I understand that ESO isn't by Bethesda, but I'm still disappointed that the cinematics & screenshots I've seen so far reflect generic races instead of the rather defined ones we've come to expect. The Altmer & Dunmer, for instance, look like generic elves from any old AD&D-based game. The Khajiit so far are the only race I've seen where I immediately thought "That's from Elder Scrolls"...

Overall, what I've seen is impressive enough that I'll probably give it a try. It would have to be epic to pull me away from my WarCraft sub, but I'll give it a shot.

Has anyone had a chance to play the beta or see more detail on the in-game character models? Or would the NDA prevent you from commenting if you had?

Anyone who is in beta won't be able to tell you. Just look at the character creation video they released you will realize you can make them all "Elder Scrolls-y" or as "generic" as you want.

Their character creation video shows you can pretty much make them look generic elf to pure Skyrim sharpness features, and most places in between, for me Skyrims character models were decent, but the elves in Skyrim looked way too triangular and vampiric for me, from some of the videos we've I'd agree they look a bit generic, but I'll be making my Altmer a bit sharper looking with character creation.

Nobody can give you information about the beta either, it's best to try the open beta when that launches.

I prefer the Morrowind'esque beast races but when it comes to beast races even Bethesda isn't quite consistent with design.

Yeah if past games haven't even been consistent from game to game, I don't see how its fair for ESO to be held to a certain standard. Besides like others said, just watch the creation video, you can make the characters look however you want.

Just to cement the point:

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Arena:Races

In particular, take a good look at the Argonians and Khajiit. That's how they started out. Humans with different coloured skin. One could quite justifiably cry lore-break from Morrowind onwards.

I'm afraid the Argonians are getting the short stick again. They look like evil frogs (like in all the fantasy, it's a lizard it must be evil) and they get killed too much in the gameplay trailer which means they're not taken seriously.

Can't argue with that! Argonians are the inferior race, I'll be stacking there heads in piles.

Nah, I don't think Argonias will be the gnomes of ESO. More like the Tauren. I think the gnomes ( I mean WoW gnomes) will be the Bosmer.

Like a ton of other people have said; watch some of the character creation videos that ZOS has released and you'll have your answer.