Elder Scrolls question...

[Rath Darkblade]

...so now that The Elder Scrolls Online has been out for a while...

1. Have you played it? If so, what do you think?

2. I've looked around, and some websites (e.g. Bethesda) say that it can be played offline while others (e.g. Steam) say that it can't. What's the answer?

I'd much rather play an offline TES game, like Morrowind or Oblivion or Skyrim. With those, at least, you only pay for the game once. With TESO, which is an MMORPG, you pay for the game and then pay a monthly subscription fee.... like World of Warcraft... ugh. (As you can see, I hate subscription fees)....

3. If this game can't be played offline - and I assume that it can't - then what's the next offline offering from Bethesda?

Thanks!

[Tawmis]

Not played it, but since it's called Elder Scrolls ONLINE, I am inclined to think it's perhaps an MMO? Or is it like Neverwinter Nights?

[MusicallyInspired]

Elder Scrolls Online has no subscription fee. You pay for the game and that's it (see the Tamriel Unlimited update). I've played it. I thought I would hate it for being all MMO-ified, but it actually felt like an Elder Scrolls game, though there are changes to accommodate online play.

I don't know about playing offline, but I assume you can't. Really wamt to puck it up on Steam sometime, but I just can't afford $70 right now.

[Rath Darkblade]

OK, thanks... hmm. That gives me a few things to think about.

What's the difference between the Steam version and the non-Steam version? When I got Skyrim, it was placed on Steam right away - isn't TESO the same?

[MusicallyInspired]

Possibly not. Skyrim uses Steam as its DRM whereas an MMO doesn't really NEED DRM, because you have to log in with a valid account anyway. I didn't know it was available elsewhere, though. But I wouldn't be surprised. As for differences, there most likely aren't any.