Bethesda To Have An MMO-Dev Sibling

Gamasutra is reporting the exciting news that Bethesda's parent company ZeniMax has just announced they are opening a new studio dedicated to online games. It's going to be headed by Matt Firor, formerly of Mythic Entertainment. "Firor worked for Mythic for 10 years, serving as the producer for the company's popular MMO Dark Age of Camelot, as well as taking a lead role on all of the studio's other projects. Since leaving Mythic in 2006, Firor has worked as a consultant in the online gaming industry, advising publishers interested in entering the online market ... The studio is expected to continue to take on staff over the next 18 months in order to establish 'an entire MMO-sized team,' according to Firor. Specifics on planned subject and platform for ZeniMax's MMO have not yet been revealed." Fallout's MMOG rights are still firmly held by Activision so ... Elder Scrolls Online, perhaps?

Comments

Re:How Many?

[TitusC3v5]

They said the same thing a few years ago when MMORPGs starting making waves. Then World of Warcraft happened.

That being said, I would drop cash in a heartbeart to play a MMORPG with Oblivion-like gameplay. MMORPG meets first-person shooter. Sort of like Darkfall, but with a reachable goal instead of trying to be everything to everyone. Give me fun gameplay, lots of content, and character progression that isn't shackled by that atrocity known as class, and you'll have my $15/mo.

Watch as they hate on thieves

[QuantumG]

One of the best parts of the gameplay of Oblivion was the thief skills. Any house you want you can pick the lock, steal goods and sell them to fences. Only the best thieves get access to the best fences. There's even a mythology around it: the mysterious Gray Fox!

Compare this to 99% of online games where thieves are universally hated on. The sneak skills don't work. The pickpocket skills only work on poor NPCs and mobs. Lock picking is virtually non-existent.

Virtual world designers hate thieves because they don't play the game in straight lines. They're not trying to get more kit or grind up levels. They're more like hackers, trying to find the interesting nooks and crannies of the game. Using the thief skills you can finish every mission in Oblivion almost without killing a single monster. Fine for a single player game, but how do you balance such awesome skills in a competitive online world?

Re:Watch as they hate on thieves

[Chris Burke]

Only the best thieves get access to the best fences. There's even a mythology around it: the mysterious Gray Fox!

You mean he's a fence in addition to being a crazy cyborg ninja?!

Re:Watch as they hate on thieves

[walnutmon]

I agree... Wow would be MUCH better if the cities had a massive room, and every time you transacted a peice of business the banker walked into the massive room and locked up your stuff. It would be REALLY fucking cool if my stuff could be stolen while I was offline too! I mean, that would really kick ass!

You are full of awesome ideas. You know what bothers the hell out of me about WoW?! I can eat a razor tail pot pie, and NEVER have to go use a toilet. What the fuck is the deal with that?! I want to HAVE to take shits! That would give Taurens an advantage, because they would have bigger colons than gnomes, and wouldn't have to take potty breaks as often.

And can we get some fucking virtual grooming?! How do they reconcile the fact that my dwarf NEVER needs to clip his toe nails... Things like that really ruin a game for me.