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Beta Feedback Has Changed The Elder Scrolls Online’s Early Game, Combat
Bethesda and Zenimax Online Studios have been taking feedback from beta weekends to heart. In a new blog post, game director Matt Firor explains some of the changes that have been implemented based on player experiences.
Firor mentions that 5 million people have registered for The Elder Scrolls Online beta, with the final scale test taking place this weekend (you can win one of one hundred codes we have). In past tests, the PvP system has been put through its paces, with an Emperor crowned.
However, players seemed to feel too limited by the early game, with options becoming more expansive after level 10. “The game was originally designed that way so that new players were not overwhelmed, and could learn the game before dealing with more challenging situations,” Firor writes. “But because ESO is about choice, we made adjustments to those opening hours of the game in response to the beta feedback.”
The tutorial has been streamlined and afterwards, players will be put directly in the home city of their alliance. Level curve is being tweaked to match.
Another major change is in the combat system. Previously, players could pass through NPC enemies. Now, a collision system prevents that from happening, which is intended to make melee combat more exciting.
Bethesda is bringing a European data center online soon to help meet demand, but Firor notes that lag experienced in the last beta weekend was a bug and not location based. “We will make sure that no matter where you live, every player in North America, Europe, Oceania and many places beyond, will have a polished, lag-free launch experience,” he writes. “Based on the existing number of our beta signups and because we anticipate that the ESO community will continue to grow after launch, we plan to add capacity to keep up with demand in both our North American and European datacenters.”
For more on The Elder Scrolls Online, check out our most recent preview. You can also win a code for this weekend’s final PC/Mac beta test.
[Source: The Elder Scrolls Online]
Our Take
Players don’t often hear how their beta experience shapes the final product. Firor promises a smooth experience, which is probably the most ambitious (and dangerous) assurance to make. I expect that The Elder Scrolls Online will get there, but I can’t remember the last time a major MMO had a problem-free launch week.
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