<s>
The	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
III	O
:	O
Morrowind	O
is	O
an	O
open-world	O
action	B-Application
role-playing	I-Application
video	I-Application
game	I-Application
developed	O
by	O
Bethesda	O
Game	O
Studios	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Bethesda	O
Softworks	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
the	O
third	O
installment	O
in	O
the	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
series	I-Application
,	O
following	O
1996	O
's	O
The	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Daggerfall	I-Application
,	O
and	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
2002	O
for	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
central	O
quests	O
concern	O
the	O
demigod	B-Language
Dagoth	O
Ur	O
,	O
housed	O
within	O
the	O
volcanic	O
Red	O
Mountain	O
,	O
who	O
seeks	O
to	O
gain	O
power	O
and	O
break	O
Morrowind	O
free	O
from	O
Imperial	O
reign	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Though	O
primarily	O
a	O
fantasy	B-Application
game	O
,	O
with	O
many	O
gameplay	O
elements	O
and	O
Western	O
medieval	O
and	O
fantasy	B-Application
fiction	O
tropes	O
inspired	O
by	O
Dungeons	O
&	O
Dragons	O
and	O
previous	O
RPGs	O
,	O
Morrowind	O
also	O
features	O
some	O
steampunk	O
elements	O
,	O
and	O
drew	O
much	O
inspiration	O
from	O
Middle	O
Eastern	O
and	O
East	O
Asian	O
art	O
,	O
architecture	O
and	O
cultures	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
spawned	O
two	O
expansion	O
packs	O
:	O
Tribunal	B-Application
and	O
Bloodmoon	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
open-source	B-Application
,	O
free	B-Application
software	I-Application
alternative	O
game	O
engine	O
OpenMW	B-Application
permits	O
users	O
of	O
Linux	B-Application
and	O
macOS	B-Application
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
Windows	O
,	O
to	O
play	O
the	O
game	O
natively	O
,	O
and	O
with	O
support	O
for	O
optional	O
higher-end	O
graphics	O
than	O
the	O
original	O
Bethesda	O
engine	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Morrowind	O
's	O
Xbox	B-Device
release	O
also	O
runs	O
as	O
a	O
backwards	B-Device
compatible	I-Device
title	I-Device
on	O
the	B-Device
Xbox	I-Device
One	I-Device
and	O
Series	B-Device
X/S	I-Device
consoles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Morrowind	O
was	O
followed	O
by	O
The	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
IV	I-Application
:	I-Application
Oblivion	I-Application
in	O
2006	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Morrowind	O
,	O
like	O
its	O
predecessor	O
Daggerfall	B-Application
,	O
makes	O
a	O
distinction	O
between	O
attributes	O
and	O
skills	O
;	O
skills	O
are	O
individual	O
proficiencies	O
in	O
particular	O
schools	O
of	O
battle	O
or	O
with	O
particular	O
armor	O
classes	O
,	O
and	O
attributes	O
are	O
broader	O
proficiencies	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
strength	O
and	O
endurance	O
,	O
which	O
are	O
either	O
tied	O
to	O
important	O
features	O
unconnected	O
to	O
any	O
skill	O
,	O
(	O
health	O
,	O
evasion	O
chance	O
,	O
etc	O
.	O
)	O
</s>
<s>
Morrowind	O
,	O
following	O
the	O
tradition	O
established	O
by	O
its	O
predecessors	O
in	O
The	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
series	I-Application
,	O
is	O
a	O
free-form	O
world	O
,	O
with	O
few	O
constricting	O
boundaries	O
on	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
actions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Lead	O
designer	O
Ken	O
Rolston	O
,	O
when	O
asked	O
before	O
Morrowinds	O
release	O
what	O
he	O
thought	O
were	O
the	O
"	O
core	O
,	O
untouchable	O
design	O
elements	O
"	O
of	O
the	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
series	I-Application
which	O
"	O
set	O
them	O
apart	O
from	O
other	O
games	O
,	O
"	O
responded	O
immediately	O
:	O
"	O
Free-form	O
experience.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Ken	O
Rolston	O
later	O
stated	O
that	O
the	O
main	O
quest	O
might	O
have	O
been	O
presented	O
with	O
greater	O
force	O
,	O
in	O
the	O
style	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
successor	O
,	O
The	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
IV	I-Application
:	I-Application
Oblivion	I-Application
,	O
without	O
losing	O
the	O
free-form	O
design	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
but	O
such	O
concerns	O
were	O
not	O
addressed	O
before	O
Morrowinds	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
Morrowind	O
contains	O
many	O
quests	O
and	O
storylines	O
,	O
the	O
central	O
plot	O
revolves	O
around	O
The	O
Tribunal	B-Application
,	O
a	O
triumvirate	O
of	O
god-like	O
beings	O
ruling	O
over	O
Morrowind	O
,	O
and	O
their	O
struggle	O
against	O
a	O
former	O
ally	O
,	O
the	O
demigod	B-Language
Dagoth	O
Ur	O
and	O
his	O
Sixth	O
House	O
–	O
a	O
cult	O
of	O
followers	O
stretching	O
out	O
from	O
Red	O
Mountain	O
,	O
the	O
volcanic	O
center	O
of	O
Vvardenfell	O
,	O
the	O
island	O
on	O
which	O
the	O
game	O
is	O
set	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
a	O
storm	O
and	O
a	O
strange	O
dream	O
vision	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
character	O
(	O
PC	O
)	O
begins	O
in	O
a	O
town	O
called	O
Seyda	O
Neen	O
,	O
fresh	O
off	O
a	O
boat	O
from	O
a	O
mainland	O
prison	O
,	O
freed	O
by	O
the	O
string-pulling	O
of	O
the	O
current	O
ruler	O
of	O
the	O
Tamrielic	O
Empire	O
,	O
Emperor	O
Uriel	B-Application
Septim	I-Application
VII	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
PC	O
is	O
given	O
the	O
task	O
of	O
meeting	O
Caius	O
Cosades	O
,	O
a	O
member	O
of	O
the	B-Application
Blades	I-Application
,	O
a	O
secret	O
group	O
of	O
spies	O
and	O
agents	O
working	O
for	O
the	O
Emperor	O
and	O
the	O
Empire	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Cosades	O
inducts	O
the	O
player	O
into	O
the	B-Application
Blades	I-Application
on	O
the	O
Emperor	O
's	O
orders	O
and	O
sets	O
the	O
player	O
on	O
various	O
quests	O
to	O
uncover	O
the	O
mysterious	O
disappearances	O
and	O
revelations	O
that	O
the	O
citizens	O
of	O
Vvardenfell	O
have	O
experienced	O
,	O
particularly	O
the	O
Sixth	O
House	O
and	O
the	O
Ashlander	O
prophecies	O
of	O
the	O
Nerevarine	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Upon	O
finding	O
and	O
equipping	O
the	O
ring	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
receives	O
a	O
vision	O
from	O
Azura	B-Application
,	O
the	O
ancient	O
Daedric	O
Prince	O
of	O
the	O
Dawn	O
and	O
Dusk	O
,	O
who	O
confirms	O
that	O
the	O
player	O
is	O
Nerevar	O
's	O
incarnate	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
receiving	O
the	O
support	O
and	O
being	O
declared	O
"	O
Hortator	O
"	O
by	O
every	O
Great	O
House	O
and	O
"	O
Nerevarine	O
"	O
by	O
all	O
nomadic	O
Ashlander	O
tribes	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
is	O
officially	O
,	O
albeit	O
reluctantly	O
,	O
called	O
"	O
Nerevarine	O
"	O
by	O
the	O
Tribunal	B-Application
Temple	O
,	O
who	O
normally	O
persecutes	O
anyone	O
who	O
claims	O
to	O
be	O
the	O
Nerevarine	O
and	O
sentences	O
them	O
to	O
death	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Nerevarine	O
is	O
invited	O
to	O
the	O
palace	O
of	O
the	O
poet	O
god-king	O
Vivec	O
,	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
three	O
deities	O
that	O
form	O
the	O
basis	O
of	O
Morrowind	O
's	O
religion	O
,	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
Tribunal	B-Application
,	O
to	O
discuss	O
the	O
assault	O
on	O
Dagoth	O
Ur	O
's	O
stronghold	O
in	O
the	O
heart	O
of	O
Red	O
Mountain	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
ancient	O
weapons	O
were	O
created	O
by	O
the	O
Dwemer	O
to	O
tap	O
into	O
the	O
power	O
of	O
the	O
fabled	O
Heart	O
of	O
Lorkhan	O
,	O
which	O
they	O
found	O
beneath	O
Red	O
Mountain	O
-	O
and	O
these	O
same	O
tools	O
have	O
been	O
used	O
by	O
the	O
Tribunal	B-Application
and	O
Dagoth	O
Ur	O
to	O
reach	O
their	O
god-like	O
status	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Upon	O
escaping	O
from	O
the	O
chamber	O
,	O
the	O
Nerevarine	O
is	O
congratulated	O
by	O
Azura	B-Application
,	O
who	O
comes	O
to	O
reward	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
efforts	O
of	O
fulfilling	O
the	O
prophecy	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Due	O
to	O
their	O
immortality	O
linked	O
to	O
the	O
heart	O
,	O
Vivec	O
and	O
the	O
Tribunal	B-Application
become	O
mortal	O
again	O
,	O
leaving	O
Vivec	O
's	O
future	O
in	O
question	O
and	O
up	O
to	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
determine	O
his	O
fate	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
loss	O
of	O
divinity	O
among	O
the	O
Tribunal	B-Application
is	O
the	O
main	O
plot	O
point	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
first	O
expansion	O
,	O
Tribunal	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Morrowind	O
takes	O
place	O
on	O
Vvardenfell	O
,	O
an	O
island	O
in	O
the	O
Dunmer-dominated	O
province	O
of	O
Morrowind	O
,	O
far	O
from	O
the	O
typically	O
European-inspired	O
lands	O
to	O
the	O
west	O
and	O
south	O
depicted	O
in	O
Daggerfall	B-Application
and	O
Arena	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
Arena	B-Application
featured	O
the	O
entirety	O
of	O
Tamriel	O
as	O
an	O
explorable	O
area	O
,	O
and	O
Daggerfall	B-Application
featured	O
sizeable	O
portions	O
of	O
two	O
provinces	O
of	O
Tamriel	O
,	O
Hammerfell	B-Application
and	O
High	O
Rock	O
,	O
Morrowind	O
includes	O
only	O
the	O
"	O
relatively	O
small	O
"	O
island	O
of	O
Vvardenfell	O
within	O
the	O
province	O
of	O
Morrowind	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Whereas	O
Daggerfall	B-Application
and	O
Arenas	B-Application
dungeons	O
were	O
randomly	O
generated	O
,	O
each	O
area	O
in	O
Morrowind	O
was	O
specifically	O
detailed	O
,	O
and	O
each	O
item	O
was	O
individually	O
placed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
area	O
expands	O
to	O
the	O
walled	O
city	O
of	O
Mournhold	B-Application
on	O
Morrowind	O
's	O
mainland	O
in	O
the	O
Tribunal	B-Application
expansion	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
island	O
of	O
Solstheim	B-Application
to	O
the	O
northwest	O
of	O
Vvardenfell	O
in	O
the	O
Bloodmoon	B-Application
expansion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Morrowinds	O
developers	O
,	O
rather	O
than	O
basing	O
the	O
culture	O
of	O
Morrowind	O
onto	O
the	O
typical	O
Medieval	O
European	O
setting	O
of	O
fantasy	B-Application
games	O
,	O
chose	O
a	O
more	O
eclectic	O
route	O
,	O
taking	O
elements	O
from	O
African	O
cultures	O
,	O
specifically	O
Ancient	O
Egyptian	O
,	O
but	O
also	O
early	O
Japanese	O
,	O
and	O
Middle	O
Eastern	O
cultures	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
admitting	O
some	O
elements	O
of	O
the	O
partially	O
medieval	O
Imperial	O
culture	O
more	O
typical	O
of	O
fantasy	B-Application
to	O
retain	O
familiarity	O
with	O
the	O
earlier	O
installments	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
Morrowinds	O
Dark	O
Elven	O
setting	O
"	O
opened	O
huge	O
new	O
avenues	O
for	O
creating	O
cultures	O
and	O
sites	O
that	O
are	O
not	O
traditionally	O
seen	O
in	O
a	O
fantasy	B-Application
setting	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
development	O
team	O
also	O
gave	O
particular	O
credit	O
to	O
the	O
Ridley	O
Scott	O
film	O
Gladiator	O
,	O
high	O
fantasy	B-Application
,	O
The	B-Application
Dark	I-Application
Crystal	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Conan	O
the	O
Barbarian	O
as	O
influences	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
him	O
,	O
the	O
in-game	O
literature	O
and	O
its	O
integration	O
within	O
the	O
game	O
were	O
Morrowinds	O
"	O
most	O
original	O
and	O
lasting	O
contribution	O
to	O
the	O
history	O
of	O
games	O
"	O
,	O
one	O
that	O
would	O
place	O
it	O
beside	O
Planescape	B-Application
:	I-Application
Torment	I-Application
as	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
important	O
games	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Most	O
of	O
the	O
books	O
were	O
reused	O
in	O
The	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
IV	I-Application
:	I-Application
Oblivion	I-Application
and	O
The	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
V	I-Application
:	I-Application
Skyrim	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
third	O
title	O
in	O
the	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
series	I-Application
was	O
first	O
conceived	O
during	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
Daggerfall	B-Application
,	O
though	O
it	O
was	O
initially	O
to	O
be	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
Summerset	B-Application
Isles	I-Application
and	O
called	O
Tribunal	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Daggerfall	B-Application
,	O
it	O
was	O
set	O
up	O
around	O
an	O
SVGA	O
version	O
of	O
XnGine	O
,	O
which	O
Bethesda	O
later	O
used	O
in	O
Battlespire	B-Application
,	O
and	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
province	O
of	O
Morrowind	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
"	O
much	O
closer	O
to	O
Daggerfall	B-Application
in	O
scope	O
"	O
,	O
encompassing	O
the	O
whole	O
province	O
of	O
Morrowind	O
,	O
rather	O
than	O
the	O
isle	O
of	O
Vvardenfell	O
,	O
and	O
allowing	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
join	O
all	O
five	O
Dunmer	O
Great	O
Houses	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
project	O
was	O
put	O
on	O
hold	O
in	O
1997	O
,	O
as	O
Bethesda	O
went	O
on	O
to	O
develop	O
Redguard	B-Application
and	O
Battlespire	B-Application
,	O
though	O
the	O
project	O
remained	O
in	O
the	O
back	O
of	O
the	O
developers	O
 '	O
minds	O
throughout	O
this	O
period	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
completion	O
of	O
Redguard	B-Application
in	O
1998	O
led	O
to	O
a	O
return	O
to	O
the	O
Morrowind	O
project	O
,	O
as	O
the	O
developers	O
felt	O
a	O
yearning	O
in	O
their	O
audience	O
to	O
return	O
to	O
the	O
classically	O
epic	O
forms	O
of	O
the	O
earlier	O
titles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
XnGine	O
was	O
scrapped	O
and	O
replaced	O
with	O
a	O
licensed	O
copy	O
of	O
NetImmerse	O
,	O
a	O
Direct3D	B-Application
powered	O
engine	O
,	O
with	O
transform	B-Algorithm
and	I-Algorithm
lighting	I-Algorithm
capacity	O
,	O
32-bit	O
textures	O
and	O
skeletal	O
animation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
decided	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
world	O
would	O
be	O
populated	O
using	O
the	O
methods	O
the	O
team	O
had	O
developed	O
in	O
Redguard	B-Application
;	O
that	O
is	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
objects	O
would	O
be	O
crafted	O
by	O
hand	O
,	O
rather	O
than	O
generated	O
using	O
the	O
random	O
algorithmic	O
methods	O
of	O
Arena	B-Application
and	O
Daggerfall	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
accomplish	O
this	O
feat	O
,	O
Bethesda	O
tripled	O
their	O
staff	O
and	O
spent	O
their	O
first	O
year	O
of	O
development	O
on	O
The	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
Construction	I-Application
Set	I-Application
,	O
allowing	O
the	O
game	O
staff	O
to	O
easily	O
balance	O
the	O
game	O
and	O
to	O
modify	O
it	O
in	O
small	O
increments	O
rather	O
than	O
large	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
the	O
additional	O
staff	O
,	O
designer	O
Ken	O
Rolston	O
would	O
later	O
state	O
that	O
,	O
compared	O
to	O
Oblivion	B-Application
,	O
Morrowind	O
had	O
a	O
small	O
design	O
team	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
May	O
5	O
,	O
2001	O
,	O
Bethesda	O
announced	O
an	O
additional	O
Morrowind	O
release	O
for	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
Xbox	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
the	O
PC	O
version	O
of	O
Morrowind	O
had	O
gone	O
gold	O
by	O
April	O
23	O
,	O
2002	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
May	O
1	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
,	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
release	O
was	O
delayed	O
further	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
April	O
15	O
,	O
GameSpot	O
suggested	O
an	O
Xbox	B-Device
release	O
date	O
sometime	O
in	O
May	O
and	O
a	O
scheduled	O
"	O
going	O
gold	O
"	O
date	O
for	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
version	O
in	O
the	O
first	O
week	O
of	O
the	O
same	O
month	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
contradiction	O
of	O
GameSpot	O
's	O
supposition	O
,	O
a	O
June	O
4	O
Bethesda	O
press	O
release	O
set	O
June	O
7	O
as	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
release	O
date	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
spite	O
of	O
this	O
success	O
,	O
Bethesda	O
decided	O
to	O
allow	O
Prima	O
Games	O
to	O
publish	O
the	O
"	O
official	O
"	O
game	O
guide	O
for	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
IV	I-Application
:	I-Application
Oblivion	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Morrowinds	O
soundtrack	O
was	O
composed	O
by	O
Jeremy	O
Soule	O
,	O
a	O
video	O
game	O
composer	O
whose	O
previous	O
soundtracks	O
for	O
Total	B-Application
Annihilation	I-Application
and	O
Icewind	B-Application
Dale	I-Application
had	O
earned	O
some	O
acclaim	O
from	O
the	O
gaming	O
press	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
a	O
Bethesda	O
press	O
release	O
,	O
Soule	O
stated	O
that	O
the	O
"	O
epic	O
quality	O
"	O
of	O
the	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
series	I-Application
was	O
"	O
particularly	O
compatible	O
with	O
the	O
grand	O
,	O
orchestral	O
style	O
of	O
music	O
"	O
that	O
Soule	O
enjoys	O
composing	O
"	O
the	O
most	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
February	O
2003	O
,	O
Morrowind	O
was	O
nominated	O
for	O
the	O
category	O
of	O
"	O
Outstanding	O
Achievement	O
in	O
Original	O
Music	O
Composition	O
"	O
at	O
the	O
6th	O
Annual	O
Academy	O
of	O
Interactive	O
Arts	O
&	O
Sciences	O
 '	O
Interactive	O
Achievement	O
Awards	O
but	O
lost	O
to	O
Medal	B-Application
of	I-Application
Honor	I-Application
:	I-Application
Frontline	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Worldwide	O
sales	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
III	O
:	O
Morrowind	O
reached	O
almost	O
95,000	O
units	O
by	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
June	O
2002	O
,	O
and	O
rose	O
to	O
200,000	O
copies	O
by	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
September	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Combined	O
sales	O
of	O
all	O
Elder	B-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
computer	O
games	O
released	O
between	O
those	O
dates	O
had	O
reached	O
990,000	O
units	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
by	O
August	O
2006	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Morrowind	O
was	O
the	O
best-selling	O
RPG	O
for	O
Xbox	B-Device
in	O
2002	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
top	O
10	O
best-selling	O
games	O
on	O
Xbox	B-Device
from	O
May	O
through	O
October	O
2003	O
,	O
a	O
full	O
year	O
after	O
its	O
initial	O
launch	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
III	O
:	O
Morrowind	O
was	O
well	O
received	O
by	O
critics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
a	O
retrospective	O
by	O
1Up	O
,	O
the	O
breadth	O
and	O
open-endedness	O
of	O
Morrowind	O
are	O
suggested	O
to	O
have	O
contributed	O
to	O
the	O
decline	O
of	O
single-player	O
RPGs	O
on	O
home	O
computers	O
by	O
leading	O
customers	O
to	O
MMORPGs	B-Application
,	O
where	O
they	O
could	O
have	O
a	O
similar	O
experience	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Xbox	B-Device
Nation	O
commended	O
the	O
game	O
for	O
its	O
"	O
sheer	O
scope	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
credited	O
that	O
aspect	O
as	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
"	O
biggest	O
selling	O
point	O
"	O
,	O
though	O
it	O
criticized	O
the	O
slowdowns	O
,	O
travel	O
times	O
and	O
questing	O
complexities	O
that	O
resulted	O
from	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
contrast	O
to	O
the	O
"	O
generic	O
"	O
nature	O
of	O
Daggerfalls	B-Application
design	O
,	O
reviewers	O
found	O
Morrowinds	O
design	O
spectacular	O
,	O
varied	O
,	O
and	O
stunning	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpy	O
gave	O
strong	O
commendation	O
to	O
the	O
system	O
,	O
stating	O
that	O
"	O
The	O
advancement	O
system	O
makes	O
so	O
much	O
sense	O
that	O
it	O
makes	O
other	O
games	O
,	O
even	O
games	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
D&D	O
world	O
such	O
as	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
,	O
look	O
silly	O
by	O
comparison	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
Bethesda	O
remedied	O
the	O
complaints	O
to	O
some	O
extent	O
in	O
the	O
subsequent	O
expansion	O
Tribunal	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
being	O
Bethesda	O
's	O
first	O
major	O
title	O
to	O
be	O
produced	O
for	O
a	O
console	O
,	O
Morrowinds	O
Xbox	B-Device
release	O
was	O
well	O
received	O
in	O
the	O
gaming	O
press	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
inability	O
to	O
use	O
add-on	O
modifications	O
on	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
version	O
was	O
unhappily	O
felt	O
,	O
as	O
was	O
the	O
decreased	O
resolution	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
qualities	O
of	O
detail	O
and	O
open-endedness	O
which	O
had	O
similarly	O
graced	O
the	O
PC	O
release	O
made	O
good	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
release	O
's	O
faults	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Morrowinds	O
Xbox	B-Device
release	O
sold	O
very	O
well	O
;	O
it	O
continued	O
to	O
rank	O
among	O
the	O
top	O
10	O
sellers	O
on	O
the	O
console	O
one	O
year	O
after	O
its	O
initial	O
release	O
,	O
a	O
feat	O
matched	O
only	O
by	O
Halo	O
:	O
Combat	O
Evolved	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
spite	O
of	O
its	O
critical	O
and	O
commercial	O
success	O
,	O
Morrowind	O
did	O
not	O
win	O
any	O
end-of-year	O
press	O
awards	O
for	O
its	O
Xbox	B-Device
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
a	O
nominee	O
for	O
PC	O
Gamer	O
USs	O
"	O
2002	O
Best	O
Roleplaying	O
Game	O
"	O
award	O
,	O
which	O
ultimately	O
went	O
to	O
Neverwinter	B-Application
Nights	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Morrowind	O
won	O
GameSpys	O
PC	O
RPG	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
Award	O
,	O
though	O
it	O
lost	O
to	O
Neverwinter	B-Application
Nights	I-Application
in	O
reader	O
polls	O
,	O
ranking	O
24%	O
against	O
Neverwinters	O
34.9	O
%	O
popular	O
support	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Morrowind	O
lost	O
GameSpots	O
best	O
PC	O
RPG	O
of	O
2002	O
award	O
to	O
Neverwinter	B-Application
Nights	I-Application
,	O
but	O
won	O
best	O
Xbox	B-Device
RPG	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
nominated	O
in	O
the	O
"	O
Best	O
Story	O
on	O
Xbox	B-Device
"	O
and	O
"	O
Best	O
Graphics	O
(	O
Artistic	O
)	O
on	O
Xbox	B-Device
"	O
categories	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Morrowind	O
,	O
in	O
addition	O
to	O
its	O
nomination	O
in	O
music	O
composition	O
,	O
was	O
also	O
nominated	O
in	O
the	O
category	O
of	O
"	O
Computer	O
Role-Playing	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
at	O
the	O
2003	O
Interactive	O
Achievement	O
Awards	O
,	O
but	O
lost	O
,	O
again	O
,	O
to	O
Neverwinter	B-Application
Nights	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
Tribunal	I-Application
,	O
announced	O
on	O
September	O
2	O
,	O
2002	O
,	O
and	O
scheduled	O
for	O
a	O
PC-only	O
release	O
,	O
went	O
gold	O
on	O
November	O
1	O
and	O
was	O
released	O
,	O
with	O
little	O
fanfare	O
,	O
on	O
November	O
6	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tribunal	B-Application
puts	O
the	O
player	O
in	O
the	O
self-contained	O
,	O
walled	O
city	O
of	O
Mournhold	B-Application
,	O
the	O
capital	O
of	O
the	O
province	O
of	O
Morrowind	O
;	O
the	O
new	O
city	O
is	O
not	O
connected	O
to	O
Morrowinds	O
landmass	O
,	O
Vvardenfell	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
player	O
must	O
teleport	O
to	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
storyline	O
continues	O
the	O
story	O
of	O
the	O
Tribunal	B-Application
deities	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
choice	O
to	O
produce	O
the	O
expansion	O
was	O
primarily	O
inspired	O
by	O
the	O
success	O
of	O
Morrowinds	O
release	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
a	O
general	O
feeling	O
that	O
Elder	B-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
series	I-Application
games	O
are	O
ongoing	O
experiences	O
that	O
merit	O
new	O
things	O
for	O
their	O
players	O
to	O
do	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reviews	O
of	O
Tribunal	B-Application
were	O
generally	O
positive	O
,	O
though	O
to	O
lesser	O
amounts	O
than	O
was	O
the	O
case	O
for	O
Morrowind	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Aggregate	B-Application
scoring	I-Application
sites	O
gave	O
the	O
game	O
generally	O
favorable	O
scores	O
:	O
Metacritic	O
,	O
a	O
score	O
of	O
80	O
;	O
GameRankings	O
,	O
a	O
score	O
of	O
82	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpot	O
reported	O
sullenly	O
on	O
the	O
change	O
:	O
"	O
it	O
's	O
somewhat	O
surprising	O
that	O
the	O
Tribunal	B-Application
expansion	O
confines	O
your	O
adventures	O
to	O
the	O
relatively	O
small	O
setting	O
of	O
the	O
municipality	O
Mournhold	B-Application
,	O
"	O
and	O
that	O
,	O
in	O
light	O
of	O
this	O
change	O
,	O
"	O
Tribunal	B-Application
does	O
n't	O
have	O
many	O
of	O
the	O
features	O
that	O
made	O
Morrowind	O
so	O
appealing.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
RPGamer	O
,	O
by	O
contrast	O
,	O
was	O
unequivocally	O
positive	O
about	O
the	O
change	O
:	O
"	O
Bethesda	O
...	O
neatly	O
sidesteps	O
two	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
difficult	O
atmospheric	O
flaws	O
of	O
Morrowind	O
—	O
the	O
constant	O
sense	O
of	O
emptiness	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
bland	O
outdoor	O
landscapes	O
—	O
by	O
having	O
the	O
story	O
take	O
place	O
entirely	O
within	O
the	O
city	O
of	O
Mournhold	B-Application
...	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
Bloodmoon	I-Application
,	O
announced	O
on	O
February	O
14	O
,	O
2003	O
,	O
and	O
scheduled	O
for	O
release	O
in	O
May	O
of	O
the	O
same	O
year	O
,	O
went	O
gold	O
by	O
May	O
23	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
June	O
6	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Bethesda	O
began	O
work	O
on	O
the	O
expansion	O
immediately	O
following	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Tribunal	B-Application
in	O
November	O
2002	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Bloodmoon	B-Application
is	O
a	O
larger	O
expansion	O
than	O
Tribunal	B-Application
,	O
in	O
terms	O
of	O
area	O
covered	O
and	O
content	O
created	O
;	O
it	O
expands	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
main	O
map	O
to	O
include	O
the	O
untamed	O
island	O
of	O
Solstheim	B-Application
located	O
to	O
the	O
northwest	O
of	O
Vvardenfell	O
,	O
a	O
frigid	O
northern	O
tundra	O
sprinkled	O
with	O
forests	O
,	O
and	O
many	O
new	O
varieties	O
of	O
creatures	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
short	O
but	O
tough	O
rieklings	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
additions	O
marked	O
a	O
return	O
to	O
the	O
"	O
open-ended	O
gameplay	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
free-form	O
exploration	O
"	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
,	O
in	O
contrast	O
to	O
the	O
linearity	O
and	O
confinement	O
of	O
Tribunal	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reviews	O
for	O
Bloodmoon	B-Application
were	O
,	O
again	O
,	O
generally	O
positive	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Aggregate	B-Application
scoring	I-Application
sites	O
gave	O
the	O
game	O
generally	O
favorable	O
scores	O
:	O
Metacritic	O
,	O
a	O
score	O
of	O
85	O
;	O
GameRankings	O
,	O
a	O
score	O
of	O
83	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
One	O
of	O
the	O
key	O
selling	O
points	O
of	O
Bloodmoon	B-Application
was	O
its	O
reintegration	O
of	O
werewolves	O
,	O
a	O
feature	O
that	O
had	O
been	O
included	O
in	O
Daggerfall	B-Application
,	O
but	O
was	O
absent	O
in	O
Morrowind	O
,	O
despite	O
being	O
a	O
feature	O
prominently	O
advertised	O
in	O
previews	O
before	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Morrowind	O
instead	O
included	O
vampirism	B-Application
,	O
which	O
was	O
almost	O
an	O
"	O
Easter	O
egg	O
"	O
in	O
terms	O
of	O
how	O
many	O
players	O
remained	O
unfamiliar	O
with	O
the	O
feature	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Being	O
a	O
werewolf	O
provides	O
ability	O
increases	O
,	O
though	O
their	O
strength	O
was	O
reduced	O
relative	O
to	O
the	O
major	O
bonuses	O
offered	O
by	O
lycanthropy	O
in	O
Daggerfall	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
III	O
:	O
Morrowind	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
Edition	O
was	O
announced	O
May	O
12	O
,	O
2003	O
,	O
and	O
released	O
October	O
31	O
of	O
the	O
same	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
compiled	O
both	O
the	O
Tribunal	B-Application
and	O
Bloodmoon	B-Application
expansions	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
patches	O
available	O
only	O
for	O
the	O
PC	O
release	O
,	O
plus	O
a	O
variety	O
of	O
minor	O
quest	O
and	O
item	O
add-ons	O
,	O
and	O
offered	O
them	O
up	O
in	O
one	O
single	O
package	O
for	O
both	O
PC	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
platforms	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
provided	O
Xbox	B-Device
players	O
with	O
most	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
content	O
they	O
had	O
not	O
previously	O
had	O
access	O
to	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Absent	O
,	O
however	O
,	O
from	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
version	O
was	O
the	O
improved	O
journal	O
included	O
in	O
Bethesda	O
's	O
Bloodmoon	B-Application
and	O
Tribunal	B-Application
releases	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
later	O
patched	O
editions	O
of	O
Morrowinds	O
original	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Bethesda	O
Softworks	O
,	O
the	O
developer	O
of	O
Morrowind	O
,	O
offers	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
change	O
the	O
game	O
via	O
plugins	B-Application
(	O
often	O
referred	O
to	O
as	O
modifications	O
,	O
or	O
mods	O
for	O
short	O
)	O
using	O
The	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
Construction	I-Application
Set	I-Application
,	O
which	O
comes	O
with	O
the	O
PC	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
plugins	B-Application
are	O
usually	O
easy	O
to	O
install	O
and	O
can	O
change	O
almost	O
everything	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plugins	B-Application
can	O
add	O
or	O
modify	O
existing	O
mechanics	O
,	O
creatures	O
,	O
weapons	O
,	O
armor	O
,	O
quests	O
,	O
people	O
,	O
playable	O
species	O
,	O
Easter	O
eggs	O
,	O
stores	O
,	O
player-owned	O
houses	O
,	O
cities	O
,	O
plotlines	O
,	O
and	O
entire	O
landmasses	O
with	O
some	O
or	O
all	O
of	O
the	O
above	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Organized	O
projects	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Tamriel	O
Rebuilt	O
and	O
Project	O
:	O
Tamriel	O
,	O
attempt	O
to	O
recreate	O
the	O
originally	O
envisioned	O
Morrowind	O
province	O
and	O
other	O
parties	O
of	O
Tamriel	O
,	O
as	O
seen	O
in	O
other	O
The	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
example	O
,	O
there	O
are	O
interpretations	O
of	O
both	O
Cyrodiil	O
and	O
Skyrim	B-Application
,	O
the	O
settings	O
of	O
later	O
The	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
total	O
conversion	O
mod	O
,	O
Arktwend	O
,	O
developed	O
by	O
SureAI	O
(	O
the	O
same	O
developers	O
behind	O
Nehrim	O
:	O
At	O
Fate	O
's	O
Edge	O
and	O
Enderal	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Shards	I-Application
of	I-Application
Order	I-Application
)	O
was	O
developed	O
on	O
Morrowinds	O
engine	O
and	O
requires	O
Morrowind	O
,	O
Tribunal	B-Application
,	O
and	O
Bloodmoon	B-Application
to	O
play	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Others	O
attempt	O
to	O
optimise	O
demanding	O
meshes	B-Algorithm
(	O
e.g.	O
</s>
<s>
All	O
official	O
plugins	B-Application
are	O
included	O
in	O
the	O
GOG.com	O
release	O
of	O
the	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
Edition	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
OpenMW	B-Application
is	O
an	O
open-source	B-Application
,	O
free-software	B-Application
replacement	O
game	O
engine	O
that	O
supports	O
playing	O
the	O
original	O
and	O
add-on	O
Morrowind	O
content	O
natively	O
(	O
without	O
emulation	B-Application
or	O
a	O
virtual	B-Architecture
machine	I-Architecture
)	O
on	O
Linux	B-Application
,	O
macOS	B-Application
,	O
Windows	O
,	O
and	O
certain	O
Android	O
devices	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Most	O
third-party	O
mods	O
that	O
are	O
not	O
dependent	O
on	O
any	O
MS	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
executables	O
and	O
which	O
are	O
free	O
of	O
serious	O
scripting	O
syntax	O
errors	O
are	O
also	O
compatible	O
with	O
OpenMW	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Another	O
fan	O
labor	O
effort	O
,	O
The	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
Renewal	O
Project	O
,	O
has	O
been	O
working	O
on	O
remastering	O
Morrowind	O
to	O
run	O
as	O
add-ons	O
for	O
later	O
games	O
in	O
The	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
franchise	O
(	O
as	O
Morroblivion	O
for	O
Oblivion	B-Application
,	O
and	O
Skywind	O
for	O
Skyrim	B-Application
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
project	O
is	O
also	O
working	O
on	O
a	O
remaster	O
of	O
Oblivion	B-Application
to	O
run	O
within	O
Skyrim	B-Application
(	O
Under	O
the	O
name	O
Skyblivion	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
