Behind the Scenes Slips

[Kestral]

With GameInformer's series of behind the scenes videos, you can tell somethings about the game from the environment, like the Mammoth meat. Just post anything you find in the videos, for example:

In the first "Sounds of Skyrim" video, we're told of a Dwemer Centurion (sphere). We even get the animation of it and the model + textures. Pretty neat, and this Dwemer technology must certainly mean that there is more of the Dwemer in the game. (In addition to that, Todd Howard in an interview mentioned a "city carved by dwarves." Assumably Red Mountain style.)

[Arch-Mage Matt]

It seemed as it there will be one voice for each race, according to the first video.

[Kestral]

It seemed as it there will be one voice for each race, according to the first video.

How so?

Also, the last Sound Video gives some decent snippets of the main theme. Awesome. I also felt very, very nostalgic and moved when I heard Morrowind's theme.

[JJSmart]

It seemed as it there will be one voice for each race, according to the first video.

Actually when he said "this is what the argonian female will sound like" or something like that, he was talking about the shouts for the player character, not NPC voices.

Anyway, the music in the last video sounds amazing! I can't wait to hear the whole thing with good audio quality.

[Cactus]

He was calling them Dragon Shouts or something. I wonder if this will be related at all to The Voice, or if it's some unique ability only the PC has. Or a bit of both.

[JJSmart]

He was calling them Dragon Shouts or something. I wonder if this will be related at all to The Voice, or if it's some unique ability only the PC has. Or a bit of both.

Pretty sure they're powers any dragonborn has (or is able to learn). They've mentioned them before, though i can't remember where...

[Ysmir]

Well when the Dwemer disappeared we never knew where else they had inhabited and it said that this effected all dwemer across Nirn so with this video we can confirm they lived in Skyrim as well at the time of The battle of the Red Mountain. But that also makes me think since over time races adapt to suit their environments what if the Skyrim Dwemer changed into the Falmer of equal mystery who are now like the Dwemer considered a lost race of mer. I loved seeing the return of anything Dwemer and it's awesome they are bringing that lost culture back into the game and hopefully shed more light on them.

[Baram1991]

I don't know about everyone else, but I thought the clip of the theme for Skyrim sounds amazing!

I am glad that the theme has been changed again from Oblivion's theme. It wasn't bad, but it did not have that feeling of beginning a grand and meaningful journey that Morrowind's theme did for me. In Morrowind, the theme sounded personal. As it began, the drums created an exciting sort of mood, slightly intimidating, but more just creating a sense of grandeur right away. Then, as the melody, it personified a sort of innocence, lighthearted, but still a bit sorrowful. As the lower strings slowly were introduced, it was almost like something illuminating from the music itself. To me, it represented the growth of the player, building up from a single instrument, into a gentle melody performed by multiple instruments. It rises again, with more significant brass and percussion to show the importance of this character to this story. If it could speak, it would be, "This is where you begin" at the beginning, "This is where you will go" as it rises the first time, and "This is what you will do" for the second rise. As all fades out except for the drums again, it is almost like saying, "Enjoy" before starting the game. The Morrowind theme felt like it was about the player.

In Oblivion, the theme felt much different. It felt impressive, grandiose, but impersonal. It felt like it was the theme of the Empire and its glory, at the very beginning, and then the familiar melody from Morrowind begins, but it feels entirely different. As it cuts off with the long strings, and the slightly staccato notes of the theme in the background, it feels like it is saying, "Here is the Empire," and then it goes into a darker, more sinister section with the horns and a bit of a choir, it sounds like. It slows down again, just to reintroduce the empire, this time in a more sorrowful way. It sounds like a mix of a battle scene, and also a composition to honor the land. Though, I admit, I really do like this theme, it does not sound as personal or meaningful as Morrowind's theme. It is not about the player.

Now of course, we have heard very little of Skyrim's theme. From what I have heard, the drums, stings, and chanting create a very intimidating and exciting feeling, though does not quite focus on the player, in my opinion. I have to say again that the theme sounds incredible. It is slow, powerful, and majestic. The choir sounds incredible, a bit haunting, and I loved how they sang almost staccato as it rose, and then fell into a powerful, flowing sound. I wish we could have heard more beyond the "Dovahkiin, Dovahkiin," as I am curious if it is the same as in the trailer. The choir alone sounds incredibly powerful and majestic, and I almost prefer the choir alone than with the rest of the music, from what I have heard so far. I am really curious about whether they are singing about the character, as they were in the trailer, or if they are singing about something else. I guess I will have to see how the entire theme feels. Just something about the choir that makes it sound, I don't know, majestic, yet also a bit mournful.

I have to admit that the visual of the slightly-battered symbol of the dragon added to the effect of this piece, and I hope it stays.

I think I put too much thought into this...

[Rat Kiosk]

I think I put too much thought into this...

I think you might have but I agree with you on every front except that when I hear the Skyrim theme I get goosebumps. (possibly from anticipation)

[MasterShadow]

It seemed as it there will be one voice for each race, according to the first video.

Actually when he said "this is what the argonian female will sound like" or something like that, he was talking about the shouts for the player character, not NPC voices.

Anyway, the music in the last video sounds amazing! I can't wait to hear the whole thing with good audio quality.

Exactly, those voices he was talking about were specifically the draconic shouts that allows the player to use dragon powers. Each race will sound different, which is totally appropriate. It would be very annoying if they all sounded the same.

[Fist]

I read in GameInformer about the new menu system, it sounds awesome, you will press the normal "inventory" button and a fourway menu pops up like a compass I'm guessing. If you press "Up" your character will look up to the stars, with each constellation as a skill/ability.If you press "Right" you open your inventory, which is "well-organized", and you can tag items as favorites for quick selection. Left is Spells, (85 of 'em) organized by themes, for example if you click "fire" you will have your different fire spells. If you press "Down" your character will look down and the game will zoom out, which is the map. Its topographical (bumpy ) so expect it to be awesome!

Also: Dragon Shouts are going to be awesome! I'm not sure how they work (Do you actually say them or do you press something that makes your character say them? Or is it equipped like a regular spell.) So far i've heard of one that slows down time, one knocks back enemies, another makes you stealthier, one teleports you, and one summons a dragon to aid you in battle. There are 20 in all.

[Vardark]

In Oblivion, the theme felt much different. It felt impressive, grandiose, but impersonal. It felt like it was the theme of the Empire and its glory, at the very beginning, and then the familiar melody from Morrowind begins, but it feels entirely different.

This may be the reason the track is named "Reign of the Septims"...

[River]

On the latest Game Informer video (concept art), on the bit that show the Skyrim map over in the north east (just under windhelm I think) it says rebels in red pen. There is also something written under solitude in the north west that i can't see on my low res screen.

[Eric Aurum'Barba]

On that same video, we can see a concept art of a female character using a bow, with the tip of the arrow on fire.
This could be only concept, or can mean one of two things:

1. Enchantments will have a visible effect on the weapon (flaming weapons for fire, frosty weapons for ice, etc.)

2. There's a perk (sneak/marksman related) that let's you use flaming arrows.

[Eltee]

On that same video, we can see a concept art of a female character using a bow, with the tip of the arrow on fire.
This could be only concept, or can mean one of two things:

1. Enchantments will have a visible effect on the weapon (flaming weapons for fire, frosty weapons for ice, etc.)

2. There's a perk (sneak/marksman related) that let's you use flaming arrows.

In the name of the one, the three, the eight and the sixteen, I hope so.