[Kyra]

I believe Bethesda will announce TES V: Skyrim soon(may as well get used to saying that), but what I'm curious to know is why Bethesda didn't do what they did for Arena, Daggerfall, and Oblivion, use a vague name that doesn't let fans know where the game is taking place.

[Yvonne Gruening]

I believe Bethesda will announce TES V: Skyrim soon(may as well get used to saying that), but what I'm curious to know is why Bethesda didn't do what they did for Arena, Daggerfall, and Oblivion, use a vague name that doesn't let fans know where the game is taking place.

Daggerfall is a city/region in High Rock, and it was even on the map in Arena, so I don't think that counts. :poke:

[scorpion972]

Daggerfall is a city/region in High Rock, and it was even on the map in Arena, so I don't think that counts. :poke:

It was in Arena? I couldn't find it.

[City Swagga]

I believe Bethesda will announce TES V: Skyrim soon(may as well get used to saying that), but what I'm curious to know is why Bethesda didn't do what they did for Arena, Daggerfall, and Oblivion, use a vague name that doesn't let fans know where the game is taking place.

So with that,
I really enjoyed the missing link there.
I speculate that TESV will have twice the sock knock off power as TESIII, for me at least.

[Ezekiel Macallister]

It was in Arena? I couldn't find it.

http://www.imperial-library.info/maps/arena_highrock.shtml it was :shrug:

[Gen Daley]

We know nothing about this, besides the day that they need to announce it. I italicized it because they don't have to technically show the public anything, they'd just have to show the people doing the trademarks to verify that they're still working on it.

So I'm not getting my hopes up on that late-summer announcement theory. It's got some holes.

[Jamie Lee]

http://www.vg247.com/2010/05/05/bethesda-not-expected-to-announce-anything-at-e3/, also who said they had to announce it at E3 ? Sure it's big but I rather have them wait after it so they get more attention.

Whatever they want to announce, they want it to be the biggest news when they announce it. That makes sense to me, too many things seem to happen at E3.

[Jesus Duran]

I'm thinking more like weeks, not months, unless Beth wants to wait until the absolute very last second. They have approximately 12 weeks until the trademark expires.

True, true. I was just saying that its no longer possible to be unrealistically pessimistic. Even if you are a complete pessimist, the most you have to wait is a couple months for Bethesda to announce TESV.

I believe Bethesda will announce TES V: Skyrim soon(may as well get used to saying that)...

It feels weird having TESV be so close to an announcement.

I've been waiting for it since I first beat Oblivion.

And now its so close I can almost taste it.

Yum. :drool:

[Madeleine Rose Walsh]

I like speculation and have had a blast with some of this, and I am correlating some info as I fantasize over TESV, so I was wondering if you could all help me build out my timelines a bit; specifically as I try to wade through the muddy waters of the events that occurred between Daggerfall and Morrowind. Here are the examples of what I need (since I already have them for Oblivion and Fallout 3):

TESIV: Oblivion
5/1/2002 - Actual development begins on TESIV: Oblivion
10/24/2004 TESIV: Oblivion In Development announcement
5/18/2005 E3 2005, trailer with gameplay footage (Microsoft)
3/20/2006 TESIV: Oblivion Release Date
Total time from Announcement to Release: ~17 Months
Total time from Development to Release: ~47 Months
Total time from E3 SHOWING to Release: ~10 Months

Fallout 3
7/2004 - Actual development begins on Fallout 3
2/2007 - Fallout 3 Under Development ANNOUNCED
5/2/2007 - Game concept art and music shown (NO actual game footage)
6/5/2007 - First Teaser Trailer of ACTUAL GAME
7/11/2007 - E3 NO SHOWING for Fallout 3
3/21/2008 - Todd Howard details Fallout 3 to OXM
7/15/2008 - E3 Microsoft shows Fallout 3
10/28/2008 - Fallout 3 RELEASED
Total time from Announcement to Release: ~20 Months
Total time from Development to Release: ~51 Months
Total time from E3 SHOWING to Release: ~3 Months

-- Oh and if I have any mistakes please let me know too... I want to have accurate speculation (Hahahaahahaahaa)

[Miss K]

I like speculation and have had a blast with some of this, and I am correlating some info as I fantasize over TESV, so I was wondering if you could all help me build out my timelines a bit; specifically as I try to wade through the muddy waters of the events that occurred between Daggerfall and Morrowind. Here are the examples of what I need (since I already have them for Oblivion and Fallout 3):

TESIV: Oblivion
5/1/2002 - Actual development begins on TESIV: Oblivion
10/24/2004 TESIV: Oblivion In Development announcement
5/18/2005 E3 2005, trailer with gameplay footage (Microsoft)
3/20/2006 TESIV: Oblivion Release Date
Total time from Announcement to Release: ~17 Months
Total time from Development to Release: ~47 Months
Total time from E3 SHOWING to Release: ~10 Months

Fallout 3
7/2004 - Actual development begins on Fallout 3
2/2007 - Fallout 3 Under Development ANNOUNCED
5/2/2007 - Game concept art and music shown (NO actual game footage)
6/5/2007 - First Teaser Trailer of ACTUAL GAME
7/11/2007 - E3 NO SHOWING for Fallout 3
3/21/2008 - Todd Howard details Fallout 3 to OXM
7/15/2008 - E3 Microsoft shows Fallout 3
10/28/2008 - Fallout 3 RELEASED
Total time from Announcement to Release: ~20 Months
Total time from Development to Release: ~51 Months
Total time from E3 SHOWING to Release: ~3 Months

-- Oh and if I have any mistakes please let me know too... I want to have accurate speculation (Hahahaahahaahaa)

The PC version of Fallout 3 http://games.ign.com/articles/529/529801p1.html in July 2004, not in 2007.

http://news.filefront.com/e3-2007-fallout-3-demonstration/, just not publicly.

[Gemma Flanagan]

The PC version of Fallout 3 http://games.ign.com/articles/529/529801p1.html in July 2004, not in 2007.

http://news.filefront.com/e3-2007-fallout-3-demonstration/, just not publicly.

Thank you so much! I have updated my timeline accordingly!

[Jose ordaz]

So... honestly (not hoping for), who thinks we will get an announcement between now and September?

[Roisan Sweeney]

So... honestly (not hoping for), who thinks we will get an announcement between now and September?

Most of us here are convinced.

[Iain Lamb]

So... honestly (not hoping for), who thinks we will get an announcement between now and September?

I know I have posted it before, but since you asked, I still think we will have the actual announcement on June 2nd.

[Lauren Denman]

I italicized it because they don't have to technically show the public anything, they'd just have to show the people doing the trademarks to verify that they're still working on it.

NO! You are wrong. THEY HAVE TO VERIFY ITS USE IN COMMERCE BY THEN!




DEFINITIONS TO KNOW IF YOU WANT TO DISCUSS TRADEMARK:

Intent to Use - "In an application under section 1(B ) of the Act, the applicant must verify that it has a bona fide intention to use the mark in commerce on or in connection with the goods or services listed in the application." This IS NOT a statement that the mark is actually in use but rather that the applicant genuinely intends to use the mark. This is to prevent companies from farming trademarks by sitting on them until someone needs to buy it from them.

Use in Commerce - "The term 'use in commerce' means the bona fide use of a mark in the ordinary course of trade, and not made merely to reserve a right in a mark. For purposes of this Act, a mark shall be deemed to be in use in commerce--(1) on goods when--(A) it is placed in any manner on the goods or their containers or the displays associated therewith or on the tags or labels affixed thereto, or if the nature of the goods makes such placement impracticable, then on documents associated with the goods or their sale, and (B ) the goods are sold or transported in commerce, and (2) on services when it is used or displayed in the sale or advertising of services and the services are rendered in commerce, or the services are rendered in more than one State or in the United States and a foreign country and the person rendering the services is engaged in commerce in connection with the services."

Statement of Use or Amendment to Allege Use - These are essentially the "proof" that the mark is being used in commerce. Either "must each include one specimen showing the mark as used on or in connection with the goods, or in the sale or advertising of the services in commerce." These are very similar to each other in definition and the appropriate form to use depends upon the exact type of application used.

[Ben sutton]

We know nothing about this, besides the day that they need to announce it. I italicized it because they don't have to technically show the public anything, they'd just have to show the people doing the trademarks to verify that they're still working on it.

Not true, thank goodness. They had to show proof of work to the trademark office every time they filed for renewal of the contract. The trademark has to be used 'commercially' by the end of July, since the office has given them as much time as is legally allowed to hold onto their product trademark without doing anything public with it. They've held onto the trademark for three years, and now they need to use it, or lose it. A private demonstration to trademark officials as proof of work won't be enough this time.

So... honestly (not hoping for), who thinks we will get an announcement between now and September?

:wave:

[Krystal Wilson]

So... honestly (not hoping for), who thinks we will get an announcement between now and September?

It's as certain as the sun shining tomorrow... *crosses fingers in case the world has just been doomed*

[Nims]

So... honestly (not hoping for), who thinks we will get an announcement between now and September?

yeah, im tired of waiting

[lauraa]

edit - nevermind

edited again - my birthday is August 13, so I'm really hoping I get a TES5 announcement as a B-Day present.

[KU Fint]

You guys drive me crazy sometimes...

First off, October will make it two years since when we know for a fact they started focusing on their next game. That doesn't mean they didn't start earlier, mind you, but we just don't have any solid proof of that. But two years is plenty of time to get to a point where they can show off the game, even if it's only a few screenshots. And don't forget, they don't have to show us anything at all until they're ready. An announcement does not equal a ton of content being released. We didn't even get the first screenshots of New Vegas until nearly a year after it was announced. Secondly, thinking that they'll wait for the next console generation that isn't even confirmed yet is silly. "Why would they release it in 2012"... did you really ask that? Do you think the year before the release of a new console will be completely devoid of any new videogames because every developer wants to "hold out" for the new generation? Come on...

Ok, well what happens if it isn't announced within the next few months? What will your thought be then?

[jennie xhx]

Ok, well what happens if it isn't announced within the next few months? What will your thought be then?

That is neither constructive nor helpful for the discussion. In truth, we'd recalculate a new theory based on what we reliably knew. Allow me to ask you this: What will your thought be if it is announced within the next several months?

I'm beginning to think that people arguing against an immanent announcement aren't motivated by the desire to not see the game but to see us wrong.

[clelia vega]

That is neither constructive nor helpful for the discussion. In truth, we'd recalculate a new theory based on what we reliably knew. Allow me to ask you this: What will your thought be if it is announced within the next several months?

I'm beginning to think that people arguing against an immanent announcement aren't motivated by the desire to not see the game but to see us wrong.

It is possible, but I have had my hopes up and dashed before too, so it is likely a sub-conscious way of demonstrating self-preservation... no one likes to get let down... well except maybe sadists (or are masochists the ones that like to get hurt-- I can never keep 'em straight!)

[Rik Douglas]

It is possible, but I have had my hopes up and dashed before too, so it is likely a sub-conscious way of demonstrating self-preservation... no one likes to get let down... well except maybe sadists (or are masochists the ones that like to get hurt-- I can never keep 'em straight!)

Yeah, that sounds reasonable. Sadists like to hurt other people. Masochists like to hurt themselves.

[SUck MYdIck]

I was one of the (quite mistaken) people who were really hoping for an E3 announcement last year, and I can't believe it's been another year already...if it had been, we'd be playing it by now.

Now, for several reasons I don't think it will be announced at E3, and only shown there if it's announced before hand. But I do expect an announcement between now and late fall, if only because I feel it would be irresponsible for Bethesda as a company to delay it any farther. This isn't about pleasing the fans or giving them "what they deserve" it's about failing to market an exclusive, profitable commodity. Any time they continue to spend developing this game is time away from their next release, and time that other companies will release competing games (Dragon Age, Fable, others) which have had much shorter development/announcement cycles. Of course, that depends on when they started developing it in the first place, which I would hope a small team was as soon as DLC for Oblivion was complete.

Also, anyone who thinks any game needs 5+ years of development (not withstanding developer instability, vaporware) is foolish. Technology advances so fast that the game becomes less than the sum of it's parts the longer you take to produce it. The longest time you can spend is on writing/concept ideas, which hopefully are pretty set in stone, since this is an established franchise, without mentioning quests and dialog, which can be written while the rest of the game is being built.


And even IF the game was announced tomorrow, I would hope that Bethesda has tweaked their hype machine, and plan a release that is sooner than the typical 12+ months from announcement. Once again, for every fan you pull in during that long wait, you lose one who has grown bored or moved onto a title which has been released...possibly Fable 3 and Dragon Age 2 by next year.

Anyway, this isn't substantiated by anything but my own opinion of how to best profit from a game, especially one which is in a "lesser" genre. Games like Call of Duty are churned out once a year and consistently break records for sales and profits.

[Heather Kush]

snip

This is a well reasoned argument with which I generally agree. While not as convincing as other evidences, the time line correlation is still compelling. Like you said, it is not good for business to wait too long before churning out the next game. However, I'm not sure that Bethesda is quite at that point yet. If we go another year without anything, then I'd begin to be concerned.