Since the world continues to move and doesn't "freeze" during conversations now what will happen with the random npc conversations? Will their dialogue interfere with your main conversation? Will the volume be toned down? Will random conversations cease to exist?

Might be an overlap however you hear the closest npc far loader and you can alway move closer. I had a problem in Fallout 3 on my new computer in some of the cinematic, the npc who talked was so far away I could not hear him and I could not move closer. Probably an issue with my surround system.

I guess you could get the npc to repeat that they said. This is also important if you get interrupted by a dragon or something.

I am sure they would have thought of this already. They have made three games since oblivion, they know what they're doing.

I am guessing that the volume around you is lowered. However, if an NPC runs up to you with something to say while you are still in conversation, I would guess that the NPC who has something to say to you would be scripted to wait until your current conversation is done.

Purely hypothetical pseudo-code:

if (player)
{
inConverstaion = true;
npcSpeak = wait;
}

else
{
npcSpeak = true;
}

I just want them to keep it the same as Morrowind and Oblivion

As in, conversations freeze time?

But anyway, as to the issue, I'd presume that any conversations you're not involved with will have they're volume lowered and you can only speak to whoever you're having the conversation with. What I'd be more worried about is the possibility of sudden enemy attacks interrupting you're conversation, and that's a problem I have encountered in games with real time dialog before. Will the game let you resume the conversation from where you left off before the distraction? I'd hope so.

bah, just turn on subtitles and it'll be fine.

personally I'm reserving judgement until I can see how the system is implemented. As long as the person doesn't just wander away completely while they're speaking I think it could work well, and it would also serve to prevent those darn interrupting guards during your killing sprees (I'm sure you all do these too).

Well, not that bit :tongue:
I just want to be able to talk to everyone in the world. Not just get a one-line rumour.

I would assume that either time does stand still, but the specific person you're talking to can move around, or that you'll get heavy depth of field, muffled and muted audio, and disabled combat AI while in conversation. Either one is fine by me.

I think for the most part, the system will allow you to lock into conversation with NPCs, regardless of whether the conversation is presented in a free flow form or not. There is still going to be a menu system for choosing replies to conversations, and I would say its safe to assume you will be safe from attack and interuptions when in dialogue with someone, for instance receiving and accepting orders for a quest. I find it very hard to believe in the middle of that, it will be possible for someone to walk up and attack you. That would be silly.

And regardless of the free flow conversation, there still has to be a way to 'initiate' and end conversations....I mean....right?

I just cant imagine that not being true.

They'll probably make it quieter than the person you're speaking with. After all, they are looking directlyat you, and line of sight should amplify the voice. So much easier to here when someone talks directly to your face.

Whaa. What games? The only one they've made is Fallout 3 since Oblivion.

On topic: I guess that you will hear the person you are talking to loud than the others, making the rest of the talk around you just background noise.

I count one.

Also, how is the crime system going to coincide with the new dialogue system? Hopefully you don't accidentally pick up someone's stuff and then try to enter conversation with them and guards magically appear and interrupt you. On the other hand, it would be kind of weird if you commit a crime but the guards don't interrupt your conversation. If both the npc and player can still move around what is the guard going to do? Patiently wait for you to finish conversation?

I'm interested to see how they handled this. I can see a lot of potential bugs/glitches because of this so hopefully we'll get a glimpse of the new dialogue system and even the crime system at E3.

Nope, only Fallout 3.

Fallout 3, Wet(published....) , (and they technically published New Vegas...)

Publishing and developing are two totally different things. Bethesda Game Studios (BGS) develops The Elder Scrolls and Fallout. Bethesda the Publisher publishes the games. They will also publish Brink, Hunted, Rage, and Skyrim.

So no, Bethesda Game Studios nor Bethesda developed WET or New Vegas. Obsidian developed New Vegas and id software is developing Rage.

If youre running from the guards its possible towns NPCs just wont talk to you. Or maybe they do interrupt conversations, which I think would be great.

In any case I hated the Oblivion and Fallout freeze-zoom thing. Not as noticable in Morrowind because... its not like there was any AI to interrupt anyway.