That's what they say linear means. As the game has a beginning and an end because that's the structure of every plot, it's linear. It doesn't matter what happens in the middle.
Skyrim doesn't have an end. Its main plot isn't relevant to the game, at all. Thinking so completely misses the point of the game. Saying "what happens in the middle" isn't relevant to the main storyline is irrelevant to Skyrim because in Skyrim
everything is "the middle".
Skyrim's "main plot" is not Skyrim's main plot. Skyrim has several plots you can choose between. The only thing the main plot serves as is its first mission which is the game's 10 minute tutorial. After that, you can just turn around and run to Riften and take control of the crime world or whatever. It's not that I understand your/your friends' position, it's just one that's pretty ******** or simply impractical for game design purposes.
And I'm not sure Nintendo has made any proper RPG since Paper Mario 2. Or did they make that Nintendo DS marioluigi rpg after that? Or both of them? Dunrecall.
The problem isn't that it uses fake accents, it's that it uses American accents. It breaks any game immersion, and as I'm told, Skyrim already has less depth and immersion than Oblivion..
I played Oblivion and while overwhelmingly immersive
for its time it pales next to Skyrim. Skyrim's issue compared to Oblivion is not in immersion, but it lacks a few mechanics, things that were removed to make it more streamlined (eg touch magic).
Oblivion was a crapfest of copypasted woodland terrain and boring repetetive dungeons. Most of Skyrim's dungeons are unique and offer interesting stories or surprises. That one in the eastern dungeon with the ghost that scared the locals off to get hold on an ancient treasure, for example, was
so awesome
Their main complaint about Morrowind is that they say none of the characters in the game, even at the beginning, tell you what to do or where to go, so it's easy to get lost. I thought it was strange because I could follow the main quest and I'm rubbish at all games I play.
Hahaha, so is their issue with nonlinear games is that
they don't understand them? "Oh god, I'm not being spoonfed information and shown a big arrow where to go? Game is obviously bad. And linear."
What you're doing right now is just to outline that they can't think for themselves, save to learn faulty logic to defend poor conceited positions.
Uh get off the ship report report to the dude on the dock, go to Balmora and report to Caius Cosades/shirtless dude and then go from there and do whatever you feel like. Join the guilds join houses, steal everything that not nailed down etc... It's not particularly difficult.
Bolded part is why to play Elder Scrolls games.
... Nonlinear.
