http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/403/tesv2011111120245713.png/

This should be in the spoiler forum.

I'm so envious right now!

wtf?! How can he be still alive and runnin..eerr... Lying?

I found him too nearby Markath or so

Ehm... Who the hell he is ? . Is this that easter egg Khajiit from Oblivion?

the true reason that i want this game so badly lol

Is he the original M'aiq or only a descent of the original M'aiq as it should be?

What did he say?

I talked to him and he said

I accidentally shot him in the head with a bow just outside of the first city haha

Could he be lying? o.O

GREAT!!!!! Now I really like him to be there - just the wonderfull M'aiq without lore-breaking. Really Good.

Hahahahah, E-P-I-C!

M'iaq the Liar is a "funny" character, that Bethesda uses to state that not only will they not listen to fans, they will also make fun of anyone who doesn't blindly love what Bethesda throws at them.
For instance, at the topic of why people claim the Compass in Oblivion were a bad idea because everyone always would know exactly where to go without having to explore or think themselves, M'aiq would say:

"M'aiq is glad he has a compass. Makes it easy to find things. Much better than wandering around like a fool."

So, basicly, if you don't like what Bethesda is doing, you're a fool.

Possibly

Oh, I remember him now . Nice. Love that.

he is back crazy i hope i run into him to.

I also met him somewhere up hill when I was heading for a quest. He was standing there in the middle of nowhere like he was doing nothing... I felt bad for him. Hope he has something better to say in the future

I met him twice, one time he said
''Werebears? where, bears?''

and that's why I love Bethesda. ripping sarcasm: The individuals are alright. but when it comes to the company as a whole, or whoever decides to treat the public and the community like that..

really..... its a harmless joke. I happen to think M'aiq is the "Most interesting man" ever

Perhaps you're you might be missing the context and the point when you decide to interpret it that way. The words are being spoken by a joke-character whose name incluedes "The Liar" in it after-all. It might be worthwhile to consider his statements to be something other than the literal opinions and sentiments of the developer.

I think you're right to see the character as sometimes representing Bethesda in a way but I would argue you took him to be a straight proxy for them while it seems pretty clear that the character is actually a form of self-deprecation and self-parody for the most part. Consider the ridiculous and sarcastic sounding justifications he gives for many of the features/design decisions referenced. While his comments refer to actual decisions regarding game design - the reasoning given is almost always overtly illogical and often outright incorrect or self-contradictory. M'aiq does not come across as a smart fellow and his name would seem to suggest one should not consider his statements to be wholly elucidative. So if he is meant to represent Bethesda developers in some fashion - then aren't they mocking themselves quite a bit?

I think you have mistaken what it is Bethesda poking fun at themselves and their decision process as well as some of the more misguided and unhelpful support given by a few on the forums. He usually comments on some of the more controversial design decisions in a particular game - which resulted in tantrums on the forums in support and in opposition to these choices. The particular line you took offense at references the heated flame war that erupted on the forums when it was announced crossbows would not be included in Oblivion. It was a common straw-man argument and flame-bait used by some of those who posted in defense of the decision; these kinds of posts were ultimately counterproductive and were a more than a bit of a misinterpretation of the reasons actually given by Todd Howard. The most significant effect of those flame-wars was that the insulting attitude and straw-man arguments used by overzealous fans to defend the decision were eventually being cited those clamoring for the inclusion of crossbows as representative of the actual Bethesda rationale and attitude. Consider that when that kind of statement is referred to as summarizing their position on things like crossbows, spears, and thorwn weapons it is generally being used to argue that the decision was idiotic and a mistake. Having this rationale parroted by a chronically inept character named "The Liar."

For the most part, to interpret the dialog given by this character as being literal thoughts and opinions of Bethesda without the intention of irony would yield only misunderstanding. This is akin to interpreting the statements made by the character "Steven Colbert" on The Colbert Report as being the literal thoughts and opinions of the comedian himself and without any intention of irony. Doing so would lead one to believe he was a zealous conservative pundit and also steeped in every form of bigotry possible and impossible included. Amusingly enough, there are some who fail to get the joke there too but who also agree, in complete ignorance of the ironic intent, with what the literal meanings and portrayed attitude of the character.

Imagine someone who trolled and fanned the flames of the forum arguments over the removal of crossbows and made just that kind of statement hearing M'aig parrot their previous argument and thinking that Bethesda was agreeing with and supporting it. They are anologous to people who watch the Colbert Report because they agree with literal statements of the satirical character - unaware that they are the ones being mocked. Compared to simply misinterpreting satire as flat commentary as you have - they would be truly foolish. You are simply guilty of not getting a bad inside joke - one in particular which has the unfortunate and ironic effect of perpetuating the misconception it is satirizing. It is doubly unfortunate that to get the joke you would have to listen to small segments of one or more 30 minute podcast interviews as the un-ironic statements regarding their rationale and attitude on crossbows (and spears, and throwing sporks) is hard to find in text form. So ultimately I do have to fault Bethesda here; while nobody likes having to explain a bad joke it would have been better in this case to do.


The danger of sarcasm, satire, irony, lampooning, etc. is that if you do it poorly then you end up offending people you didn't anticipate offending. The Ironically, this sort of failed use of irony leaves you offending the people who agree with your actual sentiments. It does amuse me though that the failed use of irony and failure to understand what it is very often results in stories and situations which are layered with more intriguing examples of irony than the original attempted use of it. I like how the Alanis Morrisette song - you know which god-awful one I mean - now serves as an excellent teaching tool on the various forms of irony as well as being one of the worst perpetrators of the popular misconception of what is ironic.

Found him too. But then a dragon attacked and he ran away xD

China called, it wants its wall back