Game News Proof of the Existence of Fallout 3?

Sol Invictus · May 25, 2003

Tags: Fallout 3 (Van Buren); J.E. Sawyer

First of all let me say that Killzig of <a href="http://www.duckandcover.net">DAC.net</a> is THE MAN for getting this scoop. He received the following e-mail a short while ago and it definitel sounds like the first ever solid piece of evidence to prove that Fallout 3 is in fact in development:
 
<blockquote>
 
Howdy DAC guys,
 
 
In my lurking of the Something Awful forums I noticed this <a href="http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?s=326135949f966e3bfd391f0e4a7f3790&threadid=534967" target="blank">desktop thread</a>, posted by Ropekid who as is my understanding works for Black Isle. I can't really prove that but I'm sure someone at your neck of the woods can. Ropekid posted this <a href="http://diogenes-lamp.info/images/desktop_lg.jpg" target="blank">desktop</a>. Which seems interesting for 2 reasons. Firstly on the Top right there is an network link icon for a "F3 Project Server". No doubt this could mean many things but I can't help thinking the obvious =). Secondly his very desktop, a 'Gasbot'. I find this interesting has it reminds me of the style used in much of the Icewind Dale 1/2 concept and character work. Also as you can see it has a bit of a 1950' Sci Fi vibe to it. Fallout 3 concept work perhaps? Perhaps not. Im sure there are more but I'll let you guys pick it to peices.
 
 
Josh 'Arach' Hull. </blockquote>
 
<center><a href="http://www.duckandcover.net/Killzig/desktop_lg2.jpg" target=_blank><img src="http://www.duckandcover.net/Killzig/desktop_sm2.jpg"></a></center>
 
I've gotten good word (from Killzig and others who frequent the SA Forums) that Josh is indeed correct in his assumption that Ropekid is indeed a Black Isle Studios employee. Ropekid is in fact J.E. Sawyer, the man with a penchant for revealing games on his desktop - remember the Jefferson desktop? Which brings to note the absolute absence of Jefferson desktop items in that picture so we can only assume now that development of Jefferson has stopped, hopefully for the time being only.
 
 
As Killzig states: You can pretty much gather that Jefferson has been put on indefinite hold on account of licensing issues and BIS has tossed their full force behind a Fallout 3.
 
 
This is definitely something we love to hear.
 
 
Oh yeah, it looks like a Nuka Cola machine with hydraulics, arms and legs.

axel · May 25, 2003

woo woo

HanoverF · May 25, 2003

And it will apperantly be rife with Hudsucker Proxy references...

Well 2

Eldar · May 25, 2003

Great news about Fallout 3, but terrible news about Jefferson. I know it's not meant to be, but I keep hoping I hear the news that it's all been resolved and the project is again on track.

Araanor · May 25, 2003

Hmm. The evidence is mounting...

Fallout or not, it's an interesting piece.

Flarnet · May 25, 2003

They need critters to fill the gap left by the absence of the aliens. Looks like robots built from everyday stuff is some of it. Not really any LESS unrealistic than aliens but hey - its F3 and I'm not complaining!

Now if only FO:BOS could be cancelled. I mean... don't they need a team to make the Gamecube version of BG:DA2 or something? Come on Interplay, pull them off FO:BOS and put them someplace where the'll make you money!

Spazmo · May 25, 2003

As OnTheBounce pointed out at DuckandCover, that email from Tim Cain regarding a get together is intruiging.

Vault Dweller · May 25, 2003

What email? Tim Cain is getting together with BIS folks?

Spazmo · May 25, 2003

Look at JE's Outlook inbox. There's an email from Timothy Cain with a subject line, "RE: Get-together". Apparently, JE wanted to meet Tim Cain for some reason.

Vault Dweller · May 25, 2003

Interesting...thanks, Spazmo, I missed that.

Whipporowill · May 25, 2003

Well, they work across the street from each other... and I think it was Troika's Steve Moret that was over and said hello a while back. And some of these people actually know eachother... on a personal basis, non?

So I'd not think TOO much of that e-mail. Or maybe we should.

Azael · May 25, 2003

The e-mail is there to cause speculation, that's the only point of him showing Outlook in that screenshot. God, J.E. must love these little games.

Sol Invictus · May 25, 2003

I wonder what it means. It's highly plausible that J.E.'s getting some tips and ideas from Tim Cain for Fallout 3 and the implementation of SPECIAL. After all, Fallout is still Tim Cain's baby and I doubt he wants to see an actual sequel (i.e. that which is not FOBOS) go to shit.

EEVIAC · May 25, 2003

Whipporowill said:
Well, they work across the street from each other... and I think it was Troika's Steve Moret that was over and said hello a while back. And some of these people actually know eachother... on a personal basis, non?

So I'd not think TOO much of that e-mail. Or maybe we should.

There's also a "feargus.txt" file and an NDA on the desktop - it all looks planted if you ask me.

Eldar · May 25, 2003

Of course it's all planted. Why else would Sawyer show his desktop? The fact that it's planted could mean any number of things, and we're supposed to speculate on each and every one of them.

As for FO:BOS... Isn't it enough that Fallout 3 is, apparently, in the works right now? FO:BOS isn't going to kill the series. In fact, there's an real possibility that it will introduce some folks to the setting and maybe they'll try the CRPG. I thought it was over the top when folks flamed BIS over FO:BOS in the first place, but I could understand the depth of feeling seeing as how it really looked like the entire setting was going console. Now it just seems a bit small to wish ill of the FO:BOS title based entirely on your personal tastes. At this point, with FO3 in production, FO:BOS could be any number of other console titles that would be beneath your contempt.

Vault Dweller · May 25, 2003

Eldar said:
FO:BOS isn't going to kill the series. In fact, there's an real possibility that it will introduce some folks to the setting and maybe they'll try the CRPG.

No, you're wrong. FoBoS is not an attempt to introduce the Fallout universe to console players, it's an attempt to whore out the license by slapping Fallout logo on a some post-apocalyptic game for a few extra bucks. If you are looking at a good example of "introducing some folks to the setting" without fucking up the setting, look at Starcraft: Ghost.

Section8 · May 25, 2003

First things first, big ups to Arach (a fellow PCPPer) for the heads up.

I'm getting all warm and fuzzy just looking at some of the stuff on this screenie. JE just loves giving us food for thought, and food for thought is always more fun than anything spelled out in black and white.

Eldar · May 25, 2003

I'm not suggesting that Interplay has such grand plans for FO:BOS. I'm sure they're just trying to make money. The point is, who cares if they whore out the name as long as they continue to develop CRPGs in the FO line? ...And it will introduce players to the Fallout universe regardless of what Interplay intends. Let's hope they make it look enticing to new players. The point is, with FO in production, FO:BOS might as well be named "Brunhilde's most excellent adventure." It's not going to stop the CRPG.

Vault Dweller · May 25, 2003

Eldar said:
The point is, who cares if they whore out the name as long as they continue to develop CRPGs in the FO line?

As it turned out, a lot of people care, in fact, so many people care that Interplay had to lock up the boards. That's gotta tell you something.

And it will introduce players to the Fallout universe

No doubt, but the question is what kinda impression this universe would make. I highly doubt that a person subjected to this horror that so far got the worst gameplay reviews evAr would have an urge to play another Fallout game or have a good word for it.

Let's hope they make it look enticing to new players.

You have been paying attention to it, haven't you? You have seen the artwork, the trailer, the screenshots, etc? Then what does "make it look enticing to new players" mean?

Spazmo · May 25, 2003

*Sigh*

Eldar, remember Fallout: Tactics? That was a spin-off that was supposed to introduce new fans and improve chances of Fallout 3. Thus, it attained significant popularity and heaps of pre-orders, the most pre-orders ever for Interplay, in fact. Did Brain Fargo say, "Hey, people like Fallout. Let's make Fallout 3!"? No, he ordered Micro Forte to begin work on Fallout: Tactics 2. Even if FOBOS is successful, it'll lead to more FOBOSes, not Fallout 3.

Eldar · May 25, 2003

Let me just point out that I haven't played Tactics. I haven't pre-ordered FO:BOS. In fact, I doubt I'll ever play it. I thought it was over the top to spam flame on Interplay's boards, but I could sympathize with the idea that there would be another non-CRPG Fallout game.

My point now is that Fallout 3 is in production so it should be less provocative that Interplay is producing FO:BOS.

That Tactics was bad or that Brotherhood might be bad are far less important at this point than FO3 at this point. Brotherhood will introduce folks to the setting, but that was never my main point at any rate. If it does or not is far less important than the fact that BIS is actually producing FO3.

Ultimately, however, I see FO:BOS as a non issue. It's far more irksome that Interplay waiting so long to produce the CRPG than it is that they have decided to exploit the franchise in other ways. Flaming FO:BOS might make them go fascist on their board, but it won't actually stop them from producing the game. In that light, rejoice that they've seen the light in producing 3 (and hope it's not the tombstone for the series) and forget about FO:BOS.

Anyhow, I respect the fact that you folks have far more depth of feeling on the issue than I do, so I'll not goad you by continuing to argue the point. I'll just concede now that, as a Fallout fan in my own right, I've been disappointed with the decisions regarding Fallout to this point also. Our differences are a matter of degree and not opposition.

Rosh · May 25, 2003

Well, you also have to take a look at their target audience. Teen boys that generally have things bought for them by their parents and wouldn't know how to talk to a female if they were standing right in front of them. These kids also make up the "wouldn't it be kewl?" shit that you find cluelessly clogging up message boards as they don't care anything about the design, they just want to see something for the hell of it. They think "action = good", "Fallout = good", "console = good", let's combine all three!

Hell, Chuck is one of those kids, just read his dev diary and other things he's tried to bs out.

Now imagine the frustration as first you have them posting some of the most ridiculous shit on message boards, and then some of them might decide to start up sites that spread even more misconceptions of the game's setting. It's what we've had to deal with when every clueless kid comes out of the woodwork to call for a Fallout Online.

Those who have been around the Fallout fandom generally know how this is, especially with how BIS tried to put in shitloads of player-suggested things and their own bullshit for Fallout 2. It was a bit worse with Fallout Tactics, because it drew in clannie trash.

Saint_Proverbius · May 26, 2003

Eldar,

Here's the problem with Fallout Enforcer:

Chris Avellone said:
For continuity purposes, I would prefer that all Fallout PC RPG titles have their own continuity outside of other platforms and game genres (FOT), and that other platforms and game genres be regarded as "What if" universes, not canon. I do not know if that is my decision, however.

Problems introduced by Fallout Tactics and Fallout Enforcer may very well creep in to Fallout 3 just because Interplay powers that be want those things in Fallout 3.

Alleron68 · May 26, 2003

In the last year of my life my central goal as to return from Iraqi Freedom unharmed (not difficult but I am a screw up) Within hours of getting back I see that Fallout 3 is being done. My part of the war is over and my governments concern that individuals reponsible for providing software training to thousands of potential dwellers in consequence management had given up is proven wrong. So the joint operation between the Pentagon and BIS continues to prepare the world for the NWO

Unfortunately, my main point is that I think that the winamp is at a point where Dizzy Gillespie is playing Desafinado. Certainly a song that fits into the atmospheric selections that went before it in Fallout and Fallout 2

Editroial - In all fariness, to the people I left overseas. Stay safe, it will be a difficult time.
But to my fellow gamers take some time to recognize the people who gave time out of their lives to execute a mission the elected government felt protects US lives. Most all soldiers execute their mission with the belief that it is the right thing to do and and in that light their motives are hard to question. So remember Memorial Day this year with a little more thought while you contine to investigate the F3 mystery. If you've got a brother, father, aunt, or good friend give them a call on Memorial Day.

I apologize for ramblimg, but Cool site

huh · May 26, 2003

also, note the "FF6 server" on the desktop next to "F3 server". if we are gonna speculate...

this can only mean one thing - they are also busy porting Final Fantasy 6 to cell phones or whatever. or, perhaps they are gonna merge it with Fallout 3 and port it back to console. oh, the humanity!

btw, isn't it customary to abbreviate Fallout as FO?

Game News Proof of the Existence of Fallout 3?

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