Interview Todd Howard interview at IGN

[Vault Dweller]

Tags: Bethesda Softworks; Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

Our favorite developer Todd Howard has found some time in his busy schedule to <a href=http://ps3.ign.com/articles/738/738319p1.html>answer a few IGN's questions</a> and practice his double-speak:
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<blockquote><b>How different will this version be from the others? If I've played this before, is there a reason to play it again on the PS3?</b>
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Our goal is always to make the game look and feel consistent across all platforms. We design the game we want to make and then make that game available on as many platforms as possible. So, it's the same base game as was released on PC/ 360.
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Why would you play it on PS3? You might play it because you didn't get an X360 or don't own a PC that can run it and want to experience this unique RPG experience for yourself. Maybe you just want to experience the new content on your PS3. Or you're getting a PS3 as your main console and want to play Oblivion again.</blockquote>Hmm, I guess targeting really stupid people does have its benefits.
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[Bradylama]

Couldn't you upgrade your PC to run it for half the price of admission?

 

[Psilon]

Our goal is always to make the game look and feel consistent across all platforms.

Herein lies the reason Oblivion and Deus Ex 2 were relentlessly slammed for their interfaces. A PC is not a console, either in controller or display resolution. Do you see Microsoft making Office.mac look and work identically like Office 2003? Of course not! They're different platforms with different UI guidelines.

Note: I'm not saying the Mac port of, say, NWN2 should have the silly Aqua-style buttons on its action bars, but it shouldn't rely on a second mouse button being present.

 

[Thrawn05]

but it shouldn't rely on a second mouse button being present.

Why Jobs felt one button was enough is still beyond me.

 

[Direwolf]

I bet it has something to do with his genitalia...

 

[elander_]

"Our goal is always to make the game look and feel consistent across all platforms."

Well then this means Oblivion will be concistently crappy again.

"Or you're getting a PS3 as your main console and want to play Oblivion again."

So who wants to be sodomized, twice?

 

[xedoc gpr]

Or you're getting a PS3 as your main console and want to play Oblivion again.

This is depressing

 

[Blacklung]

Suicidally so? If yes, then I would recommend going to a professional. Or, at least talking to a friend (one who hates Oblivion).

 

[Shoelip]

Oblivion might very well ruin console RPGs as we know them as well...

 

[xedoc gpr]

Suicidally so? If yes, then I would recommend going to a professional. Or, at least talking to a friend (one who hates Oblivion).

I tried, but he told me to go somewhere else.

 

[Lord Chambers]

That was an extremely boring interview. Kudos to the question writer, and kudos to Todd Howard for making a joke at the end.

 

[Rina]

Oblivion might very well ruin console RPGs as we know them as well...

Is that a bad thing? Or rather what there is left to ruin? Oblivion is awful RPG but it still qualifies as one, which cant be said about Final Fantasy and other trash japanese keep making.

 

[OccupatedVoid]

Yeah, maybe the japanese will learn and put GPS compasses and full voice acting in their games cuz 'redding is teh hard.'

 

[aweigh]

JRPG's have had GPS compasses and full voice acting since FFX.

YOU FUCKING IGNORANT RETARD!

 

[Bradylama]

I stilll like how hentai games have more roleplaying aspects than the JRPGs. Thank God for Bumpy Trot, though. That game made me feel all warm inside.

The only people that are really going to consider buying Oblivion for the PS3 are the guys who just use their computer to download anime and browse humor sites, yet didn't want to shell out the money for the Xbox 360 becuz itz liek PS3 is will be best.

4too pointing out OPM's advertising of Oblivion as a "secret weapon" for the PS3 launch just raises the humor quotient even higher.

Oblivion influencing the market may not be all bad. It's only popular, after all, becuase it's the only 16 square-mile open-ended sandbox of its kind. Once people actually start doing that right, Oblivion will silently fall off of the BESTS GAME EVAR lists.

 

[Shoelip]

Oblivion might very well ruin console RPGs as we know them as well...

Is that a bad thing? Or rather what there is left to ruin? Oblivion is awful RPG but it still qualifies as one, which cant be said about Final Fantasy and other trash japanese keep making.

Yes it is a bad thing, jrpgs aren't destroying western crpgs as we know them and are actually good in their own right. Oblivion is destroying crpgs as we know them and is a piece of crap in it's own right, neither a good rpg, or action game, yet widely popular with the idiot majority who'll by anything that's pretty and well advertised.

You sound like you jumped right out of the eighteen-hundreds.

 

[OccupatedVoid]

JRPG's have had GPS compasses and full voice acting since FFX.

YOU FUCKING IGNORANT RETARD!

You are wrong. Some of the NPCs that wonder the towns in FFX have no voice only text!!
However, you are right about the GPS. I forgot about that. :D

 

[sheek]

I hope Bethesda goes Console all the way. That way they won't be thought of as typical PC RPGs any more and won't be a threat to us. It will ruin JRPGs but that is an acceptable price to pay and who cares about JRPGs?

 

[aweigh]

JRPG's have had GPS compasses and full voice acting since FFX.

YOU FUCKING IGNORANT RETARD!

You are wrong. Some of the NPCs that wonder the towns in FFX have no voice only text!!
However, you are right about the GPS. I forgot about that. :D

Heh yeah but that was only cuz of the PS2's lack of RAM and general crapitude. You can be sure once those PS3 JRPG's roll around there will be so little text you won't even need to be able to read to play them!!

 

[suibhne]

You are wrong. Some of the NPCs that wonder the towns in FFX have no voice only text!!

I SAW A CHOCOBO THE OTHER DAY. FILTHY CREATURE.

 

[Micmu]

- ByeEEee!!
- ByeEeeeEE!!!

 

[Sol Invictus]

Oblivion isn't "destroying" anything. The lack of innovation isn't their fault, and the blame should fall on every other "serious" RPG developer that refuse to make an RPG with features beyond that of Oblivion's. Bethesda has set the bar with Oblivion, so now it's up to them, or anyone else, to raise the standard with better games.

After all, even though Westwood set the RTS standard with Command & Conquer, it didn't take long before games like StarCraft and Total Annihilation came along and raised it.

I hope Bethesda goes Console all the way. That way they won't be thought of as typical PC RPGs any more and won't be a threat to us. It will ruin JRPGs but that is an acceptable price to pay and who cares about JRPGs?

That's idiotic and you're a dumbass. Less games for the PC and more games for the console simply means less games for the PC, period. If Bethesda opts to create RPGs exclusively for the console and is successful, it won't be long before other developers go the same way and abandon the PC altogether.

Oblivion isn't a threat to JRPGs. Not by a long shot. They are separate genres, and they each cater to a very large amount of the console market. There's some crossover, too. There's no reason why someone who's always loved and enjoyed the Final Fantasy games is suddenly going to lose all interest in JRPGs just because Oblivion exists. Chances are, he'll play both and enjoy them equally, as separate products.

 

[Vault Dweller]

Oblivion isn't "destroying" anything. The lack of innovation isn't their fault, and the blame should fall on every other "serious" RPG developer that refuse to make an RPG with features beyond that of Oblivion's. Bethesda has set the bar with Oblivion, so now it's up to them, or anyone else, to raise the standard with better games.

Set what bar? The graphics bar? 'Cause if you are talking about RPG quality, Daggerfall set the bar, and Bethesda: The New Generation (TM) has lowered it twice already.

 

[HardCode]

IGN: Are all of the add-ons going to ship with it or will they still be extra?

Howard: The downloadable content is actually designed to work with a game that is in-progress and doesn't work as well with a new game.

OMFG! He just comes out and admits in so many words that the add-ons are designed to take more of your money, and have no actual bearing on the game, especially if you start a new game.

IGN: How do you feel about consumables for any version of Oblivion?

Howard: We think it's a horrible idea. Not something we think is in the spirit of stuff you'd pay extra for.

Right. They have plenty of easy things to rip off people with. Like horse armor.

 

[HanoverF]

Exactly what bar did Beth set? The gullability of the consumers bar?