Elder Scrolls: Skyrim

It’s the 10^th anniversary of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim! Instead of wondering what platform I’ll be able to play the game on next, let me take some time to share a few moments of my life connected by the thread called Skyrim.

Introduction to The Elder Scrolls (TES)

My first introduction to The Elder Scrolls series was through some of my classmates in my art school’s spring semester sculpture class. It was The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion release day or 4.20.2006. We had just turned in a major assignment and several students wanted to skip the rest of the day’s classes to go home and play. It made me curious to know what the excitement was about. Although I was out of the loop at the time, I would be ready five years later.

Skyrim Release Day

Release day, 11.11.2011, was two days before my birthday. It was a present I asked from my father, who picked it up at the GameStop where my Beloved-to-be worked at the time. (It’s a good story for another time.) Eager to play the game that Friday, after a long day of classes and fun with friends, I dropped everything and settled on the couch in my living room. I booted the game, installed the updates…and fell asleep.

I woke up Saturday morning with the controller in my hands. What did I do? I started Skyrim of course! I ended up glued to my console all day because it was the most fun I had experienced in a while. Skyrim would have been my first Platinum playthrough if it weren’t for that first DLC.

A Game for Community

Skyrim was one of those games at the time that was not only fun to play, but it was also fun to watch. I watched my friends play. I watched my cousin play after she took interest in the game. I realized that I, the solitary gamer, found enjoyment in a gaming experience that I didn’t control. The soundtrack, environments, visuals, and experiences available in the game were enthralling to me. I watched others play as much as I played.

The Spiral

I purchased multiple versions of Skyrim. I picked up the Game of the Year edition of Oblivion thanks to my experiences with Skyrim. I downloaded and started Morrowind on Steam thanks to my experience with Oblivion. Now, I am a fangirl with Elder Scrolls Online accounts for multiple platforms and volumes of lore on my bookshelf.

Looking Forward

Skyrim and TES series opened my eyes and heart to western role-playing games. I was once a fan of only Japanese role-playing games, but now I have love and respect for both. I have learned to play, enjoy, and critique both.

So, I thank Skyrim for changing my playstyle and reforming my genre prejudice. Here’s to ten years of Skyrim!

Now, where is TES VI?

Well, it’s time to start recapping some of the big news that’s been breaking over the last couple of days at E3 this year. Over at Bethesda, there is no shortage of news.

1. Quake Champions

Id software stuns again for the second year in a row. Last year it was Doom, this year is the return of Quake with Quake Champions. Classic games never looked so good. With the success of Doom, expect the new installment of Quake to break ground again when it hits stores.

2. Elder Scrolls: Skyrim is Coming to PS4 and Xbox One

Most had suspected the move for awhile and the confirmation was a delight to all. Elder Scrolls: Skyrim will be moving up to the flagship platforms! Full mod support should give the game new life for gamers in the form of a sharper and more enjoyable playing experience.

3. The Elder Scrolls Online will give full access to content

For those who don’t know exactly what that entails, that means no level restrictions! You can roam freely throughout the expansive universe. This is a fairly unprecedented move for an MMO. No one knows how this will affect the overall gameplay and fans are interested to see what is to come.

4. Prey is on its way

Well, no one knows exactly if this is a remake of the first game entitled Prey, but it sure looks to be in the same vein as such. It is stated to be a re-imagining of its predecessor so one can only assume it’s at least a soft remake. Whatever the case, the trailer didn’t reveal a whole lot so lets hope that there’s more to it than what was shown.

5. Dishonored sees new setting in upcoming sequel

If the trailer didn’t say enough then that’s not a bad thing entirely. But I would say we got everything we needed. This is E3 after all. The biggest this is that we got a clear change of scenery and some pretty gruesome scenes following the previous game nicely. Karnaca will have a hell of a lot to offer when fans get a chance to traverse the new location when Dishonored 2.