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Dalton Robinson Amanda Stevens English 103 11, February 2014 Skyrim On November 11, 2011, Bethesda Studios released The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Within this game, several factors were used in portraying the characters, heroes, villains, and storyline to behave and proceed exactly how the creators wanted it to, as well as develop the game into a fun experience for all. While these factors are abundant in nature, they can be limited into three main categories that all make the game a rather interesting, and authentic experience for each individual user. Character design and dialogue, being the first category, allow recognition within the game. Freedom of choice and feeling of emotion provide the second category. Lastly individuality and independence keep the title fresh and clean for the players. First and foremost, character design is a key point in the portrayal of any key figure in a major work, rather it be video games, books, or even movies. In The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, each character is uniquely modeled after the creators ideal role for the said character. The main hero known as the Dragonborn, is designed as more of a classic hero that solves practically every problem within the land. He is distinguished as being unique and possesses a great power that no other character possesses. He subsequently is controlled by the player directly. Not only is the Dragonborn designed visually as being a hero, the in-game dialogue also presents that he is a true hero. From small town farmers to the noblest of the Jarls, the Dragonborn is praised whole heartedly. He is recognized as a savior to the populous of Skyrim, and is spoken to with the

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highest respect. However, the Dragonborn is not the only character with a unique persona and design. As one would expect, the main villain of the series is also designed as the typical bad guy that causes nothing short of pure destruction in his wake. Feared by his infamous name, Alduin is the main antagonist within the game, and is characterized primarily by his daunting appearance. Alduin was designed to be intimidating, and lives up to his expectations. His the color of sheer darkness, a midnight black, and is colossal in comparison to the human characters within Skyrim. Overall the character design within Skyrim is largely focused on physical appearance, as well as dialogue to, from, and about that individual character. Each character is unique in his or her own way, and their looks as well as dictation follow suite. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a very unique game within its class. This game is designed in a similar manner as other role playing games, yet it is different in just as many ways as it is similar. Skyrim is designed to showcase each hero and villains full potential to solve problems as well as create havoc. Skyrims core gameplay design and storyline were created in a manner that urges the player to take action in the affairs aside from the main storyline just as much as the main storyline. The choice, rather for good or evil, is up to the discretion of the player, and has lasting effects on each subsequent storyline in which that decision was made. The game was designed around the principle of choice, and forces the player to engage in a multitude of choices that envelope the virtual world that surrounds them. Aside from direct, rational decisions within this game, feelings often influence each players choices as well. One display of feelings in the game is centered on a large scale civil war within the land. Feelings of injustice may make the player help the natives, or a feeling of broken unity that may make the player favor the invading forces in this war. Feelings, or pathos, play a massive role within this game, and can affect the story in more ways than one may imagine. The reasoning for the amount of

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choice is to make each player feel as if he or she is in direct correlation of the games final outcome. Players have an attraction to being involved, and not feel as if they are watching the game from a back seat view, such as a movie. Keeping the audience involved is a prime reason for the choices that must be made within the game, and without this aspect the game would lose all individuality. Overall, Skyrims center aspect of choice makes this game stand out as an individual among a crowd of role playing games, and is a key in this titles success. As mentioned before, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is chronological within the Elder Scrolls series, but is also individual as a standalone title. Skyrim presents the player with a new character, just as the other Elder Scrolls games before it did, which ties it into being a unique and individual game, as well as a title that relates back to its roots. Skyrim continued this tradition for a variety of reasons. While bringing forth a new knight in shining armor, the game gives the player base a new face and a new sense of identity. Players crave change, and creating a new hero for this game keeps the players satisfied with a feeling of freshness, and lack of repetition. While several video game titles have used the same protagonist for their entire series, The Elder Scrolls franchise has always brought in a new hero to keep things from seeming monotonous. With this aspect, there is no sense of change and progression from one character to another, but yet a new experience, setting, and identity that takes place years after the last Elder Scrolls game. This tradition is extremely unique, and helps explain why the developers created it in this fashion. Due to the success of this method, the developers at Bethesda Studios have continued the process that has helped make this series of games a wide success around the world. In conclusion, Skyrim is a very individualized game that has had mass success around the globe. Each characters design and dialogue, the games unlimited amount of flexibility via choices and feelings, and Skyrims unique development method all contribute to its success.

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These aspects were all individually crafted and administered by the programming team and developers to create exactly the type of game that they wanted. This title has sold thousands of copies around the world, and according the creators, is what they had expected it to be. With each category of development came reasoning that only benefited the game into becoming a legendary work that will stand for years to come. It has already been noted that the team has begun a new title with many of the same principles as this one, and has drawn the anticipation of millions worldwide.