The Road to E3: Beyond the Beltway

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We talked to Julian LaFaye, designer of the X-engine (the basic operating software and tools with which most of the new Bethesda games are being built) and cocreator of The Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall. To our surprise, he wasn't directing the work on Morrowind. Instead, he was working on The Elder Scrolls: Battlespyre, a lesser story in The Elder Scrolls universe. The single-player story has an Ultimate Bad Guy who makes a deal with a demon lord in order to take over the "Battlespyre," a combat environment where the Imperial Corps of Battlemages practices its art of war. Naturally, as the good guy, you have to travel through all of the levels of the Battlespyre in order to undo his reign of terror. In addition, there are deathmatches, cooperative team vs. computer scenarios, and team vs. team scenarios.

  
The levels in The Elder Scrolls: Battlespyre will feature lavish rooms and interesting creatures.

Another adventure set in the same universe is The Elder Scrolls: Redguard. This is a swashbuckling action-adventure set as a prequel to Arena and Daggerfall and located in the Tes universe (circa 420 years before the previous action). Redguard emphasizes smooth animation, physical logic puzzles, and fast-paced combat.

  
The Elder Scrolls: Redguard is set in a 3-D world filled with many characters

Of course, we were most interested in The Elder Scrolls: Morrowind. As we passed through the Japanese decor of Bethesda's executive row and conference room, we asked Morrowind's designer what would be different about the upcoming game. The story will emphasize the Dark Elves of Morrowind and will tell you more about the emotions that you and others are feeling. The political system will be fleshed out better and the faction system will be put in place. To enrich the role-playing experience, you'll be given more indications of your place in society, your attitude toward others, and the secrets of your cult or guild. Of course, the graphics and engine will be improved prior to its release as well.

Before we left Bethesda, CEO Chris Weaver took us on a cook's tour of the company's new Research and Development facility. Complete with custom-designed cubicles and group areas, as well as a gourmet-catered dining facility, the R&D facility is intended to create a more comfortable and efficient working environment for all of the Bethesda employees - no cookie-cutter cubicles and bureaucratic culture allowed. We may have passed national monuments and government workers on our way here, but the Beltway clearly ends at the door to Bethesda Softworks.