[David John Hunter]

Anyone remember that time I said Skyrim wouldn't be the best game ever?

I take back every syllable.

[hannaH]

I want to see a pack of Sabertooths staring down a mammoth, then attacking. But a sloth intervenes!

But then a Trex wonders what is causing all the disturbance and eats them all...

[Nicola]

+1 for the corners on falling water in screenshot

[Holli Dillon]

Check this out... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcds8eY93Zk

Especially @ 1:22 it really shows off the difference.

I hope the ogre's / giants have that kind of detail. The motions it did to beat it's chest, when it roared, and how the clothing moved just right. I got high hopes for the monsters/beasts in Skyrim to be a lot more scary and terrifying then in Oblivion or Morrowind, and not just because improved graphics but realistic behavior, no pun intended

There is no Ogres in Skyrim only Giants, if there is Ogres than they have not announced it.

[Dawn Porter]

"Perhaps the most impressive use of the Behavior technology is how Bethesda is using it to create the dragon animations. Bethesda has worked meticulously to make sure the beasts look powerful and menacing when banking, flapping their wings, gaining altitude before making another strafing run, and breathing fire on their hapless victims. None of the dragons' actions are scripted, and Behavior helps make the movements look non-mechanical, even when the dragons are speaking/shouting."

This is the most exciting thing I've heard about Skyrim so far. I was really worried that the dragons were going to be clunky and unbelievable.


Also, where the hell are the shadows they've been going on about? I don't see a SINGLE shadow in this screenshot.

http://static.zenimax.com/bethblog/upload/2011/01/Markarth01.jpg

[John Moore]

"Perhaps the most impressive use of the Behavior technology is how Bethesda is using it to create the dragon animations. Bethesda has worked meticulously to make sure the beasts look powerful and menacing when banking, flapping their wings, gaining altitude before making another strafing run, and breathing fire on their hapless victims. None of the dragons' actions are scripted, and Behavior helps make the movements look non-mechanical, even when the dragons are speaking/shouting."

This is the most exciting thing I've heard about Skyrim so far. I was really worried that the dragons were going to be clunky and unbelievable.


Also, where the hell are the shadows they've been going on about? I don't see a SINGLE shadow in this screenshot.

http://static.zenimax.com/bethblog/upload/2011/01/Markarth01.jpg

It's probably overcast. There are clearly shadows in the other screenshots.

[Stephanie Valentine]

Which would be awesome since that could mean shadows are closely tied in to weather.

Very interesting hubdate IMO, can't wait for the next one.

[Roy Harris]

The whole valley is probably IN a shadow.

[Bee Baby]

Also, where the hell are the shadows they've been going on about? I don't see a SINGLE shadow in this screenshot.

http://static.zenimax.com/bethblog/upload/2011/01/Markarth01.jpg

See the cave in the lower left, far in the background?
There's your shadow.

And yeah, I don't think that screen is the best they could have used to show their new tech. The rock in the lower right could use a bunch of extra polygons, and there seems to be a misplaced pillar in the background at the staircase close to the waterfall.

[Flutterby]

See the cave in the lower left, far in the background?
There's your shadow.

And yeah, I don't think that screen is the best they could have used to show their new tech. The rock in the lower right could use a bunch of extra polygons, and there seems to be a misplaced pillar in the background at the staircase close to the waterfall.

Also, I think it would be pretty hard to see shadows (cast from something like those trees) from how far away the camera is from the main structure. I'm sure if you were on the stone steps or something, you'd see more definable shadows.

[City Swagga]

I don't think the pillar is misplaced, look across the water from it to see there's a pillar just like the first one. Don't know about the rock, it looks OK to me *shrug*

[Marcus Jordan]

Also, I think it would be pretty hard to see shadows (cast from something like those trees) from how far away the camera is from the main structure. I'm sure if you were on the stone steps or something, you'd see more definable shadows.

Yeah, you're probably right. Hopefully it's just because of a short view distance on shadows because it's on an Xbox.

[Anthony Rand]

The image looks full tessellated and reminds me the unigine Heaven benchmark!

[Andrew Lang]

Yeah, you're probably right. Hopefully it's just because of a short view distance on shadows because it's on an Xbox.

I don't think that's the case at all, and I think you're drawing negative conclusions about the consoles capabilities there. Oblivion runs better on the consoles than on any PC I've seen, some of which are fairly good by modern standards.

Anyway...

Firstly, there is not too much light coming in to this valley, though you can see it is brighter on the tops of things than the sides and bottom. Also, given that the light is coming from almost directly upwards, there isn't much for the shadows to fall on. Apart from trees, which are very thin anyway, so probably wouldn't cast a lot of shadow in that light, you can't really see anything that would cast a shadow. All surfaces that shadows would appear on are out of view.

[Dean]

I don't think that's the case at all, and I think you're drawing negative conclusions about the consoles capabilities there. Oblivion runs better on the consoles than on any PC I've seen, some of which are fairly good by modern standards.

:rofl:

[Dan Stevens]

Regarding precipitation, realistic rain effects would be cool. I remember how in Oblivion, you could stand under a balcony outside and the rain would still fall through. It would be sweet if the water would hit the balcony and run off of it, forming a waterfall at the edge. That'll probably be present in the game. Oh, thunder and lightning would be cool too, and it could also be a hazard. If lightning starts striking, stay out of the forest.

[luis dejesus]

:rofl:

Well it's just my experience, but everyone keeps saying Oblivion is awful on consoles and I just don't get it. I never get lag at all except in huge battles and the draw distance and graphics are great. Even on those videos with PCs on top graphics, the difference seems fairly minor next to my PS3 version.

[Danny Blight]

Well it's just my experience, but everyone keeps saying Oblivion is awful on consoles and I just don't get it. I never get lag at all except in huge battles and the draw distance and graphics are great. Even on those videos with PCs on top graphics, the difference seems fairly minor next to my PS3 version.

Lets not start a console war....Don't need a mod shutting us down

any word on the next update?

[patricia kris]

@Andrew_Reiner When's next hub update for Skyrim?
@king_sparta Maybe tomorrow. Maybe Wed. I don't have the schedule in front of me. Ask me in the morning.

@Andrew_Reiner There's only a tiny bit more room on the Skyrim hub left, so are you going to extend the page for plenty more updates?
@MrTissueBox Yes

http://twitter.com/Andrew_Reiner

So maybe today, someone should ask him again in a few hours.

[Robert Devlin]

http://twitter.com/Andrew_Reiner

So maybe today, someone should ask him again in a few hours.

So how long until it's morning for wherever that guy lives?

EDIT: Sorry, somehow didn't read the last line lol

[Cccurly]

most average people are more sympathetic to something like a Mammoth (as it reminds them of Elephants which, to must people are considered docile and sweet animals, ha I beg to differ, but I digress)

Further more most people see wolves as ravenous monsters that only kill for killing's sake (again though I beg to differ)

http://www.google.ca/search?q=elephant+attack&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=0aX&sa=G&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=s&prmd=ivns&source=univ&tbs=vid:1&tbo=u&ei=Kp01TefUEZHGsAOY0rzYBQ&oi=video_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CDgQqwQwAA. :bolt:

Not true, we are not animals! Oh wait...

[Steeeph]

I actually think maybe we should wait until at least noon to start pestering Reiner again.Just my thoughts. Maybe coming in to a twitter that isn't flooded wil llift his spirits.

[NEGRO]

I actually think maybe we should wait until at least noon to start pestering Reiner again.Just my thoughts. Maybe coming in to a twitter that isn't flooded wil llift his spirits.

I second this motion.

[Robert Jackson]

http://www.google.ca/search?q=elephant+attack&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=0aX&sa=G&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=s&prmd=ivns&source=univ&tbs=vid:1&tbo=u&ei=Kp01TefUEZHGsAOY0rzYBQ&oi=video_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CDgQqwQwAA. :bolt:

Not true, we are not animals! Oh wait...

I watched 2 videos and they both involved a lot of taunting first. People can be really dumb.

[Madison Poo]

People can be really dumb.

Agreed.

Elephants are dangerous all on their own though. Especially a male in musk.