[Lakyn Ellery]

Yes, but at the same time that means it will only have TES fans at the event AFTER this year's event.

Of course, that doesn't mean I would be there. I love Id and Doom and Quake and all that. My friends and I might go (we live in Texas, which is where Quakecon is held. Its only 150 miles away in Fort Worth). That would just be awesome to be there when TES V was announced.

How do you figure that? If they heavily advertise it before this year's event, by saying TES V will be there or New Vegas will be there, Bethesda fans will come, this year.

[Lloyd Muldowney]

How do you figure that? If they heavily advertise it before this year's event, by saying TES V will be there or New Vegas will be there, Bethesda fans will come, this year.

If they advertise, then again, wouldn't that mean they practically announced TES V beforehand if they said "We're going to announce a new Bethesda game?"

In addition, fans might show up, sure, but not a large turnout, especially because these forums are a small fraction of the TES fan base.

[Michelle davies]

If they advertise, then again, wouldn't that mean they practically announced TES V beforehand if they said "We're going to announce a new Bethesda game?"

In addition, fans might show up, sure, but not a large turnout, especially because these forums are a small fraction of the TES fan base.

Gotta start somewhere. I don't expect it to instantly be thought of as Bethesda's convention but it'd be a start. I still don't think they'll announce TES V there, I think they'll announce it before the trademark expires and show it off there.

[Zach Hunter]

...so that I may be remembered forever in a signature


6/2/2010

The date requires the following to be true and also that they occur in this order:

1) Website announcement
2) GameInformer Cover
3) E3 Showing

These are all steps that happened for both Oblivion and Fallout 3.

Here is the rationale:

Since the realm of speculation includes the trademark, and we also know that Oblivion Store launched the day before E3 2005, it is reasonable to assume that with the return of the Bethesda Online Store that they will launch TESV products the day before E3 as well with a subset of Skyrim Store, etc. to satisfy the use in commerce requirement to obtain the trademark. There was no fall release of information regarding the development but there WAS a fall release of the novel—this is important to the marketing timeline because it satisfies the necessary requirement for concept art to be released circa 18 months prior to the release of Fallout 3 and Oblivion (see the assembled timeline at the end of this post).

I am only counting the book as the marketing strategy that has been altered from the standard announcement. A standard announcement generally includes a few pieces of concept art or screens and telling the public, "Hey we're makin' a game folks!" This builds hype and starts the engine to the eventual marketing machine which can drive sales; thus it doesn't need to be truly a part of the development cycle for Bethesda Game Studios. In essence, The Infernal City is a prequel to TESV (concept art) and even more relative to TES because it is lore... many here agree the fans of TES love graphics but are rabid little hounds for the lore that TES provides. Amazon.com also retracted a statement in the description provided by the publisher that the next game was set 200 years after the events of Oblivion. If you take this as the new strategy, then 15 months from this ‘announcement’ places this at the latter part of the first quarter of 2011.

Since the GameInformer is usually released between the 7th and the 10th of every month, my first date needed to be prior to the likely first date at which the July issue would arrive at a person's house- that being delivered as early as possible in that timeframe where the USPS delivers. TES announcements have been on the website before the covers of the magazine. Since they are likely sent at the end of the business week to postal warehouse locations in preparation for bulk mailings, I set the elderscrolls.com announcement at the midweek point prior to the first deliverable day in this structure. Thus Wednesday, June 2nd became my first speculative date allowing the magazine to arrive on June 7th (my second date). Since E3 is June 15th, and the last launch of store goods for Oblivion Store was the day before E3 2005, I set this date to also be the day before E3, on June 14th. E3 commences, logical date for the trailer with gameplay footage June 15th. The next two dates have FAR less logic, however physical media releases and announcements follow a retail cycle where Tuesday is a release date. Since there needs to be an announcement of the second book and a fall release (similar to the first) for holiday sales, I set the mid-point on a Tuesday in July for the book release, and then the game release date on the date of the book release (since there was the amazon.com oops release with the first book). In order to get the final release date, I needed it to be on a Tuesday in March to follow the same timeline as with Oblivion and the Ides of March (15th) was consequently a perfect point to speculate on.

The following timelines were used to determine the marketing and release dates:

TESIII: Morrowind

12/10/1998 – Redguard Release (TESIII: Morrowind Development Begins)
9/22/1999 – TESIII: Morrowind Trademark Application Date
3/30/2000 – TESIII: Morrowind Announced for PC Release in late 2001 (later pushed back)
5/5/2001 – TESIII: Morrowind Announced for Xbox Release date
5/17/2001 – TESIII: Morrowind shown at E3
5/1/2002 – TESIII: Morrowind Released on PC
6/7/2002 – TESIII: Morrowind Released on Xbox

TESIV: Oblivion

5/1/2002 - Actual development begins on TESIV: Oblivion
9/10/2004 – Bethesda confirms rumors that TESIV: Oblivion is in development
10/6/2004 – Oblivion Trademark Application Date
10/24/2004 TESIV: Oblivion In Development announcement on elderscrolls.com
5/18/2005 E3 2005, trailer with game play footage (Microsoft)
3/20/2006 TESIV: Oblivion Release Date

Fallout 3

7/12/2004 - Actual development begins on Fallout 3 & Under Development ANNOUNCED
2/1/2005 – Fallout 3 Trademark Application Date
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 Private 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

TESV: ((Skyrim))

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

[Heather Stewart]

Gotta start somewhere. I don't expect it to instantly be thought of as Bethesda's convention but it'd be a start. I still don't think they'll announce TES V there, I think they'll announce it before the trademark expires and show it off there.

You know, they might attempt to make it a general Zenimax tradeshow, I just hope the increased attendance doesn't stop it from being held in Texas. Its the only damned thing related to games that happens out here.

[Robert Jackson]

So, is the next Game Informer being revealed tomorrow or something? Is that why there's talk of a potential (but unlikely) announcement of ESV tomorrow?

[Amy Siebenhaar]

...so that I may be remembered forever in a signature

Here's hoping you're right. :foodndrink:

So, is the next Game Informer being revealed tomorrow or something? Is that why there's talk of a potential (but unlikely) announcement of ESV tomorrow?

According to SyltStryder's theory it'll be announced and Game Informer will reveal it's cover a few days after. Personally I think it would be announced closer to when Game Informer usually reveals their covers (around the 5th-10th) but you never know.

[Adrian Morales]

I hope the game's announced on June 7. Why? Because that's my birthday, and I want a great present this year! Come on, Beth! Make June 7 great!

[D IV]

Sorry, but I don't feel like reading through the previous pages of the thread.

Why do we think ESV will be announced tomorrow? Or is it just pure guessing and such...

[Jodie Bardgett]

I hereby predict with absolute certainty that The Elder Scrolls V will not be announced tomorrow.

Is anyone going to sig me if I'm right?

[Lalla Vu]

Sorry, but I don't feel like reading through the previous pages of the thread.

Why do we think ESV will be announced tomorrow? Or is it just pure guessing and such...

It's pretty much a shot in the dark altered to fit around dates such as the next Game Informer cover and E3. I personally don't believe it will happen as it's pretty much an educated guess but if it does happen I'll gladly admit how wrong I was.

[Jason White]

I will cry if it is announced tomorrow. Doubt it will be.

And the devs are probably laughing at us right now.

[Nicole M]

I will cry if it is announced tomorrow. Doubt it will be.

And the devs are probably laughing at us right now.

How could the devs be laughing at us right now if they haven't stopped laughing since the last time they read this thread?

[Lil Miss]

It had really better be soon. I'm not sure why Bethesda insists on being so weird with their announcement and development cycles. It looks like we'll have another Assassins Creed game within the year, after the second was released not too many months ago. Fable 3 is coming out this fall. By the time TES is released, Fable 4 will also be on the shelves.

Don't misquote me, I'm not saying Fable is anywhere near as good of a series. But, if it improved 1/5 of what it was with every new game, it would be as good or better than Oblivion by the time we see the 6th Elderscrolls game. In general Fable lacks scope, maturity, and openness, but those are all directions that Oblivion moved away from.

Oblivion was a decent game, but it lost so much from Morrowind in exchange for so little. I'm extremely curious to know what direction they've taken the series, whether they've advanced, regressed, or simply compromised.

There were many things that Morrowind was missing, such as real time boats, climbing, and horse combat, that they failed to add in Oblivion, and in fact they even took away some of what it had, like skills and weapons and armors.

By trying to grab a mainstream audience, they lose what makes them stand out, and instead of securely holding on to a small segment of the gaming population, they have to fight for the attention of a slightly larger one. Not good business, and not good games.

[Khamaji Taylor]

It had really better be soon. I'm not sure why Bethesda insists on being so weird with their announcement and development cycles. It looks like we'll have another Assassins Creed game within the year, after the second was released not too many months ago. Fable 3 is coming out this fall. By the time TES is released, Fable 4 will also be on the shelves.

Don't misquote me, I'm not saying Fable is anywhere near as good of a series. But, if it improved 1/5 of what it was with every new game, it would be as good or better than Oblivion by the time we see the 6th Elderscrolls game. In general Fable lacks scope, maturity, and openness, but those are all directions that Oblivion moved away from.

Oblivion was a decent game, but it lost so much from Morrowind in exchange for so little. I'm extremely curious to know what direction they've taken the series, whether they've advanced, regressed, or simply compromised.

There were many things that Morrowind was missing, such as real time boats, climbing, and horse combat, that they failed to add in Oblivion, and in fact they even took away some of what it had, like skills and weapons and armors.

By trying to grab a mainstream audience, they lose what makes them stand out, and instead of securely holding on to a small segment of the gaming population, they have to fight for the attention of a slightly larger one. Not good business, and not good games.

Would anyone else like to take yet another shot at one of my favorite games, in the wrong thread, I might add? Step right up, 1 Septim gets you three shots.

[luke trodden]

It had really better be soon. I'm not sure why Bethesda insists on being so weird with their announcement and development cycles. It looks like we'll have another Assassins Creed game within the year, after the second was released not too many months ago. Fable 3 is coming out this fall. By the time TES is released, Fable 4 will also be on the shelves.

Don't misquote me, I'm not saying Fable is anywhere near as good of a series. But, if it improved 1/5 of what it was with every new game, it would be as good or better than Oblivion by the time we see the 6th Elderscrolls game. In general Fable lacks scope, maturity, and openness, but those are all directions that Oblivion moved away from.

Oblivion was a decent game, but it lost so much from Morrowind in exchange for so little. I'm extremely curious to know what direction they've taken the series, whether they've advanced, regressed, or simply compromised.

There were many things that Morrowind was missing, such as real time boats, climbing, and horse combat, that they failed to add in Oblivion, and in fact they even took away some of what it had, like skills and weapons and armors.

By trying to grab a mainstream audience, they lose what makes them stand out, and instead of securely holding on to a small segment of the gaming population, they have to fight for the attention of a slightly larger one. Not good business, and not good games.

You started off with a good point and then sort of went off bashing Oblivion.

Can I just say to everyone replying to his post that this really isn't the place to argue about Oblivion? Lets not start yet another argument...

[Tasha Clifford]

I guess my point was, that a long development time and a hush hush hype engine does not make a better game. Beth should reconsider their approach, because frankly having each game so far apart is a detriment to the series, you have to improve your engine and your graphics so much that you can't redesign ANYTHING, and in the case of Oblivion, actually cut content.

*edit.

I've been pretty critical of Bethesda in the past, specifically Pete and Todd, but I've spent some time reading old interviews, and I know they just want to make the best game they can, and it has to be frustrating to hear so many complaints when they really just want to make us happy.

http://www.xbox365.com/news.cgi?id=GGrGLiNudN03092320

Here Pete says, in 2006, that after Oblivion was released, 3 teams were made. One for expansions, one for Fallout, and one for ES V. Fallout's Done. Where's ESV?

There is also the infamous Paul Oughton 2010 statement. What if he was right? Why would he say that if he didn't know something? I'm guessing he got a slap on the mouth and Beth decided "Hey. We ain't gonna say squat till this baby's gold. We're gonna wait till 2 weeks before release to tell ANYBODY. They're all gonna be "OMG I'd thought they'd have announced it already" and we're just gonna sit on it. Then BAMMO, new ES on the shelves and every fan will wet their pants like little school girls."

I mean, they're so proud about reinventing their game every time, why not reinvent the hype engine? After ESV is released, they should announce ES VI 1-2 years later.

[marina]

You people have the patience of a 12 year old on December 20th.

There is little more annoying than an overhyped game.

[Trent Theriot]

You people have the patience of a 12 year old on December 20th.

There is little more annoying than an overhyped game.

Maybe some of us are at work doing their boring jobs and have nothing better to do......... :banghead:

[Oceavision]

You people have the patience of a 12 year old on December 20th.

There is little more annoying than an overhyped game.

I don't think he means to overhype it, at least not in the way the Ironman 2 movie was. There is after all a large gap between absolute secrecy and overhyping, surely there must be a middle-ground.

[Dan Endacott]

I don't think he means to overhype it, at least not in the way the Ironman 2 movie was. There is after all a large gap between absolute secrecy and overhyping, surely there must be a middle-ground.

There will be plenty of time to advertise after they announce the game.

[Nathan Maughan]

There will be plenty of time to advertise after they announce the game.

Probably, considering that it usually takes between 1 to 2 years between announcement and release dates.

[Harinder Ghag]

Probably, considering that it usually takes between 1 to 2 years between announcement and release dates.

Weird, I was just thinking that. If we assume they've been working since Fallout 3 was released, then it fits, just like the timeline, that they would announce this year (no idea when) and release a year or two later.

Also, we have until the end of today for the timeline. Fingers crossed.

[Prue]

Hey guys.

Found something kinda big.

Shane (the dev with the panda avatar) http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/Mikeandike1/quests.jpg

http://twitter.com/CynicalPanda I took the screen cap above just in case it gets taken down.

So a game is being made....which involves quests...but which one is it?!

EDIT: Its gotta be TES V. Why make two fallouts in a row. Especially when new vegas is being developed.

[Skrapp Stephens]

Hey guys.

Found something kinda big.

Shane (the dev with the panda avatar) http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/Mikeandike1/quests.jpg

http://twitter.com/CynicalPanda I took the screen cap above just in case it gets taken down.

So a game is being made....which involves quests...but which one is it?!

EDIT: Its gotta be TES V. Why make two fallouts in a row. Especially when new vegas is being developed.

Damn Mike when you said something big, I thought you meant something big.

I mean no offense but no matter what game they're making, it's going to involve quests, and they have to write them, so...

We already know they're working on something, all this tells us is that they're working on something with quests in it. :shrug: