The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind

3D Game Comparison - Game vs. game. No hype; just facts.™

Engine

• collision detection: 2D; character/NPCs can block doors
• lighting: dynamic, colored, day-night cycle, looking at sun brightens view, flickering; fire, lanterns, lightning, spells, torches
• particle effects: blood, fire (+ embers), gas, magical effects, mud splashes, poison, smoke, steam, water mist
• physics
  • gravity: player, NPCs
  • friction, inertia, momentum
• reflection: see environmental texture mapping; pixel-shaded water
• shadows: adjustment (length & vertical angle), polygonal, fading (whole); NPCs
• skin: yes (but not all joints)
• texture: 32-bit depth
  • filtering: bilinear
  • mapping: environment (enchanted items), mip
• transparency: cobwebs, blood, crystals, fire, glass, magical effects, poison, smoke, steam, water (+ mist)
• other: pixel-shading

atmospheric/environmental effects

• water: fog (underwater), mist, ripples (+ rain), waves; pixel-shaded
• weather: dust storms, fog, lightning, rain; dynamic, gradual
  • clouds: moving, fade in/out, thicken/thin
  • wind: lanterns, signs, tapestries, windchimes; changes with weather
• other: explosions, fire, smoke (chimneys, fire), steam (hotsprings, lava, machines, pipes); rotating stars; see particle effects

Character

player character

• customizable (race: 10, sex: multiple face/hair styles, class: 21, skills: 27, outfit: armor, clothing)
• diseaseable/poisonable (which affects stats immediately/gradually)
• falls in battle when out of fatigue and staggers when hit
• persuade others through admiration, intimidation, and taunting
• raises arm to shield face during ash/blight storms
• moves: cast spell, jump, run, hit/shoot, sneak, strafe, swim, walk
• view: 1st-/3rd-person
  • pan: mouse (no keyboard turning)
  • zoom: 3rd-person view (auto-resets)

NPCs

• beetles, Cliff Racers (giant birds), crabs, elves, ghosts, hounds, humans, orcs, rats, reptiles, vampires, worms, zombies; various

AI

• alert nearby NPCs if notice thefts
• attack when attacked (+ when teamed up with character)
• idle actions: look around, hum, whistle, make comments
• look at player when entering room if noticed
• NPC bodies/heads face/turn towards player
• raise arm to shield face during ash/blight storms
• react relative to disposition towards character

Environment

• # levels: cells; 16km²(?) world split up into many cells
• location: Morrowind (fantasy world); castles, caverns, caves, cliffs, dungeons (400?), hills, ruins, tombs, urban cities & villages (30?), volcano
• cutscenes: 1?
• full-motion videos (FMVs): yes
• level editor: yes
• linear progression: no; open world
• outdoor landscaping/terrain design: indoors and outdoors, very natural/organic
• puzzles: perform quests (find/retrieve items & people, kill things, learn about and report about things, etc)
• traps/hazards: blight storms (disease), falling, lava, trapped locks

Interaction

• move: reposition (but not push/pull) anything pickupable
• pick up (+ drop): see inventory
• ride: gondolas (stationary)
• search: baskets, barrels, bodies, cauldrons, chests (normal, small, drawer), closets, crates, cupboards, desks, hutches, kegs, sacks, tables (some), urns
• other: create potions/spells, disarm traps, eat, enchant items, open/close doors, pick locks/pockets, push buttons, raise/lower bar door, read books/notes, repair armor/weapons, rest, turn crank

Inventory

• alchemy equipment: alembics, calcinators, mortar & pestels, retorts
• armor: boots, bracers, gauntlets, helmets, pauldrons, shields
• artifacts: cogs, coheres, cylinders, tubes
• beakers, bellows, books, bottles, bowls, bread, brooms, candles (+ sticks), cloth (bolts, folded)
• clothing: belts, gloves, hats, robes, pants, shirts, shoes, skirts
• containers: flasks, jugs, pitchers, pots
• dishware: cups/glasses, plates, utensils (forks, knives, spoons)
• cuttle, drums, dust (grave, vampire), eggs, ectoplasm, fishing poles
• gems/jewels: diamonds, ebony, emeralds, rubies, soul gems
• glass, goblets, gold, grain, hearts, herbs, hides, inkwells, jelly
• jewelry: amulets, charms, lockets, rings
• jerky, ladels, lamps
• lanterns: glass, paper, travel
• leather, leaves, lockpicks, lutes, keys, meat, nuts, paper (blank, notes), pearls, petals (bittergreen), pillows (burlap, cloth)
• plants: lichen (black, green, red), various
• plumes (racer), pods (ampoule, spore), potions, probes, quill pens, repair hammers/prongs, resin, rolling pins, roots
• salts: ash, fire, frost, void
• scales, scrap metal, scrolls, shears, skin, skulls, soap, spools (thread), tankards, torches
• vases, vials, wax, yams

=Ammo/weapons

• ammo: arrows (Chitin, glass, iron, silver, steel), bolts
• weapons: axes (battle, pick-, etc), bows (cross-, long, etc), clubs, daggers, hammers, maces, spears, staffs
  • swords: claymore, halberd, katana, saber, wakizashi
  • throwing darts/knives/stars

Other

• sound: 3D stereo