(I got this idea from the Fallout 4 modding discussion podcast w/Gopher by Matty and his buddies:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N6xNkc6s38 )

So, Pete Hines as well as Josh and the guys at Obsidian:
As you all know, when Fallout New Vegas came out, it was basically a separate game and players had to mod it into Fallout 3 (or Fallout 3 into FNV). But we're gradually moving into a future of gaming where sequelitis becomes less common and more DLC-heavy "ubergames" are being developed (games that just go on for 10+ years - such as most MMOs as well as several PGC survivalcraft games like Minecraft, Terraria, etc).

So if Obsidian ever develops a second lore-extension game, say Fallout Miami, how about making it possible for players to naturally move their players between the titles - either by making it into (1) a mega-DLC for Fallout 4 and/or (2) a separate game that can use savegame data from Fallout 4, including all assets, etc (and will update Fallout 4 to be able to do the same). For instance, both games could perhaps be designes in such a way that they share the same directory subfolders and simply add to eachother.

Just a thought, guys. Keep up the great work, both BGS and Obsidian.

New Vegas was basically a large Fallout 3 expansion, it would be like a dream come true to be able to move naturally between a future incarnation of The Commonwealth and Obsidian's work. Would be even cooler if it was a direct addition to the map, and we could be wandering all over New England instead of having a teleport going across such a massive amount of land like how the mod linking 3/NV did it.

I wouldn't be surprised if they're already working on a Fallout 4 spin off based on the ground work Bethesda has laid out. I can see Bethesda churning out DLC comparable to what they did with Fallout 3, in the meantime.

Normally developers want to do something new. Tell a story or a setting, that's not already been told or shown. BGS have numerous times stated, that they want to focus on eastern USA, whereas Obsidian expressed their intereset in western USA.

You could theoretically do it, but I really don't see the point. When New Vegas came out, I didn't have any intention of playing F3 (a game I already had played), I wanted a new experience(New Vegas). And the idea, that I could travel in space and time, would break immersion and take me out of the game.

Furthermore, it would take more resources to develop in conjunction with F3/4. I would never spend time on it, rather spend time on making an unique experience.

I'd actually be pretty down for something like that, although at the same time I don't want to sacrifice savegame compatibility for the tweaks and changes Obsidian makes to the gameplay. They've got a different design philosophy, and the benefit of hindsight after Fallout 4, so it might not be feasible to make it work seamlessly like that.

Maybe it could be a thing like Mass Effect, where instead of a 1:1 character transfer you just get your character's appearance, karma, and experience (but not perks themselves) transferred for sort of a respec.

I personally would love it, so as to not have to go through the hassle of something like TTW. Don't get me wrong, I still think the mod (and idea) is great.

As it is, I would just be glad knowing Obsidian was working on a west coast version of FO4. I would be one happy Fallout nut to know they, or somebody like them, was already working a side sequel to FO4 so I can go kill me some more Legionnaires.

Leave obsidian alone for Cain's sake. They got plenty on their plate and they don't need to beg for scraps from Bethesda. Also these hubris filled threads that are created to yell your ideas directly to a developer(s) and pay no attention or care what us forum goers think are cringeworthy and come off as pretty damn disrespectful.

....no? Why would their game be an expansion to a spin-off? Why would they deliberately limit themselves by creating a mere expansion? Why would they want to tie into whatever hilarious story BGS comes up with this time instead of making their own from scratch? The two companies have completely different philosophies.

No, I just want a new game with a new character to start from scratch.

lolwut

Sounds similar to what the creative assembly is doing for the new total war:warhammer game. They have said that the initial release will consist of a few races and a part of the warhammer map. Subsequent releases will 'snap fit' into the original game, extending the map and adding more races.

Considering each game starts out with you as a different person it wouldn't make sense for your character to carry over.

I wouldn't care for a carry-over type of follow up to FO4. I'd love another Fallout NV style addition, though. More fallout is always better, but I don't see why they should be connected. Who wants to start a brand new game with a lvl 50+ character anyway? No thanks.

This all boils down to a REVENUE decision for both companies.

No Company is going to forego $20-$30 per unit just to make it easier for players to move an existing character. As evidenced in some of the comments here, I'm not sure many players would be interested in that kind of option (tho it is an interesting concept). Keep in mind there are lots of technical issues that would need to be addressed in doing so (scaling, difficulty, prior story arc, etc.).

I have no problem with an external company developing a DLC (may add some nice changes), but what the OP wants (moving characters to another "episode") can be done with a simple utility and some planning up front (in terms of technically possible). The real question is if players actually want this (rather than new character for a new story) and if Developers feel it's something they are interested spending resources to develop.

I can only speak for myself, of course, but I just don't see the attraction in starting at high level and just plow through some new territory. I enjoy early-mid game a whole lot more than late game where you're basically just a walking tank and nothing can stop you. At that point it's just quest grinding to finish the game.

Most of my games are abandoned somewhere in late game and I've never actually finished Skyrim, despite of over 900 hours of gameplay. There's no attraction in starting somewhere new with an already complete character.

Think about it. What would the development cycle be for something like that 2 or 3 years? They haven't even started yet. So I highly doubt Obsidian will ever do another Fallout game.

This.

I don't understand why people would want to blend them all together - they're separate games, with separate stories, and separate main characters.

(And that's even ignoring all the issues with traveling across the country in the Fallout world - how exactly did people get from the Capital Wasteland to New Vegas, when there's little things like the Legion - and dozens of other things - in the way?)

Ditto with the "will we hear about/see in FO4" people..... why do people want that? It makes no sense, and again - it's a new game, with new stuff.

edit: it's bad enough that there might be some carryover from FO3, but at least there's in-game justification for that - there were NPCs from the Institute in the Capital Wasteland, so it's definitely possible to travel between the areas.

(At a deeper level, I'm sure the Obsidian fans who'd like another Obsidian Fallout game would also prefer it to be a separate game instead of a DLC - because then, Obisidian could make changes to the game mechanics & engine, like they did with New Vegas. Sticking it as a DLC to FO4 would remove that opportunity.)

No thank you.
I want Obsidian to make a new FO. And with as much license as can be afforded, so they can make it their own as a stand alone experience.
Since Mods will be across all platforms, it would seem a non issue. Let the houses build stand alone games, without having to worry about them being seamless or stepping on each others toes.

I think it would be a great idea, but does Obsidian have enough time to focus on a Fallout right now? I mean they have their hands full with Pillars as it is. I would think they would want to put all their effort into their baby. I would like to see them put their efforts into a new Pillars or more expansions, perhaps even a console port.

I would think any Obs related FO would be a few years out from the release of F4. So, what Obs is doing now might not matter much.

Well maybe, I mean Pillars was a huge step for them, finally a title that wasn't someone else's and one that reached critical acclaim. It might be time for them to focus on their own work, they certainly have the talent. Especially after Bethesda screwed them out of royalties, I wouldn't make a sequel to any of their games again, but that's just me.

true, but if F4 does well, having a follow up means that the obsidian name gets a big spotlight, potentially bringing newer/more fans to their house to check out their other titles. I'm admittedly no marketer, though

I would love seeing Beth put their East Coast FO game out followed by Obsidian working on their West Coast spin-off title.

New Vegas changed animation, dialogue, and the set up of skills. While I can see how it would be nice to transfer mods and whatnot from one game to the other, if Obsidian had to tack their game onto 4, it might limit them creatively to make a game that is their vision and style. Plus if they keep the same player character, they would have to find a way to shoehorn them to the West coast setting http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/02/12/and-heres-obsidians-idea-for-fallout-new-vegas-2/ and rehire the same voice actor. Plus, would Obsidian make as much money just making an expansion pack?

The problem with carry over characters in any rpg is the loss of skills/powers/levels etc. You can't just take a leveled up character and ploop them down in a brand new game. You'd have to really tie in the stories and create a background so that everything you did in the past game mattered but still make it so you are able to get joy out of leveling up a character. The added difficulty of F4 having no level cap could really hamper having a tie in character. Really, the only story line they could begin with is "Amnesia!!!!" .A pretty used up scenario for lots of games. The fun of fallout has always kind of been.. new location, new pc, new scenarios and the fun of character creation.