I recently remembered that back in January Todd Howard took questions http://kotaku.com/5441878/bethesdas-todd-howard-promised-better-graphics-withstood-your-calls-and-tim-rogers-showed-up, and one of the questions was about the next Elder Scrolls game:



It took Todd a few moments to answer the question, so at the time, Skyrim likely wasn't far enough in development to already have this implemented, but it seems reasonable to assume that since that time the team has added worked in the "more unique sense of culture" Todd was thinking of.

Edit: Skyrim was already in pre-production for a while before this so I guess it would have already been implemented.

If Skyrim does indeed have that, that just makes me even more excited for Skyrim. I loved how much Dunmer culture we got to experience in Morrowind and if we get to see that much Nord culture, I'll be very happy.

Cool, that's good to hear. Trust Antibody to be able to come up with more news while the rest of us are left floundering.

I hope, if by culture, he means the interwoven fabric of society as a whole. It wasn't just the Dunmer way of life. It was the way the Great Houses interacted with the Imperials, with the Ashlanders, with the guilds, with the Commona Tong, the real sense of history that was given with the Dwemer ruins, the way the different religions were at odds, or the way Orcs would wear Orcish armor, Nords would wear Nordic armor and so forth...

It would have been close to 4 years into development actually, so he was probably just picking his favourite aspect, which means it is almost confirmed to.

Antibody, you're beautiful. Todd, you're beautiful. How'd you know that's what I wanted for Christmas?

*salutes*

Another incredible find Antibody!

I hope so too, the closest thing to that in Oblivion (that I can remember) was the Mages Guild not liking Necromancers. And even then it wasn't great.

I think I might have a vague memory of having seen that, come to think of it, but since at the time, there was no actual news of Skyrim in development, I did not really make that much of it, but in light of the announcement of Skyrim, if this truly means what we hope it does, then it is good indeed, by now, I doubt I need to say that I've always found Oblivion's portrayal of Cyrodiil somewhat bland compared to Morrowind, but if Bethesda is indeed trying to capture that sense of exploring a strange land with its own unique culture again, then I shal be pleased. I just hope that eventually, we'll get something more concrete that supports this.

[censored]. Yeah.

This is beyond rad.

Thanks guys! I just knew being trapped in that speculation thread for months would come in handy someday...

When you speak of culture in Skyrim, I imagine a dining hall full of nords with mead and food piled up, loud and boisterous. Then imagine one of them beginning to bang the table to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mK1jbzMyFeU beat. They begin to all join in and begin to chant. Then they sing the chorus, and the king that was sitting at the head of the hall stands up, proudly taking in their song.

Sorry, when I picture Nords, I think "vikings." I'm pretty sure that that's not very accurate, but it definitely makes me pictures vikings in a mead hall, a loud and boisterous bunch, who take pride in independence and strength, and hold great respect for their leader (if he's a good one anyways.) I imagine a nord that isn't bothered about speaking his mind, and that a good thumping is better to resolve problems than any kind of negotiation.

This is what a viking culture seems like to me, and even if Nords aren't exactly like vikings, I would GLADLY see the same kind of depth in culture in Skyrim. Hell, the scene described above alone is enough to make my cry in utter amazement and die.

Either way, I hope that the depth of the culture is much better than the previous games, it would make an epic game become godly!

Some Nords are clearly like the Norse of our own history, Bloodmoon and Bruma reflect this, as do quite a few of the Nords that we have met in the various games. But there is (apparently, we obviously won't know how the game really treats this until it is out) quite a bit of wealth, civilization and power in Skyrim.

One influence I would like to see in creating parts of Skyrim that still tend towards the edgier side of Nord culture would be the Klingon Empire as seen in Star Trek, the Next Generation. That sort of blood and honour mentality mixed up with politics and intrigue made for some of the best episodes of the show, and it could really be cool to see that sort of thing in TES V.

NOT THE LEVELING SYSTEM???? BASTARDS!!!!!\


culture is great, but the most important needs from morrowind is the leveling system

Interesting to see how with 'sense of culture' plays out. 'Tis encouraging new none the less.

Who them?

It is already fixed in FO3 and NV.

Indeed. I'm hoping there will be internal factions you can side with, like the Great Houses in Morrowind. If this is the case, politics will probably be brought back. If THIS is the case, there will be a better story.

I like where this is going. Nice find. :yes:

best leveling system:

wilderness- similar to fallout

dungeons- similar to morrowind (if you see skelletons then charge right in, if you see a vampire then run for your life)

Sounds like we'll get an awesome world in Skyrim

Hearing this makes me very excited. I was so disappointed by how plain some places were in Oblivion.

Skyrim definately needs more interesting culture and much more detailed than the one we saw in oblivion.

Meh, can't say I'm too excited about that. If anything, I'd be fine with less culture if it means they shifted their focus on improving aspects of the gameplay experience and modding posibilities.

Yes this, they were already far along in January. Now this is exciting!

Thanks for the find Antibody

Good point, Anti. I hope you're right!

I don't mean to be rude, but this makes no sense. "a more unique sense of culture" would add greatly to what Oblivion largely lacked beyond stereotypes.



Ah yes, I remember this Pod Cast when it was posted in the speculation threads. I remember thinking, OMG it's got to be TES.

All I know is, Vvardenfell had the most unique setting I've ever seen in a fantasy game. Oblivion was kinda bland in comparison. Skyrim, being potentially my favorite region, will hopefully have more uniqueness to it.