Bethesda defends the “3” in Fallout 3

With radically changed gameplay and a new developer, one has to wonder why Bethesda didn’t simply release Fallout 3 (PS3, Xbox 360, PC) as “Fallout” rather than attempt a more direct connection with the previous two titles with a true sequel. Pete Hines, VP of Public Relations & Marketing for Bethesda Softworks, was quizzed exactly on this topic.

Just in case you’ve been living under a rock: Fallout 3 (PS3, Xbox 360, PC) was released yesterday and it’s bloody marvelous.

Already scoring over 90% on Metacritic across all platforms, most critics and users agree that it’s a great game worthy of the venerable franchise. There’s just one problem: It doesn’t quite feel like Fallout.

I guess turning an old-school RPG into a shooter would do that.

One has to wonder why Bethesda didn’t simply release the game as “Fallout” rather than attempt a more direct connection with the previous two titles. After all, Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel didn’t claim the Fallout 3 name and they only changed the focus of the gameplay and not the gameplay itself.

Dropping the “3” certainly would have made things easier for them. Making a true sequel means to live up to the standard of the previous games, not just remaking the game in their own style. It means fans like myself would be examining the game under a microscope waiting to pounce on the smallest detail deemed “unfaithful” to the series. Simply put, it’s a lot more work with a stiffer grading curve.

Pete Hines was quizzed exactly on this topic during an interview with MTV Multiplayer some time ago. “ThereÂ’s only one ‘FalloutÂ’ ever. ThereÂ’s only one ‘Fallout 2,’” he said. “Those games will always exist and we didnÂ’t want to do anything that was seen as trying to start over again.”

He further explained how they wanted to continue the legacy of the previous games, not overwrite them. “Honestly, we never really seriously considered anything else. ItÂ’s the next ‘FalloutÂ’ game,” he said.

I bought my copy yesterday and I for one, am glad for the “3”.

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Related Fallout 3 Articles:

• Bethesda asks sites to remove Fallout 3 trailers “in connection with ESRB guidelines”
• Moo! India Fallout 3 canceled by Microsoft due to “cultural insensitivities”; Brahmin to blame?

Buy: [Fallout 3 (Xbox 360, PS3)

Via MTV