To the OP: What you seem to be misunderstanding with Oblivion is that its not really a hack and slash game. Sure it has that facet to it. It has all the wonderful RPG elements you know and love. But its not Baldurs Gate or any of the DnD games for comps... So what is it? Well to answer that we have to examine a few things. 1. Who plays it? The common knowledge says that mainly guys play video games with girls being the oddball when they do play. Or they get the tired and annoying maxim that they are really GIRLs (guys in real life), unless the prove it with youtube or pictures or something. And there by opening up the giant Pandora's Box of Worms (hmm theres a mod idea xD ) and have to endure the endless stream of pathetic pickup lines and whatever other indignities the basement mouthbreathers can come up with... this of course does not mean that all guys are like that. Anyway, I got side-tracked... sorry. So, we have the target audience of the game. 2. Its unfortunately single player (game would be awesome if it was multiplayer). So that means that the guys dont have to worry about loosing their "man-cards" if their sexually insecure friends see them playing a girl. Side-topic: whoever thought up the expression man-card should be shot. >.< 3. Oblivion is pretty much the giant sandbox that modders love. Just about everything can be altered or rescripted. I wouldnt be surprised if you could remake the entire game. Also the fact that theres no multiplayer means that you dont have to worry about whiney brats screaming about class imbalance and complaining about cheaters. 4. With a little work, the character models for the characters can be down right sexy... yeah yeah I know, they are just pixels... hate to break it to you, but that picture of your favourite model? That's pixels too. Dont believe me? Zoom in really far. Alright now that we have examined the points, lets add them together. Mostly Male-based population of gamers + single-player only + heavily mod-able + potentially sexy PC's = a very high-tech version of playing with dolls. *hides*