Hi Everyone,

I am both a writer and an avid Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas fan.

Currently I am writing human interest and social media related stories concerning the tragedies befallen Japan.

I have posted a poll with 5 easy question, designed to assess, in part, if Japan events have impacted your enjoyment of the game.

Obviously, many games are based in tragedy -- I remember those following 9/11 and the genre (fighting terrorism) remains popular today.

There are no right or wrong answer...I think some people simply play for fun and others use games to cope -- among the many reasons to play.

Any comments or insights you have about Fallout and your understanding/fears etc. of nuclear meltdown or nuclear crisis please share. I find it an interesting topic and hope you do to.

No.
No.
No. (Was concerned about waste.)
Neither. (Nothing.)
Europe.

Fallout is Fallout.

Real life is real life.

Well, opinions are good. Thank you for sharing.

I'll add that I'm a product of the 70s so ...I think that colors my interest in the game. But it was more from the threat of nuclear war than environmental (e.g. natural disasters).

Pretty much this.

This. A game is a game. Sure, I know about the history of the Chernobyl disaster, but that doesn't impact how I feel about the STALKER franchise. They're games. True, they draw some inspiration from real life, but they're still just games.

I'm glad you mentioned Stalker! I was drawing a blank and needed a comparison ....admittedly that one was too eerie for me, but very germane to the topic.

Question 3 implies I suddenly care. I still don't.

A 41 year old plant took a 9.0 earthquake and a 20ft wave and they are *worried* about a meltdown.

So I am not really bothered about the risks.

This

Aye. Though I wouldn't really say I don't care, I just think that there's still nothing to worry about. As Yacoby said, that power plant took a massive earthquake and a [censored] tsunami and there's still no reason to believe that there'll be a serious nuclear accident. The media are seriously exaggerating, turn on the Dutch news and you'd think that this is already worse than Chernobyl.

Why would I care?

Not saying I don't care about Japan, just saying I don't understand why it would relate to Fallout.

The Japan crisis does not make me worry about nuclear power, it makes me worry about future earthquakes.
Here in California, the Hayward fault has not had a major earthquake since the mid-19th century. There will be a major earthquake on there eventually and it will be devastating.

and what does the crisis have to do with fallout? i certainly didn't believe there were any real ties between Nihon and fallout 3

the game is complete fantasy, even if we use familiar names

All I know is it sets my career path back about 30 years. Just like after three mile island there won't be any new nuclear reactors anywhere because people and governments are too scared and it'll be just a little harder to get a job at a power plant.

Lucky me I can also get a conventional electrician job too.

Why should what happened in Japan matter about Fallout. Fallout is a fictional game that's not real. It's not the USA's Fault that they had to nuke Japan 70+ years ago and the earthquake itself in present time is just bad luck.

You should have added an age option to the poll. Would have made it more interesting.

STALKER definitely had me think about the Chernobyl NPP disaster, but I don't think it really affected me except made me learn some more about the topic (via Wikipedia). I think part of the reason it had more effect than Fallout was because the setting was so much darker, and actually dealt with the disaster. Fallout felt more comical (esp. after the original), so it didn't have so much impact. Still, both settings were distinctly fantastical, and never really made me worry or feel guilt in any meaningful way. =/

It is a pity. The problem with the current reactor (needing power to cool the rods) has apparently been fixed in newer designs.

It may not apply for some/most people directly... which is part of the reason for the poll -- to see if, how and why, what content....of course the poll is quite limiting. I don't wish to skew results and the poll is for perspective so I'll avoid opining as to why *I* think it is relevant. But when/if an article is published (as anticipated) I'll update here and/or respectfully acknowledge the input provided by Fallout fans. Thanks.

^

I maybe insensitive for saying so, but I have to live on. I'm not going to go into the game saying something that I know would be wrong however I will still play the game.

Question 3 is misleading. I don't have concern with nuclear power even after what happened there.

Helps that the mutations, anomalies, etc. in STALKER were due to events completely separate to the nuclear incident (aside from it creating a quiet place to run experiments).


I'm not too concerned with the Japanese reactors, due to the circumstances being hugely different to those present in Chernobyl.

Not concerned, and it doesn't affect my enjoyment of the games.

My feelings here. Plus, that facility was made in 1971. It was a pos, like most other nuclear facilities today. Problem is, hardly anyone wants to invest in the new tech, even though it's leagues better and safer than anything made 40 years ago. The new stuff practically makes the current stuff look like old, wooden water wheels! I am glad, that despite the grimness of the situation, it is being handled well. Also, it would have been a disaster, even if it was a different type of power plant. It's just that when people here nuclear, they think of A-bombs and A-bomb explosions. Plus, the place took on a 9.0 earthquake and a tsunami. The fact it still somewhat stands is a good thing.

Also, this is no Chernobyl. Chernobyl was a complete and utter disaster waiting to happen. The place was pretty much designed to fail horrifically! And it wasn't even because of a natural disaster.

Yes an age option would be very useful, but the limit is 5 questions. If it is worthwhile to add an external poll, I will...it may not be necessary for the scope of the article.

The description of how STALKER impacted you (and didn't) especially in the desire for more knowledge is interesting,

If you are interested in being quoted about how STALKER or FALLOUT influenced you concerning all things nuclear... feel free to send a brief PM with your interest and age and scope of interest.

I'll have a more formal set up later if needed.

Otherwise, given how dynamic the situation is it may be 1 day or 1 month before the article is written. Sometimes, and often the best, stories unexpectedly write themselves.