The real-life Fallout 3 Pip-boy peripheral that almost was
by Kevin Kelly 
{ Jul 17th 2008 at 8:30AM }
We spent time with Bethesda's Todd Howard beyond locked doors and found out about some of the dark secrets behind Fallout 3, including the massive real-life Pip-boy that would have had a screen built into it to allow you to interact with the game. Or possibly hold your PSP on your wrist to become a PiPSP-boy. Find out more after the breakage.
Q: Whose idea was it to build the Pip-boy 3000 clock that comes with the Fallout 3 Survival Edition?
A number of us. Pete [Hines] was probably the first one of us to say, "You know... we should build one of those." The initial concept was... peripherals were getting so popular. Retail was just cleaning up with peripherals, you can see where I'm going with this: Guitar Hero. I got asked if I wanted to do one as a peripheral, and I said "Absolutely!" The idea was that we would sell it, and it would work with the game. Now it's going to be a letdown, because it's obviously not what's happening.
Q: Like something you would snap onto your wrist?
We talked about it being a modified controller. Instead of having to pull it up in the screen, it had a screen that you could just pull up and [screen button punching noises]. Then we talked about a snap-in on the PS3 that would work the PSP. You could just snap your PSP into it and talk to your screen. It just became too crazy. "This thing is gonna cost $500! Another screen? How does it work on the platforms?" It was just too much for us to bite off.
But there was a one week period where we were like, "This is the greatest idea in the history of the universe, and we're doing this." But then we decided it would probably distract us from making a better game. The main argument was that it was only useful in the game, it wasn't something that was useful when you were out of it, so we decided to make it as a clock. Now you can wear it as a goofy watch to the mall, or you can put it up on your desk. It's really meant to be used on your desk as a clock now.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Isak? @ Jul 17th 2008 8:43AM
I would've laughed at people who used it, but secretly wished I owned it. Like the chainsaw controller for RE4.
Dante @ Jul 17th 2008 9:44AM
lol same here. :P
Isak? @ Jul 17th 2008 8:44AM
I would've laughed at people who used it, but secretly wished I owned it. Like the chainsaw controller for RE4.
Taedirk @ Jul 17th 2008 9:04AM
I'm going to go over here and cry in the corner. A Pip-boy would have been complete awesomeness. Although in cost/implementation, a DS sans top screen sounds exactly like what they need to make this work. You'd have touch screen and wireless communication to connect the device to the game.
ScottG13 @ Jul 17th 2008 9:14AM
That's awesome that they were even brainstorming out the feasibility of it. Hey, at least we got the wrist watch. Hopefully, it becomes the center piece of my Halloween costume this year.
Sockninja @ Jul 17th 2008 9:36AM
yah i love well made immersion dealies like that kinda thing :) coulda been awesome Bethesda!! :D
Cigol @ Jul 17th 2008 10:12AM
It certainly would have distracted from looking at the abomination on the main screen.
riggs @ Jul 17th 2008 10:53AM
boooooooooooo *throws tomatoes*
inlogic @ Jul 17th 2008 11:06AM
You just broke my heart with the reference to Shenmue.
Oh my heart aches. Shenmue, where art thou?
Misfit Toy @ Jul 17th 2008 11:14AM
Enter Justin McElroy's quiet sobbing for the Pip Boy that will never be.
zombienutz @ Jul 17th 2008 11:42AM
That would have been awesome. Makes me sad that it won't be around, but the cost would have been a lot.
Mr.ESC @ Jul 17th 2008 12:03PM
Ow I would've bought the Ps3 version if it lets me use the PSP as a Pip-boy.
That would've been great,that's the kind of connectivity Sony promise us.
mirage @ Jul 17th 2008 12:54PM
I might just have to buy the uber-leet edition so that I can have the coolest wrist watch ever!
Abordoli @ Oct 4th 2008 6:00PM
Nintendo had a great opportunity to really link the DS to the GameCube/Wii for the Metroid Prime series. I was very dissapointed that the link-system they already had out wasn't used at all to give players the optional choice to have the map (updated in realtime as you move around) & menu items accessible via the DS whilst playing the game. All it would have required was for either a cartridge for the DS with the same content map/menu content or some sort of wireless link (DS to Access-Point to Wii and back) that would display content without the use of a cartridge. I know that the Metroid Prime series is now over with the last Wii version being the best game I have yet to play on the Wii system, but they really need to work on incorporating/interlinking the technologies that they already have available.