Why doesn't the community make their own FO3?

P

P-Funk

First time out of the vault
When I first heard that Fallout 3 was going to be Oblivion style, I assumed it was because it would be more economically viable for a company like Bethesda as they already have the infrastructure in place and can re-use code and coders easily. After going back and playing FO1 and 2 (I'm in the process, actually) again, I couldn't help thinking: Couldn't a "next generation" ISO/TB game still be made? It definately could, but I doubt it would sell to as wide an audience as the game Bethesda is making. That is a regrettable fact because it means it will not be made, at least not presently.

So, it seems like there are many here who are making mods for FO, or at least have the skill to do so, and there are DEFINATELY many people who are extremely familiar with the Fallout Universe and are capable of describing what does and doesn't fit in it.

I know its big, but people are on here anyway, so the community could start discussing a plot for the next FO the fan community would write, and maybe some of those skilled in modding could pick up the cause and either mod it or FIFE it. I don't know all the ad/disadvantages of FIFE, but the updated graphics would be cool, and it sounds like it would be easier to make (? I have never used it, though.)

I personally have only basic abilities in programming, graphics, 3d modeling, and modding in general. I do not pretend to be able to head the project or anything. I might be capable of little more than projects such as "Make me a vase to use in this house!!!" at first, but I would be glad to learn along the way.

So anyway, it could start as an open story-boarding project on the message board, and eventually evolve into an open source project. And it could transform the community, providing more for a loyal fan to be involved in than lamenting the days of yorn. It's a great idea, I think, but whether or not a team could be mustered remains to be seen.

EDIT: I posted it here instead of modding because I see it as a Fallout 3 suggestion: Make your own Fallout 3. Come up with ideas to suggest for the FO3 that should have been made.
 
The fallacy is in having some concept of potential man-hours calculated by looking at the number of posters and how much time they spend here, then comparing that to the number of actual man-hours spent by a developing studio to make a real game, and thinking they amount to anything like the same thing. They really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, REALLY, really do not.
 
Sorrow said:
There's a Fan Made Fallout TC in progress, Van Buren Revival TC in progress, some other guys are making a Fallout successor too.
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Apart from mods, in the sense of gameplay you can put some indie RPG projects forward. Age of Decadence, of course, Omega Syndrome and whatever game Davaris is making next, too.

And an opensource modding project sounds like a nice idea, but it'd probably end up damned chaotic in the end.
 
Of course it would be time consuming, and thats the question. Are there people in the community with the time and abilities?

Then, to address the chaos concern, someone with experience in open source programming who was interested would be needed.

In any case, it could be cool to go ahead and make the story you would like to see. Start with general ideas for the plot, what is the over all quest of the game, and take it from there. It could be fun, and if a team were ever assembled, the story would be there.

EDIT: I guess my point is this: People do open source projects all the time. It does take a lot of time, but they do them. So this would be a cool one, and perhaps one I will pursue in the long term once I get some formal programming under my belt,. And that is where the open source part comes in, once the main plot is formulated on the board. A team makes an empty world with a main quest. Its linear, and boring, at this point. But side quests and extra areas could come from modders at later points. The work is divided. The first team would have to put some time into it, but if it is a quality product, the modders would enrich and fill the game from there.
 
I like how this comes up every month and never, ever, ever, ever materialises into something real.
 
Probably because someone with the actual abilities to undertake the project hasn't had the idea yet. Or volunteered.
 
P-Funk said:
Probably because someone with the actual abilities to undertake the project hasn't had the idea yet. Or volunteered.
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And I seem to hear this claim every month as well.
 
Thats because it is a true statement. Though the pessimism may have an influence, too.

I can understand how you would feel jaded to the whole idea, though. But just because you've seen it fizzle a hundred times doesn't make it impossible. It is 100% possible. You just need the right people. Not a claim, a fact. I'm not saying I'm gonna be some sort of Jesus Christ and make it all happen, though, I don't have the time to spearhead this sort of thing either.

But being involved with it would be a hell of a lot better than wishing someone else would do it, or criticizing the way Bethesda is doing it.

I'll start the ideas, though I'm not terribly creative, nor is my knowledge of the Fallout Universe perfect. So constructive ideas would be more effective than bashing my inaccuracies. (I guess I'm just not qualified for this job at all, am I?)

Should it be based on the character from FO2, one of his friends, one of his decendents, or someone totally unrelated?

A decendent would continue the trend from the first two games, though one transistion between games is hardly a tradition. The downside to this is very few of the areas could be reused from the 2nd game unless it was in the very near future or a very unispired plot.

Recycling the Fallout 2 character or a party member would be convienient if the time lapse between games was nonexistent because the whole world could transfer. But using a party member would feel more like a spinoff than a sequel.

I think the best ideas are someone unrelated or a decendent. I also think it would be cool to have a neighboring state added in. Perhaps a small city survived in Utah, Arizona, or Nevada. Or maybe it is just much less damaged. Maybe they have been more successful in rebuilding. Maybe they are just as bad.

This would not necessarily be inacurate from what I know of the fallout story. Sure, they would bomb the hell out of L.A., but would Phoenix and Flagstaff attract as much attention?

From there, perhaps your community has evacuated due to <evil>. Then they get to Arizona (or whatever state) and find out their problems are just as serious, or the residents just plain don't welcome them. Their area may have fallen under a Nazi-like dictatorship and your community is enslaved.

Or, keep it in CA. The aforementioned community could be striking out in search of resources and slaves, and Arroyo has fallen to them.

I can see all this happening in a PN age. The question I'm unsure of is this: Would Sci-Fi writers of the 50's imagine any of the plots I described? If not, what would they imagine?

EDIT: I think most of my ideas are more Stephen King inspired than 50's sci-fi. I can't get what little I remember of The Stand out of my head.
 
Well screw you guys! I'll make my own Fallout 3. With blackjack.. and hookers! In fact, forget the Fallout 3 and the blackjack!
 
P-Funk, the idea is valid, but how can you make the assumption that anyone here is skilled enough to do that?
 
I told you I wasn't a creative guy, I was trying to get ideas flowing. You don't have to be a programmer to discuss what the Fallout 3 you would like would be. Seems like it would be a nice break from being depressed over what Fallout 3 is going to be. Then, if something ever did materialize out of it, well that would be even better.

Or, we can just stick with the depression. And yes, as has been mentioned, the hookers.
 
Well, if it were to be made, I already know who I'd want to make it.

And random fan #325 worries me just as much as bethsoft does.


One of the things that really irk the fallout fans is that one of the old devs from the fallout series applied for a job at bethsoft to work on fallout 3 and wasnt hired.
 
xdarkyrex said:
P-Funk, the idea is valid, but how can you make the assumption that anyone here is skilled enough to do that?
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I noticed a modding section, I looked through it to see if the idea had been mentioned, noticed that there were, in fact, modders, and suggested the idea to find out. I just put it here because it was more of an idea than an actual mod.

I assumed a little, but I was mostly hoping. I know I would be able to be a contributer with some more practice and experience with the engine, just not a lead programmer or anything.

It was worth finding out, and the story could still be drafted, if just for fun.
 
Wow that sucks about the dev...

Thats why i suggested a communal effort on the story. From what I've seen, nobody on here would be likely to embrace a story from a fan. You want Bethsoft to listen and interact, so of course you would want a modder to. For example, I think part of the reason Fife is generally well received is because they go out to the community and ask. It seems like they are getting input on every oldschool RPG gaming forum i peruse.
 
I gave you links in response to your initial posts. This response means, that people who are able to do something, like modding, making a TC or new, Fallout-like games are already working on it.
 
Yeah I saw that, kinda shot me down. But the FMF looks cool so far. I appreciate it, though. And the discussion persisted, so I did too.
 
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