Oblivion 360 shots
polycounter lvl 19
I got a chance to work on characters for Elder Scrolls 4 oblivion along with some other polycounters here, and Bethesda just released the new screenshots for the 360 version of their game which is now featuring a shot of one of the characters I made, the Lich 
http://www.elderscrolls.com/art/obliv_xbox360_screens_01.htm
http://www.elderscrolls.com/art/obliv_xbox360_screens_01.htm
Replies
These aren't my words or opinion I hasten to add.
Looks great dude. And congrats to all who worked on it, cos it sure does look beautiful. That oustide shot with the back of the knight there is stunning.
The only gripe I had about Morrowind was that the character models where pretty uninteresting, especially for the PC, just some pretty generic heads.
As long as there is a cute redhead head, I'll be happy
Really it doesn't even make sense to forbid contract work. It keeps your employees happier moneywise, without you actually having to give them any more money. It increases the skill of your employees cause they are practicing in their free time, and it will probably result in more well rounded artists, as it won't all be in the exact style of the companies game. You learn new tools as well when a project is using a software program that you aren't at work. If you ever do start using it at work, guess who the company doesn't have to train? guess who already has someone onsite to help the other employees learn?
I understand the general direction a company is coming from when they prohibit contract work, but I think it's a holdover from the same period that brought us 100+ hour work weeks.
Really its one of those things that depends on the person. Some people can work what essentially amounts to two jobs and be equally dedicated to each, but a lot of people can't. They have deadlines that meld into each other, they'll stay up too late working on freelance stuff and come into work tired and useless and or just put in minimum effort in the 'real job' while putting max effort into freelance stuff so they can springboard to another company (all the while leeching of company insurance and 401k benefits).
Like I said though, some people can handle it just fine (and I'd imagine anyone on this board wouldn't have a problem) but from a corporate point of view the potential hassle is enough to just say 'no' across the board.
Im a huge fan of ElderScrolls III, shame the characters in that artistically blew. Rest of the game was 3 flavors of awesome.
This coming for the PC as well I assume (it better!)
Really its one of those things that depends on the person. Some people can have chilren and a job and be equally devoted to both, and some can't. They have childcare, sports teams, school, they'll stay up too late changing diapers and feeding, sitting by the bedside of a sick child and come into work tired and useless and or just put in minimum effort in the 'real job' while putting max effort into family (all the while leeching of company insurance and 401k benefits).
See how ridiculous the above sounds? Yet if you look at it from the point of view from 100% efficiency, having kids should be against company policy as well. Some of us put just as much importance in our carreer and skillset, as others put into raising a family.
But I do agree, some can handle it and some can't. I always put my day job at the forefront won't let other things get in the way. It's the game I believe in the most, otherwise I wouldn't be working there. The other stuff is just fun/hobby.
For me personally I want to work on alot of different things, different styles, different types of games, so doing freelance is a way to get out there and work on some of the cooler projects I would like to work on, keeps me happy and focused on the things I have to do in my full time job, its an outlet for creativity (like doing personal work). Doing stuff on the side is not a problem for me since I don't have any other commitments.
Also, maybe I'm just a cynical person, companies want you to be happy, but only as much as they want you to be and in ways that will benefit them. Sure, your abilities and such grow and get better, but that's less tangible to the higher ups than content created for their rivals. My opinion, anyways. Lunch!
Really like the screens of Oblivion. Seems to be like the most tasteful use of next-gen tech to me.
See how ridiculous the above sounds? Yet if you look at it from the point of view from 100% efficiency, having kids should be against company policy as well. Some of us put just as much importance in our carreer and skillset, as others put into raising a family.
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Oh trust me, if companies had any call over your reproductive organs and wouldn't get sued to high heaven, they'd try it. As it stands Family and outside commitments are socially > work. When you're comparing work to work though the precidents and expectations are different.
and as someone else stated, there's the non-competition thing. I think at some point when I filled out my entry papers there was some discussion as to the effect that me working at Borders would be a conflict of interest as I'd be selling products of the competition (used as an abstract example of course).
I guess when you get down to it, for Bethesda anyway, the difference is we're not just a developer, we're a publisher.
Slayer: PC version is a no brainer
Nice work dude, can't wait until it's released so I can get lost in it for months on end. I just wish it had a LAN multiplayer option. Morrowind with LAN play would have seriously kicked ass.