Maybe http://images.wikia.com/elderscrolls/images/6/62/Dragonsreach.jpg. Edoras http://scrapbook.theonering.net/scrapbook/movies/sets/edoras/view/1592. And now that I've googled them, I have to say the two look nothing alike, except for construction materials.

Further proof that it is only from a distance that they look the same.

Art is an imitation of life. Or other art which, since it too is an imitation of life, makes no difference.

I don't hink people realise how many people or what processes are usually involved when designing a game world or movie set. The art director works with a team of modellers and texture artists who all give their input on what would fit with the writers description. It usually goes something like this...

Art Director: "Okay guys, the script describes a city on a hill with terraced zones and a palace at the very top. Oh and there's suppose to be a giant tree in the middle."
Set Designer: "Hey, didn't they have something similar in Lord of the Rings? Edoras or something?"
Modeller: "You're right. I remember that too. It could be a good visual reference to work from."
Art Director: "As long as it's only a reference. We don't wan't a lawsuit on our hands or angry fans storming the forums because we made it too obvious."
Set Designer: "Whiterun was described this way since Morrowind Chief. I doubt we can break away from the similarity completely."
Texture Artist: "Maybe not boss but we'll make it different enough to not break any copyrights."

It happens all the time.

Yep. If I remember my Tolkien correctly, the Riders of Rohan were nomadic herdsmen who moved around changing pastures. Edoras was their only real permanent settlement, and would end up looking like a fortified camp. And Peter Jackson's set designers managed to represent that on the screen perfectly.
Whiterun on the other hand is a heavily fortified permanent settlement, and form follows function.

Here are the http://scrapbook.theonering.net/scrapbook/movies/sets/edoras/view/8378. Compare that to Whiterun's multiple tiers of gate defenses.

Don't know if it's been mentionned but the shield logo for guards is also a horse... like Rohan.

Which makes total sense based just on the culture in Whiterun. They have a city on an open field surrounded by long plains. They are also a trade captiol, it's the area where normally horses would prosper and also the area were cavalry is the most useful... If Bethesda had found a way of implementing horse combat you would probably see a lot of Whiteruns army on horses.

Just like Rohan ;D

Yes, but that doesn't mean they are the same. Or one is based on the other.

During Oblivion's development they said they were inspired by LOTR. The Imperial City obviously took some cues from Minas Tirith as a result. In fact, the Tamrielic Empire was supposed to be based on the Roman Empire but for TES IV: Oblivion they changed it completely. Just look at the armor design for the legionairs in Oblivion VS Morrowind.

With Skyrim they were going for a nordic theme. LOTR also has this so what is a LOTR fan to do? From the moment they announced Skyrim, we should have known Rohan would be in it.

Fantasy is not real. Unless it's the Wholly Babble. Then yes.

And anyway, "it's only a model."

It's fun to watch children talk about things being wrong when they are the ones who are wrong in the first place.

Edoras is based on Hrothgar's mead hall from Beowulf. Nobody is "blatantly stealing' from anybody.

How about you do a google search for 'Norse Stave Church' and you'll see these buildings are actually real.

Wow. Did you figure that out all by yourself? I'm impressed.

Nobody said anything about stealing in this thread. Learn to read before you try to sound smarter than you are.

It's fun to watch elitists repeat what others have already said

Did Elvis steal from 'O Sole Mio' when he sang 'It's now or never'? No. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_Now_or_Never_%28song%29

Did JK rowling steal the idea, description and name of 'muggles' from N K Stouffer? No. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_disputes_over_the_Harry_Potter_series

Did men at work steal a rif in 'Down Under' from 'Kookaburra'? Well, yes, it seems they did - possibly unintentionally though. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_Under_%28song%29

Did Pratchett ever steal from any previous writings - factual, fiction, scientific, songs, traditional and the list goes on? Yes it could be said he did or it could be said that he paid homage to or adapted various works. And I for one could not be happier that he did!

The problem with writing these days - be it songs or film scripts or books or even games is that the author will undoubtedly draw on his or her past experiences including materials heard, seen or read.

Plagiarism is ugly and being accused of such when innocent is horrible - I know this from first hand experience*. But just because something is similar it does not mean that thing is plagiarised.

Did Beth steal the town 'Whiterun' from LOTR, Tolkien, Jackson, Nordic history or myth or legend? Of course Beth did not steal anything.





*I submitted a very well written (If I say so myself) end of project exam paper three weeks before any of my fellow students then was 'dragged' before a disciplinary meeting with two tutors and the head of department to be told I had plagiarised the work of another student! To cut a long story short, the other student admitted to stealing a copy of my work from a supposedly secure office and copying said work. I was exonerated and the other student expelled from college.

They did that to pay homage to Australian culture and actually payed royalties to the family who wrote the song, turns out when she submitted it to some girl guides song writing competition they got the copywright.

And anyhoo, the OP has made clear in other posts he was trying to say they took inspiration from it, which they probably did.

funny how people get really huffy when some1 says look something from skyrim looks like something else.

i cant believe the lengths people goto to defend their idological game.


whether or not u think its looks like the city or not is all a personal opinion

i dont see the OP saying any1 stole anything, but imo its obvious where the creators drew their inspiration and ideas

i doubt any1 is going to take beth to court over this...

would be nice if people could make a post about something without getting trolled by the fan boys

That's pretty much what I've been trying to say. Nobody's ripped off anything here, it's all inspired by real world history
Tolkien?Jacksone didn't invent this stuff, the Norse did.

I think you'll find that is what everyone has been trying (and succeeding) to say

haha this thread! Beth also 'stole' hide armour from He-Man

wtf

did he just realize this XD

Speaking as a fan boy, what we would probably say is "that is Jackson's image, it doesn't fit the description in the book"

Ah, a good ol' Stavkirke. Great piece of wooden architecture.
We still sometimes build those, and someone still keeps burning them down.

They did actually build the main hall and several outbuildings on that rocky outcropping in the middle of new Zealand. While it wasn't as extensive as shown in the movie Edoras did actually exist during the filming. The level of detail put into the horse gilding and trim work was amazing (saw it in a documentary).

why didn't they turn it into a real town ???

I guess that′s why they built the largest and most detailed copy of one in Poland of all places...