It seems like for most Bethesda fans, exploration is the main draw. Since I don't enjoy exploration without some driving narrative (quests), Bethesda's work has limited appeal to me. I try not to judge Elder Scrolls games too harshly, because I know I'm not in the intended audience.
But I AM in the Fallout audience, and I feel that aimless exploration and dungeon delving is not what Fallout is supposed to be about. This is why I would prefer Obsidian to be involved in future Fallout games, because they seem to get this, while Bethesda seems to think that aimless exploration should be the ultimate goal of all RPGs. As long as this continues to be their design philosophy, I don't think they can make a great Fallout game.
But I AM in the Fallout audience, and I feel that aimless exploration and dungeon delving is not what Fallout is supposed to be about. This is why I would prefer Obsidian to be involved in future Fallout games, because they seem to get this, while Bethesda seems to think that aimless exploration should be the ultimate goal of all RPGs. As long as this continues to be their design philosophy, I don't think they can make a great Fallout game.