Skyrim-Redguard DLC? Options

[Darkness Eternal]

Back in February rumors were on the rise claiming the next DLC might be called Redguard. Here is the info:

In December, Skyrim players were introduced to the most recent DLC offering, Dragonborn, and now Bethesda may be planning another game-play addition.

Last month, Bethesda’s parent ZeniMax Media Inc. filed to trademark the term Redguard, according to Xbox 360: The Official Xbox Magazine. While there has been no official confirmation that new Skyrim DLC is in development, the trademark ownership applies to “downloadable computer game software offered via the Internet and wireless devices.”

Some may object that this is merely a move to mark territory and prevent other companies from using an Elder Scrolls staple term, but ZeniMax has been known to file for trademarks specifically relating to new DLC releases.

Long before Dawnguard, the first Skyrim DLC, made its debut, ZeniMax claimed legal ownership of the term. This is a pattern that has persisted with Hearthfire and Dragonborn as well, and each filing came with the same “downloadable computer software game” description.

Pete Hines, Bethesda’s vice president of marketing and public relations, refused to comment on the matter. Hines has come to be known as an intermediary between Bethesda and Skyrim players when it comes to DLC launches, and he has actively responded to fan queries via Twitter in the past. This time, however, he had no information to share on a potential Redguard expansion.

“Sorry, I don’t comment on every rumor that comes up,” Hines tweeted Jan. 3.

If this rumor turns out to be true and Redguard is in fact the next Skyrim DLC, players could be returning to the province of Hammerfell. Redguards are known as the most naturally talented warriors in all of Tamriel, descended from a long line of warriors and mystic seers.

According to The Elder Scrolls Wiki, Redguards are more proficient with the use of weaponry than any other race. Of course, it’s too soon to know what a Redguard DLC would entail, but, based on what is known about the race, players could expect a heavy emphasis on combat. Players have dealt with battling blood-thirsty vampires and the first Dragonborn, but the Redguards are legendary experts when it comes to battle.

http://www.ibtimes.com/skyrim-dlc-release-...adable-computer

Now, it would seem there is some measure of truth to this rumor. But I think it may be fake. Check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAE48m5crYg

This post has been edited by Darkness Eternal: Mar 12 2013, 05:47 PM

[SubRosa]

3 DLC does seem kind of sparse, when you consider that most games get twice that. Oblivion got what? 8 or 9 if you include SI and KOTN. FO3 and FONV both got 5 or 6 dlc each.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Apr 16 2013, 02:37 PM

[Colonel Mustard]

3 DLC does seem kind of sparse, when you consider that most games get twice that. Oblivion got what? 8 or 9 if you include SI and KOTN. FO3 and FONV both got 5 or 6 dlc each.

They may be cutting it short on account of the difficulties they've had developing for the PS3; considering that the PS3 version's initial reaction to the DLC was something along the lines of "argleblargleraaargh!" and the subsequent reaction of a good chunk of their customer base was something the lines of "argleblargleraaaargh!" and that, now that customers will expect future DLC to be released for all 3 platforms and will react to this not being the case with "argleblargleraaargh!" Bethesda may have decided that it's simply not worth developing more DLC due to the difficulty and expense they're going to have with dealing with the PS3's very tricky and complex memory architecture, and they simply don't want to risk alienating PS3 customers so are just starting development for the PS4, which has much simpler memory architecture.

This post has been edited by Colonel Mustard: Apr 16 2013, 03:01 PM

[SubRosa]

3 DLC does seem kind of sparse, when you consider that most games get twice that. Oblivion got what? 8 or 9 if you include SI and KOTN. FO3 and FONV both got 5 or 6 dlc each.

They may be cutting it short on account of the difficulties they've had developing for the PS3; considering that the PS3 version's initial reaction to the DLC was something along the lines of "argleblargleraaargh!" and the subsequent reaction of a good chunk of their customer base was something the lines of "argleblargleraaaargh!" and that, now that customers will expect future DLC to be released for all 3 platforms and will react to this not being the case with "argleblargleraaargh!" Bethesda may have decided that it's simply not worth developing more DLC due to the difficulty and expense they're going to have with dealing with the PS3's very tricky and complex memory architecture, and they simply don't want to risk alienating PS3 customers so are just starting development for the PS4, which has much simpler memory architecture.

Yet somehow Bioware could release Dragon Age: Origins on not only Windows, X-Box, and PS3, but also the Mac OS, and put out 10 DLCs and/or expansions for it. If they can do it, there is no reason Bethesda cannot. Everyone else in the world can release their games on the PS3. Bethesda has no one to blame for their incompetence except themselves.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Apr 16 2013, 04:34 PM

[Colonel Mustard]

3 DLC does seem kind of sparse, when you consider that most games get twice that. Oblivion got what? 8 or 9 if you include SI and KOTN. FO3 and FONV both got 5 or 6 dlc each.

They may be cutting it short on account of the difficulties they've had developing for the PS3; considering that the PS3 version's initial reaction to the DLC was something along the lines of "argleblargleraaargh!" and the subsequent reaction of a good chunk of their customer base was something the lines of "argleblargleraaaargh!" and that, now that customers will expect future DLC to be released for all 3 platforms and will react to this not being the case with "argleblargleraaargh!" Bethesda may have decided that it's simply not worth developing more DLC due to the difficulty and expense they're going to have with dealing with the PS3's very tricky and complex memory architecture, and they simply don't want to risk alienating PS3 customers so are just starting development for the PS4, which has much simpler memory architecture.

Yet somehow Bioware could release Dragon Age: Origins on not only Windows, X-Box, and PS3, but also the Mac OS, and put out 10 DLCs and/or expansions for it. If they can do it, there is no reason Bethesda cannot. Everyone else in the world can release their games on the PS3. Bethesda has no one to blame for their incompetence except themselves.

Dragon Age isn't exactly the best example to give, considering how the games were both developed on entirely different engines, had entirely different design principles (DA:O is a semi-linear game with small environments and next to no actual use of a physics engine, Skyrim is a massive open-world game with fully interactive physics), and was designed for the PC which is a fundamentally different development environment than the PS3, which Sony designed with its Cell architecture which is dificult to code for because...reasons. So, yeah, not a great example.

Besides, you're missing my point; I'm saying that the fact that Bethesda coded themselves into a corner with Skyrim is fine, what I'm saying is that that's probably why they're not trying any more DLC, because it would be a bad investment. And in any case, I'd rather they actually moved onto a new project instead of milking Skyrim as a DLC cash-cow, as is often the case with popular games nowadays; considering the absolute creative quagmire triple-A gaming is currently in thanks to the "don't fix what ain't broken" attitude of developers, Bethesda actually trying something new instead of just making an easy buck of Skyrim DLC (which would sell, no doubt about it) is a good thing, in my eyes.

[Kiln]

3 DLC does seem kind of sparse, when you consider that most games get twice that. Oblivion got what? 8 or 9 if you include SI and KOTN. FO3 and FONV both got 5 or 6 dlc each.

They may be cutting it short on account of the difficulties they've had developing for the PS3; considering that the PS3 version's initial reaction to the DLC was something along the lines of "argleblargleraaargh!" and the subsequent reaction of a good chunk of their customer base was something the lines of "argleblargleraaaargh!" and that, now that customers will expect future DLC to be released for all 3 platforms and will react to this not being the case with "argleblargleraaargh!" Bethesda may have decided that it's simply not worth developing more DLC due to the difficulty and expense they're going to have with dealing with the PS3's very tricky and complex memory architecture, and they simply don't want to risk alienating PS3 customers so are just starting development for the PS4, which has much simpler memory architecture.

Yet somehow Bioware could release Dragon Age: Origins on not only Windows, X-Box, and PS3, but also the Mac OS, and put out 10 DLCs and/or expansions for it. If they can do it, there is no reason Bethesda cannot. Everyone else in the world can release their games on the PS3. Bethesda has no one to blame for their incompetence except themselves.

Dragon Age isn't exactly the best example to give, considering how the games were both developed on entirely different engines, had entirely different design principles (DA:O is a semi-linear game with small environments and next to no actual use of a physics engine, Skyrim is a massive open-world game with fully interactive physics), and was designed for the PC which is a fundamentally different development environment than the PS3, which Sony designed with its Cell architecture which is dificult to code for because...reasons. So, yeah, not a great example.

Besides, you're missing my point; I'm saying that the fact that Bethesda coded themselves into a corner with Skyrim is fine, what I'm saying is that that's probably why they're not trying any more DLC, because it would be a bad investment. And in any case, I'd rather they actually moved onto a new project instead of milking Skyrim as a DLC cash-cow, as is often the case with popular games nowadays; considering the absolute creative quagmire triple-A gaming is currently in thanks to the "don't fix what ain't broken" attitude of developers, Bethesda actually trying something new instead of just making an easy buck of Skyrim DLC (which would sell, no doubt about it) is a good thing, in my eyes.

Honestly I can understand some of your argument but the part about Bethsoft not wanting to make a quick buck?

Bethsoft is charging double for Skyrim DLC compared to Fallout DLC. What I think has happened is that they've figured out that people will pay double the price for DLC so they don't need to put out as much to support their games.

[Colonel Mustard]

3 DLC does seem kind of sparse, when you consider that most games get twice that. Oblivion got what? 8 or 9 if you include SI and KOTN. FO3 and FONV both got 5 or 6 dlc each.

They may be cutting it short on account of the difficulties they've had developing for the PS3; considering that the PS3 version's initial reaction to the DLC was something along the lines of "argleblargleraaargh!" and the subsequent reaction of a good chunk of their customer base was something the lines of "argleblargleraaaargh!" and that, now that customers will expect future DLC to be released for all 3 platforms and will react to this not being the case with "argleblargleraaargh!" Bethesda may have decided that it's simply not worth developing more DLC due to the difficulty and expense they're going to have with dealing with the PS3's very tricky and complex memory architecture, and they simply don't want to risk alienating PS3 customers so are just starting development for the PS4, which has much simpler memory architecture.

Yet somehow Bioware could release Dragon Age: Origins on not only Windows, X-Box, and PS3, but also the Mac OS, and put out 10 DLCs and/or expansions for it. If they can do it, there is no reason Bethesda cannot. Everyone else in the world can release their games on the PS3. Bethesda has no one to blame for their incompetence except themselves.

Dragon Age isn't exactly the best example to give, considering how the games were both developed on entirely different engines, had entirely different design principles (DA:O is a semi-linear game with small environments and next to no actual use of a physics engine, Skyrim is a massive open-world game with fully interactive physics), and was designed for the PC which is a fundamentally different development environment than the PS3, which Sony designed with its Cell architecture which is dificult to code for because...reasons. So, yeah, not a great example.

Besides, you're missing my point; I'm saying that the fact that Bethesda coded themselves into a corner with Skyrim is fine, what I'm saying is that that's probably why they're not trying any more DLC, because it would be a bad investment. And in any case, I'd rather they actually moved onto a new project instead of milking Skyrim as a DLC cash-cow, as is often the case with popular games nowadays; considering the absolute creative quagmire triple-A gaming is currently in thanks to the "don't fix what ain't broken" attitude of developers, Bethesda actually trying something new instead of just making an easy buck of Skyrim DLC (which would sell, no doubt about it) is a good thing, in my eyes.

Honestly I can understand some of your argument but the part about Bethsoft not wanting to make a quick buck?

Bethsoft is charging double for Skyrim DLC compared to Fallout DLC. What I think has happened is that they've figured out that people will pay double the price for DLC so they don't need to put out as much to support their games.

What I'm saying is not that Bethesda doesn't want to make a quick buck, but because they almost certainly would like to, but what I'm saying is that three-platform DLC is too expensive to develop as a quick buck, or if they do it for PC/Xbox only, they have a short-term profit for a long-term loss on account of alienating customers on the Playstation. They should've done a better job of coding Skyrim initially, but as it is it's too late to fix unless they give their engine a major overhaul, and that's something that can't be done by a patch and will have to be implemented on future patches.

I imagine Bethesda's logic went something like this:

Scene opens on board meeting of Bethesda Softworks, with executives gathered around a table. Robert Altman stands at the table, in front of a projector screen.

Robert: Okay people, so we're meeting here today to discuss Skyrim's future when it comes to DLC. Now I'm sure we all know that if we don't release on all three platforms, PS3 included, our customers aren't going to be happy. Now the first question is for you and your pet code monkeys down in programming, Steve; can we quickly release a piece of DLC for all 3 platforms in a manner that won't cause the Playstation version to crash and burn spectacularly?

Steve: First, Robert, stop calling my team and I code monkies. But let me answer your question with a little visual metaphor.

Steve picks up a Playstation 3 from underneath where he has been sitting. He switches it on.

Steve: This is a Playstation 3 running a piece of new Skyrim DLC which we've had plenty of time to bug-check it an optimise it. We're talking several months just for that, at least, so quite a bit of money.

Steve picks up a chainsaw from underneath the desk, revs it and slices the Playstation in half. Much to the concern of all involved, chunks of mangled plastic and circuit board fly everywhere. One piece hits an intern who was pushing a trolley of coffee into the room right in the eye, but nobody pays any attention as they are an intern

Steve: And that's a PS3 where we don't take the time to do it.

Robert: Good point there, Code Monkey, one we should definitely keep in mind. Therefore, we've got two options; we either spend a lot of cash on developing cross-platform DLC, or we just release for PC and Xbox. Alison, I mentioned that idea for you to see if you and the rest of the PR team could gauge the public's reaction to us announcing that again. What did you find?

Alison stands and walks around the table to the front, by the projector, skirting the slowly expanding puddle of intern blood

Alison: We did a little analysis of the public mood after the last time this happened, and according to our predictions, the public reaction would be something like this:

A picture of Pablo Picasso's Guernica appears on the screen. The board collectively winces

Alison: For clarification, we would be the horse and all the screaming people. Our customer base from the PS3 would be the Nazi bombers.

Robert: So what you're saying is that we would risk long-term loss by releasing DLC only for the PC and Xbox?

Alison: I'm saying our customers would probably kill us. With bombers.

Robert: I see. Thank you Alison.

Alison returns to her seat, around the pool of intern blood. As she passes, the intern manages to raise his head

Intern: [Rasping] Please...please call an...an ambulance. I might...live if you do.

Robert: You're not paid to talk, dammit!

Intern: I'm not paid at all.

Robert: I know. Perfect system, right? Anyway, Psychic Sue, what would our stock predictions be if we released only for the PC and Xbox?

A woman dressed in the shawls and silks often associated with gypsy fortune tellers peers into the crystal ball before her, waving her hands above its surface

Psychic Sue: The seed of the prophet shall sit the throne and drown in flame the mountains of man.

Robert: For god's sake, you've been coming out with that all week. Much more of that and we're hiring Mystic Mike to make our stock predictions.

Psychic Sue: Mystic Mike's a goddamn hack!

Robert: Yeah, yeah, whatever you say. Anyway, Q'Vorthqulle, what's your take on the situation?

The ball of ethereal light hovering above one of the chairs changes colour and makes a deep pulsing noise. There is a round of nods across the board.

Robert: Good point well made. Out of interest, Vorthak the Despoiler, did you and your team down in marketing manage to work out any way we might market this that could play down public backlash?

He nods to a giant of man, covered from head to toe in spiked plate armour, adorned with chains and skulls. The handle of an immense battleaxe rests against the side of the table where it is leaning.

Vorthak: After much deliberation, we decided on two options. The first was a poster of myself with the caption 'Complaints about the lack of Skyrim DLC on the Playstation 3 will result in Vorthak the Despoiler crushing your puny skull like an eggshell with his mighty armoured fist!'. The second was a poster of a puppy with the caption; 'We're honestly very sorry about the Skyrim DLC not being availabe for the Playstation 3. Can you find it in your heart to forgive us.' Neither of those tested well with focus-group audiences, and most of them said the first poster just made them want to go home and cry for a while. We did note that an alternative run of the first poster where I don't have a shirt on did test very positively with a female audience, though.

Robert: So you can't find any way to allay complaints from the public, then?

Vorthak: [Standing and raising his axe] The only solution we found was that I ride out and TAKE THE HEADS OF ALL WHO COMPLAIN!!

Robert: Vorthak, please, no decapitation.

Vorthak: [Hangs his head and sits again] Aw, everybody says that.

Robert: Right, so does anyone have any ideas for how to release for PC and Xbox only that doesn't involve pissing off a lot of our customers? [Vorthak reaches for his axe] Or decapitating our customers? [Vorthak looks disappointed] No? Nobody?

Alison: It might prudent to move onto...[she adopts a shady look]...the next project.

Vorthak: She has a point. We've already got a four-second loop of abstract and obscure footage ready to release to help promote viral hype for...[he adopts a shady look]...the next project.

Steve: Guys, why are we all acting so shady about our release of-[Psychic Sue clamps a hand over his mouth]

Psychic Sue: We're not supposed to explicitly mention it until the protagonists have become aware of it, so that we've got a mystery to intrigue the audience with, you fool! Don't you know how these things are done?

Robert: Then it's decided; we finish Skyrim and move onto the development of...[he adopts a shady look]...the next project.

The scene fades to black as a chorus of evil, sinister laughter from the board slowly increases in volume. Over the screen comes the phrase 'THE END?'

This post has been edited by Colonel Mustard: Apr 18 2013, 11:49 AM