I know elder scrolls is traditionally a first person game, and I have no doubt that Skyrim will be great in first person, but I am really looking forward to playing in an improved third person mode. I can't help it, I prefer third person to first person. So how would you want it improved?

My main problem with third person in elder scrolls is the "ice skating" feel. Basically you're playing in a third person view with first person controls. The animations have been limited, so they are the same regardless of the terrain your crossing. It feels tacked on and takes me away from feeling immersed, causing me to go back to first person.

I think two recent games that do third person very well are Assassins Creed and Gears of War. These games also implement it differently, which is why I chose to highlight them. I realize these are both console games and I am approaching third person from a controller/console point of view.

In Assassins Creed the character is dead center and his whole body is in view so there is a need for good animations across different terrain. Also the character's movement is controlled with the left stick and the camera is controlled with the right stick, so there is no strafing. Hold left and the character turns and walks straight in that direction. There certainly will be strafing in a game that also supports third person, so Bethesda would have to have to implement two different control schemes, one for first persona and one for third person, if they wanted to implement an assassins creed style third person. I don't think this will happen.

Gears of War however maintains first person type controls with a third person view. You move forward, back and strafe with the left stick. The right stick still moves the camera but it is locked behind the character so you can never rotate the camera 360 degrees. The character is placed off center on screen and does not obstruct the view, important when using ranged weapons. The character is also only viewable from the lower back up, so there is less of a need for diverse animations across different terrain simply because you don't really see the characters feet.

I think Skyrim would be better off with an over the shoulder, close to the character third person view. No need to change first person controls and less of a need for increased animations across different terrain. It's already been said that animations will be much better in Skyrim, so hopefully third person will look great. I know many cringe at the thought of an over the shoulder third person view, but why? I think it works almost exactly like a first person game, but allows you to see your character. I'm hoping for the best. Sorry for the long post, I'm just enjoying riding the hype!