endtherapture said:
The world of TES is so rich and full, but the cities are so empty and lifeless.
Empty? Sure, there are far too few buildings and what not in all the major cities of Skyrim for it to even begin to be considered a major city (Same can be said for Oblivion), but lifeless? Can't say I'd agree with you there. Check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppIgwF1M9po&feature=youtu.be&t=40s
In it, an Argonian NPC steals some random NPC's crap, then the guards run the Argonian down and begin fighting it till the Argonian is dead and they go about their lives. It's not scripted, it's not tied to a quest line, it's just the NPCs doing what they do. Every NPC in Oblivion go about their lives purely independent from what the player character does.
Then look at Whiterun in Skyrim, Ysolda knows the Khajit traders, the Battle-Borns and Gray-Manes hate each other, and have no interactions, yet children from both families are intimate with one and other and go about it in secrecy, by killing someone in the city and getting caught their family will react negatively towards you for the rest of the game (For example, killing the Bosmer whom sells food in the Whiterun market will cause his brother, owner of the Drunken Huntsman, to call you a piece of shit every time you come into his house). Elven, Khajit and Argonian characters will acknowledge that you are of their people, Werewolves will take note of other Werewolves, random thieves will be encountered in Riften, the Vampire lady in Morthal will notice if you are a Vampire and will comment on how you should leave due to her coven already claiming the town as their own.
The Elder Scrolls series may lack in physical scale, but there is a ton of life and individuality to be found in the game.