Surprise Launch Title

[VGV]

http://www.gamingbits.com/images/stories/news_images4/oblivion_x.jpg

I am blown away ! It's official ... Elder Scrolls IV : Oblivion will be a PS3 launch title.
Furthermore, according to Bethesda the PS3 version will not be a straight port, new
content will be added. This is great news indeed ... best version of Oblivion as a PS3
launch title ! Can't touch that !

[slade]

I don't know about Oblivion. I'm just not impressed. It's going to be a no brainer that the combat in this game is going to suck and that's usually the biggest complaint I have with games of this type. Well that and the numerous bugs that get past Bethseda. On the other hand, White Knight Story looks pretty good in both respects.

[Aylmer]

A few years back, I got talked into an XBox by a guy I knew who managed an EB Games. He had a deal for a refurbished unit, and what sold me was the glowing, gushing, you-won't-believe-it, must play it, raving on about Morrowind, since he knew I was a hard core RPGer. I bought the XBox, Morrowind, and the bigazz strat guide for it.

After about 15 hours of playing that game, I felt like I'd been ****ed without being kissed. It was the most horrible control, bug ridden, lame azz game I'd ever seen on a console.

I bought a few more games for the system, and they sucked too, and I finally eBayed the whole damned package, and swore off MSoft consoles forever.

Later, I found that MSoft gave store managers a cash bonus for each console they sold (this was before EB Games became one with Gamestop/Babbages)

Once bit, twice shy...

[VGV]

As far as western RPGs go, I enjoyed Baldur's Gate : Shadows of Amn (PC) and The Elder Scrolls III : Morrowind the most. Judging by the reviews, Oblivion follows in the footsteps of it's sublime predecessor Morrowind.

I delved into Morrowind on the highest difficulty level as a sharp looking Dunmer donning an exquisite wardrobe (one of many races available in the Morrowind universe). I based this character on a custom built class (the amount of classes you can build or can choose from ... mind boggling). I simply called my custom class : Archermage. The Archermage's forte lies in archery and magica. Going through Morrowind on the highest difficulty level meant I had to be on my toes all of the time. No margin for error.

Rest in Peace
A fragment from my many experiences in Morrowind ...

Upon leaving the little harbor town of Seyda Neen the dunmer archermage quickly discovered that sleeping out in the wilderness meant instant death, that which lore would sarcastically refer to as ... R.I.P. If by any chance his sweet slumber was to be interrupted by the menacing fauna of the Bittercoast region, he would be exposed to an attack neither his elegant robe, neither his god given lanky frame would be able to withstand. This simple, yet vital realization, led him on a quest to seek out knowledge only an experienced mage could impart upon him.

Many sleepless nights the archermage spent on his perilous journey throughout the wilderness, when finally one faithful afternoon he managed to reach a remote Imperial settlement called Ebonheart. He gladly exchanged his gold pieces for a peaceful night's rest in the town's well kept Inn. Before closing his weary eyes in his cozy room for the night, he looked around ...contemplating the luxuries and amenities surrounding him. A most welcome sight after his many waking nightmares in the vast wilderness.

Early in the morning, the next day, the archermage set upon exploring Ebonheart in the hopes of finding a mage able to teach him his first vital spell. One that would enable him to sleep peacefully and safely for at least eight hours in Vvanderfell's menacing wilderness. This was important, for his body would be able to fully recuperate without the use of herbs or potions. Not only that, but because of his innate magical abilities, a full night's sleep would also enable his magical powers to be replenished without the use of rare and expensive restore magica potions.

Much to his relief he met an elegant Breton woman in the sleeping quarters of the Imperial Garrison willing to teach him a magical spell. "In exchange for gold I can teach you the Invisiblity spell. Once cast, the dangerous creatures of Vvanderfell will not be able to see you ...", said the Breton woman in a pleasant and amicable voice. But before she could speak any further the archermage interrupted her and asked, "For how long will this spell last ? I need it to last for at least eight hours." The Breton woman looked at him puzzled and finally answered by saying, "The invisiblity lasts for about 30 seconds,after which you can cast it again ... the amount of times you can cast this spell depends on your magical ablities and the amount of restore magica potions in your inventory."

None of the spells she could teach him seemed adequate for solving his problem at hand. But the Breton woman kept on pressing, in the hopes of acquiring some much needed gold. "How about Tinur's Hoptoad spell ? This spell enables you to jump higher and further than any creature alive.". The archermage thought for a second and without any hesitation handed over his many hard earned gold pieces to learn this spell from the Breton woman. She couldn't help but to be curious regarding his motivations for learning this particular spell after rejecting all other spells she had offered to teach him.

After the archermage had learned the spell, she couldn't contain her curiousity any further and abruptly asked, "Pardon my rudeness sir, but may I ask why you wished to learn this spell and none of the others I had offered to teach you ?". The man turned, smiled and said, "So I may rest in peace at night in the wilderness ... jumping on boulders no creatures can jump on for they're too steep and too high to climb upon. Having only the cry of the flying Cliff Racers to worry about at night when I rest, perched high upon my safe haven in the wilderness. For the Cliff Racer cries out from high above in the sky, before attacking it's prey ... alerting and waking me up in time to aim my arrow straight at it's heart. I need fear no more while sleeping in the wilderness ... did I mention I'm an archermage ?"

[slade]

Well, as they say, I'll wait for the movie.