BethesdaSoftworks
Latest
'Fallout 4' hits PS4, Xbox One and PC on November 10th
Fallout 4 is coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC on November 10th. Bethesda revealed Fallout 4 earlier this month with a teaser site and a trailer full of brighter colors and a friendly dog companion. Plus: The robot butler of your dreams. The Fallout team has been working on 4 since the launch of Fallout 3 in 2009, Bethesda announced on-stage today. Fallout 4 includes the series' most in-depth character-customization process and it showcases a dynamic dialogue system that lets you "walk away at any point." Also new in Fallout 4, there's a crafting system. Players can create their own settlements -- build power stations to run turrets and other fancy, electrical fortress elements. In addition, the weapon-modding system is robust, with 50 base weapons and more than 700 modifications, plus a separate UI for the power armor.
Playdate: We're livestreaming 'The Evil Within' on PS4! (update: game over!)
Welcome, ladygeeks and gentlenerds, to the new era of gaming. The one where you get to watch, and comment, as other people livestream gameplay from new-gen consoles. Because games! They're fun!
John Carmack's former employer claims he stole tech for Oculus VR when he left
The man who co-created Doom, who co-founded id Software, and who later left id Software for Oculus VR, is being accused by his former employer of taking intellectual property with him to Oculus VR. Lawyers for id Software's parent company, Zenimax Media, sent claims to Oculus VR stating, "It was only through the concerted efforts of Mr. Carmack, using technology developed over many years at, and owned by, ZeniMax, that [Oculus founder] Mr. Luckey was able to transform his garage-based pipe dream into a working reality." The Wall Street Journal obtained copies of the correspondence. Oculus denies Zenimax's claim. The company provided the following statement: "It's unfortunate, but when there's this type of transaction, people come out of the woodwork with ridiculous and absurd claims. We intend to vigorously defend Oculus and its investors to the fullest extent." Update: John Carmack took to Twitter to respond, where he said, "No work I have ever done has been patented. Zenimax owns the code that I wrote, but they don't own VR."
Be awed by Skyrim on the Oculus Rift, then let down by its limitations
Here's some exciting news: Skyrim, the game where you hunt and murder dragons, is relatively playable on the Oculus Rift VR headset. Rather, it's workable, and should you have an Oculus dev kit (they're shipping out right now), it's not terribly hard to make the game play nice with the headset. Now here's the sad news: navigating menus is nigh impossible, according to the Penny Arcade Report. Here's PAR's Ben Kuchera on the issue, which he says goes deeper than Skryim: "The Rift does not do well with menus, in-game text, or any user interfaces that aren't purely graphical. It's a major shortcoming of the hardware, and it makes games like Skyrim that throw many menus of that kind at you intolerable to play in a serious way. You'd have to remove the headset every time you need to read anything, much less compare weapons or assign skills." In our experience with the Rift headset, menus weren't an issue -- but that's because it's something we never encountered. Given the development nature of the device, demos were always very guided experiences, with games being loaded independently on a separate PC and not something press had to deal with while trying to use the headset. It's possible that games like Skyrim will receive mods that make the (many, many) in-game menus usable, but it's certain that support won't come from the game's publisher, Bethesda Softworks, as it recently finalized production on the game. For a taste of Skyrim running with the Oculus Rift, head past the break.
Bethesda tells Mojang to lay down its virtual guns, lawyer up for a trademark battle
Time was, men could settle their disputes with glinting swords at the ready and their honor on the line. Nowadays, only the cosplaying and Comic Con attending folk alike are likely to burnish (elvish) blades, although they're rather inapt to sully them with enemy blood. Well, unsurprisingly, Mojang head Markus "Notch" Persson's modern day offer of a Quake 3 Arena simulated duel -- his proposed method of extralegal recourse -- was shot down by Bethesda, the company suing the Minecraft creator for use of the word "Scrolls" in its unreleased card game. As these are apparently sue-happy times, both parties are headed to court to battle it out, with Mojang facing the terrible repercussion of a forced product name change. From the looks of the defendant's Twitter feed, however, it doesn't appear the impending litigation's breaking this Swede's stride.
Doom now approved for sale in Germany, 17 years later
Doom may run on just about everything these days, but one place it hasn't been very accessible during the past 17 years -- regardless of the device -- is in Germany. That finally changed this week, however, with both Doom and Doom 2 receiving a USK-16 rating that allows them to be made available wherever video games are sold. Both games had previously been "indexed" by the country's Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons, which has effectively confined them to the underground market since their debut. According to the BBC, the ban was lifted because the agency now considers Doom to be "mainly of historical interest," although it notes that Germany is maintaining the ban on one particular version of Doom II that contains levels from Wolfenstein with Nazi imagery. As for Doom publisher Bethesda Softworks, it tells Joystiq that it's "obviously very pleased" with the decision, and that it will let folks know when it plans to actually makes the game available in Germany.
Minecraft creator challenges Bethesda to deathmatch for the word 'scrolls'
While Samsung, Apple, HTC and others battle it out in court with lawyers and expansive patent portfolios, one man seems to know how real geeks settle disputes -- with a deathmatch. Markus "Notch" Persson, the man behind Minecraft and head of Mojang, has decided the best way to put the trademark squabble with Bethesda to rest is two rounds of three-on-three Quake 3 Arena action. The Elder Scrolls developer is sticking with the same tactics that have made smartphone companies our new least-favorite corporate citizens, but Notch thinks ownership of the word "scrolls" can best be determined with BFGs and railguns. With any luck this will catch on and, when Steve Jobs and Larry Page lead their forces into battle in Team Fortress, we're gonna have to put on our money on the Mountain View crew.
Fallout 3 composer named, soundtrack samples available
Music is an integral part of any game. It's important that the right composer is put in charge of bringing the aural atmosphere to life. For Fallout 3, the right man to pen the musical score would apparently be Inon Zur, composer of game soundtracks from Crysis and Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones. Fallout 3 executive producer Todd Howard had this to say about Zur's original music for the game: "He's created a score that has epic sweep; from the lonely ambience of the wasteland to dramatic fights for survival." True enough, Zur is well-known for that sort of sound. Don't believe it? Then hit up Fallout 3's official website to listen to three songs from the soundtrack. Also, you can hear some of Zur's older work at his official website.[Via press release]
Details on Fallout 3's Collector's Edition
It looks like yet another triple-A title will be getting the special edition treatment. This time, it's Fallout 3's turn to join the high-end club with its Collector's Edition set. Revealed through an advertisement on GameStop's website, Fallout 3's Collector's Edition will include the following: Vault Boy bobblehead 100-page hardcover art book Making-of Fallout 3 special DVD Metal Vault-Tec lunch box It's a pretty standard set of goodies for this sort of thing. The lunch box will surely be interesting as it'll double as both a game case and an actual lunch box. Imagine the look on people's faces when you show up to work/school with such a thing in your hands. The price for the PS3 Collector's Edition: $79.99. The extra cost compared to the regular version: $20. The comforting feeling that only a gamer's lunch box gives after being beaten up in the school cafeteria (or co-worker ridicule): priceless.
Oblivion gets a Game of the Year release, this fall
Like all good things that sell over 1.7 million copies in one month, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is getting a "Game of the Year" edition. This one will hit the PC and all consoles (sans the Nintendo Wii) for a simultaneous release this fall. Just like the PS3 version you can buy in stores now, this "Game of the Year" edition will include the Knights of the Nine expansion. In addition, Bethesda's decided to now include the previously unavailable The Shivering Isles expansion. Thank goodness. We were beginning to wonder if Bethesda actually had any plans to make this one available over the PlayStation Network as previously suggested, being that recent news on that front had gone cold. The PS3 release of Oblivion came a lot later than its Xbox 360 counterpart, but thankfully, stands as a testament to the PS3's capabilities with improved frame rate, faster loading times and greater draw distance. This version will also be compatible with previous game saves, allowing players to pop the "Game of the Year" disc in and continue their questing right where they left off. Pricing details haven't yet been released for this "Game of the Year" edition, but we speculate if the $59.99 price tag doesn't hold, $69.99 sounds about right. Time will tell. So in case you've been living in a cave with your PS3 and haven't yet experienced the gaming bliss of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion or any of its two expansion packs, you can't do any better than picking up the "Game of the Year" edition this fall.
Joystiq First Look: Fallout 3
Take a revolutionary, genre-defining series of games. Put it into legal and developmental limbo for a decade or so as the rights get juggled around like a hot potato. Then try to update it for a new generation of hardware and players as an obsessive, tight-knit group of fans watches your every move.No pressure, right?Since Bethesda Softworks got the rights and started work on the next Fallout game in 2004, Executive Producer Todd Howard has been well aware of the expectations bearing down on him and his team. "The myth of Fallout has grown over those years that people haven't played it," he said at a demonstration of the game at the company's Maryland offices. "I think the game is great, but each year it gets better and better and better in people's minds. I'm not saying the game isn't awesome, but it's that myth of it. ... I think the expectations for Fallout 3 came back in a big way."So does the early build of the game live up to the lofty expectations? Continue reading to find out.
Scans of early-build Fallout 3 show much promise
Finnish magazines get all the love. Well, at least when it comes to recent press on Fallout 3. Finnish magazine Pelaaja grabbed a few scans of the game in progress and we must say, it seems to be coming in line nicely, following details already laid out by Bethesda. These scans look great, even if they are a little blurry (likely due to the fact they are scans and not pure screen shots of the game in progress). The character models appear to be fleshed out with texture-a-plenty and we'll bet the lighting will hold similar Oblivion-like bloom effects upon the game's release. The Fallout franchise certainly has its fair share of rabid fans, so it was extremely important that Bethesda carry the torch with gloved hands, as to not disrupt or crack the foundation already set in place. Without a preview of the game, it's far too early to tell if the plot will hold firm on the foundation set by former developer Black Isle, but the scans show mighty promise. The colors are fairly drab and muted, kept to a palette rich in silver and brown (perfect for a post-apocolyptic setting such as this). Also, the scans confirm Bethesda's previous confirmation of using a modified Oblivion engine and keeping the 1st and 3rd person perspective for RPG narrative. We've put all four scans into a gallery and will be updating with more scans and screen shots as they come in. Fallout 3 is quite a ways off, scheduled for release in Fall of 2008.
Fallout 3 set for Fall 2008 release
Get to a shelter! The apocalypse is nigh! Well, it's somewhat nigh. In fact, it's very close to almost bordering on the status of being considered nigh. If the just released teaser trailer for Bethesda's foray into a world wrecked by nuclear catastrophe is any indication, Fallout 3 is set to leak out of a suspicious cannister in Fall 2008. Alright, so not particularly nigh then.The trailer (which is currently creating a bandwidth apocalypse on Bethesda's site) doesn't give away much along the lines of gameplay, but provides some assurances that obliterated cityscapes and dilapidated vehicles will be completely represented in all their glorious, err, incompleteness. Perhaps Fallout's new caretakers really do care about the revered RPG franchise. Bethesda's Pete Hines even cares enough to offer some answers to questions you were just about to ask: The trailer is in-engine, those are the Ink Spots you hear and yes, that's Ron Perlman's gravelly voice.
Bethesda's Todd Howard: We care about Fallout
Given the miasma of secrecy emanating from Bethesda's Fallout 3 camp, many fans of the post-apocalyptic RPG franchise have expressed concern over its impending return. Will it be Morrowind with Mutants? Final Fantasy with Freaks? Short of naming Liam Neeson as the game's father figure, the Elder Scroll-keepers have barely offered up any information regarding the nature of the game, a situation which has ardent followers worried.Enter Todd Howard, Fallout 3's self-proclaimed "person-in-charge." Responding to fans in a "Meet the developers" thread on Bethesda's forums, Howard provides a lengthy and heartfelt commentary on the developer's thoughtful approach to the game... without giving anything away. "To say we care about Fallout would be an epic understatement," says Howard. "We are excited/humbled to be the ones to bring it back. I know we don't have all the right answers, or the one's you would make when it comes to how it should be or look. We can only do what we think is right and what makes us the most excited, and that's what we've done. We've left no stone unturned in trying to find Fallout's 'soul', but those decisions are ours, not yours. I just hope you give the game a look and decide if that soul is there for you."Though fans will surely focus their attentions on more specific items once the game is fully unveiled, Howard's sentiments provide interesting insight into a developer tasked with meeting expectations within an established and loved universe. He likens Fallout 3 development to the adoption of a child which one steadily grows to love -- 7 glowing arms and all. We're sure to see more of the game "very soon."[Via Ashleycheng.com. Thanks, Meg & Cal]
Liam Neeson to provide voice for Fallout 3
Bethesda Softworks just announced that actor Liam Neeson will be portraying the role of the father of your character in their upcoming RPG, Fallout 3. According to Todd Howard, the game's executive producer, the role was written with Neeson already considered for the part, and he's been a joy to work with on the project. Neeson himself said that he is anxious to see players reaction to his role in the game, and so are we. His voice can make or break a character, much like Michael Wincott did for the Prophet of Truth in Halo 2 & 3.[Via Joystiq]
Liam Neeson is your father (in Fallout 3)
Though our schoolyard arguments and childish vendettas have long since shifted to the blogosphere, we have always been profoundly confident in our father's ability to physically lay waste to your meager sack of paternal meat. In other words, we thought our dad could beat up your dad. That is, until we learned today that your dad is, in fact, Liam Neeson. Bethesda Softworks has announced that the famous actor and thespian will act out and, err, thesp the role of your father in post-apocalyptic RPG, Fallout 3. Our father stands little chance against the might of the man who trained Batman, gave Darth Vader his training wheels, exhaustively researched sexuality and is destined to become the president of the United States. Neeson's also "absolutely amazing to work with," according to Fallout 3's executive producer, Todd Howard. "This role was written with Liam in mind, and provides the dramatic tone for the entire game."Neeson, who hopefully survives a bit longer than Patrick Stewart did in Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, adds that it was a pleasure sharing his voice with Bethesda and that he hopes "the fans of the franchise and the game will be excited by the results." If not, we'll just have to beat up your father ourselves.[Via Pro-G]
Video: Shivering Isles gameplay
Shivering Isles, the official expansion for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is now available, but what is it all about? Perhaps this video will help explain that. Apparently, Shivering Isles is about monsters, giants, and unrelenting madness. To be honest, that sounds great, doesn't it? You bet your bag of holding it does! The video showcases some of the expansion's psychotic themes as well as some seriously ferocious beasts, including the giant gatekeeper at the end. If you prefer nothing to be spoiled, you'd best skip this video, because it pretty much lays down the entire beginning to the expansion. As for everyone else, enjoy! Don't forget to tell us what you think in the comments.
Maddening new screens of Shivering Isles
Xboxyde has unearthed some new shots of Shivering Isles, the upcoming expansion pack for Oblivion. The shots show off some of the new creatures and locales. We've also uncovered a video feature from a recent issue of OXM. If you've been raring to learn as much as possible about Shivering Isles without all the pesky reading, we suggest you check it out. Bethesda promises 25 hours of extra gameplay to complete the main quest of Shivering Isles. Should you go after every sidequest, it could take up to three times as long. The expansion will be loaded with new creatures, new locations, and new ingredients for eager alchemists (like me). Hit the "read" link to take a gander at the new screens, and don't forget to check out the video feature, too.
Bethesda responds to Oblivion rating change
Bethesda has issued an official statement addressing the ESRB's decision to change Oblivion's rating from Teen to Mature. The developer will not contest the change, but insists that a "full, accurate, and comprehensive" report of Oblivion's content was submitted to the ESRB before the game's release. That report included a 60-page document that detailed all "explicit language, acts, and scenes in the game."Bethesda's report did not list nudity because "[there] is no nudity in Oblivion without a third party modification." The existence of topless heroines is not a result of unlockable content, but rather, a result of third party tools used to modify the game's art archive. With that said, it's difficult to justify the ESRB's decision to include "nudity" as part of the PC version's explicit content.Bethesda also confirms that there will not be a recall, nor will the game's content be changed in order to retain the Teen rating. Instead, future copies will be printed with Mature rating labels, and M-rated stickers will be applied to all existing unsold copies of Oblivion.Note: Both the PC and Xbox 360 versions of Oblivion have been re-rated.
Oblivion's gender bias: the official word
If you haven't heard enough about the ladies of Oblivion recently, this tidbit is an interesting look at gender and gaming. While the female characters manage to score bonus points on the "lack of scantily clad armour" scale, it seems that there are some inherent gender-based stat advantages under certain circumstances.Gamers with Jobs have spoken to Bethesda about the perceived gender bias, and it seems that the differences are subtle, designed so that players have more choice when it comes to gameplay. While it may seem a little old-fashioned for male Redguards to have a higher strength, while females have a higher personality, the balance is all in the name of game diversity. For anyone wishing to experience the game free of any gender concerns, there's already a mod which equalises stats irrespective of gender.[Thanks, SickNic]
