Explain Van Buren

[ColCol]

I keep hearing about the Van Buren project, but I don't quite get the point/appeal of it. What is it? Fallout with the serial number filed off?

 

[Jaesun]

http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Van_Buren

 

[ghostdog]

http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/index.php?forums/van-buren-a-fallout-adventure.86/

 

[ColCol]

Um, none of these really answers. I'm talking about the recent inXile Van Buren project. That is a thing right? It can't possibly be a fallout 3 remake with the fallout removed.

 

[Athelas]

I'm guessing it's InXile's own attempt at a Fallout clone with Avellone's involvement. It obviously is going to be a brand new story (although possiblity set in the Wasteland universe) - the idea of recycling Van Buren's plot and surgically removing any and all Fallout details is indeed fairly absurd.

 

[Tzaero]

I'm guessing it's InXile's own attempt at a Fallout clone with Avellone's involvement. It obviously is going to be a brand new story (although possiblity set in the Wasteland universe) - the idea of recycling Van Buren's plot and surgically removing any and all Fallout details is indeed fairly absurd.

They're pretty much doing the same thing with Torment.

 

[Athelas]

I'm guessing it's InXile's own attempt at a Fallout clone with Avellone's involvement. It obviously is going to be a brand new story (although possiblity set in the Wasteland universe) - the idea of recycling Van Buren's plot and surgically removing any and all Fallout details is indeed fairly absurd.

They're pretty much doing the same thing with Torment.

They're not recycling PS:T in a new setting, at least not that I'm aware of.

Also, Torment isn't owned by Bethesda.

 

[Vaarna_Aarne]

I'm guessing it's InXile's own attempt at a Fallout clone with Avellone's involvement. It obviously is going to be a brand new story (although possiblity set in the Wasteland universe) - the idea of recycling Van Buren's plot and surgically removing any and all Fallout details is indeed fairly absurd.

Actually, it wouldn't be that hard, the main thing one would have to remove is the whole NCR-BoS War thing but IMO its narratively the least interesting of the possibilities presented by Van Buren's script elements. Everything that's actually pivotally important can be executed in any manner of post-atomic war world which allows for fantastical science with very little changes.

 

[Athelas]

I'm guessing it's InXile's own attempt at a Fallout clone with Avellone's involvement. It obviously is going to be a brand new story (although possiblity set in the Wasteland universe) - the idea of recycling Van Buren's plot and surgically removing any and all Fallout details is indeed fairly absurd.

Actually, it wouldn't be that hard, the main thing one would have to remove is the whole NCR-BoS War thing but IMO its narratively the least interesting of the possibilities presented by Van Buren's script elements. Everything that's actually pivotally important can be executed in any manner of post-atomic war world which allows for fantastical science with very little changes.

When I said it was 'absurd', I meant from a legal perspective.

 

[Vaarna_Aarne]

I'm guessing it's InXile's own attempt at a Fallout clone with Avellone's involvement. It obviously is going to be a brand new story (although possiblity set in the Wasteland universe) - the idea of recycling Van Buren's plot and surgically removing any and all Fallout details is indeed fairly absurd.

Actually, it wouldn't be that hard, the main thing one would have to remove is the whole NCR-BoS War thing but IMO its narratively the least interesting of the possibilities presented by Van Buren's script elements. Everything that's actually pivotally important can be executed in any manner of post-atomic war world which allows for fantastical science with very little changes.

When I said it was 'absurd', I meant from a legal perspective.

Well, I can't really say anything in that regard, since I'm not familiar with the exact extent to which American plagiarism laws would apply to an barebones overview of what a script would contain for a game that was never finished and which hasn't been worked on for over ten years (our little fan project notwithstanding). I'm no lawyer. But key point to understand is that there are practically no actually vital "Fallout details" in the story, everything about it is fairly trivial to work into a non-Fallout form.

 

[pippin]

I think the real question is: what do you have left once you remove everything that was already used in New Vegas?

 

[ArchAngel]

I think the real question is: what do you have left once you remove everything that was already used in New Vegas?

What ever crazy and fun stuff Avelone comes up with. Maybe it would be a mix of Torment and Fallout?
Something with Alien species and mutant civilizations and all kinds of crazy stuff. Fallout was more low tech, Van Buren could be moved more into post post apocalypse where civilization is already coming back?

 

[Infinitron]

I keep hearing about the Van Buren project, but I don't quite get the point/appeal of it. What is it? Fallout with the serial number filed off?

Keep hearing from who?

It's just a name that inXile trademarked. It could just be a cheeky subtitle they attach to a Wasteland 3 Kickstarter someday. Or something else entirely. If they end up using it at all - even that isn't certain. They trademarked Meantime too, remember.

 

[Zed]

Trademarking a project name... I don't see the point.

Any Fallout-clone coming from inXile will almost certainly use the Wasteland setting – maybe toning down on the wackiness a bit.

 

[pippin]

I think the real question is: what do you have left once you remove everything that was already used in New Vegas?

What ever crazy and fun stuff Avelone comes up with. Maybe it would be a mix of Torment and Fallout?
Something with Alien species and mutant civilizations and all kinds of crazy stuff. Fallout was more low tech, Van Buren could be moved more into post post apocalypse where civilization is already coming back?

My guess is that Brian Fargo wants to make a Wasteland 3 with Van Buren's remaining elements, which is mostly a crazy doctor, man-hating and lsd-taking amazons, a more organized Caesar's Legion... and raiders of different colors and sizes, from what I remember right now. But yeah, the Wasteland universe is more crazy than Fallout's, so we'll have to see.

 

[CptMace]

Trademarking a project name... I don't see the point.

Any Fallout-clone coming from inXile will almost certainly use the Wasteland setting – maybe toning down on the wackiness a bit.

Cheap hype value.
Obviously, the point's not about recuperating the work Black Isle did on the project, since it was pretty much nothing but a 3D engine. The good bits about the scenario in progress have already been reused in New Vegas, and that'd be horrifying to consider that creativity at inXile is so numb they actually have to buy some right to use such an amazing concept like a crazy doctor.

 

[Dorateen]

 

[Forest Dweller]

I think the real question is: what do you have left once you remove everything that was already used in New Vegas?

My guess is, if this thing goes forward with Chris Avellone as the lead, it will basically be the original story (maybe a modified version) of what he had going for Van Buren, which still hasn't been done. His main idea which he's talked about frequently was that the player's main antagonist(s) in the game would be a rival group of adventurers who would also effect the world the same way the player would. It's an interesting concept, and he still hasn't done it. Maybe some other elements of the story (his story) as well would be preserved. Since it's sort of a vague idea, it could really be ported into a variety of settings, such as the Wasteland setting, or something they make up specifically for the game.

As far as I can tell regarding New Vegas, only the factions (i.e. Caesar's Legion, etc.) got carried over from Van Buren. The rest (story, etc.) was all new.

 

[Morality Games]

What DS and Infinitron said. It's probably just a KickStarter pitch for WL3. It's unlikely the released product will be called "Van Buren", although anything is possible.

 

[Zeronet]

Why has nobody considered they might make a RPG about President Van Buren?

 

[Pirata Alma Negra]

It's a tentative to get people throw money into a name.

 

[StrongBelwas]

Given how it is pretty likely that if you care about the Van Buren project, you have probably at least read the general plot outline, I can't imagine them using the old story with the Fallout bits removed. My guess is a Wasteland 3 marketing ploy, with the storyline having some of the broad elements of Interplay's F3 plot(Virus, crazy scientist, mysterious prison, etc.) at the most.

 

[Forest Dweller]

Why has nobody considered they might make a RPG about President Van Buren?

Because that would be the most boring RPG ever?

 

[Bester]

if this thing goes forward with Chris Avellone as the lead

Never. Ever. is the only phrase that comes to mind. Avellone is out of serious gamedev business, get over it.

I wish it wasn't so, but it is...

 

[Forest Dweller]

Never. Ever. is the only phrase that comes to mind. Avellone is out of serious gamedev business, get over it.

You need to read more carefully what Avellone has said regarding his Obsidian departure.