Skyrim "Creation Kit" and Bug Fixes Coming February 2012

Sometime next month Bethesda will release their Creation Kit to totally open up the PC version of the game to modders.  They also will allow mods to be uploaded to Steam where they can be rated and downloaded by other PC players.
http://kotaku.com/5864312/starting-month-you-will-get-the-tools-to-reinvent-skyrim-on-pc

At the same time, a whole list of bugs will be fixed.  Here is a list.
http://kotaku.com/5877738/skyrims-creation-kit-is-nearly-ready

No word on the promised expansion packs, to be exclusive on the xBox for the first month.  Most people expect the sketchy areas of Morrowind and Oblivion seen from Skyrim are there because there will be DLC that uses those areas.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/329254/meaty-skyrim-dlc-packs-inbound/

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Oblivion Spell Mod Rewritten for Skyrim

This spell mod was really popular for Oblivion PC players.  Now it's been rewritten for Skyrim. Thanks, Kotaku!
http://kotaku.com/5875474/a-popular-oblivion-mod-comes-to-skyrim

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Kingdom of Amalur: Reckoning Information

Courtesy of the lead designer on Morrowind and Oblivion, an introduction to the game upcoming in early February.
http://kotaku.com/5831378/you-sell-those-kingdoms-of-amalur-ken-rolston?tag=Kingdoms-of-Amalur%7C-Reckoning

An interview with the Big Huge Games lead designer Ken Rolston.
http://kotaku.com/5862403/fans-say-i-want-something-new-but-clearing-they-want-the-same-thing-with-less-suck


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Read all the Skyrim Books on Your eReader

I'm speechless.  Kotaku points out there are no experience points to be gained by doing this IRL but if you have too much spare time, the books are available in either the Kindle or Nook formats for download.
http://kotaku.com/5862692/want-to-read-all-the-skyrim-books-like-right-now

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Skyrim: Let the Modding Begin UPDATED WAY TOO OFTEN

All the previous Elder Scrolls games have been modded extensively on the PC.  If you are comfortable tinkering with the settings or using cheats (and don't mind that achievements will be disabled), you can start your own modding with this Kotaku posting.
http://kotaku.com/5860367/your-guide-to-getting-skyrim-looking-and-playing-better

Rock Paper Shotgun talks more about mods in some detail.  Heed the warnings, though.
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/11/16/skyrim-i-want-more-pretties/

Here's a direct link to all the console commands that can be used for cheats.
http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Console_Commands_%28Skyrim%29

Need unlimited dragons?
http://kotaku.com/5861699/unlimited-dragons-in-skyrim-sure-why-not

By the way, if you are afraid of spiders, here's how to handle all those in the game. Thanks, Kotaku!
http://kotaku.com/5860258/skyrim-now-with-more-bears

UPDATE:  An analysis of the game's innards.
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2011/11/21/elder_scrolls_v_skyrim_performance_iq_review/1

UPDATE #2:  PC Gamer's best mods list to date (Nov. 25, 2011)
http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/11/25/skyrim-mods-the-20-best-so-far

UPDATE #3:  Skyrim Nexus is mod central for the game.
http://www.skyrimnexus.com/

UPDATE #4:  Bethesda plans to release the developer kit and support mods via Steam.
http://kotaku.com/5864312/starting-month-you-will-get-the-tools-to-reinvent-skyrim-on-pc

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Skyrim: Maps UPDATED ALL OVER AGAIN

UPDATE:  A pretty good series of maps.
http://www.realsg.com/2011/11/guide-skyrim-complete-locations-map.html

UPDATE #2:  Annotated map meant to be printed out but clicking any general location brings up a good detailed view of that area.
http://www.gamebanshee.com/skyrim/mapofskyrim.php

UPDATE #3:  An iPhone interactive map.
http://www.dragonshoutapp.com/

This map can't be enlarged to see more detail.
http://gamersdungeon.blogspot.com/2011/11/your-guide-to-skyrim-tips-and-hints.html#skyrimmap

UPDATE #2 - a map mod called UberMap that turns the map into a Google Maps view.  Kotaku has video of how it looks and a link to the SkyrimNexus site hosting the download.
http://kotaku.com/5859945/skyrim-now-has-google-street-view

Prima also sells some sort of online interactive map.  I'm waiting for the uesp.net version myself.
http://www.meoacademy.org/games/elder-scrolls-v-skyrim/primaguides/243

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Portal Fan Film

Pretty amazing short film.
http://kotaku.com/5833700/watch-this-gorgeous-portal-fan-film-right-now

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A Look at Kingdom of Amalur: Reckoning UPDATED

The editor in chief of Kotaku got some demo and play time on this single-player RPG action game, due out sometime in 2012.
http://kotaku.com/5805865/kingdom-of-amalur-reckoning-could-be-2012s-sleeper-hit

UPDATE:  http://kotaku.com/5806660/kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-is-a-dead-rpg-revived-with-the-spirit-of-tekken-and-call-of-duty

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Starcraft 2 Pirated Big Time (Part 2 Leaked?)

Starcraft 2 sold 3 million copies the first month it was released (and Blizzard gave away untold copies in Korea).  Now it looks like there over two million copies were pirated through BitTorrent.  Looks like there are more unpaid copies available than ones folks paid for.
http://kotaku.com/5690866/pirates-are-all-over-starcraft-ii

In other Starcraft 2 news, Kotaku has a video that supposedly leaks the ending of next year's Starcraft 2 expansion.
http://kotaku.com/5709838/ending-leaked-for-starcraft-iis-next-chapter

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New Gaming Peripherals from SteelSeries and Razer

SteelSeries showed off their latest gaming mice and keyboard at Blizzcon.
http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/10/26/blizzcon-2010-steelseries-shows-off-cataclysm-mmo-mouse-pro-ga/

http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/razer-announces-specialized-mmo-gaming-keyboard/

SteelSeries has just announced that they will have a MMO key set for their new SHIFT keyboard.
http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/11/18/steelseries-introduces-new-shift-key-set-for-mmos/

UPDATE:  Kotaku has a review, complete with video, on their website of the SteelSeries Shift.
http://kotaku.com/5709650/review-steelseries-shift-is-a-mighty-morphin-power-keyboard

Razer has a headset, keyboard and mouse set geared for Starcraft 2 fans.
http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/blizzcon-2010-razer-demos-the-naga-epic-starcraft-2-gear/

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Guild Chat Planned for Mobile Armory UPDATED

This costs extra and will be added to the regular Armory later.  whoopeehttp://wow.joystiq.com/2010/09/21/guild-chat-coming-to-the-mobile-armory-app/

When Kotaku mentioned this, they were less than enthusiastic and also wondered if the timing of the announcement had anything to do with ArenaNet's article about the same functionality.
http://kotaku.com/5644227/mobile-guild-chat-coming-to-world-of-warcraft

Here's how it works with ArenaNet in Guild Wars 2.
http://kotaku.com/5643811/staying-connected-to-guild-wars-2-on-the-go

ANOTHER UPDATE:  Blizzard announes new features for the Mobile Armory, including a 3-D model viewer, a screenshot mode, activity feeds, etc.
http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/09/22/wow-mobile-armory-gets-3-d-model-viewer-activity-feeds-and-more/

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Kotaku's Online Gamer Survey

Results of Kotaku's survey of 30,000+ of its readers.
http://kotaku.com/5500495/kotaku-census-2010-the-results-in-full

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