Why did Bethesda choose to buy the Fallout license? : Fallout Series Discussion

» Mon Dec 07, 2009 10:39 pm

I mean, was it really that popular? When the first Fallout was released ('97 I think?), I was about 4 years old, so I didn't really pay attention to coumputer games, so I wouldn't know if it wa popular. Anyways, why did Bethesda choose to buy the Fallout license?

» Mon Dec 07, 2009 12:46 pm

I think mostly because they really liked the game. For a lot of game designers, Fallout was the sort of game where many people thought "man, I wish I'd thought of that first."

According to most interviews, it's a game where they had their own ideas on where they wanted it to go, and decided to try and make it happen.

» Mon Dec 07, 2009 11:44 am

someone at bethesda probably looked at fallout and said "you know what would make this game even better?..."

» Mon Dec 07, 2009 6:58 pm

Bethesda probably just wanted to try their hands at a new type of game.

Fallout was known to be an open ended game, and they're in the open ended buisness.

So, they decided to see what they could add to the Fallout Franchise, and if we're patient we'll get to see what is still yet to come.

» Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:00 am

I mean, was it really that popular? When the first Fallout was released ('97 I think?), I was about 4 years old, so I didn't really pay attention to coumputer games, so I wouldn't know if it wa popular. Anyways, why did Bethesda choose to buy the Fallout license?

$$$.

Bethesda is a business and the first order is to make money.The Fallout franchise was popular enough that they bought the liscence and knew that a profit could be turned.Nothing wrong with that.

Their not the George Clooney of the game industry,where someone does mainstream entertainment so that they can finance their artistc niche projects.

» Mon Dec 07, 2009 2:37 pm

Bethesda probably just wanted to try their hands at a new type of game.

But they didn't. They took a game of a different type than what they usually do and made a sequel with gameplay style more similar to the games that they usually do than to its predecessors.

» Mon Dec 07, 2009 10:19 am

But they didn't. They took a game of a different type than what they usually do and made a sequel with gameplay style more similar to the games that they usually do than to its predecessors.

In a completely different environment. Game mechanics notwithstanding, it IS a different type of game.

» Mon Dec 07, 2009 12:14 pm

In a completely different environment. Game mechanics notwithstanding, it IS a different type of game.

Game mechanics are what are the most important feature of a game. It's the same type of game they usually do, just with a different setting. Just like StarCraft and Warcraft are the same kind of game, while World of Warcraft is a different kind, despite sharing the setting with the main Warcraft series.

» Mon Dec 07, 2009 11:30 am

But they didn't. They took a game of a different type than what they usually do and made a sequel with gameplay style more similar to the games that they usually do than to its predecessors.

I think it turned out rather well.

» Mon Dec 07, 2009 7:38 am

Well, my point is not that it did or didn't turn out well, just that they didn't really try a "new type of game". They did try out a new (for them) setting, but not "type of game".

Just like Blizzard did not try out a new type of game with StarCraft (just improved their formula from Warcraft), but did with WoW.

» Mon Dec 07, 2009 8:24 am

Fallout was a cult hit - it did very well for a non fantasy RPG, but non fantasy RPGs are generaly dwarfed by DnD RPGs (and interplay made a pretty penny on those too).

I think it was a case of a few folks higher up, saw Interplay dying, and decided to snap up the rights to a game they all liked...

» Mon Dec 07, 2009 1:19 pm

I mean, was it really that popular? When the first Fallout was released ('97 I think?), I was about 4 years old, so I didn't really pay attention to coumputer games, so I wouldn't know if it wa popular. Anyways, why did Bethesda choose to buy the Fallout license?

Easier than creating an original IP and it was pretty well regarded as one the best cRPGs.

» Mon Dec 07, 2009 1:31 pm

Beth is going to keep with the Game Mechanics that they have now, and while Fallout 3 does play similar to Oblivion, and even Morrowind for that matter, it is a different type of game to me

Fallout 1 and 2, was Turn Based, and i still say Bethesda did a really good Job with Vats giving the Turn based feel.. but I really feel Fallout is in the right hands in todays industry

We'll just have to wait and see if Interplay can finish the Fallout MMO to see if that statement is true

But, in my Opinion, Fallout 3 is a different game in respects to Oblivion

They even tried to give the game an ending

FO3 has a lot of Faults, but i'd really like to see how Beth Improves with further releases

I've said this a few times, but every game Bethesda puts into the works, they're Experimenting and trying new things, and seeing how it works out.. whether for good or worse in everyones opinions, they don't want to just make the same game over and over..

» Mon Dec 07, 2009 8:28 am

http://www.gamesforwindows.com/en-US/Community/NewsArticles/Pages/fallout3_interview.aspx

Games for Windows: Why Fallout 3? What was it about Fallout that said "this is our next game"?

Todd Howard: We were in the middle of Oblivion at the time and we were trying to figure out what we'd do after it. We were thinking about the next project, and we had been doing Elder Scrolls games for 10 years at the time. We wanted to do the kind of game that we'd normally do, but in a different fashion. Fallout was at the top of that list.

GFW: When Bethesda took over the Fallout series, were you planning a Fallout game then or was this something you wanted to have in your library for a future game?

TH: We thought about Fallout before we acquired it. It was something we really liked to do as our next project. We knew a lot of people at Interplay. It took a while, but we ended up getting the rights.

GFW: Why was it at top of your list?

TH: We really liked the first game. It fit the style of the games we've done: being an isolated guy or girl and doing whatever you wanted to. We also really liked the world, that whole post-apocalyptic world with this retro sci-fi feel, the underground vaults, the blue jumpsuits. The whole thing has a really unique charm about it that has not been replicated since. We talked about creating our own post-apocalyptic game, but Fallout was the one we really wanted to do.

Oh and my personal opinion is that the game mechanics are not what makes a game the game it is but rather the setting, experience and the journey. But I do understand that some have a rather heavy preference for one type of combat over another and one view over another and thus would like all future games in a series to maintain their own personal preference.

» Mon Dec 07, 2009 10:40 pm

Why did Bethesda choose to buy the Fallout license?

So they can use Power Armor, Enclave, FEV, Vaults, GECKs, BoS, Ghouls and Supermutants.