Oblivion: Elder Scrolls IV - PC Roleplaying Game
 

Decided to check out Bethseda again since I wanted to see if there is any new material. Since I haven't been there for months, I was happy to see 6 videos showing you how the game will look and I must say that this is now a must buy for me. This company is the only commercial company that I have consistently bought games from. Here are the videos that I speak of:

http://www.elderscrolls.com/downloads/media_movies.htm

I have been looking forward to this for so long. Morrowind was just amazing, and the idea that this one will eclipse this one easily is just....insane.

Heck, I like Bethesda so much that I even loved "Pirates of the Carribean" (Seadogs 2).

I'm looking forward to this as well. It looks like another big leap forward, and I enjoyed Morrowind for many hours.

Buying the day it comes out. I've been looking forward to this game for awhile.

This is the first time that I've seen those videos as well. Simply amazing.

I'll be buying this for the 360.

I can't decide which platform to buy this for. Right now, my computer has a much better looking monitor than the TV that my 360 is hooked up to. However, I'll probably be getting a big screen HDTV in the next 6-8 months (fairly soon after we move into our new house.) The thought of lounging on the new couch and playing on the big screen is tempting.

Even if I had an XBox360, I'd buy it for the PC because of the mods and expansion packs.

Good point.

Xbox Live Marketplace.

Consoles are the downfall of videozation.

Why? Because Microsoft is making it easy for individuals to self-publish content (and get reimbursed for their efforts) just the same as the publishers can do?

Consoles are the King Kong of video games: If you aren't a big fat retread, you probably won't see the light of day.

Dola.

I'm not saying people should hate consoles, I'm just saying that I do. To me, the games that come from them are commercialized garbage, even when they claim to be "innovative".

I might be wrong, but I'll stick with something I have control of: My PC.

I repeat: Xbox Live Marketplace.

You're right about retail shelf space, but Marketplace opens the door for games nto derived from a $60 million budget to carve out a niche in the console market.

Well, I know that there will be tons of mods available for the PC version. I have no idea if that will be true for the XBOX 360 version and I don't necessarily have the same faith in the console crowd that Josh seems to...

I agree.

I can't wait for this game.

not real sure about the FP POV.

Kathode has said that you can play in third person. Might be difficult with ranged fighting, but should work fine for melee.

edit: I'm somewhat ashamed how close I've been following this game.

Like the poster above me says, you can play it in third person. This is what you could do in Morrowind as well. I am not usually crazy about first person type games, due to the fact that I get motion sickness after about 15 minutes, but I never had that problem with Morrowind.

I get motion sickness with 1st person games as well. However, one of the videos showed a brief glimpse of 3rd person view fighting, and it looked great. I'll probably primarily use the 3rd person view and only use 1st person view for stealth and long range fighting.

Eh... I always prefered the 1st person view. After all, it's hard as Hell to shoot arrows without... and its far more immersive (at least for me).

And I'll be getting it for the Xbox360... but first I have to get an XBox360 :D.

Might get the expansions that way, bot not mods (user made ones, anyway).

From their FAQ:

Will the TES Construction Set be included again?
Yes, the TES Construction Set will be included with the PC version. It will not be available on a console.

Regarding mods:


You'll have to pay for all of them though.

I have no desire to get a 360. I'm not a fan of most console games and have had a lot of trouble with my original XBox (the disk is dirty error kills almost half of my games).

PC Forever!!!!

:)

I'm just not sure on this one.

On one hand, playing the game in big screen, HD format is very tempting. On the other, a role playing game can be played while watching something else on TV.

I'm up in the air on this one. As a rule, if I can get it for the console, I do that.

I stare at a computer screen for 8+ hours a day at work on a normal day. I'll also play poker, visit message boards, take care of writing duties and other things on the PC at night. When I get a chance to just lay back on the couch and get away from the keyboard, I'm usually happier doing that than sitting at the computer desk for hours longer.

dibs on it at gamenikki then!

It'd be nice to get two, wouldn't it? One for PC, one for 360. I'll take the 360, you take the PC. :) :)

yikes. Bethesda just released their system requirements for Obvilion. Looks like this officially signals the end of my current computer - but she was a good girl while she lasted.

http://www.oblivionportal.com/

Was planning on upgrading my video card soon. Once I do that, I'll have their recommended met.

This is the first game where I'm really glad I got my new computer back in May. I'll have the recommended specs met.

Humm...those aren't as bad as I thought they would be.

I'm about halfway between minimum and recommended. That might work.

I had all but crossed this one off my radar because of the anticipated hardware requirements. Putting it back on now, but will likely wait for reviews on performance first.

One thought I've had was to get the XBOX version now and then get the PC version later when all the good mods are out...oh, wait. That's XBOX 360? Ah...forget that thought. I don't have one of those.

* 8x DVD-ROM drive

DVD-only? interesting.

my current graphics card (ATI 9600) is on the list, so I guess I'm cool. still thinking about upgrading, but no hurry.

Same, trying to decide on the XBOX 360 version or PC. I'm probably go with PC.

I've decided to go with PC (I also considered getting the Xbox 360 version.) I've already pre-ordered.

Any of you guys happen to be either in the SF Bay Area, Chicago, or New York City?

Because, uh, we might have an opportunity for one of you, if so.

Its about time games get away from 3 or 4 CD roms, and switch to just solely DVD's. Especially a game like this that won't run on run of the mill wal mart type computers.

Dibs? We could well end up with both.

Hell, they want us to preview both versions, if one of us can actually get to one of the locations.

Nice.....here is a hands-on preview:
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/theel...ml?sid=6144923
and here too...
http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/the-elder-s.../692014p1.html

My sources tell me that Oblivion went gold this morning (no, not in the Maximum Football sense of the word). Street date is March 20.

WOOT, just gotta see if this will work on my high end laptop...

I can't wait for this. I just hope my computer can handle it. I built it almost a year ago, but I'm wondering if the Geforce 6600GT in it can do the job.

Dola.

I just checked EBgames, and the regular version of the game is going to sell for $59.99. :eek:

I hope this isn't a trend.

Well the Collecter's Edition is that expensive. The regular version can be purchased for $47.90 here:
http://www.gogamer.com/cgi-bin/GoGam...t/View/001ELD4

Still expensive, though. The Collector's Edition will actually be a DVD as well:
http://www.gogamer.com/cgi-bin/GoGam.../View/001ELD4C

I just checked EBGames and the regular version is $49.99

http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/255943.asp

(But I'll probably get the collector's edition anyway)

EDIT: Ah, I think you were talking about the XBox 360 regular version. In that case, $59.99 is the price of all XBOx 360 games.

I'm still debating XBOX 360, with a 42in plasma screen or a GFORCE 6800 with a 21 Inch monitor.

Mouse/Keyboard which I prefer greatly over a controller for this style of game.

Better sound on the TV system, unless I wear my headphones.

Mods are definately going to be better for the PC.

Which will have better graphics that is the question.

With that setup I'm sure the XBOX 360 will have better graphics.

Oops. You're right. I just clicked on the picture on the front page. Heh. :)

Outpost was selling preorders for $34.99 a few weeks ago. That would've been the price to get in on.

I haven't tried to plug my PC into my 42" yet. I wonder what the max screen rez will be if I did.

Did you by chance call Microsoft and report the problem? B/C I have NEVER had to buy the same console twice, or pay to have a console I own fixed. If there is a problem with my console(and owe the problems I've had with disk read errors and the type with the PS, PS2, and X-Box), I simply call the tech support line and tell them it is their fault my console is doing this and I know it. The proof is in the internet, that many people having the problems can't be having that problem as a result of something they are doing.

The end result? I always get my consoles fixed for free. It is a crappy system that ends up costing the makers of the console in the end, but untill they start making their systems better I will never feel bad about getting them to fix what they screwed up on the first(or in some cases the 2nd and 3rd times ;) )

Botton line, if you still want to play your X-Box and can't, I would call Microsoft and see what they have to say. 1-800-4MY-XBOX

The graphics card will be the problem. I'm guessing you'll have to run Oblivion on medium settings or there abouts with a 6800.

Hmmm probably need the 7000' series cards for top rez now huh. It seems like just last year my card cost me $399 and was top of the line. SIGHHHHHHHHHH

The laptop failed the test but my ratty old desktop met near the fully recommended limit...so desktop it will be.

My preorder should be in today after 3:00 so, interested in playing this. (need a WoW break anyways).

One of the ebgames may have it in stock today...checking the place out after 2.

Today?

Did you get a same day delivery? :eek:

Local Gamestop.. said they would have it today after 3:00 PM. Surprised me too since I was expecting tomorrow at the earliest.

I don't expect mine until tomorrow, so I expect you to write a 5 page essay about the game tonight to entertain me during the workday tomorrow. :D

Wow... I never have that sort of luck. Maybe I should call the local EB Games to find out when they are expecting it in.

Sweet. EB had a couple copies unspoken for, and are expecting it within the hour. Got it held, picking mine up after work.

No luck for me. All the EB Games in my area are saying 'tomorrow'. And they say I should preorder because they'll sell out... blah, blah. I'll just head over to Best Buy tomorrow. They should have more than enough copies in stock.

I really hope Fry's Electronics is carrying it. Whoever gets it first should write a short review on it.

That's what these games are famous for.

/psychic

Never played the past series of this game.

Is this game non linear and very deep?

Check out the videos in post #1. They will answer a number of your questions.

about as non-linear and deep as you can get. maybe a bit too much so, imo.

Someone must have this by now, where's our first impressions, dammit?

Fighting the installer. Great.

Is it a tough fight? Should the installer be nerfed? Are you fighting in first person or third?

What resolution are you fighting the installer on?

Seriously thought I think The Installer would be a great name for a villain

Though the mods for PC is damn tempting, I'll probably pick it up for the 360 instead. Hell of a lot easier for me to control and I can just chill in front of the TV then.

Don't do it, the mods improved Morrowind dramatically. Imagine what it can do for this game. Get the PC version. Get the PC version!

Circuit City and Best Buy are useless... they said it is coming out on Wednesday. And the Circuit City woman said the PC version is coming out on Thursday, because they changed the release date (WTF... with no one else saying that?).

I'll just go to EBGames tomorrow and see if they have a copy left.

Best Buy Ad that came out this past Sunday says the pc version is coming out Wednesday.

In Bethesda's defense, it was the DirectX installer that was fucking up.

Just finished the tutorial, currently wandering through the Imperial City, pondering ways I can rob it blind.

My wife picked up her copy from Gameslop today, but she probably won't start playing it until later this week (those damned busy college professors!).

My copy arrived tonight as the store was closing. I'll be playing by tomorrow afternoon.

I preordered the collector's edition but it hasn't shipped yet. Hopefully in the next day or two.

Ok, here are my first impressions on the game after about an hour messing around with it. These are pretty much the basics and I haven't gone in depth into alot of it (for example, alchemy)

The initial character design is very indepth as to what your character looks like, slider bars for just about everything - eyes, ears, nose, brows, hair, length, etc.. If you have played Fight Night and developed a character there, it is similar to that but, alot deeper plus, if you don't like to mess around with that, there is always the random button. In the initial stages you also pick your gender and race (about 8 different ones, the typicals are there from the Morrowind series and, as always, sign and class come later in the initial quest)

From there, it goes into the initial tutorial type dungeon but, the tutorial isn't that intrusive. It goes through the basics - weapon use, ranged weapon, spells, picking items up, etc but, it isn't you have to do this and then this so, it is a little more free flowing as opposed to other tutorials. After you exit out of the initial sewers/quest, you then get to pick your class (any one of what, 16ish... again, the usual Morrowind variation. Love lots of classes like the Rolemaster RPG plus, you can also customize a class but, I didn't touch that portion so, not sure what you can or can't do)

Controls are very easy to you. Right bumper for spell, right for attacks, left to block, B to pull up inventory/map/quest menus. Nice thing is the left directional can be setup for quick spell usage. Combat is pretty hack/slash, nothing really too it.. didn't see any aiming or such just face and swing.

Graphics well, they are excellent but... it seems that I'm having trouble adjusting to the lighting of the game. For me, seems like they have made the lighting a little TOO realistic an it is taking some getting used to. (Also might need to tweak my TV a bit here and there). When in the dungeon and using a torch, you get a soft light 5-10 feet around you, when outside at dusk and you turn into the sun, you get a orange/red glow in the sky and off the water. Very impressive visually but, man.. feels like I'm needing to squint sometimes. (Have to see what others have as comments)

A quantum leap in the game over the last Morrowind is the ability to quick travel to places. Dont' want to walk there? Just pull up the maps, click and boom.. you are there. Of course, if you like to hoof it, the compass will point the way. Speaking of the compass, on it you will see various points of interest (all of which I don't know what the symbols are but, they direct you towards new quests, mines, people, etc)

One other thing I've been impressed with so far is the number of trinkets that are scattered around. For example, underneath a well there were human skulls, bones, cheese, gold, weapons, lettuce (odd mixture, yes) but, each of the items could be picked up. Plus, I've seen alot of alchemy type things that can be picked and used so, seems the game is really rich from that standpoint. Go into someone's house and their bedside table may have a lamp, 2 cups a book on it and, if you aren't sure if you can just take it or not, the word 'Steal X' appears.

Well, that is about it.. any questions from my short playing time, let me know.. I haven't touched much on the radiant AI portion or quests or alot more than pretty much the basics so, not sure how much I'll be able to add.

Not true 6800 not even GTs are fine. The reprots about this game only running on the top one or two vid cards appears to have been something leaked out into the industry by the card makers. Most people are reporting the graphics are running smoothly and look very good even on lower vid cards like 6600 and ebven alittle below that.

Seems to be the case. From what I can tell people are trying to run it at 1024x768 with max settings and then declare their card to slow. Like any other PC game, you don't need max settings, tweak things.

Yep, that's what I've heard as well since the release. People are reporting that a 6800 will recommend HIGH but not VERY HIGH. And I'm seeing that a 6600 is being recommended at MEDIUM. So as long as you don't need everything maxed out, it sounds like a 6800 or even a 6600 will be fine. It's good to hear that the lower-mid level cards can run the game well.

Alright, impressions after playing for a few hours and getting a little ways in the main quest.

Gameplay...if you've played any Elder Scrolls game, you know what you're getting into. Very open ended system, where you can pretty much accomplish whatever the hell you want. Complete some steps in the main quest, screw around across the whole world, whatever. As far as the main quest goes, the last Elder Scrolls game I played was Daggerfall, which I felt like I had no damn clue what to do. This one gives you a lot more direction.

Combat is a mixed bag. I'm not quite sure I'm a fan of the way it works at the moment, or maybe I just haven't gotten the hang of it. It's feels very fast and out of control to me. I basically resort to swinging madly at anything in front of me, and hoping to god I can take it down. It is intuitive, however, and the combat casting system is quite cool.

Graphics. Very very pretty, though I will echo an above sentiment about the lighting being a bit extreme. It's rather difficult to see things at times. Personally, I wish the 3rd person view was more viable in the game, because I
at times feel a little overwhelmed in the 1st person view. Regardless, however, the graphics are freakin' gorgeous, and the fact that every NPC actually speaks to you is quite spiffy.

All in all, after my little gameplay, it certainly looks like it's going to be a worthwhile one. I'm actually considering starting over now that I've gotten a little ways in, now that I know exactly the skills I want to have.

Does the game do a good job in keeping all your quests that you completed and incompleted organized nicely?

All quests are in seperate tabs of a window. Takes some getting used to to navigate the zillion different tabs. Basically, one gigantic menu system controls any and all information about your character - the trick is, all you have to go by are somewhat cryptic icons w/ no mouseover text descriptions. Kind of a pain there.

Once you get used to the way they do it, things are organized well enough. Though I still think they are out of their mind for not including text descriptions of icons.

Couple of nice little graphics type things that when you kill something, whatever it had in it's hand will be dropped. I blasted a goblin with a flare and it flew backwards while the sword and shield it was carrying flew off in different directions. Also, those arrows that you fired that missed the target can be collected as they will be laying around.

Glad it wasn't just me on the lighting thing...

Ah yes. The death effects are QUITE cool. I've killed things that have fallen over ledges, and plummeted 100 feet to their death.

Which, ironically, screwed me up once, because one corpse had a key on him I needed. Dude plummeted to the bottom of a pit, and I wound up falling as I walked down to get it...dying a gruesome death.

Only a few more hours until I can start playing this... *drool*

I'm travelling this weekend and won't be able to play it much over the next couple weeks. :(

Too bad they didn't release it for the PSP...hehe.

I just bought a 24" widescreen. I'm getting it in this Thursday, then I'm going to break it in with this game, ASAP.

I"m about to pick up a copy at lunch. I'm torn between the PC and XBOX 360. In the past, I haven't ever purchased an RPG game for a console over the PC. I'm a PC gamer, but the XBOX 360 is pretty sweet.

6800GT video card here, so my graphics will probably be better on the 360. I think I will go with the 360.

Isn't it ironic that now that I have to play something like this I don't have the money to buy it.

Temp files.

I know this question has come up before, but I can't find it with a search. Whenever, I try to install some product with the autoplay, my computer is attempting to install an update for ATI Catalyst drivers instead of the product. In this case, I'm trying to install Oblivion. I know there is a fix for this somewhere on here, such as cleaning out some files or something, but I can't find it. Anyone know what I need to do?

Damn, GrantDawg is good. Solved the problem before it was posted! :)

Best buy had stacks of all versions today. Looks like distribution did it's job with this one. I picked up the collectors edition

Actually, no :(

That should be the solution, but I've deleted them with Norton's program. I've deleted them with Clean Disk, yet whenever I put any disk in, it keeps trying to install ATI's Catalyst Control Center :(

There is a set that are in numbered files. Those are the ones you need to remove. Let me see if I can find them.

Couldn't find the file. It seems like it is in a hidden folder. Where is one of the computer gurus on this?