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Surprise ruined: Fallout 3 countdown is for teaser trailer
Remember all the joy you had speculating over Blizzard's countdown to Starcraft II? Were you heartbroken when Nintendo Power revealed what the Smash Bros. site would change before their clock went to zero? Bethesda VP of Public Relations and Marketing Pete Hines dropped a spoiler in our mailbox this morning: a Fallout 3 teaser trailer will be released next week, coinciding with the end of the countdown. Given the capitalized text that says TEASER next to do the countdown, we think it's safe to assume that this is the focal point of next week's revelations."But why?" you may cry, "why Joystiq, why did you ruin the anticipation and not at least put spoiler alert in bold letters to give us a warning?" Because we're the party pooper, that's why. Now run along and enjoy the concept art they've released over the past few weeks. Having a Liam Neeson film on in the background helps, too.%Gallery-3507%
Bethesda's Todd Howard: We care about Fallout
Given the miasma of secrecy emanating from Bethesda's Fallout 3 camp, many fans of the post-apocalyptic RPG franchise have expressed concern over its impending return. Will it be Morrowind with Mutants? Final Fantasy with Freaks? Short of naming Liam Neeson as the game's father figure, the Elder Scroll-keepers have barely offered up any information regarding the nature of the game, a situation which has ardent followers worried.Enter Todd Howard, Fallout 3's self-proclaimed "person-in-charge." Responding to fans in a "Meet the developers" thread on Bethesda's forums, Howard provides a lengthy and heartfelt commentary on the developer's thoughtful approach to the game... without giving anything away. "To say we care about Fallout would be an epic understatement," says Howard. "We are excited/humbled to be the ones to bring it back. I know we don't have all the right answers, or the one's you would make when it comes to how it should be or look. We can only do what we think is right and what makes us the most excited, and that's what we've done. We've left no stone unturned in trying to find Fallout's 'soul', but those decisions are ours, not yours. I just hope you give the game a look and decide if that soul is there for you."Though fans will surely focus their attentions on more specific items once the game is fully unveiled, Howard's sentiments provide interesting insight into a developer tasked with meeting expectations within an established and loved universe. He likens Fallout 3 development to the adoption of a child which one steadily grows to love -- 7 glowing arms and all. We're sure to see more of the game "very soon."[Via Ashleycheng.com. Thanks, Meg & Cal]
Liam Neeson to provide voice for Fallout 3
Bethesda Softworks just announced that actor Liam Neeson will be portraying the role of the father of your character in their upcoming RPG, Fallout 3. According to Todd Howard, the game's executive producer, the role was written with Neeson already considered for the part, and he's been a joy to work with on the project. Neeson himself said that he is anxious to see players reaction to his role in the game, and so are we. His voice can make or break a character, much like Michael Wincott did for the Prophet of Truth in Halo 2 & 3.[Via Joystiq]
Liam Neeson is your father (in Fallout 3)
Though our schoolyard arguments and childish vendettas have long since shifted to the blogosphere, we have always been profoundly confident in our father's ability to physically lay waste to your meager sack of paternal meat. In other words, we thought our dad could beat up your dad. That is, until we learned today that your dad is, in fact, Liam Neeson. Bethesda Softworks has announced that the famous actor and thespian will act out and, err, thesp the role of your father in post-apocalyptic RPG, Fallout 3. Our father stands little chance against the might of the man who trained Batman, gave Darth Vader his training wheels, exhaustively researched sexuality and is destined to become the president of the United States. Neeson's also "absolutely amazing to work with," according to Fallout 3's executive producer, Todd Howard. "This role was written with Liam in mind, and provides the dramatic tone for the entire game."Neeson, who hopefully survives a bit longer than Patrick Stewart did in Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, adds that it was a pleasure sharing his voice with Bethesda and that he hopes "the fans of the franchise and the game will be excited by the results." If not, we'll just have to beat up your father ourselves.[Via Pro-G]
Black Isle's Fallout 3 tech demo released
The old footage from a few days back was not enough to satiate old fans of the Fallout series. Fan site No Mutants Allowed is not done giving us goodies about Black Isle's rendition of Fallout 3, codenamed Van Buren, and has released the tech demo for the old version.The download is only 241 MB and purportedly bug-laden and missing turn-based combat. Still, it's likely the last chance die-hard Fallout purists will get a taste of the post-apocalyptic franchise with the old engine. (Not everyone at Bethesda enjoys the Fallout engine, mind you.) NMA has also posted a guide for those working with the tech demo. For those interested enough to take it for a spin, let us know what you think.
Today's most if-it-happened video: Fallout 3 footage
No Mutants Allowed shows us footage of Black Isle's canceled Fallout 3 in today's video pick. The segment isn't flashy, but it gives a good sense of what Fallout 3 could have been (hint: similar to Fallout 2, in a good way). Bethesda currently owns the Fallout IP and working on its own version of Fallout 3, with a projected release to be determined.So before you look forward to Bethesda's -- and possibly even Interplay's --- version of Fallout, take a moment to watch what could have been. See the video after the break.
Fallout 3 teaser site, forums open
Bethesda has launched a teaser site for their current project, Fallout 3. The website is essentially an enlarged version of the adjacent picture, which was unveiled at E3 last year, and a link to the developer's forums pages.Bethesda has additionally opened forums specifically for the impending sequel and the original two Fallout titles, the rights of which they recently bought from Interplay for reportedly $5.75 million.Let's take a moment to reflect on Fallout 3's current situation. As Tycho from Penny Arcade notes, no one knows what exactly Bethesda will do with the franchise, and since they are their own publisher, they can choose to wait and show material from the game whenever they feel its ready. And that could be years.
Great Geiger! Bethesda buys Fallout IP
According to an SEC report filed today, the revered Fallout franchise has been sold to Bethesda Softworks, currently in the midst of developing Fallout 3. Uncovered by Fallout fansite, No Mutants Allowed, the document states that the radioactive IP was purchased from Interplay for the princely sum of $5.75 million -- roughly a mountain's worth of post-apocalyptic bottle caps. Bethesda had been developing their Fallout sequel as licensee, not property owner.This change of ownership sees original IP-holder, Interplay, becoming a licensee to Bethesda and paying the Elder Scrolls developer a 12% royalty on net sales derived from an upcoming (and still entirely nebulous) Fallout MMO. Interplay's license requires them to begin development within two years of the date of agreement, secure a minimum of 10,000 subscribers and offer a product that complies with "the quality standards of Bethesda." Purchasing the Fallout IP outright certainly reflects positively on Bethesda's dedication to the franchise -- it's their property they risk messing up now -- and highlights plans well beyond "Morrowind with Mutants." (Next, would someone be so kind as to rescue the Freespace IP from Interplay?)[Via Gamasutra]
Bethesda "several years" into Fallout 3 development
During a Q&A with Gamasutra, Bethesda VP of PR and marketing Pete Hines gave a brief update on the status of Fallout 3. While Bethesda remains shy about showing off its baby, Hines did reveal that "[the development] team has ramped up," perhaps suggesting that our first glimpse at the game is not far away.Indeed, Hines reaffirms that Bethesda is "already several years into the project." So show us something, will ya! Pretty please? [Via CVG]See also: Bethesda: "Fallout 3 is our baby" E3: Fallout 3 appears ... in spirit
Rumor: Fallout 3 bound for 360?
Is the anticipated third installment of the Fallout series going to see the light of day on the Xbox 360? It's too early to tell right now, but there are a few things that will give gamers a glimmer of hope. After a brief interlude with Fallout Tactics, the popular RPG franchise is getting a true sequel from Bethesda. Executive Producer Todd Howard informed UK OXM that when work started on Fallout 3 in 2004, the team was only 10 or so strong. After Oblivion finished up, however, most of the staff moved over to work on development for the title. He also hints that while their preproduction process is relatively long, they should soon be able to show it off. Running on the same Gamebryo engine as Oblivion, the chances of there being a port to Xbox 360, with open ended gameplay intact, are high. On top of that, Todd was Executive Producer for Morrowind and Oblivion, which definitely makes the glass look half full. Do you want to see Fallout 3 make it to the Xbox 360?[Via GameSpot]
