It was made by YouTube user "Wren the Reaper," and it features dozens of hours of footage, timelapsed and cut together for maximum efficacy. To say this is an impressive glimpse into the world of Skyrim would be selling Mr. The Reaper rather short, so we'll just let the video do the talking.
The most impressive Skyrim trailer wasn't made by Bethesda
by Ben Gilbert 
on Nov 22nd 2011 10:40AM
35
It was made by YouTube user "Wren the Reaper," and it features dozens of hours of footage, timelapsed and cut together for maximum efficacy. To say this is an impressive glimpse into the world of Skyrim would be selling Mr. The Reaper rather short, so we'll just let the video do the talking.
Reader Comments (35)
Posted: Nov 22nd 2011 10:50AM Zoot Suit Jedi Grammar Hammer En said
The way the clouds move over the mountains is so damned impressive. Now, for the rest of the day, I'll be dreaming of my Thanksgiving weekend escape with this game. So good.
Posted: Nov 22nd 2011 11:04AM sigma8 said
That is extremely impressive, I agree. The environmental details are amazing. It is a little too long, though. One can only take so many time-lapse clips of mother nature without David Attenborough's narration.
Posted: Nov 22nd 2011 2:22PM Warlock234 said
@sigma8
Some body could honestly make a nature show in Skyrim with David Attenborough. That would be amazing!
Reply
Some body could honestly make a nature show in Skyrim with David Attenborough. That would be amazing!
Posted: Nov 22nd 2011 11:10AM cleopatrudo said
I just started playing this a few days ago. it's just so beautiful. even on my 360.
Posted: Nov 22nd 2011 11:33AM latin trident said
can't wait to play this. unfortunately, oblivion is being played first
Posted: Nov 22nd 2011 3:23PM Tel Prydain said
@latin trident Do yourself a favor and focus on the story missions... Oblivion falls to pieces if you play it too long.
Reply
Posted: Nov 22nd 2011 11:34AM Undulation said
It looks okay but some sped up shots were just no good at all. Quivering grass, the steam rising from water. No it just didn't glue well together. It was too drawn out and uninteresting beyond the first 30 seconds.
I know the video editor at Bethesda. I was worried for his job after reading the article's title. I guess now I'm not.
What to take away from this trailer: long panning sped up shots work only when interspersed with other shots. It's not a filming method to rely on and base a whole trailer around *unless* there is more activity.
I know the video editor at Bethesda. I was worried for his job after reading the article's title. I guess now I'm not.
What to take away from this trailer: long panning sped up shots work only when interspersed with other shots. It's not a filming method to rely on and base a whole trailer around *unless* there is more activity.
Posted: Nov 22nd 2011 12:00PM Skorpeyon said
@Undulation
Sorry, but I have to disagree with you completely. THIS is the first trailer I've seen for Skyrim that has had me the least bit interested in playing it. Mostly because it's not my kind of game, honestly, but this just made the WORLD look so impressive I'd like to wander around in it for a while.
So no offense to your friend, but perhaps he should look into integrating some of the techniques in this short film into some of his own work because until just now I was adamantly against playing the game. Now I'm actually curious about it.
Reply
Sorry, but I have to disagree with you completely. THIS is the first trailer I've seen for Skyrim that has had me the least bit interested in playing it. Mostly because it's not my kind of game, honestly, but this just made the WORLD look so impressive I'd like to wander around in it for a while.
So no offense to your friend, but perhaps he should look into integrating some of the techniques in this short film into some of his own work because until just now I was adamantly against playing the game. Now I'm actually curious about it.
Posted: Nov 22nd 2011 12:16PM Hyperion45 said
@Undulation
I was going to make a comment about how the repetitive scenes of seizure-grass and flickering steam and gliding townsfolk really broke the quality of the video, but it seems you beat me to it. Even the super-fast northern lights look odd after the first time.
Reply
I was going to make a comment about how the repetitive scenes of seizure-grass and flickering steam and gliding townsfolk really broke the quality of the video, but it seems you beat me to it. Even the super-fast northern lights look odd after the first time.
Posted: Nov 22nd 2011 12:23PM (Unverified) said
@Skorpeyon That really is one of the best things about the game. Just running around the landscape and stumbling upon crazy quests and beautiful scenery. I've had a few times where I was running along and then just stopped because I suddenly came across an amazing view.
Usually I don't like sandbox games because I go crazy without the structure but I am loving this game.
Reply
Usually I don't like sandbox games because I go crazy without the structure but I am loving this game.
Posted: Nov 22nd 2011 12:48PM Korbie said
@Skorpeyon
Gotta agree with Undulation, it got boring. I think the trailer worked for you personally, but I doubt that it would interest most people. It has to show off more than just the setting.
Let's take your average Joe/Jill who plays video games when they have the time. They have sixty bucks, and they're looking at some games at Wal-Mart, and Skyrim is right beside Modern Warfare 3.
If they've seen Bethesda's trailer, they remember dragons! And magic! And stabbing! And it looks like a huge game!
If they've seen this one, they remember some scenery. And some towns, and yeah, it looks like a huge game! Very pretty. But what is it about?
Hell, I dunno. I know Modern Warfare's got explosive, fast-paced action, so I guess I'll get that.
Reply
Gotta agree with Undulation, it got boring. I think the trailer worked for you personally, but I doubt that it would interest most people. It has to show off more than just the setting.
Let's take your average Joe/Jill who plays video games when they have the time. They have sixty bucks, and they're looking at some games at Wal-Mart, and Skyrim is right beside Modern Warfare 3.
If they've seen Bethesda's trailer, they remember dragons! And magic! And stabbing! And it looks like a huge game!
If they've seen this one, they remember some scenery. And some towns, and yeah, it looks like a huge game! Very pretty. But what is it about?
Hell, I dunno. I know Modern Warfare's got explosive, fast-paced action, so I guess I'll get that.
Posted: Nov 22nd 2011 11:41AM StormEagle said
Wanna see/hear something else awesome? A friend of mine linked this to me last night, and while I can't post the link since I'm at work, I'll simply tell you to search for "Skyrim meets Metal" on YouTube and look for a video by an Erock331 or something like that.
Posted: Nov 22nd 2011 12:27PM BigEd said
I think this is a much better video, not as much of a trailer, much longer, but a better representation of the environments in the game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CQB4wkmKOv8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CQB4wkmKOv8
Posted: Nov 22nd 2011 12:47PM twocows said
That was pretty cool, but the time lapse gets kinda redundant after about the minute mark. It would be better if it was broken up with something.
Posted: Nov 22nd 2011 1:03PM r4in said
This video brought to my attention the... attention to detail that the developer put into the atmosphere (literally) of the game. The moon, sun, northern lights, sky, stars, clouds, fog/mist, lighting is all fairly impressive. The effect that they give might not be the "best" ever in each respective category but seeing that they exist in the world when watched in time lapse is impressive.
I agree with Skorpeyon... It makes me want to wander around just to experience the world itself.
I agree with Skorpeyon... It makes me want to wander around just to experience the world itself.
Posted: Nov 22nd 2011 1:16PM Torticoli said
Gorgeous work.
Posted: Nov 22nd 2011 1:25PM Torticoli said
@Torticoli
In fact, I'm going to say it reminds me of the Wrath of the Lich King intro cinematic, in the sense that a lot of people were poo-pooing it at the time, based on the fact that it didn't have a lot of action.
For those who haven't seen it, it basically shows snow, snow, ice, Arthas, more snow, some skeletons, a dragon. No gameplay or gameplay-like features, unlike the first two intro cinematics (for Vanilla and TBC) which showed a lot about the characters, the classes, the spells they could use, their battles, and so forth.
Just like this trailer, this cinematic didn't show a lot of action ; but it set the tone. It was telling you "This is Northrend. A dark, cold, dead and desolate place, where the only things that move are an undead lord and his minions. This is where you'll spend the next 2 years in this game". I thought it was remarkably well done, especially since it also had a lot of underlying story-related stuff, with kind of a touch of dark irony to it... I loved it.
This trailer ? It doesn't show you battles, or magic, or First Person view of you stabbing a giant. It doesn't show you gameplay. It does, however, show you the world, and the time lapse thing expresses the fact that this isn't just a setting, a background to the gameplay : it's a living, breathing world, that doesn't exist because of the player, but exists alongside the player, including him in itself.
I think it's a great take on a game that is pretty much based on giving you the biggest, most lively fantasy world possible. It's not just about what you do in the world, it's about the world itself ; games like that, I like.
Reply
In fact, I'm going to say it reminds me of the Wrath of the Lich King intro cinematic, in the sense that a lot of people were poo-pooing it at the time, based on the fact that it didn't have a lot of action.
For those who haven't seen it, it basically shows snow, snow, ice, Arthas, more snow, some skeletons, a dragon. No gameplay or gameplay-like features, unlike the first two intro cinematics (for Vanilla and TBC) which showed a lot about the characters, the classes, the spells they could use, their battles, and so forth.
Just like this trailer, this cinematic didn't show a lot of action ; but it set the tone. It was telling you "This is Northrend. A dark, cold, dead and desolate place, where the only things that move are an undead lord and his minions. This is where you'll spend the next 2 years in this game". I thought it was remarkably well done, especially since it also had a lot of underlying story-related stuff, with kind of a touch of dark irony to it... I loved it.
This trailer ? It doesn't show you battles, or magic, or First Person view of you stabbing a giant. It doesn't show you gameplay. It does, however, show you the world, and the time lapse thing expresses the fact that this isn't just a setting, a background to the gameplay : it's a living, breathing world, that doesn't exist because of the player, but exists alongside the player, including him in itself.
I think it's a great take on a game that is pretty much based on giving you the biggest, most lively fantasy world possible. It's not just about what you do in the world, it's about the world itself ; games like that, I like.
Posted: Nov 22nd 2011 1:20PM Gaddes said
The first 10 seconds with the rocks in the water looked REAL.... o__o
Posted: Nov 22nd 2011 1:23PM Marco le Polo said
@Dickhole Pasta
You're asking in the wrong place. This is Joystiq.com fyi, check your URL bar before posting.
You're asking in the wrong place. This is Joystiq.com fyi, check your URL bar before posting.
Posted: Nov 22nd 2011 1:24PM SeaKnigge said
Ugh. Bo. Rang.
Bunch of fanboys spooging over timelapsing.
Bunch of fanboys spooging over timelapsing.
Posted: Nov 22nd 2011 2:57PM Klearwater Killer said
@SeaKnigge
would you rather us spooge on your face? Probably.
Reply
would you rather us spooge on your face? Probably.
Posted: Nov 22nd 2011 2:12PM digitalheadbutt said
That was like KOYAANISQATSI but less mind numbing.
Posted: Nov 22nd 2011 2:29PM Fearmonkey said
@Dickhole Pasta - hahahah you live up to your name hahahah
Posted: Nov 22nd 2011 2:32PM StormEagle said
I think this "trailer" is a great representation of how REAL time flies when you're playing this game.
Posted: Nov 22nd 2011 2:33PM yoshiru said
@Marco le Polo
Yeah us Joystiq members will just get pissed that you tried to tell us to do something for your entertainment.
Yeah us Joystiq members will just get pissed that you tried to tell us to do something for your entertainment.
Posted: Nov 22nd 2011 3:52PM JakeAuditore said
@SeaKnigge
Ugh, I'm so sick of people being called "homophobes" for joking around. Get off your high horse, it doesn't suit you.
Reply
Ugh, I'm so sick of people being called "homophobes" for joking around. Get off your high horse, it doesn't suit you.
Posted: Nov 22nd 2011 4:00PM MBMBaM fan said
tremendous music.
Posted: Nov 22nd 2011 4:51PM sith94 said
Awesomeness. Although I found the lack of dragons, disturbing...
Posted: Nov 23rd 2011 10:29PM Nook said
Nice job!
