Report: Court backs Interplay in Fallout MMO squabble; concept art surfaces
by Randy Nelson 
{ Oct 29th 2009 at 3:30PM } 
The twists and turns in the saga of Interplay's suspected Fallout MMO, "Project V13," date back to 2006. The latest came this week when, according to a report by No Mutants Allowed, someone claiming to be an Interplay stockholder revealed that Fallout IP owner Bethesda was denied an injunction it had sought against Interplay.
Bethesda had hoped to strip Interplay of the Fallout license after the publisher had supposedly broken an agreement to begin development of the MMO before April 4, 2009. Interplay claims that's not the case and, perhaps to prove its point, has posted concept art from the could-be-a-game on its forums.
As much as we'd love to play an MMO based on our favorite post-nuclear RPG, we can't help but feel this falling out between the two companies is going to keep us waiting until the real apocalypse -- and beyond.
[Via BigDownload]
Bethesda had hoped to strip Interplay of the Fallout license after the publisher had supposedly broken an agreement to begin development of the MMO before April 4, 2009. Interplay claims that's not the case and, perhaps to prove its point, has posted concept art from the could-be-a-game on its forums.
As much as we'd love to play an MMO based on our favorite post-nuclear RPG, we can't help but feel this falling out between the two companies is going to keep us waiting until the real apocalypse -- and beyond.
Gallery: Project V13 (Fallout MMO)
[Via BigDownload]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Oct 29th 2009 3:34PM
All this over an MMO that probably won't be worth playing anyways.
It's times like this when Blizzard employees just sit back and smile.
Jerks.
NitroMikeo @ Oct 29th 2009 3:36PM
Agreed, the Fallout series is amazing! But... Whether they would work online.. is another matter.
Traceur_Ryuk [All Digital until December] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Oct 29th 2009 3:39PM
Really? If anything Fallout is meant for online.
SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Oct 29th 2009 3:43PM
I don't care how much the concept seems to 'work'.
I just don't have much faith in anyone who tries to build an MMO from an old IP.
Square Enix and Bioware can do it, and obviously so can Blizzard.
But anyone else just ends up falling short.
The thought of Bethesda trying to manage an online service scares me.
Mauricio - GT: Zed Word @ Oct 29th 2009 3:35PM
now thats some fucking drama.
@Spydertaco: really? you dont think this would be any good?
Courtney @ Oct 29th 2009 3:45PM
I have great doubts that anyone could create a good Fallout MMO, at least in part because of the world. It's a post-apocalyptic world, and one that has traditionally had this element of loneliness to it. The wastelands are mostly empty. While there are towns, they aren't huge. Thousands, or even hundreds, of players all running around the same area all the time would break part of what makes the whole thing Fallout.
I think a multiplayer Fallout could be done, and done well, I just don't think it translates to the MMO realm.
On a functional level, building and delivering an MMO is considerably more challenging than many other games. Interplay hasn't delivered a new game at all in years and are in the process of rebuilding both their staff and their reputation. Having the flagship product be an MMO seems like a recipe for disaster to me.
Mr. Joe @ Oct 29th 2009 3:47PM
i'm glad someone told bethesda to shut up. they made a great game but i haven't seen many actions that earn the company respect. i'd love to see a fallout mmo.
i'd be a raider or a guy with just a suit, fedora, and a pistol. i'd kill each and every one of you sobs.
SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Oct 29th 2009 3:49PM
I wouldn't even attack people.
I would just walk around the wasteland in a suit holding a briefcase.
Like G-Man.
Orion @ Oct 29th 2009 4:31PM
@Mr. Joe
God, I hope you're on Live and not PSN.
Mr. Joe @ Oct 30th 2009 10:00AM
@orion: you want to clarify why we shouldn't be on the same console? was it my stance on bethesda or my stance of wanting to kill all of you?
i get it. you guys play mmos to play together not against each other, right? boy, that would make a fallout mmo just peachy.
Orion @ Oct 29th 2009 4:29PM
They could do something similar to Demon's Souls and have "visitors" (phantoms wouldn't make sense) that could come in to either aid you or try to kill you as you go along a mostly solo adventure. It would give you the sense of community but keep the waist lands well... deserted.
ImbecilePete @ Oct 29th 2009 7:15PM
Demon Souls has multiplayer!?
God I need a PS3 so damn badly
Mr. Joe @ Oct 30th 2009 10:03AM
maybe you don't understand the point of an mmo. you're supposed to play together. make allegiances. make enemies.
demon's souls works because it's a solo rpg with multiplayer elements. and it's done fantastically well. if they released a fallout game like this, it just wouldn't make sense. and it definitely wouldn't be labeled as an mmo.
Xoonaka @ Oct 29th 2009 4:35PM
Two pieces of environment concept art don't really prove anything to me. But I guess the Judge must've seen something that made him think they're working on it....
....but until I see it, I'm siding with Bethesda here. Not that who I side with matters.
Kyle @ Oct 29th 2009 4:59PM
Two pieces of concept art? That's all they have to prove they've been working on this? Colour me sceptical...
stephen2553 @ Oct 29th 2009 5:01PM
I would prefer a FO4 that allowed you to see other people, trade with them, fight them outside of towns etc when connected to internet like in fable 2, still the great single player game if you want but you can have a friend join you if you want, with they did this with kotor too. Hate that all these companies are making a MMO when really you can only afford 1 maybe 2 to get your moneys worth
Yamikotai @ Oct 30th 2009 2:40PM
"I would prefer a FO4 that allowed you to see other people, trade with them, fight them outside of towns etc when connected to internet like in fable 2"
This. Definitely this.
BlackBeltJones @ Oct 29th 2009 5:17PM
I'm glad Interplay is getting a break. They are a great company trying to come back from financial ruin and I want to see what they can do with their IP's.
Benjamin Heckendorn @ Oct 29th 2009 6:37PM
One less MMO to come out and fail against WOW, no loss.
Just give us a new SP Fallout game.
Ed @ Oct 29th 2009 6:49PM
Though I think going to court over this is a bit much, I'm on Bethesda's side about all this.
Bethesda can make a Fallout MMORPG work. They're successful and they have the funds to support it right.
Interplay is a company on the brink of death. Even if they have more to this MMORPG than some concept art (which is unlikely), it's going to take ages to come out. It might become the MMORPG equivalent of Duke Nukem Forever, with a similar story ending in bankruptcy.
LaughingTarget @ Oct 29th 2009 7:59PM
I guess everyone forgot the $30 million investment requirement. I doubt Interplay has $30 million to its name, let alone for a single game. It was a two part agreement, start development AND secure $30 million. Interplay clearly failed.
Mr. Joe @ Oct 30th 2009 9:59AM
@orion: you want to clarify why we shouldn't be on the same console? was it my stance on bethesda or my stance of wanting to kill all of you?
i get it. you guys play mmos to play together not against each other, right? boy, that would make a fallout mmo just peachy.
er ic @ Oct 30th 2009 2:54PM
I really want to see what Interplay can turn out utilizing the talents of a lot of the original Fallout creators. I love Fallout3, but my fondest memories are still rooted in Fallout and Fallout 2.
LaughingTarget @ Oct 30th 2009 7:41PM
The original devs formed Obsidian Entertainment and are working on Fallout: New Vegas for Bethesda.