Oblivion
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Lord of the Rings Online: Future Competition for WoW?
With usage statistics showing World of Warcraft so far above any potential competition, you've got to whether any game could challenge the top spot. The last major MMO release, Dungeons & Dragons Online, saw a slight drop in my guild's raid attendance for a week or so, but then everyone lost interest, and was playing again. (More recently the single-player game Oblivion seems to have caused a heavier attendance drop across the realms - though that may eventually play itself out as well.) While a true test of Warcraft's dominance of the market is bound to come eventually, questions remain - when and from where? Well, the developers of Lord of the Rings Online are aiming high - with a target of a million subscribers. Though this is still significantly less than WoW's six million subscribers, it's a big jump over the next nearest competition (Final Fantasy XI, with an estimated 650,000 active subscribers). With continued technical problems plaguing Azeroth, how many people are simply waiting for the next big MMO to hit? And is Lord of the Rings Online going to be the one, or yet another passing fad?
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]
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]
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 ...
Next Oblivion downloads promise more than horse getups
Bethesda revealed details about two Oblivion content downloads that will be released "in the coming weeks." The Orrery (the mysterious and broken device that's locked behind a door in the Arcane University lobby) download will feature a full-fledged quest, which will task players with rebuilding the celestial-tracking machine. Once reconstruction of the Orrery is complete, players will gain access to special powers based on lunar cycles. GameSpot speculates that one such power could be lycanthropy.The second download will feature the Frostcrag Spire, a wizard's tower, located in the snow-capped mountains of Cyrodill. While it's unclear if a quest will accompany the tower (maybe it just needs to be cleared of its current inhabitants), aspiring mages can take up residence there and will be able to grow herbs, craft spells, and learn to summon atronachs. Both downloads will be available to PC users for $1.99 (the same price as the controversial horse armor), but Bethesda has declined to announce costs for the Xbox 360 version.
Bethesda responds to Oblivion backlash
Evil Avatar got in touch with Bethesda's Pete Hines, questioning the VP of PR and marketing about yesterday's release, which consisted of two pieces of horse armor, costing $2.50 for the Xbox 360 and $1.99 for the PC. Needless to say, much of the Oblivion community was not pleased with the fee and did not hesitate to spread this concern across Internet forums and gaming sites. Despite the backlash, Bethesda is playing it cool for now:"We tried to find a spot for [the download] that fit with what other things were out there. A Theme costs 150 points. The Kameo thing was 200. We're trying to find the right spot that fits... We're not even a day into this right now. We've got a couple more [downloads] we're working on finishing... We want to put some different things out there and find out what folks want and what they don't want. These are optional things, not requirements, so if you don't want to get them you don't have to." (Pete Hines, Bethesda VP of PR and marketing)Speaking with 1UP, Hines elaborated on the decision to charge for the download. Although additional Morrowind content, which was developed in-house, was released for free, Hines maintains that Oblivion is a "different game," and with that comes a "different approach to downloadable content and the size and scope of things we want to do, and what it takes to do them." Bottom-line: the next-gen is gonna be expensive for all of us, and if Bethesda's bold reaction to player criticism is any indication of the state of things to come, then don't expect to be receiving handouts any longer. Crack open your wallet, or enjoy the game as is. Your decision.
Download Oblivion's horse armor, for a price
Oblivion's infamous horse armor can now be downloaded and imported into your game. Why infamous, you ask? Because it's not free. To be clear, you won't be splurging from your Tamriel gold stockpile, no, you'll be using Microsoft (XBLM) Points (a.k.a. real money). Sure, no one's gonna be taking out a loan to cover the $2.50 expense (200 points), but you have to wonder why we're being charged for a measly game item, when in the past, a similar charge would have granted us access to an entire game map.C'mon, if this download came with a side quest, then sure, we'd throw down some points. But, despite our ever-growing addiction to Oblivion, we're not itching to hand over additional cash for an item that was supposed to be included in the game's initial release. We realize that extra content takes work, and we're more than happy to compensate the developers and programmers that provide this post-release service, but only when we feel that it warrants compensation. So unfortunately, our (stolen) horses are gonna have to remain armor-less for the time being.
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.
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]
12-hour Oblivion marathon starts on Monday
It looks like GameSpot's taking a page from Joystiq's gaming book by trying a 12-hour marathon with a retail copy of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion for the 360 this Monday.There will even be a live video feed of executive editor Greg Kasavin "driving" the game, but that will only be available to GameSpot subscribers. (Booo!) The event's currently scheduled for Monday, March 20, 6:00 PM-Tuesday, March 21, 6:00 AM PT.Greg'll be "offering commentary about the experience as it transpires" via the picture-in-picture feed, but he won't be taking part in the concurrent subscriber chat room planned so as "to avoid any outside influences on his time spent evaluating the game." Well, good luck, Greg, and make sure to stay hydrated... 'cuz it's gonna be a long night.See also: Oblivion release imminent -- March 20 (it's official) 48-hour Xbox 360 marathon begins… now! Super-frustrating boss fight in Kameo Joystiq's massive Xbox 360 launch weekend blowout: the aftermath
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]
