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Ad critic: Oblivion ad hot or not?
In our third installment of the Friday ad critic series, we bring you a more mundane ad (hey, sometimes it's just not appropriate to use sex to sell a game, but it sure makes for a less exciting ad), this time from the April issue of Computer Gaming World. This is a condensed version of a two-page Oblivion advert that ran across many gaming magazines in the month of April, and the best word to describe it might be "conventional." Is it too conventional, too standard, too boring? Does this epitome of the standard video game advertisement succeed or fail? Does the ad do justice to the game? If you're breathing and if you've been reading games media printed on dead trees, you've seen this thing in a magazine. Did it do anything for you when you first saw it? How about now? See also: Hitman ad critique, Tomb Raider ad critique.
Oblivion's incomplete physics
If snow falls in the magical realm of Tamriel, will a battlemage leave a footprint as he traverses Bethesda Softworks' beautifully rendered landscapes? Does it even matter? Aaron Stanton of GamesFirst! attempts to address these questions in his discussion of casual physics and its absence from next gen games such as Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Although developers attend to specific targeted physics in a game, such as the rag doll behavior in enemy deaths, a 3D environment's accidental interactions tend to be ignored, due mostly to a lack of dedicated physics acceleration in today's hardware.A quick excerpt from the article: "The impact of wide-scale physics acceleration in video games is going to be responsible for the next significant shift in how gamers perceive our industry. Good graphics won't be defined simply by things like dynamic lighting, but by the ability to play a game 100 different times without ever seeing a scripted scene that plays out twice in the same way. How your sword is deflected, and how a shield is moved, during an attack would be different in nearly every swing depending on the angle and the force of the strike."Stanton suggests that advanced physics processing units will be the hallmark of true next gen gaming. Do you agree? [via GameBanshee]
Elder Scrolls: Arena - to download or not to download?
In my day, we didn't have fancy 3D graphics engines and radiant AI. If you wanted a deep and engaging role-playing experience, you played DOS games like Elder Scrolls: Arena. That's the way it was, and you liked it! You loved it. If you've already seen everything there is to see in Oblivion (anyone?), and are wondering if the free 25MB download of Arena is worthwhile, you should check out RPGFan's new review of Bethesda's first entry in the classic RPG franchise. A few bugs aside, it's an open-ended world of pixelated goodness.
Free Oblivion horse armor coupon with PC version
Interested in buying Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion for the PC but the $1.99 horse armor at obliviondownloads.com is scaring you away? Lucky for you, EB Games / GameStop is now offering these coupons with every purchase of Oblivion for the PC, featuring a promo code good for one free download of the Horse Armor pack.Running the Xbox 360 version, you're still stuck ponying up the MS points. Already bought the PC version and the horse? Well, better late than never, right?[Thanks, Matt]
The ladies of Oblivion drop their tops
Modders are already hard at work on bending the code of the recently released PC version of Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion to their will. Early success: topless mod FTW! Before everyone jumps in and criticizes the mod's author for being a lonely, sophomoric h4x0r, you should read what he has to say about the mod:"Please note, this is a realistic nudity mod, not a pornographic one. The file included removes the bra welded to the skin of females of all races, showing things as most people know they are in the real world after removing upper body clothing. It will not show every female in the game as topless. I do this because I hate government/society/whatever forcing companies to 'protect our innocent population from seeing those evil dirty things 50% of them posess personally anyways' not because I'm trying to turn it into a porn game."Regardless of intent, there are boobs in it, so use your best judgment before checking out the uncensored (NSFW) video after the break, or go here if the embedded video doesn't work for you ...
Oblivion equipment db now available online
If you're an RPG enthusiast, then you probably already know that GameBanshee specializes in the genre and acts as one of the de facto repositories for dozens of popular role-playing titles, old and new. They've updated their Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion mini-site with an equipment database that includes statistics of the game's 4,200-plus items. Prima has apparently put out a decent Oblivion game guide, if you don't mind spending $20.
Oblivion: let the modding begin!
Now that you've been playing Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion for one week straight, you might find that despite the game's appeal, there's just something missing. If only you could ride a unicorn that has greater speed and leveling abilities than the typical Tamriel steed. Maybe you need a cure for a bad case of Vampirism, or want to go all Riddick on the unsuspecting populace with your Vin Diesel Redguard.There is already an extensive library of Oblivion mods at Planet The Elder Scrolls to satisfy even the most discriminating fan. You can try the new Champion and Wanderer classes, hire specialized mages and mercs to travel with you, and if you like Boromir, you can even make Martin look like Sean Bean. Some of these modders must sell real estate or practice interior decorating on the side because I found some cottages and beachfront homes available, fully furnished. It's a great time to be fighting demonic invasions.
An Elder Scrolls retrospective
In celebration of last week's Oblivion launch, UGO is taking a look back at the previous entries in the Elder Scrolls series. This 12-year retrospective traces the humble beginnings of Arena to the massive Morrowind, and everything in between (mobile phone games included).Fortunately for RPG enthusiasts, Bethesda decided to expand the original game's gladiatorial premise in favor of a larger scale adventure. The result has been one of the longest running, and arguably the deepest, role-playing experience in modern gaming.For a trip down memory lane, you can download Arena at the Elder Scrolls web site.
Metareview - Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Following a four month delay, Bethesda Softworks has finally delivered Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and the gaming press is abuzz with marathon review sessions. As usual, the TeamXbox coverage reads more like a tutorial, but that's fine for a game as deep and meticulous as Oblivion. You'll want to read every word.Credit Bethesda for maintaining their cool and keeping the fan base in the loop with frequent developer chats and previews. It appears the extra effort has paid off, resulting in a worthy successor to Morrowind.With God of War-like ratings, Oblivion is sure to contend for game of the year honors. Yahoo! Games (100/100) was instantly addicted ("The only problem with Oblivion is putting it down"), and spent plenty of time taking in the scenery: "Screenshots don't do this engine justice -- seeing it in motion will impress the most jaded of gamers. Sumptuously detailed and full of vivid, rich color, it puts even the most graphically detailed of FPSs to shame, let alone the rest of its typically drab genre." GameSpot (96/100) compliments Bethesda's attention to replay value: "The many types of gameplay in Oblivion are well-designed and deeply satisfying, even when taken on their own. That's the main difference between this game and Morrowind. This may be a role-playing game, but you could play it like a pure action game, or like a stealth game, or like an adventure game, and it'd still be at least as good, if not better, than games that are specialized in these regards." TeamXbox (95/100) enjoyed the customization and level progression: "Although the amount of options provided when creating a character not only amazed us, it tops our list of favorite features. The way in which a character’s skills and abilities are increased works great for the experience, and we found ourselves not having to worry about what level we were, as it seemed to naturally move up as our quest evolved." IGN (93/100) suggests the game will appeal to both hardcore and newbs alike: "Once outside the initial dungeon, you'll start to understand just how massive Oblivion's world really is. Opportunities for new quests and stories are everywhere, and there's no pressure as to which path you should follow. Thanks to the map, journal and fast travel system, it's way easier to follow a path once you pick one." [via Metacritic]
Oblivion collector's edition impresses
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is getting close. Bethesda Softworks released the packaging art and details of both the regular and collector's editions. The regular version will feature: One DVD, no more, no less. 48-page manual a nice-looking map... ooh, this is gonna be big! The Collector's Edition will add: Different packaging (pictured) which reminds me a lot of the Lord of the Rings special edition DVDs. A bonus DVD featuring the usual screenshots, renders, etc., but it also features a making-of documentary. Check out the trailer! A collectible coin (a Septim). A 112-page "Pocket Guide to the Empire." It sounds like the guys at Bethesda have really gone above and beyond here...... but wait! There's more! Bethesda have also posted a very in depth (I'm starting to see a pattern here) Q&A session with fans. If you were hoping you could see your legs in first-person, you might want to sit down.You can't. But we're sure there's something else in their to please you.(Update: EBGames lists the price for the regular version at $60 and the Collector's Edition at $70.)[Via Joystiq]
