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Elders Scroll V: Skyrim

Nope, this is shaping up to be better than anything we have ever seen before by Bethesda for Elder Scrolls.

This is a link to every piece of material released by Bethesda on Skyrim - its updated regularly!

GameInformer Presents THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM

It includes interviews with the concept artists, sound designers and Todd howard himself. Also some early screenshots. Cant wait for November!!
 
I'm glad they're using Jeremy Soule for the music again.

Jeremy Soule is genius. The music he wrote for Icewind Dale is the most beautiful and haunting game score I've ever heard... and I've heard a lot of them.
 
Here are some of the first screenshots of Skyrim:

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That looks pretty friggin' awesome, though they haven't done as much with the graphics as I expected, they're still rather Oblivion-esque.
 
That looks pretty friggin' awesome, though they haven't done as much with the graphics as I expected, they're still rather Oblivion-esque.

I think they have definitely improved the graphics since the last game and thats partially thanks to the fact that they are now using high resolution textures on everything, including the NPC's. Also, the detail is immense. They have focused more on the technology though, by introducing new things such as better physics and environments, weapons, interactions and above of all, Radiant Story technology. The game engine is also new and the AI has been significantly expanded on. The game director Todd Howard actually said that they spent 2+ years designing and programming the Dragons alone. The environment also interacts with the wind and rain and they have changed the technology they used to generate the tree's with (thank god).

Considering the fact that there hasn't been a new hardware cycle for a few years and there wont be for another number of years to come, the graphics are more or less as good as it comes for this generation of hardware for a game of this magnitude.
 
Blog by Todd Howard, Game Director and Producer at Bethesda Game Studio's:

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Right after we finished Oblivion in 2006, the team at Bethesda Game Studios dove full steam into making Fallout 3. But we did put down a few ideas on paper about what we’d do after Fallout, and that would be Skyrim, featuring the return of dragons to the Elder Scrolls. We usually start with an overall tone of the game. And Skyrim spoke to all of us. The original home of men: rugged, weathered. The ancient power of the Nords would come to life through their shouts. You would battle with dragons, using their language, and become the one thing they fear: Dovahkiin, the Dragonborn. Five years later and we’re excited to finally share some of this vision as it comes to life on the screen.

Like you, we’re fans as well. We simply make the game we’d love to play. The game we’d book vacation time to play. And like you, we’ve waited a long time to see the Elder Scrolls return. Fallout 3 was an amazing experience for us and we learned a lot. In some ways, Skyrim is both our follow up to Oblivion, and our follow up to Fallout 3. Each time we strive to improve on the style of game we enjoy; one where you can be who you want, and do whatever you want.

To do that this time, we knew, like before, we had to start over. We needed to reinvent large parts of the game and its technology. We started with the graphics renderer, and how we would bring the scale of snow covered mountains, dynamic weather systems, and massive dragons to life along with the small details of how people lived; from the forks they used, to the fish they caught, and the meat they cooked. We then rewrote all the major graphics and gameplay systems including lighting, shadows, level of detail, animation, interface, scripting, dialogue, quest systems, melee, magic, and more. All of those changes made it into our internal editor as well. So much had changed that we decided to call the engine and editor by a new name, the Creation Engine and the Creation Kit. We can't wait to see what all the brilliant mod makers do with these tools.

All of this is done to bring epic fantasy to life in a game unlike we've done before. We try to improve each game we do, but we also try to make each stand on its own. For whatever the year, be it 1994 with Arena or 2011 with Skyrim, we try to create something that feels like you're experiencing The Elder Scrolls for the first time, a game that brings to life a new world on your screen, fueling your own imagination with possibility.

I can remember directing Morrowind with the exact same goal, but with a team of 40, which seemed enormous in 2000. And again directing Oblivion and a team of 60 people for the next four years. This time we're up to 100 people. We've added some amazing new talent. We also have the bulk of our original team. People I've been lucky enough to call my coworkers and friends for over a decade. Our Lead Programmer Guy Carver worked with me since Redguard. Our Lead Designer Bruce Nesmith and Co-Lead Designer Kurt Kuhlmann since Daggerfall. Production Director Ashley Cheng was here for Redguard, left, and came back for Morrowind. Lead Artist Matt Carofano has had that role on TES since Morrowind. Lead Producer Craig Lafferty joined us for Oblivion after working at Epic on Unreal and Unreal 2. Audio Director Mark Lampert has worked his one-man magic here since Oblivion. And there are so many more. Across the board, new and veteran, the talent, expertise, and hard work of this team still inspire me. We're all incredibly thankful to be given the opportunity to make a game like this.
Lastly we want to thank all of you, the fans, who have kept the Elder Scrolls alive for the last 17 years. You’ve supported us by buying our games, but it’s not just that. It’s that you spread the word. You still make mods and download others’. You discuss the lore, your characters, and your adventures. You give us endless feedback and inspire us all to make something special.

We hope to return that support and make a game that everyone can share, get lost in, and be proud of.

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Love that guy, wish i could meet him.

Here is a free Skyrim wallpaper for your desktop: http://www.elderscrolls.com/skyrim/downloads/

Here is a link to Todd's blog: http://www.elderscrolls.com/community/welcome-back-elder-scrolls/
 
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When has Bethesda ever failed us? :mrgreen:
 
I hope they get rid of the cumbersome inventory system and implement some sort of paper doll interface so you can actually see which of your item slots are empty, but I'm sure I'll get the game regardless.
 
When has Bethesda ever failed us? :mrgreen:

Well, Oblivion was a definite step down from Morrowwind, and Fallout 3 was not even nearly as good as the first games in the series. Neither was a bad game, but not as good as they should have been. Making them for consoles as well as PCs is a good move financially, but really limits game quality and complexity.
 
Well, Oblivion was a definite step down from Morrowwind, and Fallout 3 was not even nearly as good as the first games in the series. Neither was a bad game, but not as good as they should have been. Making them for consoles as well as PCs is a good move financially, but really limits game quality and complexity.

Thing is, those games had a certain quality to them that where lost when they where changed to adapt to new technology. I suppose if somebody was to remake Icewind Dale there would be elements that could never match up to the original......but point is, it would be still far more engaging and realistic than any classical version could ever be. I found that to be the case with Fallout 3. I think they did a damn good job, and they didn't even create the initial series to begin with. I think that is reflected in its rating and the fact that it released a Game of the Year Edition.

As for Oblivion, most people found it too Renaissance looking. It moved well away from the unique and other-wordly feel of Morrowind. I can understand that, in that sense it can be regarded as a step down, but a game that again won over critics and gamers alike.

Lets hope Skyrim takes more influence from Morrowind. If it means anything to you, there are towns in Skyrim (according to TES lore) that are heavily influenced by the Morrowind style. You may get the best of both worlds.
 
I hope they get rid of the cumbersome inventory system and implement some sort of paper doll interface so you can actually see which of your item slots are empty, but I'm sure I'll get the game regardless.

Apparently, the inventory allows you to see your items in a 3D display. Very little known about the inventory so far, but this did make it to the screenshot previews:

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Clearly a UI overhaul is in effect.
 
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In both cases, Oblivion and Fallout 3, the issue is not look or style for me it is gameplay. The gameplay in both cases in no where nearly as deep as earlier versions, was simplified, and the stories did not engage me in the same manner that the earlier versions did.
 
In both cases, Oblivion and Fallout 3, the issue is not look or style for me it is gameplay. The gameplay in both cases in no where nearly as deep as earlier versions, was simplified, and the stories did not engage me in the same manner that the earlier versions did.

I didn't find the storyline for Oblivion that deep either, but the entire experience and the character development certainly substituted for that.
I was so upset when James died in Fallout :(
 
Thanks for sharing this. I want November to come now :( I hope that they revive more of the fantasy style that they had in Morrowind. I liked Oblivion, but I didn't like the Roman feel it had. I really liked the mystery and uniqueness that Bethesda brought when they created Morrowind. The graphics and gameplay look really good from what I saw in the gameplay footage.
 
Thanks for sharing this. I want November to come now :( I hope that they revive more of the fantasy style that they had in Morrowind. I liked Oblivion, but I didn't like the Roman feel it had. I really liked the mystery and uniqueness that Bethesda brought when they created Morrowind. The graphics and gameplay look really good from what I saw in the gameplay footage.

I know digs im really looking forward to it. November is so far away.....i know we'll be talking about how great it is when we do finally get it - im sure the time will fly by. PS i got a new MSN, not too sure if i told you.

Kaya
 
In both cases, Oblivion and Fallout 3, the issue is not look or style for me it is gameplay. The gameplay in both cases in no where nearly as deep as earlier versions, was simplified, and the stories did not engage me in the same manner that the earlier versions did.

I haven't played Fallout 3 much, and haven't played the sequels at all, but I agree that the biggest letdown in Oblivion was the story, and the shallow plot combined with some of the changes to combat and stuff made it seem more like an FPS with swords than a proper fantasy RPG.
 
In both cases, Oblivion and Fallout 3, the issue is not look or style for me it is gameplay. The gameplay in both cases in no where nearly as deep as earlier versions, was simplified, and the stories did not engage me in the same manner that the earlier versions did.

I agree, but Fallout and Fallout 2 are classics, created by a brilliant game company that no longer exists. I adored the old isometric RPGs, and cried when I realized that they were a thing of the past. Unfortunately, the new technology and the immense cost of producing games nowadays means that we will never see the like of the old Fallouts, Planescape:Torment, Baldurs Gate series and Icewind Dale games again.

A moment of silence for their passing.... :(
 
I haven't played Fallout 3 much, and haven't played the sequels at all, but I agree that the biggest letdown in Oblivion was the story, and the shallow plot combined with some of the changes to combat and stuff made it seem more like an FPS with swords than a proper fantasy RPG.

My biggest problem with Oblivion was that the danged enemies leveled up as fast as I did, so at level 20 I was still getting the crap kicked out of me by a damned wolf!!

Also the plot was butt-awful and the oblivion portals were boring as heck. :( When I replayed it, I rushed around to close all the portals by level 7, then sat back and played Oblivion like an explore-the-world sandbox game. More satisfying that way.
 
I agree, but Fallout and Fallout 2 are classics, created by a brilliant game company that no longer exists. I adored the old isometric RPGs, and cried when I realized that they were a thing of the past. Unfortunately, the new technology and the immense cost of producing games nowadays means that we will never see the like of the old Fallouts, Planescape:Torment, Baldurs Gate series and Icewind Dale games again.

A moment of silence for their passing.... :(

We need new turn based party RPGs like Icewind Dale, like Wizardry, like Might and Magic, like Pool of Radiance.
 
I certainly agree!
 
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