Why does a single-player PC game  like TES, with a beginning and and end, still  manage to captivate players  for houndreds of hours?

Many reasons, of course. But a very big one:

 

Modding

 

....let's face it, the all Elder scrolls games are pretty damn good as-is...but they have always benefited from the additions brought buy the player base. Sure, some of the mods created are pretty bad and quite side....but some of them really add to the game. Pack horses, better characters, new missions,  better weather, food and rest requirements....the list goes on.

 

how many players here depend on the Mods to enhance their enjoyment of TES games......and how might there abcense impact the overall  enjoyment of TESO...knowing that, if there is a feature you wish added or altered....this time around...it's just not going to be possible?

Well more people played skyrim on consoles than pc, and they don't have steamworks.

Originally posted by ShakyMo
Well more people played skyrim on consoles than pc, and they don't have steamworks.

This. Skyrim sold significantly more on consoles. Hell, even on PC most of my friends who played Skyrim did not use any mods at all. I think you are overstating the significance of modding to the general populace, it's good yes, but not significant.

Originally posted by ShakyMo
Well more people played skyrim on consoles than pc, and they don't have steamworks.

That's simply because the console market is much larger.  I'd be curious to see how many are still playing on consoles vs. pc today.  I doubt there is a meaningful way to determine it, but I'd bet on PCs outliving the console crowd due to mods vs finishing the story and being done.

I think TESO will live up to the spirit of TES.  I also think it was a good move to set it so far back in the history of the lore so there is tons of ground to cover - as story will be the main crutch they'll need to keep people enthralled and feeling like they're in a TES universe because outside of that its standard MMO fare (as far as seen to date).

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Originally posted by ShakyMo
Well more people played skyrim on consoles than pc, and they don't have steamworks.

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/thread

just to add to that, there are many more people who play ES games on console than PC and even more still that do not consider moding a huge part of the game.

moding is cool but this games future success will not make or break by the fact there is not moding.

I played Skyrim on PC for a year before I added any mods to it. I think TESO will do just fine without them.

Who knows what they will do.  Maybe they will take the Blizzard route and allow certain addons.  I have my doubts because so few companies actually do that, but it is always an option that is on the table until the developers say it isn't.  I have faith in Zenimax Online studios to deliver a decent game.  Thats all we can really do right now.

I always play gemes through without mods then pull em out later between good new games and mod the hell out of em and play it is great that way. Two games for the price of one.

Well what do mods do?

To me when I modded Oblivion, Skyrim and such it added replayability.  More items, enemies, locations, crafting, quests, NPCs, improved graphics.

 

But... all those things are MMORPG's usual additions, in the forms of DLC, Content Packs, Expansions and such.

So no modding, but the things modding add

 

Edit: Also, are Skyrim and Morrowind and Oblivion Elder Scrolls titles?  because you can't mod them on consoles.  So that means they aren't really an Elder Scrolls title right?

modding is great but I've played all those hours without mods so I think it adds to the game but doesn't define it.

Modding is lame, I thought you were gonna say something good like Pause.

Originally posted by Fearum
Modding is lame, I thought you were gonna say something good like Pause.

Pause is good.  Wait is good too.

"Holy crap did you see the sun just start whipping across the sky repeatedly?!"

"Yeah, happens a lot whenever someone needs to heal out of combat and doesn't have potions"

 

Edit: Pause would be more...

"Hey wtf.  Guys I'm lagging!  Damnit I can't move at all, nothing is casting!  WTF!"

"Dude, chill, some player is probably just using the bathroom and was fighting."

*three hours later*

"Are you sure this isn't lag?"

"Yeah, but it might be trolling."

The reason it works so well is because it's so open ended, what you want, when you want, how you want.

Originally posted by Bl4ck3nD
The reason it works so well is because it's so open ended, what you want, when you want, how you want.

"Freedom" in an MMO, often attributed to sandbox style games, can be a huge draw.

I would have hoped that any concessions made to fit an Elder Scrolls title into an online multiplayer experience would have incredible player freedom.

Originally posted by revy66

Originally posted by ShakyMo
Well more people played skyrim on consoles than pc, and they don't have steamworks.

This. Skyrim sold significantly more on consoles. Hell, even on PC most of my friends who played Skyrim did not use any mods at all. I think you are overstating the significance of modding to the general populace, it's good yes, but not significant.

 So then why not they release it on consoles then.

Modding may not make a game good but its what brings players back to it.

Again, again, and again its been shown that player retention is what keeps an mmo going.  While I have no doubt TESO will sell.  I have yet to see anything about thats going to keep players on or coming back.  People will put in their 100 hours look around asking for more.  In past TES games modding fixed that(for the pc anyway).  TESO being a mmo means modding will be a no no. So without sandbox elements the only thing that will bring players back is frequent FREQUENT content patchs.

 

I love the mods and the ability to customize Elder Scrolls games, one reason I wont be buying/playing TESO.  Unless they go with a BTP model or maybe a FTP model down the line.

that's the least of it's problems. what are all you going to do when you can no longer deny that outside of some features shared with DAOC....TESO's defining gameplay features are 1:1 copied from both guild wars games? what will happen then with the way this site leans?

Skyrim would have been unplayable without the Macho Man Randy Dragon Mod:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bifmj1O3D24

Originally posted by maddog15a

Originally posted by revy66

Originally posted by ShakyMo
Well more people played skyrim on consoles than pc, and they don't have steamworks.

This. Skyrim sold significantly more on consoles. Hell, even on PC most of my friends who played Skyrim did not use any mods at all. I think you are overstating the significance of modding to the general populace, it's good yes, but not significant.

 So then why not they release it on consoles then.

Modding may not make a game good but its what brings players back to it.

Again, again, and again its been shown that player retention is what keeps an mmo going.  While I have no doubt TESO will sell.  I have yet to see anything about thats going to keep players on or coming back.  People will put in their 100 hours look around asking for more.  In past TES games modding fixed that(for the pc anyway).  TESO being a mmo means modding will be a no no. So without sandbox elements the only thing that will bring players back is frequent FREQUENT content patchs.

 

isnt that what an mmo does though trhough patching.  makeing new gear, new missions changing the way things look.

I wouldn't want to see the kind of modding that's done for Skyrim in any MMO I play.