One example: The way Bethesda games track an enormous number of physics enabled objects across their open worlds. I feel like most games in the last 10 years have made a point of simplifying their physics systems to a point of near-nonexistence.
Bethesda knows that when I dump 500 wheels of cheese on the floor of my house in Whiterun, I want it all to still be exactly where I left it when I come back 20 hours later.
Fair point. I can’t really think of any games that have done that, either. Interesting that there haven’t been more physics sandbox style open worlds, come to think of it…
Valheim does a really great job with this. I think the closest I’ve seen in a game. The other part of this is that’s part of what makes their VR Ports so good.
I would like to have it explained to me by someone au fait with GameDev as to what’s stopping a smaller studio going after something with the scope of Morrowind or Oblivion.
Bethesda are so blessed to have their own unique niche that’s so stupidly popular.
Just piles and piles and piles of work. Imagine all the trees, grass, rocks, terrain, buildings, props - and then character and creature models, animations, sounds, writing it goes on and on!
And the simulation complexity, which leads to an endless sea of bugs. Imitators typically just leave a lot of this out. But Bethesda knows that when the player dumps 500 wheels of cheese in their house in Whiterun, they better still be there and fully physics-enabled when they come back 20 hours later.
For all the complaints over the years (from myself included), there are very few options for games like Elder Scrolls main games.
These kinds of games are extremly difficult to build. Skyrim still does things I haven’t seen any game other than Fallout 4 do since.
What things would that be? Im trying to think of something that hasnt been replicated / improved in another game, but I am drawing a blank personally.
One example: The way Bethesda games track an enormous number of physics enabled objects across their open worlds. I feel like most games in the last 10 years have made a point of simplifying their physics systems to a point of near-nonexistence.
Bethesda knows that when I dump 500 wheels of cheese on the floor of my house in Whiterun, I want it all to still be exactly where I left it when I come back 20 hours later.
good point. I still have daggers that refuse to stay in their display boxes and move around the house mysteriously, though 🙃
I prefer to suspect the radiant engine before Lydia or Ysolda (well, Serana maybe lol).
500 Cheese wheels?!
[Sheogorath would like to know your location]
Fair point. I can’t really think of any games that have done that, either. Interesting that there haven’t been more physics sandbox style open worlds, come to think of it…
Valheim does a really great job with this. I think the closest I’ve seen in a game. The other part of this is that’s part of what makes their VR Ports so good.
I would like to have it explained to me by someone au fait with GameDev as to what’s stopping a smaller studio going after something with the scope of Morrowind or Oblivion.
Bethesda are so blessed to have their own unique niche that’s so stupidly popular.
Just piles and piles and piles of work. Imagine all the trees, grass, rocks, terrain, buildings, props - and then character and creature models, animations, sounds, writing it goes on and on!
And the simulation complexity, which leads to an endless sea of bugs. Imitators typically just leave a lot of this out. But Bethesda knows that when the player dumps 500 wheels of cheese in their house in Whiterun, they better still be there and fully physics-enabled when they come back 20 hours later.