If you haven’t watched Giant Bomb’s highly-entertaining quick look for Skyrim, watch the embedded video above. I’ve gone ahead and set it to the 28:45 mark, so you can catch the clip I’ve been watching over and over.

Elsewhere, check out Skyrim coolness at these sites:

• Watch zwoooooosh’s hilarious YouTube video, Dovahkiin’s Day Off
• PC Gamer has already put together their 10 best Skyrim mods so far (sans Creation Kit)
• TheGameStation YouTube Channel asks how a person becomes Dragonborn (possibly NSFW)
• Penny Arcade has not one, but two comics dedicated to Skyrim
• Kotaku shares an amazing fan-made Skyrim PC case
• PC Mag shares 7 Things You Should Do in Skyrim

And then there’s plenty of new reviews. Check out the latest at these sites:

• OXM US (10/10) — “If you aren’t normally drawn to role-playing games, get over it — to miss out on this extraordinary gaming experience would be positively criminal.”
• Wizard World – “The Greatest Video Game Role-Playing Game Ever”
• The Onion AV Club (A) — “Where many games with lavish production values seek to direct players’ imaginations, Skyrim seeks to ignite them.”
• Game Shark (A) — “Skyrim is a role-playing masterpiece.”
• Huffington Post/AP (4/4) — “Skyrim is one of the most ambitious video games ever developed, and it lives up to its ambitions in every way.”
• Dual Shockers (10/10) — “The electrifying world comes alive from the very beginning, inviting you to get swept up in the endless adventures that await you.”
• Student Life (5/5) — “This is the game of the year, hands down.”
• USA Today (4/4) — “Even when you think you’ve spent hundreds of hours exploring, there’s always one more fresh face to meet, or dragon to slay, or thrilling adventure waiting.”
• Associated Press (4/4) — “Skyrim has taken over my life. But, hey, it’s a good life.”
• NZ Gamer (9.5/10) — “Playing Skyrim is like getting lost in a massive series of fantasy novels, only this time you’re writing them yourself.”
• Game Chronicles (9.9/10) — Editor’s Choice
• MSNBC’s Gaming Zone (9/10) — “Whether you like swords and sorcery or not, whether you’re a role-playing gamer or not, if you don’t buy Skyrim, you’re missing out.”
• Mirror UK (5/5) — “A truly unforgettable adventure.”
• Impulse Gamer (9.9/10) — Editor’s Choice
• Gamers Haven (9.5/10)
• Stuff.co.nz (9.5/10) —  ”… without any shadow of doubt, the best RPG experience available right now.”
• Now Gamer(93%) — “Building upon everything that made Oblivion such a joy, Skyrim has easily secured the crown as the biggest game this gen and also as one of the best. Even if you don’t ordinarily like ye olde fantasy RPGs, this is brilliant.”

For more reviews, check out our previous roundup.

Bethesda Blog

While RAGE doesn’t hit Europe until tomorrow, if you’re in or around London, you’ll see that the game is everywhere — on the streets, in the tube, on the front of magazines, and on your TV. Thankfully, I haven’t heard any reports of mutants running around the city.

Similar to what we did with RAGE taxis in the US, if you see a bus promoting RAGE, be one of the first 10 to send us a pic (bethblog@bethsoft.com) and we’ll send some swag your way!

As you wait to play the game, check out a history lesson on id from Gamespot UK…

Bethesda Blog

Back with a super-mega coverage roundup that includes videos, interviews, previews and more.

Let’s start with Skyrim…

• Xbox.com — Watch Todd Howard discuss dragons in Skyrim (above)
• Gametrailers — Todd joins Ken Levine (Bioshock), David Jaffe (Twisted Metal, God of War) and host Geoff Keighley at PAX for a special episode of Bonus Round
• Totally Rad Show — Jeff Cannata goes behind closed doors to look at Skyrim
• Destructoid – Interview with Matt Carafano
• G4TV – The X-Play crew catch up with Todd Howard at PAX Prime

For more on Skyrim, RAGE, Prey 2, and Dishonored, hit the jump below…

Skyrim Previews

• Destructoid (plus helmet-wearing reactions here!)
• Kotaku (plus details on bug squashing)
• Xbox 360 Achievements
• Joystiq
• G4TV
• Game Revolution
• Shacknews
• Rock, Paper, Shotgun
• Gamertag Radio
• Piki Geek
• The Video Game Writers
• Duel Shockers
• Nerd Trek (interview with Matt Carafano)
• Gamertag Radio
• Crave Online

All that plus new tidbits on the game revealed by Pete Hines (@dcdeacon) over Twitter. See SystemLink, GamePur and Lazy Gamer for details.

Switching gears to RAGE, creative director Tim Willits has been all over the world (currently he’s in Australia) showing the game. Head to his latest interviews at TechDay, FPS Guru, Capsule Computers, Team Xbox, and the Totally Rad Show (watch below)

RAGE Previews

• Capsule Computers
• Thumb Culture
• Game Revolution
• We Got This Covered
• Crave Online
• The Today Show

Prey 2 Coverage

• GoozerNation
• IncGamers
• AusGamers (interview with Chris Rhinehart)
• Angry Joe Show (interview with Norm Nazaroff)
• Platform 32 (interview with Jim Sumwalt)

Dishonored Previews

• Xbox 360 Achievements
• Videogame.it (interview with Rafael Colantonio and Harvey Smith)
• Guardian
• RandomProdInc
• IGN

 

And in other news…

• Fallout: New Vegas senior producer Jason Bergman discusses Jace Hall’s role as a toaster in Old World Blues
• GameTrailers is counting down the greatest trailers on all time. With only the top 20 to still be announced, DOOM 3 (#93), Fallout: New Vegas (#90), Fallout 3 (#71 & 67), Oblivion (#65), and Prey 2 (#58) have already been included.
• DOOM fans can test their wits in a new quiz put together at The Escapist
• David Perry interviews Pete Hines

Bethesda Blog

It’s been a busy week: Old World Blues reviews, Skyrim creations you can wear and play, details and screens for Brink DLC, a new Bethesda Podcast, studio tours for Tango & id, and plenty of updates for Dishonored & QuakeCon. So what did I miss? Apparently quite a bit!!

In print, get new details on Skyrim in the latest issue of PSM3 — now on newsstands in the UK. Meanwhile, folks in the US can read GameInformer’s E3 impressions of both Skyrim & RAGE in their August issue.

There’s plenty more to read online, including various features with the folks that make our games great

• Pete Hines talks Bethesda in a two-part interview (part 1, part 2) with Edge. Todd Howard chats with them, too.
• USA Today interviews John Carmack about RAGE
• IGN looks back at the early years (before Resident Evil) of Tango’s Shinji Mikami
• id Software senior producer Jason Kim answers RAGE questions for CVG (part 1, part 2)
• Kotaku takes a look back at the work of Dishonored’s visual design director, Viktor Antonov

After the break, check out the latest Skyrim coverage…

• The Wall Street Journal make comparisons to Tolkien in a new preview
• G4TV: New X-Play Preview
• IGN: Five Reasons Skyrim is Going to Make You its (ahem) Bitch
• What Culture: Anticipates Skyrim, RAGE, and 14 other titles coming out and discusses why the game will ruin your social life
• 1Up: A fact about Skyrim you might not already know
• Gamespot: Interview with lead producer Craig Lafferty
• GamingBolt: Shares 10 facts about Skyrim they think you should know
• PlayStation Universe: Looks back at the history of TES (part 1, part 2)
• Guyism: New preview from a recent New York event
• Cheat Code Central: New preview

That’s it for now… have a great weekend!

Bethesda Blog

Whaddya do when your back is too burnt to enjoy the Bahamas? In my case, it’s the perfect opportunity to do a web roundup.

While (web) surfing on my trip, I spotted this story on Joystiq about artist A.J. Hateley’s book covers inspired by video games. Above is his tribute to Fallout 3. Check out all his covers here.

Following Game Informer’s announcement of Dishonored, you’ll want to keep an eye out for extended coverage on their dedicated hub for the game. Beyond covering Arkane’s newly-announced game, their staff seems to have been bitten by the Oblivion bug, as they have new features on their favorite Oblivion fan videos and why they love the game.

Elsewhere, IGN looks back at both Oblivion (#18) and Fallout 3 (#6) in their list of the Top 100 Modern Video Games. Check out the full list here.

Has Fallout 3 ever made you wonder how to prepare for a post-apocalyptic lifestyle? If so, read 1Up’s How to Survive the Fallout Apocalypse.

In addition to these features, check out these links…

• Learn a fun fact about how the Dragon language was created for Skyrim at 1Up
• The Wall Street Journal put up a video featuring Fallout 3 and Pete Hines prior to the big SCOTUS decision (hooray, video games!)
• As we close in on QuakeCon 2011 (just over 2 weeks away), Kotaku has a piece on the early days of id Software
• Kotaku writes about our first game, Gridiron!, after learning that we’re celebrating 25 years of excellence

After the break, find more coverage for Prey 2, Skyrim, and RAGE.

Prey 2

• On the Prey 2 Facebook page, watch part 1 of our look at the game’s trailers– featuring developer commentary from Chris Rhinehart
• The Guardian’s Nick Cowen raves about what he saw at E3
• GamesRadar named Prey 2′s trailer the Best of E3
• OXM UK takes a closer look at the game in their latest preview
• GameReactor chats with Human Head’s own, Jim Sumwalt
• Jim also does an interview with Coin-Op.TV
• Square Go shares their first impressions on the game
• BattleStrats interviews Jim Sumwalt
• GamesTM interviews Matt Bisensius
• Multiple members of Bitmob’s staff herald Prey 2 as one of their favorite shooters of E3 2011
• Preview: 3News (New Zealand)
• Preview: GamerNode
• Preview: OMGN
• Preview: ShogunGamer
• Preview: GamingUnion
• Preview: GameFront
• Preview: Sidequesting

Skyrim

• GameReactor learns more on the game from lead producer Craig Lafferty
• Todd Howard answers questions for AusGamers (you can read their E3 preview here)
• Pete Hines talks Skyrim with Angry Joe at BlisteredThumbs
• The Escapist picks Skyrim as one of their favorite games of E3 2011
• GamingExcellence.com declares Skyrim the Best Role-Playing Game of E3 2011
• USA Today places Skryim as their #2 game of show
• GamesRadar declares Skyrim the game most likely to consume their lives; they also name it a finalist for Best of Show
• GotGame features Skyrim as their top RPG of E3
• Preview: Sidequesting
• Preview: RPGGamer
• Preview: OMGN

RAGE

• USA Today interviews id’s John Carmack to learn more about RAGE
• RipTen interviews Tim Willits
• Hands-On Preview: BeefJack
• Hands-On Preview: Nerd Reactor
• Gametrailers nominates RAGE for Best FPS
• Read a new preview from the Associated Press
• The Sydney Morning Herald talks with John Carmack and Tim Willits while also sharing impressions on the game
• Hands-On Preview: God Is A Geek

Bethesda Blog

Counting down the minutes until Brink’s launch, I thought I’d share some of the latest news for Brink and our other titles.

• Xbox’s Major Nelson interviews game director Paul Wedgwood in his latest podcast
• Art Director Olivier Leonardi talks about Bringing Brink to Life in an interview with IGN
• Co-Optimus puts together one last preview before launch
• 1Up features Brink in a look at 2011 shooters
• IGN previews Brink’s maps with Dave ‘Dusty’ Johnson
• Creative Director Richard Ham shares tips with Gamespot on How Not To Die in Brink and provides a new community interview to Frag World
• Art Director Olivier Leonardi talks with New Zealand’s Game Planet
• Entertainment Weekly looks ahead to both Brink and Hunted
• Learn about the man behind Brink’s sound design, Chris Sweetman, in new interviews at Gamespot and Games.On.Net
• MSNBC and VG247 talk Brink with Paul Wedgwood
• Read the latest preview at Planet Xbox 360
• Don’t try this at home! Parkour expert Daniel Ilabaca goes head-to-head against Brink.

Get news on RAGE, Prey 2, and Skyrim after the break.

Last week we announced new DLC content for Fallout: New Vegas, and now you can get a first chance to see the content the latest episode of PlayStation Qore. While you wait for it to go online, get a glimpse of the action in this Qore promo spot.

In other news, check these sites:

• CVG looks at how Prey 2 could change the way you look at shooters
• New Zealand gaming site Game Planet has interviews for RAGE (Tim Willits) and Prey 2 (Matt Bisenius)
• IGN primes you on “the basics” for RAGE and Skyrim and RAGE
• Crush!Frag!Destroy! shares PAX East impressions of RAGE
• Last but not least, Skyrim fans can enjoy a 15-minute interview with Todd Howard from German site Gameswelt.de. Watch it below…

Bethesda Blog

There’s three things you should do this week.

1. Vote for the the games to be featured next year for the Smithsonian’s ‘Art of Video Games’ exhibit. Among the games (spanning five eras), you can vote for DOOM II, Oblivion, and Fallout 3. Deadline: Extended to April 17th
2. Vote in G4TV’s Game Franchise Deathmatch. Round 2 features Fallout vs. Gears of War and The Elder Scrolls vs. StarCraft. Deadline: Voting ends Friday.
3. Do your taxes!

With that out of the way, here’s some other stuff you’ll want to check out

• Inc Gamers has a two part interview with Brink creative director Richard Ham. Part 1 is here. Part 2 is over here.
• The Sixth Axis learns from Ed Stern how many areas are in Brink (and more).
• Todd Howard appears in the G4TV special, Gamers Heart Japan. It’s a really nice feature, but if you can’t wait to watch Todd, he’s at the VERY end.
• PC Gamer explains how Brink starts to make perfect sense once you have time to play it
• OXM UK goes hands on with both Brink and Hunted
• VG247 looks ahead to our 2011 lineup and also makes predictions about the future
• GameDynamo looks forward to Hunted

Beyond that, don’t forget there’s still time to bid on a Todd Howard-signed deluxe bobblehead, a team-signed Skyrim cover (above), and a Fallout: New Vegas neon sign. 100% of the final sale price will support Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund – a GlobalGiving Project.

Bethesda Blog

Matt back with another update from around the web.

Up first, G4TV let us know today they’ve kicked off a new deathmatch to determine the greatest game franchise of all time. Both Elder Scrolls and Fallout are in the tournament and up against stiff competition. In the first round, the Elder Scrolls faces Street Fighter, while Fallout squares off with Civilization. To vote, head to G4TV.com and register. I recommend listening to “You’re The Best” from the Karate Kid soundtrack as you vote.

Speaking of fan votes, we’ve got news that Bioware bested us in the March Mayhem Developers’ Challenge. Put on those headphones and prepare the training montage for next year!

It’s been awhile since we updated you on Skyrim. For all of you looking for every bit of info between now and 11.11.11, you might find something of interest below…

• OXM UK brings their Skyrim coverage online with a preview, podcast interview with Pete, and an interview with Todd. And for those with Xbox LIVE in the UK, you can check out video interviews conducted with Todd Howard and Bruce Nesmith.
• Planet Elder Scrolls interviewed me to celebrate the site’s 10th anniversary (congrats!).
• G4TV and IGN show how far BGS have come with Skyrim in comparison to Oblivion.
• A nice user-made piano tribute to Skyrim’s theme.
• Rolling Stone leads off their feature on the biggest games of 2011 with Skyrim. Article also mentions RAGE.
• NowGamer and Game Rant discuss what’s been learend about the game so far.
• CVG discuss what they want to see in Skyrim.

Switching gears to Brink, be sure to check out The Video Game Writers, who have new features on Brink each day this week. So far they’ve talked with lead writer Ed Stern about how Brink takes notes from previous games, how Splash Damage is decreasing the learning curve and increasing the game’s fun, as well as conceptualization and replayability for Brink.

Speaking of Brink, if you’re wondering about the Ark image above, it was sent to our blog inbox from fan Tsenttachi,who created it in Minecraft. If you’ve made any Bethesda-themed creations in the game, feel free to email them to us at bethblog@bethsoft.com.

That about does it for this round. See ya next time.

Bethesda Blog

The latest issue of Italian gaming magazine Game Republic hit newsstands today — feat. RAGE on the cover! It joins France’s Jeux Video, Australia’s PC PowerPlay, Spain’s Marca Player, and the Nordic release of Game Reactor as magazines currently featuring RAGE.

Check out all the covers in the slideshow above, and stay tuned here for new details on the game.

Bethesda Blog

Moving along, one of my favorite stories of the year so far is this one I spotted a week back on Kotaku. It’s about a Fallout fan named Gareth. Unlike most of us, Gareth can’t play games with his hands, but he’s put together a setup that allows him to play games using his chin. Watch a video of him playing New Vegas here… cool, inspiring stuff.

Staying in the Mojave, last month we blogged about an ambitious mod project for New Vegas called Project Nevada. Those interested in checking out the mod can download it now at New Vegas Nexus.

Check out more on New Vegas at these sites…

• British Academy of Film and Television Arts (that’s BAFTA) has announced their GAME British Academy Video Games Awards’ nominees with New Vegas receiving nominations for Best Strategy Game and Best Story
• Game Industry News has nominated the game for Best RPG
• GamePro includes New Vegas (and Oblivion) in a feature on the 10 Best RPGs you should be playing

Skyrim news (and more) after the break…

In Skyrim news, be sure to read the following…

• IGN looks at how BGS looks to outdo Oblivion
• CVG is asking if Skyrim is their 2011 GOTY
• Attack of the Fanboy shares their requests on what they’d like to see
• Gamespot includes Skyrim in their Most Anticipated Games of 2001 list (joining RAGE)
• RPG Land ranks TES V as their top RPG of 2011

In other news, Pete sent me this link to a feature by Scott Steinberg called Interactive Fiction: The Art of Video Game Storytelling. From the Bethesda side of things, the video includes Fallout 3 (starting at the 4:50 mark) and also includes words from Raphael Colantonio (President and Creative Director at Arkane).

In other news…

• GameSpy recently ranked their Top 25 PC Games of the 2000s with Morrowind making the list
• Oblivion (#6) and Fallout 3 (#5) made The Bottom Line’s Top 10 RPG list for the decade
• Brink’s creative director Richard Ham tackles a new interview with NowGamer

Taking a quick peek at print news, I had a chance to read OXM UK’s coverage on Skyrim this week. There’s plenty of great content in the issue, including an interview featuring game director Todd Howard, lead designer Bruce Nesmith, and lead artist Matt Carofano. In addition to the contents in the magazine, there’s also a tease for some Skryim coverage that will be hitting the interwebs soon — including a look back at the previous TES titles, a video interview, a podcast interview, and a special feature on design. Stay tuned for more details.

I also had a chance to check out the most recent issue of OXM here in the States. In BGS news, both the Pint-Sized Slasher and The Gray Cowl ranked in the Top 10 Disguises on Xbox 360. Learn other Halloween options by picking up a copy on newsstands now.

Thanks for reading. Until the next time…

Bethesda Blog