming, you most likely have heard of World of Warcraft. The game is notorious for its high player base and the amount of money that players have been known to make. Since its release, WoW has been credited with creating the modern-day MMO (massively multiplayer online) industry. Because the game is available for free and there’s no premium content, it’s clear that many people have found this game to be a good fit for their needs. And, considering that there’s no limit to the amount of content that can be generated through gameplay, it’s not hard to understand why.
Player-Generated Content
Player-generated content is a large part of the appeal of Elder Scrolls Online. Much like World of Warcraft, the bulk of the content in the game is produced and defined by the players themselves. There’s no set formula for level or item creation, allowing the game to retain a largely consistent feel from player to player. As a result, new content tends to appear frequently, with many dungeons and raids becoming outdated almost as soon as they are released.
This content creation can also be a form of monetization, as gamers are encouraged to spend their time producing content for other players to enjoy. The more efficient this system is, the more content can be generated while circumventing the need to resort to traditional monetization methods. While the game does have a marketplace and regular content updates, these aren’t necessary for generating content. Players can also gain reputation through positive contributions to the community. In turn, this can lead to earning additional perks without needing to spend real money in the game.
The Dark Arts Are Back
One of the defining features of Elder Scrolls Online is its emphasis on magical prowess. The game heavily favors a strong theme of sorcery and spellcasting, infusing the genre with a distinctly RPG (role-playing game) twist. If you’re a fan of the classics like Neverwinter Nights or The Elder Scrolls, you’re in for a treat.
The main draw of the game is its dark arts training. While it might not sound like classic, old-school roleplaying, the reality is that this aspect of the game has a lot of nostalgia wrapped up in it. Characters can specialize in certain schools of magic, allowing them to learn new spells and use existing spells more efficiently. The game also includes a lot of creatures, both good and bad, whose attacks deal enhanced damage if the enemy is wearing armor. This is an attempt to make the player feel a closer connection to the battles that occur in the game. It is also one of the main reasons why the game has been compared to Diablo III, as the darkness theme carries over well into the game’s presentation of evil and demonic forces.
What About Character Development?
While many people were initially intrigued by the game’s focus on character creation, it quickly became clear that this was no ordinary mass-market PC game. It was developed by one of the most experienced teams in the industry and, for the most part, characters are well-defined and memorable. This is in large part thanks to the game’s author, Richard Garriott, who served as the creative director for the game. In an effort to make the most out of the formula, Garriott has designed a number of interesting characters whose distinct story arcs and well-developed personalities allow them to stand out among the game’s crowd of archetypes.
Some of the game’s most memorable characters include Ikora: The Night Mother, who is an undead warrior; the game’s founder, Tiberious Square, who is a jaded and sarcastic mage; and Ozzie Ossoms, a dwarf alchemist. Each one of these characters has an interesting spin on magic, which enables them to stand out among the game’s huge cast of other magical beings. And, as a bonus, these characters also provide the game’s more comedic moments, making them popular among the game’s viewers. While there are many memorable characters, it’s also important to note that many of the game’s inhabitants are simply there to serve as cannon fodder for the player’s army of demons and skeletons. And, given the game’s emphasis on dark magic, it’s only fitting that most of these creatures are outright evil.
What About Graphics And Sound?
Elder Scrolls Online is a massive game, especially for an MMO. It was originally released for the PC and Mac in April of this year and, at a peak, was occupying over 4.5GB of RAM. While it’s not always the case with large games, those who have played it report that the graphics are serviceable at best and often underwhelming. This is primarily due to the game’s reliance on the Unity engine, which was originally designed for mobile devices. It lacks in the graphics department, especially when compared to games like Diablo III or The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. Still, it’s important to remember that this was originally meant to be a free game, intended for audiences primarily located in countries with low internet accessibility. As a result, it has to make do with what it has, rather than what it wants.
The sound in the game is mostly functional, relying on MIDI (musical instrument digital interface) files to play music. This might not sound like it, but, considering how large the game is, this is essentially all that is available. Like with the graphics, this is definitely not what you would consider high-quality audio. Even still, it’s quite playable and some fans of the genre have praised the overall sound design. In a perfect world, the game would probably feature full soundtracks and an immersive, 3-D spatial sound that would place the listener right in the middle of the action. But, given that this is an early access game with no plans for expanding the sound design, it might be best to just enjoy what you have.
Mapping And Collecting Mature Humor
Elder Scrolls Online is more than just a game; it’s a lifestyle. This is largely thanks to developer ZeniMax and its founder, Roy Doty. In an effort to make the most out of the game, Doty went above and beyond, mapping out every inch of the game world and lovingly crafting a living, breathing universe. This led to ZeniMax being awarded the prestigious DOUBLE12 prize for game design. Many of the game’s environments are a sight to behold, with intricate detail and a wonderful sense of color. The level of detail is such that it feels like you’re right there, experiencing the action yourself, which is quite the accomplishment for a mobile device game.
While much can be said about the attention to detail present in the game, it’s worth noting that the vast majority of this environment was designed, mapped, and crafted by one person: Roy Doty. In a recent interview with IncGamers, Doty stated that he spent over 350 hours designing and crafting the game’s environments. Even today, some of these environments still aren’t finished and additional work is needed to bring them to their full potential. This is further indication of how much effort went into making the game as good as it can be. And, for those looking for a little extra motivation, Doty also offers a behind-the-scenes peek at how the game was made, detailing the arduous task of mapping and designing the environments. This is quite the accomplishment, especially for someone who had never worked on such a large project before and was more than a little overwhelmed by the task.
A Whole New Way To Play
While many people enjoy playing MMOs regularly, it’s not exactly the same as attending a live sporting event. With the click of a button, you can join the action and immerse yourself in the unfolding story, regardless of whether you’re a fan of the genre or not. In regard to this, some have praised Elder Scrolls Online for being a breath of fresh air, introducing a whole new way to play an MMO.