Consoles Lead Skyrim Development

A video interview on Computer and Video Games discusses The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim with Craig Lafferty, lead producer on Bethesda Softworks' upcoming role-playing sequel. He talks about the console editions of the game, saying that they are actually the lead platform for Skyrim: "we develop toward the consoles and then porting to PCs is not too bad, actually." He goes on to discuss their added emphasis on accessibility compared with previous installments in the series, and Apple's inspiration in creating user interfaces. He also touches on gameplay, including bigger boss battles, the main campaign, side-quests, and more. Thanks Reddit via GamersMint.
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62.
 
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development
Jun 8, 2011, 21:00
62.
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development Jun 8, 2011, 21:00
Jun 8, 2011, 21:00
 
Bumpy wrote on Jun 8, 2011, 19:42:
Slashman wrote on Jun 8, 2011, 17:30:
If a platform suffers because 'it's not the lead platform', what that really means is that the developer/publisher was inadequate or simply didn't care.

This is my beef also. At least make the proper PC adjustments to UI and kb/mouse control.

I truly believe it's that developers don't care. I mirror that respect by purchasing such games for $5 or less or used if I can.

Dungeon Siege 3 is a perfect recent example.
Excellent points here!

The real key is whether the dev makes a good core game to begin with. Dungeon Siege 3 Demo made it clear that game was very bad at its core, so even if it had a good PC port (which it doesn't AT ALL) it will still be bad.

Take Hunted: Demon's Forge, a console port, but the core game was actually very good imo, despite horrible reviews. So in spite of the "console" feel, the game was very fun and therefore, overall worth playing.

Skyrim will be extremely solid at its core and the good news is the UI will be able to be extensively modded and within weeks of release we'll have decent PC UI, if not provided originally. So again, modding will save the day.

...still, this "accessibility" situation is concerning. I sadly realize many gamers found Oblivion "too hard to figure out"...which is...more a statement about the caliber of education today than the complexity of games.
61.
 
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development
Jun 8, 2011, 20:10
61.
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development Jun 8, 2011, 20:10
Jun 8, 2011, 20:10
 
Don't know what people where expecting. Last game they made that had PC as a lead was Morrowind and that came out in 2002. Now they probably said that Oblivion was developed side by side on 360 and pc but you just have to play the game to realize it was made for the 360. Fallout 3, 360 as lead.
60.
 
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development
Jun 8, 2011, 20:05
60.
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development Jun 8, 2011, 20:05
Jun 8, 2011, 20:05
 
nin wrote on Jun 8, 2011, 17:45:
If a platform suffers because 'it's not the lead platform', what that really means is that the developer/publisher was inadequate or simply didn't care.

Or didn't have the time or money?

I think we'd all love to live in a world where what we buy runs flawlessly on the hardware we have, and devs get paid, and we all drive sports cars. But that's not how it's gonna be, sadly.

To that I'd reply, either respect the platform you're making a game for, or skip the platform. I'm not going to buy it if it's terrible anyway.
59.
 
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development
Jun 8, 2011, 19:42
59.
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development Jun 8, 2011, 19:42
Jun 8, 2011, 19:42
 
Slashman wrote on Jun 8, 2011, 17:30:
My question is:

Why does one platform have to suffer because another platform is the lead platform?

If a platform suffers because 'it's not the lead platform', what that really means is that the developer/publisher was inadequate or simply didn't care.

This is my beef also. At least make the proper PC adjustments to UI and kb/mouse control.

I truly believe it's that developers don't care. I mirror that respect by purchasing such games for $5 or less or used if I can.

Dungeon Siege 3 is a perfect recent example.
58.
 
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development
Jun 8, 2011, 19:34
58.
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development Jun 8, 2011, 19:34
Jun 8, 2011, 19:34
 
Dirwulf wrote on Jun 8, 2011, 14:20:
Kythlyn wrote on Jun 8, 2011, 14:10:
*braces for a wave of PC enthusiast elitism*

I'll help you with that.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH SKYRIM IS A FUCKING PORT HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA


Have to add this little quote "He goes on to discuss their added emphasis on accessibility"

Besides Morrowind, every game since then has been a console port. One of the major benefits developers had with a 360 game or PC game is it could be easily ported to the other system.

This comment was edited on Jun 8, 2011, 20:18.
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57.
 
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development
Jun 8, 2011, 19:01
Prez
 
57.
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development Jun 8, 2011, 19:01
Jun 8, 2011, 19:01
 Prez
 
I think Blue does about a good a job with the juggling act of trying to cater to so many varied tastes as is humanly possible. I've had VERY few complaints about this site in my 8 years here.
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
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56.
 
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development
Jun 8, 2011, 18:42
56.
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development Jun 8, 2011, 18:42
Jun 8, 2011, 18:42
 
Yes and I complain about large UI's is because they are very annoying. I'd like to keep very many different things on my hud but if one of them would block half the screen it's just ridiculous.
I am sitting at my desk, I don't want every new menu I open to be totally in my face.

It would be nice if pc game devs would allow you to choose which interface you want to see. Civ V is another game that is difficult to play from far away. It's better than some though, I can still make out pictures and understand what i need to do because I've played it so much but for any other game i'd need to drag my chair closer so I could read about it.

A meter to scale the interface larger would be fantastic. (or smaller in your case)
55.
 
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development
Jun 8, 2011, 18:36
55.
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development Jun 8, 2011, 18:36
Jun 8, 2011, 18:36
 
LittleMe wrote on Jun 8, 2011, 18:19:
But I have to ask, why not more Pink's News?


That's for April 1st.

54.
 
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development
Jun 8, 2011, 18:19
54.
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development Jun 8, 2011, 18:19
Jun 8, 2011, 18:19
 
Blue I like the way you report on the console games, as it is from a PC gameing/er perspective. I'm like how you've implemented it!

Seems to me you are doing yourself a favor by doing it this way because the PC is not a fad, each console generation is. Of course, consoles started in ~1972 so they'll be around I'm sure for years to come, in some sort of form.

Love the site. No criticism here. But I have to ask, why not more Pink's News?

Perpetual debt is slavery.
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53.
 
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development
Jun 8, 2011, 17:45
nin
53.
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development Jun 8, 2011, 17:45
Jun 8, 2011, 17:45
nin
 
If a platform suffers because 'it's not the lead platform', what that really means is that the developer/publisher was inadequate or simply didn't care.

Or didn't have the time or money?

I think we'd all love to live in a world where what we buy runs flawlessly on the hardware we have, and devs get paid, and we all drive sports cars. But that's not how it's gonna be, sadly.


52.
 
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development
Jun 8, 2011, 17:39
52.
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development Jun 8, 2011, 17:39
Jun 8, 2011, 17:39
 
Krovven wrote on Jun 8, 2011, 17:14:
I was just pointing that some people here will be categorizing news like this as "console news" instead of "multi-platform news".

I understood you were speaking of the outlook of others... that was also what I was addressing with my reply.
Stephen "Blue" Heaslip
Blue's News Publisher, Editor-in-Chief, El Presidente for Life
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51.
 
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development
Jun 8, 2011, 17:30
51.
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development Jun 8, 2011, 17:30
Jun 8, 2011, 17:30
 
My question is:

Why does one platform have to suffer because another platform is the lead platform?

Just Cause 2 is a perfect example of a multiplatform game done right. None of the platforms suffer because it is multiplatform and all of the things that PC gamers want are present in the PC version.

If a platform suffers because 'it's not the lead platform', what that really means is that the developer/publisher was inadequate or simply didn't care.
50.
 
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development
Jun 8, 2011, 17:28
50.
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development Jun 8, 2011, 17:28
Jun 8, 2011, 17:28
 
Tumbler wrote on Jun 8, 2011, 17:00:
[...]
The larger UI that so many seem to complain about is a huge benefit to ppl like me wanting to play from the same spot they play their console from.
[...]

Yes and I complain about large UI's is because they are very annoying. I'd like to keep very many different things on my hud but if one of them would block half the screen it's just ridiculous.
I am sitting at my desk, I don't want every new menu I open to be totally in my face.
Now we donce.
49.
 
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development
Jun 8, 2011, 17:14
49.
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development Jun 8, 2011, 17:14
Jun 8, 2011, 17:14
 
Blue wrote on Jun 8, 2011, 16:50:
So this shouldn't be reported? Or should the headline be: "Voldemort Leads Skyrim Development"?

Oh dont think Im complaining. I personally dont get all the multi-platform/console hate. In some cases I do, where warranted, but for the argument in general...games need to stand on their own regardless of platform.

I was just pointing that some people here will be categorizing news like this as "console news" instead of "multi-platform news".

48.
 
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development
Jun 8, 2011, 17:08
48.
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development Jun 8, 2011, 17:08
Jun 8, 2011, 17:08
 
nin wrote on Jun 8, 2011, 17:04:
So this shouldn't be reported?

Some of us go where the games are, regardless of format. So I welcome it.


Thank you.
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47.
 
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development
Jun 8, 2011, 17:04
nin
47.
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development Jun 8, 2011, 17:04
Jun 8, 2011, 17:04
nin
 
So this shouldn't be reported?

Some of us go where the games are, regardless of format. So I welcome it.

46.
 
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development
Jun 8, 2011, 17:00
46.
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development Jun 8, 2011, 17:00
Jun 8, 2011, 17:00
 
I would hope that developing a UI that is large and easily understood from far away, like in a family room, will get you more sales on the PC... I can't be the only one that trys to play PC games on my tv and can't stand the tiny text on everything. I'm not sitting at a desk anymore with a keyboard and mouse. I am fine using my wireless keyboard and mouse in front of my tv but it's so hard to enjoy pc games when they design an interface that assumes the player is 2 feet from the screen.

King's Bounty Armored Princess is a good example. I've been playing that for the last few days via steam and I have to drag my stupid chair forward to understand what I need to do. Even sitting closer and wearing classes i still can't read the tiny text for missions and people talking. Plenty of stuff is large enough to work with but another game like DoW2 just doesn't work for me. The mini map is so small I can't see what is going on, can't read the text, drives me nuts.

The larger UI that so many seem to complain about is a huge benefit to ppl like me wanting to play from the same spot they play their console from.

If they also added enough to the game to make it better than the console version I'd probably be more inclined to spend more money as well but they almost never do...it's always just running in a higher res and that isn't worth an extra $40 to me. (I typically pay approx $10 for my games...if that)
45.
 
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development
Jun 8, 2011, 16:56
45.
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development Jun 8, 2011, 16:56
Jun 8, 2011, 16:56
 
Blue wrote on Jun 8, 2011, 16:50:
So this shouldn't be reported? Or should the headline be: "Voldemort Leads Skyrim Development"?

I agree with Blue: multi-platform stuff should be reported. After all, PCs are typically one of the platforms.

The stance of "multi-plat == no report" is like a medical Cancer journal not talking about the HPV virus's links to cancer, because it's an STD. Umm yeh, but it's also about cancer.

I'll be honest, I don't even care if some console-exclusive stuff is reported... though I'd prefer only the bigger console stuff (like the big franchise stuff). I'm not particularly elitist as I game on both PC and console, but I guess around here that makes me a pariah.
"Space. It seems to go on and on forever. But then you get to the end and a gorilla starts throwing barrels at you."
-Fry, Futurama
44.
 
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development
Jun 8, 2011, 16:50
44.
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development Jun 8, 2011, 16:50
Jun 8, 2011, 16:50
 
Krovven wrote on Jun 8, 2011, 16:43:
Blue, a lot of people around here view multi-platform news as "console news". Especially when the news topic focuses in on the console iteration, like we have with this topic.

So this shouldn't be reported? Or should the headline be: "Voldemort Leads Skyrim Development"?
Stephen "Blue" Heaslip
Blue's News Publisher, Editor-in-Chief, El Presidente for Life
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43.
 
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development
Jun 8, 2011, 16:45
43.
Re: Consoles Lead Skyrim Development Jun 8, 2011, 16:45
Jun 8, 2011, 16:45
 
Verno wrote on Jun 8, 2011, 15:36:
I wouldn't go that far but I would say that it was definitely built with multi-platform release in mind. I don't really see what's wrong with that though. Also the generalities about the PC community get tiring, there isn't a big meeting where we all get together and frame our decisions. I don't think there is anything wrong with multi-platform development, quite the opposite I think it's good for the industry as a whole. I just realize that multi-platform development is usually code for "release shitty PC version and charge full price".

That doesn't appear to be the case here and it wasn't the case with The Witcher 2 either. Did it have problems? For sure. Was it still an outstanding PC game? Absolutely, the PC version is by far the best to get.

What Verno said.

Oh, and fuck you Verno for saying something I agree with.

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