Game News Oblivion press release stuff

[Saint_Proverbius]

Tags: Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

<A href="http://www.bethsoft.com">Bethesda</a> has issued a press release with some more things about <a href="http://www.elderscrolls.com">Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion</a>. Here's the thing:
<br>
<br>
<blockquote><b>‘Quintessential RPG of the Next Generation’ Under Development
<br>
for PC and Future Generation Consoles</b>
<br>
<br>
(Rockville, MD) October 22, 2004 - Bethesda Softworks LLC, a ZeniMax Media
<br>
company, today announced that The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivionâ„¢ is currently
<br>
in development for PC and future generation consoles. In development since
<br>
2002, Oblivion is another leap forward in role-playing with its combination
<br>
of freeform gameplay and cutting-edge graphics. Oblivion is the sequel to
<br>
the best-selling, award-winning role-playing game, The Elder Scrolls III:
<br>
Morrowind®, named 2002 RPG and Game of the Year for both PC and Xbox.
<br>
<br>
“Since starting this project two years ago, our goal has been to create the
<br>
quintessential RPG of the next generation,” said Todd Howard, executive
<br>
producer of The Elder Scrolls® series. “We looked back at what we had done
<br>
with the series, and then looked ahead to what the future of video games
<br>
could be, and we think this is it.”
<br>
<br>
In keeping with the Elder Scrolls tradition, players will have the option to
<br>
experience the main quest at their own pace, and there will be plenty of
<br>
opportunities to explore the vast world and make your own way. Numerous
<br>
factions can be joined, such as the thieves or mages guilds, and each
<br>
contains its own complete storyline and the chance to rise to the head of
<br>
the faction and reap further rewards.
<br>
<br>
Howard commented, “Our games have always been about great depth and variety
<br>
in creating any kind of character you want and going out and doing whatever
<br>
you want.” He added, “With Oblivion, we’re taking the idea of a virtual
<br>
fantasy world as far as it will go.”
<br>
<br>
Oblivion features a groundbreaking new AI system, called Radiant AI, which
<br>
gives non-player characters (NPCs) the ability to make their own choices
<br>
based on the world around them. They’ll decide where to eat or who to talk
<br>
to and what they’ll say. They’ll sleep, go to church, and even steal items,
<br>
all based on their individual characteristics. Full facial animations and
<br>
lip-synching, combined with full speech for all dialog, allows NPCs to come
<br>
to life like never before.
<br>
<br>
Oblivion is a single-player game that takes place in Tamriel’s capital
<br>
province, Cyrodiil. You are given the task of finding the hidden heir to a
<br>
throne that sits empty, the previous emperor having been killed by an
<br>
unknown assassin. With no true Emperor, the gates to Oblivion (the
<br>
equivalent of hell in the world of Tamriel) open, and demons begin to invade
<br>
Cyrodiil and attack its people and towns. It’s up to you to find the lost
<br>
heir to the throne and unravel the sinister plot that threatens to destroy
<br>
all of Tamriel.
<br>
<br>
For more information on Oblivion and The Elder Scrolls series, visit the
<br>
official web site: <A href="http://www.elderscrolls.com">www.elderscrolls.com</a>.
<br>
<br>
<b>About Bethesda Softworks®</b>
<br>
Headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, Bethesda Softworks LLC, a ZeniMax
<br>
Media company, is a developer and publisher of entertainment software and
<br>
has published numerous award-winning titles, including The Elder Scrolls®
<br>
series and the Terminatorâ„¢ series. Its full product line spans the sports,
<br>
racing, RPG, strategy and action genres. For more information on Bethesda
<br>
Softworks’ products, visit www.bethsoft.com.
<br>
<br>
Bethesda Softworks LLC is a ZeniMax Media company. The Elder Scrolls,
<br>
Oblivion, Morrowind, Bethesda Softworks and ZeniMax and their respective
<br>
logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of ZeniMax Media Inc. Other
<br>
product and company names referenced herein may be trademarks of their
<br>
respective owners. All rights reserved.</blockquote>
<br>
<br>
Damn those demons, always looking for a good time to invade the mortal coil and stuff.
<br>
<br>
Thanks, <b>Pete Hines</b>!
<br>

 

[Jed]

I don't get it. Why does the lack of a sitting emperor open the gates to Hell? Is it some sort of breach of contract?

 

[fnordcircle]

I don't get it. Why does the lack of a sitting emperor open the gates to Hell? Is it some sort of breach of contract?

Pursuant to article 3, whereby the undersigned, hereto referred to as Satan, shall be given full access to Tamriel upon such occasion as as the King shall default on life.

 

[Transcendent One]

So basically, the first couple of paragraphs is just hype and bullshit like that. The AI sounds interesting, though. In fact, it sounds great. If they can implement that, I'll definitely play the game. Yeah, I don't get the story either.

 

[Whipporowill]

There was this stuff planted in Morrowind (or maybe just Bloodmoon), about Oblivion - this stuff about the emperor dying and the end being nigh. The actual fact of the emperor being the one holding back the forces of evil might be older TES lore though. A search or a question in the TES lore forum probably clears it up for those that are interested enough to register...

 

[Saint_Proverbius]

See, the throne is like that pedastal in Raiders of the Lost Arc where the idol was sitting. When the weight of the emperor is removed from the throne, it trips the latch on the gates to hell. When you think about it, that's much better than releasing a boulder.

 

[Jed]

See, the throne is like that pedastal in Raiders of the Lost Arc where the idol was sitting. When the weight of the emperor is removed from the throne, it trips the latch on the gates to hell. When you think about it, that's much better than releasing a boulder.

Too fucking funny! Nothing like laughing out LOUD unexpectedly in the middle of the work day...

So basically, the first couple of paragraphs is just hype and bullshit like that. The AI sounds interesting, though. In fact, it sounds great. If they can implement that, I'll definitely play the game. Yeah, I don't get the story either.

Yeah, I was thinking they were getting BioWare-itis with all those Grand Proclamations...

 

[Vault Dweller]

* counts paragraphs * Wow, must be nine or ten, definitely more then one. The last 3 paragraphs were extremely informative, now my every news post would contain a geographical reference and a short business/legal overview. Btw, we should have a trivia here or something: Which of the following is not a registered trademark of ZeniMax Media: The Elder Scrolls, Tomorrowind, or Oblivion?

 

[Whipporowill]

VD, you're just nuts you know that? :D

Oh, and it's different posting someone elses's content - then it's per the one paragraph rule...

 

[Vault Dweller]

VD, you're just nuts you know that? :D

That's what people keep telling me...

 

[jiujitsu]

This game sounds cool. I can't wait for some gameplay videos.

 

[Country_Gravy]

So once we see this game we will know what FO3 is going to look like, right?

 

[kathode]

"The last 3 paragraphs were extremely informative, now my every news post would contain a geographical reference and a short business/legal overview."

You obviously don't get too many press releases sent your way. Shocking.

 

[Sol Invictus]

It's really no different from any other press release I've read. I don't know what you're on, VD.

 

[Elwro]

You obviously don't get too many press releases sent your way. Shocking.

I think that he's only saying that he would cut that fragment from the newspost, not that it's uncustomary for a press release to include it.

 

[LlamaGod]

Gothic 3 is so going to own this game.

 

[Sol Invictus]

Based on what?

 

[Elwro]

Well, I think based on Gothic and Gothic 2.

 

[FireWolf]

Something I don't understand about that press release is what level of control this "radiant AI" has over speech.

...AI system, called Radiant AI, which
gives non-player characters (NPCs) the ability to make their own choices
based on the world around them. They’ll decide where to eat or who to talk
to and what they’ll say...

Will this AI deal with what they randomly say, or will it control the dialogue with the PC. I'm tending to hope towards the former rather than the latter, since the only way I can see the latter working is with a pool of dialogue which the AI can choose from based on whatever calculations which would, undoubtedly, result in dull, characterless dialogue. Unless, of course, if the dialogue pool for each character is uniquely written for a specific NPCs character. Considdering morrowind I'd still have to favour less dialogue, but better written over tons of dialogue but poorly written.

It says you can become the head of a guild, or something similar, if that's the case then it'd be nice if you didn't have to find the rightful heir to the throne, but instead you could put a puppet on the throne which is subservient to your guild's whims.

 

[Mendoza]

There was this stuff planted in Morrowind (or maybe just Bloodmoon), about Oblivion - this stuff about the emperor dying and the end being nigh. The actual fact of the emperor being the one holding back the forces of evil might be older TES lore though. A search or a question in the TES lore forum probably clears it up for those that are interested enough to register...

No one in the lore forums actually knows why the death of the Emperor (and lack of clear successor) cause the gates to Oblivion to open though, and it seems unlikely we'll find out until the game is released (and possibly not even then, ES lore is very good at being vague or near undecipherable).

 

[Mendoza]

It says you can become the head of a guild, or something similar, if that's the case then it'd be nice if you didn't have to find the rightful heir to the throne, but instead you could put a puppet on the throne which is subservient to your guild's whims.

I don't think that'd work, the whole point of finding the rightful heir is that only that person can cause the gates to Oblivion to close again, as it's tied to the bloodline. However, if there were multiple heirs, with different motives and different manipulatability (or blackmailability), it could be interesting.

 

[Azael]

The Gamespy preview states that the gates to Oblivion are kept sealed by the will of the Emperor, although it doesn't say why that is. Seems like a pretty bad system to me, doesn't exactly have a failsafe.

 

[Saint_Proverbius]

You obviously don't get too many press releases sent your way. Shocking.

Maybe I should forward him all the ones Digital Jesters send me. Not too many days go by when I don't get one from them.

Actually, I usually cut off the legal and WHO WE ARE stuff because it's boring and no one wants to read that stuff. Most people here know who the companies are that make CRPGs, and most people don't care how the lawyers that work there spend their time.

So...Since you're actually reading this thread and nearly everyone wants to know.. And you didn't actually respond to that part of the thread.. What's the big deal with the empiror and the demons?

 

[Elwro]

I fill a bit sad that there will be no crossbows in the game. Was implementing them so hard it had to go? I hope bows will be as perfect as they claim them to be.

 

[Azael]

So...Since you're actually reading this thread and nearly everyone wants to know.. And you didn't actually respond to that part of the thread.. What's the big deal with the empiror and the demons?

Maybe this is just a wild guess on my part, but maybe that's something quite central to the main plot and thus something they'd rather the players find out themselves from playing the game?