Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim pre-orders get real map

Pre-orders of Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim will be rewarded with a physical map of the overworld, Bethesda revealed today.

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Back in the 1990s, when the Elder Scrolls series first appeared on the market, serious PC games were known to come with maps, art, a bauble or two, and an instruction booklet that could (in case of emergency) double as a bludgeoning weapon. Bethesda is keeping part of the tradition alive, with the announcement of a map free with pre-orders of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

This isn't a "map" in the modern sense of an extra in-game area that will be sold to suckers later at a premium price. Rather, it's a physical map of the world, printed for your reference and geeky enjoyment. Probably more the latter than the former, since in-game maps are just more handy.

The company calls it a "premium quality" map, and invokes the words of studio head Todd Howard from an old blog post: "There's something about having a physical object in your hands that feels like it's part of this other world, that you are that person in the game, finding your way among the hills."

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From The Chatty
  • reply
    June 23, 2011 12:00 PM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim pre-orders get real map.

    Pre-orders of Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim will be rewarded with a physical map of the overworld, Bethesda revealed today.

    • reply
      June 23, 2011 12:04 PM

      Fucking hell now I'm going to pre-order this shit for a map aren't I.

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      June 23, 2011 12:25 PM

      But is it a CLOTH map!? That's what I want. I haven't gotten one of those suckers since Ultima VII or so...

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        June 23, 2011 12:29 PM

        I recall getting a cloth map with Icewind Dale

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        June 23, 2011 12:40 PM

        Ultima VIII & IX had one.
        Gothic 3 collectors edition had one too.
        Annnnd... that's it I guess.

        • reply
          June 23, 2011 1:00 PM

          didn't Ultima Online have one too?

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          June 23, 2011 6:10 PM

          Yeah, I got the one with Ultima VIII... now that I think of it I got one with Everquest also. Actually EQ might be the last one I ever got. I love those things though.

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        June 23, 2011 12:41 PM

        I still have my cloth map from Ultima VIII Pagan. I think I still have the pentagram coin too.

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          June 23, 2011 6:11 PM

          I still have my whole box of Ultima V with the cloth map and the moonstone etc for the Apple IIe. I have a bunch of them actually... like Space Quest etc..

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        June 23, 2011 1:08 PM

        yeah this is important - on a side note how could you get shit printed on cloth on your own? do print shops do that? tshirt places?

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        June 23, 2011 1:40 PM

        I think the WoW CE had one as well when it first came out.

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        June 23, 2011 2:08 PM

        Elemental Limited Edition came with a cloth map. Apparently made out of canvas (map material), and not actually "cloth."

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        June 23, 2011 2:09 PM

        I wish I could find my EQ cloth map

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        June 23, 2011 2:23 PM

        Age of Conan CE had one.

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        June 23, 2011 4:17 PM

        Dragon Age 1 CE had a cloth map. But it sucked.

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        June 23, 2011 4:28 PM

        [deleted]

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        June 23, 2011 6:16 PM

        It's made of a high quality paper that has a texture like burlap.

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          June 23, 2011 8:13 PM

          i demand vellum

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          June 24, 2011 5:54 AM

          Ok, I can live with that... but you know the cloth would just give me the warm and fuzzies.

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          June 24, 2011 5:58 AM

          Are there going to be any retailer-specific preorder bonuses? Or are you not allowed to comment?

          I'd be happier with a cloth map, but that's still pretty good. Bethesda knows how to do good preorder and collector's edition goodies. The Nuka-Cola bottle opener I got for preordering Fallout 3 is probably my favorite preorder bonus ever.

    • gmd legacy 10 years legacy 20 years mercury mega
      reply
      June 23, 2011 12:27 PM

      preorder preordered

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      June 23, 2011 12:33 PM

      I haven't been following the development of this game, but is this gonna use Steamworks? :(

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        June 23, 2011 12:34 PM

        because I want a map, but not sure if i'm willing to give up having it on Steam for it :(

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          June 23, 2011 12:42 PM

          I'm wondering the same thing, I'd really like to buy it on Steam.

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          June 23, 2011 1:12 PM

          Should decide after you see they post pictures of the map so you have an idea on the quality.

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        June 23, 2011 12:51 PM

        That's looking like a Games For Windows Live logo on the box to me. Did we know this already? That it's GFWL?

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          June 23, 2011 12:55 PM

          Don't think we did, I hope they've improved the service because it's been a pain in the ass for a long time..

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          June 23, 2011 1:03 PM

          That just looks like the normal Games For Windows (non-Live) logo.

          I think the GFWL logo has Live on the bottom line with the entirety of the "Games for Windows" on the first line.

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            June 23, 2011 4:43 PM

            Bethesda seems to really like gunning for the Games for Windows certification. They seem like one of the few remaining PC game publishers actually going for it anymore.

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          June 23, 2011 1:04 PM

          Every modern PC game has this logo, don't freak out yet.

          Besides, every Bethesda titles since New Vegas have been Steamworks.

    • reply
      June 23, 2011 12:40 PM

      If it were cloth, they would have said so. That's why I say, "meh."

    • reply
      June 23, 2011 12:43 PM

      I always liked the Might & Magic maps. They were not super accurate print outs but gave you the sense of the land and also little clues of things you could find if you looked hard enough.

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      June 23, 2011 12:43 PM

      If its that brown piece of glossy drivel that came with oblivion, pass.

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      June 23, 2011 1:05 PM

      I'm hesitant to pre-order because I can't tell what the 360 loading times will be like :(

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        June 23, 2011 1:05 PM

        oh well, someone wills can the map and put it online and i'll use my ipad to look at it

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        June 23, 2011 1:11 PM

        I can't believe you'd go console on this one. the mod scene, if even a fraction of Oblivion, will be fucking incredible.

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          June 23, 2011 1:20 PM

          I don't like playing games on PC anymore. The couch + big screen + surround sound is a more enjoyable experience for me.

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            June 23, 2011 1:27 PM

            Like that's exclusive to a console experience >_>

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            June 23, 2011 1:39 PM

            There's also so much content in Bethesda games that I get tired of the default content long before I'd want any extras. Technical improvements are fine but from what I've seen, it looks good enough on console, definitely better than Oblivion. Hopefully with a hard-drive install, load times will be minimal.

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            June 23, 2011 1:41 PM

            [deleted]

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            June 24, 2011 3:58 PM

            Really?! 99% of PC videocards now-a-days have some kind of HDMI out. And just think, the graphics won't by 480 Upscaled to 720 upscaled to 1080 garbage you normally pay $70 for. And also *gasp* you can plug the controller into a USB port and still sit on your couch.

            This is the problem with console users, you're either lazy, or technically incompetent. And MS/Sony thanks you!

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          June 23, 2011 1:47 PM

          [deleted]

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            June 23, 2011 1:51 PM

            Exactly. By the time cool stuff is out I'll have put 80 hours into the default game and already moved on to Kingdom's of Amalur and other stuff.

    • reply
      June 23, 2011 1:23 PM

      What game included maps or scrolls of something that had actually been charred around the edges to look authentic?

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      June 23, 2011 1:36 PM

      what about a collector's edition or something? any news of that?

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      June 23, 2011 3:06 PM

      DO WANT

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      June 23, 2011 4:38 PM

      I love the maps. My morrowind map hung on my door for years before I moved. I also still have my original everquest cloth map.

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      June 23, 2011 4:46 PM

      I wonder if Nick Breckon or Idle Thumbs had anything to do with this: http://www.idlethumbs.net/blog/hey-i-made-another-song

      Do you remember
      when games weren't just packaged goods?
      When a packaged good meant a cloth map
      Before the annual franchise traps
      Before the greed
      Those times are just what we need
      what we need...

    • reply
      June 23, 2011 4:50 PM

      where is the horse armor preorder

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      June 23, 2011 6:19 PM

      I think I've still got my Neverwinter cloth map

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      June 23, 2011 7:58 PM

      now that's a preorder bonus i approve of

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      June 23, 2011 8:00 PM

      I got a map with my non-preorder copy of dragon warrior for NES.

      like woah.

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      June 23, 2011 8:12 PM

      Can I print out the cloth map if I pre-order on Steam?

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      June 23, 2011 9:52 PM

      I pre-ordered not because of the swag, but because i liked what i saw at E3. I can't wait.

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      June 24, 2011 5:59 AM

      Better be vellum

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