ElderScrolls
Latest
Bethesda talks Shivering Isles download and price
Bethesda Vice President of PR Pete Hines sat down with Gamasutra to talk about Oblivion's Shivering Isles expansion. In the Q&A, Hines stated that the the content will only be available through Xbox Live Marketplace. According to Hines, stand-alone expansions can not work with another existing product on the Xbox 360, leaving Marketplace downloads as the only viable option. Despite Bethesda wanting to have a version for the retail market, they were unable to do so because of this. Should implementing expansions via disc become possible after some extensive work on Microsoft's part, Bethesda plans to explore that option for Shivering Isles. As for price point, Bethesda doesn't have anything concrete yet. They are still in talks with Microsoft to find the proper balance between value and profitability. After Shivering Isles releases, Hines said that they are planning one or two more pieces of content for Oblivion, albeit not the size of the forthcoming expansion. So are you going to download Shivering Isles? If so, how much are you willing to pay?[Via Digg]
Rumor: Fallout 3 bound for 360?
Is the anticipated third installment of the Fallout series going to see the light of day on the Xbox 360? It's too early to tell right now, but there are a few things that will give gamers a glimmer of hope. After a brief interlude with Fallout Tactics, the popular RPG franchise is getting a true sequel from Bethesda. Executive Producer Todd Howard informed UK OXM that when work started on Fallout 3 in 2004, the team was only 10 or so strong. After Oblivion finished up, however, most of the staff moved over to work on development for the title. He also hints that while their preproduction process is relatively long, they should soon be able to show it off. Running on the same Gamebryo engine as Oblivion, the chances of there being a port to Xbox 360, with open ended gameplay intact, are high. On top of that, Todd was Executive Producer for Morrowind and Oblivion, which definitely makes the glass look half full. Do you want to see Fallout 3 make it to the Xbox 360?[Via GameSpot]
Bethesda (finally) confirms Shivering Isles Oblivion expansion
The Shivering Isles expansion pack has been officially announced by Bethesda and will be available on PC through retail this spring. At that same time, the new content will be distributed through Xbox Live Marketplace to Xbox 360 Oblivion owners. The possibility of Shivering Isles releasing on PlayStation 3 has not been addressed, but presumably Bethesda could include the expansion with the forthcoming PS3 release of Oblivion (if there's any space left on the Blu-ray disc) or opt for digital distribution.Today's announcement confirms many of the details that were revealed in PCZone, which published news of the Oblivion expansion several weeks ago. Bethesda's decision to cease its silence is likely tied to an OXM feature article that hits newsstands this week. Bethesda claims Shivering Isles with feature 30+ hours of gameplay, suggesting that the expansion will set a new bar, both in scope and price, for premium add-on content distributed via Xbox Live. Horse armor this is not.
PS3's Blu-ray drive speed could be reason for Oblivion delay
GameSetWatch has singled out a tidbit about the PlayStation 3 version of Oblivion that's sure to ignite fanboy ire. According to comments made by Bethesda's Todd Howard in the latest issue of EGM, the development team is using extra space on the Blu-ray disc to duplicate crucial data and improve load times. "Drive speed matters more to me [than capacity], and Blu-ray is slower," Howard told EGM.This is a sketchy workaround, as it could be susceptible to issues caused by data irregularities; GSW notes, "What happens if you don't have your pieces of data correctly sync-ed and one of them is an old version of an object/piece of code and one is a newer version?" A better, albeit unpopular solution, is to include an option to install a chunk of a game directly onto the hard drive (Genji has this option; so does Ridge Racer). Bethesda's use of the extra Blu-ray disc capacity is clever, but hopefully won't become the standard.Overall, we know that the Xbox 360 drive reads data faster than PS3's. While the Blu-ray drive might consistently read data at the same speed, the 360 drive is faster at reading data on the outer layers of the DVD disc; and that's were devs tend to put the biggest files.While EGM makes no note of it, it's worth considering that drive speed concerns played into Oblivion's delay. Will this become an issue for other cross-platform titles?
2007 year of the PSP RPG?
The number of RPGs scheduled to come out this year on PSP would not be able to be counted on two hands. In fact, you'd need more than three hands to count them and then you're in Goro territory. Point is, if you're an RPG fan, PSP is the system to own this year. Don't believe me? Well here's the list of RPGs coming out in 2007 according to IGN's release list: JanuaryLegend of the Heroes III: Song of the Ocean FebruaryGurumin: A Monstrous AdventureMonster Kingdom: Jewel Summoner MarchValhalla KnightsDungeons & Dragons: Tactics AprilThe Elder Scrolls Travels: OblivionRiviera Quarter 2Alien Syndrome Quarter 4DC Universe RPG TBA 2007Legend of the River KingFar East of Eden: The Fourth ApocalypseLandstalkerHarvest Moon Boy & GirlCrisis Core: Final Fantasy VIIJeanne d'ArcFinal Fantasy Tactics I don't even want to know what the collective amount of hours all these RPGs would take to beat. Which of these are you looking forward to playing most?
Bethesda mum about Oblivion expansion
Call it a formality, but Bethesda refuses to confirm Shivering Isles, Oblivion's first full-length expansion. But the forthcoming content is no myth. After all, Bethesda supplied the details for the scoops that were bought and published by PCZone and PC Gamer, two UK mags. In fact, another Shivering Isles feature will appear in the March issue of Games for Windows (due Feb. 6 on newsstands).This is just the business of embargoes, folks. Once Games for Windows has had its window of opportunity to sell the "exclusive" content, Bethesda will open right up.
Discovery Channel giving away 2mil MS points [update 1]
Two million points is quite a haul, and would just about allow you to pay for the horse armor in Elder Scrolls: Oblivion. We keed, we keed! Seriously though, that's a lotta points just waiting to find their way home underneath your gamertag.In conjunction with the new content they are sponsoring for Gears of War, the Discovery Channel is giving away the points through www.readyaimfire.com www.readyaimfuture.com/, and the site will only be up on January 13th and 14th, so you'd better be quick on your browser and sign in to find out how to qualify for the points. You can head here and read all about the contest.While the Discovery Channel isn't the first company to give away points on Xbox Live, they are the first network/cable channel to do so. It's probably no coincidence that they're airing their Gamer Generation series while this contest is going on. Gamers, you all are a demographic that everyone wants a slice of, so brace yourselves.[Thanks to Concaf for the proper url]
Shivering Isles: first full-length Oblivion expansion
The latest issue of PCZone spills the beans on Shivering Isles, Bethesda's first true Oblivion expansion (Knights of the Nine was really just a lengthy quest). The expansion is set in a new realm, the Shivering Isles, a ruined land controlled by Sheogorath, the god of madness and dementia. Players must overcome the god's trials, and apparently, the god itself, ultimately seizing control of its domain.The expansion will include new monsters and a series of branching quests, which allegedly expand Oblivion's freeform gameplay. The description implies that players' decisions will have various visible affects on the transformation of the Shivering Isles.Bethesda has not yet announced the forthcoming expansion, but PCZone suggests a Q2 2007 release window. We assume that, as with all added content to date (barring player mods), Shivering Isles will also be offered for the Xbox 360 and (impending) PlayStation 3 versions of Oblivion.
Bethesda's Christmas present to all
Tis the season for giving, and gaming companies are starting to get festive about it. THQ has released a Christmas theme pack for Saint's Row ... completely free. How Bethesda is getting into the spirit. Mehrunes' Razor, a 250 point Xbox Live Marketplace add-on, is being offered for absolutely free starting tomorrow through December 31. The quest, which was big jump in quality compared to the infamous horse armor (which we're sure they should have packed in as a freebie as well), is a wonderful way to thank all the loyal customers who purchased Oblivion. We just hope more companies do this next year, since all the new consoles now have some kind of online option available out-of-the-box.
Sony ignored among 2006 Spike TV major awards winners
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Sony_ignored_among_2006_Spike_TV_major_awards_winners'; Spike TV has released the list of its 2006 Video Game Awards winners, expunging all temptation to tune into the televised presentation this coming Wednesday. While the results hold little standing in the industry, it's interesting to note that Sony has seemingly fallen out of popularity with Spike TV's award ceremony, perhaps implying a shift in popular brand.Last year, Sony enjoyed (at least shares in) Game of the Year, Best Action Game, Best Original Score, Best Graphics, Best Handheld Game, and Best Technology; this year, Xbox 360 is tied to all of those awards (except 'Best Technology' & 'Handheld Game'), along with Studio of the Year, Best Shooter, Best Multiplayer Game, Best RPG, Best Racing Game, and Most Addictive. Sony currently has stake in none*.Sure, PlayStation 3 hasn't even been on the market for a month, but Wii managed to earn the 'Breakthrough Technology' award, and Twilight Princess nabbed Critic's Choice; plus, with New Super Mario Bros., DS won out over PSP. Is 'Comeback Company of the Year' in the cards for Sony in 2007?*Oblivion will end up on PlayStation 3 next year.
Oblivion Knights of the Nine add-on reviewed
Eurogamer has reviewed Oblivion's largest content expansion to date, Knights of the Nine. The 800-point download ($10) was released this past Wednesday amidst a flurry of Xbox Live content unleashed during Thanksgiving week.Knights of the Nine doesn't stray too far from Oblivion's established mechanics. In that sense, if you found the initial offering to be spoiled by repetition, this pint-sized expansion is unlikely to win back your interest. But Knights of the Nine does offer a sizeable questline and some new content (items, Aurorans, etc.) for those that continue to comb the land of Cyrodiil.[For those keeping score: Eurogamer bestowed an 8/10]
Oblivion gets Nine Knights, expansion set on Nov 21 [update 1]
Bethesda has announced its eigth mini-expansion for Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. The latest download, Knights of the Nine will feature a new faction you can join, a sorcerer-king (and demonic minions, of course) that you can defeat, and the holy armor and weapons of the Divine Crusader to take for yourself. No price has been announced. Knights of the Nine will be available for download through the usual channels (XBLM, OblivionDownloads.com) as well as a boxed expansion set (for PC only) that includes all the downloadable content (currently valued at $13.53, or $11.54 sans Horse Armor). The PlayStation 3 version of Oblivion will come with Knights of the Nine. It was originally thought that this quest would be "exclusive," but we all know how finicky that word can be.[Thanks, PaleGringo][Update 1: clarified boxed package is PC only. Sorry Xbox gamers!]
PS3 Oblivion content will hit 360 too
Some of you may have heard that the PS3 is getting its very own version of Oblivion, the 360's premiere RPG. Having heard this, you may also have heard that the PS3 would be seeing some content that isn't available for the 360 version. Upon hearing this, you may have been somewhat, shall we say, bummed. Fear not, bummed out Oblivionites, for Bethesda has spoken and the news is good. When IGN asked if the PS3 content -- titled Knights of the Nine -- would be available for PC and 360, Bethesda's Todd Howard replied, "We always aim to have all our content available across all platforms, so that is our goal." So there you have it, folks. Expect to see Knights of the Nine available sometime in the not too distant future.And since we can't resist kicking a little fanboy sand every once in a while, we'd like to point out that Bethesda is still in the dark concerning downloadable content on the PS3. Gotta love that Xbox Live.[Via Xboxic]
PS3 Oblivion's exclusive quest explained
News that Oblivion was going to be PlayStation 3's "surprise" launch title was disappointing in the sense that we'd been anticipating the port since April, but the official confirmation did instantly boost the prospects of the PS3 launch lineup for those of us who haven't had a chance to tromp around Cyrodiil. But what about Oblivion vets? Is there a reason for us to invest in another version of Bethesda's masterpiece?As previously revealed, the PS3 edition will include an additional faction, the Knights of the Nine. A new -- and allegedly, exclusive -- questline with focus on restoring the Knights' order, adding a reported 10–20 hours of gameplay. The incentive: you'll gain access to "super-powerful" relics. The catch: if you raise your infamy level you'll be suspended from the faction and those relics will be removed from your possession.Will this new content motivate you to play well behaved? Will it motivate you to revisit Cyrodiil if you already came, saw, and conquered?
How modders saved Oblivion [update 1]
[Update: We covered this exact article yesterday. Consider this a different angle and color me foolish.]Pixel Rage has compiled a list of user-made modifications for Oblivion that should never have been necessary (i.e. features that should have been in the game out of the box). Oblivion, for all its praise, is strewn with bugs and other maladies that degrade the overall experience. You might find that harsh and overcritical, but we think its warranted to hold a title that spent over three years in development (on an engine the developer had been using for almost eight years) to higher standards. The modifications listed include: More realistic weather patterns, vegetation, and habitat, including the addition of birds and insects. Murkier, more transparent / realistic water effects. Light that shines through windows at night. Adding side effects to drinking too much wine (it's about time we get double vision for dipping to much into Skingrad's finest ... ). Inventory list customization. Interjections of silence within the constant soundtrack (a clever way to add to the atmosphere). Unique icons for spells. Various quest-specific fixes. It's wonderful to see the community perfect the game, but what are Xbox 360 owners to do? When the "vampire cure" quest was found to be broken, PC users could fix the problem themselves, while console gamers were forced to reload an earlier save (or, in worst situations, restart the game). Bethesda is currently working on Fallout 3 using a variation of the same engine used in Morrowind / Oblivion; let's hope they get the kinks out this time.[via Penny Arcade]
Oblivion PSP: less tromp, more romp
OPM's got the scoop on PSP's Oblivion. Sounds like Bethesda will strip out the open world, focusing on dungeon romps. Did you really believe they'd do otherwise?We'll still get create-a-character and have access to 18 of the 21 skills featured in the original Oblivion, but no word on cross-link features between the PSP version and the PS3 edition. And no word on load times either ... ... ... But the developers do cite Metroid Prime as a source of inspiration. Well then, how about throwin' in a morph ball ability?
Oblivion: first magazine scan found
The November issue of OPM has exclusive details of the upcoming PSP version of Oblivion. The scans of the game look not too shabby... it looks a heck of a lot better than the N-Gage Elder Scroll's game. According to the article, the PSP version of Oblivion will be "a very different game with a different story line... it has the experience of the dungeon romp. It doesn't have wide-open, wander-the-landscape kind of stuff."Even though the game's functionality seems a little stripped down, Obivion for PSP will still feature a character creation system, and 18 of the original game's 21 skills. The controls are going to be simplified, of course, and the designers cite Metroid Prime as a source of inspiration, which is only a good thing.Check out the full magazine scan, if you like, or buy the issue when it hits newsstands.[Via E-mpire Forum]
Bethesda confirms Oblivion to PSP in Spring 2007
Yesterday, we broke news that 1UP broke news of the Official Playstation Magazine breaking news of Oblivion heading to the PSP and PS3. Did ya get all that?Well, now we get confirmation right from the source. Yeah, that's right, Bethesda has issued a press release confirming Oblivion is headed to the PSP in spring 2007. In America, the game will be published by Bethesda, while Ubisoft will publish it in Europe.As if you didn't already know, this is a huge win for the PSP and PS3. I don't think there's anyone in their right mind who would argue that the PSP is the only major handheld system on the market that has enough horsepower to properly handle a game like Oblivion.It's times like this that help me forget about things like hardware sales charts and focus on the massive amount of great games on the PSP's horizon. It truly is a great time to be a gamer.[Via Bethesda]
Rumor becomes reality: Oblivion travels to PSP
Back in April, PSP Fanboy unearthed a huge rumor: Oblivion was coming to the PSP. When the game started to appear on EB Games' website, we knew that something was going to be made, although some of you thought we were "deluded." Well, looks like we were right: 1UP has confirmed the existence of a new PSP game entitled Elder's Scrolls Travels: Oblivion. The game will have similar gameplay to the Xbox 360 (and now PS3) version of the game, but will take place in a new setting.This sounds like great news. Considering how powerful the PSP hardware is, I'm sure it'll be better than the previous Elder's Scrolls Travels game, which appeared exclusively on the N-Gage (pictured above).[Via Joystiq; Thanks, Silver R. Wolfe!]
Mysterious PS3 launch title is Oblivion
Remember when the folks at the Official Playstation Magazine declared than an upcoming issue would reveal a surprise PS3 launch title? A game so magnificently obscure and unexpected, a launch game "that you have not heard of?" The answer has finally come in the editorial team's latest podcast -- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Don't worry, we've never heard of it either. Sounds rather pretentious.The podcast does provide some clarification with regards to how Bethesda's in-your-face epic could possibly have been labeled as a game you've been completely oblivious (har har) to. Correction: it's a launch game you've never heard of, in the sense that you've never heard of it being a PS3 launch game. Obviously, Halo 3, Space Channel 5 and Pikmin would all have been fair guesses. Ah, we jest.According to OPM, the PS3 version of Oblivion will include new content and enhancements, likely referring to a bevy of equine protection items and the vicious eradication of problematic insects seen in the Xbox 360 and PC versions. 1UP specifically mentions a new faction, the Knights of the Nine, entering the world of Cyrodiil and providing the player with new quests. In addition, they also confirm a PSP game, Elder Scrolls Travels: Oblivion. More information on both titles will surely arrive in the next few weeks.Listen -- about three quarters of the way inRead -- a new faction and a PSP OblivionBehold -- the first batch of PS3 screenshots[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
