[Monika]

I'm not sure but I'm thinking releasing a demo ( via xbox live or equivalent) may satisfy a SOU. I mean it's technically in commerce despite the lack of profit. And if it's a version of the final product (or they make that case) I believe it may work. I am aware this is unlikely but its just yet another possibility to think of.

Yeah, that seems plausible. Again, as with the other plausible explanations suggested, without precedence from other game companies we'll just have to wait and see.

[SWagg KId]

I have a question. Zenimax Online licensed Umbra, so does that mean Bethesda Game Studios can use Umbra as well, sharing it from ZO? Or do they have to license it themselves, with two branches under Zenimax needing to license the same middleware?

[Monika Fiolek]

I have a question. Zenimax Online licensed Umbra, so does that mean Bethesda Game Studios can use Umbra as well, sharing it from ZO? Or do they have to license it themselves, with two branches under Zenimax needing to license the same middleware?

Any separate instance of use would require a separate license. Think about it like MS Office, if you have an office staff of 30 people and they all use Excel, the company has to buy 30 separate licenses. Zenimax may have licensed Umbra, but just with any other company with software licenses, they have to pay for separate licenses for separate instances. While that may just complicate your question, it doesn't really answer it, as Zenimax may be able to buy licenses for BGS to use without BGS having to licence the product independently.

[Jacob Phillips]

Note to those whom may be concerned about my previous post:

I confess to have commented on kidnapping Todd Howard, I apologise and to anyone who may have seen the post, kidnapping is a bad thing, people die...and get sad...from kidnapping, don't try it. :nope:

I sincerely apologize for my saying that, it was a bad thing, and this post is to tell people that my actions were wrong and you will have a guilty conscience after doing them.

Because of such I believe we have two viable options; send an imaginary goblin horde to raid the Beth office and get them to tell us about the game (didn't say anything about goblins )

Or, ask Todd and Pete really nicely...by saying please...and promising to love them forever...and give them ice-cream...with cherries and sprinkles...unless they are allergic...which is bad. :huh:

I say the second option has more potential for success :icecream:

[Bigze Stacks]

Note to those whom may be concerned about my previous post:

I confess to have commented on kidnapping Todd Howard, I apologise and to anyone who may have seen the post, kidnapping is a bad thing, people die...and get sad...from kidnapping, don't try it. :nope:

I sincerely apologize for my saying that, it was a bad thing, and this post is to tell people that my actions were wrong and you will have a guilty conscience after doing them.

Because of such I believe we have to viable options; send an imaginary goblin horde to raid the Beth office and get them to tell us about the game (didn't say anything about goblins )

Or, ask Todd and Pete really nicely...by saying please...and promising to love them forever...and give them ice-cream...with cherries and sprinkles...unless they are allergic...which is bad. :huh:

I say the second option has more potential for success :icecream:

...humph... then what will I do with all the Goblins I've been hoarding in my basemant? Man I was really looking forward to loosing them in Maryland... oh well. There's always TESVI

[Marie Maillos]

Any separate instance of use would require a separate license. Think about it like MS Office, if you have an office staff of 30 people and they all use Excel, the company has to buy 30 separate licenses. Zenimax may have licensed Umbra, but just with any other company with software licenses, they have to pay for separate licenses for separate instances. While that may just complicate your question, it doesn't really answer it, as Zenimax may be able to buy licenses for BGS to use without BGS having to licence the product independently.

This explanation seems reasonable, but it really depends on the specific terms of the license.

[Kelli Wolfe]

Kidnapping people? Emailing Todd Howard?

Some of this stuff is starting to get out of hand guys. I'm getting out of here before Rohugh kicks down you're doors. :bolt:

[CArlos BArrera]

I'm not sure but I'm thinking releasing a demo ( via xbox live or equivalent) may satisfy a SOU. I mean it's technically in commerce despite the lack of profit. And if it's a version of the final product (or they make that case) I believe it may work. I am aware this is unlikely but its just yet another possibility to think of.

Do you mean playable demo? Bethesda don't release playable demos of their open-world games. They haven't in the past, and I can't picture them doing it now.

[Benito Martinez]

Do you mean playable demo? Bethesda don't release playable demos of their open-world games. They haven't in the past, and I can't picture them doing it now.

I remember reading about a Daggerfall demo.

[Donatus Uwasomba]

Do you mean playable demo? Bethesda don't release playable demos of their open-world games. They haven't in the past, and I can't picture them doing it now.

They haven't in the past however I also don't think they've cut it this close to the end of a trademark deadline either.

[Poetic Vice]

If they release a demo, they have to announce the game anyway. They can't just give us a demo and not say what it's for. Unless I'm misunderstanding your points.

[X(S.a.R.a.H)X]

I remember reading about a Daggerfall demo.

It's true, there was one. In the demo you went to the island where the war took place that shook up the power base in the Illiac bay region, where the King of Daggerfall was murdered. They let you do quite a bit in that demo.

[Rude_Bitch_420]

Just a note on the Skyrim trademark. The last extension was filed as "ONGOING EFFORT product or service research or development; market research ".

That gives us four possibilities to consider:

1. Bethesda is researching what people want in TES V: Skyrim.
2. Bethesda is developing TES V: Skyrim.
3. Bethesda is researching to see if there is a market for a Skyrim game.
4. Skyrim is to be used by Zenimax Online Studios and not Bethesda.

#3 is invalid: We wouldn't have this thread if there wasn't, or it would be much shorter.
#1 is unlikely: We have 15-0 threads of that, Todd Howard has done fan q&a where he has been asked about facets of the game and replied with comments that seem "quite informed" as to what people want and expect.

The only possibilities are ZOS and BGS. One or the other is almost certainly in development under the Skyrim moniker according to legal documents.

Also, the instruction manual trademark DROPPED the class 35 trademarking. That's for "on-line store offering merchandise". This occurred with the fifth extension.

I'm sure someone can read into this deeper than I can, and if it's been mentioned, I missed it.

[Star Dunkels Macmillan]

Just a note on the Skyrim trademark. The last extension was filed as "ONGOING EFFORT product or service research or development; market research ".

Thanks for looking into the trademarks, but this isn't anything new. All of the extensions, for all the trademark applications, provided this as a description beside "Ongoing Effort". This is really just a description of the status of the good/service to be trademarked.

I'm not sure what to make of the change in the instruction manual's trademark class other than I would have expected that to be with the clothing/apparel trademark instead.

[Wane Peters]

Thanks for looking into the trademarks, but this isn't anything new. All of the extensions, for all the trademark applications, provided this as a description beside "Ongoing Effort". This is really just a description of the status of the good/service to be trademarked.

I'm not sure what to make of the change in the instruction manual's trademark class other than I would have expected that to be with the clothing/apparel trademark instead.

What I found interesting on that front was that it precedes the revival of the Oblivion Store. There's obviously some connection. What it tells me is that perhaps the marketing research suggested that a new site would resonate less than reminding people that TESV is related to Oblivion.

[Sista Sila]

What I do dearly hope, is Skyrim to NOT be developped by Zenimax Online Studios... I have some fears about that, and I'd hate to see a TES game in such a cool setting with a watered down world. Well, I'd hate any ES MMO anyway as they'd water down any cool place for the game to take place.

[Ria dell]

Did anyone else notice in early May Bethesda Softworks was looking for a "Quest Designer" that had "Experience with The Elder Scrolls Construction Set or GECK"?

[Penny Wills]

Did anyone else notice in early May Bethesda Softworks was looking for a "Quest Designer" that had "Experience with The Elder Scrolls Construction Set or GECK"?

That isn't a big deal, Bethesda would prefer any person looking for a job to have experience with the CS or GECK. :shrug:

[Chris Jones]

That isn't a big deal, Bethesda would prefer any person looking for a job to have experience with the CS or GECK. :shrug:

I find it interesting because a 'Quest Designer' is primarily a writer not a programmer (the position requires writing samples).

[Laura Ellaby]

I find it interesting because a 'Quest Designer' is primarily a writer not a programmer (the position requires writing samples).

But it also requires a level of familiarity used within bethesda's game editors. They have their own scripting language which makes all the quests work, you know. I'd think that might be part of the job perquisites.

If fallout's editor was built off of Oblivion's editor and Oblivion's editor was built off morrowind's editor, whos to say a new IP or a new fallout game wouldn't do the same?

But i'd like to stay hopeful too and say that its a new TES.

[Andrea Pratt]

It also tells us they are in a later stage of development (whatever they are working on). You don't hire quest designers/storytellers/dialogue writers until the foundations of the game are complete.

[Jeremy Kenney]

What I found interesting on that front was that it precedes the revival of the Oblivion Store. There's obviously some connection. What it tells me is that perhaps the marketing research suggested that a new site would resonate less than reminding people that TESV is related to Oblivion.

I think you may have missed my point. The entire notion of "market research" you are citing is not new; they've used that in every one of their extensions filed and is not unique to their most recent extension.

[victoria gillis]

It also tells us they are in a later stage of development (whatever they are working on). You don't hire quest designers/storytellers/dialogue writers until the foundations of the game are complete.

I should add that this is a 'Quest Designer' job and not 'Senior Designer' or "Lead Designer'. 'Quest Designers' are later stages writers/storytellers.

Bethesda has had interns in 'Quest Designer' positions in the past. Gavin Carter (producer of Oblivion and Fallout 3) said in an interview "The next summer I returned to intern again and did quest design on Tribunal. I did about half of the non-plotline quests in the expansion, including the quest where you bet on robot fighters and the quest where you take part in a play".

[Charlotte Lloyd-Jones]

Okay so here's hoping...

Tomorrow is 6/2 and we get an announcement on the website.

This gives enough lead time for the Game Informer cover to be TESV, and have an announcement before E3 so there can be a showing etc. Full TESV timeline below:


TESV:
3/20/2006 – TESIV released (potential start date for concept artist not used/completed on FO3)
10/10/2006 – Skyrim Trademark Application Date
10/28/2008 – Bethesda resources divided into “next big project” and FO3 DLC
10/14/2009 – The Infernal City Release Date set (Amazon.com retracts “200 years” statement)
11/24/2009 – The Infernal City Released
1/15/2010 – TESting Your Knowledge Trivia Begins (Prize: The Infernal City)
3/30/2010 – TESting Your Knowledge Trivia Ends (Prize: The Infernal City)
4/27/2010 – Bethesda Store Returns with TESIV DLC (Skyrim trademark is for clothing/booklets)
6/2/2010 - elderscrolls.com is updated with an announcement of TESV
6/7/2010 – Cover of GameInformer reveals first screens of TESV (July Edition)
6/14/2010 – Bethesda Online Store includes Official TESV merchandise clothing/booklets
6/15/2010 – E3 begins and Bethesda reveals game play footage of TESV
7/13/2010 - Second Elder Scrolls Novel release date is revealed
7/31/2010 – Skyrim clothing/booklets Trademark Expires
8/12/2010 – QuakeCon (possible marketing platform for TESV)
11/23/2010 - Second Elder Scrolls novel is released and release date of 3/15/2011 for TESV is revealed
3/15/2011 – TESV Released

[Sxc-Mary]

Well.....the first disappointment starts tomorrow then.........