[Josh Trembly]

Any clues on what this game is? Any signs pointing to tesv or is it just as likely its something different? Is it going to be shown before e3 2011?

If they plan on releasing it before 2012 it will almost assuredly be shown at E3 in order to get the biggest coverage, E3 is like the super bowl of games, speaking of which! That's another thing! They will want to announce it before next years super bowl(2011) so they can put the trailer on it considering the super bowl next year I think is February 6 an announcement in the next two months seems Highly likely. oops, ditto sorry for double post.

[Amie Mccubbing]

I belive they will advertise the game before they release the second book, the books are all about advertising (and money)
Book one is one of all the hints they make before advertising TESV, when they say "OK, it is TESV we are working on, here take a look"
and while we are waiting for the game , the book two will come and shorten our pain and maybe tell us some more history of TESV before release, just to keep the hype up.

hmm. another conspiracy could be that they dont want any more TES series, and whipe out the world of TES with an meteor in the second book......HAHA
that would for sure ruin my day.

[Liii BLATES]

Do you think Bethesda took the advice here on the forum to heart or is trying to appeal to the masses? I think we are a huge minority of the profit that Bethesda gets off of the Elder Scrolls and I wonder if they would sacrifice what we love about the game to make the game more accessible to the masses (somewhat done in Oblivion). I'm going to speculate here and say they do take advice from the community, I have some faith that the complaints on these forums go through to them. This would be a good question for an interviewer to ask Todd.

http://probablefailure.com/2010/09/15/elder-scrolls-v-speculation/ I'm not sure if any of it has been repeated before, but still with sharing.

I want to believe that Todd will come out after the game is announced and say things like, "we heard what the old guard fan-base had to say about some things in Oblivion and we've worked hard to balance accessibility and the concerns expressed by many of our fans." Will he say that? I have no idea. I want to believe the next TES installment will be more challenging and deeper than Oblivion, but the all powerful dollar has the final say with any mass marketed business venture.

There were a lot of reasons Oblivion sold better than Morrowind. It was available on more popular consoles, it's predecessor, Morrowind,was more popular than Daggerfall. And let's face it, it was just more accessible as a game. Most of the new generation of 'gamers' ( I hate that term), simply do not have the patience, desire, or wherewithal to face a black map, not knowing where anything is, and having to literally stumble around, explore, and get killed trying to find a city. For me, that's the magic of a RPG set in a foreign realm, but for many it's not.

I'm not such a Morrowind lover that I just simply want Morrowind II. I would like a new setting, new AI advancements, new physics advancements, original storyline...lots of new things and innovations. Just don't hold my hand as much as Oblivion.

I think they'll figure out a way.

[Breanna Van Dijk]

You sure you played Halo: Reach? because Reach is almost completely different than Halo 3 as far as looks go. It looks like a completely different game, because it is. It's a huge up in the graphics.

If you say so, I have played both Halo 3 and got Reach on release but I don't find it to be amazing or great in terms of....well nothing...

[Kay O'Hara]

Why do people keep putting console owners down? I own a 360 and have probably put more hours into tes than many pc owners. Also a large proportion, if not most, of the funds that are used to develop these games in the first place comes from console owners. Lets have some perspective, not all console owners are stupid with short attention spans. Just thought I'd point that out.

[MARLON JOHNSON]

Why do people keep putting console owners down? I own a 360 and have probably put more hours into tes than many pc owners. Also a large proportion, if not most, of the funds that are used to develop these games in the first place comes from console owners. Lets have some perspective, not all console owners are stupid with short attention spans. Just thought I'd point that out.

If you were referring to my post I actually wasn't trying to imply anything about console users. I was merely saying that because Oblivion was on both the 360 and PS3, systems that have vastly more users than the original Xbox, the potential player base was much larger for Oblivion and hence one of the reasons it sold more copies than Morrowind. I play many games on the 360 and could never be accused of wanting dumbed down games so I don't think all console users are stupid with short attention spans.

What I was implying, however, is that the game itself was extremely accessible, so much so that a lot of people who would normally have excused themselves from playing the game, felt right at home. I'm still not saying they're dumb.

[sharon]

I've just read up on all the interviews, and man... if I wasn't excited before, I sure am now.

[Susan Elizabeth]

Why do people keep putting console owners down? I own a 360 and have probably put more hours into tes than many pc owners. Also a large proportion, if not most, of the funds that are used to develop these games in the first place comes from console owners. Lets have some perspective, not all console owners are stupid with short attention spans. Just thought I'd point that out.

I own Oblivion and Fallout 3 on PC and XBOX, and play on both. It's not the console owners that get put down (although some people chose to target them) but it's simply that working with a console owned by a single company is restricting for the developers because of limiting hardware. Many features were cut from Oblivion (as seen from the E3 videos) simply because the more restricted XBOX and PS3 hardware couldn't put up with the stress. Also, Sony and Microsoft are pretty strict as to who gets to mess around with their stuff, disallowing player made content for games (mods, content not made within the game itself).

The huge open world games that Bethesda makes consisting of huge texture and model databases, the sound effects, and now huge stock of voice files is insanely limited when developed on external consoles as you can't simply install 2-3 DVDs on your 20-60GB hard drive (never mind running off of the DVD!).

However, consoles being easier accessible makes them where the money is; and although Bethesda is hugely independant it does have it's confines within the publisher's and console owners (Sony and Microsoft) rules and limitations.

[Cartoon]

Many features were cut from Oblivion (as seen from the E3 videos) simply because the more restricted XBOX and PS3 hardware couldn't put up with the stress.

What I don't get is why people toss this around like it's actually a fact. List one feature as seen in the E3 demo that was cut from the game because of XBOX hardware. Just one, that's all I need.

Maybe, it was just the fact that not every PC owner has a computer that can run Crysis on max graphics? Could that possibly be why they limit their games? I mean a lot of people still have a hard time running Oblivion on their pc, and the game is 4 years old now. Some things like shadows were obviously cut because their engine by the time of Oblivion wasn't optimized enough to even have them on the PC version without lag.

[Sarah Bishop]

Do not forget that Gamebyro was also pretty far behind other engines at the time. There's a reason most of Bethesda's games aren't exactly the best graphics around (they're pretty good, but they get old very quickly. I mean Crysis came out around the same time as Oblivion, and the difference is clear).

Perhaps their newly upgraded engine will be far more powerful. Hopefully they will use my question I posted in the Questions Thread for the next podcast. I'd really like the know just how much stronger it really is.

[CxvIII]

GOOD GRAVY PEOPLE.

You know what I really hate? Coming on to a speculation thread and seeing a console flame war. Keep to the topic at hand.

Also, fantastic work NMM.

[Causon-Chambers]

Anything of value in the new podcast?

[Wayne W]

Anything of value in the new podcast?

Not as it relates to speculation of TESV, but I found a few things interesting. I wished they had answered more questions. There wasn't anything earth shattering but I found it entertaining and interesting none-the-less.

[suzan]

Was TES:V mentioned at all? Or at least the new game they are developing, was it talked about at all? I can't listen to it because of bandwidth limits.

[Mike Plumley]

Was TES:V mentioned at all? Or at least the new game they are developing, was it talked about at all? I can't listen to it because of bandwidth limits.

They only alluded to it in a way so very early on to basically state that they weren't going to talk about "it". I can't even recall exactly how they said it, but basically something along the lines of, "and were answering some questions today, of course not about our secret projects, but from posts on our community forum..."

[Nicole Coucopoulos]

Sigh. What a letdown. I was hoping for at least a 10 second discussion about their secret project. But nothing.

WTB TES:V announcement, 300g. PST

[Jessie Rae Brouillette]

What I don't get is why people toss this around like it's actually a fact. List one feature as seen in the E3 demo that was cut from the game because of XBOX hardware. Just one, that's all I need.

Maybe, it was just the fact that not every PC owner has a computer that can run Crysis on max graphics? Could that possibly be why they limit their games? I mean a lot of people still have a hard time running Oblivion on their pc, and the game is 4 years old now. Some things like shadows were obviously cut because their engine by the time of Oblivion wasn't optimized enough to even have them on the PC version without lag.

Well, for starters soft shadows were cut, too much for the consoles. The grass distance, where it grows as you move towards it was another very obvious one.

People "toss this around" because it is fact. Look at the E3 videos, there's also some confirmation on the web if you look for it, other than what is obvious to your eyes. They got ahead with what computers at the time could handle, and had to cut a bunch of features because the consoles simply did not have the processing power to deliver such visuals and large landscapes at that magnitude.

An example of processing power not being up to snuff, again is the stunted "Radiant AI" seen in the E3 video, too many scripts running at once, computers at the time could handle it, the consoles (combined with more bloated and unoptimized software of the time) could not. It's not an argument, it's fact. Computers can be upgraded with memory, new graphics cards, larger and faster hard drives. The simple answer here is that consoles can not (the N64 Expansion pack, the only withstanding example I can give of one), they are running with the same hardware since launch, uniformity is what defines them. You can't design a game for the most high end computers because it isn't super accessible, corners need to be cut. Sad but true.

For the record, as I said, I own it on both PC and XBOX, enjoy it on both.

[Lisha Boo]

An example of processing power not being up to snuff, again is the stunted "Radiant AI" seen in the E3 video, too many scripts running at once, computers at the time could handle it, the consoles (combined with more bloated and unoptimized software of the time) could not. It's not an argument, it's fact. Computers can be upgraded with memory, new graphics cards, larger and faster hard drives. The simple answer here is that consoles can not (the N64 Expansion pack, the only withstanding example I can give of one), they are running with the same hardware since launch, uniformity is what defines them. You can't design a game for the most high end computers because it isn't super accessible, corners need to be cut. Sad but true.

Not the situation. Radiant AI was plucked out because the NPCs kept killing each other to get what they wanted. They could have worked around this by adding differant ways to get what you want but they had no time.

[Bethany Watkin]

Well, for starters soft shadows were cut, too much for the consoles. The grass distance, where it grows as you move towards it was another very obvious one.

People "toss this around" because it is fact. Look at the E3 videos, there's also some confirmation on the web if you look for it, other than what is obvious to your eyes. They got ahead with what computers at the time could handle, and had to cut a bunch of features because the consoles simply did not have the processing power to deliver such visuals and large landscapes at that magnitude.

An example of processing power not being up to snuff, again is the stunted "Radiant AI" seen in the E3 video, too many scripts running at once, computers at the time could handle it, the consoles (combined with more bloated and unoptimized software of the time) could not. It's not an argument, it's fact. Computers can be upgraded with memory, new graphics cards, larger and faster hard drives. The simple answer here is that consoles can not (the N64 Expansion pack, the only withstanding example I can give of one), they are running with the same hardware since launch, uniformity is what defines them. You can't design a game for the most high end computers because it isn't super accessible, corners need to be cut. Sad but true.

For the record, as I said, I own it on both PC and XBOX, enjoy it on both.

That's funny, because 360s were new at the time, and therefore equivalent to the gaming PCs of the time, and PS3s hadn't even been released, yet. It's always the consoles that get blamed, even when we're talking about a poorly optimized, 4 1/2 year old game that came out right at the beginning of the 360's life and before the beginning of the PS3's life. Hmmmm...

[Andrew Lang]

Do not forget that Gamebyro was also pretty far behind other engines at the time. There's a reason most of Bethesda's games aren't exactly the best graphics around (they're pretty good, but they get old very quickly. I mean Crysis came out around the same time as Oblivion, and the difference is clear).

Perhaps their newly upgraded engine will be far more powerful. Hopefully they will use my question I posted in the Questions Thread for the next podcast. I'd really like the know just how much stronger it really is.

Somewhat better looking than Fable 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIVNkQwbxzU
It actually starts around 2:00 in. How do I know this? Because as Cevat Yerli (yeah, that guy that produced Crysis) said, [There's not going to be much competition in terms of graphics until the next generation of consoles] Meaning people have for the most part maxed out what current console hardware can do. Why does Rage look better than other games? John Carmack's Megatexture stuff, otherwise as he said they do their stuff pretty much like everyone else. And since Bethesda isn't using Id Tech 5, then Bethesda's next game will look, well pretty much like everyone elses in terms of shiny shiny.

[John N]

That's funny, because 360s were new at the time, and therefore equivalent to the gaming PCs of the time, and PS3s hadn't even been released, yet.

Puhlease. The 360 has 512 MB RAM, my 2003 PC had a gig.

[Taylah Illies]

John Carmack's Megatexture stuff

Exactly. Tricks like the Megatexture thing are the only real way to squeeze any extra performance out of the current generation. Then again, I'm okay with that, make companies work for their great graphics (or, on the flip side, make them work to make games, you know, GAMES instead of selling on graphics only. I'm looking at you Crysis!).

Now, TES V might not look better than current games on the market, but that's just fine with me, so long as it looks better than Oblivion or Fallout 3, which, honestly, are starting to look pretty dated by now.

[Elle H]

Well, for starters soft shadows were cut, too much for the consoles. The grass distance, where it grows as you move towards it was another very obvious one.

People "toss this around" because it is fact. Look at the E3 videos, there's also some confirmation on the web if you look for it, other than what is obvious to your eyes. They got ahead with what computers at the time could handle, and had to cut a bunch of features because the consoles simply did not have the processing power to deliver such visuals and large landscapes at that magnitude.

An example of processing power not being up to snuff, again is the stunted "Radiant AI" seen in the E3 video, too many scripts running at once, computers at the time could handle it, the consoles (combined with more bloated and unoptimized software of the time) could not. It's not an argument, it's fact. Computers can be upgraded with memory, new graphics cards, larger and faster hard drives. The simple answer here is that consoles can not (the N64 Expansion pack, the only withstanding example I can give of one), they are running with the same hardware since launch, uniformity is what defines them. You can't design a game for the most high end computers because it isn't super accessible, corners need to be cut. Sad but true.

For the record, as I said, I own it on both PC and XBOX, enjoy it on both.

All I'm asking is how you "know" this as a fact. Radiant AI was cut (for the most part, some parts were left in) because it was buggy, not because of processing power. I'm not trying to start a console vs. pc war, and I'm not trying to accuse you of doing so or "hating on" consoles.

My main point is that there are very many alternative "theories" that could be the cause of these things, but people have to all the sudden jump to consoles being at fault, which I wouldn't have a problem with accepting as long as the developers were to confirm this. It's just that there are no sources for this "fact" and I hate how people wave it around as if they know.

If anything I would guess that any graphical hold backs would be due to their engine.

[edit] Anyways I'm really sorry for taking this off-topic. I'm just like really excited for this game and there's nothing to speculate on, or with other that an announcement date.

[Julia Schwalbe]

[edit] Anyways I'm really sorry for taking this off-topic. I'm just like really excited for this game and there's nothing to speculate on, or with other that an announcement date.

We've all shown (including myself) time and time again that when we have nothing to speculate on, we always and without fail find something to argue about.

I think we should all keep in mind that sometimes it's best to just not post here at all when there's nothing to speculate on. That's not directed towards anyone in particular, it's directed towards everyone. We do far too much arguing here and not enough speculating. And when there is no speculating to be done, we should simply not post.

[Roberta Obrien]

Can someone who lives close to Bethesda HQ lurk around their windows, spying for some new information.. LOL..remember to :bolt: fast so they dont catch you.
But i'll guess Bethesda TESV team is locked in the basemant with no windows :lmao: