Elder Scrolls developer offers secret reward to insane parents-to-be

By Adam Rosenberg February 21, 2011

Are you a gamer with plans of one day becoming a parent? Bethesda Softworks, publisher of the popular series of “Elder Scrolls” and “Fallout” role-playing games for console and PC platforms, wants you to get started on procreating right now. In a post on the company’s Bethesda Blog, vice president of public relations Pete Hines sent word last Friday, February 18, fell exactly nine months before the 11/11/11 release of the company’s much-anticipated “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim” for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.

Instead of just making the announcement a formal “FYI,” Hines issued a challenge… and an exceedingly bizarre challenge at that. It’s best to let the statement speak for itself rather than attempt to paraphrase: “So, think you have the stat points in you to produce the perfect eight pound dragon-slayer? Like the wizened wizard he is, Pete is throwing down with a casual quest, offering up an unknown reward to any couple adventurous enough to name their 11/11/11-born child ‘Dovahkiin.'”

Recommended Videos

“Dovahkiin” translates in the game’s fiction to “dragonborn,” a reference to the hero of the coming game’s status as one of the last of the dragon hunters. Bethesda advises caution in getting busy on getting busy just for the game’s sake however, acknowledging that “we have possibly doomed a child” and citing the need for a “hefty disclaimer.” Again, the “official” words on the subject are far more informative (and entertaining) than any mere paraphrasing could possibly capture:

“Disclaimer: Any reward for completing this quest will not ultimately justify the potential teasing your child could — and probably will — endure over its lifespan. Bethesda Softworks is not responsible for your parenting. You may gain experience points for completing this quest, but you will not care at 3am on a work night. Completion of this quest may also result in decreased desire to play video games and/or function as a human being. Consult with your friends before embarking on this quest; while it may not start in prison, it probably ends there.”

In other words: Don’t actually do it!

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Previously, Adam worked in the games press as a freelance writer and critic for a range of outlets, including Digital Trends…

Gaming

How to get married in Skyrim

Aella the Huntress from The Elder Scrolls Skyrim

As Bethesda's most popular console title, with 30 million copies sold, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim still attracts new players in 2021 while retaining old fans from 2011. Skyrim's lure is limitlessness; players can do anything, even get married and adopt kids. Are you tired of sucking up dragon souls and slaying giants? Maybe it's time to settle down in a cozy cottage in Eastmarch with the love of your life and some children to raise. This guide will focus on how to get married in Skyrim and all the blissful bells and whistles that it brings.

Gaming

The best games like Skyrim

A dragon breathing fire while flying.

The impact of Bethesda titles on gaming as a whole is hard to even grasp. Some of the most influential and beloved RPGs of all time have come from this studio -- or were revived by them -- and give players ways to interact and live in worlds that few other games even attempt. The Elder Scrolls series has always been one of their crowned jewels, but it was the fifth game in the series, Skyrim, that took the fantasy open-world series to levels of popularity that rival the biggest IPs in gaming. Now, over 10 years since that game came out, there are hundreds of people still playing that game to this day for all the freedom it gives.

As great as it is, 10 years is old for any game. Skyrim may be constantly released on every new system that comes out, but there's no denying that there's only so much that can be done to make this game look and feel modern. Plus, for many out there, even the huge map is running dry of secrets to find and stories to be told. With the next entry in The Elder Scrolls still years off, a ton of people are looking for their next fantasy RPG fix. Whether you love the open world, deep story and lore, RPG-style combat and character building, or simply a giant experience that lets you play the way you want, we've rounded up all the best games like Skyrim you can play right now.

Gaming

How to fish in Skyrim

Fishing in skyrim.

Now that players could've potentially been playing Skyrim for a decade by this point, there may not feel like there's anything left to do in this huge, open-world RPG. That may be true -- however, with the release of the Skyrim: Anniversary Edition, Bethesda has packed in a host of new content, quests, and mechanics to draw you back into their winter wonderland for a few more hours. Among the technical upgrades, this version includes some of the most polished and popular content the community created in the Creation Club. One new feature that isn't as flashy as the others is the ability to sit back, relax, and spend some leisure time fishing.

For whatever reason, fishing is one of the most common side activities in gaming, so it was only a matter of time before it came to Skyrim. In prior versions of the game, the only way you could collect fish was by jumping in a river or lake and grabbing one with your bare hands. Thankfully, those days are over, and you can now catch fish like a sophisticated Dragonborn by casting your line and reeling in some new fish. If you're ready to take on a lower-stakes activity in Skyrim: Anniversary Edition, here's everything you need to know about fishing.