''Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game'' is a 1997
role-playing video game
A role-playing video game (commonly referred to as simply a role-playing game or RPG, as well as a computer role-playing game or CRPG) is a video game genre where the player controls the actions of a character (or several party members) immers ...
developed and published by
Interplay Productions. In a mid-22nd century
post-apocalyptic
Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction is a subgenre of speculative fiction in which the Earth's (or another planet's) civilization is collapsing or has collapsed. The apocalypse event may be climatic, such as runaway climate change; ast ...
and
retro-futuristic world, decades after a global
nuclear war, ''Fallout''
protagonist
A protagonist () is the main character of a story. The protagonist makes key decisions that affect the plot, primarily influencing the story and propelling it forward, and is often the character who faces the most significant obstacles. If a st ...
, the Vault Dweller, inhabits the underground nuclear shelter Vault 13. After
customizing their character, the player must scour the surrounding wasteland for a computer chip that can fix the Vault's failed water supply system. They interact with other survivors, some of whom give them
missions
Mission (from Latin ''missio'' "the act of sending out") may refer to:
Organised activities Religion
* Christian mission, an organized effort to spread Christianity
*Mission (LDS Church), an administrative area of The Church of Jesus Christ of ...
, and engage in
turn-based combat where they battle until their
action points are depleted.
Tim Cain
Timothy Cain is an American video game developer best known as the creator, Video game producer, producer, lead programmer and one of the main Video game designer, designers of the 1997 computer game ''Fallout (video game), Fallout''. In 2009, h ...
began working on ''Fallout'' in 1994. It began as a
game engine
A game engine is a software framework primarily designed for the development of video games and generally includes relevant libraries and support programs. The "engine" terminology is similar to the term " software engine" used in the softwar ...
based on
Steve Jackson Games
Steve Jackson Games (SJGames) is a game company, founded in 1980 by Steve Jackson, that creates and publishes role-playing, board, and card games, and (until 2019) the gaming magazine ''Pyramid''.
History
Founded in 1980, six years after the c ...
's tabletop role-playing game ''
GURPS''. Interplay dropped the license after Steve Jackson Games objected to ''Fallout'' violence, and Cain and designer
Christopher Taylor created a new character customization scheme, SPECIAL. Although Interplay initially gave the game little attention, the development ultimately cost $3million and employed up to thirty people. Interplay considered ''Fallout'' the spiritual successor to its 1988 role-playing game ''
Wasteland'' and drew artistic inspiration from 1950s literature and media emblematic of the
Atomic Age
The Atomic Age, also known as the Atomic Era, is the period of history following the detonation of the first nuclear weapon, The Gadget at the '' Trinity'' test in New Mexico, on July 16, 1945, during World War II. Although nuclear chain reac ...
. The quests were intentionally made
morally ambiguous. After three and a half years of development, ''Fallout'' was released in North America in October 1997.
''Fallout'' received acclaim for its open-ended gameplay, character system, plot, and perceived original setting. It won "Role-Playing Game of the Year" from ''
GameSpot
''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. In addition ...
'' and ''
Computer Games Magazine
''Computer Games Magazine'' was a monthly computer and console gaming print magazine, founded in October 1988 as the United Kingdom publication ''Games International''. During its history, it was known variously as ''Strategy Plus'' (October 1 ...
'', was nominated by the
Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences at the
Spotlight Awards, and is often listed among the
greatest video games of all time. ''Fallout'' has been credited for renewing consumer interest in the role-playing video genre due to its setting, open-ended plot, and gameplay. ''Fallout'' was a commercial success, selling 600,000 copies worldwide. It spawned a successful
series of sequels and spin-offs, the rights to which were purchased in 2007 by
Bethesda Softworks.
Gameplay
Character creation
''Fallout'' is a
role-playing video game
A role-playing video game (commonly referred to as simply a role-playing game or RPG, as well as a computer role-playing game or CRPG) is a video game genre where the player controls the actions of a character (or several party members) immers ...
. The player begins by selecting one of three
characters, or one with player-customized
attributes.
[ The protagonist, known as the Vault Dweller, has seven primary statistics that the player can set: strength, perception, endurance, charisma, intelligence, agility, and luck. Each statistic may range from one to ten, provided their sum does not exceed 40. Two other statistics set during character creation are skills and traits.][ All 18 skills are learned abilities, their effectiveness determined by a percentage value. Their initial effectivenesses are determined by the primary statistics, but three can be given a 20% boost. Traits are character qualities with both a positive and negative effect; the player can pick two from a list of sixteen.][ During gameplay, the player can gather ]experience point
An experience point (often abbreviated as exp or XP) is a unit of measurement used in some tabletop role-playing games (RPGs) and role-playing video games to quantify a player character's life experience and progression through the game. Exper ...
s through various actions. For gathering experience points, the player will level up
Level Up may refer to:
Film and TV
*Level Up (2016 film), a British thriller film
* ''Level Up'' (American TV series), a Cartoon Network live action series
** ''Level Up'' (2011 film), the movie pilot for the Cartoon Network series
* ''Level Up' ...
and may increase their skills by a set number of points.[ Every three levels, the player can grant themself a special ability, or perk.] There are 50 perks and each has prerequisites that must be met. For example, "Animal Friend", which prevents animals from attacking the player character, requires the player to be level nine, have an intelligence of five, and have an outdoorsman skill of 25%.
Exploration and combat
In ''Fallout'', the player explores the game world from an isometric perspective and interacts with non-player character
A non-player character (NPC), or non-playable character, is any character in a game that is not controlled by a player. The term originated in traditional tabletop role-playing games where it applies to characters controlled by the gamemaster ...
s (NPCs). Characters vary in their amount of dialogue; some say short messages, while others speak at length. Significant characters are illustrated with 3D models, known as "talking heads", during conversations. The player can barter with other characters or buy goods using bottle caps as currency.[ The game has companions that the player can recruit for exploration and combat, although they cannot be directly controlled.][
There are three main quests where completion is required, two of them given after completion of the first one. The first main quest has a time limit of 150 in-game days; the game ends if the player fails to complete it within the allotted time.][ Some characters give the player side quests; if the player solves them, they receive experience points.][ The player can use the ]PIPBoy 2000
The Pip-Boy is a fictional wearable computer in the post-apocalyptic '' Fallout'' video game franchise. Manufactured in-universe by RobCo Industries prior to the devastating nuclear Great War, it is capable of numerous functions depending on ...
, a portable wearable computer that tracks these quests. Many quests feature multiple solutions; they can often be completed through diplomacy, combat, or stealth, and some allow solutions that are unconventional or contrary to the original task. Based on how they completed quests, the player can earn or lose karma
Karma (; sa, कर्म}, ; pi, kamma, italic=yes) in Sanskrit means an action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences. In Indian religions, the term more specifically refers to a principle of cause and effect, often descriptively ...
points, which determine how others treat them.[ The player's actions dictate what future story or gameplay opportunities are available and the ending.][
Combat is turn based and uses an action-point system. During each turn, multiple actions may be performed by the player until they run out of action points.][ Different actions consume different amounts of points. The player can rapidly switch between two equipped weapons, and may acquire a diverse range of weapons,][ many of which can target specific areas of enemies.][ Melee ( hand-to-hand) weapons typically have two attacks: swing or thrust. If the player has equipped no weapon, they can punch or kick.
]
Plot
Setting
On October 23, 2077, a global nuclear war devastates the world and destroys modern civilizations. The events of ''Fallout'' take place nearly a century later in 2161, and follow the Vault Dweller, a human born and raised within Vault 13, one of a number of underground fallout shelters built to protect survivors.[ Survivors on the surface live off the salvage of the old world.][
Vault 13 is located beneath the mountains of ]Southern California
Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and cultural region that generally comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. It includes the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the second most populous urban ...
.[ The Vault Dweller can explore major settlements including Junktown, which is mired in conflict between the local sheriff, Killian Darkwater, and a criminal, Gizmo; the Hub, a bustling merchant city with job opportunities;][ and Necropolis, a city founded by ghouls, humans who lived in Vault 12 and became nuclear-radiated creatures.][ The Vault Dweller's journey also brings them into contact with various factions, including the Brotherhood of Steel, a quasi-religious technology-based group with militaristic warriors,][ the Children of the Cathedral, an optimistic religious cult;][ and the ]Super Mutants
Super Mutants are a fictional race of posthuman beings from the post-apocalyptic ''Fallout'' video game franchise. Within series lore, Super Mutants are originally ordinary human beings that have been mutated to be much larger and stronger as a r ...
, an army of virtually immortal monsters immune to radiation.[
]
Characters
The player controls the Vault Dweller, who is sent into the Wasteland to save their vault. The Vault Dweller can be customized or based on one of three pre-generated characters: Albert Cole, a negotiator and charismatic leader with a legal background; Natalia Dubrovhsky, a talented acrobat and intelligent and resourceful granddaughter of a Russian diplomat in the pre-War Soviet
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...
consulate in Los Angeles; and Max Stone, the largest person in the Vault who is known for his strength, stamina, and lack of intelligence. The three characters present a diplomatic, deceptive, or combative approach to the game, respectively. Although the character can be male or female, the Vault Dweller is canonically male.
The five companions the player can recruit include: Ian, a guard from Shady Sands; Tycho, a desert ranger; Dogmeat, a tireless loyal dog; and Katja, a member of an organization called the Followers of the Apocalypse. Other major characters include Vault Boy, the mascot of Vault-Tec, who are the creators of the Vaults and the PIPBoy 2000; Killian Darkwater, the mayor and shopkeeper of Junktown; and the Master, leader of the Super Mutants and the main antagonist.[
]
Story
In Vault 13, the Water Chip, a computer component responsible for the Vault's water recycling and pumping machinery, stops working. With only 150 days before water reserves will run dry, the Vault Overseer tasks the Vault Dweller with finding a replacement. Armed with the PIPBoy 2000 and meager equipment, the Vault Dweller leaves Vault 13 for the nearest source of possible help, Vault 15, but finds it abandoned and in ruins. The Vault Dweller explores the wasteland and locates a replacement chip in Vault 12 underneath Necropolis.
The Vault Dweller returns to Vault 13 with the chip and the water system is repaired. The Overseer becomes concerned about the mutants reported by the Vault Dweller. Believing the mutations are too widespread and extreme to be a natural occurrence, the Overseer charges the Vault Dweller with finding and stopping the source of the mutations. Information discovered throughout the wasteland reveals that humans are being captured and turned into Super Mutants by exposure to the Forced Evolutionary Virus (F.E.V.). The Super Mutants are led by the Master, who intends to transform every human into a Super Mutant and establish "unity" on Earth. The Children of the Cathedral are a front created by the Master, who is using them to trick humans into peaceful submission.
To stop the mutations, the Vault Dweller must destroy the vats containing the F.E.V. and kill the Master; the order of the tasks is chosen by the player.[ The Vault Dweller travels to the Mariposa Military Base to destroy it and the vats within, preventing the creation of more Super Mutants. To kill the Master, the Vault Dweller travels to the Children's Cathedral and locates a prototype Vault beneath it, from which the Master commands his army. The Vault Dweller infiltrates the Vault and can choose to convince the Master that his plan will fail because the Super Mutants are infertile, kill him immediately, or set off an explosion that destroys the Cathedral.][ The Vault Dweller returns to Vault 13 but is denied entry by the Overseer, who fears that they have been changed by their experiences and the tales of their exploits and accomplishments will encourage the inhabitants to abandon the Vault. The Overseer exiles the Vault Dweller into the wasteland.][ ''Fallout'' concludes with the legacy of the Vault Dweller's decisions on the societies and people they had encountered.
]
Development
Development on ''Fallout'' began in early 1994.[ Initially, Interplay gave the game little attention,] and for the first six months, the programmer Tim Cain
Timothy Cain is an American video game developer best known as the creator, Video game producer, producer, lead programmer and one of the main Video game designer, designers of the 1997 computer game ''Fallout (video game), Fallout''. In 2009, h ...
was the sole developer. Cain eventually enlisted the aid of Interplay employees during their spare time.[ The development team behind ''Fallout''—led by Cain, the designer Christopher Taylor, and the art director ]Leonard Boyarsky
Leonard Boyarsky is an American computer game designer and visual artist. He is one of the key designers of the video games ''Fallout'' and ''Diablo III''.
Early life
After he earned a bachelor's degree in Illustration (at Cal State Fullerton ...
—reached 15 people in 1995. In 1996, the producer Feargus Urquhart recruited some Interplay workers to join the team, expanding it to 30.[ Cain considered the team "amazing" for their dedication, while Urquhart described working under Interplay as "barely controlled chaos".][
The tentative title, ''Vault-13: A GURPS Post-Nuclear Role-Playing Game'', was rejected as unfitting. ''Armageddon'' was considered as an alternative, but was already in use for another Interplay project (which was later canceled). Interplay's president Brian Fargo suggested the title ''Fallout ''.][ Interplay intended to use "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire" by the Ink Spots as the theme song, but was hindered by a ]copyright
A copyright is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the exclusive right to copy, distribute, adapt, display, and perform a creative work, usually for a limited time. The creative work may be in a literary, artistic, education ...
problem, so another Ink Spots song, "Maybe
Maybe may refer to:
Music Albums
* ''Maybe'' (Sharon O'Neill album), 1981
* ''Maybe'', a 1970 album by The Three Degrees
Songs
* "Maybe" (Allan Flynn and Frank Madden song), 1935
* "Maybe" (Brainstorm song), 2001
* "Maybe" (Carmada song), 20 ...
", was used. The development concluded on October 1, 1997, after three and a half years and a total cost of approximately $3million.
Engine and design
''Fallout'' started as a game engine
A game engine is a software framework primarily designed for the development of video games and generally includes relevant libraries and support programs. The "engine" terminology is similar to the term " software engine" used in the softwar ...
—a framework for a video game—that Cain was developing during his spare time, based on the tabletop role-playing game ''Generic Universal RolePlaying System
The ''Generic Universal RolePlaying System'', or ''GURPS'', is a tabletop role-playing game system designed to allow for play in any game setting. It was created by Steve Jackson Games and first published in 1986 at a time when most such systems w ...
'' (''GURPS''). It entered more coordinated development after Cain convinced Fargo of its potential, and Interplay announced it had acquired the ''GURPS'' license in 1994. The first ''Fallout'' prototype was finished that year.
The team considered making the game first-person and 3D, but discarded the idea because the models would not have held the desired amount of detail. They instead selected an oblique projection, producing a trimetric perspective.[ Designed to be open-world and non-linear, ''Fallout'' was balanced so that, even though side quests are optional, characters who do not improve their skills and experience through them would be too ill-equipped to finish.] However, Taylor also added the 150-day time limit to the game to keep the player focused on the main quests.[
The game was nearly canceled in late 1994 after Interplay acquired the licenses to the '']Dungeons & Dragons
''Dungeons & Dragons'' (commonly abbreviated as ''D&D'' or ''DnD'') is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game (RPG) originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. The game was first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. (T ...
'' franchises ''Forgotten Realms
''Forgotten Realms'' is a campaign setting for the '' Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 a ...
'' and ''Planescape
''Planescape'' is a campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game, designed by Zeb Cook, and published in 1994. It crosses numerous planes of existence, encompassing an entire cosmology called the Great Wheel, as d ...
'', but Cain convinced Interplay to let him finish. After the success of the role-playing video game '' Diablo'', released in January 1997, Cain resisted pressure to convert ''Fallout'' into a real-time multiplayer
A multiplayer video game is a video game in which more than one person can play in the same game environment at the same time, either locally on the same computing system ( couch co-op), on different computing systems via a local area network, or ...
game. In March 1997, Interplay dropped the license for ''GURPS'' due to creative differences with ''GURPS'' creator Steve Jackson Games
Steve Jackson Games (SJGames) is a game company, founded in 1980 by Steve Jackson, that creates and publishes role-playing, board, and card games, and (until 2019) the gaming magazine ''Pyramid''.
History
Founded in 1980, six years after the c ...
. According to Interplay, Steve Jackson objected to the amount of violence and gore. Interplay was forced to change the ''GURPS'' system to the internally-developed SPECIAL system; Taylor and Cain were each given a week to design and code it, respectively.[
]
Concept and influences
Prior to the license's termination, the engine for ''Fallout'' was based on ''GURPS''. Fantasy and time-traveling settings were considered before the development team decided on a post-apocalyptic setting. Taylor outlined the design goals in a vision statement, which Cain called an inspiration for the development team and "a major reason why the game came together at all."
''Fallout'' was a spiritual successor to Interplay's role-playing video game '' Wasteland'' (1988), published by Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) is an American video game company headquartered in Redwood City, California. Founded in May 1982 by Apple employee Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer game industry and promoted th ...
. Almost everyone who worked on ''Fallout'' had played it. The team was unable to make ''Fallout'' a direct sequel to ''Wasteland'' because Electronic Arts refused to license it. The team drew inspiration for ''Fallout'' retro-futuristic art style from 1950s literature and media related to the Atomic Age
The Atomic Age, also known as the Atomic Era, is the period of history following the detonation of the first nuclear weapon, The Gadget at the '' Trinity'' test in New Mexico, on July 16, 1945, during World War II. Although nuclear chain reac ...
. Especial influence came from the 1956 science fiction novel '' Forbidden Planet'' and optimistic Cold War posters, which Boyarsky reportedly loved.[
The vaults were influenced by the underground base in the science fiction movie '' A Boy and His Dog'' (1975).][ Cain said that the team "all loved '' X-COM''" and that ''Fallout'' featured combat similar to ''X-COM'' prior to the ''GURPS'' license. Cain admired '' Star Control II'' (1992) and said it influenced ''Fallout'' open-ended design. ''Fallout'' features many popular culture references. The team was only allowed to include references if understanding the source material was not required for the reference to make sense. For example, the Slayer perk's name references the television series '' Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' while generically matching its effect (turning all attacks to critical hits).
]
Characters and writing
The sprites in ''Fallout'' were highly detailed and took up a huge chunk of memory. 21 NPCs were voiced by various actors, and Ron Perlman voiced the narrator. Some NPCs feature 3D models during conversation called "talking heads", most of which were created by Scott Redenhizer. Each took eight weeks to create, and voice recording took a few months. The talking heads began as sculpted heads of clay, which the team studied to determine which parts should be most animated. The heads were digitized using a Faro Space Arm and ''VertiSketch'', with ''LightWave 3D
LightWave 3D is a 3D computer graphics program developed by NewTek. It has been used in films, television, motion graphics, digital matte painting, visual effects, video game development, product design, architectural visualizations, virtual ...
'' used for geometric corrections and the texture maps
Texture mapping is a method for mapping a texture on a computer-generated graphic. Texture here can be high frequency detail, surface texture, or color.
History
The original technique was pioneered by Edwin Catmull in 1974.
Texture mappi ...
created in Adobe Photoshop. Much of the spoken dialogue was written by designer Mark O'Green, whose method of writing Taylor considered efficient and impressive.[ The companions, conceived late in development, were not easy to implement. As a result, they were riddled with glitches, including a tendency to shoot the Vault Dweller when they are obscuring an enemy. Dogmeat was the first companion added. Tycho was a reference to the desert rangers from ''Wasteland''.
Cain wrote the prologue, which included the series catchphrase "War. War never changes".] Cain, who dislikes it when the player character knows more than the player, devised ''Fallout'' narrative so that the Vault Dweller would know just as much as the player. The quests in ''Fallout'' were given moral ambiguity, with no clear right or wrong solutions. This was done so the player could take whatever choice suited them best. An example is the final encounter with the Master, whose motives for establishing unity among the wasteland population and making it immune to radiation by turning them into mutants could be perceived as persuasive by the player. Vault Boy and his cheerful nature parodied how 1950s media downplayed the perils of nuclear war.
Release
Boyarsky and lead artist Jason D. Anderson
Jason D. Anderson, usually credited as Jason Anderson, is a video game developer. He started out as a contract artist for Interplay on the USCF Chess project. He was later hired to work on ''Fallout'' for which he became Lead Technical Artist ...
[ created advertisements for ''Fallout''. ''Fallout'' did not have a trailer, but a demo was released on April 26, 1997. The packaging was designed to resemble a lunch box, and the manual was designed to resemble a survival guide to reflect the game's style.][ ''Fallout'' was released on October 10, 1997,] in North America for MS-DOS
MS-DOS ( ; acronym for Microsoft Disk Operating System, also known as Microsoft DOS) is an operating system for x86-based personal computers mostly developed by Microsoft. Collectively, MS-DOS, its rebranding as IBM PC DOS, and a few oper ...
and Windows
Windows is a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. For example, Windows NT for consumers, Windows Server for ...
.[ The game was later released for ]Mac OS
Two major famlies of Mac operating systems were developed by Apple Inc.
In 1984, Apple debuted the operating system that is now known as the "Classic" Mac OS with its release of the original Macintosh System Software. The system, rebranded " ...
by the Interplay division MacPlay. Version 1.1 was released on November 13, 1997, patching many bugs in the original release and removing the 500-day time limit. The patch was released for the Mac OS on December 11, 1997.
''Fallout'' was initially not released in Europe due to the player's ability to kill children in-game. Version 1.2 removed the children from ''Fallout'' and it was released at an unspecified date in Europe.[ MacPlay, which had become independent from Interplay, ported ''Fallout'' to ]Mac OS X
macOS (; previously OS X and originally Mac OS X) is a Unix operating system developed and marketed by Apple Inc. since 2001. It is the primary operating system for Apple's Mac computers. Within the market of desktop and lapt ...
in 2002 as part of its "Value Series".[ ''Fallout'' and its sequels, '']Fallout 2
''Fallout 2: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game'' is a 1998 role-playing video game developed by Black Isle Studios and published by Interplay Productions. It is a sequel to ''Fallout'' (1997), featuring similar graphics and game mechanics. The g ...
'' and '' Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel'', were bundled as ''Fallout Trilogy'' in April 2009. To mark its 20th anniversary, the game was made temporarily free on video game digital distribution
Digital distribution, also referred to as content delivery, online distribution, or electronic software distribution, among others, is the delivery or distribution of digital media content such as audio, video, e-books, video games, and othe ...
service Steam
Steam is a substance containing water in the gas phase, and sometimes also an aerosol of liquid water droplets, or air. This may occur due to evaporation or due to boiling, where heat is applied until water reaches the enthalpy of vaporizat ...
on September 30, 2017. It was also included in ''Fallout Anthology'' in September and October 2015 and ''Fallout Legacy Collection'' in October 2019.
Reception
''Fallout'' received critical acclaim,[ critics considering it one of the best role-playing video games at the time. '' PC PowerPlay'' predicted that ''Fallout'' would revive the genre and thought that both casual gamers and fans of role-playing games would enjoy the game.][ '']GameSpot
''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. In addition ...
'' declared that because of the release of ''Fallout'', gamers would not have to wait for a good role-playing game anymore.[ '' The Electric Playground'' said that they "can't think of another game that comes even close to ''Fallout'' excellent character generation and skill system, great story, and classy delivery."][
Critics praised the character system.][ '']GamePro
Gamepro.com is an international multiplatform video game magazine media company that covers the video game industry, video game hardware and video game software in countries such as Germany and France. The publication, GamePro, was originally la ...
'' considered it the best aspect, and Todd Vaughn of ''PC Gamer
''PC Gamer'' is a magazine and website founded in the United Kingdom in 1993 devoted to PC gaming and published monthly by Future plc. The magazine has several regional editions, with the UK and US editions becoming the best selling PC games m ...
'' found the system "easy and fun to use."[ '']The Washington Post
''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large n ...
'' praised the "realistic tradeoffs" during customization. ''Computer Games Strategy Plus
''Computer Games Magazine'' was a monthly computer and console gaming print magazine, founded in October 1988 as the United Kingdom publication ''Games International''. During its history, it was known variously as ''Strategy Plus'' (October 1 ...
'' said the system allowed for a variety of effective character builds,[ and ''The Electric Playground'' and ''PC PowerPlay'' praised the game for allowing each skill to be useful.][ ''GameSpot'' felt that "the variety of characters that can be created and the truly different experiences that each type of character can have should satisfy even hard-core RPG players."][
The post-apocalyptic setting and story were praised.][ The setting was lauded as refreshing for a role-playing game;][ '' Just Adventure'' said that ''Fallout'' abandoned the traditional fantasy-based settings of many role-playing games.] Butcher said the game's appearance, sound, and ambient music delivered a believable environment,[ and ''Computer Games Strategy Plus'' found the mix of satire and grit well-executed.][ ''GameSpot'' and '']the Independent
''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publishe ...
'' said the storyline was compelling.[ Critics commended the cinematic introduction;] ''The Electric Playground'' called it "the most haunting opening movie" he had seen.[ Butcher praised the ability to complete quests in multiple ways,][ and '']Next Generation
Next Generation or Next-Generation may refer to:
Publications and literature
* ''Next Generation'' (magazine), video game magazine that was made by the now defunct Imagine Media publishing company
* Next Generation poets (2004), list of young ...
'' found the subquests to be a natural outgrowth of the main quest.[ '']Computer Gaming World
''Computer Gaming World'' (CGW) was an American computer game magazine published between 1981 and 2006. One of the few magazines of the era to survive the video game crash of 1983, it was sold to Ziff Davis in 1993. It expanded greatly through t ...
'', however, said the dialogue was unable to account for the player's unpredictability, resulting in out-of-order dialogue.[ ''Just Adventure'' considered the ending among the best in video games.][
The combat received a slightly positive reception.][ Several reviews praised its tactical nature,] and ''GameSpot'' found the targeting system satisfying.[ ''Computer Games Strategy Plus'' said that fans of turn-based RPGs would greatly enjoy the combat because of the wide variety of weapons.][ Finding the combat unrealistic, ''Computer Gaming World'' said that the turn-based system "might bore or disappoint ''Diablo'' fans, but will be welcome to most hard-core RPGers."][ The companions were criticized because the player could not control them directly.][ Vaughn said the combat was great when playing without companions and frustrating when playing with them.][
]
Sales
''Fallout'' was commercially successful, although it was not as popular as other role-playing video games such as '' Baldur's Gate'' and ''Diablo''. It did not meet sales expectations, but developed a fan following[ and sold enough copies for a sequel to be produced.][ In the United States, it debuted at No. 12 on PC Data's computer game sales rankings for October 1997.] '' CNET Gamecenter'' noted that the game was part of a trend of role-playing successes that month, alongside '' Ultima Online'' and '' Lands of Lore 2: Guardians of Destiny'', and said, "If October's list is any indication, ole-playing gamesare back." ''Fallout'' sold 53,777 copies in the US by the end of 1997.
Worldwide, over 100,000 copies were shipped by December 1997, and Erik Bethke reported sales of over 120,000 copies after a year. By March 2000, 144,000 copies had been sold in the US alone. ''GameSpot'' called these "very good sales, especially since the overall orldwidefigures are likely double those amounts". ''Fallout'' was unpopular in the United Kingdom, where sales for it and its sequel totaled just over 50,000 combined lifetime sales by 2008. In 2017, Fargo said in an interview that ''Fallout'' sold a total of 600,000 copies.
Awards and accolades
The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated ''Fallout'' for its "Personal Computer: Role Playing Game of the Year" and "Outstanding Achievement in Sound and Music" awards. Similarly, the Computer Game Developers Conference nominated ''Fallout'' for its "Best Adventure/RPG" Spotlight Award. ''Fallout'' received GameSpot's "Best Role-Playing Game" and "Best Ending" prize; and was nominated for ''GameSpot'' "Game of the Year". It also won ''Computer Games Magazine'' "Role-Playing Game of the Year" award.
Legacy
Influence
The 1990s saw a decline in the popularity of computer role-playing games
A role-playing video game (commonly referred to as simply a role-playing game or RPG, as well as a computer role-playing game or CRPG) is a video game genre where the player controls the actions of a character (or several party members) immers ...
as a result of stale settings and ideas, competition with other genres, and poor quality assurance. ''Fallout'' has been credited as one of several innovative role-playing games that revived the genre's popularity. In 2000, ''CNET Gamecenter'' Mark H. Walker wrote, "The RPG genre was clearly in a slump in the mid-'90s, but... the renaissance began when Interplay's ''Fallout'' hit store shelves." Rowan Kaiser, writing for ''Engadget
''Engadget'' ( ) is a multilingual technology blog network with daily coverage of gadgets and consumer electronics. ''Engadget'' manages ten blogs four of which are written in English and six have international versions with independent editor ...
'', called ''Fallout'' the "first modern role-playing game".[
''Fallout'' post-apocalyptic setting was novel, as contemporary role-playing games often featured Tolkien-inspired fantasy settings.] ''Fallout'' also stood out for its focus on the player character, how their choices impacted the game world, and the open-world gameplay.[ Matthew Byrd of '']Den of Geek
''Den of Geek'' is a US and UK-based website covering entertainment with a focus on pop culture. The website also issues a bi-annual magazine.
History
''Den of Geek'' was founded in 2007 by Simon Brew in London. In 2012, DoG Tech LLC licensed ...
'' wrote that ''Fallout'' departure from gameplay inspired by the tabletop role-playing game '' Dungeons and Dragons'', prevalent in role-playing games at the time, made it influential.[ Kaiser stated that any modern game with a morality system could be tied back to ''Fallout''.][ At the 2012 ]Game Developers Conference
The Game Developers Conference (GDC) is an annual conference for video game developers. The event includes an expo, networking events, and awards shows like the Game Developers Choice Awards and Independent Games Festival, and a variety of tuto ...
, Cain gave a presentation about ''Fallout'' development and noted traits that were shared by subsequent role-playing games, including open-world gameplay, ambiguous morality, and perks.
''Polygon
In geometry, a polygon () is a plane figure that is described by a finite number of straight line segments connected to form a closed '' polygonal chain'' (or ''polygonal circuit''). The bounded plane region, the bounding circuit, or the two t ...
'' described ''Fallout'' as "one of the most influential games of its time."[ After leaving Interplay in 1998, Cain, Boyarsky, and Anderson formed Troika Games and created '' Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura'' (2001). Cain considered ''Fallout'' a "stepping stone" to the creation of ''Arcanum''. Years later, working for Obsidian Entertainment, Cain and Boyarsky created '' The Outer Worlds'' (2019), a role-playing video game influenced by ''Fallout''. After the ''Fallout'' series became popular, '' Wasteland 2'' (2014) was pitched by Fargo and developed by inXile Entertainment, which Fargo founded, with a design team featuring Anderson and ''Fallout'' composer Mark Morgan. ''PC Gamer'' found ''Wasteland 2'' to be more similar the first two ''Fallout'' games than the original ''Wasteland''. Other personnel from the ''Fallout'' development team have worked on games that were influenced by ''Fallout'' such as '' Neverwinter Nights 2'' (2006) and '' Alpha Protocol'' (2008). A feature similar to the perks in ''Fallout'', called "feats", was added to the third edition of ''Dungeons and Dragons''. Other games with similar features, according to Cain, include '']World of Warcraft
''World of Warcraft'' (''WoW'') is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) released in 2004 by Blizzard Entertainment. Set in the ''Warcraft'' fantasy universe, ''World of Warcraft'' takes place within the world of Azeroth ...
'' (2004) and '' Oblivion'' (2006). Both '' Metro 2033'' (2010) and ''Atom RPG
''ATOM RPG'' is a post-apocalyptic role-playing video game, which takes place on the territory of the USSR in an alternative world after a nuclear war. The game was developed and published by the independent studio Atom Team. The game was relea ...
'' (2018) are post-apocalyptic games that were influenced by ''Fallout''. Other games influenced by ''Fallout'' include '' Deus Ex'' (2000), '' Dark Angel: Vampire Apocalypse'' (2001), and '' Weird West'' (2022).
Retrospective reception
''Fallout'' continues to receive acclaim, considered one of the best role-playing games on PC. Retrospective critics consider the game innovative and praise its setting as refreshing for a role-playing game. Although '' The Escapist'' thought the game lost some of its appeal over time, they found the gameplay "intriguing, sometimes addictive". ''GamesRadar+
''GamesRadar+'' (formerly ''GamesRadar'') is an entertainment website for video game-related news, previews, and reviews. It is owned by Future plc. In late 2014, Future Publishing-owned sites '' Total Film'', ''SFX'', '' Edge'' and '' Compute ...
'' found ''Fallout'' worth returning to despite perceiving the game as outdated. Critical assessments of ''Fallout'' quality relative to its sequels differ. ''GamesRadar+'' ranked it low among the series,[ '' IGN'' ranked it in the middle, and '']Kotaku
''Kotaku'' is a video game website and blog that was originally launched in 2004 as part of the Gawker Media network. Notable former contributors to the site include Luke Smith, Cecilia D'Anastasio, Tim Rogers, and Jason Schreier.
History ...
'' and ''Paste Magazine
''Paste'' is a monthly music and entertainment digital magazine, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with studios in Atlanta and Manhattan, and owned by Paste Media Group. The magazine began as a website in 1998. It ran as a print publication fr ...
'' ranked it high.[
Critics consider the Master one of the best video game villains.] ''GamesRadar+'' called the player's encounter with the Master "one of the most striking storytelling devices of its era", and ''IGN'' called it one of the series' most memorable moments. ''GameSpot'' singled out Jim Cummings
James Jonah Cummings (born November 3, 1952) is an American voice actor. Since beginning his career in the 1980s, he has appeared in almost 400 roles. Cummings has frequently worked with The Walt Disney Company and Warner Bros., including as t ...
's voice acting as the Master as "chilling" and considered him "one of the most memorable antagonists in computer-gaming history."[ Both Byrd and '']Eurogamer
''Eurogamer'' is a British video game journalism website launched in 1999 and owned by alongside formed company Gamer Network. Its editor-in-chief is Martin Robinson.
Since 2008, it is known for the formerly eponymous games trade fair EGX ...
'' praised the boss fight for its multiple solutions that took advantage of character system,[ and ''PC Gamer'' said it was among the best in PC gaming.
The game has been inducted into the "Hall of Fame" (or similar award) of ''Computer Gaming World'',] ''GameSpot'', '' GameSpy'', and ''IGN''. The 2002 MacPlay ports of ''Fallout'' and ''Fallout 2'' was listed under "Best Games Rescued from Oblivion" in ''Macworld
''Macworld'' is a website dedicated to products and software of Apple Inc., published by Foundry, a subsidiary of IDG Inc. It started life as a print magazine in 1984 and had the largest audited circulation (both total and newsstand) of Macin ...
'' "2002 Game Hall of Fame". ''Fallout'' was included in the 2010 reference book ''1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die
''1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die'' is a video game reference book first published in October 2010. It consists of a list of video games released between 1970 and 2013, arranged chronologically by release date. Each entry in the list ...
'' and was exhibited in Smithsonian American Art Museum
The Smithsonian American Art Museum (commonly known as SAAM, and formerly the National Museum of American Art) is a museum in Washington, D.C., part of the Smithsonian Institution. Together with its branch museum, the Renwick Gallery, SAAM holds ...
's " The Art of Video Games" under the category of adventure games
An adventure game is a video game genre in which the player assumes the role of a protagonist in an interactive story driven by exploration and/or puzzle-solving. The genre's focus on story allows it to draw heavily from other narrative-based m ...
in March 2011. ''Fallout'' has been ranked as one of the best PC games of all time by ''PC Gamer'' and ''IGN''. It has also been listed as among the greatest video games of all time by ''IGN'' and ''Polygon''.
Series
''Fallout'' was followed by a series of sequels and spin-offs, often different in genre and ambiance from the original game. Cain did not work on any sequels and spin-offs beyond brainstorming for ''Fallout 2
''Fallout 2: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game'' is a 1998 role-playing video game developed by Black Isle Studios and published by Interplay Productions. It is a sequel to ''Fallout'' (1997), featuring similar graphics and game mechanics. The g ...
'', and left Interplay during its development.[ Interplay owned the ''Fallout'' rights until 2007, when they were purchased by Bethesda Softworks. The first Bethesda-developed ''Fallout'' game was '' Fallout 3''. The series has been acclaimed, influential among developers, and among the most popular in the video game industry. Vault Boy became the franchise's mascot and is considered iconic.][ Other recurring elements include the Super Mutants, the Brotherhood of Steel, the PIPBoy (known as the Pip-Boy in later games), and Power Armor.
Three sequels have been released: ''Fallout 2'' in 1998, ''Fallout 3'' in 2008,][ and '' Fallout 4'' in 2015. All received positive reviews.][ Spin-offs include '' Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel'' in 2001, '' Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel'' in 2004, '' Fallout: New Vegas'' in 2010,] '' Fallout Shelter'' in 2015, and '' Fallout 76'' in 2018. ''Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel'' and ''Fallout New Vegas'' received positive reviews,[ while ''Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel'', ''Fallout Shelter'', and ''Fallout 76'' received mixed reviews.
]
Other media
In 1998, Interplay wrote a script for a film adaptation of ''Fallout'', to be produced by its Interplay Films studio. The adaptation was canceled following the dissolution of Interplay Films in 2000. Throughout 2002, Chris Avellone, a designer of ''Fallout 2'', compiled research of ''Fallout'' world and released a series of issues known as the ''Fallout Bible''. Following Bethesda's acquisition of the ''Fallout'' franchise, the ''Fallout Bible'' became non-canon. Morgan released a remastered soundtrack album for ''Fallout'' on May 10, 2010. A television adaptation, with Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan as executive producers, was announced in July 2020. In 2022, Amazon
Amazon most often refers to:
* Amazons, a tribe of female warriors in Greek mythology
* Amazon rainforest, a rainforest covering most of the Amazon basin
* Amazon River, in South America
* Amazon (company), an American multinational technolog ...
approved the show for its streaming service Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video, also known simply as Prime Video, is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming and rental service of Amazon offered as a standalone service or as part of Amazon's Prime subscription. The service p ...
.
See also
* History of Western role-playing video games
Notes
References
Sources
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
External links
*
''Fallout''
at Bethesda.net
''Fallout''
at MobyGames
MobyGames is a commercial website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes nearly 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms. The site is supported by banner ads and a small ...
*
{{Authority control
1997 video games
Anti-war video games
Black comedy video games
Classic Mac OS games
DOS games
Fallout (series) video games
Fiction set in the 2160s
Interplay Entertainment games
MacOS games
Open-world video games
Role-playing video games
Satirical video games
Single-player video games
Video games about cults
Video games featuring protagonists of selectable gender
Video games scored by Mark Morgan
Video games set in the 22nd century
Video games set in California
Video games set in Los Angeles
Video games with alternate endings
Video games with isometric graphics
Windows games
Video games developed in the United States