The lack of “side content” : Othor Games

» Thu Mar 20, 2014 6:09 am

Hi guys

First: I love ESO and I can’t wait to get this game. I played 4 betas now, and the game got better and better, so one can only dream what ESO will look like in 1 year from now.

But I have a small issue with it, that to say..i have a small issue with all new mmorpg’s, and that is the lack of side content. Let me explain what I mean here, because most would say that … hey…it’s got crafting, dungeons, pvp ect. Ect…..but that is not what I see as side content, but just normal mmorpg content.

I am a SWG vet. So I’m wary spoiled in this department.

There is one reason that I played SWG for 7 years, and could not play any other mmo since for more then MAX 3 month, and that is the side content. In SWG when I was tired of the “normal” game, I would use my time on housing, building furniture ect. And designing ( all for bragging rights of course ;-)

) when I was tired of that I build a lab and ran out in the wild to take animal DNA sampled so that I could clone animals and sell them as deadly mount or funny pets. When I got bored of that I build a shop and sold things I collected or crafted…all displayed on shelves. When I got bored of that I went to see my friends in the local cantina and watched all the player dancers and musicians that gave me relaxation buff’s so I was ready for my next big adventure.

This is but a small outtake of what I used my 7 years of SWG on.

Now I am not saying that ESO should have all this. It’s a different universe and lore setting. But making a TES game in a online universe gives so many possibility’s. Player markets and shops, Housing with trophies from around Tamriel…a Bard side profession, Horse breeding ect.

Wow..sorry for the long post, but I just hope that when Zenimax get’s settled and have time for something more than normal quests and PvP…they will look at “Side Content”

I believe that is what keeps players in a mmo for years !!

Thank you for listening…. What are your thoughts on this

» Wed Mar 19, 2014 9:52 pm

I'm sure that a lot of this sort of thing will be added to the game in coming years. Housing has been frequently requested and I can easily see something like that being added.

Not so sure about horse breeding, though!

» Wed Mar 19, 2014 5:26 pm

I agree for the most part. I think more of these games should strive to provide trivial activities. A lot of what you described; while I haven't experience them myself in Star Wars Galaxies, I have experience in some form or another in other games, and I feel them to be the bread and butter of any game that hopes to achieve longevity. That being said, perhaps we're part of a niche market that's overlooked by most modern developers?

I guess the real questions are these; do these features fit within the confines of this world? Do they take long to implement, and would the developers time be better spent elsewhere? For me at least, there's really no contest; I think these features both fit within the game world and would be worth the time investment of the developers; especially when it comes to things like player housing.

You have my stamp of approval, for what it's worth.

» Thu Mar 20, 2014 6:20 am

Tavern games, hunting logs, festivals, guild missions, housing (in that order) - yes please

» Thu Mar 20, 2014 1:53 am

I also feel it's an "old-school mmo gamer" thing. I so often here people say...Why would you want housing, it's just a boring little vanity thing. But maybe it's because they did not experience it in it's prime (UO, SWG and at some point EQ2).

But housing is just one of the many options for the devs. We all saw the little frog race in ESO (though bugged at the time). and well...small things like that around the world would help. And i know that market shops and stalls would be a dream come true for all the Crafting lovers out there.

I they want to pull together players to form a community they need to make players a necessity for each other. in swg in was done via buffs (doctors, dancers, engineers ect.). Or via special crafts. The best crafters were popular for their great weapons ect. and architects for their beautiful housing objects... the list goes on.

» Thu Mar 20, 2014 2:06 am

That is I suppose result of who was opinion source on PTS server - they invited hardcoe MMO players and at first tried to listen to their wishes. The side content was for sure not on the list.

I also would like to see many vanity or 1% improvements.

The could be:

- making poisons from critters and similar

- making dyes from butterfiles and similar

- housing decorations - tons of possibilities

- pet care - not vanity pets, but something real

- necromancy to build own zombie

I just could write much more plus what others say is ok, will see if it is added, but I think the major update will include Thieves and Justice, then may be housing.

» Thu Mar 20, 2014 7:02 am

YES !!.... a good tavern game (drinking games, card games, dice games) love the idea

» Wed Mar 19, 2014 9:09 pm

I know how you feel. It would be good to play, for exampl,e as a travelling merchant, (even getting xp by) achieving profit, selling goods that needed by cities and/or people, wandering on the roads with my caravan, opening a temporary booth here and there, sometimes attacked by bandits or thieves and else.

» Thu Mar 20, 2014 5:08 am

Maybe an gladiatorial arena too? Ticks the duelling button and could also have stalls for a crowd

» Wed Mar 19, 2014 4:34 pm

And a betting system so you could set up bets for who you think will be the last standing !!!...*sigh*

» Thu Mar 20, 2014 1:35 am

Pre-vanilla. All that extra fun but ultimately inconsequential stuff comes later after paying customers start making requests based on how they like to play (as opposed to non-paying beta testers making assumptions based on what they think they might like).

» Wed Mar 19, 2014 4:19 pm

Exactly - bring it on!

» Wed Mar 19, 2014 10:59 pm

^^ this.

+1

» Thu Mar 20, 2014 3:10 am

There is an Achievement for collecting various trophies...so perhaps they maybe already planning a few things. I agree somewhat with you all, it would definitely enhance the RP side of things no question.

» Thu Mar 20, 2014 5:51 am

/signed