![Picture](/uploads/4/9/3/6/49361479/8847015.jpg?499)
Introduction
The video game market is a field that is continually growing. Advances are being made; changes are happening virtually overnight. Consequently, the amount of effort and thought put into video game production is extensive. The Elder Scrolls series is a good example: publisher Bethesda Softworks has marketed over thirty million copies since the first installment’s - The Elder Scrolls: Arena - release in 1994. The series revolves around role playing. Players advance through the game by collecting experience from the opponents they battle. The game franchise is best known for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, though a more recent online massive multiplayer online role playing (MMORPG) game version has since been released. The games are known for immersive gameplay (as well as their ability to devour time without the player’s realization).
Background
Consumers of these games, whether fair weather players or achievement junkies, all have one stance in common: a critical eye for the gameplay introduction. The gameplay introduction is the first contact the player has with the game and thus can make or break the novel player and definitely aggravate the more familiar gamer. If the gameplay introduction is ambiguous, the player can embark on his or her gaming experience without the proper knowledge of controls or objectives. Such a mishap can seriously maim the gameplay experience. As a result, the presentation of the controls, goals, etc. in the gameplay introduction is imperative for enjoyment of the game.
The video game market is a field that is continually growing. Advances are being made; changes are happening virtually overnight. Consequently, the amount of effort and thought put into video game production is extensive. The Elder Scrolls series is a good example: publisher Bethesda Softworks has marketed over thirty million copies since the first installment’s - The Elder Scrolls: Arena - release in 1994. The series revolves around role playing. Players advance through the game by collecting experience from the opponents they battle. The game franchise is best known for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, though a more recent online massive multiplayer online role playing (MMORPG) game version has since been released. The games are known for immersive gameplay (as well as their ability to devour time without the player’s realization).
Background
Consumers of these games, whether fair weather players or achievement junkies, all have one stance in common: a critical eye for the gameplay introduction. The gameplay introduction is the first contact the player has with the game and thus can make or break the novel player and definitely aggravate the more familiar gamer. If the gameplay introduction is ambiguous, the player can embark on his or her gaming experience without the proper knowledge of controls or objectives. Such a mishap can seriously maim the gameplay experience. As a result, the presentation of the controls, goals, etc. in the gameplay introduction is imperative for enjoyment of the game.
![Picture](/uploads/4/9/3/6/49361479/6692195.jpg)
Qualifications
I am a sophomore in the English program at Penn State University with projected minors in IST (Information Sciences and Technology) and Technical Writing. Video games have been a primary source of entertainment for me ever since I was a small child and I have continued to be an avid fan into my college career. So the subject matter is one that is already near and dear to my heart.
Why?
With games stimulating as much of a market as they are, the mechanics of video game design are moving more and more beneath a public telescope. Those who play games are often picky and rightfully so –the video game market balances on the enjoyment of the consumer. Should it not be milked to its greatest potential? Any advance in understanding what may or may not prove useful to the player is helpful in the field. Analyzing The Elder Scrolls series is showcasing the advances made since the ‘90s and, due to the public nature of the knowledge once this project reaches completion, it could also stimulate the next advancement.
I am a sophomore in the English program at Penn State University with projected minors in IST (Information Sciences and Technology) and Technical Writing. Video games have been a primary source of entertainment for me ever since I was a small child and I have continued to be an avid fan into my college career. So the subject matter is one that is already near and dear to my heart.
Why?
With games stimulating as much of a market as they are, the mechanics of video game design are moving more and more beneath a public telescope. Those who play games are often picky and rightfully so –the video game market balances on the enjoyment of the consumer. Should it not be milked to its greatest potential? Any advance in understanding what may or may not prove useful to the player is helpful in the field. Analyzing The Elder Scrolls series is showcasing the advances made since the ‘90s and, due to the public nature of the knowledge once this project reaches completion, it could also stimulate the next advancement.
![Picture](/uploads/4/9/3/6/49361479/621842.jpg?538)
Implementation
The dissection of gameplay introduction is necessary – the technical side of instructional delivery is incredibly important for games. This project will document the analysis of how the gameplay introduction evolved throughout The Elder Scrolls series for PC. The documentation will be presented on a website so that anyone interested in the information can access it.
Information will be made available in memo format with graphs ranking each gameplay introduction. A final compilation of graphs comparing all the gathered findings will be amassed at the end of the project to convey the results. Each category will be given a numerical ranking between one and ten (one being deplorable, ten being stellar).
The categories will consist of:
The games analyzed will be The Elder Scrolls I – V, circumventing The Elder Scrolls: Online. The online addition to this series is being excluded due to the many races/classes (and hence many different introductory scenarios) within the game. Because of the time frame of this project, the inclusion of this would compromise the quality of the project for the sake of the quantity.
To learn more about the author, visit her website here: http://eahall.weebly.com/
The dissection of gameplay introduction is necessary – the technical side of instructional delivery is incredibly important for games. This project will document the analysis of how the gameplay introduction evolved throughout The Elder Scrolls series for PC. The documentation will be presented on a website so that anyone interested in the information can access it.
Information will be made available in memo format with graphs ranking each gameplay introduction. A final compilation of graphs comparing all the gathered findings will be amassed at the end of the project to convey the results. Each category will be given a numerical ranking between one and ten (one being deplorable, ten being stellar).
The categories will consist of:
- Visual Design
- Instructional Clarity
- Appeal
- Length
The games analyzed will be The Elder Scrolls I – V, circumventing The Elder Scrolls: Online. The online addition to this series is being excluded due to the many races/classes (and hence many different introductory scenarios) within the game. Because of the time frame of this project, the inclusion of this would compromise the quality of the project for the sake of the quantity.
To learn more about the author, visit her website here: http://eahall.weebly.com/
Images belong to Bethesda Softworks, LLC