Well i had pre-ordered Skyrim for xbox from a store in the Netherlands (coincidental where i live) and I received an sms yesterday that I could pick it up.
So I've cancelled some appointments I had (also filmed myself unpacking in front of the store and i'll be uploading it to youtube today) And i've played since yesterday 22:30 till just now 7:31 and am taking a break.
Just to be honest though i'm a bit disappointed in the graphics but the gameplay is... well... PERFECT! the gameplay compensated for the somewhat not so great graphics i was kind of expecting.
I don't want to post any spoilers but if anybody has some questions about gameplay or the graphics I'd love to answer them or take a photo for those who'd like it

What component of game play is improved the most, in comparison to Oblivion?

Please explain?

Xbox

I just bought it in the Netherlands too,
It's a great game, and the graphics are just the best they can currently get from 6 year old consoles.

Does the combat require a more tactical outlook like some previews mention? And does it feel more "meaty" (I've read that you really feel the impact when someone lands a blow this time)?
And have you downloaded to the HDD? I've heard some confusing things about the HDD and graphical performance.

Why do people put themselves opening parcels on Youtube?

If you really did purchase a copy early, and for the xbox 360, I'm sure many in this forum would be ecstatic if you could verify whether the installation/texture issue is present with/without the patch.

Maybe he has that texture loading bug what comes if you install Skyrim to HDD. It will probably get fixed at friday, but there is other ways to fix it by yourself too.

I'd like to know that too.

Some people would like to see the pre-gameplay, you know, so they can expect what to get from THEIR unboxing time. Its quite a dealbreaker for me, but I got so tired of lazy inpacking, so Im now downloading from Steam instead.

Well in my opinion everything. The fighting style is improved and more realistic, skill system is easier to understand and the inventory is nice and simple. Horse riding is great as well but it's fixed to 3rd-person, duel-wielding is WOW. yeah so much is better to be honest

well the world graphics is great but characters have kindof static hair and the wounds you create (yes you can see the slashes you make on animals ect.) is kindof BOOM suddenly there and all in all up close it kind of looks alot like oblivion graphics while in the trailer it look somewhat better so a bit disappointed here.

They do it because they actually watch openings of anticipated items on youtube which then triggers their interest in doing a video to share with the world, their experience.

it would be funny if his disappointment in the graphics was because of the bug, then when it gets fixed he'll have the perfect game.

Dr.Cortexe, you've been playing from 22:30 to 7:31?, may I make a suggestion, your about to get swamped with questions, take a break from the forum also, give yourself a breather.

I'm not sure how the you could be dissapointed with the graphics at all. Oblivions graphics are still good and this games graphics are on par with crysis 2. I can tell because they have already released screenshots and I'v compared them.

That means you were dissapointed with every graphics department of any game to have ever been released? This is pretty much the pennicle of graphical acheivment.

I hope you are trolling or referring to console crysis 2.

It was always going to be hard to have drastically better visuals with the same hardware.
In what way is the fighting style improve?

go away dont need that crap here.

How detailed is the Character creation?

Is it the same as Oblivion or more like Fallout?

no I haven't downloaded it to my HDD because i'm worried about the graphical performance xD
But yes it's alot more tactical based which can sometimes be a bit of a pain in the... if you forgot to save close by (damned spider)

because I was shaking and my buddies were rofling and filmed it and want me to put in on youtube :3 plus it's hip

I would love to post gameplay but i'm not able to record from my xbox at the moment

SCREW THE NETHERLANDS!

(no offense, of course)

Care to go a little more in depth? Not looking for a full review here, and no spoilers please, I'd just like to hear a decent chunk of your impression so far.