Brian Fargo Interview

[Brother None]

why do FO1, 2 and Tactics start with "Brian Frago presents" if he had so little to do with them? couldn't it be that the first Fallout game was originally his idea, considering he made Wasteland?

No. Project GURPS was Tim Cain's idea, Fallout's setting came primarily from Leonard Boyarsky.

The "Brian Fargo presents" should be read as "Executive producer presents". He's not even in the credits otherwise, as the chain of command ended with Tim Cain (producer) and Feargus Urquhart (head of TSR Division).

I did a little research based on the wikis (I obviously don't claim to know more) and as far as I can tell Fargo was a designer on 'Wasteland' (like you mentioned, so I'm thinking he had a lot of input) and not to mention with Michael A. Stackpole (phenomenal fing writer btw), so the 'my baby' comment wasn't that unreasonable considering that most of us consider 'Wasteland' the precursor to FO1. I am correct, right?

Stackpole, Pavlish, St. Andre and Fargo are often seen as the fathers of Wasteland. If he called Wasteland his baby, that'd make sense. It makes no sense for Fallout, spiritual sequel or no.

 

[Crni Vuk]

It does make sense. From a marketing point of view.

 

[aenemic]

why do FO1, 2 and Tactics start with "Brian Frago presents" if he had so little to do with them? couldn't it be that the first Fallout game was originally his idea, considering he made Wasteland?

No. Project GURPS was Tim Cain's idea, Fallout's setting came primarily from Leonard Boyarsky.

The "Brian Fargo presents" should be read as "Executive producer presents". He's not even in the credits otherwise, as the chain of command ended with Tim Cain (producer) and Feargus Urquhart (head of TSR Division).

yeah, true. I don't know the entire Fallout history and I still get mixed up with who did what sometimes. always nice to learn new tidbits like this.

in Fargo's defense, if half the world thought I made the original Fallouts, I wouldn't let them know they had it wrong

 

[jfreund]

Maybe Fargo can be considered a sperm donor for Fallout, having worked on Wasteland and giving the go-ahead to develop Fallout, but Fallout was definitely raised by Cain, Boyarksy, Anderson, et al.

 

[Diospyros]

I think the answer to why he is taking credit for Fallout is a simple one when looked at through the correct lens. Video games are entertainment. In the entertainment industry image and PR are everything. If you can in any way shape or form take credit for a successful project, you do. In this case he was CEO of the company that created Fallout and he has the Wasteland connection. I've seen people take credit for projects with far less actual connection to it than Fargo has.

Again, I'm not saying he really created Fallout, just that in the world of entertainment his ties to it are plenty strong to claim just that.

 

[Serge 13]

there is also this interview with Fargo which is quite interesting:

http://www.giantbomb.com/hunted-the-demons-forge-interview/17-2180/

 

[Beelzebud]

I don't think he's out of line by calling Fallout "my baby". He might not have worked on it, but at the time wasn't he the person signing paychecks for everyone who did?

If Herve gets credit for ruining the franchise, Fargo should get some credit for helping it be birthed in the first place.

 

[draeke]

I don't think he's out of line by calling Fallout "my baby". He might not have worked on it, but at the time wasn't he the person signing paychecks for everyone who did?

If Herve gets credit for ruining the franchise, Fargo should get some credit for helping it be birthed in the first place.

Stackpole, Pavlish, St. Andre and Fargo are often seen as the fathers of Wasteland. If he called Wasteland his baby, that'd make sense. It makes no sense for Fallout, spiritual sequel or no.

Thanks BN for the clarification, again the sperm donor comment would be more relevant.

 

[Corith]

Brian's got a great team. Some of the best and brightest in the game industry work at inxile.

 

[Brother None]

You wouldn't be able to tell from Bard's Tale.

So. Examples?

 

[Pope Viper]

Wow.

Brutal, Kharn, brutal.

True, but brutal nonetheless.

 

[Ausir]

You wouldn't be able to tell from Bard's Tale.

So. Examples?

Jason Anderson?

 

[Briosafreak]

The "Brian Fargo presents" should be read as "Executive producer presents".

It should be read as a special thanks from the big three, they wanted to thank Fargo and show how important his patience and goodwill was for the project to come alive and be released. It wasn't a favorite of many on the top at Interplay, probably if it wasn't for Fargo being convinced by Cain and others that it was worth it the game could have been scrapped. At least that's the story I heard.

 

[draeke]

The "Brian Fargo presents" should be read as "Executive producer presents".

It should be read as a special thanks from the big three, they wanted to thank Fargo and show how important his patience and goodwill was for the project to come alive and be released. It wasn't a favorite of many on the top at Interplay, probably if it wasn't for Fargo being convinced by Cain and others that it was worth it the game could have been scrapped. At least that's the story I heard.

Consigliere.. love it lolz

 

[.Pixote.]

Typical of many…only after it shows promise or some success do they choose to bask in its light, but through the process of development they are nowhere to be seen. I remember reading here at NMA that after Interplay obtained the license for D&D they intended to drop the GURPS project, even though it had been a work in progress for a number of years, and very dear to some of their best minds. Tim Cain had to convince the big men of Interplay that it should be completed. So potentially Brian Fargo might have been the main individual that needed to be persuaded, he was the head of the company. Ironically this insignificant GURPS project turned out to be one of their most beloved and admired game, up there with Wasteland. I have no faith in people like Brian Fargo; Interplay’s course to destruction (and the departure of their best talent) came about through his actions…

 

[Ausir]

To be fair, Interplay was also created through his actions.

 

[.Pixote.]

Sometimes we confuse the role of the publisher and the developer. Interplay the developer made a small number of gems including The Bard's Tale, Wasteland, Planescape: Torment and Fallout, as well it published some great titles - Baldur's Gate, Kingpin: Life of Crime, Icewind Dale, The Lost Vikings, MDK, but I think it’s the role of a developer that people truly admire. Publishers receive a certain amount of the credit, but do they deserve it. Maybe they finance the games development, publicize and distribute them, but ultimate success or failure is due to the skill of the developer, well that’s what we like to think - but saying that there are many cases of weak games outselling strong games due to the strength of the publishers, and sales = success. Tragically Troika was on the wrong side of the equation.