Bethesda interview: consoles!

Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 3:30 am

[Game -> Interview] - More info on Person: Ashley Cheung | More info on Company: Bethesda Softworks | More info on Game: Fallout 3 (Bethesda)

A new interview with Bethesda guy Ashley Cheung is up at Warcry. It's all about ES: Oblivion, but there is some general talk about consoles that I think will apply to Fallout 3.

However, he also made it clear that the development platform isn't a primary concern, saying, "Quite frankly, there are larger barriers to what we can do than just what the development platform is - time and resources being the biggest. We proved with Morrowind that a deep, complex RPG can work on a console. Nobody else would even think to try it - but we did it. And it did very well for us. At the end of the day, we make the game we want to make and then put it out on as many platforms as possible."

Marching to the beat of their own drummer has brought no small degree of success and accolades to Bethesda, and according to Cheng, we can expect much more of that in the future. "You're going to hear a lot more about what we've got planned here at Bethesda in the next few years," he told us. "We are working on groundbreaking stuff internally, and Oblivion is just the beginning. We are grateful to all the people out there who buy and play our games, and we hope you stay with us. It will be worth it - I promise."

I think there can be little doubt that Fallout 3 will be made for consoles as well as the PC. To what extent that affects the game's quality is yet to be seen, though I do feel that Morrowind was console friendly (viewpoint, combat) in a way that Fallout 1 and 2 are not. On the other hand, it's clearly not a question of technology, as in those terms, all the Fallout games could work fine on a console. Then you have examples of the top-down viewpoint in BG: Dark Alliance, and turn-based combat in the Final Fantasy games, so I think there's a (slim) chance we'll get our viewpoint and combat (and no dual systems, please!) despite the console release.

Thanks for the news tip, MSFD.

Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 4:10 am

Let's hope they don't ruin it to suit the consoles, like they did with DX and Thief, and others.

Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 5:11 am

If it's not on PC, then I won't play it... I don't own a console, nor will I ever as far as I'm concerned.

Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 5:33 am

IT WILL be on PC but it will also be on one or more of the next gen machines(probably xbox2). Morrowind was supposedly their sugar nipple, now they are rich and famous

Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 5:38 am

Yeah, I know it'll be on PC, I'm just sayin that I won't play it on any console... And I really don't care much for games that shift over either... Cept for KOTOR 1 & 2... That's the only other RPG I've actually played aside from Fallout... I'm pretty picky. hehe. But, I've seen Morrowind... I dunno... I hope Fallout isnt that bland... Sure, the dynamics were ok... But I dunno. I kinda like what Trokia was cooking up... Top-down / then switch to FPS mode... I really liked that.

Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 3:00 pm

...I saw FOBOS today in my local EB games... I considered spitting on it.. but the shop clerk was keeping an eye on me.

Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 3:03 pm

Pussy!

Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 4:31 pm

I didn't put it in the news post, but I am actually undecided on how important the viewpoint is. The turn based combat is essential for a good FO game, but the viewpoint I don't know. I sent a question to Tim Cain a month ago about whether the FO viewpoint was just because that was the technology they had, or whether it was a conscious choice over FP and whether they'd make the same decision today. He didn't reply, I guess understandable now knowing the problems Troika were having.
Anyway, I do like the FO viewpoint, but as I said, am undecided on how essential it is. Though I'd say it probably is pretty important to maintaining the FO feel.

Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 7:33 pm

Ugh, would you play a TB game with a FP view?

Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 7:36 pm

Wouldn't having a game that was turn-based yet in a first person perspective be pretty cumbersome? I know playing Wizardy 8 that I felt that the combat felt a bit off, while Fallout combat with its overhead view fitted like a leather glove.

Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 8:05 pm

TB and FP would be hideous.

My concern is if (at all) there'll be 3rd person with the zoom/rotate a la Freedom Force or an over the shoulder close up view like Thief 3 (which I think seriously limits strategizing).

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 12:36 am

You could always change the POV in the game.
Realms of Arkania had FP in towns and dungeons, iso in combat and a worldmap.

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 12:39 am

Well... First off, what concerns me the most is whats going on behind the eye-candy. The special system is part of what made Fallout... Then there was the "feel" of the game and the plot. We all know that not everyone is going to be pleased 100% of the time... So, I'll be happy with a game that is well built, uses the special system and has an amazeing plot. The only other RPG I've played since Fallout 1, 2 and FOT (which was only partially RPG) has been KOTOR 1 & 2... So as far as the gameing perspective goes and wether or not it is TB, RT w/a Pause button... I dunno... I think that would concern me less. I mean in a perfect world, we'd get what we want and everyone would be pleased, but that's not going to happen.

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 12:44 am

After thinking about it, I think FO needs to retain the classic viewpoint. KOTOR's viewpoint doesn't do much for me, and whilst Vampire's works for the game it is, it wouldn't work for FO IMO.
Some games have a default viewpoint and the ability to go into FP mode to look around (metal gear solid games do this), maybe that would work. I do know Bethesda want to show they can do a game completely different from the ES style of things (that's the strong impression I've got), and with FO they have that chance.

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 1:06 am

Well, like I said up top, I like what Trokia was doin with the toggle between Top-Down and FP... And come on, done properly, it would be awesome, cruisin through the FO universe in FP mode. But yes, in return, are you sacrifiseing gameply... If they could meld the two, perfectly, without screwing with the gameplay, then I wouldn't mind it.

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 1:10 am

In the end we should just give a shit about the plot and the characters, it's what make the game most immersive.

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 3:01 am

Plot and characters are important but I've been dieing for a decent turn-based isometric game for a long time and ToEE doesn't cut it.

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 3:15 am

I heard Freedom Force does the job.

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 3:17 am

I sadly bought Fobos so I could review it for this site but it was just so damn sub-par mediocre that I couldn't get past the first section, much less the other 5 chapters in the game.

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 3:21 am

Hey, mail it to me tard