Joystiq

Rumor: Fallout MMO lawsuit settled, details coming this month

Richard Mitchell — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:45:00 EST

The ongoing legal battle between Bethesda and Interplay regarding the Fallout MMO is rumored to have reached a critical turning point. According to Fallout fan site Duck and Cover, the two companies have reached a settlement. Specifics of the settlement are reportedly set to be revealed later this month.

Joystiq is unable to confirm whether or not the settlement has actually taken place, though the rumor appears to be in line with what we've heard from our own sources.

In October, Bethesda tried -- and failed -- to impose a preliminary injunction on Interplay, which allowed the latter to continue work on the beleaguered project. Will the Fallout MMO manage to make its proposed late 2012 launch window? We should have an answer soon enough.

Rumor: Fallout MMO lawsuit settled, details coming this month originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Work on Fallout MMO can continue for now; Bethesda injunction appeal denied

Ludwig Kietzmann — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 17:30:00 EST

There's been so much written about Interplay's nebulous Fallout MMO in the context of tedious litigation, it almost seems to welcome the franchise's thorough, irradiated reduction of modern society. But for those interested in legal tussles, here's where we stand today: Fallout property owner (and former licensee) Bethesda was recently denied a preliminary injunction against Interplay, which would have denied Fallout Online use of the franchise's story, characters and other identifiable elements for a limited time. Today, an appeal against that decision was denied.

United States Court of Appeals documents show that Bethesda's aim was to show "the district court abused its discretion and misapplied the law in concluding that Bethesda failed to establish a likelihood of irreparable harm." And while the property owner continued to delve into fears over Interplay's suspect financial stability (a potential source of said irreparable harm), today's outcome similarly found Bethesda's claims unconvincing.

The legal saga is still far from over, as Bethesda and Interplay must still settle their polluted licensing relationship and come to a conclusion regarding the possible release of Interplay's work -- which may continue for now, but still requires "express permission" from Bethesda to launch. What state the world (both inside and outside the game) will be in by the time the courts clear things up is anyone's guess.

Continue reading Work on Fallout MMO can continue for now; Bethesda injunction appeal denied

Work on Fallout MMO can continue for now; Bethesda injunction appeal denied originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Interplay claims it wanted $50 million for Fallout rights, Bethesda refused

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 17:30:00 EST

The neverending tiff between Interplay and Bethesda over development of a Fallout-based MMO recently got a bit more backstory on the end of the former. Interplay president Eric Caen recently said in an interview with Edge that Bethesda was offered the rights to the Fallout MMO for $50 million, explaining that "the MMOG strength of this universe is huge." According to Caen, Bethesda passed on the license for a Fallout MMO, which Interplay then began developing with certain "conditions" established by Bethesda -- such as a required development start date of April 4, 2009.

The rest, as they say is history -- Bethesda filed a termination letter for Interplay to stop working on the project last year, claiming that the developer had missed the aforementioned start date. Caen contends that claim, saying Bethesda was merely looking for a way to acquire the rights to a Fallout MMO without fronting the $50 million price tag, which is a large sum of cash. We've contacted Bethesda for a response to Caen's claims.

Interplay claims it wanted $50 million for Fallout rights, Bethesda refused originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 23 Oct 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Interplay: Fallout Online in second half of 2012

JC Fletcher — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 13:20:00 EST

In an interview with Edge magazine (excerpted by Eurogamer), Interplay president Eric Caen reconfirmed the company's plans to launch a beta of the MMO Fallout Online in 2012. He also specified that the "second half of 2012" will see the release of the commercial game.

Thanks to the ongoing legal troubles with Bethesda, responsible for Fallout 3 and New Vegas, Interplay is in the unique position of trying to promote its game without being able to show it -- because, according to Caen, "anything we show will help Bethesda in their fight." Of course, Interplay staffers are free to go to the store and pick up the current Fallout releases for themselves, which they are doing.

"What I can say is that of course we're playing what Bethesda is doing," Caen said. "We appreciate some portions of it, and we're not necessarily fans of everything. I think they miss a lot of the humor, and the fans seem to agree with that." To that end, the Fallout MMO is intended to be "extremely funny."

Interplay: Fallout Online in second half of 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Bethesda nukes lawsuit against Interplay over Fallout MMO [Update: Bethesda disagrees, calls it 'ongoing']

Randy Nelson — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 16:30:00 EST

[Update: A Bethesda spokesperson told Joystiq, "It's an ongoing legal matter. I don't know where whoever reported that got their information, but it is ongoing and we are going to see how it plays out in court." So there you have it - Interplay and Bethesda haven't made nice just yet. Original post follows.]

For those of you just joining us, former Fallout owner Interplay has been working on Project V13 -- a Fallout MMO in all but name -- going back a couple of years now. Bethesda - current owner of the Fallout franchise and developer and publisher of Fallout 3 - was understandably nonplussed by this fact, and the two companies have been going back and forth in court over the rights to use the Fallout name ever since. Well, according to Fallout fan site Duck and Cover, the two have made nice, with Bethesda dropping its attempts to block Interplay from having anything to do with the franchise.

The site reports that it spoke with "Frymuchan," an investor in Interplay who has provided updates on the proceedings since they began. According to legal documents furnished by him, both companies came to an unspecified agreement whereby Bethesda would allow Interplay to continue on its merry way with the franchise. He called this "awesome news for Interplay stock," opining that he believes "part of the deal was that Interplay drop their countersuit against Bethesda."

Bear in mind that neither company has issued a formal statement on the outcome, and while the investor believes "this will likely mean that V13 will be moving full steam ahead," we'll await word from Interplay before getting too excited. Heck, the beta isn't even supposed to start until 2012.

[Via VG247]

Report: Bethesda nukes lawsuit against Interplay over Fallout MMO [Update: Bethesda disagrees, calls it 'ongoing'] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Interplay's 'Fallout MMO' beta to begin shortly before world ends

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:30:00 EST

It seems all the legal rigmarole between Interplay and Bethesda isn't slowing down the former's work on Project: V13, an MMO set in the latter's Fallout universe. At least, that seems to be the message from Interplay, which recently announced a development partnership with Masthead Studios, which is lending Interplay its technology, tools and resources as it continues work on the post-apocalyptic online game.

In fact, Interplay is so confident in the game's future release, it went ahead and announced a tentative date for the game's beta testing phase: 2012. Perfect! That should leave a few months for them to work out the kinks, then a few months for us to enjoy the game post-launch, and then the sun will explode.

Interplay's 'Fallout MMO' beta to begin shortly before world ends originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Interplay not satisfied with defeated Fallout injunction

JC Fletcher — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:37:00 EST

Last week, a US District Court judge denied Bethesda's request for an injunction against Interplay, which would have prevented Interplay from selling its Fallout games -- and stopped it from developing Project V13, the Fallout MMO.

The company released a short statement about the court case in the form of SEC Form 8-K, which is intended to provide information about major events to shareholders. Interplay is not happy to merely defend its rights to make and sell Fallout games: the statement reads that Interplay is going to continue pursuing "its Counter-Claims against Bethesda, including its claims for Breach of Contract, Tortious Interference with Prospective Economic Advantage, Rescission, Accounting and Declaratory Relief seeking an award of damages and other relief."

Interplay reportedly claims that Bethesda shopped the Fallout legacy games around to other publishers, telling them that Interplay no longer had the license, which constitutes "unreasonable interference" with Interplay's property.

[Via Duck and Cover]

Interplay not satisfied with defeated Fallout injunction originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Interplay's Fallout MMO in-game screenshots leaked by ... Interplay

Ben Gilbert — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST

With original Fallout IP holder Interplay currently embroiled in a legal battle with new Fallout IP holder Bethesda Softworks, it's no surprise that the most recently "leaked" images from Interplay's Project V13 are said to be from an "anonymous, but reliable" source. The Vault Wiki even goes as far as to claim that the images are directly from Interplay, saying "These screenshots were actually submitted by Interplay as court evidence to show that the game is in full production already."

Putting on our super sleuth detective caps, a Nuka-Cola billboard and the inclusion of a supermutant in these screens certainly confirms they are from some form of Fallout game. Big Download points out that these screens look awfully similar to concept art released by Interplay not too long ago. Without any solid confirmation from Interplay as to the origin of these screens though, we're gonna have to keep it filed strictly under the "rumor" category for now.

Gallery: Project V13/Fallout MMO from Interplay (rumored screenshots)

[Via Big Download]

Rumor: Interplay's Fallout MMO in-game screenshots leaked by ... Interplay originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Court backs Interplay in Fallout MMO squabble; concept art surfaces

Randy Nelson — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST

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.

Gallery: Project V13 (Fallout MMO)

[Via BigDownload]

Report: Court backs Interplay in Fallout MMO squabble; concept art surfaces originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Interplay countersues Bethesda over Fallout rights

Xav de Matos — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST

The infighting between Fallout's father and newly adopted guardian continues. According to a forum post by supposed Interplay stockholder frymuchan, Interplay has been given a 10-day extension to answer a preliminary injunction filed by Bethesda, which claims Interplay no longer holds rights to sell the original titles in the series. Following the release of Fallout 3, Interplay began selling the original titles across multiple PC-based digital distribution services.

Previous court filings by Bethesda claimed that Interplay's plans to develop a Fallout MMO -- codenamed Project V-13 -- were no longer valid because Interplay did not commence development prior to an agreed date of April 4, 2009. According to the post by RagingBull forum user "frymuchan" -- who claims to have received the information from official court documents -- Interplay claims it did issue a letter to Bethesda prior to the April date outlining details of a Fallout MMO, but Bethesda told it "for no apparent reason" that Interplay was no longer allowed to develop the game. Interplay believes that Bethesda's interference with licensing agreements to make the original titles in the series available digitally is unreasonable based on the current contracts in place.

Frymuchan also claims that Interplay has filed a countersuit versus Bethesda over statements it made to third party companies to whom it was attempting to license the original titles. According to the post, Bethesda released statements to companies such as GameTap and Good Old Games, claiming Interplay had no rights to license Fallout 1, 2 or Tactics for sale on its services. Interplay's counterclaim maintains this "unreasonable interference" puts Bethesda into breach of contract and makes the license sale "null and void," therefore reverting the agreement back to a sub-licensing deal between Interplay and Bethesda. In short, Interplay claims Bethesda now only holds rights to Fallout 3 with options for a fourth and fifth game in the series.

It's an argument of apocalyptic proportions and we're expecting more details when the extension expires next week.

[Via GamePolitics and Destructoid]

Report: Interplay countersues Bethesda over Fallout rights originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bethesda suing Interplay over Fallout MMO

David Hinkle — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:30:00 EST

Things weren't looking good for Interplay earlier this year and, uh, much hasn't changed since then. Even though the company had virtually no money, it still wanted to make the Fallout MMO, Project V-13. Well, Interplay's got another hurdle now: Bethesda. The Oblivion and Fallout 3 developer claims that Interplay infringed on its trademark, court documents show. Interplay disagrees, obviously, and says it still holds the rights to develop the title with Masthead Studios, even though it failed to commence the stipulated full-scale development by April 4, 2009.

Gamasutra has more info on the lawsuit, which also mentions Interplay's licensing of the original Fallout games for digital distribution through services such Steam, GOG.com and GameTap. Bethesda says this has caused "immediate, substantial, and irreparable harm." But, hey, it's not all frowns and sad faces. Above this text is a neat piece of concept art for Project V-13 from Natiq Aghayev. Man, we never thought post-apocalyptia could look so good.

Source - Court documents [Via VG247]
Source - Gamasutra

[image credit]

Bethesda suing Interplay over Fallout MMO originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Interplay still out of money

JC Fletcher — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 18:30:00 EST

It seems that selling off the Fallout IP hasn't reversed Interplay's fortunes -- nor has ... planning to make a Fallout MMO. According to a recent SEC filing, the publisher ended 2008 completely broke. But don't worry! Interplay has a plan: Get more money from somewhere.

"We continue to seek external sources of funding," the company stated, "including but not limited to, incurring debt, the selling of assets or securities, licensing of certain product rights in selected territories, selected distribution agreements, and/or other strategic transactions sufficient to provide short-term funding, and achieve our long-term strategic objectives." We assume that those long-term strategic objectives would include paying off the new debts incurred in order to provide short-term funding.

The document does mention that the publisher continues to work on "the development of a MMOG code named: "Project:V13" (the alleged Fallout MMO) as well as "sequels to some of our most successful games, including Earthworm Jim, Dark Alliance, Descent and MDK." All decent reasons to hope the company doesn't tank.

[Via VG247]

Interplay still out of money originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Apr 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bethesda trademarks Fallout name for film and television

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:05:00 EST

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.

Bethesda trademarks Fallout name for film and television originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Interplay may lose its license to make Fallout MMO

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:15:00 EST

Well, folks, it's been two years -- two years and 12 days, actually. And now, because Interplay may or may not have entered into "full scale development" of the Fallout MMO it was beholden to start making by, oh, say, 12 days ago, Bethesda Softworks has, unsurprisingly, asked for its property back. Though, according to an SEC filing, no "formal action" has been taken by Fallout IP-owner Bethesda as of yet, the company has apparently made claims that Interplay is "in breach of the trademark license agreement" the two companies agreed upon back in 2007.

Rumors that Interplay has been working on a Fallout MMO arose again recently as Earthrise developer Masthead Studios offered Interplay its proprietary tools and technology for use with a project currently in-development, codenamed "Project V13." We would like to point out that while a wiki page on "Project V13" hints heavily at the codename concealing a Fallout MMO in development at Interplay, nothing official has ever been announced. And you'd think Interplay might want to do that if it wanted to keep its "trademark license agreement," no?

[Via Big Download]

Interplay may lose its license to make Fallout MMO originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Masthead Studios lending Interplay a hand with suspected Fallout MMO

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:44:00 EST

The fate of Interplay's long-held plans to create an MMO in the Fallout universe (assumedly heralded under the code name Project V13) has been in peril for quite some time now. Many feared the project would be scrapped when the title's creative director moved on to a different company, though a glimmer of light pierced the darkness yesterday -- Masthead Studios, developers of the upcoming post-apocalyptic MMO Earthrise, will be giving Interplay its proprietary tools and technology for use in Project V13.

Given our MMO-obsessed sister site Massively's positive hands-on experience with Earthrise at GDC, we're excited to see how this technology will be used in Interplay's MMO. Of course, there's always a chance that Project V13 has nothing to do with Fallout. Sure, there's plenty of evidence to the contrary, but Interplay could very well be working on an Earthworm Jim MMO, which ... well, which would be just as awesome.

Masthead Studios lending Interplay a hand with suspected Fallout MMO originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original Fallout designer leaves Interplay, joins inXile dev team

Xav de Matos — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:55:00 EST

One of the developers behind the classic Fallout has ended his tenure with Interplay to join inXile Entertainment. Jason Anderson brings his survival instincts to inXile as the creative director for an unannounced role-playing title. At the end of his career with Interplay, Anderson was working as the creative director on a next generation MMO named Project: V13 -- which our blogging cohorts at BigDownload surmise was a poorly coded way of saying Vault 13, a long-rumored Fallout MMO.

Anderson's exit probably feels like déjà vu to his Interplay comrades. In 1998, Anderson left Interplay to form Troika Games (best known for Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura) but returned in 2007 when that company shut down. While we wish Anderson the best, we really hope Interplay will reveal what Project: V13 really is ... as long as it is a Fallout MMO.

[Via BigDownload]

Original Fallout designer leaves Interplay, joins inXile dev team originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Former Fallout dev rejoins Interplay for 'Project V13' MMO

Ross Miller — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:10:00 EST

Filed under: Online, RPGs, MMO

Original Fallout designer Chris Taylor - not to be confused for Total Annihilation and Dungeon Siege designer Chris Taylor - has re-upped with his former employer Interplay to work on unannounced MMO "Project V13," currently in development with several other members of the Fallout team.

While Interplay isn't coming out and saying it, all signs point to this being the Fallout MMO. Besides the Fallout-infused dev team, the company itself reaffirmed plans for the game last April. Even the logo bears resemblance of the Fallout aesthetic, and V13 could stand for either "V13" or if you interpret 13 as a 1337 version of "B", you have Project VB, the initials of which make the codename for Interplay's Fallout 3 (i.e. Project Van Buren) from before Bethesda took the reins. If Interplay's looking to ride next month's Fallout 3 hype train, we'll know more soon enough.

[Via EuroGamer]

Former Fallout dev rejoins Interplay for 'Project V13' MMO originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Interplay reaffirms Fallout MMO; Earthworm Jim, MDK sequels

Christopher Grant — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 17:58:00 EST

Filed under: PC, MMO

It's been awhile since we've had an update on Interplay's long-promised Fallout MMO. To get some of you up to speed: plans for a Fallout MMO that could revive the ailing company were teased out of a November 2006 SEC filing. In April of the following year, Bethesda - already hard at work on Fallout 3 - bought the rights to the series from Interplay for $5.75 million. The deal allowed Interplay to be a licensee, paying Bethesda a 12% royalty on net sales of the still-vaporous Fallout MMO. In August, Interplay's CEO stated in an earning statement that "Fallout Online will play a key role in the future of Interplay" and in November the company revealed ambitions to rekindle franchises like Earthworm Jim, MDK, Descent, and Dark Alliance.

Now, in yet another earnings report wrapping up their 2007 fiscal year, Interplay reaffirms its ambition to secure funding for the Fallout MMO as well as "creating sequels to some of its most successful games," notably the four listed above. To that end, it's hiring developers and will be launching a new web site "imminently." Regrettably, we won't be seeing any of these games as "imminently."

[Via MCV]

Interplay reaffirms Fallout MMO; Earthworm Jim, MDK sequels originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 Apr 2008 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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