Meet the Devs #5 : V - Skyrim

» Sat May 28, 2011 5:06 am

7. Hmm...http://www.brandonbird.com/paintings.html?

I'm sold. :laugh:

They are all good, but these... These got me.
http://www.brandonbird.com/lambertback.html
http://www.brandonbird.com/uncanny_valley.html
http://www.brandonbird.com/halloween_treat.html

**Socrates200x : Still under NDA for the washing machines?

Anyone have a favorite 3D artist? (sculpture or digital)

» Sat May 28, 2011 12:32 am

What does Gstaff stand for?

Truth, justice and the American way.

Do you believe Kanye West is the Voice of our generation?

No, Wes Johnson is the Voice of our generation!

I think Skyrim would benefit from someone who is not into high fantasy. The field is stale, and by no means isolated. Its good to bring in people who like other things and who aren't invested in keeping to a specific genre. Breeds creativity

I agree - what I personally loved about Morrowind was how mundane the magic felt - it made you forget that it was a fantasy game, and made you feel like it was an ordinary world in which magic was normal.

I dunno, peace?

Spoiler

The letter 'A'?

"Take On Me" by a-ha is a given for everybody, so I'll go with "Cars" by Fear Factory.

What, no B52s? Ricky, you shock me!

My question: is the Christmas Number One a big deal for Americans? Who would you like to "win"?

» Sat May 28, 2011 8:50 am

What, no B52s? Ricky, you shock me!

Gah, you're right! Although, to be fair, my favorite song of theirs is "Rock Lobster" which is '78. Let's go with "Private Idaho" (1980) then, another classic!

» Fri May 27, 2011 6:03 pm

Does anyone on the team still keep in contact with Ted Peterson, if so what is he up to/what does he think of the games released since he left Bethesda?

edit: Does he still bug you guys (I'd assume mainly Todd, maybe Bruce) about what's going on in the series? :tongue:

» Fri May 27, 2011 7:14 pm

My parents always told me that I would get square eyes if I would sit in front of a computer screen or the TV for too long. Do you guys have square eyes or did my parents just lie to me? :unsure2:

» Sat May 28, 2011 9:49 am

Hayt leads to Sufferyng.

Doesn't he work in PR?

And why does he need a secretary?

» Sat May 28, 2011 10:09 am

Because I work for Bethesda Softworks, so I work on marketing for all of their titles (not just BGS titles like ES and Fallout). And to clarify, I didn't mean I don't like fantasy games full-stop, just that I'm not typically drawn to high-fantasy stuff. Like I said, I'm very excited for Skyrim, and the gameplay of Fallout 3 has made me want to go back and play Oblivion.

For me, usually when I'm up against a deadline and tweaking the last bits of something to be perfect (or encoding tons of files to go out the next day).

Until a few months ago, it was just me. So I did the gameplay portion of the Fallout 3 E3 trailer, and all of the DLC trailers for FO3, as well as the gameplay portion of F:NV's E3 trailer from this year. I also handle assets that we have done out of house (stuff like Brink's cinematic trailer, for instance). However, now I have one "lackey," the very talented http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/user/649072-sal-go/, who just completed the trailer for F:NV's first DLC, "Dead Money." You should watch it and then http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1149958-watch-the-dead-money-dlc-trailer/.

Killmoms, do you think you would be skilled enough to work at Pixar with the other video producers?

» Fri May 27, 2011 5:41 pm

Valve had recently http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=4130&p=1(and may still have) with certain little game. Does Bethesda have same problem and/or is any countermeasures taken?

» Fri May 27, 2011 11:26 pm

I'm a designer. Did some ancillary stuff on Morrowind, misc. quests for Tribunal, Raven Rock for Bloodmoon, Mages Guild for Oblivion, most of the Main Quest for Fallout 3, and... well, some stuff on Skyrim. Secret stuff.

Can you confirm/deny/comment on the following?

Mannimarco,

Time was split 8 ways in the Iliac, as were we. Akatosh snaked and split, and his eyes looked in many ways we cannot see, shut but watching all the same, helpless. The Walk-Brass collapsed from the rupture, for it was not meant to walk in but one place in one time. Was it in Wayrest or Dragonstar? Or Sentinel, or Orsinium? Or did the Blades take it back to Rimmen? And was its Mantella with you or me besides?

The Jills of Akatosh flew to the aid of their brother-lover, and soon things were mended and we were one again. But not you, Mannimarco. "As above, so below." And what of it, you fool?

But who is it I am speaking to? Is it the King of Worms, rotting in his Barrow and waiting for another day? Or the High Priest of Maggots, thrown away and forcibly removed from his temple? Now in Cyrod's land, I've heard, fighting wars with Traven (an ignoramus as both us know). Or the Revenant Moon, now a god as he wished, though Arkay still flies as ever. He has no Jills, though, to send you back to your pit. Or are you the Lilandrian? Or the Mystic, murdered for his uncertainty? Or the others?

For you are not one of these, but all. Eight Ways, you have been split. The Jills came to you and you turned them off, instead chosing to be thrown asunder by the "rapture" of the Selectives. Doomed to live eight lives, without slumber. But it is your choice.

Translation: The King of Worms we saw in Daggerfall was split in eight during the Dragon Break, and hence Mannimarco in Oblivion does not match himself in Daggerfell in power and character.

Raven Rock was awesome :foodndrink:

» Sat May 28, 2011 8:08 am

Valve had recently http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=4130&p=1(and may still have) with certain little game. Does Bethesda have same problem and/or is any countermeasures taken?

No countermeasures are in place at all,

. We had a bunch of us into it not long after it Valve was overtaken. Interest has died down as of late, but I have a feeling that with Minecraft being the kind of game it is we'll all be back into it again at some point. I know I'm personally looking forward to the next patch that brings back leaf degradation for trees. I've got a lot of floating groups of leaves in my current world.

Oh, and now's the time to http://minecraft.net if you haven't yet. After the 20th it will be in Beta. That means you will have to not only pay slightly more for it, but you won't be guaranteed "All future content and updates". So, if you want the game, and all future addons, get it soon! You can even buy gift codes for friends!

» Sat May 28, 2011 8:53 am

Can you confirm/deny/comment on the following?

Translation: The King of Worms we saw in Daggerfall was split in eight during the Dragon Break, and hence Mannimarco in Oblivion does not match himself in Daggerfell in power and character.

Raven Rock was awesome :foodndrink:

Just curious, what's the source of that quote?

» Fri May 27, 2011 11:02 pm

What character Class do you usually go with?

What alignements do you usually Roleplay?

Usually caster-type classes. If we're talking classic DnD stuff, Sorcerer or similar spontaneous-casters rather then prepared casters (like Wizards). Which is part of the reason I really like 4e - prepared spell-casting is gone, so I don't have to avoid as many classes!

Alignment is usually along the good spectrum - lawful to chaotic. I have a hard time playing a bad guy <_<

Too any Dev/Bethesda employee: What is your favorite lore? It could be from a video game, movie, comic book, etc. Excluding Bethesda games.

I am a very big fan of Blizzard's Warcraft lore, as well as story of The Longest Journey (and can't wait for the third game... Dreamfall was such a tease). Warhammer 40k lore is also quite good (and I recommend the Ciaphus Cain novels to anyone who likes the setting - they're awesome).

» Sat May 28, 2011 1:01 am

Just curious, what's the source of that quote?

It was a letter from Zurin Arctus to the King of Worms, written by Sload. The KoW's reply is pretty pimpin' too. http://tamriel-rebuilt.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17489 - only Sload's posts are worth reading.

In other words, its a fan's explanation of why the DF and OB Manni's are so different, based on various things we know or have deduced about the Warp.

Tam! RUGH!

» Fri May 27, 2011 7:32 pm

Well, aren't you the charmer..

Don't you mean "you've got quite the silver tongue!" ?

» Sat May 28, 2011 5:00 am

Can you guys list all Elder Scroll curses used to date?

» Sat May 28, 2011 10:08 am

Raven Rock was awesome :foodndrink:

Indeed.

Nice to put a name on these memories.

» Sat May 28, 2011 12:00 am

To any devs who may be watchin, when you played morrowind and oblivion how did you imagine your characters ended up in jail?

Heres my list

Nerevarine: I was sitting at a bar in the imperial city and when i pressed A to get up i accidentally stole an expensive bottle of brandy so they locked me up and threw away the key. Sadly I wasn't a big quester back then so i didn't have the money to bail myself out

Champion of Cyrodiil: Well all I gotta say about that one is. . .well. . .there's a reason why i know what the fine is in cyrodiil for necrophilia.

Oh and i just remembered

Question 2: What happened to Sutch? (and on that note, wasnt the imperial city called cyrodiil back in the day?What happened to that?)

» Sat May 28, 2011 5:20 am

Can you confirm/deny/comment on the following?

Translation: The King of Worms we saw in Daggerfall was split in eight during the Dragon Break, and hence Mannimarco in Oblivion does not match himself in Daggerfell in power and character.

My comment would be that that's an interesting theory...

» Fri May 27, 2011 10:31 pm

For the record, I've had very limited experience with Sload, but the dude may be a genius. And when it comes to crafting and anolyzing TES lore, there's no doubt about it -- the dude is a genius (and he also abides).

» Fri May 27, 2011 5:37 pm

What is the difference between Bethesda Game Studios, and Bethesda Softworks? Do you guys do different things? Are you in different buildings? Does one make games, and the other deal with Todd Howard?

» Fri May 27, 2011 8:23 pm

What is the difference between Bethesda Game Studios, and Bethesda Softworks? Do you guys do different things? Are you in different buildings? Does one make games, and the other deal with Todd Howard?

Bethesda Softworks is a publisher, which means they put out games made by various companies. Game Studios is the one that makes the games. I think they are the same building, though :shrug:

As for the monkey truth, interest is great

You quester guys should come hang out in the lore forum or on TIL some time, we could use new voices.

» Sat May 28, 2011 4:11 am

What is the difference between Bethesda Game Studios, and Bethesda Softworks? Do you guys do different things? Are you in different buildings? Does one make games, and the other deal with Todd Howard?

You know, I really have no idea.

Here's how it stands now, I think: ZeniMax Media is our publisher; they giveth and taketh the monies. We're Bethesda Game Studios; we make-a the games. There are a number of other companies owned by ZeniMax, namely id Software, Splash Damage, Arkane Studios, all of whom also make-a the games. An anology to planets orbiting a sun would not be remiss, replacing gravity with cash money. Well, it might be a little remiss.

I'm not sure where Bethesda Softworks fits in there, though. Maybe ZeniMax was once Bethesda Softworks, but then we changed it to avoid confusion? Or vice versa? Or vice conversa? At any rate, one thing is for certain: I get paid by somebody, somewhere, which allows me to sleep on a pile of money every night. You can rest easy knowing that, Gunmaster95.

In other news, I'm out for the duration of December! Other devs may start dropping out of contact, too, so don't think we hate you; we're just celebrating the holidays with friends and family. I know, I know: get back to work, right? Anywho, Happy Holidays!

» Sat May 28, 2011 6:05 am

You know, I really have no idea.

Here's how it stands now, I think: ZeniMax Media is our publisher; they giveth and taketh the monies. We're Bethesda Game Studios; we make-a the games. There are a number of other companies owned by ZeniMax, namely id Software, Splash Damage, Arkane Studios, all of whom also make-a the games. An anology to planets orbiting a sun would not be remiss, replacing gravity with cash money. Well, it might be a little remiss.

I'm not sure where Bethesda Softworks fits in there, though. Maybe ZeniMax was once Bethesda Softworks, but then we changed it to avoid confusion? Or vice versa? Or vice conversa? At any rate, one thing is for certain: I get paid by somebody, somewhere, which allows me to sleep on a pile of money every night. You can rest easy knowing that, Gunmaster95.

In other news, I'm out for the duration of December! Other devs may start dropping out of contact, too, so don't think we hate you; we're just celebrating the holidays with friends and family. I know, I know: get back to work, right? Anywho, Happy Holidays!

happy holidays to you aswell. and to the rest of the team.

enjoy your time off. im suree its well deserved.

» Fri May 27, 2011 11:30 pm

You know, I really have no idea.

Here's how it stands now, I think: ZeniMax Media is our publisher; they giveth and taketh the monies. We're Bethesda Game Studios; we make-a the games. There are a number of other companies owned by ZeniMax, namely id Software, Splash Damage, Arkane Studios, all of whom also make-a the games. An anology to planets orbiting a sun would not be remiss, replacing gravity with cash money. Well, it might be a little remiss.

I'm not sure where Bethesda Softworks fits in there, though. Maybe ZeniMax was once Bethesda Softworks, but then we changed it to avoid confusion? Or vice versa? Or vice conversa? At any rate, one thing is for certain: I get paid by somebody, somewhere, which allows me to sleep on a pile of money every night. You can rest easy knowing that, Gunmaster95.

In other news, I'm out for the duration of December! Other devs may start dropping out of contact, too, so don't think we hate you; we're just celebrating the holidays with friends and family. I know, I know: get back to work, right? Anywho, Happy Holidays!

Haha that has to be the best response ever.

And I was really worried about what you were sleeping on, but thank god now I know its a pile of money, payed to you by somebody, somewhere, to make-a the games.

» Sat May 28, 2011 6:49 am

Question: Tell me meatbags, have any of the staff yet considered playing through the final build of Skyrim as a Norse God? I do so love to [censored] and pillage.