Oblivion delayed

[doc_bean]

Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Delayed [October 31, 2005, 10:26 pm EDT] - 30 Comments
The Elder Scrolls FAQ still lists Holidays 2005 as the release date for Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, but Take-Two Interactive's Latest Financial Update (thanks Frans) indicates Bethesda Softworks' RPG sequel has actually slipped a couple of times since then:

In addition to the factors mentioned above, the reduction in first quarter guidance also reflects the movement of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion for PC and Xbox 360 from the first quarter to the second quarter...

Seems like those willing to invest in new hardware just to play this can hold out a little longer...

[TinCow]

Nooooooo! Man, I've been waiting for that game for so long. Between this and no Jade Empire for PC, this has been a bad year for PC RPGs. I'm desperate for one, is there a decent new RPG that I may have missed in the past year?

[Geoffrey S]

Looks like I'll have to keep playing Morrowind for a while. Which is ace, too.

[econ21]

Nooooooo! Man, I've been waiting for that game for so long. Between this and no Jade Empire for PC, this has been a bad year for PC RPGs. I'm desperate for one, is there a decent new RPG that I may have missed in the past year?

Um, good RPGs are never common. But there have been two outstanding ones within the last year or so - KOTOR2 and Vampire: Bloodlines. From your mention of Jade Empire, I figure you know all about KOTOR2 but Vampire: Bloodlines is a less obvious pick that shares similar virtures (story, immersion, characters, dialogue, good character creation & levelling system etc).

Vampire: Bloodlines was so good, I inquired here what other games were similar and was recommended Max Payne 2, which is a shooter rather than an RPG but has similar strengths in telling a good film noirish story and kept me entertained for a few run throughs (ie long enough to get the girl in the end).

The other good RPG fixes I got this year were some NWN modules. I was bowled over by finishing the much (& rightly) lauded ShadowLords/Dreamcatcher series and by a fairly recent one - Crimson Tides of Tethyr - that was just breathtaking.

EDIT: If you like Morrowind, you might also like Mount and Blade. It's similarly free form - much more limited in its ambitions but better combat IMO. (Well, all it's got is combat, to be honest, but my what combat...)

[TinCow]

I've played KOTOR2 and Bloodlines. The former was good until the last 20% which was so horrible that it actually made me angry. The latter was fabulous, but I've played it twice. I've also done Max Payne 2 and I've spent years on NWN. Never heard of Mount and Blade though, so I'll try that. Many thanks for the suggestions, more are always welcome.

I'll even go for older RPGs if there are some of the quality of Fallout, Planescape: Torment or Baldur's Gate.

[Geoffrey S]

I'd really advise Fahrenheit (or Indigo Prophecy, depending on location). It often really does feel like actually being in some kind of movie, and the level of interactivity for a large part of the game is very interesting. Often it feels like the actions actually have some meaning. Unfortunately it shares a failing with the movies it attempts to emulate, namely that towards the end the plot speeds up with too much emphasis on action and less on developing characters. Other than that it was money well spent.

Oh, Mafia's good too.

[Steppe Merc]

NOOO!!

What does it mean by all those quater crap? Does that mean like January, or April, or what?

[GoreBag]

Well, if January's the first month of the year...

We're probably looking at April-June, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was pushed further back to the summer, which would then prompt reconsideration surrounding a Christmas release...

[Kraxis]

Never heard of Mount and Blade though, so I'll try that. Many thanks for the suggestions, more are always welcome.

Hurry hurry hurry!!!

M&B is great! Imagine lancing down an opponent, or 'nudging' him with your warhorse so he falls over right when you strike him with your massive bastardsword. Or sniping people with a crossbow... or laying down a carpet of arrows with a bow. I could go on.

There isn't much story as it is still a beta, but the game is working perfectly almost. Not the usual beta stuff. Updates are regular and the game slowly becomes even better.

Best of all, it is extremely cheap! I bought my code for 11$... and now all updates and eventually the entire game free. They are best money I have spent in long time.

Check this thread for other org'ers oppinions on it. https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=48444

[Nelson]

Seems like those willing to invest in new hardware just to play this can hold out a little longer...

I have no doubt that this will indeed be necessary, at least for me. And since my own next upgrade will not occur anytime soon, this delay doesn't bother me in the least!

[TinCow]

I read the M&B website and that thread and I will definitely be trying it in the near future. Thanks again!

[Kekvit Irae]

Worried about the delays of Oblivion? Try living during the Duke Nukem era. I'm STILL waiting for Duke Nukem Forever (Whenever). How long has it been now? 9... 10 years?

[doc_bean]

Ah Duke Nukem Forever...

We had to design a website in high school as a comp sci project, I think it was in the 4th year (sophomore in the US I guess), I made ùmine about upcoming FPS games, it included the likes of DNF and Prey. That was eight years ago. Well at least Prey is getting released soon...

[Kraxis]

Yeah it brings a whole new perspective into the Forever part doesn't it?

[NodachiSam]

Dang! Ohwell, I'll save a little longer too. Well, only between feb and april, not april and june. "Oblivion has been officially delayed until the second quarter of Take-Two’s next fiscal year, some time between February and April of 2006" http://www.mygamer.com/index.php?pla...ewnews&id=1247

I don't mind too much, its not like I have a lot of free time anyways. I loved Morrowind sooo much I'm sure I'll love this one too.

[NodachiSam]

Duke Nukem Forever is probably dead then. What ever they finished over 8 years ago is probably too obsolete to sell practically. I don't think any publisher would want to develop a single title for that long either. Whoever was funding it probably has cut his or her losses.

[Kraxis]

Of course it is dead, but I believe it was never officially cancelled, thus the new 'Forever' definition of it.

[[DnC]]

Too bad. But then again I'm starting to get quite used to delayed releasedates. Hope my PC can handle it though.

[makkyo]

GAH!
I guess I have to play more Morrowind to pass the time.

[Bob the Insane]

I bet they are going to sit on the release of this and of Halo 3 until the PS3 release... Just so they can mess with Sony a bit more...

[Spino]

This doesn't surprise me in the slightest. Morrowind was a massive, complicated game that ironically, also missed its holiday release date. It eventually made it onto shelves the following Spring. Oblivion looks to be more of the same and is arguably one of the most complex computer games ever made. The amount of man hours needed to polish and properly QA a game of this scope and depth must be enormous. Oblivion's 'Radiant AI' system alone sounds like a nightmare to test.

[NodachiSam]

Yea, no kidding The total freedom in morrowind and in this one are astounding. They have to deal with a lot of problems designers for linear games don't have to deal with and they've done a good job so far I don't mind the wait frankly.