The physical CE does contain physical items.

The retail version includes a statue of Molag Bal, an artbook and a map. The digital version doesn't contain physical items because that's kinda the whole point of a digital edition.

In the mail I got there was no *peep* word about that. But good to know.

That is how I feel -- All that I care for, they on the path to became very EVIL. ZOS is not there yet, but they are heading that way. On hand, they did a lot for the fans -- 1st person with hands mode and other hand and more, they did lie -- they said no pay gates, there it is in plain sight, a paygate -- IE is a pay gate for content. They said 100% content, but now one has pay extra for more $$ for all (100%) conent. I do not mind at all the sub fee, but charging extra for content is for F2P games -- ESO is NOT F2P, but a sub game.

But you should be getting the race for free, there is no logical reason for them to charge extra for it other than they want more money. I could easily afford it, but then your telling Zeni that [censored] like this is okay. I'm with you on the wanting to play Imperial, I thought it was utter bull when they planned to not include them, but I never imagined they would have the gall to charge us extra for them. Accepting this as okay is taking a better situation over a worse one(not having imperials), but that's like saying I'd rather eat 5 pounds of crap over 10 pounds of crap, its a less worse scenario than the alternative, but it still isn't a good one.

I have ordered the Imperial version because I have always played Imperial in Skyrim and it is deeply intertwined with my game play. I intended to continue that in the online version. However, I agree the ability to play Imperial and be any race in any faction should be available to all at no extra cost. If they really intended to live up to that initial statement not to give play bonuses just because some can pay more for them. Also, the Rings of Mara should be available to anyone as well because giving me an item that allows an experience bonus is not fair either.

I would have been happy to order a special pre-order edition just for the statue, the book, and the early access. And maybe the silly vanity pet and mount, since they don't offer much change to game play. And I think that would have been entirely fair.

I expect they will probably end up offering all of these things to everyone at some point via other special editions, bonus packs, whatever. It's the nature of MMOs at this point. Still, that doesn't really keep with the whole spirit of the thing.

every one has problems and bad things happen. no one escapes that. it's what they do with those problems and how they handle them that causes success or failure in the future.

when i saw that last video yesterday that zenimax made, i did not see anything about an mmo, what i saw was hype using real life acters that had nothing to do with gameplay.

what is zenimax going to do with this current distrust and trouble that has come from this CE?

Seeing how there WILL be a cash shop in game (fun stuff and services according to them) I see that these are simply bonus items offered at pre-purchase. Everyone has access to additional optional items through a cash shop.

A baseline has been set for the basic bundle. Everything else is optional. I see no real conflict.

I'm more concerned over hearing any new surprises over the price model once more information comes out.

Umm its called marketing. You people act like you have never pre ordered a game before. Every single game offers pre order incentives with in game items . the only thing i find slightly offensive is the xtra race and race unlock for every faction. but i always intended to pre orders simply because i want early access. the level of outrage over this is so unwarranted it makes me think this game community is mostly made up of people who have zero launch expierence with MMO's. nothing the offered will give any player a long term edge over any player who did not pre order.

But thats the thing sir, YOU saw it as hype and nothing to do with the MMO.

Majority of Big name games use live action and CGI cinematics or trailers to build story and promote their product.

Advertisemant industry is supposed to get you interested in checking the product out, not allowing you to make up your mind BEFORE you test it.

I Saw a story being formed a damn good one i want to give this product a try

Wifeaggro stop hiveminding me =P

Yup cinematics are great... SWTOR had them, too

This is the sort of thing that foster bad business practices, just because you've been screwed over in the past and have come to terms with it doesn't make it any less wrong. If anything the gaming community needs to get even more vocal about these sort of thing because it's only getting worse by every release. I have no problem if you personally like being screwed over by companies and money-grubbing publishers, by all means bend over and let the industry take you from behind if that's your kind of pleasure but I'm not subscribing to that kind of bs and more and more gamers are starting to stand up against these kind of practices, thanks to big names in gaming "journalism" and vocal people in forums.

There's no logic behind that sort of reasoning, only resignation to an industry that is digging it's hands deeper and deeper into your pockets while you are looking dead-center at it without even caring? In fact, you think it's OK?

I fail to see how anyone is being screwed though? its a choice of the purchaser to order early and recieve the little fluff items and the 5 days early access or not. what you should be pissed about is big money corporations restricting development teams and forcing them to make watered down trivial games for this mysterious player base they keep saying is coming to MMO's

I don't know what to say... really!
You are either missing the point of this thread (which is to explain why people are upset) or you simply think it's ok when people lie and/or being ambiguous.
If you think it's Ok by calling it 'marketing' just because others have done it too in the past, then... I.... I dunno... do you realize how much we could justify by your reasoning?

Aaah ok.. I see.. you didn't read/understand my initial post. I suggest you do as much before you actually post anything unrelated.

You could make that argment up until his last point, and I am sure he said it like Clinton did when he said he didnt have six with Monica....

We don't want the player to worry about which parts of the game to pay for - with our system, they get it all."

Anyone who can right this moment say whether or not Imperial will be in a cash shop in the future or if there is never ever access to it again is a liar. That includes Frior because he obviously doenst matter in the equation, the guys who count the beans are.

So is there a question on whether, if you want to play Imperial you should get it NOW, or at least by the standard version so you have an option to upgrade later?

So that last sentence did him in. Because I dont know if I should pay now or pay later. I just know I have to pay to get it. Why wouldnt I these other people did, that is only logical. if it is NEVER available again then they got it by paying more, not because they happened to pre order. But even if they did those people got something because theyre here now that someone who might be 10 years old now might in 5 years at the age of 15 not have a chance to get. (that assumes the game is still around then and still sub based, neither of which is predominantly likely). So do I buy a version now for my 10 year old who in 5 years MIGHT ant to play an Imperial?

If this were a TRUE subscription based game you wouldnt have to ask stupid questions like that. He said it himself... "they get it all"

LMAO game isnt released yet and that couldnt be further from the truth.

Still your perspective only. Nothing offered in CE or other bundles is content that is required to play the game. Not playing Imperial does not restrict access to the core game. Playing any race in any faction does not open up additional content not otherwise accessible. These are perks and additions on top of the core game. This is exactly what a fluff model cash shop is.

The only unknown here was information on the pay model. We are now simply hearing more about it. We have options when purchasing the game. There will be some sort of cash shop optional items in addition to sub. If this shocks you then you could be very new to mmos. What ZOS has promised is to not add pay walls in front of core game content. So far this hasn't been broken but to assume there would not be paid services on top of a sub is pure naivete.

How much "fluff" is added to the cash shop that isn't achievable in game is the question but if it does not stop you from achieving what everyone else can do in game then it is not a pay wall.

The ONLY way this mmo with survive is to offer avenues for payment to those players willing to pay more than $15 a month. IF all cash shop-like options do not actually gate in game content then it is entirely optional. You do not have to pay for it if you do not want. Imperials were NOT offered as core race in any faction. We ALL knew this clearly. We knew faction lock was de facto standard but now it is offered as an option. These are paid options and the only thing most are upset over is the part about paying for it.

ZOS only has to offer core content progressing story without a charge as that falls under the realm of the sub according to their promise. Everything else is fluff and they want to make money off of it. This game will fail on sub alone. Even Wow has had a cash shop for paid services for years. They offer far more fluff options now as well and have for a long time. Cash shop + sub is standard for non-f2p games.

I realy dont see an issue with the Imperial Edition. What I do see is:

People insisting that they want a special edition then complaining when they get one.

Thinking that the Imperials will be better than the other races. No evidance of that.

Unique racial abilities are something every race has. This does not make any of them superior to others as far as I can see from my limited experience.

The pre release Special edition / CE is something almost every MMO does before launch. They always have exclusive items and always cost a bit more. Pets / Steeds / Vehicles / Emotes / Unique appearances / Unique Classes or Races / Special garments or jewellery / experience boosts --- these are all pre order goodies that I have experienced before.

This is not in any way an indicator of a P2W game or paywall nor is it an indication of what will happen once the game launches or that ZeniMax cannot be trusted in future. To say that a MMO preorder programme is indicative of how a MMO will be run post launch is a very inaccurate perspective im my opinion. My opinion is based on my experience as listed in my sig.

If ZeniMax adds pay content post launch then I will also call them out on their lies, unless it is a full programme to move to a hybrid subscription system

Armor, jewelry, weapons with increased stats, stat boosters, high level potions, super fast mounts, immunity items etc. NONE of those stop you from seeing content either. But try putting those into a game that wants to focus on PvP and see how they fly. Hell I am sure the PvE 'raiders' would be up in arms. Especially one with a SUBSCRIPTION.

You can spin it and use all the semantics you want. If theyre going to hide behind the kind of logic youre trying to put forth then they can sell ANYTHING in the store that doesnt stop you from seeing the landscape. That is a pretty broad brush.

your forgetting something and this is what annoys me, an Imperial according to the lore isnt exactly a race as such, the imperial army is an army of ALL races in ALL factions that have sided with the imperial army, so basically for 20 dollars more you are being allowed ot join THEIR army, there is nothing wrong with having to pay to prove yourself worthy of joining the imperial army, after all if they let ANYONE into their ranks they wouldnt be a force to be reckoned with for very long, quite honestly if you WANT the imperial army then you should be willing to pay 20 extra dollars, there has to be SOME advantage to a collectors edition, otherwise it wouldnt be bought, now please stop whining in an effort to get them to unlock the imperial army for everyone and just cough up the 20 bux extra, go collect cans at the local soccer field if you need the extra money, meanwhile support the game you love so it DOESNT go free to play within a year. that is what I am doing even though I still think itll be free to play within a year.

Or I dont know since its a frigging video game you could gain FACTION to join them. Novel concept for an RPG game I know but lets try and push the envelope.

Seriously there are a hundred different ways they could have let people be Imperials, ALL of them better than the one they chose. Why did they chose THIS way? Because it was EASY and it will make them more money. The End. That is why it is a horrible idea.

It isnt about the cost, or if theyre over powered. it is the principle and the precedent and that it also flies int he face of everything anyone has been told about this game from day one, and especially since August when they said it would be a subscription based game.

maybe they WILL be offering this option as well to the people who DONT buy the collectors edition but quite honestly this is the FIRST mmo in a long time that has actually offered a WORTHWHILE carrot to its players so that its players buy the CE, my hats off to Zenimax and quite honestly I support the imperials being a CE only item

Ive just preordered...roll on 31st March

Link proof that stat, xp boosters, armor, jewelery, potions, faster mounts than normal and immunities will be added to the cash shop not otherwise offered in game.

You seem to be assuming a great deal without evidence. I spin nothing while you spin your argument toward the worst possible outcome. It is extremely cut and dry when it comes to gating content through a cash shop: when you try to do something in game you are denied access until you pay for it. It is a definition so clear I think even you can appreciate it.

You are the one trying to shape reality in order to match you opinion. We all knew the same exact information about the game and then new information about purchase and payment model that did not fit "your" assumptions you then only express the worse of your fears to support your argument. The only one twisting words between us is you. I merely anylize the limited information presented to us without leaping to conclusions as you are doing.

What exactly are you upset over anyway? Ambiguity? The devs are releasing information about the game slowly. They have expressed why they are doing this already. All we can do it anolyze what is given and nothing more. Leaping to conclusions is what creates ambiguity. Stop doing it and wait until we see the whole picture.

I agree. They should stick to their guns on this one and ignore the naysayers who will then find something else to grumble about.

My hope is that they do not allow the imperial toon to be acquired by any other means later in the game. If its a CE bonus it should be unique to those customers.

I am not changeing my play ideas based on the pre order or CE release details but I will get the Digi Imp edition and will probably play one as an alt later on.