Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and the Leaked Gameplay Video

For those who like video games, and more specifically RPGs, you may be aware that a new Elder Scrolls game is coming out. It looks markedly similar to Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, although now they have added dragons and changed up the game progression a bit. I liked Oblivion, aside from the fact that if you built your character wrong (I did it twice) the game becomes unbeatable. Unless you know how to play the game and how to maximize resources to build up your player, you are doomed.

Well, it turns out that someone somehow released a 25 minute video of Skyrim gameplay. I watched it (before the lawyers found out and had a conniption) and I was impressed with the graphics, general gameplay and some of the new features. The video highlights some of the bigger battles and more interesting enemies, and does a fine job of showcasing the game’s depth and detail. If I were a big Elder Scrolls fan, I would be salivating like Pavlov’s pooch at this video.

However, I am bigger fan of the Fallout series and its refined (ridiculously easy) fighting style. While I acknowledge that it is easier to create better gameplay controls with guns, since they are a point A to point B type action, Elder Scrolls gameplay has some issues. I constantly found myself randomly swinging an ax for 3 minutes while trying to kill an enemy and only actually striking them four or five times, due to a complete lack of depth perception from the attack system. Run at enemy, hit attack button, hope to hell that you don’t miss, backup to dodge their attack – now repeat this for 100 hours.

But this criticism aside, the Elder Scrolls series has had fabulous success and Skyrim should be no different. So I have to wonder, why the heck don’t companies release gameplay footage all the time? Why is this leak a big deal and who thinks that the video will damage sales? Game companies love to hide behind visually stunning trailers that last all of 30 seconds, and give the gamer’s little information other than: “Look! A Dragon!” I would understand it if your game was garbage, then hiding behind a trailer is a great idea. But if you are proud of it (a la Duke Nukem), then let it all hang out and put out the live game footage - because it is only going to increase sale volume.

Here’s an example of what I mean. A new Fallout Vegas DLC came out and I have largely ignored it. I have only seen a handful of screenshots and heard little talk about it. I’m busy playing Gears of War 3 and a handful of other games, so I don’t care to go get the DLC right now. But if I ran across a 3 minute video with some gameplay highlights, I would probably change my mind. It doesn’t take much to get a fan excited, and since fans have that unique ability to create other fans, putting out a live gameplay video is only going to boost sale volume. I wouldn’t mind opening my wallet so that I could return to my journey across the wastes, but a 20 second short just doesn’t get me going. However, watching a couple minutes of game play highlighting new features can have me headed to Gamestop that same night.