Developer Zenimax Online recently opened their doors to several MMO-specialist sites, and today, a swathe of the first hands-on accounts of the intriguing The Elder Scrolls Online have been published, as well as a new batch of screenshots.

Bethesda's official Bethblog has a list of the various previews which include Elder Scrolls off the Record, Ten Ton hammer, and Massively, and touch on a raft of topics from seasoned MMO players, such as character development, PvP, and retaining the Elder Scrolls feel.

The upcoming MMO will not feel like the everyday online game many are used to playing. Much like in Skyrim and other installments of the series, every place a player can see that player can visit and travel to. The game is being designed to look, feel and handle like previous Elder Scrolls games but with the added element of an MMO.

Because nearly all of Tamriel will be accessible in this game, the developers have spent hours researching each aspect of Elder Scrolls lore to make sure the game not only maintains continuity storywise but also in appearance.

Items such as weaponry and armor will not just be random throughout the world, but look as if it naturally belongs there. Dungeons will fit into their environments as well, with enemies and items fitting in naturally rather then something just placed or lost there.

Head over to bethblog to get reading, and you can take a closer look at the new screenshots by hitting the thumbs below.

The Elder Scrolls Online is due on PC and Mac in 2013.