GamesFirst!: Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind was a breakthrough for single-player role playing games in part because of its open-endedness. Other sources have reported that you are continuing this trend, but what can we expect for advances in this open-ended game structure?

Gavin Carter: The Elder Scrolls games were pioneers in open-ended gameplay going all the way back to Arena. You can certainly expect us to continue the trend with Oblivion. Our advances come in the form of refining and improving the gameplay elements most basic to RPGs - combat, exploration, dialogue - and adding in new features like Havok physics and our new AI technology. Also, taking steps such as putting markers on your compass and maps, and refining the journal to make sure the player is never at a total loss for things to do. The goal is to make Oblivion one of the most entertaining RPGs ever and create what we like to call the “RPG for the next generation.”