Hello there good ppl!!!

I ve been a fan of the Elder Scrolls for some time now. Ive noticed that these "games" have been evolving, slowly slowly, if ever so slowly, into being more and more realistic. Having a profound love for this kind of "simulations", since no one in his or hers right mind could call this type of game, a "game", right?? ...er...Theres by far, far more to it, then it seems. These "games" are not longer games in the tradional sense. Games were the ones for nintendos gameboy.

This is something else. This here, from the beguining of Arena to Skrym, is the Simulation of a LIFE. True, a totally digital one, that is not online(mores the pitty), but nonetheless it does not lose at all its masterfull charm. Specially for one reason. Im sure many more could be added, but, this one im sure is of prime importance:

The graphics.

The graphics, the freadom and yet again, the graphics make this simualtion, this kind of "game", be a Virtual reality simulation...Just missing the goggles and a few other attachements to ones body...Indeed, if anything, in 40 years time, such machines will be the norm. Pretty soon, the "Matrix" will not be such a far away concept. I mean in the sense of plugged "humans", physically, and only that. Im sure that there are many that will want that. Starting in Japan for sure. Japanese "Jhonny Menemonics", plugged to the Net...(and old echo for an old desire...of connection...Quantumness...)

Must admit that, it escapes me why would one wish to simualte a LIFE, when, indeed, one happens to have one...no? Just a point to consider...........And one that is very true for the many Japanese, Korean, Chinese, American and many other nationalitys that for many reasons use these digital constructs has escapisms. Specialy the onlines ones. But i disgress, i do not wish to make an anolyses of the reason why so many kids just seem to connect so easelly with these digital simulations, and, totally forget that they do indeed have a Life. At least these RPGs that are not online, have an end...for better or worse:)

Now, im 31, and i do like these "games". In truth, it was in my younger years because of them, that i managed to gear up(muster and train my logistics:) the strengh to develep a certain way of travelling, that to this day, came from the such simulations. Im originally from Portugal, and for 7 years i have travelled alot in Europe. There were cases of it just being me and my backpack, and the camp:).
An inspiration that to this day still makes my feet tingle:)
When i was younger, these games, Specially Elder Scrolls Arena, made me simulate how to travel. Oh indeed, it was all pretty much just in the a "game" with mages, monsters and sword wielding tin cans, but for me, since at the time i could NOT go anywhere(before i was 18) these RPGs where an escapism. Yet, also more then that, these "games" can teach, if, like in anything in life, one can learn. What they teach might seem irrelevant, yet, it all has its litle place in Life. Has all you know, life or LIFE is made of many small things that from universes upon universes(matter to cells), arrange themselves to create, in this case, us...and our free WILL:)

Anyway, a good example of such incredible imaginative games could be Sierras Quest for Glory 3 and 4. Games that where amasing beyound doubt. Not to mention the masterfull Wing Commander from Origin...i know, i know, the last one is not an RPG, but the simulation of a life was there. Amasing games that were MILES ahead of the usual "gameboy bananas". They taugh, in their own way, a lesson. Irrelevant if it is a fantasy setting or a futuristic space age setting, such games teach a lesson. Even if it is just one of imagination:)

Could this be though, this "game", the next gen in this type of Story telling, "life simulation"???

Oblivion was masterfull, and the took the concept of "game" wayyyy to the next level. It is the REALISM, specially of the forests, people and citys(the graphics) that made and make it so immersive, not to mention the complex programmed Life style IA. Well done indeed for the Master Programmers at Bestheda!!! Trully! Ah! Amasing bloody work!........But, alas, despite all that, after a awhile, the clouds do not speak, the lights do not linger, the star shines and one hunts the deers for venison, but, amist all of this, theres a lack for emotion(not to mention that very few actors made all the voices. Indeed, how FAR will one go for realism??). It is not so much a lack of sideplots, since they are there, but i would say a lack of instilling emotion on the player. A comparisson could be how Dragon Age managed to be so immersive. One example, if one starts has a city Elf from Denerim, who gets married only to have his new wife stolen, one then has the option to go after the captors, to kill them or not. Acept a bribe and leave, or cleave their heads. Im not saying that Dragon age is perfect, since, it is not, but, its Story has tbe ability to be more immersive then Oblivion. More twists and definitly better acting!!! It may be just a personnal choice, a stupid mistake of mine, but, i believe there is more emotion to Dragon Age then to Oblivion. Emotion and deep deep deep indeed story line, is the Key. Oblivion has a potential....that....well, its like a Dream...and awaken digital dream...
Lest us not forget also that this Fantasy setting is a VERY beaten track....beaten WAYYY beyound its lifespan...yet, if Dragon age, a game so traditionalised managed to have the Emotion in its Story to captivate the players and be a HUGE sucess.......well, im sure Bethesda is awhere of its Rivals:)

Alas, though, Obvlion after a while just becomes too repetitive...despite its huge world, if i may make a strange comparisson, it still does not look like a trully huge world. One needs only to see the GTAs(the last 2), to see just how amasingly well detailed a huge modern City can be....its just breathtaking....a simulation that i dare say, bloody hell, is [censored] very well made. Just missing the googles indeed!!!!
I know Oblivion could not have that kind of stuff, huge cities....yet, Daggerfall had, and so did Arena. Granted much was only repetion after repetion...but, if a village is a village with just a few houses...indeed, looks a bit weird. Realism, Realism is the key. It kind of like catches you in ass. Unwhare. For those that played Elderscrools Daggerfall, despite the HUGE bugs and crashed windows 95, that game was trully huge!!! Yet, for all that, the lack of emotion made it repetitive...freedom to wander wherever one wants, with out any kind of emotional response, just makes things, to speak plainly...boring...probaly pretty much like this thread...too long and too many words...

Well, a good few books good probably be written about this phenomena of this Digital "TRON", hehe, , sort of "matrix" digital mania with " GAMES", simulations, that keep us simulating lives in amasing places....I for sure will not forget the Elder Scrools Morrowind and when i was hunting with my bow along the "ash vampires" quarantine mountain...er, i sort of forgot the name of the place. Anyway, another masterpiece Morrowind...Turlly amasing, plus, the NPCs, despite having less programming, actually did have alot to say!!!!!! I know it takes alot of gigapyte to have long winded NPCs, but, really, it made the world more interesting to explore:)

Well, i can say is that i hope SKRYM will be the mother of all [censored] RPGs. It deserves to be something....Shattering...

So far, the EMOTION is there. The NORDIC VALHALLA type music is there. The warrior THEME is there. The Hunt in one minds eye, in the vast the snow wilds is there...hehe, indeed, do i dare say that we has humans beings, has "modern" humanbeings, that for 1000 of years were hunteres and warriors, turn to these simulations for that "oddddddddddd" desire and feeling of...........???Hehehhe i do dare to say it!!!
Well, Truth is, this level of modern, electrical sociaty, is indeed very much NEW...considering the old ways...............Just something to ponder:)

Im sure in every man(and adventurous women:) rests a warrior...and a shaman...

Indeed, theres alot to be said about these "games"...is there not???

Happpppppppppppppy new year ppl and dont forget to go camping!!!!! I assure you the trees look much better then in Oblivion!!! haha!

cool story bro!
haha, it can see you have got a pretty big opinion on how TES V should be, and i respect that.
i also agree that realism is key, well maby not realism per se, but believability i think would be a more accurate term. its hard to ask for a game being realistic when shooting fireballs from your fingertips is common place :L