Bethesda's Todd Howard: We care about Fallout

"We've left no stone unturned in trying to find Fallout's 'soul', but those decisions are ours, not yours. I just hope you give the game a look and decide if that soul is there for you."


looks to me like it is going to be oblivion with ray guns..but ill give it a look still cause i love this IP

Wow, thats what i call in depth information!

"We've left no stone unturned in trying to find Fallout's 'soul', but those decisions are ours, not yours. I just hope you give the game a look and decide if that soul is there for you."

like #1 said, it seems like they don't know what to do with fallout other than make it a post-apocalyptic oblivion.

cue the Fallout purist fanboys (crybabies)

If it's like Oblivion in a post-apocalyptic future, I won't complain too much.

@5: Bingo.

as long as they have the posters, the drug use, and the music, I will be fine with whatever Bethesda does to it.

That is, as long as they don't sell horses for $3.50 or have characters disappear...

psst. there's another new concept art up at http://fallout.bethsoft.com/

not sure how long it's been up, but can't have been too long...

also, imho everything bethesda touches turns to gold (septims, to be exact) so there's no way this isn't going to be friggin' wicked.

p34c3

I've gotta agree with Dave & eldee; though granted I've never played Fallout previously, but the game's world always seemed interesting.

So, if I may ask the purists, what is it about the first games that is so impossible in your minds for Bethesda to accomplish? Or are you just horrified by the thought of the game using something other than an archaic isometric camera?

It's the entirety of the game.

The turn based combat was a lot of the fun and strategy of the game. The world is one thing, but the game mechanics were 80% of the game.

At some points, I'd have to make a tough choice...there was an enemy bearing down on me that would tear me apart if I let it reach me. Do I take a lower percentage shot at its groin or eye? Do I try and disarm it by shooting it in the ark, or slow it down by shooting it in the leg?

You can't make those decisions in realtime, and that's why Falloutblivion doesn't make me excited for the game.

I'm also concerned about the dialog. A large part of Fallout is determined by your conversations with people, and if that asanine "Speechcraft" system is put into the game, it's going to absolutely KILL all of that.

For those of you bitching about being tired of hearing Fallout purists complain, seriously, shut the hell up. You have Oblivion. It's what you want. Enjoy it. Don't try and tell us that because this is a type of game you enjoy, that everyboy should enjoy it.

If the Fallout guys took Oblivion, and made it into an isometic turn-based game, you'd be bitching up a storm, and I'd agree with you. I wouldn't tell you that you should shut your traps and enjoy the game, because *I'm* going to enjoy it.

The Fallout IP doesn't just mean the world of the game. It means the game itself. The reason I hold the game dear is because of the fun I had playing that particular style of game with that particular world, and that particular story. You can't just strip one element of the game and put it into a different game and expect me not to be disappointed about it.

the new picture on the site is a step in the right direction, but they're still missing the 1950's music.

@8: You use the word 'archaic' as if old == bad.

The single important thing to me is that they capture the series' sense of humor. I have my doubts about that, too -- Morrowind and Oblivion were some of the most humorless games I've ever seen. That served quite well for The Elder Scrolls, but this is different.

Also, I wish they would just give us practically the same combat system with a technical upgrade. I don't expect that, but I do have hopes that I'll like whatever they do instead.

Damn straight OhJustSomeRandomGuy I'm sick of hearing people OK with Oblivion Fallout love child. I'm not going to lie I will buy this game, I'll give Bethesda a chance, but god damn it this better not be real time. Fallout is about thought, real time is about twitch.

Oh and Eldee I don't know who you are I don't know what games you like but calling people cry babies who are just voicing their opinion that they don't want the core of what made Fallout great changed is not something you should insult others about. This game has a loyal following and its really not a megahit kind of game (ie fans aren't bandwagon hoppers, this isn't FF or Metal Gear or Halo, this is a game that most others have never played yet a few of us believe its one of the best series that has ever existed), take your favorite game and have a company that has never shown any knowledge of that type of game make a sequel... do you want anyone to call you a crybaby?

Honestly with all the hype that has come with Fallout 3 I have to recommend that people who have never played Fallout, Fallout 2, even Fallout Tactics continue and just not play them. Fallout is not a series you play to see what the hype is about. It's not new, graphics are horrid and its a long long game (either one) these games were never meant for the generation of gamers that are playing now. They never aimed for the lowest common denominator and that is why a company known for making "popular" RPG's making the sequel scares the hell out of me.

I want a game that I will play for months, I want a game that my "cool" friends play for 5 minutes and say "This is stupid it's so boring, whats with all the talking, why no boob physics?", I want to play Fallout.

And I'm not sure if Bethseda is a company that can shun the market and make a smart, funny, real game. I want to think, I don't want to twitch.

Trust me... I am one of the big time Fallout purists!!! I LOVED the first 2 real games and even suffered through BOS on the original XBOX...

I think its a BIG mistake to pass judgement on the game before we see anything... Just becuase it is being made by Bethesda doesn't mean its going to be an Oblivion clone...

Oh and for me it wasn't the turn based combat... it was the "campy" 50's style to the game... the whole trait system was just great!!!

I am really excited to see what the next installment will be like!!! 11 days until we see the teaser!!!! :)

Why does everyone assume it will play out like The Elder Scrolls in the Fallout universe?!?

At least wait until you see the game in action before you start bitching about them "misusing" the license. I love Fallout as much as anyone who maintains their Apple ][ for the sole purpous of playing Wasteland does... but I honestly can't complain about the way Fallout has been handled by Bethesda thus far. The concept art alone is great, and their Role-Playing track record is pretty out-standing considering they haven't strayed too far away from one of the most innovative RPG franchises in the 3D era.

I'll give them the bennefit of the doubt, and assume they know what the hell they are doing. If they are fans of the game, they'll at least give us a very-fallout experience... who cares if the formula isn't the Fallout 3 that would be the sequel to Fallout 2, it shouldn't be expected to be; Neither Interplay or Black Isle are at the helm.

I'm not assuming it'll be anything. I'm not saying I'm not going to buy the game or anything like that. I'm just saying it better NOT be like Elder Scrolls: Fallout or I WILL, at that point, be really damn pissed off.

I'm just saying that I'm apprehensive at this stage of things.

See. Fallout is too good to be in the hands of some casual RPG making company like Bethesda. They'll probably dumb it down for the console crowd. Do you remember what game suffered consoletitis? Deus Ex!
As long as Fallout 3 will be on consoles, it will be a crappy watered down game that betrays its original roots. Screw Bethesda, screw Elder scrolls. Those game suck anyway.
Real Fallout fans will and must stay away from this abomination.

Robojoel...I'm with you. Regarding Wasteland, in fact I was upset Fallout copied it! I played through Fallout, it was a great game, not as good as Wasteland (best game ever), but good enough.

I don't understand the rabid Fallout fans, it's been so long since I played the game I can't even remember any of it, all but the "Brotherhood of Steel". Fallout 2 in my opinion wasn't that great. Perhaps Bethesda will do the game justice, I trust them more than any other company with the honors.

@AoE

I've experienced Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout Tactics and Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel (the asstastic Xbox one). I think Bethesda will do a damn fine job, but purists who bitch will never be satisfied. They easily condemn the unseen sequel as “Oblivion with Radscorpions” (meaning: “I hated Oblivion”) or some thought-absent drivel. Hate Oblivion? Fine, but don’t insert your frustrations on Fallout. Wait to hate.

It was the experience that we loved. It's the memory of this destroyed, corrupt and immoral world coupled with deep game play that we’ve sort of romanticized as impossible to duplicate. If they can develop even 1/3 of the Fallout experience, I will love it.

@sesur

1/3 of Fallout? I'd take the actual game itself than some half assed FINO (Fallout in name only) game.

SAY NO TO FINO

Tiremfej:

That's what's worrying me the most. The same company and the same engine couldn't even copy what made the game awesome. My hopes are significantly lower for a newcomer picking up the pieces and making it correctly.

I liked Fallout 2, but I LOVED Fallout. I can't get my hopes up for this one, though... Not until I see something to reinforce those hopes. The fact that Bethesda is waiting so long to show any screens of combat is very, very troubling.

@Vero
I love the PC games too. Fuck, I still have F1/F2/FT. But the are aged. If anybody expands on Fallout I will be there. I guess I love it too much to discriminate. Why do you hate it so much already? Or is it because it's on a flithy console?

People seem to fall into two camps: the people who are excited about Beth's invovlement (People who like Oblivion) and those who aren't (People who don't). Considering Beth has made it pretty clear they AREN'T going to preserve the entire Fallout experience (when asked how they were going to handle perspective and combat, the lead designer replied that they "wouldn't want to go with a style of game that we don't do very well" [FYI, Bethesda has previously only made first person, realtime games]). What irks me (other then the fact that most of the anger would go away if they took off the "3" and made it a spinoff) is the rather clear commitment to NOT innovate on Beth's part, to churn out a first person, realtime Oblivion clone, maybe with Fallout-style dialouge if they are feeling generous. I firmly believe that Bethesda, if they comitted to it, could produce a world-class game that would be beloved by ALL (casuals and Fallout fanatics alike), WITHOUT dumbing the game down or removing critical gameplay elements (by no means does it HAVE to be topdown viewpoint, but turn-based combat is basically impossible in first person view mode, and turn-based combat IS an essential component, at least in my humble opinion). Rather then doing, or even TRYING FOR that, Bethesda has seems to just want to make a game that will please its fans (because it essentially WILL be The Elder Scrolls), but disappoint the Fallout faithful. I have no doubt the game will sell well, but in five or ten years, will anyone really remember it? Will there be people saying "Man, what a game. It really CHANGED me"? I think not.

"The Fallout IP doesn't just mean the world of the game. It means the game itself."

That's about the dumbest thing I've ever heard. It's not the games you enjoyed, but the immersion that was created. They could turn it into a card trading game and adhere to the principles that are set by the IP. With your logic, there is no xmen movie, because the IP is the comic book itself.

The point is, people like you have started whining before you've ever even seen or heard anything about it, and you automatically assume that everybody who tells you to stfu has never played the original games. You're not going to stop whining when the game comes out, because you'll find some little flaw that violates your virgin childhood memories. In your mind, the game was doomed from the beginning, so don't pretend like you're reserving judgment. It's pretty clear that you've already passed it.

So while you fangirls cry on each others shoulders, the rest of us will be enjoying Fallout 3.

That was in reply to #9 btw

If someone remade Zork, you guys would be pissed if the parser was more advanced.

@eldee

This game is doomed from the beginning, the moment Bethesda takes the IP. Look at how watered down Oblivion is. They put in fast travel, removed skills and dumbed down a few things so that they can port it to the consoles. Even worse, look at Deus Ex: Invisible War. What a clusterfuck it became when it was made with consoles in mind.
Do you think some Halo playing moron will appreciate this game? plus just like austinthom says, Bethesda has NO idea how to put turn based combat in an RPG.

So, you apologists and panderers, stop badmouthing the purists when we have high expectations in mind for the IP.

The thing you "falloutblivion will be great" people don't get is that there are only two views here: you people and on-the-fence. nobody has condemned the game yet.

@eldee

yes, you'll be enjoying an xbox'ed Fallout 3. I rather play the originals than suffer through a dumbed down game for console kiddies that betrays its roots.

SAY NO TO FINO!

@28... Are you guys still playing PS1 and old XBOX?? There is nothing wrong with games on consoles nowadays... PC/360 are practially the same thing... dont be stupid about it...

You few people must be so right about Obilivion... it only won RPG of the year awards... Mass Effect is going to be on the 360 and it isn't dumbed down... it almost has a turn based type of combat in a FPS... if you are sure its going to suck then stop following it and go play your extrememly complex PC games...

The worst thing that could happen to Fallout would be the creation of a Fallout MMO... as long as that doens't happen it will be fine.

also... if you want the same old Fallout experience then go play one of the modded versions of Fallout 2... Fallout 3 will most likly be drastically different... but from seeing the concept art on the beth website I am not worried at all about it...

@jason
Mass Effect already looks downgraded by the latest gameplay pics. This is what you get when you make complex games on consoles.
And no PC's and 360's are NOT the same thing. 360 has idiot morons who spout crap while playing Halo on thumbsticks.
Jeebus, thumbsticks on FPS. Now RTS with thumbsticks.

Vero, did a console touch you inappropriately as a child?

@sesur,
you know very well that console gamers are pretty much dumb casual gamers and don't compare to PC gamers who have been fed with games with actual charm, soul and intelligence.

Face it, consoletitis will ruin PC ip's when developers decide to port it to systems like the Playstation or the xbox or whatever.

Ohsotired of the whining that this whole ordeal has caused. Lets be frank here people, they could effectively re-create the look feel and playstyle of the origional with slight modern touches, and you would still bitch. There is almost nothing any company can do to make the "purists" happy.

Bethsoft is going to make the game the way they want, wether you bitch and whine or not. Don't like it? Vote with your wallet and don't buy it.

But the IP belongs to Bethesda now, and unless you can scrape the cash together and convince them to sell it to you, there is almost nothing you can do about it. So why waste your breath.

If you love the origional fallout so much, go play it. Its still the same game, get some of the user mods. Hell write your own clone, as long as you don't use the names you can. Just stop whining.

@cedhed

another FINO apologist.
Let's see if a developer with no experience in how your favorite game ip works tries to make a game with it.
When Fallout 3 turns out into Deus Ex: Invisible War, don't say you didn't see this coming.

@Vero

Look, I understand PC Elitism; I used to be one years ago. I love all my gaming mechanisms equally, and I see nothing wrong with enjoying casual (meaning: not hardcore strategy/turn based/etc..) games on any platform. To say that only PC games have no charm, soul and intelligence is extremely insular. The sad fact that you gave your console hate a name (consoltitus?) indicates how unreasonable your zeal for a PC only gaming world is.

Also, I am no "FINO" apologist. I've never apologized to the blowhards who can't appreciate a new Fallout versus no new Fallout at all.

The problem with you fanboy dipshits, vero, is that you don't understand the concept of money. No matter how many of you retards unite and hold hands, you still won't buy enough copies of Fallout 3 (your ideal game, that is, not the one you believe is being made) to make it fiscally viable for Bethesda to make. If you could, Black Isle would still be in business. In fact, copying Fallout's recipe to please all of you parasites would probably sink that company too. You're obsessed with your niche, which is continually shrinking, and no matter how hard you cry on "teh intarwebs", it's not going to change a thing. If oblivion was so terrible, why is it *still* one of the best selling games on any platform right now? Maybe if Black Isle had made a better game, they all wouldn't have been fired by Interplay, ever think about that?

Flame on, you know you wanna

@39

Man you are a whiny bitch aren't you?

The Fallout fanbase is larger then you think my friend. If they put out a piece of trash oblivion clone we will make it a very fiscally unwise choice to make. There are already some plans underway I have heard rumor of that will be terribly effective at hurting the games sales.

I can't wait for them to announce the details of there consolized PoS, then the real fun starts.

They need to make a game true to the material or pay the price for ignoring the fans of a great series.

Listen guys as much as most of you all like to bitch and complain about how you dont want fallout in realtime... well sorry but you dont even know how the game will turn out yet...

All you can do is guess that itll be realtime gameplay like oblivion. But IMO thats not a bad thing. In any case itll be a step in the right direction... yes it would be nice for them to implement a way to make it so that you can shoot at a specific body part and use a turnbased gameplay system but that defeats the purpose of an interactive realtime 3d environment. While I believe they should make the game realtime I also believe that they should make it so that the game has some RPG elements in it like skill lvls and crafts the you can train and level up in game. That way the game will feel more like an RPG and not totally like an FPS.

@40: yeah, all of you diehard fans really pulled Black Isle out of trouble and kept them from going out of business due to financial difficulties (READ: lack of sales). Oh wait, no you didn't. That's why Bethesda is making this game and we're having this conversation.

Yeah, huge fan base. If you guys all pitch in maybe you can buy a copy of Bethesda's game.

LO-FUCKING-L.. I just read this: "There are already some plans underway I have heard rumor of that will be terribly effective at hurting the games sales."

what are you guys gonna do? organize a march? start an online petition? give me a fucking break.. your combined monetary contribution couldn't save Black Isle, so I sincerely doubt the lack thereof is going to hurt Bethesda. Not to mention I'm pretty sure the *continued* sales of Oblivion and Shivering Isles will be enough to absorb any potential loss.

"Mass Effect already looks downgraded by the latest gameplay pics. This is what you get when you make complex games on consoles.
And no PC's and 360's are NOT the same thing. 360 has idiot morons who spout crap while playing Halo on thumbsticks.
Jeebus, thumbsticks on FPS. Now RTS with thumbsticks."-Vero

You act like counter strike doesn't have whining idiots playing. idiot.

FYI Interplay went under because those chose to try and cash in on the console crowd and ignore there fan base.

They made 3 huge flops in a row, and the fact the head of there studio was basically a mental retard didn't help. If Interplay had focus there funds on BG3, Fallout 3 they would still be around. Instead the put out Lionheart and FO:BoS both massive flops.

Interplay went under due to mismanagement and the fact they did not listen to the fans. Not because the fans didn't buy the games we wanted, they stopped making games the fans wanted so the fans abandoned them.

And as for the "What can you a small group do to hurt them?" Look at the sales for Fallout:Brotherhood of steel. Even Interplay acknowledges its sales were hurt by the huge outcry from the fallout fans. But wait and see what happens. It will shut people like you up very fast.

BOS was a shitty game.. Plain and simple. Bethesda has a proven track record, and if they made it a straight up clone of Oblivion, it would still sell millions.. die hard fans be damned. You can have your million nerd march if you want, but when the sales figures from Fallout 3 come up, I fully expect you to be posting about what a dipshit you and your fellow zealots are.

Are you employed by Bethsoft Eldee? Because unless someone is paying you I really don't see how you can be this much of a Beth fanboy. Are you pregnant with Todd Howard's love child or something?

You call me a Zealot, you are by far more fitting of that word.

Lets wait and see what happens, Mr. Dipshit. I wonder which will be the one crying about who was wrong? I fully expect it to be you.

Arguing with a fan-boy of your nature is pointless, so goodbye, have a good life. And good luck with the baby!

Honestly I don't care, I just like seeing you nerds frothing at the mouth. I wish I could get paid to surf around on 'teh intarwebs' and rip people like you apart. That could very well be my dream job.

@Ralod

Nothing makes a person sound more like a fanboy than calling others a fanboy. And you are a Zealot. You are praying for Bethesda to fail and piss off everyone (just like you and your ilk are so pissed about oblivion). Not all Fallout fans are as unforgiving as you, and I for one will be loving this game as far as I can tell.

Your "They need to make a game true to the material or pay the price" attitude is completely juvenile. It's extremely arrogant to think you can FORCE a developer to making a game in your image! It's not the same era; gaming has become mainstream, and therefore the games have become far more accessible. Deal with it. Fallout 3 will not be the same and your pedantic sniveling won't change a goddamn thing.

people who call others 'fallout purist" probably never experienced the fun in going for a radscopions eyes and having your gun blow up in your hand..we want the same experience when we first played the game ...if others have opinions of what they want i wont blow them out the water until i EXPERIENCE the game myself..