Bethesda built Morrowind & Cyrodiil into Skyrim? Why?

[Gikoku]

Don't worry, this is not a spoiler.. just a bizarre finding.

If you head directly North East of Stendarr's Beacon you'll come across a narrow path to the right between two mountains that leads to the land of Morrowind.

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In the 3rd image you'll see that there's an archway, however, that's the end of the line for those running on consoles. Why is this archway even here if you can't go through it? You'd think there'd be a closed gate.. but it's just an open archway with an invisible wall and there's still detailed land (to an extent) beyond this line. For those on PC, you can use the no-clip command through the console and continue forward... what you'll find will be more landscape that gradually decreases in quality.

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http://images.wikia.com/elderscrolls/images/3/36/Pic6.pngImage 5
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Why bother building all of this extra on-foot land if nobody is ever going to witness it? Bethesda went through the trouble of making the proper landmass for all of Morrowind inside Skyrim.. including Vvardenfall, Solstheim, the mainland, everything. The other reason this is very puzzling is because that you cannot view Morrowind via the world map as the camera cannot be rotated enough nor moved over to the area, so the excuse of "It's just Bethesda giving attention to detail" holds little to no weight.

Image 9 (Vvardenfall)

Also built into the game is the landmass of Cyrodill that's resting just past the mountains of Morrowind, including the White Gold Tower.

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The landmasses aren't perfectly replicated, yet for no logical reason they're there. The most popular reason behind this is that Bethesda is probably having these landmasses as placeholders for their juggernaut-sized DLCs. As stated already, the world map cannot scroll to nor be rotated enough to see Cyrodiil and the White Gold Tower is impossible to see unless you use the no-clipping command.

Can read more on it here. What do you guys think?

 

[Dark Drakan]

They did say that the DLC would add significant content to the game and id imagine they plan to support the game in the long term. What better way to please long term fans and people would believe most DLC is removed content from the game that isnt worth paying extra for than to release huge DLC that adds whole new regions. Very interesting find indeed, might just be nothing or an idea they were thinking about so put the beginning of it in to save some time should they release something of the nature. They must have known people would see it if they delved into the innards of the game (which they actually encourage).

 

[Zjuggernaut]

I find that a little strange, putting the extra detail outside of the map isn't a massive shock but in image 10 where you can see the tower it's just weird. Maybe some DLC involves you going to Cyrodiil or Morrowind for a quest or two.. I doubt it but you never know.

 

[HeroOfCrapsalot]

DLC sounds like the most logical explanation imo. It would be pretty sick to see some quest line for *finishing off the Empire in the name of Skyrim and High King Stormcloak (if you took that route)*.

 

[Arseface]

I just ejaculated a little. MORROWIND DLC YEAAAHHH

 

[Zarkes]

Well they encourage the modding community and knew Pc players would get that far, maybe it's just a blank template for people to mod with.

 

[Arseface]

Oblivion had a pretty dedicated following wanting to recreate Morrowind with the Oblivion engine (and they did a damn good jerb), and people are definitely going to try with Skyrim. Maybe they wanted to give them a head start?

 

[DarkONI]

I'm interested to see how far Bethesda's ambition will go; there are rumors for huge downloadable
content, but I wouldn't expect them to release a whole new game with each DLC unless they are
actually serious about it. Although it seems highly unlikely.

My personal bet is that it was some confusion within the staff during the map design stage or just
some bored map designer screwing around with his/her tools and somehow the content that we
are talking about went Gold and shipped off with the game.

 

[Cain]

I'm interested to see how far Bethesda's ambition will go; there are rumors for huge downloadable
content, but I wouldn't expect them to release a whole new game with each DLC unless they are
actually serious about it. Although it seems highly unlikely.

Who says they have to be whole games? They will probably have as much content as the shivering isles, which is enough for me.

 

[DarkONI]

Who says they have to be whole games? They will probably have as much content as the shivering isles, which is enough for me.

I don't see how this would work out. Since Elder of Scrolls are open-world RPG's that means they
should complete the whole land and fill it with quests, npcs, creatures, villages and etc.

Therefore it is a huge project regardless, especially when it comes down to huge areas like
Morrowind or Cyrodiil.

 

[Cain]

I don't see how this would work out. Since Elder of Scrolls are open-world RPG's that means they
should complete the whole land and fill it with quests, npcs, creatures, villages and etc.

Therefore it is a huge project regardless, especially when it comes down to huge areas like
Morrowind or Cyrodiil.

No it can be just one area. That was what they did with Tribunal.

 

[DarkONI]

No it can be just one area. That was what they did with Tribunal.

Well I don't think that solution would work out nicely with Skyrim.

 

[Tyloric]

It's really not that uncommon for unseen areas to make it in to the final product. When you add an area to a game it's not as simple as highlighting and deleting it.

This probably means one of two things:
1) The areas were originally intended to be part of the game, but were for some reason canceled and left incomplete. Rather than go through the removal process, they simply threw up an invisible wall so players couldn't access the area.

or

2) The area was intended to be part of the original game, but due to cost/time constraints was postponed for an expansion(s)/DLC.

Both scenarios are possible. They both have that Work in Progress look to them.

 

[Arseface]

I don't see how this would work out. Since Elder of Scrolls are open-world RPG's that means they
should complete the whole land and fill it with quests, npcs, creatures, villages and etc.

Therefore it is a huge project regardless, especially when it comes down to huge areas like
Morrowind or Cyrodiil.

They did that with Shivering Isles. I don't see why they wouldn't do it here. Sure it's a big project, but that's what they said they wanted to do with the DLC.

 

[Tyloric]

Another interesting theory I stumbled upon:

These areas might also be blueprints for the modding community. Bethesda has always greatly supported their efforts, and this will make things much easier.

 

[Tsuyu]

Also, easter eggs?

 

[DarkONI]

Also, easter eggs?

I thought Easter Eggs were things like... Finding Molyneux making a trollface on a tree in Fable 2
while it says "It doesn't grow. Problem?" and not just empty landscape.

 

[Tsuyu]

I'd say this is definitely Easter Egg material.

 

[Zarkes]

Wouldn't it be cool if someone got all three games in one map all running at the same time with 2011 graphical overhaul? Would be an awesome feat.

Running around from continent to continent.

 

[Gikoku]

Another interesting theory I stumbled upon:

These areas might also be blueprints for the modding community. Bethesda has always greatly supported their efforts, and this will make things much easier.

Yeah, this was mentioned in the original article and the more I think about it the more this seems as likely as the planned DLC theory. In the end, I don't doubt the modding community will take full advantage of this for future mods, regardless of Bethesda's original intent.

I'd say this is definitely Easter Egg material.

I agree with Lacky, I'm not sure how you see this as an easter egg.

Wouldn't it be cool if someone got all three games in one map all running at the same time with 2011 graphical overhaul? Would be an awesome feat.

Running around from continent to continent.

Considering the fact someone already made a mod exactly like that with Fallout 3 & Fallout: New Vegas, I would not put it past someone attempting to try that with Skyrim, but I wouldn't count on it being very stable if at all. Not to mention the amount of compatibility issues.