I was browsing UESP for Skyrim info and noticed they had stuff about TES:O up. After reading through the synopsis they had on the game I already feel like the game will do poorly, especially over the long-term. I don't think that it will eat into SE's console sales very much, if at all. It might even help them with players that are new to MMOs and pick it up only to find out it's nothing like the other games.
I have several issues with the game. First off, the automatic max level and welfare gear for the PvP zone. I didn't care for that sort of PVP setup in GW2 and I don't think it will be any better in TES:O. Then there is the use of Phasing to get around players being able to "change the world". Phasing in some of WoW's WotLK areas was terrible, and it was quite annoying not being able to see your friends in a certain area. They state that you can join other players on previous quests and the world will "Revert" back to the way it was before you completed them. This almost makes the whole aspect of the game feel pointless to me. They are also introducing more standard MMO "classes" into the game. They claim that you still have a lot of freedom to do whatever you want regardless of class, but each one still has skill trees. Finally, the nail in the coffin from my perspective, each platform will have it's own individual servers. PS4 and X-Bone will each have their own servers while PC and Mac will share their own servers. They claimed it was to allow for each platform to have a fair advantage in pvp, however being an MMO I have a feeling that the console versions will have KB&Mouse capabilities anyway. I have a feeling that this will make the playerbases on each platform quite small after a couple months. Thank Altana that SE was still able to cross-platform or this would be an issue for us as well.
Having played Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim a moderate amount, I consider myself a middle-of-the-road sort of player between the casual and hardcore fans. As such, I have no interest whatsoever in this game. When I look to play TES games I expect a certain experience, and from what I've read that experience will not be had in their MMO. I have a feeling that some hardcore fans might feel the same way as well. Aside from Lore I don't see a major draw to the game.
I think that the TES world would have been much better suited for a multiplayer system like Diablo or Borderlands uses. A system where a person could make a game from their character's "save" and 4/8/12/20 or so players could join them. This could allow for players' actions to actually effect the world in a meaningful way without being game-breaking to others. If someone in your game is doing something you don't like, kick them or don't play with them anymore.
These are just my thoughts on the game. I seriously doubt it will have a large, lasting playerbase.
Edited, Jun 25th 2013 3:27pm by Wint Lock Thread: Not off topic, but degrading quickly. Sorry guys.