The Shivering Isles is the next plugin for Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.  What is so special about it, you may ask? Yes, I would be questioning also since many plugins have been released, some good and some not so good. However, this plugin is going to cover a whole new area. Sorry, let me rephrase plugin. I will refer this to an expansion from now on. Why? Because according to the developers. This nice addition isn't just going to be a few quest added to the game that you would think any kind of modder could do. This expansion is going to encompass a whole new realm.  This realm is called the Realm of Madness. In this realm, nothing seems quite right, everything looks a little off. This is a good thing. If you have played countless hours of oblivion, I am sure you are tired of seeing the same trees, buildings and monsters. The developers feel your pain, and you can be assured that everything looks different; from the trees to the monsters and even to the people and clothing. This expansion has a lot more to offer than any of the plugins that could have been wiped up in a few weeks. I will go over some of the biggest features released so far.

Ok, lets get the locations and the facts straight before we begin. This is all taken from an interview, so I assume it is correct.

Tamriel is referred to as the whole place where the elder scroll games takes place. Oblivion is anything "beyond" Tamriel. Don't get oblivion confused as just a hellish place. The "Oblivion" you are used to is the first plane of Oblivion we have been introduced to. It is owned by a Daedric prince known as Mehrune Dagon, Daedric prince of destruction. This realm is one of the many that exist. The next plane of oblivion that is going to be introduced, via this expansion is the realm of madness (owned by the Daedric prince, Shegorath.) It is not going to be anything like the hellish oblivion we have become to acquainted with. The realm of madness is going to be an interesting place, to say the least, and will be vivid and colorful.  However, it appears that in the expansion we are going to be spending the whole time in this realm; unlike the other realm where the only purpose of visiting was to close an oblivion gate and receive a sigil stone.

Now that is out of the way, I will provide you with some information that has been released so far.

This expansion is going to be approx. 25% the size of the full oblivion game.
32 new ingredients are going to be found in the new realm.
10 new creatures are going to be added to the expansion.
The PC version is going to be in DVD form, and the xbox version will be available only over xbox live.