The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Q&A

ComputerAndVideoGames.com has published a short Q&A with Bethesda’s Noah Berry, in which the environmental artist shares a few details about how he creates the forests and flora for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. A snip:

Q: How do you go about designing Oblivion’s flora? Do you use realworld tree species, or do you ‘invent’ new fantasy varieties?

A: It was intended from the beginning that Oblivion’s landscape would have a more tangible and realistic flair, especially when contrasted with more exotic Tamriel/Morrowind locations such as Vvardenfell or Black Marsh. So naturally, we rely heavily upon real-world species and varieties of vegetation. This said, many of the plants and trees we’ve created are fantastically exaggerated for the sake of atmospheric and other-worldly effect, plus there are many unique lore-specific trees and plants only found in Cyrodiil. The Oblivion planes are a different matter altogether however…