Well, you're probably right in saying that Skyrim is one of the most complicated games in regard to the sheer number of variabes involved in the 'user experience'. But I can't really say that it is paticularly complex when it comes to actual straight game design. It's a very straightforward game, and while there is a lot of little nuances that add to the experience that you don't tend to notice without looking at it critically (regardless of whether this nuances are applied in an effective manner or not), I certainly think there are games out there with far more complex systems behind the player experience.
Skyrim's power lies in that it is a sandbox game. It gives you a big, expansive and populated world and a vague goal, then lets you have at it. There are games out there, though, that have a much more directed, and complex, approach to implimenting the player experience. To name a few, games such as Deus Ex (the original), Baldur's Gate 2, Half-Life (all incarnations). To a lesser degree, Portal and Portal 2, but both of them are so short that it's hard to really call them overly complex.
EDIT: Anyway I think that's enough on this topic from me, tis taking over the thread!
Skyrim's power lies in that it is a sandbox game. It gives you a big, expansive and populated world and a vague goal, then lets you have at it. There are games out there, though, that have a much more directed, and complex, approach to implimenting the player experience. To name a few, games such as Deus Ex (the original), Baldur's Gate 2, Half-Life (all incarnations). To a lesser degree, Portal and Portal 2, but both of them are so short that it's hard to really call them overly complex.
EDIT: Anyway I think that's enough on this topic from me, tis taking over the thread!
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
This lil' thing is thanks to Jarka!