Bethesda gave them years to pull themselves together, and they could have if they had used those years wisely. Also, the original Fallouts were not pulled from the shelves at all, they just couldn't market any new releases of them or re-package them. Since Fallout 3 came out it caused an upturn in interest in the original Fallouts - they could have made plenty without re-packaging it and little or no advertising. Also, you are assuming Bethesda would have turned them down if they asked, and that is just conjecture.

Say you have a friend who is desperate for money and sells you their nice car. You now own the car. Then one day you look out the window and the person you bought the car from is driving away in it. Would you stop them and say, "Hey wait, that car is mine now!" or would you just say, "Well, it was originally their car, so let them have it," even though you paid them good money for it? By law, the car is yours now, and even though it used to belong to the friend, it doesn't anymore.



The people that "invented" (as you put it) Fallout were the developers that worked for Interplay, not the company itself. All those developers (except Chris Taylor) are now gone to other companies (Obsidion and InXile) - and the reason they left is because they had no control whatsoever over their own great ideas because of Interplay's poor management of the finances of the company.

Well really none of this matters as this suit goes on, but was responding to one bemoaning this betrayal by Interplay - Bethesda might be very well trying to screw them too (pretty much all business is when you really get down to it). Amazing the anologies this discussion spawns though, eh ?

If Interplay felt that Bethesda had no intention of ever approving new marketing material they could have taken them to court instead of just ignoring it and getting sued themselves.

I think the re-release also coincided with a name change, from the Fallout Collection to the Fallout Trilogy. They probably did that to capitalize on the success of Fallout 3. And they might have just finished a publishing deal with another party, because I believe that the Fallout Collection had another publisher's name on it.

Regardless, Beth is probably just throwing the book at IP to get them to give the MMO up. I doubt that they have any great interest in preventing people from obtaining the first three games.

You misread me, I'm not one of the nay sayers and I believe Bethesda is not just entirely within its rights protecting itself like this - you have to be seen being aggressive when it comes to your IP or you leave yourself open to a hammering from all quarters, as many including myself have mentioned aleady - but that the suit is entirely just. I'm not disputing anything you've just wrote, I don't think my post post implied anything other than Interplay have a far out chance of pulling something from nothing by making this thing more costly than is wise, and that with enough in their favour they could concievably pull a lifeline out of Bethesda's pocket.

It could just be a rapid settlement that sees Bethesda coming away with everyting they need, without spending copious amounts in a fight with a company that has no viable monetary value or even any assets. The exclusivity is the only prize for Bethesda here, they don't need money, and they don't need Interplay to disappear as a competitor, its not one. Two million in debt and sixteen grand worth of assets... my parents have no debts, and have more in assetts than they do!

But there is a general feeling across teh webz, or seems to be, probably from people misreading the details, that Bethesda is a big bad corporate monster looking to devour the little guy, and that the trademark license agreement was somehow a cunning ruse to put Interplay in an impossible position that would ultimately lead to Bethesda owning all things Fallout without any complications in the form of the irritating lightweight Interplay.

That alone isn't any indication. But who knows, just my gut feeling on the thing - Interplay was over a barrel when they signed this and well, they're not exactly brilliant at the top.

They weren't on the shelves in the US for quite a while. In some other countries, where they were licensed before, yes.



Fallout Collection is the UK edition, still sold under that name in the UK. Fallout Trilogy is the US edition, which was sold under that name even before FO3.

Your point here is? There advlts they screwed up they have no one to blame but themselves.

I hope Brian Fargo will buy the name "Interplay".

:lol: Wat? People running around posting on teh internetz with dramatic statements based on a mis-reading of facts? Posting conspiracy theories and jumping to conclusions when they have only the barest of facts from blogs and forum sites? Surely that never happens?

It will be interesting to see how all this plays out for both parties. Some people on both sides of the argument will never be satisfied.

Hah, that'd be nice. Do they still have the Freespace IP ? Always wanted to see another game in that series.

You're not the only one.

Yes, among others, they have Freespace, Descent, Earthworm Jim, Giants: Citizen Kabuto, Sacrifice, Messiah, Clayfighter, Kingpin, Dark Alliance.

And yeah, it would be much cooler for Wasteland 2 to be developed by "Brian Fargo's Interplay" than "inXile".

I don't think they even had those guys. They outsourced the actual creation of the MMO to Masthead.. so maybe they had that freelance Concept Artist (who did good work) and Chris (and formerly Anderson) putting together some story ideas.. but other than that.. how could they even pay people? They have no money and almost no income.

They actually have one or two more in-house designers and at least one more concept artist, with Masthead doing mostly technical work.

We are many, join us! My designation is 1,223,111,333 of 122,111,222,111,174,239! You shall be assimilated, your quirkiness, internet savvy, and moderator powers will be added to our own... Resistance is futile! bliviongate:

Which in the context of creating a multi-million dollar MMO is no one. It takes hundreds of people, not 3.

Which misses his point, it's still unfortunate for those three 'nobodies' as you label them.

So it's Fallout or nothing? They will just fire them instead of reassigning them another project? Yeah it svcks for people to get fired but that's on Interplay.. not Bethesda. But yeah, hey let's all cheer on Interplay and hope they win because they do good things?

Well, given that Interplay's facing a bit more than just a canceled product with this I fear, yes, it's Fallout or nothing for them. But hey, the post you're unloading on just said how unfortunate it is for the Interplay employees. Granted they class as 'no one' to you, but his point is still true.

They have a few in-house designers, while most of the development is being handled by Masthead, which does have a lot more people.

But Masthead isn't being sued.. and in fact could probably sue Interplay as well.

Given that Chris Taylor seemed to be pretty much responsible for running the Interplay forum last time I checked in (admittedly some months ago) I get the impression that they're very short handed (A lead developer spending some time with the community is great, but forum modding takes time away from the developing he's supposed to be doing).

I can't say I'd be comfortable working for a place that got fined for not paying its staff - I have a strictly mercenary agreement with my employers. Loyalty begins and ends with the paycheck.

Well, Chris Taylor is (or at least was) probably also motivated by the chance to work with the Fallout universe he helped create again. But yes, I am surprised he's still there, and still optimistic. I wonder why he hasn't joined Jason Anderson's Wasteland 2 team at inXile yet.

Masthead isn't breaching contract agreements, only IPLAY.



I'm surprised he even went back to Interplay at all, especially with the two clowns still calling themselves the owners.