Let's go over it again. On one hand, Ken is known for having very specific and, well, dull rules that result in dull gameplay. What Douglas listed are only few examples. Ken also believes that rogues should be more of a combat (vs stealth) oriented class, etc. Anyway, on the other hand, Ken complains about dull and formulaic games. Does anyone else see a hypocrisy there?[/quiote]
I still think it's over-generalizing. His belief that rogues should be more of a combat-oriented class vs a stealth oriented class is neither null nor formulaic. It is perhaps not really appropriate for the commonly accepted archetype of a rogue, but that is a different issue. But I can see how the image of a rogue as more of a swashbuckling character could be more appealing. I think it's a difference between a nimble, lightly-armed and armoured, swashbuckling Rogue vs a more cautious and careful "Cat Burglar" type. The term "Rogue" doesn't really conjure images of a more traditional thief, breaking into houses, picking pockets, and avoiding physical conflicts altogether, in my mind. I see them as two distinct character concepts.
You don't need to bad-mouth a company to show (betray) some emotions if the subject brings up some memories.
True. But I still contend there simply wasn't enough in this interview to make a judgement one way or the other on how "bitter" Ken was about decisions that didn't go his way.
Even Ken disagrees with you.
Yeah, I read that part too. Like I said, I don't agree with everything he says, nor is there any reason I should. I don't have a problem with full voiceovers, and what Ken thinks about that doesn't mean squat to me.
When you have a game world represented in meticulous graphical detail, with a fairly interactive environment, it is somewhat jarring to have text bubbles floating around above characters' heads.
What are you talking about? Have you run out of arguments and started making shit up? Do I need to remind you what TES dialogue system looks like?
Is it possible for you to disagree with someone without referring to the other's arguements as "you're making shit up because you ran out of arguments" and "what a load of crap?" It really does nothing to strengthen your credibility when you start doing that. I certainly hope you're much less rude, disrespectful, and inconsiderate in real-life social interactions.
Anyway, what you've quoted me saying there was not specifically about The Elder Scrolls dialogue system, but about voice-overs in general. I know what the TES dialogue system looks like -- and I can't stand it. If you don't at least have voiceovers for the "incidental" bits of dialogue that occur outside of the actual dialogue system, you would end up with little "text bubbles" floating around the screen. Ultima IX is a good example of that. I was immensely disappointed with the story of that game, but I don't like using the dialogue patch because when you turn off the voice-overs, you get lines of text floating around all over the screen anytime a character talks. It's really distracting, and really breaks the immersiveness of the world. In an RPG with highly-detailed 3D graphics in a detailed environment, like Gothic, Ultima IX, Morrowind, Oblivion, etc, floating lines of text are really jarring. And even transitioning from the real-time movement through the world into a text-based dialogue system based on the fantasy literature paradigm, feels unnatural. It's not about Oblivion specifically, but about the way in which modern RPGs are being presented in such a visually realistic and detailed fashion, usually unfolding in real-time, and how the more traditional text-based dialogue systems feel like an unnatural break in the style and flow of the rest of the game.
I think that many of his design ideas and quests, as shown in MW/OB are beyond stupid. Apparently, expressing an honest (but blunt) opinion is neither mature nor professional in your book of fucked up concepts, but that doesn't come as a surprise.
Again with the personal insults. Are you compensating for some deep-seated insecurities such that insulting me instead of just disagreeing with my opinions makes you feel like a real man?
There is a world of difference between expressing an honest and blunt opinion, and calling people stupid, idiotic, or retarded or accusing peole of having a book of fucked up concepts, of making shit up, and of being full of crap. The first can still be polite, considerate, and respectful. The second is just being rude and immature, and really makes it hard to take anything you say seriously.
People come across as quite professional and polite in interviews, which is why we prefer to judge people by what they do vs what they say.
Well, of course. I still haven't seen him
do anything that deserves the level of spite that a number of people here seems to have. But I'm not going to keep harping on this point, as it isn't going anywhere.
Oblivion is still very much aimed at the "hardcore" gamer, regardless of what a vocal minority of RPG traditionalists have to say about the game. It has a massive world with a lot of information to keep track of, and can literally take hundreds of hours to complete. That isn't "casual" and it isn't "mainstream." It's not "dumbed down for ADD kiddies." It certainly is polished and shiny to make it compete in the marketplace with other modern games with high production values, but that is an entirely different issue altogether. It's still squarely aimed at the 18-34 year-old male (with a lot fo disposable income) demographic, just like the vast majority of computer and console games released today are.
What a load of crap. If you want me to pick it apart, line by line, I gladly will.
Very disapointed! 
