There's more chatter over a possible Elder Scrolls MMO this morning, as crafty internet dwellers have discovered Bethesda's registration of elderscrollsonline.com.
The website's currently a dead end and Bethesda's Pete Hines says it's just nabbing URLs to prevent squatters getting their first.
Adding to the speculation though is Bethesda parent ZeniMax's recent commitment to MMO development.
Last week the company said it will be using funds from Providence Equity Partners for "future growth, increased game development and publishing, facilitation of acquisitions, and financing of massively multiplayer online games."
The investment follows the formation of ZeniMax Online, a dedicated MMO division headed up by former Mythic producer Matt Firor, whose work includes Dark Age of Camelot. ZeniMax Online's project is currently under wraps but who knows, Bethesda could be loaning out its IP to the more experience online dev.
Hines, expectedly, is keeping quiet on what the MMO is, but FallOut 3's still due for release next year.
I agree - chances are as an MMO it'd be just another generic and crap fantasy grind.
But that doesn't mean it shouldn't have a multiplayer mode. You could have a single-player storyline and either co-op modes or giant arena fights and castle capturing stuff in there that doesn't affect the storyline, but adds a little variety to the game.
MMORPGs killed the single player Ultima franchise (though admittedly the less-than-stellar Ultima X helped speed its death along). Please don't let the same thing happen to Elder Scrolls .
I LOVE the last two Elder Scroll games but I have to agree with the nay-sayers here ... MMO would surely kill the franchise dead imo ... but as Dajmin said ... co-op mode would be something I would sell a kidney for.
Fallout would probably have a better chance of success as an MMO anywho, because it has a totally different theme to the usual fantasy fare ... which is surely already more than adequately represented.
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