Topic: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

[Quemaqua]

[angrykeebler]

QFT

[MysterD]

 

[MysterD]

From PC World Online...
Matt Peckham's got a list of 5 Things He Doesn't Want To See In Elder Scrolls V.

Peckham has reviewed games for 1Up, CGW, GFW and Magazine, in the past...

[MysterD]

Todd Howard dropped his keynote address at QuakeCon '09.

Don't look a new Elder Scrolls game in the near future; Howard said there are no current plans for an "Elder Scrolls 5." As far as an Elders Scrolls based MMO, he said in jest, "There's always a chance."

[Quemaqua]

So much for doing two TES games this console cycle, I guess.

[MysterD]

I don't know if I really wanna see a TES Online MMO, if that might be what's next from BethSoft -- especially since a bunch of domains for TES MMO's have been taken by Beth.

Ain't there enuff big-time MMO's like WoW and big ones coming such as SWTOR?

[MysterD]

Information on an upcoming The Infernal City: An Elder Scrolls Novel by Greg Keyes.
This hints at when the next ES game might take place.

A book blurb on the Waterstone's retail site reads "A novel that takes places forty-five years after the Oblivion Crisis, which is the story of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion game and the expansion pack Shivering Isles. It partly bridges the gap for the next game, which is set 200 years after the Oblivion crisis."

So, assuming "the next game" in Oblivion continuity isn't a ZeniMax Online massively multiplayer online game, this might be a hint at an Elder Scrolls V. Although, to hear Bethesda's Pete Hines tell it, that's the natural conclusion anybody could draw from how well The Elder Scrolls IV sold.

[MysterD]

PCG -> Elder Scrolls V has a new engine entirely.

Okay - so, yeah - what Engine are they using now?

Id Tech 5 maybe?
The RED Engine CDP has?

Are they using a new home-brew BethSoft Engine?
Modifying the living hell out of GameByro?

[Xessive]

I do remember reading that BethSoft was getting rid of Gamebryo; I think they were selling the tech for a relatively cheap price.

Whatever they choose I hope they focus on getting it running optimally first and THEN release the game.

[MysterD]

GameInformer -> Article about entire Elder Scrolls series development and its Lore.

[MysterD]

VG247 -> Lots of details on Skyrim.
VG247 -> Info on Skyrim's Level Scaling.

[Pugnate]

The changes seem promising to me...

[MysterD]

The stuff MyD found interesting includes:
Dual-Wielding;
Duel w/ NPC's on the street;
Level Scaling 2.0 & "Radiant Storytelling";
Inheritance - sounds similar to what was a cut-feature in Fable series;
Town Visiting - sounds like it was ripped right out of PB's Gothic & Risen series;
Finishing moves - unique to each weapon and enemy you fight.

[K-man]

Those articles were great.  I love reading back story for game series.  It also drives home the fact I really need to give Morrowind a proper go.

[MysterD]

Lower right-hand corner in this scan.
Yes, there's better-looking faces!

[MysterD]

GameInformer -> The Technology Behind The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

[MysterD]

GameInformer -> The Menu System's Overhaul.

[MysterD]

Eurogamer -> NO Class System in Skyrim.

[Xessive]

Eurogamer -> NO Class System in Skyrim.

I'm cool with that. In Oblivion I often questioned the presence of the predefined classes since I could just train my character in practically all the abilities but was limited by the class restrictions.

[MysterD]

I'm cool w/ this, as well.
I usually used the TES Construction Kit for Elder Scrolls games and created a new class w/ certain skills tagged.
I like open-class systems like Two Worlds 2 has.

[idolminds]

Prepare for amazement as you gaze upon the trailer.

Thats the youtube link. But I can tell you right now you're going to want to just download this HD version.

According to Bethesdas community manager:

Just to clarify, all of this trailer was captured on Xbox 360. Also, the draw distance is not faked in any way.

[Xessive]

Awesome. So awesome.

[Cobra951]

Very pretty.  But it's Bethesda.  What elite gear do you need to make it look and move like that?

[idolminds]

An Xbox 360, if the community manager is to be believed. No idea what its going to mean for the PC version.

[Cobra951]

Wow . . .  I guess someone's been really busy on the tech then.

[MysterD]

Looks amazing.

EDIT:
PC Gamer - Skyrim Trailer analysis frame-by-frame.

[Quemaqua]

Looks absolutely fantastic.  I'm all about it.  Now just please hire some new voice actors, Bethesda.

[idolminds]

Notice he said "actors", Bethesda. Plural. As in "more than one".

[MysterD]

Agreed w/ the above two posts.

[gpw11]

Looks great, but I always kind of found the games a bit bland.  I do have high hopes though.

[MysterD]

Joystiq -> Preview.

Things to note:
-- Level 25 looks to be the Level Cap
-- The Map is an actual zoomed-out look at the actual game-world

-- Inventory system is improved

The inventory system has also seen design improvements. Once pulled up, the players scrolls left for the map or right for items, and to view skills, you look up -- literally, into the heavens. Classic RPG skill trees have been replaced with constellations, with each representative of a different play-style and depicting a unique progression layout.

[Xessive]

Damn it, I hate level caps! I like looking forward to leveling up!

On the other hand it might be good to reach a point when I can just focus on the gameplay rather than building my character, like in Fallout 3.

[Quemaqua]

And then when expansions hit, you can level while you play those, rather than having the issue of Borderlands where you simply outlevel everything and the game becomes a fucking cakewalk.

[Xessive]

And then when expansions hit, you can level while you play those, rather than having the issue of Borderlands where you simply outlevel everything and the game becomes a fucking cakewalk.

True.. Although I am suffering with some of the battles in Zombie Island, since I finished the original campaign when I was level 39.. I just hit level 41.

[Quemaqua]

Huh... well, GiantBomb has a different take, saying that there's no level cap though Todd Howard suspects people will max out around 50.  Good article, either way, based on Brad getting an hour-long look at the game.  Which I suspect is the same demo the Joystiq people saw.  Reading that article, I'm guessing they misinterpreted their level 25 statement.  Maybe the meant the game only scales with you until level 25 and then doesn't?  I don't know.

[Cobra951]

And then when expansions hit, you can level while you play those, rather than having the issue of Borderlands where you simply outlevel everything and the game becomes a fucking cakewalk.

That's been generally solved as of the latest patch.  Everything levels up with you after the "Finding Steele" mission in PT1.  In fact, everything's 1 level higher than you until you reach the level cap (69 if you have the expansions).  There are still some quirks, and those are covered in detail on the official boards.  The thread linked recently in the BL thread is the most comprehensive attempt I've seen yet to cover all the bases.

[Quemaqua]

Well... kick ass!  That makes me very happy.  Glad to see it's been addressed.  I wish I could be playing it right now instead of working.

[PyroMenace]

Just read that article Que, I'm fairly excited for this, though I also was for Oblivion and Morrowind. However if Skyrim is bringing all the changes they put into Fallout 3 which from what I'm reading they are, then I think I will be really happy with this. The magic stuff and the battle shout stuff sounds really cool.

[Xessive]

It looks like they've also tweaked a better 3rd person camera.

Ever since Pug introduced me to Morrowind I've been in love with the series!