Through the years, it’s become no secret that we’ve got devs that take Team Fortress 2 pretty seriously. Later this Spring, producer Phil Nelson (above left) and world artist Nate Purkeypile (right), will participate in the fourth TF 2 Mixup.
The mixup includes a selection of developers from around the industry… and you could participate, too! A donation to Child’s Play from the Mixup homepage enters you for a chance to participate and win some cool prizes.
In addition to our 1.5 update on Steam, here’s some notable Skyrim news from around the web.
The Christian Science Monitor recently visited Bethesda Game Studios to learn more about why people play videogames. The feature is worth a read for any gamer, and perfect to share with that family member that doesn’t understand your favorite past time. Here’s a quick excerpt:
“I was a latchkey kid,” remembers production director Ashley Cheng, 38. “When my grandmother came home, she’d feel the TV. If it was warm, that meant I was playing games – instead of practicing piano.”
In addition to Ashley, the article includes insights from Todd Howard, Matt Carafano, and Bruce Nesmith. Read the entire eight page feature here.
Update 3/26: Today we’ve released a new Skyrim beta update, version 1.5.26, that introduces the following fixes:
BUG FIXES
Fixed issue with frequency of first person kill cameras
Underwater effects now display properly
Fixed crash when loading certain plugins
Fixed issue where sun would not appear properly after fast travel
Original Post: Released last week as a Beta, Skyrim’s 1.5 update is now available to all users on Steam. Those playing on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 can expect the update soon, as we’re submitting the update to console manufacturers this week.
UPDATE 1.5 (all platforms unless noted)
NEW FEATURES
New cinematic kill cameras for projectile weapons and spells
New kill moves and animations for melee weapons
Shadows on grass available (PC)
Smithing skill increases now factor in the created item’s value
Improved visual transition when going underwater
Improved distance LOD transition for snowy landscapes
BUG FIXES
General crash fixes and memory optimizations
Fixed issue with Deflect Arrows perk not calculating properly
In “A Cornered Rat,” the death of certain NPCs no longer blocks progression
Fixed issue where Farkas would not give Companion’s quests properly
Fixed crash when loading saves that rely on data that is no longer being loaded
Followers sneak properly when player is sneaking
Fixed issue with weapon racks not working properly in Proudspire Manor
Arrows and other projectiles that were stuck in objects in the world now clean up properly
Fixed issue where “Rescue Mission” was preventing “Taking Care of Business” from starting properly
Fixed issue where certain NPCs would fail to become Thieves Guild fences
Fixed issue in “Diplomatic Immunity” where killing all the guards in the Thalmor Embassy before starting the quest would break progress
In “Hard Answers,” picking up the dwarven museum key after completing the quest, no longer restarts the quest
Killing Viola before or after “Blood on the Ice” no longer blocks progression
Fixed issue where Calixto would fail to die properly in “Blood on the Ice”
In “Waking Nightmare” fixed occasional issue where Erandur would stop pathing properly
Fixed issue where letters and notes with random encounters would appear blank
Fixed rare issue where dialogue and shouts would improperly play
Lydia will now offer marriage option after player purchases Breezehome in Whiterun
Fixed issue where if player manually mined ore in Cidhna Mine, jail time would not be served
Fixed rare issue with skills not increasing properly
Fixed issue where the Headsman’s Axe did not gain proper buff from Barbarian perk
In “A Night to Remember” it is no longer possible to kill Ysolda, Ennis or Senna before starting the quest
Fixed issue with the ebony dagger having a weapon speed that was too slow
Fixed issue with “The Wolf Queen Awakened” where backing out of a conversation with Styrr too soon would block progress
The third level of the Limbsplitter perk now properly improves all battle axes
Fixed a rare issue where Sanguine Rose would not work properly
In “Tending the Flames” King Olaf’s Verse will no longer disappear from explosions
Valve’s Dave Sawyer and Bethesda’s Joel Burgess join us as we delve into the past, present and future of Skyrim modding support. Workshop Collections are covered, and Creation Kit questions are answered.
Grab this episode via any of the following methods:
For more on the game, tune into X-Play tonight at 6:30 ET. During the show, you’ll be able to catch in-game footage from the game, as Morgan Webb interviews the game’s creative directors, Harvey Smith and Raphael Colantonio.
Elsewhere, Gamespot has a new Dishonored video featuring visual design direction Viktor Antonov, art director Sebastien Mitton, and lead level designer Christophe Carrier. Watch it below.
That’s everything for now. As new details on Dishonored surface, we’ll keep you updated.
Yesterday the highly-anticipated exhibit, The Art of Videogames, opened at The Smithsonian’s American Art Museum. The exhibit features games like the original Fallout, Fallout 3, and id Software’s DOOM II on display — all voted in by members of the community.
If you’re planning on visiting Washington, DC between now and September 30th, you should definitely check out the exhibit. With the Cherry Blossoms near full bloom, I’ll soon be heading down to the National Mall to check it out and take some pics.
From the memes to the mods to the amazing stories that continue to be told, we’ve been blown away by the continued community support for Skyrim. All of it has driven us to make the game even better, and we’re excited to start sharing news on upcoming features and content.
It all starts with our upcoming 1.5 title update – available now as a Beta Update on Steam and arriving soon for Xbox 360 and PS3. In the release notes below, you’ll notice we’ve not only made fixes to the game, but also introduced some new features. One of our favorite additions are the new kill cameras for ranged and magic attacks. Watch the video above for a sneak peek.
Look familiar? The new kill cams were featured as a concept in the Game Jam sizzle shown during Todd Howard’s DICE keynote. We plan on adding even more features with upcoming free updates and game add-on content.
After the break, read the current release notes for 1.5, as well as information on how you can grab the beta update on Steam.
Haven’t started using the Creation Kit? Eurogamer put together an article on getting started. Check it out here, and don’t forget to check out www.CreationKit.com for more.
In other news, both Bethesda Game Studios and id Software have advanced to Round 2 of The Escapist’s March Mayhem Developer Showdown. Show your support as id takes on Nintendo, while BGS challenges Hal Laboratory.
Gaming press from around the globe recently visited Arkane Studios’ Lyon office for a new look at Dishonored. Check exclusive in-game footage at Gamespot — featuring commentary from the game’s co-creative directors, Raphael Colantonio and Harvey Smith. And for our worldwide audience, get additional info at these sites.
