After playing for 7 hours (and one freeze-up and one giant superblow later) I can honestly say I like this game much more then Oblivion. I didnt even finish oblivion, getting bored straight in the beginning. What is the reason I love this game... its norse mythology. See I come from Iceland and you can straight away sense that Todd Howard and his companions brushed up on some Icelandic during the development. Icelandic is the language closest to the old norse which the people of Skyrim are supposed to represent. In whiterun for instance you happen to meet a man rambling on about religion. His name is Heimskr. Heimskr or heimskur in Icelandic can be translated to "stupid". So all the time listening to him I started to think that what he was saying was a total hogwash and he must be stupid. Skyrim is full of these things, like the draugr. It is probably taken from the word draugur which means ghost.

Skyrim is hugely popular in Iceland, stores having midnight openings for its sale, which games like Uncharted dont get. And I am positive that very few will play the game through and not support the rebellion. Our ancestry and common "culture" (I know it is stupid as its not real) will make sure that we will support the Stormcloaks rebellion, the decision was made for us before we started to play as we find common ground in history (for instance the Icelandic civil war in the 13. century and other wars in Scandinavian history).

I never was a big believer in the geopolitics of gaming, if its a good word. When they released Brink they said that it sold better in Europe, because the culture supported team play, while in the U.S. where it sold poorly sponsors individualism. I never figured that out, but when I play Skyrim it makes me think why I didnt like Oblivion. And the answer is simple. While it gives you a large amount of freedom it didnt suck me in. The reason: My upbringing and culture made sure that I didnt care about some Emperor being murdered. And some gate to hell opening which didnt register with my culture. It just was to central Europe.

I know this is really bad article or forum but I was so fascinated by this that I really had to speak about it.

Regards

I'm shocked at a first post that isn't spam. I just don't know what to do now.

I have huge respect for The Elder Scrolls but I've never been able to enjoy the game. I might try this one down the road glad to hear it's awesome.

I like the setting too. I named my duder Avre which is Norse.

@Fyllikall: Don't worry that was a good read. I have some fascinations with Norse mythology so I automatically am turned on to Skyrim too. In a way that I haven't even played it and I already want to give it a 10/10.

@Fyllikall: Brink didn't sell too well in America because it SUCKED HARD! :P but i know what you mean, different regions have different values and desires.

Skyrim is the first elderscrolls game that I own before it hits a 4year old mark.. i still havent put much time into oblivion or morrowind yet because.. they just dont seem as fun.

Yea, you can definitely see the influence of the Saga's in this game, it is cool.

My only problem with it is everyone sounds like they're from Magicka so I can't take it too seriously.