Post by PapaRoach on Jun 26, 2005 1:20:14 GMT -5
=======================
In development since 2002, Oblivion is another leap forward in role-playing with its combination of freeform gameplay and cutting-edge graphics. Oblivion is the sequel to the best-selling, award-winning role-playing game, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, named 2002 RPG and Game of the Year for both PC and Xbox.
========================
[glow=red,2,300]The FAQ on Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion[/glow]
What Console?
It was announced only a short time a go that Oblivion will be released ONLY for the Xbox 360 and PC. Due too two main factors:
1) Sony or Nintendo do not meet the system requirments.
2) Sony and Nintendo can't out bid microsoft.
That's right, Oblivion is another "bought" game. That's the good thing about microsoft, due to the fact they don't have money restraints they can buy games. *Which is bad for other console holders, since companies who are experienced in the game industry [like the creator of the Unreal engine are joining the microsoft army.] are being bought out*
What's the release date?
Holidays 2005.
How long has it been in development?
Since Mid 2002.
What does the name "Oblivion" mean?
Tamriel is the world of The Elder Scrolls and Oblivion is the equivalent of Hell in Tamriel.
Where does Oblivion take place?
In Cyrodiil, which is the capital province of Tamriel, as well as parts of Oblivion itself.
What are the PC system requirements?
We don't know at this time, but it will certainly look the best on the latest hardware available when the game is released.
Other words, if your PC can just run Half Life 2, it's toooooooo slow!
Can I be a beta tester?
When we reach the stage where we need external beta testers, we'll put out an announcement and information on how to apply. Until then, we don't keep names or lists, so you'll have to wait for the announcement.
Will Oblivion include multiplayer?
No, Oblivion is a single-player game only. Rather than split our focus between two different types of gameplay, we'd rather focus on one and make it the best single-player experience possible.
What perspective do I play the game in, first or third-person?
Both. The game is meant to be played first person. However, you can toggle the view with the press of a button/key. Both views are available throughout the entire game.
Does the story in Oblivion pick up where Morrowind ended?
No, each chapter of the Elder Scrolls series is a different story unto itself and isn't directly connected to any of the other storylines. All of it adds to the lore and history of The Elder Scrolls, but you don't have to play previous games to know what's going on in this one.
[glow=green,2,300]Are those real screenshots or are they renders?
All the screenshots are 100% authentic screenshots taken while playing the game. [/glow]
==========================
[glow=red,2,300]The preview off Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (IF you can't be bothered reading all this, the next section will tell you all the features in the game. This preview tells you all the features, but ellaborates too much...[/glow]
I DID NOT WRITE THE FOLLOWING. THE THINGS THAT ARE WRITTEN BY ME WILL BE ITALIC, UNDERLINED AND BOLD
Welcome to Tamriel
Now in its third year in development, the team at Bethesda has had plenty of time to flesh out new ways to immerse gamers in the many fantastic realms found in Oblivion. First off, the texture detail is jaw dropping with every surface having pixel shaders, and implementation of diffuse maps, specular maps, and parallax maps on almost everything you see. With over 9,000 unique objects(You may think: Big deal, Fable, Star Wars...etc has this many objects... Well, ALL/MOST of these objects you can interact with. Morrowind had over 3000 objects you can interact with!!!![/u][/b]) there’s plenty to stare at in Oblivion. We spent a great deal of time just taking in the most mundane of items; the stone walls of a dingy prison cell. Not only did nearly every stone appear unique, but the surface looked almost three-dimensional. The flicker from a wall-mounted torch cast soft dynamic shadowing throughout the room.
Real-world physics will continue to play a major role in games, especially during the next-generation, and Oblivion’s environments will react to actions accordingly. This was showcased as our character grabbed a few wall-mounted chains and shackles, moving them about realistically. It seems like such an “ordinary” thing, but when so many games use sub-par physics systems, it’s amazing to see objects react exactly how they do in everyday life. Not that I’ve been shackled in a prison, mind you.
As you begin your quest from the confines of prison, it doesn’t take long before Emperor Uriel Septim VII and his royal Blades (guards) approach your cell. The Emperor and his family have been ravaged by a series of attacks by unknown assassins and so he must flee the land of Tamriel. A secret escape route is connected to your cell which brings the Emperor and his protectors in your midst. Deciding not to stand in the way of heavily armored and fully armed soldiers, you stand aside. The Emperor comments how he recognizes you from his strange dreams before he escapes into the night. Even early on, the voice-work is amazing and will feature a number of high profile talents. The first we recognized was that of Patrick Stewart as Emperor Septim, but Bethesda mentioned that additional talent will be announced shortly after E3. Oblivion will feature over 50 hours of recorded dialogue which takes up nearly half of the game’s DVD. That's right, 50 ****ing hours! Think of it this way, if you watch Lord of the rings(Number 1,2 and 3) over 8 times, that is roughly the ammount of dialect in the game.[/u][/b]
In the final game, this particular prison break situation and your actions will help to shape what type of character (thief, warrior, mage, etc.) you will control, but obviously a number of factors will ultimately play a role.
The next location on our short tour of Tamriel was that of a lush, procedurally generated forest. The team at Bethesda actually consulted the University of Maryland geological lab in order to generate accurate algorithms for producing realistic environments. This also means that the forests in Oblivion are randomly generated meaning no two areas will be alike. This type of technology was simply impossible on current-gen systems and so it won’t take long for gamers to appreciate the power of the Xbox 360. Tamriel will encompass approximately 16 square miles, with nearly half of that comprised of forests. Aside from accurately created rock formations, grass, and trees, the wooded environments will also be populated with appropriate plants and wildlife. A few deer could be seen feeding on berries in the distance. Not only will you be able to hunt deer and feed on the meat to increase stats, but plant life can be mixed to create custom potions. Oblivion takes the virtual sandbox notion to another level.
A new compass feature has been implemented to make finding your way a bit easier. Points of interest will be designated to ensure that you don’t spend hours wandering the countryside aimlessly like in previous Elder Scrolls titles. A teleport function also makes traveling the expansive land of Tamriel a bit easier to swallow. We came across an elven ruin where an armored soldier took offense to our presence. Using a first-person perspective, players will have at least two types of melee attacks available with additional ones opening up through progression of the game. The quick, jabbing attack is executed by tapping the attack button on the Xbox 360 controller, while the heavy swing is performed by charging the attack button. When armed with a shield, you can also alternate between defensive and offensive tactics.
As with any RPG, Oblivion has more than a few dungeons; over 200 to be exact. Each dungeon is painstakingly created with a multitude of traps to go with the evil dwellers. Once again the real-world physics comes into play by allowing you to turn a trap against your foes. We saw this in the demo as our character threw a pumpkin at a switch, causing a few spikes to swing down and take out a few goblins that were pacing the halls. While venturing through the dungeon, we also had a brief sample of the stealth-based gameplay in Oblivion. While ducking into the shadows, an eye icon will be displayed on-screen as a notification that you are unseen. This allows for instant stealth kills or simply to sneak past the opposition.
Lastly, we received an overview of what Bethesda is calling “radiant AI” of the various NPCs found in the game. There are over 1,000 NPCs in Oblivion and even animals like dogs have their own unique AI. Each NPC will have certain tasks that make up their day, including eating, sleeping, and going about their profession, should they have one. This makes a truly dynamic world as you’ll stumble upon NPC conversations that are shaped by their own experiences in the world. It is a lofty goal and one we definitely want to see play out in the final game. This was demonstrated through our interaction with a local female bookkeeper. The extent to which an NPC interacts with you is determined by a host of variables, not just simple menu choices. A character’s mood is very apparent through the changes in their facial appearance. After we buttered up the librarian, she invited us upstairs to her bedroom. To our surprise, she decided it was a good time to practice one her inherent bow shooting skills. NPCs have their own attributes which can be boosted through potions as well. After gulping down a hearty brew, our gal was hitting the bull’s-eye with ease. As mentioned previously, even animals have their stats and so when a steak was tossed to the librarian’s pooch, he was invigorated and began running around the room like a shot. Unfortunately this didn’t please the sleepy (and apparently grouchy) Mrs. and so she cast a series of spells on old Spot to shut him up.
Needless to say, the depth of Oblivion was barely scrapped in the demo, yet everything we witnessed was astounding. If Bethesda can meet even half of their lofty goals for this RPG, then Xbox 360 and PC gamers are in for a treat.
The Outlook
The Elder Scrolls series has been a fan favorite amongst diehard Xbox gamers and so Oblivion should be no different. In fact, the incredible visuals and the more intuitive gameplay should open up the series to a new generation. Of all the Xbox 360 games on display at this year’s E3, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion has the entire package: story, depth, and outstanding presentation. Look for much more on The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion as we quickly approach the holiday launch of the Xbox 360.
===================================
[glow=red,2,300]The Short Preview of the game[/glow]
-With over 9,000 unique objects, which all are interactable
-Real-world physics [eg. our character grabbed a few wall-mounted chains and shackles, moving them about realistically. It seems like such an “ordinary” thing, but when so many games use sub-par physics systems, it’s amazing to see objects react exactly how they do in everyday life. Not that I’ve been shackled in a prison, mind you. ]
-Tamriel will encompass approximately 16 square miles,
-This also means that the forests in Oblivion are randomly generated meaning no two areas will be alike. This type of technology was simply impossible on current-gen systems and so it won’t take long for gamers to appreciate the power of the Xbox 360.
-As with any RPG, Oblivion has more than a few dungeons; over 200 to be exact.
-Traps and Sneaking [eg.Once again the real-world physics comes into play by allowing you to turn a trap against your foes. We saw this in the demo as our character threw a pumpkin at a switch, causing a few spikes to swing down and take out a few goblins that were pacing the halls. While venturing through the dungeon, we also had a brief sample of the stealth-based gameplay in Oblivion. While ducking into the shadows, an eye icon will be displayed on-screen as a notification that you are unseen. This allows for instant stealth kills or simply to sneak past the opposition.]
-There are over 1,000 NPCs in Oblivion
-Over 50 hours dialect (Which takes up half of the DVD ALONE)
-The Realism.... (eg... A character’s mood is very apparent through the changes in their facial appearance. After we buttered up the librarian, she invited us upstairs to her bedroom. To our surprise, she decided it was a good time to practice one her inherent bow shooting skills. NPCs have their own attributes which can be boosted through potions as well. After gulping down a hearty brew, our gal was hitting the bull’s-eye with ease. As mentioned previously, even animals have their stats and so when a steak was tossed to the librarian’s pooch, he was invigorated and began running around the room like a shot. Unfortunately this didn’t please the sleepy (and apparently grouchy) Mrs. and so she cast a series of spells on old Spot to shut him up. )
==================
[glow=red,2,300]AWARDS[/glow] -So it is Possible To win a award before being released
Game Chronicles
Best RPG
Best Pc Game
Best Console Game
Best OVERALL game
E3: 2005
Best Rpg
IGN
Best Pc Rpg
Game Spy
Best RPG of show
Console Gold
E3 2005 Best of Show
Games Domain
Best Console RPG
Best PC Rpg
Best Overall RPG
DailyGame
Best RPG of show
![[D619S-Arrow] Avatar](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v713/arrowbucket/obi2.gif)
