Todd Howard Q&A on Gamespot

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Brother None

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Gamespot managed to get more interesting stuff out of Bethesda's Todd Howard than most gaming sites did in their short Q&A about Fallout 3. A few important bits:<blockquote>GS: Was it just the Fallout brand that attracted you, or are you a fan of the series itself? Have you played either of the first two games?

TH: I've played the first two many times, but only dabbled with Tactics and Brotherhood of Steel. What I really love about the first two is the overall atmosphere, tone, and role-playing. Those two games really let me choose to play a certain character--and the level of immersion was outstanding. I was that guy on the screen wandering the wastelands trying to survive and helping humanity survive. And you could play it so many times, and in so many different ways. The character system and the choices you could make were fantastic.
(...)
GS: Will Interplay's retention of "all online gaming rights for the Fallout franchise" affect whether or not Fallout 3 has an online component?

TH: No, they only keep rights for a persistent online massively multiplayer game. We could still have a multiplayer or online component to our titles.
(...)
GS: Will Bethesda's Fallout 3 retain any elements of the "Van Buren" game that was in development at Black Isle Studios? Reports are it was nearly complete.

TH: No, we're going to start fresh.
(...)
GS: Do you have any plans to involve any former Black Isle Studios developers in the game's development?

TH: No firm plans, but anything's possible at this stage.
(...)
GS: Morrowind was a first-person, real-time action-RPG. Fallout and its sequel were isometric-view, third-person turn-based RPGs. What will Fallout 3 be?

TH: To early to say, we're looking at many options.

GS: Fallout had many unique elements for an RPG, including its extensive (and iconic) perk system and darkly comic tone. Will those be present in the sequel?

TH: Oh yes. Most definitely. "Bloody Mess" is the best perk ever, where your enemies die in ultra-violent ways.
(...)
GS: Fallout is one of the most beloved franchises of all time--are you worried about meeting gamers' high expectations?

TH: I worry about meeting our own expectations. We take this stuff as serious as anyone and are more critical of what we do than the fans. We're very careful in how we handle franchises. I think people can look at how we've treated the Elder Scrolls and know that we'll give the same care to Fallout. We pride ourselves in keeping franchises relevant and bringing something fresh to the market with each game. That being said, I'm sure there's a vocal minority that wants to kill us for even attempting to do it--but they wanted to kill Peter Jackson too, so you have to ignore that and just do something great that you'd love to play.
(...)
GS: There is some concern in the PC gaming community that if Fallout 3 is developed for both PC and consoles, it won't have the same depth as other PC RPGs. What can you say to allay their fears?

TH: Play Morrowind on PC, and then play it on Xbox. Anyone who says a console game can't have depth hasn't played enough of them. The platform is 100 percent irrelevant. </blockquote>It started out good to begin with, but bethesda judging itself harder than the fanbase would? Console having the same depth as PC games? Also, I have to point out that Elder Scrolls is their own franchise, so that's hardly relevant to how they'll treat Fallout

Link: Q&A on Gamespot

Thanks kumquatq3
 
GS: There is some concern in the PC gaming community that if Fallout 3 is developed for both PC and consoles, it won't have the same depth as other PC RPGs. What can you say to allay their fears?

TH: Play Morrowind on PC, and then play it on Xbox. Anyone who says a console game can't have depth hasn't played enough of them. The platform is 100 percent irrelevant
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*bangs head against wall and desk and floor*
 
SumsoluS said:
*bangs head against wall and desk and floor*
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Probably one of the dumbest statements ever. Like I told Odin:

[02:40:34] Thomas: I mean think about it
[02:40:49] Thomas: There's no difference between Morrowind on PC and Morrowind on Xbox because *it was catered for Xbox*
[02:41:09] Thomas: It was dumbed down for usage on the Xbox, hence it didn't have to be less deep on pc
 
Translate-O-Tron at the ready!

Let's quote in the first bit of bullshit.

TH: I worry about meeting our own expectations. We take this stuff as serious as anyone and are more critical of what we do than the fans. We're very careful in how we handle franchises. I think people can look at how we've treated the Elder Scrolls and know that we'll give the same care to Fallout.
Click to expand...

We'll even release an editor for it so that people can make their own mods, with expansion packs! Oh, and you can be a mutant, too! (Sorry about that, it seems a little temperamental today. The actual translation is that this leaves a very wide gap in the interperetation that would make most lawyers blush, leaving them open for "creative license" to be claimed, along with perhaps the weak "it's modern times" bit of ignorance that only anyone under the age of 12 would believe.)

We pride ourselves in keeping franchises relevant and bringing something fresh to the market with each game.
Click to expand...

Yes, taking what used to be a good CRPG and making it how Bethesda does it best, is "fresh", and we'll keep some story elements in order to say we kept it faithful. You know, like good ol' Chucky. (I'm sorry. There seems to be a glitch there. The actual translation is "freshly dead corpse".)

That being said, I'm sure there's a vocal minority that wants to kill us for even attempting to do it--but they wanted to kill Peter Jackson too, so you have to ignore that and just do something great that you'd love to play.
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I don't want to hear waffling bullshit. The vague hype crap can be stowed and you folks can speak some real fucking English for once.
 
ive always seen xbox as a blackhole since halo..Halo was the first PC game i was really looking forward to until it got made an xbox only exclusive and that started my hate for thieving consoles. they are spikey roadbumps for the good cars of pc games and i wish to flatten them with a steamroller very much :x
 
That being said, I'm sure there's a vocal minority that wants to kill us for even attempting to do it--but they wanted to kill Peter Jackson too, so you have to ignore that and just do something great that you'd love to play.
Click to expand...

Typical Interplay talk, i almost threw up when i read this part. For those that don`t know what he`s trying to do just watch the first part of "Full Metal Jacket". Or read the interviews about FOBOS. It`s a low blow, i`m not happy.
 
Also, I have to point out that Elder Scrolls is their own franchise, so that's hardly relevant to how they'll treat Fallout
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he's saying (trying to say) that they'll treat Fallout in the same way as they thread there own sequels. so yeah thats relevant.

"We pride ourselves in keeping franchises relevant and bringing something fresh to the market with each game." ie. staying true to previous game but still bring something fresh and yeah thats a pretty empty statement
 
Hirle said:
he's saying (trying to say) that they'll treat Fallout in the same way as they thread there own sequels. so yeah thats relevant.

"We pride ourselves in keeping franchises relevant and bringing something fresh to the market with each game." ie. staying true to previous game but still bring something fresh and yeah thats a pretty empty statement
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You don't understand the difference?

Elder Scrolls is their creation, their baby. Of course they'll stay true to the franchise, it's their franchise. Even if they change it, that's justified, because it's *theirs*

This is not the case with Fallout. That's someone else's baby. They have to treat it with a different respect, a kind of care and understanding of how the other person prefers to treat it

Those things are unrelated
 
You don't understand the difference?
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Yes I do understand the difference, and appearantly, so does bethesda, and what they're saying here (or at least what im reading) is that they'll treat fallout in the same way as they would treat a game of their own. ie. making Fallout 3 relate to Fallout 1/2 in the same way Morrowind related to earlier games.

Of course there is a difference and that difference will probably be noticable (cause of like you said, this isnt their 'baby'), but what he's saying is pretty clear to me, they'll try to handle fallout the same way as they would handle a sequel to their own game. that's relevant, the fact that you and i think that thats not really possible is not (relevant... for this argument).

but then again, what they're are saying is pretty damn meaningless cause every game maker/musician/artist/whatever says his news product is gonna be similar to earlier products (to please the people who liked it) but still different (to please the people who didnt like it), and its always true, cause its still a game/album/whatever (similar) but with another name (different)
 
So if its not done the way the majority of people expect and want it to be done it cant be fulfilling?

The creative world doesnt necessarily work that way.

Although Disney would like to stifle people using their copywrited images, there is a limit (in time) past which someone will be able to use Mickey all they want - and hopefully in a meaningful way..even if it isnt what people expect.

It boils down to what % of the original "essentials" of Fallout have to be kept and still have a meaningful FO experience. Some things CAN be changed drastically and deliver the goods.
 
"GameDev", and it's ironic that you chose that name since you have very little idea of how the game industry works, your poor diseased mind has failed to observe one important point. I think it's somewhere around where series die because the game no longer resembles what the fans want. I think I've pointed this out enough at length. This is also reinforced by the reception of other games in the Fallout series, many other series, and the responses to your shitty MMOG.

I'm not fond of repeating myself, especially for your sake, child.
 
Briosafreak said:
That being said, I'm sure there's a vocal minority that wants to kill us for even attempting to do it--but they wanted to kill Peter Jackson too, so you have to ignore that and just do something great that you'd love to play.
Click to expand...

Typical Interplay talk, i almost threw up when i read this part. For those that don`t know what he`s trying to do just watch the first part of "Full Metal Jacket". Or read the interviews about FOBOS. It`s a low blow, i`m not happy.
Click to expand...

God DAMN I'm reminded of FOPOS. It's his way of telling us the combat will be real time, for a start.
 
I hope they're not tossing you guys in the "vocal minority". I don't read this site much, but I agree with many of the statements you've made both here and at the ES forums. It would be unfortunate if they wrote you off without realizing you represent a good number of silent fans.
 
desertfox said:
I hope they're not tossing you guys in the "vocal minority". I don't read this site much, but I agree with many of the statements you've made both here and at the ES forums. It would be unfortunate if they wrote you off without realizing you represent a good number of silent fans.
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Oh yeah, even tough you can be a little over the top sometimes, making you seem like a bunch of pretentious assholes I have to agree with most of what you say and stand by...

:rockon:
 
because the game no longer resembles what the fans want.
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Ok now we have some meat to chew on.

But since all these posts are beginning to gravitate to the same discussion Ill answer in another thread.
 
Kharn said:
SumsoluS said:
*bangs head against wall and desk and floor*
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Probably one of the dumbest statements ever. Like I told Odin:

[02:40:34] Thomas: I mean think about it
[02:40:49] Thomas: There's no difference between Morrowind on PC and Morrowind on Xbox because *it was catered for Xbox*
[02:41:09] Thomas: It was dumbed down for usage on the Xbox, hence it didn't have to be less deep on pc
Click to expand...

I would respectfully disagree.

It's true enough that Morrowind was designed for both Xbox and PC, but the mere fact that they might design it for a console does not require "dumbing down", as a number of fairly deep and complex console games attest to. Sure, there's a bunch of shallow and crappy console games too, but it's a larger market, and, well... Sturgeon's Law always applies.

Now, it does mean the control scheme would have to stay simple due to the constraints of a console controller, but that's hardly a problem for Fallout, given how well-designed the user interface is in in FO, FO2, and even Tactics was smart enough to keep it close to that.
 
<blockquote>GS: Was it just the Fallout brand that attracted you, or are you a fan of the series itself? Have you played either of the first two games?

TH: I've played the first two many times, but only dabbled with Tactics and Brotherhood of Steel. What I really love about the first two is the overall atmosphere, tone, and role-playing. Those two games really let me choose to play a certain character--and the level of immersion was outstanding. I was that guy on the screen wandering the wastelands trying to survive and helping humanity survive. And you could play it so many times, and in so many different ways. The character system and the choices you could make were fantastic.
</blockquote>

I'm sorry but something about reading this doesn't seem right. It seems to much like he's saying what he knows he's expected to say. I don't know why I feel that way it's just making me nervous. I guess its the way this statement seems to contradict all his other thoughts.

<blockquote>
GS: Will Bethesda's Fallout 3 retain any elements of the "Van Buren" game that was in development at Black Isle Studios? Reports are it was nearly complete.

TH: No, we're going to start fresh.

</blockquote>

I'm curious, would they legally be allowed to use elements of Van Buren in their game even if they wanted? And if they can... I wonder why they wont at least review the design ideas.

<blockquote>
GS: Morrowind was a first-person, real-time action-RPG. Fallout and its sequel were isometric-view, third-person turn-based RPGs. What will Fallout 3 be?

TH: To early to say, we're looking at many options.

</blockquote>

Thats starting to annoy me. If its to early to say for so many questions.. maybe they should stop responding to questions :-\.
 
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