Official TES V Speculation Thread #37 : The Elder Scrolls Series Discussion

» Fri Jan 07, 2011 10:38 pm

Just saw this. Skip ahead to 3:54.

The video is tagged as being uploaded in September. Sounds like TES V wasn't even being looked at in the Fall. Todd says he'd love to return to TES, but a deadline still exists in the ambiguous realm of "one day".

Thanks Celezar this answers any questions about the next elder scrolls being announced anytime soon. This interview took place about ten months ago and according to Todd Howard they are not even working on atm, I am hoping it's release will coincide with the release of the next gen consoles but I am not expecting an announcement for it anytime soon.

» Fri Jan 07, 2011 10:20 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpagR4vo1AU Skip ahead to 3:54.

The video is tagged as being uploaded in September. Sounds like TES V wasn't even being looked at in the Fall. Todd says he'd love to return to TES, but a deadline still exists in the ambiguous realm of "one day".

Don't take things so directly, that was a classic non-denial, wishy-washy, back-away-from-able statement. Nothing concrete was said.

After expressing their desire to return to the Elder Scrolls series "Whether I could put 'soon' in front of that...uh, I couldn't do that right now, I could not do that".

Think about that sentence: if TES5 was not being worked on, he could definately NOT say a TES game could come out soon. We talking about games with super-long development cycles, the only way the word "soon" could even be possible as a description is if a game was already in the works. "I could not do that right now" is typical way of saying, without saying concretely: 'we are not ready at this time to publicly commit to an announcment or timeline'

Don't get twisted up about the comment in that video.

Things Tod Howard did not say in that video:
- We are not working on an Elder Scrolls game
- We are working on a new IP

They are working on something, you know they aren't being paid to twiddle their thumbs. Silence and non-denial statements are normal for many companies, gamesas in particular. Have you ever listened to Rockstar reps at an interview? They had a pair of them on Major Nelson's podcast the day before RDR was released, and they answered at least half of the questions about particulars with "We can't say at this time" -- the day before the game was in stores. This is normal in the industry.

» Sat Jan 08, 2011 2:17 am

Thanks Celezar this answers any questions about the next elder scrolls being announced anytime soon. This interview took place about ten months ago and according to Todd Howard they are not even working on atm, I am hoping it's release will coincide with the release of the next gen consoles but I am not expecting an announcement for it anytime soon.

It's going to be announced soon.

» Sat Jan 08, 2011 1:27 am

Oh [censored], ive just watched that video. The way he said it made it sound like Elder Scrolls was hardly a thought at bethesda right now. [censored]

» Fri Jan 07, 2011 7:26 pm

Oh [censored], ive just watched that video. The way he said it made it sound like Elder Scrolls was hardly a thought at bethesda right now. [censored]

Well then it is an expensive thought to renew the trademark several times... but he was discussing the next BGS Elder Scrolls title... that could mean Skyrim is a Travels game or the Zenimax Online's secret MMO, or some other TES spin-off (ala Fallout New Vegas); yet somehow I believe that it is just another example of the BGS Mute-Button when regarding game info...

» Sat Jan 08, 2011 8:40 am

It might not mean its TES, but in a recent On The Spot at Gamespot talking about e3 they said there were some huge surprises of games that haven't even been announced yet and that they could not talk about them because they were, well, surprises.

» Sat Jan 08, 2011 7:13 am

Look, either all these E3 rumors are true (hadn't heard the On the Spot thing, link please?) or they aren't.

And if they aren't, Pete has said they have big plans for QuakeCon, along with that GI fella saying they have a gigantic sequel for the August cover that won't be at E3 and will make fantasy fans crap themselves. So IF it's no at E3, that, coupled with the trademark stuff, makes me feel like it's almost a certainty that we'll have confirmation by the end of the summer.

» Fri Jan 07, 2011 11:01 pm

And we know that Skyrim isn't for a travels game or an MMO, as Bethesda Game Studios (Or maybe gamesas) has the trademark for Skyrim. If it was going to be a travels game, chances are that Vir2L would have the trademark, and if it was going to be an MMO, chances are that Zenimax Online Studios would have the trademark.

» Sat Jan 08, 2011 12:11 am

The sad part for me if they do announce it at E3, is that unless it's what the smaller booth is for it will likely be a trailer at the Microsoft thing tomorrow, during which I will be at work. Therefore, tomorrow at work will be slow at torturous as I wait desperately for it to end so I can sprint home and see if it was announced or not.

» Sat Jan 08, 2011 1:45 am

And we know that Skyrim isn't for a travels game or an MMO, as Bethesda Game Studios (Or maybe gamesas) has the trademark for Skyrim. If it was going to be a travels game, chances are that Vir2L would have the trademark, and if it was going to be an MMO, chances are that Zenimax Online Studios would have the trademark.

I thought that Zenimax owned the trademark.

» Sat Jan 08, 2011 3:21 am

To some posts above...

Whoah, whoah. I know I advocated the skepticism hat, but we don't need to put it on quite so tightly. This whole "These are not the TESV's you're looking for" tactic has been going on since Oblivion's release. Its their policy and their style to dodge any and all questions regarding any projects still in development. If that means obfuscating the truth and outright lying to interviewers, it's what they'll do. It's what they have been doing for a long time.

Bethesda has had to be doing something for the past few years, and there's three possibilities.
1) Working on a new Fallout title:
- Unlikely. Why would Bethesda create a Fallout game that would directly compete with the shelf-life of Fallout New Vegas? It pits Bethesda the Developer against Bethesda the Publisher in profit-making, which is a lose-lose for the company.

2) Working on a new IP:
- Not sensible. New IPs are a risk, are not guaranteed to get profits by any means. They require more work to flesh out ideas and concepts that are already established in a continued title, among other things.

3) Working on TES:V.

Now, if they've been working on something since Oblivion, and full-force since FO3, I'd say the 3rd option is the most likely.

Further, is it possible that this game is going to get announced at E3? Sure. Is it plausible? Not likely. Bethesda has never announced one of their home-developed titles at E3. That, as most of the people around here are aware, is a privilege for Game Informer.

Interesting that Beth's sponsoring QuakeCon. Interest has been perked.

» Fri Jan 07, 2011 8:03 pm

I thought that Zenimax owned the trademark.

Even if it is Bethesda Softworks, gamesas is the publisher for Zeni-O and probably Vir2L too. sooo, yea, i suppose it could technically be an MMO or a travels game. doesn't seem likely to me though, as that means Bethesda hasn't been doing anything for the past 4 years. besides, does http://www.zenimaxonline.com/images/image.jpg look like skyrim to you?

» Fri Jan 07, 2011 8:02 pm

I actually think it's not all that implausible to see it at E3. I could be wrong (it's happened before, like that time... never mind I don't want to talk about that) but we'll see. The "they never have before" mentality doesn't hold all that weight for me, at least not as much as the QuakeCon and GI tweet hold.

But by the end of the week at the very latest we'll know for sure.

» Fri Jan 07, 2011 6:30 pm

I thought that Zenimax owned the trademark.

They do.

» Sat Jan 08, 2011 7:32 am

May be it will be a DOOM 4 on E3

» Sat Jan 08, 2011 9:38 am

Threads are allowed up to 11 pages, which is 200 posts, before they are locked. This is to help with forum speed.

It's actually six if you display 40 posts per page.

» Sat Jan 08, 2011 12:12 am

Really? I didn't know you could change stuff like that.

» Sat Jan 08, 2011 3:40 am

Has anyone considered that they may be focusing on a new IP to compete with Mass Effect? Like a Futuristic RPG? It may seem out of left field, but think about it: With futuristic IPs like Halo and Mass Effect doing so well, and the fact that they already have the Post-Apocalyptic and traditional fanstasy IPs covered, maybe they think they should try their hand at a future fantasy world.

» Sat Jan 08, 2011 2:58 am

just got a link to this page from the tesnexus, i don't know anything about the source but theres always hope where you least expect it....... http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=249363&site=cvg

» Sat Jan 08, 2011 5:50 am

I highly doubt they'd even consider taking on a third IP, considering how small they are.

» Fri Jan 07, 2011 7:10 pm

Has anyone considered that they may be focusing on a new IP to compete with Mass Effect? Like a Futuristic RPG? It may seem out of left field, but think about it: With futuristic IPs like Halo and Mass Effect doing so well, and the fact that they already have the Post-Apocalyptic and traditional fanstasy IPs covered, maybe they think they should try their hand at a future fantasy world.

And leaving Elder Scrolls fans waiting how long for the next Elder Scrolls game? What about their Skyrim trademark and the fact that their new Fallout series is their new series? They can't juggle anymore and fans are already losing all their patience during this wait. Bethesda would be insane to start a new series, now. They have two successful series, so why start a new one that may not sell well when they are guaranteed success from an Elder Scrolls game or a Fallout game?

» Fri Jan 07, 2011 7:28 pm

just got a link to this page from the tesnexus, i don't know anything about the source but theres always hope where you least expect it....... http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=249363&site=cvg

I'm pretty sure that's what we(well, I don't really count as the "we" here) have been discussing for a long time.

» Sat Jan 08, 2011 6:06 am

just got a link to this page from the tesnexus, i don't know anything about the source but theres always hope where you least expect it....... http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=249363&site=cvg

Thats the same source again, that has spread round the net like the plague.

Microsofts press conference tomorrow (i think?). Maybe.... just maybe....

» Sat Jan 08, 2011 1:37 am

So what would we expect from GI if it is ESV? Just a small amount of concept art/game art with an article stating that they have been making it, or more details than that?

» Fri Jan 07, 2011 10:07 pm

So what would we expect from GI if it is ESV? Just a small amount of concept art/game art with an article stating that they have been making it, or more details than that?

I'd expect 3-5 screenshots, the project title, and perhaps a brief synopsis of what the games all about.

I actually preserved my copy of game informer when Oblivion was announced. Bethesda goes into explaining what oblivion (the plane is), the whole storyline, new technology, acquiring the fallout licence, and its followed by numerous screenshots of a few monsters like goblins, minotaurs and daedroth, the aging factor in peoples faces and nicely furnished rooms.

EDIT: In that fallout 3 note, its interesting. Bethesda talked about how your character would have to grow accustom to the sunlight over time and would have to wear some sort of goggles...but this isn't the case in the game.