Again, Hines on Oblivion: talking across platforms (and interest in the Wii)

Maybe not intentionally, but Bethesda SoftWorks‘ Pete Hines‘ interview with PS3Chat.com does offer a few clarifications that would help in the wake of Hines’ interview with GameIndustry.biz (and the eruption that erupted from that interview). But again, the emphasis is on delivering the Elder Scrolls IV; Oblivion experience, no matter the platform (PC, Xbox 360, PS3).

Content-wise, WYS on the PS3 is WYG on the Xbox 360/PC (barring that age-old and pain-in-the-neck debate about graphics quality…), factoring in the included Knights of the Nine on the PS3 version.

And the Wii… to clarify, Hines told PS3Chat.com that simply because he cannot deliver the current configuration of the console Oblivion, “as it exists, and bring it to the Nintendo Wii,” doesn’t mean that Bethesda doesn’t want to do a game like Oblivion for the Wii. “It would have to be done right and be a good fit for that console and how it works.”

So it can’t be Oblivion as we know it (all that high-def booty in the brothels), but it also does not mean that the Bethesda RPG team is out of the Wii business. It simply is a question of doing things right, to get a Bethesda RPG onto Nintendo’s “alternative next-gen” console. For example, he reiterates that the PSP Oblivion is a totally different game from its console cousins.

Finally, Hines denied rumor mongers, spin doctors, and gaming journalists and bloggers alike the chance to ferociously twist his words for maximum impact. When asked if he could say anything about the PS3, so far, Hines replied, “Every time I say something about the PlayStation 3 it seems to end up as a headline somewhere, often out of context, so I think I will pass on this one *smiles*” Moral of the story: maybe we’ll just take this guy at face value from now on.

Thanks for the tip, Chris!

Maybe not intentionally, but Bethesda SoftWorks‘ Pete Hines‘ interview with PS3Chat.com does offer a few clarifications that would help in the wake of Hines’ interview with GameIndustry.biz (and the eruption that erupted from that interview). But again, the emphasis is on delivering the Elder Scrolls IV; Oblivion experience, no matter the platform (PC, Xbox 360, PS3).

Content-wise, WYS on the PS3 is WYG on the Xbox 360/PC (barring that age-old and pain-in-the-neck debate about graphics quality…), factoring in the included Knights of the Nine on the PS3 version.

And the Wii… to clarify, Hines told PS3Chat.com that simply because he cannot deliver the current configuration of the console Oblivion, “as it exists, and bring it to the Nintendo Wii,” doesn’t mean that Bethesda doesn’t want to do a game like Oblivion for the Wii. “It would have to be done right and be a good fit for that console and how it works.”

So it can’t be Oblivion as we know it (all that high-def booty in the brothels), but it also does not mean that the Bethesda RPG team is out of the Wii business. It simply is a question of doing things right, to get a Bethesda RPG onto Nintendo’s “alternative next-gen” console. For example, he reiterates that the PSP Oblivion is a totally different game from its console cousins.

Finally, Hines denied rumor mongers, spin doctors, and gaming journalists and bloggers alike the chance to ferociously twist his words for maximum impact. When asked if he could say anything about the PS3, so far, Hines replied, “Every time I say something about the PlayStation 3 it seems to end up as a headline somewhere, often out of context, so I think I will pass on this one *smiles*” Moral of the story: maybe we’ll just take this guy at face value from now on.

Thanks for the tip, Chris!