I dont know the details as i wasn't TES hooked back then, i think it was either during the creation of morrowind, or oblivion, one of the older forum members could probably help in that, anybody here got any ideas?

All I can think of is that Bethesda trademarked Oblivion in 1995, let it expire, but then renewed it again in 2003, 3 years before release. There could be something else, but I'm not aware of it.

After Daggerfall had been released gamesas's website laid out the games they wanted to develop for The Elder Scrolls way into the future. They were already talking about Morrowind (this was around 1997 or 1998), and then they wanted to do a game after Morrowind that was like a RPG/RTS hybrid whereby the player would not only have a traditional single player quest, but take part and/or control huge armies against an enemy force. Obviously this was the kernal of Oblivion, but it never happened as first conceived. I wish I would have been able back then to somehow archive their old pages. Back in the late 90's they would talk a lot more at length about what they wanted to do and where they intended to go. They had no problem projecting to their audience where they might want to take the Elder Scrolls. Right around this time, however, Todd Howard went from being a lead programmer to being The Man. I think Mr. Howard prefers to keep his cards much tighter to his chest now.

Well, it is kinda good thing from their position. They would now have to deal with "RTS/RPG will ruin TES forever" for around one year instead of seven.

Ha, ya. Every developer is different. Some game companies have a literal online newsletter where the website folks act as the liasson between the players and the developer throughout virtually the entire project; fans send in questions, and then they choose which ones to answer and which ones to ignore. It's probably a double edged sword though. On the one hand, it leaves a lot less speculation, and on the other, whole segments of the gaming population will write the game off, and not buy it since they already know which one of their deal-breakers is in the game before it's ever published. A lot less money will be made unless you can con as many people as possible into thinking it's all things to all people, which is where I think Oblivion came from. RPG veneer, but mostly medieval action.

On the bioware forums, the developers frequently enter discussion in the forum, which is kind of cool. I understand that was once something bethesda did as well, don't know why they would stop though. I got a feeling it has something to do with the ever burning flamewars between games.

That was a huge factor, a moderator on the forums told me until oblivion's release the developers were actually quite active on the forums, then the more egotistic modders (mod makers, not moderators) decided to step-up and claim a bigger piece of the pie to themselves, some started talking as if they were the ones who made the TES series in the first-place, they started demanding the construction kit, making sarcastic comments like how they fix the real bugs of the game (unofficial patches) and how they were the ones that were really behind TES games. It is understandable why the developers started to slink into the shadows after that ordeal. Maybe one day they'll forgive the forums for what some did before, but right now, i bet they're wondering whether we deserve it anyway. -_-

On a lighter note, this might actually be an incentive for them to make an awesome game for the next TES, and maybe they will one day become active on the forums, who knows ^_^

I see, damn, I really want things to go back to that, I'll furiously stand up for them if I have to, if they ever come back on the forums. People always influence and understand each other best, "face to face" so to speak.

I think it's because Bethesda's developers had given out early information about Oblivion on forums and talked about things that never ended up in the final game. Some nerds felt cheated/lied to and that's why Bethesda won't discuss a game until its later stages of development.

yeah I can imagine, as far as I know, Oblivion was intended to be a lot more than it is.

I believe I know a saying which fits to this: "Don't sell the fur before shooting the bear".

Considering peoples manners online I wouldn't want to talk to us either if I was a dew.

Damn, that's a much cooler saying than the typical English equivalent: "Don't count your chickens until they hatch."

Counting chicken eggs just isn't as hardcoe as hunting bears... unless you work for Greenpeace I suppose.

And although I agree with all these sentiments about not promising too much (I'm looking at you, Peter Molyneux) that's not what most of us are asking for. All we'd like is confirmation as to whether this 'next big game' is TES:V or not. I'd rather not be getting my hopes up for another TES installment just to be let down with a new IP instead. Even if the new IP does end up rocking my socks, i'd rather not get in the mood for more TES if it isn't coming. An announcement about which game is being made, without any info on advanced AI, graphics, locations and lore, is a fur they can definitely sell. And one i'd gladly take off their hands.

Havent heard much from Ausir lately, wonder what hes working on, eh?

Wasn't he banned for a while? but what has that to do with anything?

well gamesas got lots of flaming straight after OB, and while making it i know id be kinda mad at the community if i were them

Has everyone forgotten that the existence of the Shivering Isles was outright denied until, like, a month before its release?

They're probably just lying to us so they can keep it secret. Betcha they've got enough already for a decent presentation if they felt like it, but are waiting until the game feels more finalized.

Edited:

That general formula can be applied to pretty much everything post-Morrowind. Bethesda's official policy became "Deny everything even up to a minute before announcement."

Not many game companies do that and I like it , makes the hype not affect as much.

I for one would buy a bethesda game if it was a rts about farming goats in space, because I know two things,
1: THat game would be a hundred hours long,
2: Bethesda gives birth to awseme by touching it.

Well, there is always the internet archive if you want to look up old web pages
At the beginning of 1998, they already had a page about morrowind. Unfortunately that page itself is not archived. You can find a page about tes from January 1998 http://web.archive.org/web/19980125231603/www.gamesas.com/tes/index2.html

Yeah Im really getting sick of the misinformation.

Misinformation? We've received no information, and personally I kinda like it that way. It's done when it's done; until then it's fun to speculate and make suggestions.

You really can't win. Head over to Blizzard forums and see people bemoaning the huge time span between announcement and release.

Come here and find the opposite. The grass truly is always greener.

Well then at keast we'd have something to speculate ABOUT.

Are you saying you don't want to hear about the game until it is completely finished and will hit the shelves in a month?

Because I personally love just knowing that this game will come out (that is why I want an announcement) because the anticipation waiting for the game is amazing! Even if it is 2 years from now.