The game is "getting closer," the Fallout and Oblivion game director told me during our interview at QuakeCon in Dallas.

"I put some of that on hold, because I knew we would be doing some stuff with id." That "stuff" was Bethesda parent company ZeniMax's June purchase of the renowned first-person shooter development studio. id co-founder John Carmack has been aggressively working on the iPhone platform, now promising an iPhone game just about every other month. He remembers thinking, "I'll wait and see what John has to say about it."

The game is not a personal Todd Howard project. Think of it as a Bethesda game, though Howard wouldn't offer gameplay details or subject matter. I asked if it would be a Fallout or Elder Scrolls project, but he'd only remind me that "those are things we really like."

Carmack willing, it seems, the game will proceed. "It's one of those things where I wish it would happen sooner," Howard said, "But we're definitely going to do some stuff."

Answering fan questions on the subject, Howard said that there are "no current plans" for a fifth game in the Elder Scrolls series.

A little disappointing, true, but remember, "no current plans" only means no current plans. Plans change. And hey, maybe he's just being coy, and they're working on Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion II!

QuakeCon 2009: Todd Howard keynote highlights [Big Download]

Reader Tom sends us the above image, and while I haven't seen the same advertisement myself (nor can I see any mention of the games in the retail store), I can confirm that a listing for both "Oblivion: Game of the Year Edition" and "Morrowind: Game of the Year Edition" have magically appeared overnight in my press account.

I, incidentally, have never played any of Oblivion's expansions. Looks like that's about to change.

The event gave those present a look at WET, Rogue Warrior, the latest Fallout 3 downloadable content, and a chance to talk to the publisher and their developer about some of their upcoming games and projects.

While travel was paid for, our coverage was not. Here's a break down of what I wrote from the event:

New Fallout Announced
Fallout 3 Delivers Puppies! on May 5
WET: Guns, Leather, Swords and Acrobatics
Rogue Warrior Carpet F-Bombs With Rourke
Bethesda Teams With Del Rey For Elder Scroll Novels
Despite the Trash Talk, No Taunt Button in Rogue Warrior
Bethesda Says Snog Me Senseless With Mints

A BGN Original - Ye Olde Pickup Lines of Oblivion [Busy Gamer News]

The new issue of British PC gaming mag PC Zone, on stands today, reveals information about The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion's first full expansion pack. Unlike the paltry offerings we've received so far (not including the excellent horse armor, of course), the Shivering Isles expansion promises over 30 hours of new gameplay. New quests, new monsters, and a whole new land that changes based on your decisions as you play.

Setting the scene, it's explained that an ominous-looking gate has opened in Nibben Bay, the portal leading to a torn realm - the Shivering Isles - ruled by Sheogorath, the god of madness and dementia. Apparently, adventurers will meet the god and "plough through his trials", but it's additionally hinted that ultimately we may well be usurping the deity.

The magazine also has the first screenshots as well, so if any of our European friends with a scanner would be so kind, we'd surely appreciate it. Michael Fahey

Oblivion expansion: First concrete details [PC Zone Magazine via Voodoo Extreme]

This could be just the thing for me to forget how unbearably stagnant and boring I ultimately find Oblivion to be: the ability to transmogrify into huge ogres, gigantic walking sticks and carnivorous cephalopods.

It's the Polymorphing Mod for Oblivion, currently being programmed by Grimenir over at the Elder Scrolls official forums. Thanks to megadethr for the tip! Florian Eckhardt

Polymorphing in Oblivion [Elder Scrolls]

Whenever I see one of these speedrun videos, I wonder if the developers of the game become deeply depressed at seeing their months of hellish slavery in thrall to Bethesda so skewered.

"Boohoohoo," one of them glubbers, "he only saw seven of the hundreds of revoltingly-rendered NPCs I so delicately designed and strategically placed!"

Me, I'm just glad now I never bothered to finish this game. That ending cinematic is just as pretentious and bland as the rest of the thing. Eliza "grandma hateypants" gauger

Thanks, Alan!

GamePolitics has an exclusive interview with the Oblivion modder who made it possible, through a series of hacks, to play the game surrounded by topless NPCs. The ESRB found out and slapped a new M rating on the previously T-rated RPG.

The modder, Maeyanie, disapproves of the re-rating and proclaims the modding community bears responsibility for the boobs, not Bethesda. I'm inclined to agree. The next step is M-rating games for user-created skins.

CM: Do you think companies should be held responsible for content discovered by modders?

Maeyanie: In the case of content in the game waiting to be unlocked by a certain button-sequence or whatever, yes, they put it there. In the case of mods requiring third-party software, downloads from the Internet, and other things, absolutely not. The ability to add content to a game is a great thing, and leads to much greater replayability (if that's a word) and all-around fun. Just because some people like me "abuse" this ability to add "evil" content based on a single culture's narrow definitions of what is and isn't appropriate isn't the fault of the developers.

I wonder if the skin artist got in trouble for this. There's no reason to create an anatomically correct base skin except for simple aesthetics (and a desire for publicity via the inevitable modder "discovery" of nipples), and if I worked in games I'd probably be doing it too. Eliza gauger

Complete interview here [GamePolitics]

Oblivion Beta Patch [Elderscrolls.com]

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion coming to PS3, PSP [Gaming Age]

The Elder Scrolls: To Oblivion and Back [UGO]

Yeah, so are we. So we were thrilled when Gamespot announced that they would be streaming live video of pasty overlord Greg Kasavin playing Elder Scrolls: Oblivion for twelve hours straight. Kasavin will offer running commentary throughout this marathon playing session as Gamespot subscribers gather in a chat room, placing bets with Gamespot-sanctioned bookies on how long Kasavin's enthusiasm/bladder/sanity will hold out.

Okay, it's a spoiler-laden preview of Oblivion. Perhaps that appeals to some. But to us, it sounds a lot like paying Gamespot for the dubious honor whereby they finally prove conclusively, once and for all, what an obsessive dork you are. We'll pass, thanks. But if this is your bag, it starts tonight.

Monday: We play Oblivion for 12 straight hours [Gamespot]

Still, we'll throw you a bone here: Vir2L is bringing Oblivion to mobile phones. According to Mobile Gaming News, it will be "a single-player game with 3rd person isometric view, the game is set within Tamriel's capital province, Cyrodiil, where players will journey through cities, lairs, and dungeons. As players earn points working through the many varied levels, their skills will increase in attributes such as Strength, Intelligence, Willpower, Agility, Speed, Endurance, Personality, and Luck. Oblivion is the ultimate in mobile fantasy gaming."

Did you hear that? The ultimate in mobile fantasy gaming. It launches nearly simultaneously with the non-crappy Oblivion too... mid-April, 2006.

Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Coming to Mobile Phones

If you just can't wait to get your twitching hands on Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion... we can't help you. True, as the gaming journalist elite, Bethesda has personally sent us preview copies of the game, delivered upon pillows made of ruby silk by Bethesda's nubile concubines. But they trusted us and — as much as we'd love to just post the torrent here and now — we can't betray that trust.

What we can offer, though, is a full download of Jeremy Soule's amazing soundtrack for Oblivion, via DirectSong.com. It is totally legitimate and has been thoroughly remastered for playing outside of the game. If this soundtrack doesn't have you positively jactitating to play Oblivion, we don't know what will.

Oblivion Soundtrack [DirectSong]

Publishers 2K Sports and 2K Games unveiled four games for the Xbox 360 in Amsterdam. Like all of the other studio heads announcing things in Amsterdam, the president of Visual Concepts was extremely excited about X05. Am I the only one who thinks that Microsoft s X05 Amsterdam swag included a big bag of nosecandy and a bed full of prostitutes?

On a much less exciting, though still very cool note, here s the break down of the four games:

NBA 2K6: NBA 2K6 hits the hardwood with all the ingredients necessary to continue its reign as the No. 1 rated pro basketball game*. Players elevate their game by utilizing the innovative V.I.P. System(TM) to challenge profiles of friends and other NBA 2K6 gamers across the country that match their gameplay tendencies down to the last detail. With the industry leading online experience and unrivaled franchise control, NBA 2K6 offers the most comprehensive and entertaining roundball experience anywhere.

Amped 3: Amped 3, like snowboarding itself, isn't just about the sport. Sure, it all starts with riding huge mountains, finding lines through the trees in hip-deep powder, and tricking your butt off...which is why there's an all-new physics engine, perfected controls, and the most authentic riding experience at some of the world's greatest winter resorts. But the soul of snowboarding is all about style. So, in Amped 3, there's incredible customization, a fat helping of boarding culture, and huge Snowbox(TM) loaded with killer gameplay. With a new Park Builder, insane bone-breaking sledding, and snowmobiles for exploring, you can be who you want, go where you want, and do what you want.

Top Spin 2: One of the top Xbox sports games in both sales and popularity returns for another victory on Xbox 360. Everything you loved about Top Spin is back and made even better. The peerless player-creator is reborn with the powerful Digital Identity(TM) that truly puts you in the game. Experience the pro tour in venues that are alive and dynamic with environmental elements that react to your play. Characters are even more stunning with the addition of HD technology and the inclusion of the top players in the world like Maria Sharapova, Venus Williams, Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt and Roger Federer. Put it all online and you once again have the greatest tennis game ever created.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion: The fourth title in the best-selling Elder Scrolls series from Bethesda Softworks brings the RPG genre to new heights with its combination of freeform gameplay and cutting-edge graphics. Oblivion features a 3D engine that can render stunningly realistic environments, groundbreaking AI for all characters in the game, and the same open-ended gameplay style that has made The Elder Scrolls one of the most critically acclaimed franchises of all-time.