http://www.ign.com/videos/2014/03/26/the-elder-scrolls-online-vs-skyrim-comparing-windhelm

First off I am sorry if someone shared this already but I found it immensely interesting. For those who played Skyrim a chance to revisit this land but set earlier in time in intriguing but would ESO fowl it up or do it justice? This is a video comparing Skyrim's Windhelm and ESO's Windhelm.

From the video I'd have to say that I kind of prefer Skyrim's version because it seems more ancient and also seems closer to what Nordic architecture was when Windhelm was built sometime in the Merethic Era/First Era. Windhelm would have been sort of similar in style to a Nordic Barrow like in Skyrim but in ESO it's pretty different. It seems bigger in ESO which is good but the Palace of Kings seems very different, smaller almost. Before I get heat that it's a different game and Zenimax shouldn't just copy and paste architecture and look from other games I do agree but I thought this would be an interesting debate.

Which do you prefer?

I'd say that I'd prefer Skyrim's version, at least until I am able to explore ESO's for myself versus seeing it in a video but till then I'll say Skyrim's version.

One have to keep in mind that we are NOT comparing sweetrolls to sweetrolls here: MMO graphics vs a Single player game graphics are not equal do the tech reasons.

1000 years, it will effect the look. im sory

Well yes I am not talking about graphics... they will surely be different... that's fine. I am just speaking of the overall layout of the city in the two games.

That was really cool - thanks for sharing that.

Well, Skyrim is set in the distant "future" of Tamriel from ESO. No doubt there should be a sizeable difference in structures, even the landscape, in that amount of time (ten centuries). In the real world, city centers will shift and reorder considerably in that amount of time.

here in my town there was an old rail road track that was over 100 years old. it was removed after a very long many years of debate on the town council. they also removed many of the buildings and to be honest this town looks Nothing like it did in the pictures from 100 years ago. now try to imagine 1000 years change.

Until I've actually visited Windhelm in game, it's hard to say. Going by the video, I definitely prefer the ESO architecture as it seems to give a more viking-style look and feel over Skyrim's version. The impression may change once I see it in game though.

In art style, ESO is a little closer to Oblivion (Bright colors) the Skyrim (more dark gritty feel). I kind of like Skyrim little better, but ESO has been worked on for last 6 years (way before Skyrim even on the drawing broads) Thus, It has more feel for it that reason. ESO does have a mix games also.

Thanks! Great video!

Do you know if there is another one of these, but featuring Riften? It is my favorite hold.

I like Skyrim's Windhelm better, I must admit. Looks really stoic and way colder.

One aspect this Khajiit does not understand, why so much wood in ESO and so much stone in Skyrim for the same city?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae2K7iqx4sk

Yes there is... they seem fairly similar.

I agree as well... definitely more stoic and colder looking.

The world of ESO is not the same world as the rest of the Elder Scrolls Games. They share the same names, and some of the same details, but they are not the same.

It would have been cool if ESO was actually in the same world but 1000 years earlier, but that would have constrained them too much.

It is best to not try to draw a line between ESO and anything that comes "after" it.

Yeah, I agree... Ancient Nords used stone more than wood.

Thank you!

Oh gods, I love Riften so much. Two completely different styles, though. I suppose that's the difference that 1000 years make ^^

I can't wait to get there. Too bad I will have to wait for the 50+ content though

How can you compare a city 1000 years apart.

no problem.

I am waiting to see Whiterun, that'll be interesting... especially Jorrvaskr.

because its started as a forest and then after they choped down all the trees and used them for thier buildings they then only had stone left to build the new buildings later on in skyrim

Wish they would have picked a cloudy day in ESO to record the video. I prefer the gloomier feel shown in the Skyrim video but I'll chalk that up to weather.

MMO, blah blah blah, Limitations, blah blah blah, Not a single player game, yada yada yada

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I think it's fair that ZOS took liberties in ESO. Aside from the games being far apart from eachother, there are a lot of other places like Mournhold and Ebonheart and Cyrodiil that look nothing like their original counterparts. I've attributed it in my head simply to the age in which they were constructed.

Cool video, I like both the versions, though ESO version look to be a little more grandious at some places and less developed at others, compared to skyrim so a little odd but I like it.

Though as mentioned more Stone in skyrim version, so the wood might look more grand but stone last longer so they rebuilt alot of places in stone for the city we saw in skyrim.

thats a Fact! ebonheart in eso looked Nothing and i mean NOTHING like ebonheart in morrowind!

The city is decent enough I guess, the port look like [censored] in comparison to Skyrim. No longboats? Thats barely even a stream, why does it even need a wooden dock lol.

In all fairness, Bethesda initially had Ebonheart on the mainland like TESO but moved it to Vvardenfell for the release of Morrowind. So I think Zenimax can basically do whatever they want with Ebonheart.

Sounds like the City was "moved" during the 1,000 time frame to a new location.

Well, I just remembered Windhelm had just gone through an attack by Akaviri in 2E 572 which only the Palace survived... so what we see in ESO could be a quick patch of sorts.