Skyrim takes Random Content Generation to the next level

So the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim comes out in two days with anticipation that continues to grow.  One prominent advertised feature is the game's extraordinary new level of random content generation and artificial intelligence.  In addition to scripted events, quests, locations, characters, and objects is a massive range of random generation for all these aspects as well.  The game features a fundamental storyline along with massive side narration generated by the user's actions.

This random universe generation is coined Radiant Storytelling.  Something the previous Elder Scrolls games only contained limited versions of.  Randomly generated events and encounters are certainly prevalent in the Elder Scrolls IV, but there was never any completely unscripted quests based on all your interactions with the game.  Skyrim, on the other hand, has been stated to have unique side story, characters, and quests all based on how you interact.  This interaction includes even the most subtle details like where you leave certain items.  For example, you may find the same unique items you drop reappearing in a traveling merchant's inventory or even in an enemy's hands used against you later - in a random quest. 

With this level of indefinite generated game-play, it's almost like games are becoming more of wine tasting that doesn't allow you to finish an entire bottle anymore before moving on to another.  Until the game comes out, we'll have to see how deep the bottomless bag of randomly generated goodies goes.  It's a bit eerie how the virtual reality of game universes grow closer to the randomly generated material & content of our reality.  Regardless of the actual depth of virtual reality, I'm sure Bethesda Softworks won't fail to astound players upon the game's release.