h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: The Elder Scrolls - the computer games series - A87862972
Author: Tavaron da Quirm - Arts Editor - U1314679

I'm trying to clear my backlog of old and never finished Entries, so here's the next one. We only have an Entry about Morrowind on h2g2 and I thought this series really deserves a place here. I started playing Morrowind a very long time ago, never got very far but still loved it. One of the ebst game series ever.

Thanks again to Sasha for fixing this Entry after Pliny has made it disappear last evening.

I've not played these games and I'll have a re-read again later on, but I enjoyed reading this and found it easy to visualise and get a rough idea of the games.
My initial questions were whether the correct spelling was Aethernius or Aetherius?
Also, you've mentioned that Terry Pratchett both influenced the game and was influenced in return. We learn that Terry Pratchett developed a character called 'Vilja' (Is that a villager character?) but exactly what influence did the game series have on 'Snuff'?

<BB<

Thank BB!
I made some small changes, I hope things are clearer now.

For much more information on Vilja:
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2019-01-29-the-story-behind-the-oblivion-mod-terry-pratchett-worked-on

Thanks for writing about this, Tav - I enjoyed the detective work to fix the bug, and I enjoyed reading the Entry at the same time

I haven't played these games, either, but I can visualise them well from your descriptions

I like your concluding paragraph, but if you changed the order of the two sentences, to end on the positive note of 'trying different things', that would be superb

Thanks! I did that.

Hi Tav

Sorry it took me so long to get to this, but it's quite a long entry and I wanted to go through it in detail.

It's an excellent entry. It just needs a little tidying of the language.

to follow a linear way
-- this would sound better as:

to follow a linear path

gamers who modify the game codes -->
gamers who modify the game code

("code" meaning computer programs is always singular)

anything from enhanced or altered graphics, added items, weather effects, faster levelling and anything else you can think of
-- you've used "from" so you have to have "to". I suggest you word it like this:

anything from enhanced or altered graphics, added items, weather effects and faster levelling to anything else you can think of

Fine, that can also be possible through mods -->
Fine, that is possible through mods

A large number of mods is available -- this sounds off, using "is" with something that is plural (although it may be technically correct, I'm not sure). Avoid the issue by saying:

Many mods are available


are set on the fictional planet Nirn on the continent Tamriel
-- this is the wrong way around. The planet Nirn is not on the continent Tamriel, so it should be worded:

are set on the continent Tamriel on the fictional planet Nirn.

Seen from Nirn Oblivion appears as an empty void -- this would be better with a comma after Nirn:

Seen from Nirn, Oblivion appears as an empty void

became mortals themselves and therefore being the ancestors of all races on Nirn -->
became mortals themselves and are the ancestors of all races on Nirn

Each province of Tamriel has their own landscape -->
Each province of Tamriel has its own landscape

there always is one predominant species -->
there is always one predominant species

men, elves and those belonging to none of the two -->
men, elves and those who are neither

starts out with the player being a prisoner in a strange land who gains freedom -- the way this is phrased, it really sounds as if the strange land gains freedom. I think it would be best as:

starts out with the player gaining their freedom after being a prisoner in a strange land

companions that follow them around and help them in battle and to carry their items -->
companions that follow them around, help them in battle and carry their items

If you like go and murder them -- add a comma:
If you like, go and murder them

various guilds and organisations the player can get part of -->
various guilds and organisations the player can become part of

most popular games of all times -->
most popular games of all time

Together with two other players, Sir Terry Pratchett worked on mods for Oblivion with two other players -->
Together with two other players, Sir Terry Pratchett worked on mods for Oblivion

in-game character behaviours -->
in-game character behaviour

Skyrim is also more realistic. Skyrim also includes -- try not to use the word "also" too often. Here you could just leave out the second one:

Skyrim is also more realistic. Skyrim includes

Skyrim ranges close to the top 10 best selling video games -- do you mean it is in the top 10? Or is it just close to the top 10?

the game had sold over 3.5 million times --> the game had sold over 3.5 million copies

the option to play Link -- do you mean "play as Link" or "play against Link"?

It managed to do both: absolutely fail at conjuring the atmosphere and depth of an Elder Scrolls game as well as re-create -->
It managed to both absolutely fail at conjuring the atmosphere and depth of an Elder Scrolls game as well as re-create

Footnote 1 uses "also" too many times. I would leave the word out completely.

your characters skill -->

your character's skill (if you mean one character) or
your characters' skill (if you mean more than one character)

go on playing infinitely -->
go on playing indefinitely

Spelling/typos:

center --> centre
dieties --> deities
souvereignity --> sovereignty
ofthe --> of the
existance --> existence
wether --> whether
randomnly --> randomly
adviseable --> advisable
executien --> execution
developement --> development
horse drawn cart --> horse-drawn cart
prophecised --> prophesised
forshadows --> foreshadows
alzheimer's disease --> Alzheimer's disease

G

Sorry for the delay and thanks a lot, changes made.

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