Skyrim is as beautiful as this topic is ridiculous.

Not just because I disagree, but because there's no viable alternative that would suit the OP. We're playing a game set in the icy Nordic North, and the people live in log buildings that are simple, functional, and in my opinion pleasing to the eyes. Absolutely, Jorrvaskr is more interesting architecturally but what sense would it make for everybody to live in a house made from ship parts? It's like complaining that there's too much sand in the desert or water in the sea - what the hell do you want?

Still, it got us talking did it not?

If he/she had wanted more unique cities like Markarth or Solitude then I could understand that, but complaining about the log houses is veeery close to trolling.

**Anti double post edit**


Pah! Another milk drinker who think he's too 'warm blooded' and 'susceptible to pneumonia' to sleep on a stone bed in the middle of evening star. I bet you wear long sleeved tops too.

I like the architechture, but theres one thing with it, interiors are much different (and boring) than exteriors.

Evolution my friend ha. We will see who survives. You and your shirtless fur armor.

And a good mead makes me warm blooded every day

As a cynical ass myself, I resent this notion. In fact I'm quite offended that the OP and I have been lumped into the same category. You sir, have made me sad. :<

It's curious to note that for all his whining about Skyrim's art direction and design, the OP has still not bothered to reference an image representing what he thinks would be appropriate to his criteria, despite being prompted multiple times to do so.

Skyrim isn't the prettiest game in the world, but it's unique and looks fantastic considering the sheer scale of the world, it's also nice to see that the major cities don't recycle architectural styles either, there are obvious aesthetic differences between Whiterun and Windhelm for example or even the huge differences between Riften and Markarth. Stepping into a new city in Skyrim is so different to how it was in Oblivion, I could understand the OPs complaint if it were directed at Oblivion, as many of the cities looked similar but the immense level of diversity displayed in Skyrim makes it difficult for me to comprehend exactly where he's coming from.

It seems that he's unable to realise that the alien style of Morrowind, with it's immense mushrooms and vast ashlands is supposed to be inherently inhospitable to 'outsiders', different to the perception of what is normal or standard in fantasy. Skyrim on the other hand is far more grounded, filled with grit, a hard land filled with tough people surviving through grit and guile alone. Skyrim is meant to look rugged, but that doesn't mean it looks ugly, far from it. Skyrim is easily the best looking RPG in recent years, it's design appropriate to the styles of a medieval time period, yet retaining the lesser trappings of a fantasy world that make it so magnificent. I may have grown bored of the game, but I have not grown bored of the world, if I could wander the roads of Skyrim undisturbed, I would do so for hours.

Don't feed the trolls kids, and remember; they regenerate health when wounded.

I live far enough north that our climate is disturbingly like that of Skyrim. Shacks are liveable if you know what you're doing. The things called shacks in the game are mostly falling over, despite signs of recent construction, which doesn't make much sense. The cabins would work, though. The smaller, badly-built shacks look like they're intended to be used seasonally.

Two-storey houses existed here for well over 100 years too. You just need more fuel to heat a bigger building. Most of the stonework and large buidlings in the game appear in the big cities, so it works. BGS did a reasonable job of having only important buildings and buildings in richer communities built from stone. The cold isn't an issue if your community is rich and you have fuel to burn. You can also sleep on beds made from blocks of ice if you put skins on them. I still find it funny that people pay to do that.

Basemants can be tricky. If you're far enough north to have permafrost then then basemants aren't so common.

While I agree that Skyrim buildings look rather crappy.... I put forth that this is because it is a harsh environment where practicality has to trump aesthetics.

But the moment you badmouthed Morrowind's architecture, I just stopped paying attention. Morrowind's buildings were freakin GORGEOUS. The best I've ever seen in any game EVER.
So basically.... forget it.

The Devil...
... is in the details.

The Creation KIt will be out in the future. You'll be to amaze us with your ability to do better.

First time I saw Drelas' Cottage I was like , "Its the gingerbread house, must be a witch living there"
As it turned out it was a dreary old mage but Bethesda got the house for the location so right, especially when you are walking down from Eldersblood Peak, just beautiful

What do you want, building built from ebony wood and plated with silver and gold, lined with jewels?! Its based of ancient nordic buildings, and that is what they looked like, so take it up with the ancients....oh wait....

I take it the op is unable to grasp the idea of medevil and people living a in harsh unforgiving enviroment. Skyrim is a vast cold mountain range litteraly untamed wilderness so the buildings and stuff you see whether you like them or not would be comman place in those days. Mainly castles, forts and towers would make use of stone and clay for construction, along being that stone takes longer to gather and produce then chopping down a tree and cutting into planks it makes sense. Look at some of the places where skyrim citizens live and imagine the amount of work,money and man power need to construct buildings of stone.

Skyrim is soooooo beautiful, I absolutely [censored] everytime I see a house. Don't even get me started on the water, I was so totally like OMFG is that really water? Oh and the variety, half the time I got confused as to where I was. Truly BREATHTAKING!!!
oh and the variety of enemies, sooo many things to kill. Dragons were just the icing on the cake.
Skyrim is totally THE BEST GAME EVAAAA!!!


Pssshhh.... NOT!!!
this game blows.... HARD!
Did anyone really loose their breath when playing this game?? To say that it had the best design you've ever seen tells me you havnt played many VG lately, did you even think of RAGE??

Go ahead and bash, this game blows.
It's either kill person A or kill person B.
I could care less how the freakn buildings look, as I was too distracted by the endless fetch quests, and stupid ass "go kill those bandits for me" quests.

Skyrim is made for teenagers who can't stand dialoge and just want to shoot everything they see, screaming "GET SOME NEWB, YOU JUST GOT PWNED"
Skyrim=joke...

(can't wait to hear all the reasons I'm wrong)

Since starting the thread I've noticed the retextures made by Chris of several cities and towns and villages. They are very popular. I can't think why. To answer some of you clowns talking about medieval nonsense no I don't know what medieval structures look like congratulations on missing the point in spectacular fashion I was pointing out that the buildings and structures regardless of their origin and inspiration are PIG UGLY!

You have yet to present any examples of a non-ugly structure in any game. It's possible that your idea of a "non-ugly" structure is akin to a goblin's sense of beauty.

like i said, he wouldnt be happy unless the houses were plated with gold and encrusted with jewels.

I'm not here to say why you are wrong, I'm here to say that your post is extremely off-topic, what "complaining about people that complain about people that complain about Skyrim" has to do with... Ugly Architecture?

(in case you are interested, I think that you are wrong )

Kozy Shack Rice Pudding is the only one I can think of.

Start here http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=7583 contrast and compare.

So... You dislike the textures used to represent the shacks, not the shacks architecture itself?

Also... I loved that stone wall.

Honestly the vanilla ones looks more realistic, you obviously have never seen actual thatched roofs. They look NOTHINg like the "sixy" ones.

Ah... Skyrim's building's aren't cartoonish enough for you.

The vanilla ones looks a lot better, especially on the roofs, contrast, and more weathered wood appearance. I don't think Skyrim has access to the amount of stain those houses would require to get such a rich brown shade.

My constant reference to the incredibly over-used horrible drab grey low-texture wood wasn't a dead giveaway then?

Realistic? If that's what you want stop playing computer games tear the curtains down off your windows and take that brave tentative first step outside your front door.

Jeez OP. Skyrim's buildings and structures are fine looking. I see you as a complainer that will never be satisfied. The truth.

It looks realistically weathered. It takes a LOT of artificial stain to get a rich coloration in the wood, especially given that the indiginous trees are all pine or white oak instead of richer woods like mahogany, red oak (Which still turns grey), or maple.