[Julie Ann]

What? How does that make any sense? You're basically saying this:

A world where people know the difference between the companies:
Bob: Hey, did you hear about RAGE? I'm so excited!
Dave: Yeah and TES V was announced yesterday!
Bob: I can't wait for both of them!

A world where people don't know the difference, a.k.a. our world:
Bob: Hey, did you hear about RAGE? I'm so excited!
Dave: Yeah and TES V was announced yesterday!
Bob: Oh damn! I had no idea! Well, as a gamer who apparently has the attention span of a fly, I have absolutely no idea what RAGE is now that TES V has been announced. My memory of it has literally disappeared. I- oh look, a butterfly!!!!
Dave: What the hell is RAGE? I- BUTTERFLY!!!!!

How does that make ANY sense at all?

I guess the only way I can illustrate my point is by using an example. Bioware released Dragon Age: Origins and Mass Effect 2 both within a very small time frame. Being a sequel to an established and celebrated series, Mass Effect 2 enjoyed the bulk of the commercial success.

Would Dragon Age have enjoyed more success if its release was spaced apart from Mass Effect 2's? Maybe. I don't think it's a stretch of the imagination to think that it might behoove people to hold back on an infantile series when a new installment of their favorite series has just been announced.

In what I hope is a fairly objective claim, I'm going to say that while Dragon Age is exercising a lot of potential, the Mass Effect series put out a more polished game overall.

Reading reviews and trying to save money, customers are going to very quickly decide which is the better option. Especially when the same company label is tacked onto both titles.

[Nathan Barker]

They probably came from the Shivering Isles.

What came from the isles?

I really do think that BGS has been working on a new next gen engine for elder scrolls v and fallout 4. I'd be shocked if either of those games ended up on the ps3/360.

[Andy durkan]

I guess the only way I can illustrate my point is by using an example. Bioware released Dragon Age: Origins and Mass Effect 2 both within a very small time frame. Being a sequel to an established and celebrated series, Mass Effect 2 enjoyed the bulk of the commercial success.

Would Dragon Age have enjoyed more success if its release was spaced apart from Mass Effect 2's? Maybe. I don't think it's a stretch of the imagination to think that it might behoove people to hold back on an infantile series when a new installment of their favorite series has just been announced.

In what I hope is a fairly objective claim, I'm going to say that while Dragon Age is exercising a lot of potential, the Mass Effect series put out a more polished game overall.

Reading reviews and trying to save money, customers are going to very quickly decide which is the better option. Especially when the same company label is tacked onto both titles.

While your example holds something to think about, the difference is in an announcement vs a release. FO3NV will be released while it will likely be more than a year before TESV is, so I think there is little to be concerned with there. Also with the published titles, the genre differences along with large enough gaps in their release windows are varied further than DAO and ME2.

[Kim Bradley]

I guess the only way I can illustrate my point is by using an example. Bioware released Dragon Age: Origins and Mass Effect 2 both within a very small time frame. Being a sequel to an established and celebrated series, Mass Effect 2 enjoyed the bulk of the commercial success.

Would Dragon Age have enjoyed more success if its release was spaced apart from Mass Effect 2's? Maybe. I don't think it's a stretch of the imagination to think that it might behoove people to hold back on an infantile series when a new installment of their favorite series has just been announced.

In what I hope is a fairly objective claim, I'm going to say that while Dragon Age is exercising a lot of potential, the Mass Effect series put out a more polished game overall.

Reading reviews and trying to save money, customers are going to very quickly decide which is the better option. Especially when the same company label is tacked onto both titles.

SyltStryder summed up my thoughts perfectly:

While your example holds something to think about, the difference is in an announcement vs a release. FO3NV will be released while it will likely be more than a year before TESV is, so I think there is little to be concerned with there. Also with the published titles, the genre differences along with large enough gaps in their release windows are varied further than DAO and ME2.

[Nienna garcia]

While your example holds something to think about, the difference is in an announcement vs a release. FO3NV will be released while it will likely be more than a year before TESV is, so I think there is little to be concerned with there. Also with the published titles, the genre differences along with large enough gaps in their release windows are varied further than DAO and ME2.

I'll agree with you and Antibody here. I don't think my argument holds any weight if TES V is announced in a year or two's time; and like you, I think it will be. I was addressing the people who correct each other on what's a Bethesda publication and what's a Bethesda development.

The only reason I could think of for those corrections to matter is if TES V is announced any time soon, and so I was gearing an argument in that (hypothetical) direction.

I didn't mean to give the impression that I think a TES V release in the future would mean Bethesda customers suddenly disavowing all previous games.

[Michael Korkia]

I'll agree with you and Antibody here. I don't think my argument holds any weight if TES V is announced in a year or two's time; and like you, I think it will be. I was addressing the people who correct each other on what's a Bethesda publication and what's a Bethesda development.

The only reason I could think of for those corrections to matter is if TES V is announced any time soon, and so I was gearing an argument in that (hypothetical) direction.

I didn't mean to give the impression that I think a TES V release in the future would mean Bethesda customers suddenly disavowing all previous games.

The only reason we correct people, and the reason my response was so harsh, is that it's just ridiculous how many people on Bethesda's own forum don't know the difference between Bethesda Softworks and Bethesda Game Studios. It's this lack of knowledge that will lead to what will likely be the most horrific day in this forum's history; the day the TES MMO is announced. Zenimax Online is developing a MMO which is almost certainly a TES MMO, and I can guarantee you that the vast majority of users on this forum, and 99.9% of gamers on the internet, will think "OMG TES V IS AN MMO BETHESDA BETRAYED US HOW CUD DAY!?!?," no matter how many times Bethesda says they weren't the ones who developed it in their announcement. The only thing that will make it less horrific is if they announce TES V before the MMO, but I have a bad feeling they wont do this. It's my hope that by correcting people on the difference between the two companies, that day will be just a little less maddening.

[Rebecca Clare Smith]

To Bethesda,

Hello and thank you for taking the time to read my post. I first would like to start this forum response off by saying how much I have appreciated TES IV: Oblivion. It's so much more than a game for me and to explain myself within this forum would not be appropriate and would probably take up way to much of everyone's time. I purchased Oblivion on day 1 of its release and the only thing I regret is not getting the collectors edition of the game; I'm still unsure why I chose not to do that. At the time of Oblivions' purchase I was going through a difficult time in my life. Little did I know how much comfort, peace, adventure, and self-withdrawal I was soon about to experience by playing Oblivion. This game came out at such a perfect time for me because I had the money to buy a computer that would run Oblivion extrememly well and I had the time to play it. Bethesda, I really can't express a deeper level of appreciation than what I am expressing here within this forum post. The ironic thing about your game is that over the countless hours I have put into it, I still have not beaten it and I am perfectly fine with that. In my mind, the game should not end.

Now, having said that, I am ready for more! What I am asking for is something extremely small yet overwhelmingly powerful for myself and for everyone else who found a similar sense of adventure that Oblivion was able to produce. What I need could come from a variety of different methods but only one is necessary at this time: picture, words, music, sound effect, email, video, advertisemant, etc. I absolutely need a firm glimpse into Bethesda's next installment of The Elder Scrolls. I don't care if the game is an MMO or First-Person RPG; all I'm asking for is a commitment via any of the methods I just spoke of. I want to know that Bethesda still cares for its Elder Scrolls community. I want to know and I want to have a firm commitment that TES V will happen. Send us an email, show us an early art sketch, or reply to this post that "it will happen". I simply want to know that there is something in the future that we can look forward to that will continue the level of adventure that only an Elder Scrolls game can replicate.

Very much looking forward to your response and once again thank you for Oblivion and the obvious dedication your team took in crafting it,

Mark

[GLOW...]

-snip-

I appreciate your enthusiasm. It took me an incredibly long time (almost six months after buying the game) to finish the Main Quest of Oblivion because I kept getting distracted and went off to do different things.

However, you'll have to wait patiently for news of the next game, as we all are. Some of us have been waiting for years.

[Tha King o Geekz]

-snip-

It's been over 4 years since Oblivion was released, and TES fans have been asking Bethesda for information on TES V ever since then. It's good that you're so enthusiastic about it but I'm sorry to say that you're barking up the wrong tree. Bethesda will release information when they're ready, and nothing we say can change that. If it did, then they would have announced it a long time ago.

[Tammie Flint]

Honestly, Im expecing an announcement this year or in 2011. The announcement about us not seeing a new one for awhile was in august of 09 I believe so 2011 is perfect. Also, BRINK is the only game Bethesda has said anything about since Fallout and Wet. I have a strong feeling after BRINK they will whip out the new elder scrolls. I highly doubt that they will wait for the next generation, just because we wont see that untill roughly 2013 if your being extremely generous with time, and thats if companys start working full force on the new systems now, but at the moment, and for awhile, they will be focusing on their motion controls. Even when you think about it, we have nearly peaked in terms of consoles. There isnt much we can do to improve them with our current technology. Crisis is probably the only game that a PC could handle that the consoles would have some troouble with so we wont be seeing any new systems in years. My wager honestly is an announcement in 2011 and a release sometimes in 2012

[GPMG]

Honestly, Im expecing an announcement this year or in 2011. The announcement about us not seeing a new one for awhile was in august of 09 I believe so 2011 is perfect. Also, BRINK is the only game Bethesda has said anything about since Fallout and Wet. I have a strong feeling after BRINK they will whip out the new elder scrolls. I highly doubt that they will wait for the next generation, just because we wont see that untill roughly 2013 if your being extremely generous with time, and thats if companys start working full force on the new systems now, but at the moment, and for awhile, they will be focusing on their motion controls. Even when you think about it, we have nearly peaked in terms of consoles. There isnt much we can do to improve them with our current technology. Crisis is probably the only game that a PC could handle that the consoles would have some troouble with so we wont be seeing any new systems in years. My wager honestly is an announcement in 2011 and a release sometimes in 2012

Brink is not being made by Bethesda. Neither was WET. Neither is any other game they are publishing. Fallout 3 was the last game they made and the last game they announced they were making.

[Charles Mckinna]

I think it would be best if Bethesda started using a brand name variant like e.g. gamesas as a publisher. This would not only end the confusion but it would also be good for the reputation of the developer that has been tarnished after some unsuccessful titles were recently published.

[Nims]

Random speculation:

I was playing through Morrowind, and I talked to this one dunmer, who mentions that it would be possible for the dunmers of Morrowind to start an uprising in the event that some of the Imperial Legion were withdrawn from Morrowind, which would happen if, for example the emperor died.

I know it's a far shot to hint at this back in Morrowind, but I can't help but suspect that this is a possible plot (main or otherwise) for TES:V.

[Sandeep Khatkar]

Random speculation:

I was playing through Morrowind, and I talked to this one dunmer, who mentions that it would be possible for the dunmers of Morrowind to start an uprising in the event that some of the Imperial Legion were withdrawn from Morrowind, which would happen if, for example the emperor died.

I know it's a far shot to hint at this back in Morrowind, but I can't help but suspect that this is a possible plot (main or otherwise) for TES:V.

There was a book released since Oblivion: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Infernal_City.

Spoiler

Morrowind is destroyed, Red mountain of Vvardenfell erupted, and in the ensuing disaster the Argonians of Black Marsh invaded. There are few Dunmer left in Morrowind. Definitely not enough to fight against the Imperials.

Also, I dont think this is the right thread for this. This thread is for member speculation of when and if TES V will be released.

[butterfly]

Honestly, Im expecing an announcement this year or in 2011. The announcement about us not seeing a new one for awhile was in august of 09 I believe so 2011 is perfect. Also, BRINK is the only game Bethesda has said anything about since Fallout and Wet. I have a strong feeling after BRINK they will whip out the new elder scrolls. I highly doubt that they will wait for the next generation, just because we wont see that untill roughly 2013 if your being extremely generous with time, and thats if companys start working full force on the new systems now, but at the moment, and for awhile, they will be focusing on their motion controls. Even when you think about it, we have nearly peaked in terms of consoles. There isnt much we can do to improve them with our current technology. Crisis is probably the only game that a PC could handle that the consoles would have some troouble with so we wont be seeing any new systems in years. My wager honestly is an announcement in 2011 and a release sometimes in 2012

I agree with you. I have a strong feeling that there will be an announcement this year, most likely QuakeCon and a release early to mid next year.

[Matt Bee]

There was a book released since Oblivion: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Infernal_City.

Spoiler

Morrowind is destroyed, Red mountain of Vvardenfell erupted, and in the ensuing disaster the Argonians of Black Marsh invaded. There are few Dunmer left in Morrowind. Definitely not enough to fight against the Imperials.

Also, I dont think this is the right thread for this. This thread is for member speculation of when and if TES V will be released.

Ah, thank you

Also, oops. I just saw "speculation" in the title and went to the last page to post

[Nick Swan]

There was a book released since Oblivion: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Infernal_City.

Spoiler

Morrowind is destroyed, Red mountain of Vvardenfell erupted, and in the ensuing disaster the Argonians of Black Marsh invaded. There are few Dunmer left in Morrowind. Definitely not enough to fight against the Imperials.

Also, I dont think this is the right thread for this. This thread is for member speculation of when and if TES V will be released.

Vvanderfell was destroyed the rest of Morrowind is still ok if I remember correctly . Ugh I can't stand waiting around for this game , ugh pointless speculation .

[gary lee]

I know it's a far shot to hint at this back in Morrowind, but I can't help but suspect that this is a possible plot (main or otherwise) for TES:V.

It would more of speculative material for TES IV: Oblivion which was unknown at the time. There was the major plot rumour TES IV hint from Geilir the mumbling, in Bloodmoon.

I wish Oblivion had one of these sorts of hints. I'd expect it to be in the Shivering Isles, as Morrowind's was in it's expansion.

[Stacyia]

Hmmm... so let's suppose this is true, seems kind of strange that BGS would not use cutting edge tech if they had the chance, since they have done that with the past two TES games.

Nothing would prevent them from using cutting edge technology. Remember, they still do release games for PC's as well.

There isnt much we can do to improve them with our current technology. Crisis is probably the only game that a PC could handle that the consoles would have some troouble with so we wont be seeing any new systems in years.

That's far from truth. Consoles have trouble with all, not just some, but all games when compared to an adequate gaming PC. PC-versions can have higher fps, better textures, more AA+AF, good resolutions and other higher graphical settings unavailable for consoles. Of course you can make most games run on consoles at low details, but not very well compared to PC-systems.

[Richard Dixon]

I know i usually say that finding patterns in Bethesda's past is futile... and for the most part, it is... but I just realized something. http://i25.tinypic.com/5c0jtg.jpg Since Morrowind was announced, not once has Bethesda done anything major on any months except those highlighted. No announcement of a game, no release of a game, and no release of an expansion, happened on a month other than those highlighted. Hell, all of the Skyrim trademarks were filed on those months, but I just decided not to add them to the list. I really doubt that's all a coincidence. My theory is that May, June and July are because of E3 and the hype surrounding that time. September, October and November are because of the holiday season. And March, well, I have no idea. It's the end of the 2nd quarter of the fiscal year in the U.S. but I doubt that's the reason. Maybe they just like March? I don't know.

Point is, I'm thinking that if Bethesda hasn't diverged from this pattern for 10 years, they wont start doing it any time soon. So while we still can't accurately predict when it will be announced, we can use this to control our hype. Based on this, we shouldn't expect anything to happen in August. If they don't announce it by the end of July we might as well forget about it until September. And if, come November, if nothing has been announced, we should forget about it until March. As so on and so forth.

What do you guys think? I know I'm grasping at straws here but this seems to make for a solid pattern.

[Janeth Valenzuela Castelo]

-snip-

I have more reason to believe this than some of the theories others have posted recently.

[Adrian Powers]

I know i usually say that finding patterns in Bethesda's past is futile... and for the most part, it is... but I just realized something. http://i25.tinypic.com/5c0jtg.jpg Since Morrowind was announced, not once has Bethesda done anything major on any months except those highlighted. No announcement of a game, no release of a game, and no release of an expansion, happened on a month other than those highlighted. Hell, all of the Skyrim trademarks were filed on those months, but I just decided not to add them to the list. I really doubt that's all a coincidence. My theory is that May, June and July are because of E3 and the hype surrounding that time. September, October and November are because of the holiday season. And March, well, I have no idea. It's the end of the 2nd quarter of the fiscal year in the U.S. but I doubt that's the reason. Maybe they just like March? I don't know.

Point is, I'm thinking that if Bethesda hasn't diverged from this pattern for 10 years, they wont start doing it any time soon. So while we still can't accurately predict when it will be announced, we can use this to control our hype. Based on this, we shouldn't expect anything to happen in August. If they don't announce it by the end of July we might as well forget about it until September. And if, come November, if nothing has been announced, we should forget about it until March. As so on and so forth.

What do you guys think? I know I'm grasping at straws here but this seems to make for a solid pattern.

More waiting? :banghead:

[kitten maciver]

SNIP

the evidence looks solid, and it backs up your theory. It's not a guarantee, but statistics never are.

[BlackaneseB]

Someone should just send them an e mail saying this:

Dear Bethesda Game Studios

i'm (insert usurname) from the Elder Scrolls forums, i was wondering if you could tell me if the next Elder Scrolls game is being made?
Thanks
(username)

[Sophh]

Someone should just send them an e mail saying this:

Dear Bethesda Game Studios

i'm (insert usurname) from the Elder Scrolls forums, i was wondering if you could tell me if the next Elder Scrolls game is being made?
Thanks
(username)

I tried that months ago. The response was the same as if you just asked Gstaff via PM. "No announced plans."