As you all know, we are about 5 months away from release. Still there are tons of unanswered questions and no solid gameplay footage. So what I'm asking all of you is, if E3 doesn't bring a large amount of new info next week, do you think that the game will be released November 11?

I don't doubt Bethesda's ability, I am just wondering, if there is no groundbreaking info this time in 2 weeks. What info-release plan could they be going for that lines up with release in 5 months?

I don't think the release date and the amount of info released can be easily related to one another. The slow release of information is their way of building up an aura of mystery, excitement and anticipation.

And they probably won't reveal a large amount of info at E3. I think they're planning on having a big presentation and a lot of showy gimmicks but the actual information will probably be minimal.

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd147/Spartan_Elite117/skyrimbanner.jpg

Nuff said.

In the Game Informer podcast, Todd sounded extremely confident about making the date. He also mentions that people were skeptical about the Fallout 3 date, and they made that one just fine.

He also said that they don't release this type of information unless the game is almost done.

But how can they expect to sell a large number of copies if the don't release gameplay or large amounts of new info at the largest video game expo of the year?

They probably will release gameplay and large amounts of new info at E3... the suspense is killing me though

Same here

People have been saying this since it was announced, and the only response they've gotten from the devs is that 11.11.11 is as solid as a release date can get.

The same way that they sold tons of copies of Morrowind, Oblivion, Fallout 3, Fallout New Vegas.

I mean, really, do you want the game completely revealed to you before it is released? I for one want less information rather than more. It is enough for me that the game is coming in November. But, that is just me, I avoided the Witcher boards and the LA Noire boards because I already knew I was getting those games.

However you said it yourself, we have 5 months before the game comes out. If they shoot their marketing wad now, what will they talk about for the next 5 months to keep people excited about the game?

Just cause they have a giant billboard doesn't mean they're done with the game... but still, I'd be willing to bet they'll make it. I mean, come on, it's Bethesda.

I'm not saying they should release all the info. I'm saying that it would be beneficial to them to show gameplay or release new info at E3 to avoid people doubting this game.

And they did show a demo of Fallout 3 at E3 that year, that's when many people gained interest in the game

I was actually implying that their massive billboard conveniently doesn't have the release date on there...

and anyone who honestly thinks they WON'T do this is quite frankly an idiot. just because Bethesda has Quakecon as their own event now doesn't mean anything - E3 is hands down the single biggest event in the video game industry, and any Western publisher who doesn't show something there is either immensely cocky or has nothing at all to show off.

Bethesda is a very humble developer, and repeated comments by both Todd and Pete in numerous interviews state that there is a lot of stuff they want to talk about. what better place to do it than at E3? why would they be putting up a gigantic banner spanning three buildings advertising a game that they're not talking about? why would they have a gigantic dragon in their booth if they're not going to mention it once?

on-topic: they've been working on the game in some capacity since Oblivion shipped. that was over five years ago now. that is far more than enough time to develop a game. Oblivion was delayed because its launch window was unrealistic given the circumstances surrounding its development, but Skyrim does not have those difficulties. they are familiar with the hardware, they are familiar with the tech, and they certainly have the money and manpower to make the 11/11/11 deadline.

Well, it's not done yet.

If they don't push Skyrim back before the 3month mark, I don't think it will be delayed though, I also don't think it's likely that it'll be delayed anyway. The staggering amount of manpower they have on the game is pretty impressive, they can do in 5months, what would have taken a little over a year with Oblivion, factoring in familiarity with the generation's hardware as well. While Skyrim may have had a relatively shorter actual developing period (Not counting concepts and pre-development, though I probably should), the amount of time actually poured into it so far is actually greater than any TES game so far.

We are going to get new Info at E3, anyone thinking otherwise is just silly.

We'll probably see all the races by then, as that's not really a big deal to anyone but the TES Devout.

We'll probably see a new Dungeon.

Dragons are almost a definite. They've already showed them privately, leaving what actually happens up to writers interpretation. I think it's time everyone gets to see it.

Low-chance, but maybe see crafting. I anticipate crafting might be one of those "Shelved for the last moment" because of how it can adversely affect game balance. So it will probably undergo the most iterations and minor changes.

I agree, though believe that mechanical dragon is uncomfirmed.
Yet I'd much rather have them delay than rush the game.
You see, I fail to care for the kabbalistic sheen of 11.11.11.

how are they rushing it? it's been in active development for three years, and passive for five. do you really think three years of development time by a team consisting of over a hundred people is "rushed"?

is it going to be bug-free? of course not. nothing's bug-free. they could spend TEN YEARS developing it and it would still be riddled with bugs. but who gives a [censored] about bugs anymore? we live in an era of automatic patching - through PSN, Xbox Live, and Steam, publishers can roll out patches literally the second a game goes live and solve any issues that were outstanding when the game went gold. the only people who can justifiably complain about this are people without broadband, and that population shrinks by the day.

I'm not even implying they are rushing it.
Yet should they come to the conclusion more time is needed - for reasons they alone are to judge - I'd much rather have them delay then release it as is.

I think this is a straightforward idea.

But I wonder, are YOU worried about a specific aspect of development that YOU believe might require a delay in the release of the game?

Not the least.

Naiveté, maybe.

Whatever they show will be for the masses. Pete's always said that it's hard to show RPG elements at big conventions because you have to draw peoples attention and in depth stuff like that is something you need to experience yourself. If we see anything it'll be "actioney", which I'm fine with.

Just read the disclaimer: Release dates are subject to change.

hasnt Todd already stated that the date is definite like 800 times already?

More to the real point: What are the odds of this scenario: "Oh no, we haven't released enough information, we'll have to push the release date back?"

I'd say there's no chance of that, because any "unreleased information" will pretty much be covered once we've got the game. We'll be able to answer all the questions then.

:shrug:

By daring to choose the most audacious date ever? They better make it... Otherwise, Minecraft will steal their thunder by coming out on that date, and everyone will be sad because Minecraft was supposed to be coming out on the same date as Skyrim, not before! (Minecraft's release slogan: "Us Too!"


Yes it does. IIIIII

I think the November 11th release date is definitely final.