If you observe NPC's in a crowded town in oblivion, you'll see they most often walk right by each other. Occasionally friends will stop and chat. But please, why is it if I do the exact same thing, don't look at anybody, everyone in a ten-foot radius will stop what they're doing, look at me, then greet me?

Hello!
Something you Need?
Get away from me!

And they ignore for the most part other NPC's? Walking through buildings was especially bad, even moreso in Morrowind, regardless if I shuffle through looking at a wall.
And, to say the magic word "IMMMEERRRSION..." it breaks immersion that the player is singled out for his legion of officious citizens.

New AI in Skyrim, with the new engine. This won't really be a problem anymore.

''I saw a mudcrab today''

Was it fearsome? Just about how fearsome do you think it was?

I'VE FOUGHT MUDCRABS TOUGHER THAN YOU!

i notice the more famous you are in the game. the more people will go out of their way to address you. which makes sense. i mean if you saw your favorite actor musican or whatever you cant honestly say you wouldnt ask for an autograph.

It was better than Morrowind, if only because the greetings were fairly generic. Walking through the Mournhold Royal Palace to a chorus of "Mournhold! City of light, city of magic!" was godawful.

I love how you just magically know the fine details of Bethesda's choice in NPC AI in towns and cities.

Agreed... I subconsciously felt like it wasn't long before everyone went inception on my ass. Then I saw inception, and I realised that the phobia had been perfectly explained.




People just shouldn't treat you like you are God and everything you do is insanely interesting.

Coming up to a group of guards was the worst.

"What say you?"
"What say you?"
"What say you?"
"What say you?"
"What say you?"
"What say you?"

Shut the hell up!

I think people should only say something to you if they're either especially polite, especially rude, or you walk right up to them.

yea i dun like that too im not looking at them wtf they greet me

Or, y'know. He could've watched the E3 footage of walking through the village. But that's just me.

You mean the one where the only NPCs they even went somewhat close to were already engaged in a conversation?

Rohsaan: "I saw a mudcrab the other day"

Guard: (SNIFF)

Rohsaan: 'bye.

Guard: I'm through talking with you.

Very wishful thinking.

I doubt it'll be much of a step-up from Oblivion. It's a new engine but it looks very similar. Also, engine limitations aren't the only thing that create poor AI. The developers' time and skill are the biggest limiting factor. No game's AI is perfect yet.

Remember: When TES IV released the way the npcs acted was groundbreaking for the time. Also remember that technology moves at the speed of light, so when you look back and think about how "crappy" you thought Oblivion was, just look back when you first played Oblivion and remember when you compared it to TES III Morrowind! The cycle repeats..........

You just answered your own question. Most of the PCs were having conversations instead of sitting staring at the main character.