Spotted on the US Patent and Trademark Office website recently were two suspicious trademarks filed by
Bethesda Softworks, the folks behind the
Elder Scrolls series and, most recently,
Fallout 3. First, a trademark staking claim on the
Fallout name for "entertainment services in the nature of an on-going television program," hinting pretty heavily at the possibility of a
Fallout-themed ... television program. Another filing secures the trademark for "motion picture films about a post-nuclear apocalyptic world." We imagine you get the gist of that one, eh?
It looks as though Bethesda is thinking about the future of the
Fallout IP and some interesting ways to expand upon it. With the possibility that the company has taken back the reins on a
Fallout MMO, the future for Bethesda may hold a
megaton more
Fallout than we could have possibly imagined.
{ Apr 17th 2009 at 1:05PM } 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
CloudStrife @ Apr 17th 2009 1:08PM
I loved Fallout 3 and everything but I think that Fallout + TV/Film = Epic Fail.
Wes @ Apr 17th 2009 1:16PM
Don't let Uwe Boll's epic failures cloud your mind. It IS still possible for a good video game adaptation to exist. ITS POSSIBLE! You just have to believe, have name-actors of recognizeable quality, a good director and a good budget. Heck, the resident evil movies have been pretty decent.
Sam @ Apr 17th 2009 1:20PM
they could be "protecting" fallout just like people hold trademarks to linux to keep their asses from being sued. It seems that Bethesda wants to take fallout seriously, and they haven't screwed up as of yet, so cut them some slack.
CloudStrife @ Apr 17th 2009 1:32PM
Don't get me wrong, if done right, it could be great. It needs the right financial backing, distributor and, most importantly, actors. They will need to adapt it a hell of a lot though. They obviously can't show both the good and bad decisions made by the player so the character's route in life will have to be decided early on. Also, the lead character being mute would need to be changed obviously, which is the same reason why I am against any potential Zelda films.
Joystick Hero @ Apr 17th 2009 1:51PM
The lead hasn't been mute in any Fallout game as far as I know. I mean, who do you think speaks those dialog choices? Your irradiated pet mouse that you keep in your pocket?
Saria the Cat @ Apr 17th 2009 2:35PM
...But Mad Max has already been made. :S
BigD145 @ Apr 17th 2009 2:54PM
I can only hope Bethesda is securing the property so NOBODY can make any film. If only...
Peekay @ Apr 17th 2009 6:31PM
Well, seeing as the writing in the fallout-games have a little more meat to it than say, the latest Street Figher movie, I could see some potential! Let's just hope that it gets the financial backing worthy of such a movie. And that the gianormous radiated rats and three-headed cows won't give the movie too much of a comical approach. :o
tenor77 @ Apr 17th 2009 1:08PM
"I don't want to set the world on fire. I just want to start a flame in your heart"
Do you think they'll blow up Megaton?
Ezio Auditore de Firenze (PSN slycooper_rocker) @ Apr 17th 2009 1:11PM
good, now the running would look half believable.
ice~ @ Apr 17th 2009 1:49PM
Now you're Ezio? My lord you confuse me sly_cooper. lol
Ezio Auditore de Firenze (PSN slycooper_rocker) @ Apr 17th 2009 1:56PM
haha, i've been ezio for a while. ever since they revealed the main character of assassin's creed 2. bit late to the party?
Xa31nov1s @ Apr 17th 2009 1:12PM
A T.V. show might not actually be a bad idea, especially considering the sheer amount of stories and characters there are to be used. I'll certainly try to keep an eye out for any new news on this.
Markez @ Apr 17th 2009 1:15PM
I'm always a sucker for pre- & post- apocalypse movies, so I might not mind this. Excepting the Sarah Connor Chronicles, which my buddy enjoys, for some reason. I'd been a huge fan of The Stand back in the day when it was on TV, although it had more magic to it when I was much younger. Don't know if I like these type o' stories on TV though...
RudyHuxtable @ Apr 17th 2009 1:16PM
I like Bethesda a lot so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that this is more a precautionary measure to protect the IP.
BUT
Fallout for TV? I don't think it's a good idea. There are too many reasons why this would be Fallout-esque, but not Fallout.
Gore. Profanity. Dark comedy.
The dark comedy aspect would likely work, but let's be honest. They're not about to hang dismembered bodies in raider bases or let people's heads explode all nastified in VATS.
I'm sorry. I'd like to give it the benefit of the doubt but I think it would just end up grossly disappointing.
Markez @ Apr 17th 2009 1:18PM
I can't help but think of House of Cosbys everytime I see a comment of yours, you see, Theooo
RudyHuxtable @ Apr 17th 2009 1:19PM
heh, and my gamertag is RudyHuXXXtable
;)
Take THAT, Code of Conduct.
BlaqueBeird @ Apr 17th 2009 1:30PM
They did it in Firefly, if you've ever seen it. Minus the swearing, which isn't really necessary anyway. But there were definitely corpses and gross things whenever the Reavers showed up.
CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Apr 17th 2009 1:41PM
I think it could be doable on TV as a miniseries. TV shows seem way to dragged out lately and a movie would have to be 3+ hours to get a decent story in it.
zkey14 @ Apr 17th 2009 1:45PM
There's always HBO or Showtime.
RudyHuxtable @ Apr 17th 2009 1:55PM
Yea, I mean, I'm skeptical, but hopeful. Granted it makes for a fun game, but it also is a pretty compelling story.
A global wasteland in which the remnants of the government are corrupt and headed by the disembodied voice of Malcolm McDowell? A group of elite soldiers sworn to protect knowledge and technology against douchebag slavers and general malcontents? Sign me up!
I'm not saying it won't be good. I'm just a bit skeptical it'll wind up gimmicky. I'll just reserve final judgment and wait and see. We're jumping the gun anyway since we haven't received any more details about "Broken Steel" :)
Saria the Cat @ Apr 17th 2009 2:40PM
@Rudy: TV awesomeness has more to do with good writers, actors, production, etc. than it does with anything else---even content. Look at the Office. It's a show about working at an office, for crying out loud.
I don't know, I think a post-apocalyptic or dystopian TV genre needs to be made popular, and now. I've already got my sci-fi fix covered with BSG, mystery with Lost, drama with Breaking Bad, and funnies with 30 Rock, Office, and now Parks and Recreation.
...Then again, maybe I just watch too much TV.
RudyHuxtable @ Apr 17th 2009 2:53PM
@Saria:
Well, that's what I'm trying to get at. Two of my favorite shows were "The Wire" and "Battlestar" and I think they worked as well as they did because of the writing and the risks the talent and creative staff were willing to take. If it were written well, it could be on par with those two shows, no question.
I'm optimistic, just not terribly so :) If the show ever gets developed and airs, I will gladly and cheerfully tune in. But I swear to GOD if I get Kevin Sorbo in Tesla Armor then I will just furiously rub Brillo over my pupils.
Saria the Cat @ Apr 17th 2009 4:18PM
@Rudy: Yeah, not really arguing, just conversing. I have yet to start the Wire but it's on my Netflix queue!
RudyHuxtable @ Apr 17th 2009 4:28PM
@ Saria:
Yea, no worries, no arguing happenin' here. :)
The Wire is excellent, and Kevin Sorbo never appears in it.
I also hear good things about "Kings" but I've yet to watch what I've TiVo'd. That'll probably be this weekend.
Has anyone cause Krod Mandoon?
Snake Robot Podium @ Apr 17th 2009 1:25PM
If this show/film ever comes true, what elements would it need to be truly "Fallout" and not just something that takes place in Postapocalypia?
I've only played Fallout 3, so all I can think of is the Enclave and the Brotherhood of Steel.
Neptune @ Apr 17th 2009 1:31PM
1. Vault(s)
2. Brotherhood of Steel
3. ???
4. Profit
Snake Robot Podium @ Apr 17th 2009 1:36PM
Stupid me, of course vaults. Also, robots.
Markez @ Apr 17th 2009 1:39PM
Step 3 is robot porn.
Neptune @ Apr 17th 2009 1:46PM
More serious answer:
- Pip Boy
- Vaults
- Bos
- Two-headed brahmin
- Mutants
- Robots
- Raiders and Slavers
There are probably many more things common, but those came to my mind.
N3M3515 @ Apr 17th 2009 11:34PM
Radscorpians, Bottle caps,ghouls, deathclaws, tribals, gambling, whores, Jet, power armor, hubology, and iguana-on-a-stick.
SuiXide @ Apr 17th 2009 1:31PM
I think a movie would be great, especially if it had some of the backstory in it, regarding the war and whatnot. A TV show might be alright as a prequel to a movie, taking place before the nukes went off.
I dunno if many people nowadays would go for it though. Might be hitting a bit close to home.
Jeff @ Apr 18th 2009 3:15AM
I agree. If it's a TV series, using it as a tool to chronicle the events leading up to the Great War could be pretty interesting. Especially when you consider a modern portrayal of the "World of Tomorrow" that the Fallout universe uses. If they were to go that route, it'd have to be a series with a set beginning and end.
Or, like an HBO miniseries or something.
Private Awesome @ Apr 17th 2009 1:33PM
If they do make a film based on Fallout 3, I hope they use Liam Neeson for the father again. God I love that man.
Geist @ Apr 17th 2009 3:37PM
'the father'?
If you make a Fallout movie, you do not make it based on the game, you make it based on the world. Recreating the game in movie form is an awful mistake and would fail in so many ways.
Diskoboy7 @ Apr 17th 2009 1:45PM
Fallout would make a better TV series, than a movie. There would be many more story possibilities, than one or two films.
But then again, you'd always have those Jericho fans who would say that they stole the idea, even though the Fallout franchise is over a decade old.
Bored Exchange Student @ Apr 17th 2009 1:54PM
why? fall out 3 was boring. a boring game (with awful animations) equals a boring movie. why should anyone waste money on that?
Saria the Cat @ Apr 17th 2009 2:44PM
Bored people are just boring people in disguise!
Cosmo @ Apr 17th 2009 1:54PM
IMO, Fallout 1/2 are better games than Fallout 3 but Bethesda sure has taken this franchise to the mainstream and HOW!!! Too bad Fallout 1/2 never received as much attention as they deserved, mostly a cult following.
TrojanGuy @ Apr 17th 2009 1:59PM
If they could get Ron Moore and David Eick (the BSG creators) to do it, I bet it could be good.
WiNG [XBL&Steam: WiNGSPANTT] from lifeinagame.com @ Apr 17th 2009 2:08PM
Yeah until the ending where they will basically make it up as they go along then come up with something that doesn't explain half the events in the show.
F1: Basu Gasu Bakuhatsu @ Apr 17th 2009 2:30PM
@WiNG
You're an idiot. That is all.
Einhanderkiller @ Apr 17th 2009 2:02PM
I hope Uwe Boll directs. He is such a good director.
Flankenstein @ Apr 17th 2009 2:17PM
The buggiest movie ever made?
WorMzy @ Apr 17th 2009 2:24PM
I think I'd better get some headdesking in now, to same me the effort later on.
Travis @ Apr 17th 2009 2:24PM
a fallout TV show would be amazing, a movie would be rushed and lacking
butaneko @ Apr 17th 2009 2:24PM
It could definitely be a great TV show. It definitely needs to be a slow burn.
For Fallout the movie see "The Road"
Saria the Cat @ Apr 17th 2009 2:43PM
Or Mad Max.
RonaldoMoon @ Apr 17th 2009 5:07PM
I'll have to check out "the Road". You should all watch "A Boy and His Dog", it's the most 'Fallout-ish' movie I've ever seen. It's even got people living in an underground 50's style "utopia"...much like the vaults but its actually an entire small town built underground. And then there's the telepathic dog, which is just cool.
Markez @ Apr 17th 2009 5:32PM
I got 3 hits for "The Road" on Netflix, and not a one of them sounds like a Fallout movie?