The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim got a new add-on in the form of Hearthfire just last week but received mixed response from the fans as Bethesda opt to release it early for Xbox 360 before announcing it on other platforms such as PS3 and PC.
The question is, is Hearthfire worth the fuss? Let’s take a look at some of the reviews from some of the top online gaming publications.
“Hearthfire does have a couple fun new features to play around with, but home building and child rearing just isn’t interactive enough to feel genuinely personal.” – The Escapist (3 stars)
“At 400 Microsoft Points, Hearthfire is sensibly priced. At its best, it’s a neat distraction and a welcome change of pace from all of the slaying and looting.” – Digital Spy (3 stars)
“Despite the rugged, rough-hewn aesthetic of Skyrim, Hearthfire ultimately offers all the character and personality of an Ikea cupboard.” – Eurogamer (5/10)
“Should you download Hearthfire? Probably not. It’s not that Hearthfire is necessarily flawed, it’s that it offers an activity you’re probably not going to spend your time doing. If what I’ve described above sounds awesome, then download away. If not, maybe spend your MS points somewhere else.” – G4TV
“The additions are nifty, but Hearthfire isn’t for every Dragonborn. If you want to create a unique house in Skyrim, this add-on won’t provide that for you.” – Games Radar
At only 75 MB in size and priced at around $5, will you buy it?
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I think that maybe you guys are being a bit harsh. Bethesda had an interesting idea, a little rough around the edges as it might be. I’m always in need of a place to put my stuff, and so the idea of building your own home is kinda neat. It kinda immerses you a bit more into the realm of Skyrim. Course I would have liked to re-visit places, see the effects your previous characters had on the land. Maybe new and harder creatures. I trust Bethesda to make us happy, as long as we don’t get bitchy
Right on. It’s an inexpensive little roleplaying aid. Get it if you want, do something else if you don’t.
well for ps3 and xbox i find this ok… but for pc this addon is pure crap sice there is modder that created something like this months before even dawnguard released… and u can download it at skyrimnexus for free… http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/18480
It might be a “piece of crap” for PC… if that mod didn’t suck so much. And I’ve seen that mod, and it does suck. Mods usually do.
Obviously you have no idea what you’re talking about.
I have been a loyal Bethesda fan since Morrowind, but I recently switched over to PS3 after Skyrim released and I feel like Bethesda has slapped me in the face. No longer do I feel like an appreciated customer, or fan of my once beloved gaming studio. Bethesda, you will not get any more of my money. You are all greedy fuckers. Wake up PS3 users!
And I’ve been a loyal fan since TES:Arena on DOS. When Morrowind hit the shelves, they were starting to release it for XBox, too, and there was problems even back then. Did I get on my high horse and proclaim my distaste for this, and the fact that everything after it was pandering to XBox? No, I thought what a good idea this was for them to try and open up into a wider market. As PC gamer back in a day, I was overjoyed when console players got to play what was then PC-exclusive. And I am even more overjoyed that games like Baldur’s Gate are being remade for Apple products these days. When developers try and bring something out for a new platform, they very often run into snags. This isn’t necessarily their fault. The programmer in me sympathises with them; when I develop some software for Linux, and suddenly there’s a distro it doesn’t work on (whether this be due to a problem with repositories or something else), I have to make a fix for it. Try as I might, but if I can’t do it then all I can do is apologise. If there’s something I can’t fix, I get yelled at. My advice to the person yelling is perhaps they should go with Windows or Mac, something that doesn’t have so many variables attached to it. In much the same way, I think some people need to remember that not all the fault should be placed squarely on Bethesda’s head. The PS3 is a great system, with great potential. Unfortunately, it’s like saying, “I’ve developed a rocket that can take people to the other side of the galaxy in 24 hours, all I need to do now is gather a several hundred thousand Kg worth of Astatine to mix with this super high-grade rocket fuel in order to get there” (that’s only an example, so if Astatine is worthless in this example, pick some other super-rare element that sounds right). The point being: It’s a lot of effort for little-to-no reward. While they’re spending time and resources messing around with this DLC, and Dawnguard, for PS3, they could be developing something even better for XBox and PC. You *should* be thankful that they are even spending more time on this and haven’t just said “nope, sorry, it’s just too difficult.” Perhaps I should do the “elitist” thing and simply say that you should have stayed with whatever platform you had before the PS3, since you are apparently worse off now. So, yes, perhaps PS3 gamers should wake up.
So, ps3 users deserve to be made to wait longer than 360 users, and 360 users deserve more than they already have? And since when do huge game developers like bethesda get to just say “nope, sorry its just too difficult” because im pretty sure a GOOD vg developer doesnt just quit in the middle of something.
No one said they were quitting, and that’s because they are trying their best. Their best might not be good enough for you, or others who share the opinion that Bethesda is not being quick enough and has some obligation to them to release it yesterday. My answer to you is this: how about you do it instead. You can’t, and so you must wait. PS3 owners deserve to wait as long as is necessary in order to get this working with that console. Debating that isn’t going to change that one simple fact. It’s not a matter of ‘deserving’ it’s a matter of not having a choice. If you think this is the be-all-end-all, and that boycotting Bethesda will suddenly help your case, you are quite mistaken. And what I mean by spending time and resources on the other two elements – PC and XBox – both are buggy as hell, and have a bug-list a mile long. If they weren’t spending time and effort (that isn’t even going to be well received or appreciated, as is evident by the comment I was replying to), they would have likely fixed some of those bugs. How about his, look at it from a business point of view: Company A develops software. Said software is buggy and needs to be fixed, it also needs to be brought out for some other platform. Due to problems developing that software for this particular platform, things are being held up across the board. People get angry, start throwing insults, and even claiming they are going to boycott everything produced by this developer. This developer, in turn, thinks “hang on, if they’re not going to support us, why are we even bothering?” Bethesda, like any other company, needs to make money in order to further any plans it has.
You seem to have missed the point, I have also played since Morrowind (too young to experience the rest although I have played them briefly) and always on PC, they have given a roughly 30 day exclusivity to 360 owners simply because they got money from Microsoft to do so. I myself will not be supporting them by buying the DLC, I will play it through friends copies and such but will not give them a penny since as far as I am concerned they have received their money for the DLC already. Being a loyal follower of the series I feel like I have been left to find alternatives (which all suck) while waiting for the delayed release. They could have done something about it, but instead let a quick money grab blind them. If i remember right they did this to the PS3 players for Oblivion but for a longer period of time. This isn’t the same as the MANY bugs which to be fair are generally unavoidable at release. This was simple greed on their part. On the other hand, they were right to stop bothering with PS3, have been hearing a lot of developers say that it is very difficult to program and optimize for.
Every other company releases games/DLCs at the sametime on both platforms.. So PS3 users have a reason to bitch.. Not our fault Bethesda has a bunch of dumbass’s
Oh shut up you dick head.
Right on
I agree Bethesda better release both dawnguard and this or they won’t get a damn dime from me ever again
Good riddance. You should get it on PC for free additional contents. Not unless you have problem expressing your jealousy.
*rubs eyes* Alright, I’m awake, I’m awake. Now what were you saying? Oh, well, that’s a terrible idea. Of course I’m going to buy Bethesda games, because I love them. I also don’t want the big wig execs to think that massive immersive RPGs aren’t selling because people don’t like them. What I will do, is keep on giving Bethesda bad press so that they don’t neglect Playstation in the future. I mean, it’s a bit extreme to hold one mistake over their heads forever. Yeah, they shouldn’t have cheaped out on the PS3 port. Yeah, they should stop being so secretive about it. I intend to give ‘em hell for that. But when it’s all said and done, nobody else makes games this good. And everybody makes mistakes, like letting greed get the better of them.
you just found all the bad comments on every site and slapped them into one article…very bad journalism. shame. I wish i could get paid to write some poor articles.
and yes, i am buying hearthfire for the pc when it comes out.
I’m not mad because of dawnguard i’m mad because they should have said they had problems long before our supposed release date for it. The only reason i was gonna get dawnguard was for the lycan perk tree so i don’t really care, every gamer getting cheated one way or the other, but i can forgive and remain a customer for my perk tree and not for some 4.99 crap unless they can make it able to change to to a diffrent type of lycan of player choice like one built for power,or speed, stealth each with unique appearances for its type and abilities that would be cool.
I’d definitely buy this. Hopefully they release it for PS3 soon.
Ps3 is getting ripped off. I so looked forward to everything dawnguard had to offer. Be it crossbows, attacking while on my pony, and vampires. It looks like we might not be getting that! Atleast release this, it’s no dawn guard but at least it’s something.
Honestly, everybody on the PS3 is always in my face about how “their games are always better”, when in reality, the games are almost 100% more buggy than the other games. And other than that, I see almost no appreciable difference between what the PS3, X-Box, and PC can do with games, however, I’ve been a Nintendo fan forever, and have had every system since the NES, but I’m not complaining that the Wii was left out when Skyrim released, simply because I understand the limitations of the system. What I’m trying to say, is that yes, the PS3 users need to wake up, but they don’t need to wake up and start a revolution. They need to wake up, look in front of their faces and understand how games for their console are programmed and try to figure out why certain things DO work and why others DON’T. I mean, for Nintendo users, the best thing you can hope for is Skyrim to be released on the Wii U. Except Nintendo showed every game launching for the Wii U and what wasn’t there? Skyrim. So we’ll see what happens, but if you’re stuck at owning a Nintendo system, either look to X-Box, or if you can afford it, get a good PC. Look into your system’s specs before buying, people. -__-
in yo face!! IN YO FACE!!!!!!! haha. jk man
You don’t any appreciable difference in what PCs can do with games? Especially a endlessly moddable game like Skyrim?! You don’t own a gaming PC, obviously. Consoles are painfully limited, in comparison. You’re not paying attention.
agreed sir
PS3 games only have more bugs because developers have gotten lazy and code for Xbox. Then they port it over to PS3 and expect it to work just fine.
now now children , play nice. heres the thing. if you are going to release a game over multiple platforms , and plan on releasing dlc . you should probably make sure that you can do it , or dont do it at all. plain and simple. cause now your whole company comes to question . can you really not figure it out? multi million dollar company like you?or is it MS slipped ya a little extra to screw us? see the questions and anger that comes from this. its bad enough that there is a constant war between Xbox and ps3 . yours sucks, mine is better crap. but you give one side the edge. now look i am a ps3 owner. all i ask is figure out how to make games on ps3 and give us our owen unique dlc. it is only fair and deep inside your possibly corrupted souls you know its the right thing to do…. good night and thank you
I personally seen the PS3 vs 360 war as a childish argument, I just decide by what games I find better and in that case 360 wins.
or is it thank you and good night. ehf it. you suck bethesda ok love you . bye
Why cant they just figure shit out for all platforms before they move on to some other project? Are gamers really THAT impatient? Oh yeah, Its microsoft…
Bethesda sucks for not releasing the DLC on PS3…
If it bothers you that much get an Xbox. Just sayin’.
I downloaded it on release day and I found the content really easy to access and the quests / building homes kept me quite distracted from the main game for a while. I started a new character to see how it affected my game play and it did mean I spent a lot more time delving into quest lines to try to earn the cash to build my house (usually I just go exploring and dragon slaying). I’ve found no bugs or annoying glitches and it gave me at least 5 hours of extra game play. Priced extremely reasonably at only 400 points I really can’t fault it. I say to all those that don’t like it, you should probably stop playing RPGs because this is what they are about at heart. If you don’t like being involved in all the little distracting side quests or being a part of the world, if you just want to kill stuff and save the world – play an FPS or some strategy games and leave the masters of RPG to supply great games to those who appreciate all their hard work and attention to detail. In short: Skyrim.. it’s still the best RPG of them all and it just got better (again!).
WOW.. They were under-rating it so badly.. I enjoyed being able to build my own house and watching it form into a manor and them moving my wife in and getting a steward to help with the house and materials and better yet having 2 children to look after, It’s a nice touch to Skyrim and it’s like a whole new role instead of being dragonborn.. Be the family man
It’s fun but could have a little more so.. 7/10
I’ve honestly ALWAYS wanted to build my own house. If they had implemented this from the start of the game, it would have been a much better feature. But even now, I can’t wait to get it for PC!
Oh how I laugh at all the self entitled PS3 owners moaning and whining the only reason the playstation came into being was because after SONY spent months building what they thought was a perfect disk drive for Nintendo’s NES/SNES Nintendo took one look at it said it was a piece of cack and told them to go away. reminds me of watching soccer when the fans blame the manager for their team losing instead of blaming the players for not trying and here is the videogame equivalent PS3 owners blaming bethseda instead of blaming the true culprit which is the black box of cack their cheapskate asses bought for free online play
wow you must be an xbox player. easy for you to criticise us. if you where on the short end of the stick you would be moaning as much as ps3 players. so save us the ” Xbox is better” crap ok. just cause you pay to play does not mean you have to power trip us. i never got a red ring of death on my ps3. by the way hows HD dvd working out for you ? MS thinks its a winner!!! great choice
wow cdough i love every comment you have posted here. I have played skyrim on my pc since I love mods and ps3 can’t have those. Wish it could cause I would love to play skyrim in my bed
I play on the ps3 because I like how the controller is a lot more than the xbox. I didn’t get it for the online bs. That’s a lousy retort that we only bought ps3 for online. Ever think that we just like how the consol is set up? Maybe that it plays bluray n any disk yo throw in? Or the fact that it doesn’t die on us so quickly. Take it in for the red ring of death n get it fixed. Then take it in the next week to do it again. Bs. I’ve had xbox. I won’t buy it again. The only reason xbox dlcs came out before us is microsofts contract.
now obviously i understand that yes we should not have to wait longer but i also understand that bethesda is trying their hardest to get us some more content and i have stuck by bethesda and i still believe that they can bring us dawnguard just it will take time and resources
just quit whining about it. I have a ps3 and a 360, I bought skyrim for ps3… my mistake. after having a level 62 wood elf and countless hours of gameplay, I couldnt wait for the DLC. ps3 is buggy with a lot of games. xbox live is better than ps online thats why u pay for it. I bought skyrim for 360 now and i’ll tell you the game feels and looks better and clearer on 360, not so dark. the dlc is cool, but random vampires come and kill useful npc’s at random times. so quit whining about you won’t buy their products anymore. A good game is a good game. And 360 is a more stable system for skyrim.
Hearthfire is pretty good imo, and I am sure they have thrown in a few extra bug fixes too. Lydia is definitely not so surly when it comes to lugging my loot about. Its not perfect, but as a console player its as good as I could have expected. Having my own personal library and trophy room is pretty cool. I think PS3 players should get it, its not nearly as complicated as Dawnguard, surely Bethesda could give them Hearthfire without too much difficulty? After all, we were all, 360,PS3, and PC players promised fewer, but larger DLC than games like Fallout 3 and Oblivion in the run up to Skyrims release. If the PS3 doesn’t get any then they have a right to feel aggrieved, I would too, since large DLC is a feature of Bethesda games and is a primary reason we all buy games like Skyrim, Oblivion, and Fallout 3 to begin with. PC players will get Hearthfire, and modders will almost instantly tear it apart and make it better. And that is fair enough, I don’t begrudge them that, I only got a lousy notebook to play on. I understand the limits of console gaming against gaming on a decent PC rig, that is why I am happy with Hearthfire on the 360, and why I hope PS3 players get to enjoy it, since they do deserve something back from Bethesda.
Look, just because some people don’t like it, it doesn’t mean it’s “not worth” bringing it to PC. I myself would by Hearthfire on day one of it’s PC release, where I didn’t buy dawnguard, simply due to my desire for true roleplaying. In a true roleplaying scenario, there are no limits to what you can do (within reason) and marriage, children and housebuilding is one of them. In fact, my single issue with Dawnguard, which for me brings it down from 9/10 to 5/10 is that children are adopted and not biological. A biological child who would grow given enough time (to an extent) would be far better IMO than adoption and make me feel as though my dynasty is secure. But then I love Crusader Kings 2; and any games with biological children get my money.
least they did a better job then Biowares ME3 eneding I pick this over the starbrat anyday of the week even with bugs
What Bethesda does in last year is just utter. They’ve released buggy Dawnguard, plus now not even expansion but some minor additions called “hearthfire”. They turned ps3 over because of all content goes for X-Box 360 again, and more for by their “Sims” dlc they give no shite for PC gamers cause they already have it all on skyrim workshop. But it’s not even a case that content is present on workshop, that what they’ve done isn’t a DLC even. It’s just a bunch of minor additions, candies for fat child called X-Box. All those content is nothing, without the plot and adventure. Adventure.
You do realise that this dlc was in the works long before any modder made it? Si moratus es quiescatis, possemus vobis videtur callidos. Morionem.
Latin FTW.
I will only have a problem with this if they don’t do a GoTY edition with all the DLC like they have with both the fallout games and oblivion.
I think they should build. It sounds like fun to me.
I think its a great idea, alot of people dont play this game like an rpg. im glad to see that bethesda is making more content that actually enhances the rpg element. great idea, now i just need them to release it for the pc…
I find this really really stupid. HearthFire is not a quest mod. HearthFire does not add lasers coming out of your eyes. Heathfire is similar (more customizable in my opinion) than the mod, yes. I own the Hearthfire mod for XBox. I also own a PC and I am ecstatic for it to come out. Hearthfire in all actuality offers players a chance to build an entirely custom home, whether it he/she be a mage, a warrior, or, the homely type that enjoys a home, not a full out building dedicated to the arts of kicking ass. I built a house. I have a trophy hall, enchanting tower, and an armory. I downloaded whats his faces mod and I got stuck with 3 different types of interior instead of a full on customizable building. Can I have a giant lookout tower placed above a beautiful lake sitting outside my house so I can watch the sunset in the mod? No? Can I in Hearthfire? Yes? It is indeed a yes. The point of me writing this? To let you see how stupid you guys are acting. “Oh! Bethesda copied Supernastyass or whatever his name is.” There is a reason for this mod. To give players the chance to really leave their mark on the land, and have a larger RPG experience. This DLC is not for those who like nothing more than to walk outside and slay a whole town and not use their home for any other purpose but a container. For all of you whiny ass PS3 players, Bethesda is working constantly to get Dawnguard to work, now, you may say “Well, whats wrong with my “superior” platform you PC gaming nerd?” You have 256 mb of RAM. Xbox has several gb of the stuff, 1024 mb = 1 gb. Its a miracle you can even play Skyrim at all. Now, you want Dawnguard? Good. Get a PC or an Xbox. Want Hearthfire? Good. Get whatever you like (not including the Wii. Hehehe, Nintendo messed up there) because everything can handle it. Otherwise, let Bethesda decide if they want to put out a DLC for Skyrim and stop making stupid blogs that are stupid.
Business is business. Microsoft routinely pays studios a lot of money for a month or three of exclusivity. It’s their way of making inroads to a market that was once dominated by Sony and Sega and Nintendo. I blame Sony. Their development platform is a royal pain in the rear because they decided to use a non-standard processing architecture, and it’s expensive to port from PC. If Xbox games weren’t cheaper overall than ps3 games, Xbox would have not made it this far, it would have been an also-ran. But leave it to Microsoft to be latecomer to a big market, and then totally bulldoze it. Meanwhile, let’s hope these touted next gen consoles actually offer ANYTHING that a good PC wouldn’t. Maybe ps4 and xbox 720 will be the dying breath of consoles, before somebody finally releases a good software that has all of this stuff integrated: games, tv, dvr, internet. I don’t get why Apple continues to ignore it. Maybe if they manage to get TV right, they’ll start to look at gaming…