[Bloomer]

Skyrim:

Soon
Kajitts
Yawn when you
Ride them
In
Middle-Earth

ES5 will have ridable Kajjitt Mounts, and it will take place exclusively in MIDDLE EARTH

Sorry, but that my friend is circumstantial evidence......

(PS: E3 is only 5 days away.....)

[[Bounty][Ben]]

I don't think there is a chance Bethesda will announce TES5 unless Microsoft announces XBox720 (or whatever it will be called) on E3. Which is unlikely from all I've heard (which of course are rumors only so who knows).

Certainly they don't want to make another 360 game with almost the same engine Oblivion uses (like they did with FO3), especially not an Elder Scrolls game. They often said that they want to up the ante in the graphics department with each Elder Scrolls title. It is their main brand. The step from Daggerfall to Morrowind was huge. The step from Morrowind to Oblivion was huge. The step from Oblivion to TES5 needs to be huge as well and that can't be done with an XBox360 title.

My guess is that TES5 will be a launch title for the successor of the 360, just like Oblivion was a launch title for the 360. Imo it all depends on Microsoft since Bethesda can hardly announce a game for a console that hasn't been announced yet.

[Amelia Pritchard]

Well, I understand Dumbkid quite well and I agree with "You can speculate without evidence if you want, but when you do you're really just making things up."

I know that in speculation thread we speculate, but we need some hypothesis even a vestigal facts to do it well. Good example is trademark discussion, that brought us some new informations.

Now we have this E3 discussion, where we don't have ANY informations. The best in this thread is the fact that 2 days ago Bethesda denied rumor about showing something secret on E3 in this thread but many users alleged Gstaff that he is lying or don't tell the THRUTH, because THE THRUTH IS ONLY ONE - SKYRIM WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON E3, BECAUSE WE KNOW IT,AND YOU DON'T AND IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN THIS YOU ARE STUPID or something like that :-/.


Come on, Im also waiting for TESV announcement but people - calm down, we have a good trademark theory, try to not see things enforced by your readiness to play TESV. Try to keep a straight face and don't blame everyone that are more sceptical or requiring more evidences. Hold your breath and take it easy.

[Rhysa Hughes]

I don't think there is a chance Bethesda will announce TES5 unless Microsoft announces XBox720 (or whatever it will be called) on E3. Which is unlikely from all I've heard (which of course are rumors only so who knows).

Certainly they don't want to make another 360 game with almost the same engine Oblivion uses (like they did with FO3), especially not an Elder Scrolls game. They often said that they want to up the ante in the graphics department with each Elder Scrolls title. It is their main brand. The step from Daggerfall to Morrowind was huge. The step from Morrowind to Oblivion was huge. The step from Oblivion to TES5 needs to be huge as well and that can't be done with an XBox360 title.

My guess is that TES5 will be a launch title for the successor of the 360, just like Oblivion was a launch title for the 360. Imo it all depends on Microsoft since Bethesda can hardly announce a game for a console that hasn't been announced yet.

I doubt they'd wait. They are hugely modifying their engine. And amazing graphics CAN be made for the 360, as long as there is decent optimization. And if TES V is released for the next gen, it will have the same problem that Oblivion suffered from: terrible optimization.

[rebecca moody]

But they said they don't want to because it will get drowned out by all the other games being shown. I wish your possibility would happen

Let me make a quick skip over the last two or so pages and talk about this, I'll get back to those.

I know they say this, but think about this for a second. This doesn't really make sense considering Bethesda's current fame. I know they may still be used to being a small, independent company and so aren't used to being big yet (despite three critically and fan-acclaimed games selling like hotcakes), but Bethesda wouldn't get drowned out at E3. Really, at this point they would likely be drowning other companies out.

So Bethesda, shake off the "we're small and indie and only like four people know about us" mentality and start flexing the muscles of a large, household name company because you sure are one.

So that brings up three possibilities (if there is no surprise, or if alternatively the special prize isn't something vaguely dirty):

• They still can't get used to not being small, so they forget that they would easily overpower most other companies.
  
• They know they are big, but they are being both modest and altruistic, not wanting to overshadow smaller companies who want to use E3 as their Big Break. How nice of them!
  
• They know they are big, and they want to show TESV, but they don't want to overshadow the much less good published games that they are obligated to try and sell, so they advertise the inferior product here and announce elsewhere.

[Vickytoria Vasquez]

Hurm. I actually just made sense in my brain of the long skip since finishing Fallout 3.

Now, let's take a peek at that quote from the Kotaku thing in the opening post. You know, the "redoing basic tech" part. Now, he said that the secret project has been in progress since they finished making Fallout 3, and that a lot of that time has been spent redoing the basic tech. Well, that would and should take a very long time, a lot of money and a few bottles of aspirin, not to mention the creative ways of dancing around engine limitations. So really, it makes sense that we should have to wait.

I still say they should just give a concept art and say "we won't say a single word for at least x-amount of time." That way at least we know, and have a better sense of time.

[rolanda h]

I still say they should just give a concept art and say "we won't say a single word for at least x-amount of time." That way at least we know, and have a better sense of time.

100% Agree. Besides, they could be more active in our TES community, sometimes I get the feeling that they are talking with community only when they are promoting a new title. When they were working on TESIV they talked with the gamers. Now Official TES Forum looks like a little abandon and forgotten by devs .

[trisha punch]

100% Agree. Besides, they could be more active in our TES community, sometimes I get the feeling that they are talking with community only when they are promoting a new title. When they were working on TESIV they talked with the gamers. Now Official TES Forum looks like a little abandon and forgotten by devs .

Seriously, it'd save us from the constant "Will it be today?" stuff. because we'd know it wouldn't be until "that day."

Also, for the Xbox 720 thing, that would just be stupid. Someone already brought up that Oblivion was horribly optimized and that with a bit of work it would be VERY easy to make a graphical leap on this console generation thanks to software. So go with that, not to mention a lot of people simply don't have the money for a new console or upgraded PC, and it makes waiting for the next gen stuff a very bad move.

[Kat Ives]

Might as well throw in my cards on this whole deal. This could honestly go both ways, while there is 'suggestive' evidence from Famitsu which we found out to be a rather reliable leak on games (thx Syltstryder) we don't really have anything else. The trademark deadline means that Beth can hold out until post-E3 for the final moment of the expiry date and announce it there. I disregard the whole "Gstaff and Pete both said that they aren't going to do anything" because for those of you that are not aware, Beth employees don't exactly have a strict morale code when it comes to being honest.

I'm not going to say I think it will be announced because I don't want my hopes to get up just as summer is starting, but I won't say it won't happen just in case it is announced so that I would still have bragging rights

[Marcin Tomkow]

I doubt they'd wait. They are hugely modifying their engine. And amazing graphics CAN be made for the 360, as long as there is decent optimization. And if TES V is released for the next gen, it will have the same problem that Oblivion suffered from: terrible optimization.

Hey, you just quoted me (about) from another thread! If that was unintentional, that is pretty sweet. But I was gonna say I agree

[Loane]

Seriously, it'd save us from the constant "Will it be today?" stuff. because we'd know it wouldn't be until "that day."

Also, for the Xbox 720 thing, that would just be stupid. Someone already brought up that Oblivion was horribly optimized and that with a bit of work it would be VERY easy to make a graphical leap on this console generation thanks to software. So go with that, not to mention a lot of people simply don't have the money for a new console or upgraded PC, and it makes waiting for the next gen stuff a very bad move.

Well here's something to speculate on.

We know that Beth is VERY comfortable developing with the Gamebryo engine by now (and IIRC Netimmerse was it's precursor...have to verify that)
SINCE the release of oblivion and right about the time Fallout 3 was in end-production development or had just been released Gamebryo had been adding compatibility to it's engine.
things like Morpheme (for realistic animations) LightSpeed (Crazygood dev tools for quick realtime implementation of assets) Umbra (do I even NEED to mention this one? Occlusion culling middleware that would dramatically increase performance, also allowing for more assets present in the gameworld) the list goes on.....

I can DEFINITELY see why Beth is redoing their basic tech to make the most of the Engine they develop on the best.

SOO...all these things used= a much advanced game on the SAME hardware without the devs having to learn a new engine.

Bright things in the future, my friends...
also, this is interesting http://www.emergent.net/About/Calendar/E3-2009/ showing off the latest that they can do.......hmn...let's ponder on that one a bit.
Continue speculating

[Meghan Terry]

I doubt they'd wait. They are hugely modifying their engine. And amazing graphics CAN be made for the 360, as long as there is decent optimization. And if TES V is released for the next gen, it will have the same problem that Oblivion suffered from: terrible optimization.

I agree with the part about current consoles. Both CryEngine 3 and IdTech 5 will run on current hardware and they are both significant steps forward. Since no SDK's are released for new consoles I'm seriously hoping Beth isn't holding out for that. If that were the csse it means BGS is working on another IP right now and not even started on TESV. Are they working on another drag racing or bowling game? List of http://www.uesp.net/wiki/General:Bethesda#Bethesda_Game_Studios.

[Chloe Mayo]

E3 or not, I still stick to the trademark expiration and am not getting my hopes up for anything sooner.

In the meantime, I suggest people enjoy the new mod by SUREAI coming out tomorrow as stated on the bethlog page. 40-50 hrs of play time? Total conversion, seems to me like a nice expansion to tie us over until something is released, whether an announcement or whatever. Anyways, that's what I'll be doing, that and continuing my hobby of becoming an indie game designer. Stupid me, I bought a DX10 programming book not long ago and look, DX11 offers so much more, ah well, haveta get that too.

[lolli]

Let’s be logic here. Let’s say you’re organizing a big surprise party for your best friend. The best friend gets suspicious. What would you do? Deny (lie) everything to keep the surprise exactly that, a surprise.

Same thing apply for Bethesda. IF ever they intend to announce TES V at E3 2010, they will deny/stay silent/whatever is needed to keep it a surprise.

The real thing for sure is the famous Skyrim trademark ending in July. Time is running out for them to announce the game and yes, E3 would be the perfect place to do it. Unless they prefer to announce it by a magazine, press release or on Bethesda official internet site just before the end date. That would not have the same impact by far as announcing it at E3. Then again they could renew that trademark I guess, but I remember reading somewhere that this was no more an option.

[Heather Stewart]

I think they may at least openly acknowledge it, even if we see nothing. Maybe Todd will be sick of having people ask and will suddenly burst out "We're doing it, okay! Just wait for the love of God!" while up on stage.

Hey, could someone link me to both GStaff and Pete's "no surprises at E3" things? I want to anolyze for wordplay or minisqule signs of dishonesty.

Also, my hopes are up. And if I'm wrong, I'll simply get them up again for the next thing ad infinitum until it's announced. You can't win Bethesda! I'll be watching!

EDIT: it also seems like a lot of us have exactly the same mentality regarding the next generation of consoles.

[Josh Sabatini]

I think they may at least openly acknowledge it, even if we see nothing. Maybe Todd will be sick of having people ask and will suddenly burst out "We're doing it, okay! Just wait for the love of God!" while up on stage.

Hey, could someone link me to both GStaff and Pete's "no surprises at E3" things? I want to anolyze for wordplay or minisqule signs of dishonesty.

Also, my hopes are up. And if I'm wrong, I'll simply get them up again for the next thing ad infinitum until it's announced. You can't win Bethesda! I'll be watching!

EDIT: it also seems like a lot of us have exactly the same mentality regarding the next generation of consoles.

E3 is coming up pretty soon. Should we be watching for any announcements from you or is this pretty much it?

Probably not. Just me, personally, both from my days, even though it seems eons ago where I used to attend E3 as a journo and now with my ten-plus years at Bethesda, I just don't think E3 is a great place to announce anything. It's just so much stuff going on that it tends to get lost, so I think we tend to try and go outside of that window for new announcements. I think we'll have a lot of new things to show. For example, all these games that we're talking about will have new stuff. We hope to be hands-on with the majority of them for the press, that kind of thing. But as far as new announcements, I think we would either do those kinds of things and maybe be more inclined to do them at events like QuakeCon. That's now kind of an event that we're working with id to make bigger and better. One of the ways you make it bigger and better is you take some of your stuff and do announcements there rather than doing them elsewhere. So I think it still remains to be seen, but I wouldn't expect any big announcements from us at E3, although it is only April and it's two months away.

You never know what's going to happen.

You never really know. Last year I thought for sure we were going to announce the id acquisition right around then and it wasn't announced till afterwards. I guess you never know for sure. But it's not probably in our plans, though.

[Isaac Saetern]

(All that good stuff)

yeah, quotes don't come up in quotes when you hit reply.

Anyway, so he gave a "probably not." Well, to hear people here say it he said a flat "no, go away snot monster."

Like I said I'm staying optimistic. Actually, this makes me feel even better about the chances in a twisted sort of way.

[Rebecca Clare Smith]

Seriously, it'd save us from the constant "Will it be today?" stuff. because we'd know it wouldn't be until "that day."

Also, for the Xbox 720 thing, that would just be stupid. Someone already brought up that Oblivion was horribly optimized and that with a bit of work it would be VERY easy to make a graphical leap on this console generation thanks to software. So go with that, not to mention a lot of people simply don't have the money for a new console or upgraded PC, and it makes waiting for the next gen stuff a very bad move.

And who brought up that it would be VERY easy? The coolest XBox software engineer of all time? I wonder where people get their information from. Nothing but speculations and wishful thinking. People always have money for the latest gadgets. Otherwise the XBox360 wouldn't have sold, Oblivion wouldn't have sold, iPads wouldn't sell etc. If there was a new Microsoft console people would buy it.

Maybe Oblivion was horribly optimized, but FO3 was not. And despite being optimized (came out 2.5 years after Oblivion and thus 2.5 years after XBox release so they had all the time in the world to optimize it and were already experienced in coding XBox software) it still doesn't look much better than Oblivion. It has a few new effects and it runs better than Oblivion, but it is really not the huge step I would expect for a new TES game. I doubt they can squeeze much more out of the engine. If people come up with comparisons to first person shooter engines etc I can only say that Elder Scrolls games are very different from those. And it's still the Gamebryo engine. The worst part of the Oblivion engine was the CPU load, not the graphic load anyway. In any case I seriously doubt that you can make an Elder Scrolls game that looks much better than FO3 on the XBox360. At least not Bethesda with the Gamebryo engine.

I agree with the part about current consoles. Both CryEngine 3 and IdTech 5 will run on current hardware and they are both significant steps forward. Since no SDK's are released for new consoles I'm seriously hoping Beth isn't holding out for that. If that were the csse it means BGS is working on another IP right now and not even started on TESV. Are they working on another drag racing or bowling game? List of http://www.uesp.net/wiki/General:Bethesda#Bethesda_Game_Studios.

How do you know that no SDK's are released for developers? Oblivion was a XBox360 launch title and they started working on it directly after Morrowind. So obviously they had something to make it work on XBox before the XBox was released.

[Samantha Jane Adams]

And who brought up that it would be VERY easy? The coolest XBox software engineer of all time? I wonder where people get their information from. Nothing but speculations and wishful thinking. People always have money for the latest gadgets. Otherwise the XBox360 wouldn't have sold, Oblivion wouldn't have sold, iPads wouldn't sell etc. If there was a new Microsoft console people would buy it.

Maybe you should tell the to the Microsoft execs, because http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/natal-a-huge-return-for-360-owners

"And in terms of putting more hardware on the market, what else can we do? Put more memory in it? I don't think that's enough. We like where we are at with the box - 360 currently has a great price point. Consumers don't want another $400 box right now."

[Saul C]

Maybe you should tell the to the Microsoft execs, because http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/natal-a-huge-return-for-360-owners

"And in terms of putting more hardware on the market, what else can we do? Put more memory in it? I don't think that's enough. We like where we are at with the box - 360 currently has a great price point. Consumers don't want another $400 box right now."

I forgot that marketing people from large companies are known for telling the truth and only the truth about the products they sell. Even if people would stop buying them because of what they say.

Now they want you to buy what they have. When they have something new they will tell you that it is so much better than what you already have and that you need to buy it. The whole statement is nonsense since the XBox360 is far behind a modern PC in terms of hardware power. So they could put in more and better ram, a new GPU, a new CPU, a Bluray drive and a lot of other nice goodies. Maybe that is enough? But if he said something like 'the hardware has become so much better since the XBox360 was released and we're going to take advantage of that as soon as possible' many people would refrain from buying the XBox360 and rather wait for its successor. Which would be bad for Microsoft. So instead he says the XBox is great as it is, now go and buy one. It might be a loooong time before we release a new console so your money is not wasted. *chuckle*

Apart from that I'm not saying that they will release a new XBox anytime soon. But I think they might release one in one and a half years maybe (Christmas 2011 for example). And that could be the time when TES5 comes out as well. Just like anyone else I'm only speculating here, but I simply doubt that Bethesda wants to make the next TES title look like F03 or only a tad bit better than FO3.

[Roberta Obrien]

You're grossly underestimating the power of the 360. Take a look at Read Dead Redemption. That's an open world game, yet it looks just freaking amazing. TES V can have great graphics, and its only limited by the engine.

And guess what, that's probably a big reason why their updating their tech. If they took advantage of umbra, euphoria, havok, etc, it would be awesome and catch them up with the rest of most modern games.

[Emma-Jane Merrin]

You're grossly underestimating the power of the 360. Take a look at Read Dead Redemption. That's an open world game, yet it looks just freaking amazing. TES V can have great graphics, and its only limited by the engine.

And guess what, that's probably a big reason why their updating their tech. If they took advantage of umbra, euphoria, havok, etc, it would be awesome and catch them up with the rest of most modern games.

But they probably won't because they hate us

[Crystal Clear]

How do you know that no SDK's are released for developers? Oblivion was a XBox360 launch title and they started working on it directly after Morrowind. So obviously they had something to make it work on XBox before the XBox was released.

Oblivion announced October 22, 2004
Xbox 360 announced May 12, 2005

Guess its possible

[Lexy Corpsey]

Oblivion announced October 22, 2004
Xbox 360 announced May 12, 2005

Guess its possible

Wait, what did the developers say about the platform Oblivion was going to be on if the 360 wasn't announced yet? I don't remember.

Did they just say "Oblivion is going to be on the next-generation console from Microsoft and the PC"?

[Jonathan Montero]

By the way, Microsoft is to reveal 14 games at a special pre E3 event on friday night. Gotta watch out for these things