Skyrim Roundup

Happy Inauguration Day! If you’re looking for a break from all the coverage on TV, there’s tons of Skyrim stories and videos worth checking out — beginning with fatawesomefilm’s spoof of inventory management in Skyrim. Watch in the embed above.

For more Skyrim highlights from around the web, visit these links:

Lastly, modders will want to check out Hritik Vaishnav’s mod, HD Enhanced Terrain, which was recently highlighted on Polygon. Check out the video below, and download the mod at Skyrim Nexus.

 That’s all the Skyrim news for this week. Later this week we’ll roundup all things Dishonored.

ESO: Alliances at War

In The Elder Scrolls Online, the Aldmeri Dominion, Daggerfall Covenant, and Ebonheart Pact are embroiled in a full-scale war, but that was not always the case. What led each alliance to feel that war was the only option? What are their reasons and motives for fighting? Who are the key people and groups involved? In our latest developer video, “Alliances at War”, Loremaster Lawrence Schick answers these questions and more.

For more on the game’s alliances, visit ElderScrollsOnline.com.

The Dragonborn Comes in February (and Dawnguard & Hearthfire, too)

PC and PS3 fans, prepare to cast off. Next month, you will travel to Solstheim, home of Skyrim’s latest add-on, Dragonborn. PS3 fans can expect an expanded itinerary – with stops at Fort Dawnguard and Castle Volkihar – before heading back to the home of your dreams. Details below:

PC: On Tuesday, February 5th, Dragonborn will be available on Steam, including the English, French, Italian, Spanish and German versions of the content.

PlayStation 3: Dragonborn will be the first add-on arriving on PSN in February. Hearthfire will release next, followed by Dawnguard, and all three should be out in February. The 1.8 update will also release, just prior to Dragonborn. We’ll keep you posted as release dates get finalized both on our end and with Sony for each and its various languages. Last but not least, each one will be 50% off during their launch week on PSN.

Over the last year, it’s been a treat for us to work on new content for Skyrim, and we’re excited that it will soon be available for everyone to explore. Thanks for all your support and sharing your adventures with us.

ESO Update: Daggerfall Covenant Questions answered

Quick update on the latest for Elder Scrolls Online…

Part 1 of the team’s Ask Us Anything for the Daggerfall Convenant alliance is up at ElderScrollsOnline.com. Here’s an excerpt:

At the time the game takes place, how long have the Redguards been in Tamriel? Are they regarded as something of a newcomer race?  – By Emmy Mariner

The Ra Gada that brought the Yokudans to Tamriel began around 1E 800, approximately 2,700 years before ESO – so only the Elves are likely to still regard the Redguards as newcomers.

Visit the official site for more, and be sure to answer this week’s Developer Question of the Week – presented by QA compatibility tester, Renard Tennessee.

Finally, a reminder that later today we’ll be recording an Elder Scrolls Online edition of The Bethesda Podcast. If you have questions on the game, be sure to tweet them and include#AskESO.

Dishonored community creations

The team at Arkane aren’t the only ones making fantastic Dishonored art with Zbrush. Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen some pretty impressive work from fans playing the game since October.

On Adam Fisher’s YouTube channel, watch an impressive time-lapse video as he creates Lord Pendleton. See more of Adam’s work at CGHub.com.

Elsewhere, check out these fantastic Dishonored tributes

  • @MaryKateClark is helping get the word out on characters captured on popular characters from the game
  • theomeganerd.tumblr.com showcases the recreation of Corvo’s mask used for a GamesRadar contest last Fall.
  • Kotaku highlights Nathan Proudloves’ LEGO tribute to Dunwall’s Tallboys. We’re crossing our fingers for a “to scale” version at LEGOLAND.
Have cool game-inspired art to share with us? Share it with us at bethblog@bethsoft.com.

Dishonored Character Art on Display

“What makes the characters of Dishonored unique, is that fact that we have chosen them to be peculiar and with a clear identity since the beginning.” - Florence Lapalu, Lead 3D Character Artist

Dishonored’s exaggerated character designs have received plenty of attention, and this week you can get a closer look at Florence’s contributions to the game at ZBrushCentral.com. To learn more about the creation of Dishonored’s characters and world, be sure to watch our archived behind-the-scenes look here.

ESO Update

This weekend we’re sharing the latest for The Elder Scrolls Online.

The game’s official website has posted the latest Developer Question of the Week (embedded above). Delivered by David Leeper, this week’s question puts an Elder Scrolls spin on the setup for many popular jokes. Be sure to share your answer on ESO Facebook page, or by emailing a YouTube video response to the team.

Meanwhile at MMORPG.com, you can read new features on the game — including speculation on the game’s social features, an editorial titled ‘Why We Love Daedra‘, and news that fans voted ESO the #1 most anticipated MMO of 2013!

MMORPG.com isn’t the only site getting amped for the game’s release in 2013. ESO is leads voting for 2013′s most anticipated game at TenTonHammer and IGN editor Charles Onyett ranks it as one of his top 10 most anticpated PC games.

Additional sites anticipating ESO’s release include:

  • PC Gamer – Best PC Games of 2013
  • Guardian UK – Biggest Gaming Releases of 2013
  • ZAM – #1 MMOs to Watch for in 2013
  • MMO Attack – #1 Most Anticipated for 2013
  • Leviathyn – Most Anticipated Games of 2013

Expect to hear plenty more on The Elder Scrolls Online throughout 2013!

Around the Web: Year-End Celebration Edition

We’ve reached the final hours of 2012, and since our last update, numerous sites have bestowed year-ending honors to Dishonored.

After receiving thousands of votes, Eurogamer announced that the game topped their Readers’ Top 50 Games of 2012! Big thanks to the Eurogamer community for voting one of our titles #1 for the second year in a row.

The roll call of accolodes for Dishonored continues at these sites:

Also worth celebrating, Xbox LIVE is ending the year with a one-day sale on The Elder Scrolls. Titles include:

  • Skyrim (Games on Demand) – $29.99
  • Dawnguard – 800 MS Points
  • Hearthfire – 200 MS Points
  • Oblivion (Games on Demand) – $9.99
  • Shivering Isles – 600 MS Points
  • Knights of the Nine – 200 MS Points
And in id Software news, Wolfenstein, DOOM, and QUAKE are all prominently discussed in GamesRadar’s recent feature on the history of the first-person shooter. Elsewhere, GameRevolution ranks Wolfenstein 3D as one of the 10 Most Influential Retro Games of All Time.