With all the negative press that has been rearing its ugly head in the last few weeks surrounding ESO, I think Zenimax's only recourse is to lift the NDA.

As Evarwyn on last night's ESOTR podcast stated (http://elderscrollsotr.mymiddleearth.com/2014/01/02/episode-94-dont-feed-the-trolls/), they should lift the NDA now so those people who have positive things to say about the game can speak their mind publicly and properly engage with those who have only negative things to say.

No one is supposed to break NDA, but those that do are more often than not the ones who do not care about playing again and are just looking to hurt the game. Going all the way back to worstyoutube, we have seen this time and time again: the leaks are usually done for some malicious reasoning, not simply informational. Then the press picks up on these things and doom-says the game to hell and back.

I think it is high time that they allow those who have positive things to say a chance to speak out as well.

I admit I am not the strongest proponent of the game and I am critical of several things, but overall I love it and want to see it succeed.

There is no more powerful marketing tool than word-of-mouth and I think it's time they trust their testers, trust their game and lift the NDA. We now have exactly 90 days before launch and I fear the longer they wait, the less chance they will have of swaying anyone who has already dismissed ESO as "doomed" or as "not worth it."

It's time to act, IMO, not wait until open beta, not wait another month. 3 months away the game should be more or less in fully working condition. It's time ESO open the floodgates, roll the dice and take the plunge. IMO it can't get any worse than it is now, especially with all the awesome stuff that I CAN'T MENTION BECAUSE I'M UNDER NDA. There is literally a TON of things that I know would make nay-sayers turn their heads and people on the fence go "wow, really?" But I can't say any of that because of the NDA.

What do you guys think?

An addendum: I truly believe that is the sad fact of our current society that marketing is the make-or-break aspect to any IP. How many times have we seen amazing games, movies and other media products stamped out because of shoddy or non-existent marketing, and vice versa, the crap rise to the top because they had huge marketing budgets? Sadly, with the massive marketing budget ESO has, it does not seem to be enough to sway public opinion. That's where word-of-mouth becomes so powerful. If people could post on facebook, or tweet about the awesome time they had in ESO beta, things would get a lot sunnier for ZOS IMO. If people with a positive angle could actually engage the naysayers in debate, things would get a lot rosier for ZOS IMO.

I'd give it until end of March. Seems a bit early to do it now. I do think the game will prove itself though. Even if an NDA breaker disparages the game, chances are the player is still going to try it out during Open Beta, or if not that, if/when it receives positive press.

If they did lift it immediately, I'd probably pop open a question thread and tell everyone to ask away

1. End of Februari. Give the game a month to be shown to the public and get some extra attention to it, while also being able to show of their content in a detailed way. Youtube will do wonders here.

2. I have mixed feelings. I really do think people get put off by uninformed bad press articles. Someone might just be willing to check out some info on the game, reads something bad and decides it will probably not be worth it. Someone who is new, but a bit more optimistic, might feel the need to look a bit further though. Also, once the game launches, if it is good, the news will spread anyway.

3. Beta testers. I prefer to listen to people that can back their opinions with experiences and proof.

4. Haven't played it yet ffs.

i think when the open beta starts.

No, the game will prove itself "and if it doesn't then it didn't deserve good publicity anyhow"

For every negative article there's been just as many if not more positive. So no I don't think ZOS should cater to those uninformed or uninterested talking crap about the game they know little about.

All thats needed is patience and the game will prove itself. Its only 3 Months, most of us been waiting since the game was announced, so a little bit longer isn't going to make or break anything in the long run.

Perhaps, but I am not personally seeing them I guess. Would love a link to a recent positive editorial. I am seeing one of two things: interviews or negative articles. It has been a while since a positive article since it has been a while since any press people have played the game.

The game will prove itself to the negative nancies out there.

Sure, but if you expect good effect (from going with public information) it will happen no matter if you lift NDA tomorrow or 1st April. The difference is that competition will be less prepared for a short time - and not ready with negative marketing, until they can only tell just conjectures. I would be happy for games to speak themselves and prove, but I can understand situation.

Ah that is kind of a good point, gives competitors a lot less time to prepare counter-campaigns, not that those happen a lot but still.

In the immortal words of Ellen Ripley: "I hope you're right, I really do."

We are only a few months away till the NDA will be lifted. Can't we just wait till then? Don't think more negative reviews are going to hurt/help the game anymore than it's at already.

While I don't believe ZOS' only recourse is to do this, I do strongly believe that letting some of us under the NDA speak more openly sooner than later is a very good idea.

If for no other reason than there's still so many people that don't really know what to expect, that all of the negative or positive press aside there are going to be way too many people with the wrong impression that are going to be disappointed when it turns out to be something else entirely. Lets get everyone on the right page.

Yes, that's what we've trying to do for months though right?

But we are ham-stringed from doing so.

------->

Indeed we are, well, the lucky ones who got into the beta are

I haven't seen any. I guess you have to look in the right spots for it.

And honestly I am reluctant to call most anything to do with gaming websites Press. Its mostly just amatures with no training looking to get as much attention as possible by trying to be radical. And it doesn't help that it is aimed at a group of people who only pay attention to ridiculous views since anything short of Over-emphasized fluff bores them to tears in 2 seconds flat.