Typical of new Steam additions, the updated Bethesda catalog is currently cheap. That means things like The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition Deluxe, which packs in the original Oblivion plus nine downloadable content offerings, including the horse armor pack, can be yours for just $19.99 USD. That's something like a zillion hours for every dollar you spend.

The addition of Bethesda's older stuff, Call of Cthulhu and Morrowind, also comes with a batch of new, as the publisher's Rogue Warrior is also listed for pre-purchase.

Thanks to KefkaticFanatic for the heads up.

Bethesda Softworks [Steam]

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.

All you need to get the mod working is Oblivion patched to 1.2 and Morrowind, Tribunal, and Bloodmoon, which you can snag on Amazon for $10. I'll be spending most of the afternoon digging ferociously through my PC disc collection looking for them. Hit the link for screens, instructions, and even video of the mod in action. Brilliant work - now do Arena!

Morroblivion: The Resurrection of Morrowind [Official Mod Site - Thanks Sonya]

Rolston is referring to all of his writing philosophies —a lifetime's worth of genius or folly—being pumped into our open and willing/possibly-still-intoxicated-from-last-night ear drums.

He presents us with his BIG WRONG IDEAS, a deconstructionist approach that makes bold claims like theme is more important than character and paper is better than plastic to clarify point and purpose.

It was outright insanity I tell you.

He explains that linear forms like film and novels are better at telling stories than games—something that's looking to be flat-out true at the moment—and concluded that inference (such as the ruins in Morrowin) is the best way for gamers to experience compelling narrative which can, at peak, invoke an intangible melancholy.

In the Renaissance, melancholy was a sign of genius. We don't think he was necessarily referring to that interpretation.

Whether or not you enjoy Rolston's opus RPGs, he is certainly trying to accomplish new feats...other than that 50-person mouth spray. That's totally been done before (just check out the German primetime).

While BHG may be more well known for their real time strategy output, including Rise of Nations, they've apparently had a RPG brewing for several years and tapped into Rolston's expertise. Even though he threatened to retire from the game game last year, Rolston explains "Tim and his army of visionary charmers came along with a strikingly original and cunning concept for a console RPG...so now I'm back in the harness and chomping at the bit!" Rolston then neighed with delight and was fed an apple as part of his contract.

With Bethesda's Morrowind and Oblivion a part of Rolston's pedigree and BHG's upcoming Xbox Live Arcade game Catan due to hit sometime this year, don't be surprised to see the unannounced title hit the 360 when it's officially revealed. Michael McWhertor

Veteran Designer Ken Rolston Joins BHG

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!