Bethesda tells gamers to "be on the lookout" for info on the RPG's first add-on tomorrow; Kinect update for Xbox 360 version launching May 1.
The first day of May is set to be a big one for Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim fans. Bethesda teased this afternoon that news of the first downloadable content for the role-playing game will arrive tomorrow. Additionally, the company confirmed today that the Kinect update for the Xbox 360 version will hit tomorrow.
Last week, Bethesda said news of Skyrim's first DLC was possible for this week. Specifics regarding the mystery content are unknown, but a forum user recently dug into the game's latest patch information and found clues suggesting the DLC will focus on snow elves and add the crossbow weapon.
Gamers may want to manage their expectations for tomorrow's Skyrim DLC announcement. Bethesda marketing executive Pete Hines wrote on Twitter today that only a "tidbit" of information regarding the DLC will be shared, "not a complete [download] of info."
As for Skyrim's Kinect update, Bethesda earlier this month revealed that the role-playing game would add Microsoft's voice-recognition technology. At the time, the company said the update would arrive in April, a date it will miss only by one day.
When Kinect compatibility for Skyrim launches tomorrow, it will do so only in English. The French, Italian, German, and Spanish versions of the update are presently in final testing, Bethesda said. A full list of English voice commands for Skyrim are available at Bethesda's website.
Eddie Makuch (Mack-ooh) is a News Editor at GameSpot. He works out of the company's Boston office in Somerville, Mass., and loves extra chunky peanut butter.
level caps? level 83 isnt high enough? wtf.... just give me more skills and some weapons. Kinect is badass. I used it for my menus and looting. Comes in hands when I want to use a shout but not waste the time digging through the menu system.
I've nearly reached level 83 already, made the best armour, etc, and now there doesn't feel like much point to doing the remaining side quests.
@Hvac0120 Kinect movement recognition works fine for certain kinds of games... the kinds of games I like to play with my young kids. The fact that they are finding ways to use Kinect in games for gamers is just icing on the cake. Also, in some "real games," Kinect has been successfully used for more than just VR. For example, the motion capture in Forza 4 does a great job of panning the camera within cars. This is very helpful in when cornering. I wouldn't buy a Kinect just for VR, but for those of us that already have one and at times use it for its main purpose, these small additions to so many games is making the investment look smarter all the time.
@Hvac0120 Not offended in the least. I don't really care for my Kinect all that much, most of the time. You stated you diddn't have it, and no one you knew had it also. Just letting you know in case you didn't that the voice recognition is actually really good. Totally agree with the headset statement BTW.
"Skyrim will receive its first DLC pack, entitled Dawnguard, this summer. Bethesda announced the name of the pack today, simply saying it was coming to Xbox 360, and that more info would be available come E3." Source Joystiq.
Sorry @firstfist my attempt to be funny apparently offended you. On a more serious note (and not directed specifically towards, firstfist): Kinect isn't meant to be a fancy voice recognition device and it's disappointing to see it's most impressive uses as such. Headsets work just fine for that. If you're spending $100-150 on a Kinect to get it's VR features, then you are over-valuing the feature.
Sorry @Hvac0120 The voice recognition for the Kinect is pretty impressive. Even if I have a couple people talking in the room talking it knows to only pick up my voice. Fairly certain that is how it will work in Skyrim too.
Too bad I don't know anyone with a Kinect. I'd come over during a play session and start yelling out commands at critical moments. It's a new way to do competitive multiplayer in single player games! j/k :)
Ok just tried this and I think I like it. First, you have to hit START and go to the settings part of the menu tab where save is. Kinect is unchecked to start. Check the box, and it's active. Saying QUICK MAP, QUICK SKILLS, or QUICK SAVE was very easy. No prompting, no hesitation, it put a green check in the upper right-hand corner and then opened right up. On the map page, you can say WHITERUN or SOLITUDE or WHERE AM I? and it centers immediately on the position you are asking for, even if you do one right after the other. Soooooo convenient! I don't think I will use this for many things, but if I only use it for that, i'll be happy.
SO what happens if you say the wrong thing while in the middle of battle and your life depended on it? Lol.
@larkin-54 I bet it has to do with a deal with Microsoft. They are pushing Kinect hard and its built in voice recognition system. If Bethesda were to make normal mics work, then they would have to design their own voice recognition program for that to work, which costs time and money. Kinect is after all, not just a mic and camera, there's software behind it.
This is sort of interesting to me, because I hate struggling through menus, it takes me out of the action. And sometimes I hit start when I should have hit B and vice-versa. I looked up the commands list, and saying QUICK SAVE is actually going to convenient. Same with the other "quick" commands. Still, I don't see me shouting FUS RO DAH in my living room. This reminds me of what 343 did with Halo: Anniversary. Saying FLASHLIGHT was helpful, kept the fingers on the buttons, kept me in the action.
"A tidbit". They might be too comfortable, if they're able to rouse up so much attention by only promising a tidbit of information, on a calendar date. That said, I'm eager. Oy.
I am impatient, I want to here about the update NOW! @ReaversRevenge there are probably going to be some issues with voice recognition but in all honesty it's not that hard to learn a few of your most favourite shouts to heart. Assigning quick slots to weapons and items makes the experience a lot smoother. You won't have to open up the quick slot menu or item menu during a fight making combat a little bit more organic.
Anyone know if people who don't have an Xbox 360 will get any kind of update tomorrow?
its all fun and games using voice commands, but what if you have problems trying to use a shout and your kinect cant recognise what your saying ? plus now you have commands to learn. the only perk i see using it this way is the trading options to sort your gear by value ect. .....in my opinion.... :/
Should be good if the previous dlc/expansions are anything to go by. I'm just praying that MS/Bethesda make it a reasonable price on Xbox Live. If they don't I will simply not buy it; I'd rather wait for the GOTY edition (inevitable!) or go across to PC where there are mods galore.
hope it will be around the size of the shivering isles even tho that was an expansion and not a dlc especially hope to see a quest like the one with let you decide the fate of adventures in that keep or dungeon, been a while since i played it so dont exactly remember where that quest was
i dont understand why the voice commands dont just work with the head set, a PC mod already does that and End War was an entire game built around that idea using kinect only for the microphone is just dumb
Someone made a mod for Skyrim to enable voice commands months ago. PC version ftw. Free DLC too.
@Techn1c4l Kinect has those sensors, but you would have to drastically simplify Skyrim's gameplay to make it work with motion controls. For example, there would be no way to aim and move at the same time without it being super clunky. Kinect also requires 6 feet of space for motion controls, which sucks if you're not using a huge TV. The Skyrim update only having voice commands means I can still sit up close to my monitor like I normally do.
After 200 hours of Skyrim I've been done with it for several months, adding kinect to Skyrim won't bring me back. Quality dlc on the other hand very well might if its a true expansion, horse armor and hideouts will make me trade my copy in for good however.
Really gamespot? this is probably the 5th article you've posted concerning the release of a skyrim dlc, just release one little one and then fill us in once Bethesda shares the info.
@Techn1c4l So you can shout at your TV. You'll be able to actually say your dragon shouts out load.
Kinect has 2 cameras, sensors and just one microphone. Skyrim is generally a melee-combat game. Now, why the f**k we have voice commands instead of motion battle controls?
Traded mine in awhile ago an I can't say I have a single regret. Bethesda really needs to work on their RP system cuz talking to npcs is about as fleshed out as it was in 1995
Good, we'll be seeing what real DLC is again, a large expansion to an already full and meaty game!!
Hopefully the news is awesome! If it is, it'll definitely be a day one purchase for me.
I'm a gamer but sorry i'm not screaming dragon shouts into my Kinect. They keep pushing Kinect into games and personally its a bit of annoying. All these voice commads could easily be done with the headset. Binary Domain proved this. As far as the DLC i'm very excited about the announcment and wish they were doing it now.
I'm with sortajan. I have given up large portions of my life to these games as well as the Bethesda Fallouts and have learned the valuable lesson of waiting for the GOTY editions and letting the community fix the problems. I have much more fun playing through without the hangs and crashes of the launch day product. Doesn't change the fact that they are amazing games and worthy of the GOTY title but they are greatly flawed at release. Something the fans have come to understand and accept so long as the developer continues to support the MOD community.
Worst day to get a dental appointment. I guess I will have to wait a few hours to play Skyrim Kinect. That's not what I am mainly looking forward to though, I am looking forward to the DLC announcement!
@bamir0 I get the feeling you're trying to instigate an argument. I was just following up on what he said. I wasn't accusing him of anything.
@sortajan Yes it was bugged. So were Skyrim and Oblivion. That wasn't what Hector530 referenced. He referenced his preference for the last 3 Elder Scrolls games in the order that he preferred them. Insinuating that he might have forgotten Morrowind's bugs and had "illusions" that it "wasn't a broken game" is both insulting and a complete non-sequiter.
@hector530 it's easy to remember morrowind fondly because of what how revolutionary it was to open world rpgs, and it was a great game. but we can't hold any illusions that it wasn't a broken game as well, because it was. even now to fully enjoy it you're going to want a mod or two to polish things up.
Bethesda working to bring "a little more info" on latest Elder Scrolls title and future add-on content plans as early as next week; Kinect patch date not finalized.
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