Fallout-Boy is Coming to Town

Today rocked billions (count may be inaccurate) of Fallout fans as Bethesda Softworks, the company famous for its Elder Scrolls series, released a video (embedded below) displaying some of the art style that will be used in the game (apparently, the game itself is real-time, meaning that it is not rendered in a 3D program, like the Starcraft 2 trailer that I discussed in a previous post was, which is why it lacks detail in comparison). According to the Wikipedia page on Fallout 3, the game is being made under the Gamebyro graphics engine, which was also used to make The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (which, coincidentally, is the game I happen to be playing through at the moment, having become stuck in the more difficult Protoss levels of the original Starcraft game), allowing the game to be simultaneously released on the PC, Xbox 360, and PS3. As with Blizzard on Starcraft 2, this long-awaited sequel is being finally announced nearly a decade after its original game was released (in this case, Fallout, released September 30, 1997), though it is actually planned to be released Fall of 2008 (my guess being September 30, 1998, which is exactly 10 years after Fallout 2 was released).



Since this is a trailer made by recording in-game footage, it seems that Fallout 3 will be taken into a first person realm, rather than recycling the old isometric view that was classic with the first two (as well as Tactics). Now, I would normally say that a first person perspective would ruin a classic idea, but I think that I am willing to give it a try, seeing how wonderfully Bethesda pulled off Oblivion (and how superb Deux Ex was, despite being a primarily first-person RPG). Most likely this is simply to allow for the re-emergence of the classical "talking heads", while still lending an impressive upgrade in eye candy, for the "new generation." I only hope that they stay true to the style of Fallout; the grungy, Cold War-era (late 40s to early 60s) technology, music, atmosphere, etc., as well as the dark, looming plots and humor that Fallout is so famous for. So far, it looks like they at least have the first part going right, and they even end with the famous "war never changes" line heard in the openings of the first two games.

Now I have yet another game to add to my list of interesting stuff coming out in 2008. Strangely, every US presidential election year seems to be the busiest in gaming. Maybe it's all calculated to keep our spirits up in spite of political turmoil. Long live the games!

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