<s>
The	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
IV	I-Application
:	I-Application
Oblivion	I-Application
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
,	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Bethesda	O
Softworks	O
and	O
2K	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
the	O
fourth	O
installment	O
in	O
the	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
series	I-Application
,	O
following	O
2002	O
's	O
The	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
Morrowind	I-Application
,	O
and	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
and	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
in	O
2006	O
,	O
followed	O
by	O
PlayStation	O
3	O
in	O
2007	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Taking	O
place	O
within	O
the	O
fictional	O
province	O
of	O
Cyrodiil	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
main	O
story	O
focuses	O
on	O
the	O
player	O
character	O
's	O
efforts	O
to	O
thwart	O
a	O
fanatical	O
cult	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
Mythic	O
Dawn	O
that	O
plans	O
to	O
open	O
portal	O
gates	O
to	O
a	O
demonic	O
realm	O
known	O
as	O
Oblivion	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
continues	O
the	O
open-world	O
tradition	O
of	O
its	O
predecessors	O
by	O
allowing	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
travel	O
anywhere	O
in	O
the	O
game	B-Application
world	I-Application
at	O
any	O
time	O
and	O
to	O
ignore	O
or	O
postpone	O
the	O
main	O
storyline	O
indefinitely	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Development	O
for	O
Oblivion	B-Application
began	O
in	O
2002	O
,	O
directly	O
after	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Morrowind	B-Application
,	O
opting	O
for	O
tighter	O
pacing	O
in	O
gameplay	O
and	O
greater	O
plot	O
focus	O
than	O
in	O
past	O
titles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
design	O
the	O
graphics	O
,	O
Bethesda	O
used	O
an	O
improved	O
Havok	B-General_Concept
physics	I-General_Concept
engine	I-General_Concept
,	O
high-dynamic-range	B-Device
lighting	O
,	O
procedural	O
content	O
generation	O
tools	O
that	O
allowed	O
developers	O
to	O
quickly	O
create	O
detailed	O
terrains	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
Radiant	B-General_Concept
AI	I-General_Concept
system	O
,	O
which	O
enabled	O
non-player	O
characters	O
(	O
NPCs	O
)	O
to	O
make	O
choices	O
and	O
engage	O
in	O
behaviors	O
more	O
complex	O
than	O
in	O
past	O
titles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Upon	O
release	O
,	O
Oblivion	B-Application
was	O
a	O
critical	O
and	O
commercial	O
success	O
,	O
winning	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
industry	O
and	O
publication	O
awards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
praised	O
for	O
its	O
impressive	O
graphics	O
,	O
expansive	O
game	B-Application
world	I-Application
,	O
and	O
schedule-driven	O
NPCs	O
,	O
and	O
is	O
considered	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
greatest	O
games	O
ever	O
made	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
smaller	O
content	O
releases	O
,	O
Bethesda	O
released	O
two	O
expansion	O
packs	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
—	O
Knights	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Nine	I-Application
and	O
Shivering	B-Application
Isles	I-Application
—	O
which	O
were	O
bundled	O
with	O
The	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
IV	I-Application
:	I-Application
Oblivion	I-Application
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
Edition	O
in	O
2007	O
,	O
and	O
later	O
re-released	O
as	O
a	O
fifth-anniversary	O
edition	O
in	O
2011	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Oblivion	B-Application
was	O
followed	O
by	O
The	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
V	I-Application
:	I-Application
Skyrim	I-Application
in	O
2011	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Oblivion	B-Application
is	O
an	O
open	O
world	O
role-playing	O
game	O
(	O
RPG	O
)	O
that	O
incorporates	O
open-ended	O
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
gameplay	O
includes	O
a	O
fast-travel	O
system	O
,	O
in	O
which	O
an	O
icon	O
appears	O
on	O
the	O
game	B-Application
world	I-Application
map	O
every	O
time	O
the	O
player	O
visits	O
a	O
new	O
location	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
excludes	O
the	O
game	B-Application
world	I-Application
's	O
main	O
cities	O
which	O
are	O
already	O
unlocked	O
for	O
fast	O
travel	O
from	O
the	O
start	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Character	O
development	O
is	O
a	O
primary	O
element	O
of	O
Oblivion	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Oblivion	B-Application
can	O
be	O
played	O
in	O
either	O
a	O
first	O
-	O
or	O
third-person	O
view	O
,	O
except	O
in	O
the	O
mobile	O
phone	O
version	O
,	O
in	O
which	O
the	O
game	O
can	O
only	O
be	O
played	O
in	O
isometric	B-Application
projection	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Throughout	O
the	O
world	O
are	O
a	O
variety	O
of	O
enemies	O
,	O
including	O
standard	O
fantasy	O
monsters	O
such	O
as	O
imps	B-Language
and	O
goblins	O
,	O
and	O
animals	O
such	O
as	O
bears	O
and	O
wolves	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Oblivion	B-Application
is	O
set	O
during	O
the	O
Third	O
Era	O
,	O
six	O
years	O
after	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
Morrowind	I-Application
,	O
although	O
it	O
is	O
not	O
a	O
direct	O
sequel	O
to	O
it	O
or	O
any	O
other	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Emperor	O
Uriel	B-Application
Septim	I-Application
VII	I-Application
(	O
Patrick	O
Stewart	O
)	O
,	O
accompanied	O
by	O
Imperial	O
bodyguards	O
known	O
as	O
the	B-Application
Blades	I-Application
,	O
arrives	O
in	O
the	O
prison	O
,	O
fleeing	O
from	O
assassins	O
who	O
have	O
murdered	O
the	O
emperor	O
's	O
three	O
sons	O
and	O
are	O
now	O
targeting	O
him	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
emperor	O
and	O
the	B-Application
Blades	I-Application
reveal	O
that	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
jail	O
cell	O
contains	O
a	O
secret	O
entrance	O
to	O
a	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
city	O
's	O
sewer	O
that	O
functions	O
as	O
an	O
escape	O
route	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
Blades	I-Application
 '	O
captain	O
is	O
cut	O
down	O
during	O
the	O
fighting	O
that	O
ensues	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Knowing	O
he	O
is	O
destined	O
to	O
die	O
by	O
the	O
hands	O
of	O
the	O
assassins	O
,	O
Uriel	B-Application
Septim	I-Application
entrusts	O
the	O
player	O
with	O
the	O
Amulet	O
of	O
Kings	O
,	O
worn	O
by	O
the	O
Septim	O
emperors	O
of	O
Tamriel	O
,	O
and	O
orders	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
take	O
it	O
to	O
a	O
man	O
named	O
Jauffre	B-Application
(	O
Ralph	O
Cosham	O
)	O
,	O
the	O
grandmaster	O
of	O
the	B-Application
Blades	I-Application
,	O
at	O
Weynon	O
Priory	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
lack	O
of	O
an	O
heir	O
for	O
Uriel	B-Application
Septim	I-Application
has	O
broken	O
an	O
old	O
covenant	O
—	O
the	O
barrier	O
to	O
Oblivion	B-Application
:	O
a	O
dangerous	O
realm	O
that	O
is	O
in	O
another	O
dimension	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Multiple	O
gates	O
to	O
Oblivion	B-Application
open	O
,	O
and	O
an	O
invasion	O
of	O
Tamriel	O
begins	O
by	O
magical	O
creatures	O
known	O
as	O
Daedra	O
,	O
killing	O
and	O
destroying	O
anything	O
in	O
their	O
path	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Jauffre	B-Application
tells	O
the	O
player	O
that	O
the	O
only	O
way	O
to	O
close	O
the	O
gates	O
permanently	O
is	O
to	O
find	O
someone	O
of	O
the	O
royal	O
bloodline	O
to	O
retake	O
the	O
throne	O
and	O
relight	O
the	O
Dragonfires	O
—	O
with	O
the	O
Amulet	O
of	O
Kings	O
—	O
in	O
the	O
Imperial	O
City	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
massive	O
Oblivion	B-Application
Gate	O
is	O
obstructing	O
the	O
main	O
city	O
entrance	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
player	O
must	O
venture	O
through	O
the	O
gate	O
into	O
the	O
Deadlands	O
—	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
planes	O
of	O
Oblivion	B-Application
—	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
close	O
it	O
from	O
the	O
inside	O
and	O
allow	O
access	O
to	O
the	O
city	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
escorts	O
Jauffre	B-Application
and	O
Martin	O
to	O
Cloud	B-Application
Ruler	I-Application
Temple	I-Application
,	O
the	O
stronghold	O
of	O
the	B-Application
Blades	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
,	O
Martin	O
is	O
recognized	O
as	O
the	O
emperor	O
and	O
is	O
given	O
command	O
of	O
the	B-Application
Blades	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
gathering	O
information	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
learns	O
that	O
the	O
group	O
responsible	O
for	O
Uriel	B-Application
Septim	I-Application
's	O
assassination	O
and	O
the	O
theft	O
of	O
the	O
amulet	O
are	O
the	O
Mythic	O
Dawn	O
,	O
a	O
cult	O
dedicated	O
to	O
the	O
worshiping	O
of	O
Mehrunes	B-Application
Dagon	I-Application
,	O
the	O
Daedric	O
Prince	O
of	O
Destruction	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Killing	O
the	O
emperor	O
and	O
thus	O
removing	O
the	O
barriers	O
to	O
Oblivion	B-Application
was	O
the	O
first	O
step	O
in	O
realizing	O
this	O
idea	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Martin	O
and	O
Jauffre	B-Application
decide	O
to	O
allow	O
the	O
city	O
of	O
Bruma	O
to	O
be	O
attacked	O
by	O
Daedra	O
so	O
that	O
a	O
Great	O
Gate	O
will	O
be	O
opened	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
portal	O
is	O
created	O
at	O
Cloud	B-Application
Ruler	I-Application
Temple	I-Application
,	O
and	O
the	O
player	O
is	O
sent	O
through	O
to	O
Mankar	O
Camoran	O
's	O
created	O
realm	O
of	O
Paradise	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
returns	O
the	O
Amulet	O
of	O
Kings	O
to	O
Martin	O
,	O
and	O
they	O
subsequently	O
travel	O
to	O
the	O
Imperial	O
City	O
with	O
the	B-Application
Blades	I-Application
to	O
relight	O
the	O
Dragonfires	O
and	O
end	O
the	O
Daedric	O
invasion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
find	O
the	O
city	O
under	O
attack	O
by	O
Daedra	O
and	O
an	O
enormous	O
avatar	O
of	O
Mehrunes	B-Application
Dagon	I-Application
himself	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
a	O
battle	O
,	O
Akatosh	O
casts	O
Dagon	O
back	O
into	O
Oblivion	B-Application
and	O
lets	O
out	O
a	O
mighty	O
roar	O
before	O
turning	O
to	O
stone	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
a	O
telepathic	O
monologue	O
to	O
the	O
player	O
,	O
he	O
sheds	O
an	O
optimistic	O
light	O
,	O
explaining	O
that	O
while	O
the	O
Amulet	O
of	O
Kings	O
is	O
destroyed	O
and	O
the	O
throne	O
again	O
lies	O
empty	O
,	O
the	O
gates	O
of	O
Oblivion	B-Application
are	O
now	O
shut	O
forever	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
future	O
of	O
Tamriel	O
now	O
lies	O
in	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
hands	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
developed	O
by	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
software	B-Application
company	I-Application
Bethesda	O
Softworks	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ken	O
Rolston	O
,	O
who	O
was	O
Morrowinds	B-Application
lead	O
designer	O
,	O
oversaw	O
the	O
development	O
team	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
PC	O
and	O
Xbox360	B-Operating_System
versions	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
were	O
co-published	O
by	O
2K	O
Games	O
and	O
Bethesda	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Work	O
on	O
Oblivion	B-Application
began	O
shortly	O
after	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Morrowind	B-Application
in	O
2002	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
mid-September	O
2004	O
,	O
Oblivion	B-Application
had	O
been	O
officially	O
announced	O
,	O
and	O
its	O
title	O
revealed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
Oblivions	B-Application
development	O
,	O
Bethesda	O
concentrated	O
on	O
creating	O
a	O
system	O
with	O
a	O
more	O
realistic	O
storyline	O
,	O
believable	O
characters	O
,	O
and	O
meaningful	O
quests	O
than	O
had	O
been	O
done	O
in	O
the	O
past	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
comparison	O
with	O
previous	O
titles	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
features	O
improved	O
artificial	B-Application
intelligence	I-Application
thanks	O
to	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
Bethesda	O
proprietary	O
Radiant	B-General_Concept
AI	I-General_Concept
software	O
,	O
and	O
enhanced	O
physics	O
facilitated	O
by	O
the	O
Havok	B-General_Concept
physics	I-General_Concept
engine	I-General_Concept
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
graphics	O
take	O
advantage	O
of	O
advanced	O
lighting	O
and	O
shader	O
routines	O
such	O
as	O
high-dynamic-range	B-Device
rendering	I-Device
(	O
HDR	B-Device
)	O
and	O
specular	O
mapping	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Bethesda	O
developed	O
and	O
implemented	O
procedural	O
content	O
creation	O
tools	O
in	O
the	O
building	O
of	O
Oblivions	B-Application
terrain	O
,	O
leading	O
to	O
the	O
expedited	O
creation	O
of	O
landscapes	O
that	O
are	O
more	O
complex	O
and	O
realistic	O
than	O
in	O
past	O
titles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
designing	O
Oblivions	B-Application
landscape	O
and	O
architecture	O
,	O
developers	O
worked	O
from	O
personal	O
travel	O
photographs	O
,	O
nature	O
books	O
,	O
texture	O
images	O
,	O
and	O
reference	O
photographs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Procedural	O
content	O
generation	O
tools	O
used	O
in	O
production	O
allowed	O
for	O
the	O
creation	O
of	O
realistic	O
environments	O
at	O
much	O
faster	O
rates	O
than	O
was	O
the	O
case	O
with	O
Morrowind	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Erosion	O
algorithms	O
incorporated	O
in	O
the	O
landscape	O
generation	O
tools	O
allowed	O
for	O
the	O
creation	O
of	O
craggy	O
terrain	O
quickly	O
and	O
easily	O
,	O
replacing	O
Morrowinds	B-Application
artificially	O
smoothed-over	O
terrain	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Oblivions	B-Application
view	B-General_Concept
distance	I-General_Concept
is	O
far	O
greater	O
than	O
its	O
predecessor	O
's	O
,	O
extending	O
player	O
sightlines	O
to	O
the	O
horizon	O
and	O
giving	O
views	O
of	O
distant	O
towns	O
and	O
mountain	O
ranges	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
a	O
Microsoft	O
press	O
release	O
,	O
Oblivions	B-Application
game	B-Application
world	I-Application
is	O
approximately	O
16	O
square	O
miles	O
(	O
41	O
square	O
kilometers	O
)	O
in	O
size	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Content	O
in	O
the	O
dungeons	O
is	O
more	O
densely	O
packed	O
than	O
in	O
dungeons	O
in	O
Morrowind	B-Application
,	O
with	O
an	O
increase	O
in	O
the	O
frequency	O
of	O
creature	O
encounters	O
,	O
quest-related	O
NPCs	O
,	O
and	O
puzzles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
the	O
populations	O
represented	O
in	O
Oblivion	B-Application
do	O
not	O
match	O
the	O
"	O
thousands	O
upon	O
thousands	O
"	O
described	O
in	O
previous	O
in-game	B-Application
literature	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
response	O
to	O
the	O
criticism	O
that	O
NPC	O
behavior	O
had	O
been	O
too	O
simplistic	O
in	O
Morrowind	B-Application
,	O
Bethesda	O
developed	O
the	O
Radiant	B-General_Concept
AI	I-General_Concept
system	O
for	O
Oblivion	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Oblivion	B-Application
features	O
the	O
voices	O
of	O
Patrick	O
Stewart	O
,	O
Lynda	O
Carter	O
,	O
Sean	O
Bean	O
,	O
Terence	O
Stamp	O
,	O
with	O
celebrity	O
acquisition	O
and	O
voice	O
production	O
being	O
handled	O
by	O
Blindlight	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Lead	O
designer	O
Ken	O
Rolston	O
found	O
the	O
plan	O
to	O
fully	O
voice	O
the	O
game	O
"	O
less	O
flexible	O
,	O
less	O
apt	O
for	O
user	O
projection	O
of	O
his	O
own	O
tone	O
,	O
more	O
constrained	O
for	O
branching	O
,	O
and	O
more	O
trouble	O
for	O
production	O
and	O
disk	O
real	O
estate	O
"	O
than	O
Morrowinds	B-Application
partially	O
recorded	O
dialogue	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
stated	O
,	O
"	O
I	O
prefer	O
Morrowinds	B-Application
partially	O
recorded	O
dialogue	O
,	O
for	O
many	O
reasons	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Oblivions	B-Application
score	O
was	O
composed	O
by	O
series	O
mainstay	O
Jeremy	O
Soule	O
,	O
a	O
video	O
game	O
composer	O
whose	O
past	O
scores	O
had	O
earned	O
him	O
a	O
British	O
Academy	O
of	O
Film	O
and	O
Television	O
Arts	O
(	O
BAFTA	O
)	O
award	O
in	O
the	O
"	O
Game	O
Music	O
Category	O
"	O
and	O
two	O
nominations	O
for	O
an	O
Academy	O
of	O
Interactive	O
Arts	O
&	O
Sciences	O
(	O
AIAS	O
)	O
award	O
for	O
"	O
Original	O
Music	O
Composition	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
official	O
soundtrack	O
to	O
Oblivion	B-Application
,	O
featuring	O
26	O
tracks	O
spanning	O
58	O
minutes	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
March	O
2006	O
,	O
via	O
Soule	O
's	O
digital	O
distributor	O
DirectSong	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Soule	O
had	O
worked	O
with	O
Bethesda	O
and	O
Todd	O
Howard	O
during	O
the	O
creation	O
of	O
Morrowind	B-Application
,	O
and	O
,	O
in	O
a	O
press	O
release	O
announcing	O
his	O
return	O
for	O
Oblivion	B-Application
,	O
Soule	O
repeated	O
the	O
words	O
he	O
had	O
said	O
during	O
Morrowinds	B-Application
press	O
release	O
:	O
"	O
The	O
stunning	O
,	O
epic	O
quality	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
series	I-Application
is	O
particularly	O
compatible	O
with	O
the	O
grand	O
,	O
orchestral	O
style	O
of	O
music	O
I	O
enjoy	O
composing	O
the	O
most.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
in	O
his	O
compositions	O
for	O
Morrowind	B-Application
,	O
Soule	O
chose	O
to	O
create	O
a	O
soft	O
and	O
minimalist	O
score	O
so	O
as	O
not	O
to	O
wear	O
out	O
users	O
 '	O
ears	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Oblivions	B-Application
public	O
debut	O
occurred	O
on	O
May	O
18	O
,	O
2005	O
,	O
at	O
the	O
Electronic	O
Entertainment	O
Expo	O
(	O
E3	O
)	O
in	O
Los	O
Angeles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Most	O
viewers	O
were	O
impressed	O
by	O
Oblivion	B-Application
's	O
showing	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
game	O
won	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
"	O
best	O
of	O
"	O
awards	O
from	O
a	O
variety	O
of	O
game	O
journalists	O
,	O
among	O
them	O
GameSpy	O
's	O
"	O
RPG	O
Game	O
of	O
Show	O
"	O
,	O
GameSpot	O
's	O
"	O
Best	O
Role-Playing	O
Game	O
"	O
,	O
IGN	O
's	O
"	O
Best	O
PC	O
RPG	O
"	O
,	O
RPGFan	O
's	O
"	O
Overall	O
Game	O
of	O
E3	O
2005	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
prestigious	O
"	O
Best	O
Role	O
Playing	O
Game	O
"	O
in	O
the	O
2005	O
E3	O
Game	O
Critics	O
Awards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
near-final	O
build	O
of	O
Oblivion	B-Application
was	O
shown	O
at	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
Consumer	O
Electronics	O
Show	O
press	O
tent	O
in	O
January	O
2006	O
,	O
showcasing	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
exteriors	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
months	O
prior	O
to	O
release	O
,	O
anticipation	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
ran	O
high	O
,	O
with	O
critics	O
describing	O
Oblivion	B-Application
as	O
"	O
the	O
first	O
next-gen	O
game	O
"	O
only	O
heightening	O
attention	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
2K	O
Games	O
had	O
aimed	O
for	O
a	O
late	O
2005	O
publication	O
so	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
could	O
be	O
an	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
launch	O
title	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
official	O
release	O
date	O
for	O
the	O
PC	O
and	O
Xbox360	B-Operating_System
versions	O
was	O
originally	O
November	O
22	O
,	O
2005	O
,	O
but	O
developmental	O
delays	O
pushed	O
it	O
back	O
to	O
March	O
20	O
,	O
2006	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
PlayStation3	B-Operating_System
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
(	O
ported	O
by	O
4J	O
Studios	O
)	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
March	O
20	O
,	O
2007	O
,	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
and	O
on	O
April	O
27	O
,	O
2007	O
,	O
in	O
Europe	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
version	O
includes	O
graphical	O
improvements	O
that	O
had	O
been	O
made	O
since	O
the	O
PC	O
and	O
Xbox360	B-Operating_System
release	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
subsequently	O
praised	O
for	O
its	O
enhanced	O
visual	O
appeal	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
Portable	I-Operating_System
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
also	O
in	O
development	O
before	O
being	O
canceled	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
2007	O
E3	O
,	O
the	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
edition	O
for	O
Oblivion	B-Application
was	O
announced	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
North	O
America	O
and	O
Europe	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
September	O
2007	O
,	O
for	O
the	O
Xbox360	B-Operating_System
and	O
PC	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
October	O
2007	O
,	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
PS3	I-Operating_System
;	O
in	O
Australia	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
September	O
2007	O
,	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
and	O
PC	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
December	O
2007	O
,	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
PS3	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
also	O
released	O
on	O
Steam	B-Application
on	O
June	O
16	O
,	O
2009	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
5th-anniversary	O
edition	O
of	O
Oblivion	B-Application
was	O
announced	O
and	O
released	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
in	O
July	O
2011	O
and	O
in	O
Europe	O
two	O
months	O
later	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
version	O
of	O
Fallout	B-Application
3	I-Application
and	O
Oblivion	B-Application
double	O
pack	O
was	O
announced	O
for	O
release	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
on	O
April	O
3	O
;	O
however	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
not	O
mentioned	O
whether	O
the	O
bundled	O
games	O
include	O
any	O
of	O
the	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
released	O
for	O
either	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
May	O
3	O
,	O
2006	O
,	O
the	O
Entertainment	O
Software	O
Rating	O
Board	O
(	O
ESRB	O
)	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
changed	O
Oblivions	B-Application
rating	O
from	O
T	O
(	O
Teen13+	O
)	O
to	O
M	O
(	O
Mature17+	O
)	O
,	O
citing	O
game	O
content	O
not	O
considered	O
in	O
the	O
ESRB	O
review	O
,	O
i.e.	O
,	O
"	O
the	O
presence	O
in	O
the	O
PC	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
of	O
a	O
locked-out	O
art	O
file	O
that	O
,	O
if	O
accessed	O
by	O
using	O
an	O
apparently	O
unauthorized	O
third	O
party	O
tool	O
,	O
allows	O
the	O
user	O
to	O
play	O
the	O
game	O
with	O
topless	O
versions	O
of	O
female	O
characters.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
response	O
to	O
the	O
new	O
content	O
,	O
the	O
ESRB	O
conducted	O
a	O
review	O
of	O
Oblivion	B-Application
,	O
showing	O
to	O
its	O
reviewers	O
the	O
content	O
originally	O
submitted	O
by	O
Bethesda	O
along	O
with	O
the	O
newly	O
disclosed	O
content	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
retailers	O
began	O
to	O
check	O
for	O
ID	O
before	O
selling	O
Oblivion	B-Application
as	O
a	O
result	O
,	O
and	O
one	O
California	O
Assemblyman	O
used	O
the	O
event	O
to	O
criticize	O
the	O
ESRB	O
's	O
inefficiency	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Starting	O
in	O
April	O
2006	O
,	O
Bethesda	O
released	O
small	O
packages	O
of	O
additional	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
(	O
DLC	B-Protocol
)	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
from	O
their	O
website	O
and	O
over	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
Live	O
Marketplace	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
update	O
came	O
as	O
a	O
set	O
of	O
specialized	O
armor	O
for	O
Oblivions	B-Application
ridable	O
horses	O
;	O
released	O
on	O
April	O
3	O
,	O
2006	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
gamers	O
generally	O
displayed	O
enthusiasm	O
for	O
the	O
concept	O
of	O
micropayments	O
for	O
downloadable	O
in-game	B-Application
content	O
,	O
many	O
expressed	O
their	O
dissatisfaction	O
at	O
the	O
price	O
they	O
had	O
to	O
pay	O
for	O
the	O
relatively	O
minor	O
horse-armor	O
package	O
on	O
the	O
Internet	O
and	O
elsewhere	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
small	O
DLC	B-Protocol
packs	O
include	O
a	O
set	O
of	O
houses	O
themed	O
after	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
factions	O
,	O
a	O
new	O
dungeon	O
,	O
and	O
new	O
spells	O
that	O
were	O
absent	O
in	O
the	O
initial	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Oblivions	B-Application
final	O
content	O
pack	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
October	O
15	O
,	O
2007	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
IV	I-Application
:	I-Application
Knights	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Nine	I-Application
is	O
an	O
official	O
expansion	O
for	O
Oblivion	B-Application
released	O
on	O
November	O
21	O
,	O
2006	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Downloadable	O
on	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
Live	O
marketplace	O
for	O
the	O
Xbox360	B-Operating_System
and	O
available	O
for	O
retail	O
purchase	O
for	O
PC	O
users	O
,	O
the	O
expansion	O
content	O
was	O
included	O
in	O
the	O
original	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
PlayStation3	B-Operating_System
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
plot	O
of	O
Knights	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Nine	I-Application
centers	O
on	O
the	O
rise	O
of	O
the	O
sorcerer-king	O
Umaril	O
and	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
quest	O
to	O
defeat	O
him	O
with	O
the	O
aid	O
of	O
the	O
lost	O
crusader	O
's	O
relics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
it	O
made	O
little	O
change	O
to	O
the	O
basic	O
mechanics	O
of	O
Oblivion	B-Application
,	O
it	O
was	O
judged	O
by	O
reviewers	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
brief	O
but	O
polished	O
addition	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
main	O
plot	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
IV	I-Application
:	I-Application
Shivering	I-Application
Isles	I-Application
was	O
released	O
on	O
March	O
27	O
,	O
2007	O
,	O
for	O
Windows	O
and	O
Xbox360	B-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
December	O
8	O
,	O
2007	O
,	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shivering	B-Application
Isles	I-Application
takes	O
place	O
in	O
the	O
realm	O
of	O
madness	O
ruled	O
over	O
by	O
the	O
Daedric	O
prince	O
Sheogorath	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
is	O
tasked	O
by	O
Sheogorath	B-Application
with	O
saving	O
the	O
realm	O
from	O
an	O
approaching	O
cataclysm	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
Greymarch	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Oblivion	B-Application
received	O
universal	O
acclaim	O
from	O
critics	O
,	O
and	O
became	O
a	O
commercial	O
success	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reviewers	O
praised	O
the	O
game	O
for	O
its	O
impressive	O
graphics	O
,	O
expansive	O
game	B-Application
world	I-Application
,	O
and	O
schedule-driven	O
NPCs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpot	O
's	O
Greg	O
Kasavin	O
wrote	O
that	O
compared	O
to	O
Morrowind	B-Application
,	O
which	O
was	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
role-playing	O
games	O
he	O
has	O
seen	O
in	O
years	O
,	O
"	O
Oblivion	B-Application
is	O
hands-down	O
better	O
,	O
so	O
much	O
so	O
that	O
even	O
those	O
who	O
'd	O
normally	O
have	O
no	O
interest	O
in	O
a	O
role-playing	O
game	O
should	O
find	O
it	O
hard	O
to	O
resist	O
getting	O
swept	O
up	O
in	O
this	O
big	O
,	O
beautiful	O
,	O
meticulously	O
crafted	O
world.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
X-Plays	O
Jason	O
D'Aprile	O
stated	O
,	O
"	O
All	O
the	O
games	O
in	O
this	O
series	O
have	O
been	O
known	O
for	O
their	O
sheer	O
vastness	O
and	O
freedom	O
of	O
choice	O
,	O
but	O
the	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
IV	I-Application
takes	O
that	O
concept	O
and	O
runs	O
with	O
it.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
the	O
praise	O
,	O
Patrick	O
Joynt	O
of	O
1UP.com	O
criticized	O
the	O
conversations	O
between	O
in-game	B-Application
NPCs	O
and	O
the	O
player	O
:	O
"	O
When	O
an	O
NPC	O
greets	O
you	O
with	O
a	O
custom	O
piece	O
of	O
dialogue	O
(	O
such	O
as	O
a	O
guard	O
's	O
warning	O
)	O
and	O
then	O
reverts	O
to	O
the	O
standard	O
options	O
(	O
like	O
a	O
guard	O
's	O
cheerful	O
directions	O
just	O
after	O
that	O
warning	O
)	O
it	O
's	O
more	O
jarring	O
than	O
the	O
canned	O
dialogue	O
by	O
itself.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpy	O
's	O
Justin	O
Speer	O
criticized	O
the	O
"	O
disruptive	O
loading	O
stutters	O
while	O
moving	O
across	O
the	O
game	B-Application
world	I-Application
"	O
and	O
long	O
loading	O
times	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Onyett	O
of	O
IGN	O
criticized	O
the	O
disjunction	O
between	O
enemies	O
that	O
scaled	O
up	O
according	O
to	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
level	O
and	O
not	O
their	O
combat	O
abilities	O
or	O
NPC	O
allies	O
,	O
the	O
loading	O
times	O
and	O
the	O
imprecision	O
in	O
the	O
combat	O
system	O
,	O
but	O
stated	O
that	O
"	O
none	O
of	O
those	O
minor	O
criticisms	O
hold	O
back	O
Oblivion	B-Application
from	O
being	O
a	O
thoroughly	O
enjoyable	O
,	O
user-friendly	O
,	O
gorgeous	O
experience	O
with	O
enough	O
content	O
to	O
keep	O
you	O
returning	O
time	O
and	O
time	O
again.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Oblivion	B-Application
won	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
industry	O
and	O
publication	O
awards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
24th	O
annual	O
Golden	O
Joystick	O
Awards	O
,	O
Oblivion	B-Application
was	O
awarded	O
"	O
PLAY.com	O
Ultimate	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
ebuyer.com	O
PC	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
editors	O
of	O
Computer	O
Games	O
Magazine	O
presented	O
Oblivion	B-Application
with	O
their	O
2006	O
"	O
Best	O
Technology	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
Best	O
Role-Playing	O
Game	O
"	O
awards	O
,	O
and	O
named	O
it	O
the	O
second-best	O
computer	O
game	O
of	O
the	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2007	O
,	O
PC	O
Gamer	O
magazine	O
rated	O
Oblivion	B-Application
number	O
one	O
on	O
their	O
list	O
of	O
the	O
top	O
100	O
games	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
the	O
awards	O
won	O
by	O
the	O
game	O
itself	O
,	O
Patrick	O
Stewart	O
's	O
voicework	O
as	O
Uriel	B-Application
Septim	I-Application
won	O
a	O
Spike	O
TV	O
award	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
musical	O
score	O
by	O
composer	O
Jeremy	O
Soule	O
won	O
the	O
inaugural	O
MTV	O
Video	O
Music	O
Award	O
for	O
"	O
Best	O
Original	O
Score	O
"	O
through	O
an	O
international	O
popular	O
vote	O
.	O
</s>
