Todd Howard on Gamasutra

[Morbus]

I just hope people ‘get it’ for what it is, and for what it isn't.

Somehow i don't like this quote.

My big problem with that one is the part if "what it isn't". For fuck's sake, a Fallout game has to be EVERYTHING I mean, not everything, everything, but it sure as hell has to be everything that is good in what concerns its lore...

My concern is that that sentence is intended to prepare the public so that SOME things will not make it to the final version of the game, and it's very likely that SOME of those things will be good thinks decent gamers would have wanted to have in the game... Like Role-Playing, like consistent setting, like tactical combat, like decent enemy charts and level design, like good cameras... And people are are going to "get the game" for what it isn't, being tricked into getting the game for being a RPG, which it isn't, and thus getting it for what it isn't.

What Howard meant, probably, is that he wants people to buy the game no matter what, even if they are disappointed with it, in the end...

Well, I'm not buying it, that's for sure. I gave my money for Oblivion (and "got it for what it isn't") and now bethesda officially owes me 50€ (- the price of the DVD/Box/manual), so I'm getting them back...

 

[zioburosky13]

I didn't throughoutly played the ultima series, but I think I remember reading here that its quality declined after Ultima 7... Or was it Ultima 9?

Ultima 8 was the greatest Ultima evar little dude!

Back in the early 90's the suits realised that the Ultima rules were too "old tech", so they decided to modernise the game and changed it so it would be more like the totally awesome jump and run games of the day!

As a result both the Ultima fans and the casual players were overjoyed and that's why Origin are still making RPGs today!

Sarcasm alert!

 

[RPG of the year!!]

I've also been listening to a lot of music for Fallout 3 - stuff from the '40s

... Said Todd, as he peeked out from behind Pete Hines' community management handbook.

The Ultima series is still my favorite, and probably is still my biggest inspiration as far as presenting a fully realized world in a game.

Hahahah

HAHAHAH

HAHAHAHAHAH

Cute. Given the level of realization present in Toddy's game worlds, he might as well be citing Picasso as his inspiration for doodling flatulent stick-figures.

By touting a legendary series of cRPGs as an influence in your illustrious career of producing FPS action games, you fill me with <s>uncontrollable laughter</s> utmost confidence, Mr. Howard! Tell me where to pre-order Fallout 3!!!!

I still look to other games for gameplay ideas, as it's pretty easy to pick something up that is done and out and mess with it, if it has an idea you are already thinking about. It could be any game. I even played Barbie Horse Adventure <u>to see how their horses worked</u>.

I'm speechless. That quote should be bronzed and hung above the doorway to Bethesda's offices to serve as the world's most chilling "abandon all hope, ye who enter here" sign.

 

[taxacaria]

You're misreading. It's just a part of the mono-linear-development-of-games view. All games are moving in a single direction in a progress from point A (pong) to point B (the best game in the world ever (Duke Nukem Forever?)).
...
Within that view, there's actually no shame in saying the next game will be better...
Todd has no reason to be ashamed of Oblivion being old and inferior, Fallout 3 will be NEW AND IMPROVED.

He mentioned Utima IV-VII - NOT the shitty Ultima VIII+IX. Todd knows what 'quality' means, I suppose. If you were true, he would mention Ultima VIII or IX as a evolution product of better game developement - but he didn't. The Ultima series shows how to run down a franchise by major changes. Don't you think the Ultima VIII devs tried to make a 'better' game, too? But it wasn't better. And Toddy realized that, too.
So I think that he meaned 'quality' when he said 'better game' - but more as a private statement than an official one, of cause.

 

[Brother None]

Don't you think the Ultima VIII devs tried to make a 'better' game, too? But it wasn't better. And Toddy realized that, too.
So I think that he meaned 'quality' when he said 'better game' - but more as a private statement than an official one, of cause.

You're confused. The mono-linear development is primarily of your own product, NEW AND IMRPOVED dishwasher is better than old and inferior dishwasher, namely your own old and inferior dishwasher. You're targetting the same people that bought your product, not the people that bought other products.

 

[Jebus]

As always it's a story told by an idiot*, full of sound and furry, signifying nothing.

To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty franchise from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to crappy spinn-offs. Out, out, computer!
Bethesda's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: Fallout 3 is a game
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.


K, I was paraphrasing Shakespeare - bring on teh groupies!

 

[DarkPhilly]

snip

I still look to other games for gameplay ideas, as it's pretty easy to pick something up that is done and out and mess with it, if it has an idea you are already thinking about. It could be any game. I even played Barbie Horse Adventure <u>to see how their horses worked</u>.

I'm speechless. That quote should be bronzed and hung above the doorway to Bethesda's offices to serve as the world's most chilling "abandon all hope, ye who enter here" sign.

[/quote]

AHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAH....wait Im not done yet.. HAHAHHAH

Priceless

 

[taxacaria]

You're targetting the same people that bought your product, not the people that bought other products.

OK - but people bought Fallout 1+2 not from Bethesda. It's not "their" series - there is no former Bethesda product, and Fallout 3 is both a beginning and a sequel. Do you mean the target audience for Fallout 3 is the same as for Oblivion? There is another rating - and old fans of Fallout are not old fans of TES or Bethesda automatically. We read in interviews, that Beth knows, that standard action RPG is not the thing fans are expecting. So normal "improvement" will not satisfy the customers in this special case.
Have a look at ST:Legacy. Similar franchise history, (ok, not developed by Beth) - but in the end Beth is responsible for it's bad quality. Don't you think Beth will learn from the failures?
Next aspect of improvement is "we do what we can do best". That would mean high end graphics, console, action 'RPG' and kiddie software. Better graphics is ok - maybe console (I mean not) - but is there really a market for a dumbed down action game for adults???
The ways of Oblivion must not be the ways of Fallout.

 

[Briosafreak]

The ways of Oblivion must not be the ways of Fallout.

That's the one point most of us agree, here and in many other places.

*grumbles too*

 

[xu]

Do you mean the target audience for Fallout 3 is the same as for Oblivion?

Duuuh! Of course, it is!

*No communication with the fans of the original franchise;
*Multi-platform game (we can rule out TB);
*Look at STG. That's where we are heading. Bethesda is afraid of the unknown, lack communication skills and can't handle good criticism, thus we all riots will be thrown in a trash bin.
*POS will be brought from the dead with a new and shiney look, funney gameplay and awesom soil erosion, because Bethesda studied teh biology, remember?

Fuck it. Seriously. Not worth it.

 

[Morbus]

Do you mean the target audience for Fallout 3 is the same as for Oblivion?

Duuuh! Of course, it is!

*No communication with the fans of the original franchise;
*Multi-platform game (we can rule out TB);
*Look at STG. That's where we are heading. Bethesda is afraid of the unknown, lack communication skills and can't handle good criticism, thus we all riots will be thrown in a trash bin.
*POS will be brought from the dead with a new and shiney look, funney gameplay and awesom soil erosion, because Bethesda studied teh biology, remember?

Fuck it. Seriously. Not worth it.

My friend, I guess your opinion is the same as the opinion of many of us. Unfortunately... Well... No matter 8) I'm happy! We have afterfall!

Really, I'm serious. Bethesda should learn from them... 8)

 

[Wooz]

Get a clue.

Really, I'm serious.

 

[Goweigus]

My friend, I guess your opinion is the same as the opinion of many of us. Unfortunately... Well... No matter Cool I'm happy! We have afterfall! Twisted Evil

Really, I'm serious. Bethesda should learn from them... Cool


I totally agree, I've stopped looking forward to Fallout 3, if it comes out and its decent maybe I'll play it. But ya Afterfall, lets start wooting!

 

[sanyok21]

"I've stopped looking forward to Fallout 3"

heh, and you'll continue checking for news every single day(except the ones where you forgot or didn't have the chance).
oh please.
Maybe most of us are sceptical of the outcome of the game and might be dissapointed when it'll be released(or when we'll know what's important to know of it), but each and every one of us looks forward to a sequel, otherwise we wouldn't be here.

 

[Morbus]

otherwise we wouldn't be here.

I'm here for great game experiences... no matter what its name...

And Wooz, I PMed you, if you don't mind...

 

[Goweigus]

I'm here for AfterFall, and the occasional tid-bit on how much of how evil Bethesda is and how much they are going to screw around with the Fallout franchise.

I can still be interested in reading, I dont have to look forward to its release tho

 

[DirtyDreamDesigner]

Ok, I notice some of you don't know how to, or worse yet, refuse to use the quote function. This is worrying. So, please, FFS, learn how to use it and use it, mkay?

 

[globbi]

heh, and you'll continue checking for news every single day(except the ones where you forgot or didn't have the chance).
oh please.
Maybe most of us are sceptical of the outcome of the game and might be dissapointed when it'll be released(or when we'll know what's important to know of it), but each and every one of us looks forward to a sequel, otherwise we wouldn't be here.

I keep checking the site for news to know more about Beth and how should i criticise them in other places. Besides, there aren't only F3 news, I like the comics featured by NMA or some nostalgia news.

 

[Brother None]

Pre-decided negativity is just as stupid as pre-decided positivity. You guys are being roughly as rational as a BethSoft fanboy.

Just sayin'

 

[globbi]

Pre-decided negativity is just as stupid as pre-decided positivity. You guys are being roughly as rational as a BethSoft fanboy.

I was just talking about position of someone checking here for news while not caring about Beth's F3. And, my negativity is not pre-decided. I would love F3 to be different from what I think it will be. While I amd still shocked by terminator-style humor quote I simply can't believe some few positive things the Beth people say (with PR bulshit and nothing concrete btw.) after so many lies that i myself had to discover after enthusiastic prchase of Oblivion soon after its relese.

And there is one HUGE difference between radical Fallout fans and Oblivion fanboys. Oblivion fanboys rarely can show their point in their opinion on how their game is cool and F3 will be cool. I fe. can see a lot of reasons why F3 will sux.