Meet the Devs #11 : V - Skyrim

» Thu Jul 22, 2010 4:44 am

Keeping with the "ask killmoms a question!" theme, I wonder whether you, killmoms, are able to use your influence in the studio to affect the game in any way? For example, you might be having lunch with a game designer who is telling you about a quest that they are implementing, and you happen to have a suggestion as to how to make it more awesome. Or perhaps you have influenced the content of the game in some other way? I'm curious as to how seriously you guys take the suggestions of your colleagues- is it possible for an artist to influence how a weapon should animate, or indeed for a video producer to influence how a quest should develop? Thanks.

Secretly, I control the whole company. Shhh, don't tell anyone! :wink_smile:

» Thu Jul 22, 2010 2:48 am

I guess so; I can't really speak for the other departments but QA tends to attract the obsessive-compulsives and wannabe-devs. The wannabes, if skilled enough, get recruited into another department, or else they eventually burn out and quit. The obsessive-compulsives - wait I gotta go wash my hands again, brb...

How about one eye and one hand, pirate style? Yar!

Always with the pranks question... no, not that I have seen. Sometimes someone will draw something silly on another person's whiteboard, or indulge an inside joke, or hide their stapler or something but nothing really worth talking about. :shrug:

1. Remember to use soap!

2. Fine, but you also get a peg leg. :pirate:

3. Yeah I just realized how often this question was asked.

» Wed Jul 21, 2010 8:32 pm

At what time do the Bethesda offices traditionally "close"? And consequently, how much much later into the night do you guys work? I could imagine the majority of you never wanting to leave that wonderful place...right? :chaos:

We have people here at all hours honestly. Its really up to them what times they want to be here. Schedules vary quite a bit but the more traditional hours anywhere between 9-6 is what is expected.

http://jeff-vogel.blogspot.com/2011/01/three-reasons-creators-should-never.html

This is something I'd really like to see stickied in all game creator forums. It's an article about why a lot of game creators don't post on forums and it was written by Jeff Vogel from spiderware software.

This is an awesome article and very true. It amazes me how people who are probably very nice in person can at times spit out such venom on the internet because their anonymous. Its disappointing because alot of times ots over something so trivial.

What kind of cupcakes did you guys eat at the celebration of the tests today? I want to know what you devs think are good cupcakes :celebration:

Gerogetown cupcakes. They were really good :biggrin:

» Wed Jul 21, 2010 3:40 pm

Always with the pranks question... no, not that I have seen. Sometimes someone will draw something silly on another person's whiteboard, or indulge an inside joke, or hide their stapler or something but nothing really worth talking about. :shrug:

No stapler's in jello? Aww...

I got a look at the cafe in the walkthrough video. What's the number one food that you usually get? What's the favorite food for the company as a whole? Is there a specific food that they make really good, like pasta or something? Or are the cupcakes the only reason people go there to eat?

» Thu Jul 22, 2010 2:16 am

This is an awesome article and very true. It amazes me how people who are probably very nice in person can at times spit out such venom on the internet because their anonymous. Its disappointing because alot of times ots over something so trivial.

That article may be true, but it's so pessimistic....some people (probably more than those ones who express it) are very glad of having the dev team actually posting here in the forums. It's a very refreshing change from nearly every other gaming company. Plus, we love you

Gerogetown cupcakes. They were really good :biggrin:

What is a cupcake? :mellow:

» Thu Jul 22, 2010 12:44 am

What is a cupcake? :mellow:

Its a pastry. Kind of like a role but sweet.

Where you from?

» Thu Jul 22, 2010 1:07 am

Its a pastry. Kind of like a role but sweet.

Where you from?

OK, now to explain me what is a pastry and a role...

...well, it's faster just to http://mural.uv.es/jorospla/imagenes/cupcake.jpg it, isn't it? They look delicious indeed!

P.D: From Spain

» Wed Jul 21, 2010 4:28 pm

Pulling this thread out of the dustbin not to answer a question but to say that the Arcade Fire is totally awesome and 100% deserved the http://pitchfork.com/news/41559-arcade-fire-win-the-album-of-the-year-grammy/, and that everyone here should go listen to “The Suburbs.” That is all.

As much as I love Arcade Fire, my album of the year was Janelle Monae's "ArchAndroid."

» Thu Jul 22, 2010 5:32 am

As much as I love Arcade Fire, my album of the year was Janelle Monae's "ArchAndroid."

On the subject of Arcade Fire and good music, I offer up Titus Andronicus' The Monitor
That album was incredibly fun to listen to.

» Wed Jul 21, 2010 8:03 pm

Devs, there is some conflict around the forums about the matter of Lore. While some people say that The Imperial Library is a reliable source, others claim that the documents there are not actual Lore, and that the only one that is true is the one that appear in the games. I think you are the only ones who can clarify this.

Thanks!

» Wed Jul 21, 2010 6:44 pm

Considering all the talk about pastries...

What are some of your favourite sweets in and out of the office? Do you guys tend to end up overindulging every now and then?

Personally being a Canadian we have Timmy's, so Coffee and Doughnuts/Pastries are hard enough to avoid in combination. Then there's local bakeries... I'm glad I stay in shape and have a fast metabolism.

» Wed Jul 21, 2010 2:39 pm

Devs, there is some conflict around the forums about the matter of Lore. While some people say that The Imperial Library is a reliable source, others claim that the documents there are not actual Lore, and that the only one that is true is the one that appear in the games. I think you are the only ones who can clarify this.

Thanks!

Well, all of those "documents" that most hardcoe lore folks (such as myself) take as lore were written by devs. Just because something doesn't appear in game doesn't mean it's not lore
(I,e Infernal City is confirmed as being cannon. That's not in the games. That's a retail book)

If I recall though Bethesda considers those "documents" to be sort of lore. As in, not confirmed as concrete lore and yet not denied.

» Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:52 pm

Well, all of those "documents" that most hardcoe lore folks (such as myself) take as lore were written by devs. Just because something doesn't appear in game doesn't mean it's not lore
(I,e Infernal City is confirmed as being cannon. That's not in the games. That's a retail book)

If I recall though Bethesda considers those "documents" to be sort of lore. As in, not confirmed as concrete lore and yet not denied.

Thank you for your answer! I consider it Lore as well. The thing is that not all of it was written by devs; for example, a guy that used to be dev normally writes in The Imperial Library.

Anyway, I would like to have the devs' confirmation. In that way, if they tell me that it's actual Lore, when somebody says "Hey, that's not Lore" I can quote the dev and answer: "Are you sure...?".

» Thu Jul 22, 2010 5:26 am

Thank you for your answer! I consider it Lore as well. The thing is that not all of it was written by devs; for example, a guy that used to be dev normally writes in The Imperial Library.

Anyway, I would like to have the devs' confirmation. In that way, if they tell me that it's actual Lore, when somebody says "Hey, that's not Lore" I can quote the dev and answer: "Are you sure...?".

The way I see it is if they are currently employed by Bethesda it's lore. IF they are not currently employed yet Bethesda still hires them to do writing it's most likely lore (in MK's case for example)

But yeah, I would like a answer from the devs as well just to be able to quote it and say... BAM.

» Wed Jul 21, 2010 6:10 pm

Most likely already asked, but is there a current poll on who can name themselves the worst Nord nickname.

Also how high is the in house turn out for staff looking to try to switch from one department to another.
You mentioned the burn out before, and past knowledge from other none game companies would suggest it can be brutal to many.

» Thu Jul 22, 2010 3:01 am

If you were to turn Skyrim into a rock opera, what songs would you use?

» Wed Jul 21, 2010 8:07 pm

WILL EVERYONE STOP TALKING ABOUT CAKE???

:flamethrower:

I don't have any cake.

I have cake! I'll give it to you if you complete some tests for me! What's that; You finished your tests? Well the cake is in this flaming room!

bliviongate:
You made it out? Well, I guess I should tell you...

Spoiler

the cake is a lie.

Portal references... Teehee!
Are you guys excited for Portal 2?

http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs8/i/2005/331/6/6/Morrowind_days_by_SnowSkadi.jpg
I like Juib on the boat and the falling Altmer.

» Wed Jul 21, 2010 7:49 pm

If you were to turn Skyrim into a rock opera, what songs would you use?

Fleetwood Mac's "Tusk," in its entirety, with the pauses as Lindsay Buckingham intended.

» Wed Jul 21, 2010 11:30 pm

Secretly, I control the whole company. Shhh, don't tell anyone! :wink_smile:

It's always those unassuming Video Producers you need to look out for.

Being a Video Producer, do you collaborate with other people when making your videos, or are you just perhaps given a concept about what the video should be about before doing it all yourself?

When you guys are sitting around having lunch, do you talk to one another about the game, or do you try to chill out and take your minds off of the game? Are there conversations with devs asking other devs who the mad genius is who implememnted some awesome thing in the game?

» Wed Jul 21, 2010 8:17 pm

Since the Mass Effect vs Draogn Age question was answered now we have to know:

Favorite over all squad mates; Mass Effect 1 or Mass Effect 2? And who is your favorite squad mate? (Mine would be Mass Effect 1. And Garrus)

Wrex
Shepard

» Thu Jul 22, 2010 12:10 am

Do you give tours of the office? I live close by and when I was a bit younger I considered climbing a nearby tree to try and sneak some peeks of morrowind over the fence.

Or hey better yet, will you sell tickets to your launch party? :celebration:

» Thu Jul 22, 2010 12:11 am

What is your opinion on the harry partridge video for skyrim?

» Wed Jul 21, 2010 5:47 pm

Fleetwood Mac's "Tusk," in its entirety, with the pauses as Lindsay Buckingham intended.

I like the USC Marching Band version

» Thu Jul 22, 2010 3:22 am

Scenario time:
It's 2 weeks before the release of Skyrim, Todd happily gave each employee at the office a complete copy of the game but made you swear an oath of secrecy that you won't let ANYONE know about what is all in the game. As you are walking out of the office at night, a man who loves Skyrim and would willing tell the world all about the introduction and parts of the game if he had it puts a gun to your head and demands you to hand him the game or he'll pull the trigger.

What do you do?

» Wed Jul 21, 2010 5:01 pm

Scenario time:
It's 2 weeks before the release of Skyrim, Todd happily gave each employee at the office a complete copy of the game but made you swear an oath of secrecy that you won't let ANYONE know about what is all in the game. As you are walking out of the office at night, a man who loves Skyrim and would willing tell the world all about the introduction and parts of the game if he had it puts a gun to your head and demands you to hand him the game or he'll pull the trigger.

What do you do?

an oath? i think they're called NDA's these days :deal: