In response to the wide-spread buzz and discussion as to what developer would be best suited to develop Fallout 3, Carsten Strehse of SSE posted this on the SSE forums;
<blockquote>Since the FO community is well known for its impatientness and hard criticism I think it's time for some statements.
Everybody should remember the start of this complete FO3 discussion. We always said that we would be more than happy to see a FO3 from a developer which was involved in the development of FO1 or 2. Simply why we love the game (Never forget: Game developers are also gamers. If you aren't a gamer, it's nearly impossible to work on the creative side of the games business). We made the risky step to ask the community about their opinion about a FO3 from SSE. Especially if no other developer can handle it because of financial reasons or something we thought this would make sense for the community. On the other hand we wanted to develop FO3 because we are fans of the FO universe. I'm very sure that I played both games more often than a lot of hardcore fans. Not only because it's fun playing them, but since it's my job to analyze games in detail. I appreciate comments telling me that a FO3 would need this and that, but you can believe me that none of these comments tell me something new. I always said, we would only develop a FO3 if a) we can make sure that it catches the "spirit" of FO1 and FO2 (including TB, blood & gore, FO1 humor etc.), b) we can make sure that ex-BIS staff is involved, c) the community thinks it makes sense.
Why a)? Because we don't want to be the one that make the FO-monument collapse. If a FO3 wouldn't fit to the first two parts, the legend around the game would get damaged.
Why b)? To make sure that a) can't happen. Nobody said that every developer can continue every game series. And we wouldn't be such impudent to say that we don't want the support of the people who were involved in FO1, FO2 or the cancelled FO3.
Why c)? Believe it ot not, the FO series wasn't a huge success from the financial side. I know that the core fans don't want to hear such stuff. However, it's the truths. The topic and style of the game is very focused on the US market. If someone develops a FO3 and the US FO community isn't supporting him, he's lost. If the community don't like the game and won't buy it, there are not that much gamers as customers left on the worldwide market. That doesn't mean that FO has no fans in Europe or Asia. But they're not enough to compensate a flop on the US market.
To make a long sentence short: SSE would only develop a FO3 if we are absolutly sure that we can do it the right way. If we have the feeling that we can't handle it, we would move on to other more profitable projects (yes, we need to make money, even if some gamers think that developers should live from air and love ).
As for the community in general I have to say that it's necessary to face the good and the bad sides if you work with it. You'll always have people who communicate with respect and like adults, because that's part of their character. You'll always have people who are aggressive or rude, simply because it's fun to them. It's not my job to judge one or the other side. Fortunately the internet is a free media and everybody should act in a way he likes. Nobody at SSE takes written attacks serious or personal, we're professionals and it's our job to handle criticism. I also wrote PMs to people involved in flames telling them that a good flame is just some fun and that my comments have nothing to do with disrespect. It's entertaining for the writers, it's entertaining for the readers. Nothing more, nothing less.
OK, I hope that some of my comments help to understand our position. As always I'll be around to answer your questions. </blockquote>
You can ask more questions and read more comments in the thread itself
Link: thread
<blockquote>Since the FO community is well known for its impatientness and hard criticism I think it's time for some statements.
Everybody should remember the start of this complete FO3 discussion. We always said that we would be more than happy to see a FO3 from a developer which was involved in the development of FO1 or 2. Simply why we love the game (Never forget: Game developers are also gamers. If you aren't a gamer, it's nearly impossible to work on the creative side of the games business). We made the risky step to ask the community about their opinion about a FO3 from SSE. Especially if no other developer can handle it because of financial reasons or something we thought this would make sense for the community. On the other hand we wanted to develop FO3 because we are fans of the FO universe. I'm very sure that I played both games more often than a lot of hardcore fans. Not only because it's fun playing them, but since it's my job to analyze games in detail. I appreciate comments telling me that a FO3 would need this and that, but you can believe me that none of these comments tell me something new. I always said, we would only develop a FO3 if a) we can make sure that it catches the "spirit" of FO1 and FO2 (including TB, blood & gore, FO1 humor etc.), b) we can make sure that ex-BIS staff is involved, c) the community thinks it makes sense.
Why a)? Because we don't want to be the one that make the FO-monument collapse. If a FO3 wouldn't fit to the first two parts, the legend around the game would get damaged.
Why b)? To make sure that a) can't happen. Nobody said that every developer can continue every game series. And we wouldn't be such impudent to say that we don't want the support of the people who were involved in FO1, FO2 or the cancelled FO3.
Why c)? Believe it ot not, the FO series wasn't a huge success from the financial side. I know that the core fans don't want to hear such stuff. However, it's the truths. The topic and style of the game is very focused on the US market. If someone develops a FO3 and the US FO community isn't supporting him, he's lost. If the community don't like the game and won't buy it, there are not that much gamers as customers left on the worldwide market. That doesn't mean that FO has no fans in Europe or Asia. But they're not enough to compensate a flop on the US market.
To make a long sentence short: SSE would only develop a FO3 if we are absolutly sure that we can do it the right way. If we have the feeling that we can't handle it, we would move on to other more profitable projects (yes, we need to make money, even if some gamers think that developers should live from air and love ).
As for the community in general I have to say that it's necessary to face the good and the bad sides if you work with it. You'll always have people who communicate with respect and like adults, because that's part of their character. You'll always have people who are aggressive or rude, simply because it's fun to them. It's not my job to judge one or the other side. Fortunately the internet is a free media and everybody should act in a way he likes. Nobody at SSE takes written attacks serious or personal, we're professionals and it's our job to handle criticism. I also wrote PMs to people involved in flames telling them that a good flame is just some fun and that my comments have nothing to do with disrespect. It's entertaining for the writers, it's entertaining for the readers. Nothing more, nothing less.
OK, I hope that some of my comments help to understand our position. As always I'll be around to answer your questions. </blockquote>
You can ask more questions and read more comments in the thread itself
Link: thread
did.
