Chapter Summaries

Song Ren completed Xenoblade Chronicles, watching Rex defeat Malos and Hikari and Homura sacrifice themselves before reappearing in the happy ending. The chapter then described players’ reactions to the game’s characters and especially the jokes and teasing aimed at Nia.

• Rex and his companions defeated Malos, who accepted his fate and died after reflecting on what his life might have been like with a different Blade Master.
• As the World Tree began to collapse, Hikari and Homura sent Rex and the others to the port, destroyed the bridge, and gave Rex their Core Crystal.
• The Conduit vanished and the world was reborn, while a fragment of light restored Hikari and Homura from the Core Crystal.
• Song Ren watched the ending and saw the main menu change to show Rex, Hikari, and Homura together as Nia joined them.
• Players debated the ending and celebrated the cast, while Nia became the target of memes and jokes, including edited scenes that sent her away from the group.

Yang Xin lamented Nia’s treatment while Chen Xu discussed the game’s story plans, including future content about Torna: Golden Country. Players debated Xenoblade Chronicles’ mysteries and characters as they continued exploring its story, combat, and grinding.

• Yang Xin complained to Chen Xu that Nia had become a losing heroine, and Chen Xu defended the story as a choice of fate.
• Chen Xu reflected on future Machine God and Giant God content, explaining that he had held back its characters while planning additional story content about Torna.
• Players discussed the Land of Morytha’s monsters, Jin and Lara’s past, and the events surrounding the Holy Grail War.
• Players argued about Jin and Malos, including who caused Vandham’s death and whether Malos deserved credit for winning at Xuanwu.
• Players continued grinding Core Crystals, unlocking Affinity Charts, and experimenting with combat strategies and Blade combinations.

Xenoblade Chronicles received widespread acclaim and renewed interest in Open World games, while Chen Xu focused on developing an Event Engine for Nebula Games’ next project. He explained that the engine would create a reactive world and support extensive openness, hinting that it was designed for an Open World game.

• GameSpot gave Xenoblade Chronicles a score of 9.4 and praised it as the revival of the traditional RPG.
• Xenoblade Chronicles renewed industry discussion about the potential of Open World design.
• Chen Xu assigned a technical team to develop a new Event Engine, delaying work on Torna ~ The Golden Country.
• Qin Yi questioned whether the engine’s extensive open interfaces were excessive, and Chen Xu said they were secondary to building a more realistic, interactive world.
• Meng Zuo recognized that the Event Engine was designed to support an Open World game, and Chen Xu began describing the genre’s appeal.

Chen Xu introduced The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim as Nebula Games’ next open-world project, built around a richly realized world, freedom, exploration, and abundant side content. He outlined the game’s setting and systems, then identified seamless map transitions, combat feel, and character appearance as key areas to improve.

• Chen Xu explained that open-world games needed a convincing world shaped by its gameplay, details, exploration, and everyday life.
• Chen Xu revealed the new game’s name: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
• Chen Xu described Skyrim’s fantasy world, its Dragonborn story, and the freedom to pursue quests and activities beyond the main plot.
• Chen Xu outlined flexible combat styles, a broad skill tree, and side quests involving groups such as the Stormcloaks, the Companions, and the Dark Brotherhood.
• Chen Xu identified loading screens, weak melee combat, and unattractive NPCs as problems he planned to address.

Chen Xu continued refining The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and explained why certain player-made features would not suit the official game. Nebula Games then revealed Skyrim as its new open-world project, sending players into a frenzy.

• Chen Xu considered improvements to Skyrim’s weather and NPCs while deciding not to include overhaul MODs that could undermine the early-game design.
• Players waited for Xenoblade Chronicles DLC as Nebula Games remained silent about its plans.
• Nebula Games posted a link on its Official Blog that opened to a scroll recounting Tamriel’s history and the events leading to Skyrim’s civil war.
• The scroll revealed a black dragon and a sword-and-shield warrior before identifying The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim as Nebula Games’ new game.
• Players celebrated Nebula Games’ return to open-world games after seeing the official announcement.

As players debated what kind of open-world game The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim would be, Chen Xu and his team worked on a Riverwood chicken encounter. Chen Xu kept the infamous Chicken God setup but added warnings and villagers who could demand compensation, leaving players free to face their consequences if they attacked it.

• Players argued online about whether The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim could match other acclaimed open-world games or would follow a formulaic approach.
• Qin Yi questioned why killing a chicken in Riverwood triggered a bounty when the town had no guards.
• Chen Xu explained that the chicken was meant to make crime feel consequential and preserve the famous Riverwood Chicken God encounter.
• Chen Xu told Qin Yi that Ralof would warn the Dragonborn about the chicken, and villagers would intervene if it was attacked.
• Chen Xu designed the villagers to demand compensation from the Dragonborn, or fight if the player could not or would not pay.

Nebula Games released a promotional trailer for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, showing the Dragonborn battling dragons and revealing Skyrim Province. Players were especially intrigued by the game’s invented dragon language and speculated about the trailer’s lyrics.

• Nebula Games and Chen Xu released a promotional trailer that sent The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim trending among excited players.
• The trailer showed the Dragonborn surviving dragonfire, using the shout “FUS! RO! DAH!” and defeating a dragon.
• The trailer presented Skyrim Province’s cities, wilderness, monsters, and dragons alongside a song sung in the dragon language.
• Players discussed the unfamiliar lyrics and tried to identify the language, while others joked by inventing phonetic translations.

Players debated the dragon language in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and Chen Xu turned the discussion into a promotional event with in-game challenges and prizes. The announcement dominated gaming trends and left Atari and other game companies startled by Nebula Games' approach.

• Players and linguistics experts analyzed the dragon language, making it a trending topic across communities.
• Chen Xu watched the debate and decided to use interest in the language to promote The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
• Chen Xu announced the language's design details, dragon-language dungeons and a puzzle challenge with a $300,000 prize, plus rewards for finding Easter eggs.
• Players flocked to the announcement, and some began livestreaming their efforts to study the dragon language.
• Atari staff recognized similarities to their own Sword Seeking Event, while other game companies reacted with bewilderment.

Song Ren began playing The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and woke as an innocent prisoner caught in the conflict between the Stormcloaks and the Empire. Just as he faced execution at Helgen, a Black Dragon attacked, and Song Ren decided it had come to rescue him because it was one of his own kind.

• As Skyrim unlocked, Song Ren and Zhang Yi joked about the Dragon Language puzzle before entering the game.
• Song Ren woke in a prison cart after being hit by an arrow, heard a prophecy about Alduin, and learned from Ralof and Locklear that he had been caught in an Imperial ambush with Stormcloak prisoners.
• At Helgen, Song Ren watched a horse thief try to flee execution and created a female Nord character before the captain ordered his own execution.
• As Song Ren lay on the execution block, a Black Dragon landed on the Sentry Tower and attacked Helgen, leading Song Ren to believe it had come to save him as an ally.

Song Ren played through Skyrim’s opening escape from Helgen, choosing to flee with Ralof and learning the game’s combat and exploration basics. After reaching the wilderness, he set off for Riverwood, where he expected the Dragonborn’s adventure to begin.

• Song Ren lingered to watch the dragon attack Helgen and was killed by its flames, then reloaded and followed the quest prompts into the Sentry Tower.
• Song Ren chose to escape with Ralof rather than the Imperial soldiers, then looted equipment from a dead guard inside Helgen Keep.
• Song Ren and Ralof fought Imperial soldiers, killed a Frost Spider, and sneaked past a Brown Bear while Song Ren learned the game’s combat, healing, stealth, and lockpicking mechanics.
• Song Ren followed Ralof through the underground keep and emerged into the scenic Skyrim wilderness as the dragon flew away.
• Song Ren accepted quests to visit Ralof’s sister Gerdur in Riverwood and consider joining the Stormcloaks, then chose Riverwood as his first destination.

Song Ren explored Skyrim’s skill system and reached Riverwood, where he killed a chicken and angered the villagers. After refusing to pay the fine, he was beaten to death, leaving his Dragonborn adventure off to a disastrous start.

• Song Ren studied Skyrim’s flexible Skill Tree, spoke with Zhang Yi about possible builds, and chose to explore freely rather than compete over combat skills.
• Song Ren reached Riverwood with Ralof, looked around the village, and learned about its people and livestock by talking to NPCs.
• Song Ren killed a chicken outside the Giant’s Tavern, triggering Riverwood’s hostility and a demand that he pay a fine or go to jail.
• Song Ren refused to pay, and the villagers attacked him with weapons and arrows.
• Song Ren found he could neither defeat nor escape the villagers, surrendered, and was killed.

Song Ren continued the main quest toward Whiterun, while players across the forums shared stories of Riverwood villagers killing them for attacking a chicken. The chapter left Song Ren exploring the outskirts of Whiterun and keeping his distance from farm animals.

• Players posted about being attacked and killed by Riverwood villagers after killing a chicken, then discussed other discoveries in Skyrim.
• The chapter described how Chen Xu expanded Skyrim and let players shape their own lives as the Dragonborn.
• Song Ren reached the mountains overlooking Whiterun and hopped down the cliffs instead of following the road.
• Song Ren spotted a giant fighting three warriors, but the Companions had already killed it before he arrived.
• Song Ren learned the warriors belonged to the Companions, declined their quest, and continued toward Whiterun while avoiding nearby livestock.

After arriving in Whiterun, Song Ren explored its homes and discovered a suggestive book called Energetic Argonian Maid. Players who found the same book shared its contents online, shifting their discussions toward the game’s lewd hidden texts.

• Song Ren wandered through Whiterun, marveling at its distinct NPCs, accessible homes, and detailed furnishings.
• Song Ren picked a lock and searched a house, finding only books and no valuables.
• Song Ren opened Energetic Argonian Maid and found a bawdy scene between Tail-Up and Crantius Colto.
• Players discovered that ten such books were scattered across Skyrim, and one player posted an excerpt on Tieba.
• Players joked and debated online about the Argonian maid books and whether Skyrim would become like The Witcher: Wild Hunt.

Song Ren completed the quest to retrieve the Dragonstone from Ragnvald, then helped the soldiers defeat the dragon Mirmulnir and learned to use Unrelenting Force. After earning the title of thane, he discovered that Whiterun’s house was too expensive and that his status did not excuse him from stealing a tomato.

• Song Ren explored Ragnvald, defeated its undead, learned the Unrelenting Force shout, and recovered the Dragonstone.
• After returning the Dragonstone to Jarl Balgruuf, Song Ren joined the battle against Mirmulnir and helped kill the dragon with a Fireball.
• Song Ren absorbed the dragon’s power, unlocked Unrelenting Force, and received the title of thane, a guard follower named Lydia, and weapons from the Jarl.
• Song Ren learned that a house in Whiterun cost 5,000 gold and gave up on buying one.
• Song Ren took a tomato from an unattended stall, but a guard stopped him and warned him not to steal again despite his thane status.

Song Ren continued The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim’s main quest, climbing to High Hrothgar and learning new Dragon Shouts before setting off to retrieve a horn from Ustengrav. The chapter described how Skyrim’s sprawling world and quests drew players into free exploration, often distracting them from the main story.

• Song Ren climbed the seven thousand steps to High Hrothgar, fighting frost trolls along the way.
• The Greybeards taught Song Ren the second Word of Power for Unrelenting Force and the Whirlwind Sprint shout.
• The Greybeards sent Song Ren to Ustengrav to retrieve a horn, prompting him to travel toward Morthal.
• Players explored Skyrim freely, picking up quests and discovering stories through its people and places.
• Players could become so absorbed in Skyrim’s factions, cities, and quests that they forgot the Greybeards were waiting for them.

Song Ren reflected on Skyrim’s main quest, criticizing the Blades and revising his opinions of Ulfric as players uncovered the province’s memorable characters and local stories. The chapter ended by emphasizing that completing the main quest only opened the way to countless more adventures.

• Players discussed Skyrim’s locations, quests, characters, and lore as they progressed through the game.
• Song Ren found Delphine and Esbern unbearable, especially after they insisted that the Dragonborn kill Pakturnas.
• Song Ren’s opinion of Ulfric changed after he learned more about Windhelm and the Stormcloak leader’s racism.
• Players turned Skyrim’s distinctive characters and details into popular memes.
• The chapter noted that Skyrim offered extensive quests beyond its main storyline, making the main quest’s end feel like a beginning.

Song Ren defeated Alduin in Sovngarde on Easy difficulty, then continued discussing the adventures and content awaiting players in Skyrim. The chapter left him ready to explore the game’s many DLCs, factions, and side quests beyond the main story.

• Song Ren recalled his journey through Blackreach and Sovngarde before beginning the final battle against Alduin.
• Song Ren stayed at a distance and used Dragon Shouts to ground Alduin while the three Nordic heroes fought it.
• The heroes and Song Ren defeated Alduin, whose dragon soul returned to heaven and earth.
• Song Ren described the Dragonborn DLC, in which the Dragonborn confronts Miraak on Solstheim and gains new powers.
• Song Ren outlined the Dawnguard storyline, where the Dragonborn and Serana thwart Harkon’s plan to blot out the sun.
• Song Ren listed Skyrim’s guilds, civil war, side quests, and home-building, noting that the game’s adventures continued after the main quest.

The chapter highlighted Skyrim’s extensive quests, lore, and immersive world before Song Ren revisited Riverwood and joked about his Dragonborn’s adventures. After Zhang Yi called his current quest grave robbing, Song Ren reconsidered the game as a tomb-raiding legend.

• Players celebrated Skyrim’s varied quests, and an ancient-language professor became the first to clear the dragon-language quest.
• Song Ren returned to Riverwood, killed a chicken, and paid the guard’s fine when the villagers attacked him.
• Song Ren stripped the Vampire Princess follower’s equipment and complained that she could not be married in the game.
• Song Ren called Zhang Yi to suggest playing another multiplayer game, but Zhang Yi said he was grave robbing in Skyrim.
• Zhang Yi argued that many of Skyrim’s quests involved tombs and ruins, leading Song Ren to think of the game as Dragonborn’s tomb-raiding legend.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim continued to dominate players and earn near-perfect reviews, while Chen Xu planned official MOD tools for the game. He revealed an achievement-focused Dragonborn Art Museum MOD that Yang Xin feared would torment completionists.

• Crime and Law and The Vanished Ten Billion failed to escape Skyrim's shadow despite their quality and apparent shared ambitions for a massive IP.
• GameSpot published a perfect review nearly two weeks after release, praising Skyrim's vast world, freedom, and seemingly endless content.
• Chen Xu discussed releasing official MOD tools and communities for Skyrim with the Nebula Games team.
• Chen Xu showed Yang Xin the Dragonborn Art Museum MOD, which collected and displayed items from the game.
• Chen Xu planned to add the MOD to Nebula Game World so players could show off their collections, prompting Yang Xin to worry about completionists' health.

Chen Xu prepared official MOD tools and new content for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, while Song Ren discovered that the update introduced a new follower named Tania. Players learned that the MOD tools were available and that owning the game was required to encounter her in Nebula World.

• Chen Xu told Qin Yi that players would receive powerful MOD tools and planned official visual upgrades, alternate starts, and special followers for Skyrim.
• Song Ren noticed a massive Skyrim update and entered the game, where he found Tania, an Elf Maiden being chased by a monster.
• Song Ren defeated the monster and learned that Tania was the surviving princess of a kingdom destroyed by monsters.
• Song Ren tested Tania's conversational responses and equipment interface, but she vanished after he tried to remove her clothes.
• Song Ren found the new MOD Module Function, and players confirmed that Tania was an official MOD who appeared in Nebula World for Skyrim owners.