If you could make any game you wanted, what'd it be?

I cast magic missile. Er, I have lots of games I would like to make. If it had to be just one, it would probably somehow involve near future alien conspiracy, nudity, psychic powers and submarines. I think.

So what can Fallout fan's do at this point? Probably not alot, as it seems unlikely that Interplay will listen to it's fans. I'm sure, without me saying, a petition will start. Generally, though, those don't yield enough results, and most will be happier just to fall into the corporate scheme of things and purchase the game. Since it seems unlikely that Fallout 3, will ever enter the development phases, I've heard many people rumble on the internet that they'll just start a development house and produce Fallout 3. Although admirable, Interplay currently owns the copyright for Fallout 3 and will probably take every chance it can get to flex it's corporate muscle and pound any would be developers into the ground unless it's approved by them, which at this point seems unlikely. So really, most Fallout Fan's are left to their own devices and to watch their favorite series most likely die out.

Once upon a time, many moons ago, there was a slightly obsessive Fallout fan who wrote a very long article about why a certain game would suck. That game was Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel, otherwise known as Fallout: Piece of Shit (FO:POS) or Fallout: Enforcer (FoE - in reference to a very bad action spin-off from the X-Com series). The article was called #27 Things about Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel and that Fallout fan was me. At long last, that article is now here on DaC for all to enjoy. Here's a snip:

... it's not FO:BOS slightly deviating from the Fallout story that's concerning. More than likely, a "story excuse" can be made as to why the BoS became heavy mutie hunters. We can conveniently ignore the FEV that Vault-Tec have gotten their hands on (considering the FEV that makes the Super Mutants in Fallout 1 was actually modified by the Master). We can probably make up some story excuse that fits a lot of what is occuring. It's just 'that feeling' that seems lost from this game. The indescribable feeling that the setting and atmosphere creates. Item descriptions on the web-site indicate a lack of care about most things. Who cares about the neat science descriptions? We just need to protect the jewels OMFG LOL!!11! As for 50's music? Phooey! Get rid of that crap and get some techno in there! What about women? Well, sex sells, so let's throw in as many of them in thongs as we can! What's most concerning, is this entire development teams approach to Fallout. Fallout isn't a great atmosphere with a rich background. Oh no...

Go on, read the whole lot. You know you want to.

3) Continuity is something we discussed at the chat a few days ago, but at the same time, realistically, the Fallout universe would be a society on the mend...How far, technologically speaking, do you envision Fallout 3's universe being as opposed to Fallout 1 where there weren't any running cars?

[Urquhart, Feargus] Speaking off the cuff - I think the world is going to be a little more advanced, but not a whole lot. With the breakdown of everything after the bombs dropped and the leftover technology - the reign of people living for themselves is probably going to survive quite a while. What I mean by that is that for a while in the Fallout universe, the people who will use old technology to control areas instead of re-building them are going to out number the people trying to re-build a new world. So, the world is going to stay somewhat feudal for a while longer.

Killzig: How do you feel about some of the bad blood between a few of the elder Fallout fans and some of the Black Isle team? You've been personally involved in some of the disagreements, do you think relations are repairable? Can you trace it back to some sort of origin? Or is it as natural as cats and dogs at this point? Have you ever seen a love-hate relationship like this with other developers and their fans, or is this a rare thing for you?

Chris Avellone: I don't see it so much as bad blood as just two groups that are passionate about the Fallout genre. I know the people here at BIS feel just as strongly about Fallout as some of the fans do, and if future games end up being better because of the debate between the two groups, everyone wins as far as I'm concerned.

Killzig: Here's a silly question, if you were on the FO3 team what area would you use as your starting point for the story?

Tim Cain: Well, Killzig, I have already written a design for Fo3, but I have sworn not to talk about it. If I see any of it in the next game, I can rest assured that it is coincidence.

<JC|V13> Is SPECIAL a cornerstone of the Fallout series or is it expendable?
<BIS_ChrisA> Cornerstone
<BIS_Darren> Cornerstone
<BIS_ChrisA> Character Creation is what makes Fallout Fallout
<FalloutsChris> Ohhhh. I'll be different and say that for RPGs and tactical games, it's a cornerstone. But if we ever need to do Dogmeat on Typing, it's expendable. Seriously, it would depend on the game and genre.
<FalloutsChris> I cannot imagine a Fallout RPG without SPECIAL, however.
<FalloutsChris> Okay, if we did a high level 4X strategy game set in the Fallout universe (think Civ), SPECIAL might not be required.

Exitium|WZ - Feargus, do you suppose I could help out in the creation of Fallout 2? *cough Id love to cough*. Like we had that talk on #baldursgate =). Oh and serious question, do we actually live a life in the game? As in get married, sleep, eat, drink and all that unimportant stuff left out from Fallout 1. 1 more question after this...
Feargus - Umm, we are making a game. :)
Exitium|WZ - Oh and about the Fallout 2 Editor, will you still release it? There are some of us here who have talents to adventure beyond other peoples abilities..such as the Unwashed Villagers =)
Feargus - I am not a big believer in the sleeping, eating, etc.. stuff that some RPG's put in there.
Exitium|WZ - Feargus, yeah I know, im talking about helping you guys with weapons =)
Feargus - That seems a lot like micromanagement that people get bored with.
Exitium|WZ - True.
Exitium|WZ - I hate micromanagement.
Feargus - Some of that stuff is going in.
Exitium|WZ - Say, is that offer to help you guys with characters and item names still on?
Feargus - Sure, just e-mail me at furquhart@interplay.com
Meghan - Thanks Exitium :)

El_Pagano - El_Pagano - any easter eggs? any hints to them?
Feargus - There are a lot of them in there, but finding them is half the fun.