[Mrs shelly Sugarplum]

GI update tomarroowwwww ride the hype traiiin!!!!!

[Ricky Meehan]

Dammit! i don't have a subscription, so ima have to either buy the issue, or, more realistically, wait for some scans to surface.


Unless some good Samaritan would like to PM the scans... I'm not pressuring you, just throwing that out there.

[Laura-Jayne Lee]

Yes, it's going to be updated tomorrow. Nobody knows for sure what the update will be yet, though.

Maybe we'll finally get some HD screens, or perhaps a....gameplay video?

:intergalactic:

[Jack Bryan]

Maybe we'll finally get some HD screens, or perhaps a....gameplay video?

:intergalactic:

I imagine it'll be something like an article on their first thoughts, the pluses and minuses, etc.

A gameplay video would be awesome, but I think that is something Bethesda would want to reveal themselves.

[Soph]

*crosses fingers for evidence of attributes to once and for all lay the discussion to rest*

[Nany Smith]

Maybe we'll finally get some HD screens, or perhaps a....gameplay video?

:intergalactic:

Sadly, folks around the forum have been saying it has already been confirmed that there will be no gameplay video in the hub at all. I haven't seen the source, so I don't know if it's true, but I've seen it said more than a few times. I definitely wouldn't mind some screens though, even if they are the same ones from the magazine. But I have a feeling they're just going to expand on some of the gameplay topics mentioned in the article, such as Radiant Story, because more than once in the article it says "To learn more about X Feature, visit gameinformer.com/skyrim." The magazine is supposed to reach most subscribers tomorrow, and when they read this and try to go to the given address, they're going to expect the information. So I assume that's what GI has planned for the update.

*crosses fingers for evidence of attributes to once and for all lay the discussion to rest*

Amen to that.

[Kathryn Medows]

Maybe we'll finally get some HD screens, or perhaps a....gameplay video?

:intergalactic:

Well I think the video is out of the picture.

From past hubs I've followed there isn't really much on game play until later on. It's mostly just profiles for characters, back story, lore, and stories on creating the game. There might be some high-res pictures though.

[Lisha Boo]

GI update tomarroowwwww ride the hype traiiin!!!!!

Choooo Choooooo!

[Barbequtie]

Does anybody know what time Game Informer usually updates their hub?

[Siobhan Thompson]

Found it.

"Explore the mundane through farming, mining, woodcutting, or even cooking. Towns are filled with activities when you're looking for a break from life-and-death adventuring."

Thanks for finding that. "Explore the mundane" doesn't so exciting though does it? I wonder what this farming is all about? I also remember someone saying the article mentioned crafting but its not listed there in that quote?

[Kayleigh Mcneil]

I think woodcutting will be a fairly simple activity, relying on your strength attrivutre or blunt skill if any, that will involve you pressing the attack button at a tree to chop it into pieces and then selling them or using them for something like making a fire.

[Matt Bee]

Thanks for finding that. "Explore the mundane" doesn't so exciting though does it? I wonder what this farming is all about? I also remember someone saying the article mentioned crafting but its not listed there in that quote?

What are you looking for in "crafting?" Like making your own weapons and armor? One of the screenshots seems to be of the skills screen, and on the very right there is a skill that starts with the letters "Smi" but is cut off. Most people, myself included, assume it is smithing, and some people have come to the conclusion that weapons and armor making fall under this skill.

[Megan Stabler]

Choooo Choooooo!

Chugga Chugga! If the hub does reveal a gameplay video of Skyrim I will soil my pants in three different ways, though I doubt there will be one. We can always hope. Second best would be some High res screenies.

[Anne marie]

Choooo Choooooo!

chugga chugga chugga chugga chugga chugga chugga chugga

[laila hassan]

Chugga Chugga! If the hub does reveal a gameplay video of Skyrim I will soil my pants in three different ways, though I doubt there will be one. We can always hope. Second best would be some High res screenies.

People have been saying it has been confirmed that there will be no gameplay footage at all in the hub.

Speaking of which, does anybody have the source for that?

[Claudz]

What are you looking for in "crafting?" Like making your own weapons and armor? One of the screenshots seems to be of the skills screen, and on the very right there is a skill that starts with the letters "Smi" but is cut off. Most people, myself included, assume it is smithing, and some people have come to the conclusion that weapons and armor making fall under this skill.

I thought somebody listed crafting and smithing as two separate things. I wonder how in depth the smithing will be though? Will we be able to break down items and use the materials to upgrade weapons and create new and unique items or will it be like shivering isles where we bring material to the smith and choose to have him make a sword or a piece of armor?

[No Name]

does anyone know for certain if spell customization is still available? i like to mix up my spell effects to create devastating spells.
EDIT: oh and do you know if there are new races and what they might be?

[Vincent Joe]

does anyone know for certain if spell customization is still available? i like to mix up my spell effects to create devastating spells.
EDIT: oh and do you know if there are new races and what they might be?

I'm not sure if spell customization is still in but I'm willing to bet it is.

The Game Informer article confirmed that there will be ten playable races, the same number as in Oblivion and Morrowind, so I assume they will be the same races that were in those games. Those were Argonian, Breton, Dark Elf, High Elf, Kahjiit, Imperial, Orc, Nord, Redguard, and Wood Elf.

[Brιonα Renae]

I'd like to know what they've done to the races, aesthetics and their game play differences.

I doubt the Yoku will be beetles, or the Argonians toads. Be fitting if they were.

[Isaac Saetern]

The Skyrim issue of Game Informer will be available for sale in stores around the 14th of January.

Copied from the previous thread:

Spoiler

The February Game Informer Cover Thread XVII


The Skyrim cover was revealed at 11:00 AM CST!!!!!!

"And yeah, once people read this, heads will explode." - Andy McNamara, Editor-In-Chief of Game Informer

When responding to a question asking how the game looks:

As most of us know the February issue of the Game Informer magazine will feature 14 whole pages of Skyrim information/pictures/awesomeness.
The prestigious cover of the mag will also belong to Skyrim!

This thread is for thoughtful discussion and speculation of the topic and what we think will be revealed. Once the cover has been revealed we can keep all discussions to this series of threads so the mods don't have to spend all their time redirecting people's rants about how the cover is "zomg cool". Once the Mag is shipped to subscribers we can post small bits of information to share with other forum members who don't subscribe to GI.

For information on the rules of posting info on the magazine click on this Magnificent Link.*
It seems people keep missing the above Magnificent link. GO READ THAT BEFORE POSTING ABOUT THE ARTICLE PLEASE. It covers the forum rules on Scans, Transcripts and Links. Thank you - Outlander

*

Fortunately Todd Howard has already stated that "when we show it, we want to show a lot, because there's a lot of game there to play right now." Link

Here is the link to the Game Informer article on the matter: Link

Here is the link to the Bethesda Podcast in which Todd Howard touches on the subject: Link
(They start talking about GI around the 6:50 mark in the podcast if anyone just wants to skip to it.) - Wahoo

"They saw a lot [Game Informer visited the office of Bethesda last week] and I think, I hope, everybody is surprised with how much stuff were showing. It's... it's a lot. We wanted to sorta compress the amount of time that we talked about the game. It's still eleven months, it's a long time, but traditionally we're going on like two years talking about a game, so we start out very slow and we wanted to come out of the gate with a lot of... A lot of STUFF. So I think the fans will be excited." - Todd Howard


"And wait until you see what this game is all about! Mind...blown..." - Andrew Reiner

"Our Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim coverage has expanded from 12 pages to 14, making it our largest game-based cover story." - Andrew Reiner Link


If anyone has any other information then post it here and I will add it to the first post.

What we have learned so far (copied from MrTamarian's Got The Magazine thread):

Spoiler

Confirmed Features:

-2-handed weapons and duel wielding confirmed.

-A variation of level scaling.

-18 skills.

-Perk picking at every level-up

-Finishing moves, unique to each weapon and enemy you fight.

-Dynamic Shadows

-Kids

-Overhauled Combat-system Example Dual wielding spells, able to pick diffrent spells for each hand, or put the same in both for a more powerful effect.)

Radiant story

-5 Major Cities

-Improved Faces/Improved Models Example: Faces have been dramatically overhauled. Characters now exhibit more emotion show of distinctions between different races and just plain looks better.


-Radiant AI

-Updated Engine Snow falls dynamically (not as a basic texture on the ground)
Trees and branches move independently with the wind
Water flows and huge draw distances !

-The Hero has a mentor: His name is Esbern and Voiced by Mark Von Sydow (Surviving Blade)

-The game takes place 2 centuries after Oblivion

-Initiating a conversation between a NPC no longer zooms: Quote (Conversations aren't done in a zoomed in static shot anymore. Start a conversation with some and they will act like someone would in real life, looking at you occasionally and walking around a bit and also continue doing a task if they were doing one while talking.)

-Sprint is added !

-Randomly generated quests.

-Beards

- Dialog will pop up when you approach an enemy

- You can't run backwards as fast as you do forward.

- 10 races to choose from

- confirmed creatures: zombies, skeletons, trolls, giants, ice wraiths, giant spiders, dragons, wolves, horses Elk, mammoth, saber-toothed cats

- presumeably open cities (as dragons can attack)

- cooking/farming/mining/woodcutting/blacksmithing

-Hud-free first-person view and improved third-person perspective

-5 Magic Schools Destruction Alteration Conjuration Restoration Illusion. (Alchemy Enchant (now added) are not magic schools (?) )

-very unique landscapes! Also unique dungeons! In other words, lots of uniqueness!

-Character creation improved, body features customizable

-Radiant story

-Plot: The plot is that you are possibly the last Dragonborn, a group characterized by their ability to hunt dragons. The Septim line was a prominent Dragonborn line protected by the Dragonguards which eventually became the blades. After the death of the Septim line, the Blades were hunted down and killed one by one and now are almost completely gone. The return of the dragons was foretold in the Elder Scrolls and was ushered in by the destruction of the Staff of Chaos, the creation of the Numidium, the events at Red Mountain and the Oblivion Crisis. The last event to unfold before the dragons return was the people of Skyrim turning against each other which is happening at the beginning of the game. Dragons start to appear in greater and greater numbers as the game goes on and will eventually culminate with Alduin possibly coming into the world, but we have no idea yet.

-Combat: The combat system has once again been overhauled. Now you may choose what you place in each hand, whether it be a sword and shield, dagger and sword, two swords or even a weapon in one hand and a spell in another. Assaulting with your shield is now apart of melee combat, being able to shield bash them to stagger them to give yourself an advantage in combat. Spells can now be dedicated to a certain hand meaning you can fight with your left hand aflame while your right hand is charged with lightning. Ranged combat has been improved by increasing the damage bows deal significantly, so much so that it is possible for one to one shot an npc from stealth but also so the draw time of your bow has been increased. Ranged combat shouldn't be able to be abused from stealth like in Oblivion due to the fact that NPCs are FAR more intelligent than any TES game ever and possibly any game to date, we shall see.

Have something new to add to the list? Post and I will try to add it.

Useful Links:
http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1156583-skyrim-game-informer-thread-xvii/
http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1156392-got-the-magazine-iii/
http://www.gameinformer.com/p/esv.aspx

And the hyping has begun

[Josephine Gowing]

Im excited for more on the backstory and lore..a lot to be answered.

[Cheville Thompson]

I'm just waiting on them to announce weapon unlocks every few levels and killstreaks to go with the dual wielding and sprinting they've added.

[Charlotte Lloyd-Jones]

I'm just waiting on them to announce weapon unlocks every few levels and killstreaks to go with the dual wielding and sprinting they've added.

All Bethesda is doing is building stuff into the game that modders would have needed to add (without the same resources) after it was released. I'm disappointed they reduced the number of skills, sure, but I doubt we can really say at this point how the game will do overall in the 'dumbing down' argument.

[Rhi Edwards]

regarding the 85 spell effects from pete hines, did he mean effects like drain skill, summons, curse of weakness etc. Or did he mean that thunderstorm will now be a ****ing thunderstorm and Blizzard will be an actual blizzard and not just i giant blue fireball? that has been one the biggest turns off for me creating a mage class within TES. the fact that magic was just 3 different coloured blobs of various sizes.

[Isaac Saetern]

Im excited for more on the backstory and lore..a lot to be answered.

Indeed. Without giving spoilers, I think it would especially be appropriate to have such information as available factions, their degree of interaction - hopefully, who doesn't want faction alliance or mistrust to play a part, as well as quests involving backstabbing this or that faction ; it would be nice also to exactly know whether multiple paths in quests will be implemented, and to what extent.

The GI was very shiny, I can see why you would need to put forward the new stuff, and I'm happy about it : but there's a need also to re-assure on the subject of maybe less sale-making subjects, such as the society of Skyrim.